Vale - Don Pirie

[Adam Ronke]

Don Pirie who was a much-loved character around Winton Motor Raceway, passed away this morning in his sleep at the Wangaratta Hospital. Don has been ill for a little while now and was his typical stubborn self in his final days. Don is well known to all around Winton, and people who have been attending Winton for sometime. Often referred to as Papa Smurf or Pot Pirie. Don’s passion for motor sport and Winton Motor Raceway was astonishing, spending much of his time through the week at the circuit pottering around and stirring everyone up. Everyone at Winton will sadly miss Don and his antics.

I am not going to have anyone to wake me up at 5am the morning of the race meetings now!

To Don’s wife Thelma and his family I wish them all the best in these sad times.

[grange54]

Very sad news.
Don was a man larger than life, known by all who attended and participated in motor sport at Winton. From my knowing the man he had 3 loves in his life, his devoted wife Thelma and his family, Benalla Auto Club/Winton Motor Raceway and more recently his Jaguar.
His contribution to BAC as committee member, race official, trouble shooter (accasionally as a result of his direct approach) and volunteer to any task that was required to be undertaken at the raceway will soorly be missed.
I have herd that even in his last days he was still thinking of Winton, arranging for fellow a fellow committee member to take up some of his duties until he was ready to return.
I concur with Adam in passing condolences to Thelma and family and also to the staff at Winton as Don was more than a volunteer to them.
I can see him and Jim (Ronke) up there in motor sport heaven discussing the on going running of the raceway and the planning for the upcoming V8Supercar.

[Trevor]

RIP GOC, his happy smiling face is going to be sadly missed around the place.

For those who are not sure if you know Don or not, Don was 76 and used to scoot around on one of the small motorbikes, white hair, white beard, he was also seen to frequent the Ambulance, Safety Car(s) and of the course the canteen.

Don was also an active committee member of the Benalla Auto Club, and on a personal note, I am going to miss his input at the monthly meetings sitting at the head of the table, having input into everything.

Sincere condolences to his famly.

[PVDA]

First we lost Thommo and now Don has gone.

I'll try and dig up a photo of him but many of you will have encountered Don at Winton particularly at club track hires.

He was always one of the first BAC members to arrive in the morning to unlock and set everything up for events held at Winton and was for ever fixing something around the complex.

He was an interesting character who seemed to love when we fired him up, I know of one person who used to deliberately leave some rubbish or dirt on the Winton Safety Ute so that Don would have something to complain about on Monday when he did an equipment check on it.

We'd occasionally exchange terse words but 30 minutes later we'd be joking about it and I wasn't the only person to be like that with him.

I'll miss seeing him dart around Winton on the scooter and I'll miss the fact I cant jump on the BAC radio channel and ask him to do me a favour which he alway did, mind you he'd whinge and moan a bit to stir you up.

To the family, friends & BAC members I extend my deepest sympathies.

How are we going to get through the V8's in June without Don??

[stoned pony]

I didn't know the man but condolences to all of you who did and to his family.

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by PVDA

How are we going to get through the V8's in June without Don??

A damn good question Paul.

[marcus]

I cant honestly say I knew the man but my condolences to his family and friends and all at Winton.

[Adam Ronke]

Originally Posted by grange54

I can see him and Jim (Ronke) up there in motor sport heaven discussing the on going running of the raceway and the planning for the upcoming V8Supercar.

I can see it now, Jim will have all the fences built and Don would be riding around on the scooter to make sure no bugger cuts them.

Originally Posted by PVDA

How are we going to get through the V8's in June without Don??

We will get by, but we just have to make this one count for Old Donnie and Jim.

[BFC]

yep i'll miss the old bugger!

[Trevor]

A Funeral Service for Mr Donald James (Don) Pirie will be held in the Christian Fellowship Centre, Cnr Mason St and Tavern Terrace, Wangaratta on TUESDAY (Mar. 28, 2006) commencing at 10.30 am.

Private Cremation will take place at a later time.

No flowers by request.

A donation made to Northeast Health Critical Care Unit would be appreciated.
Donation envelopes will be available. TATE FUNERAL SERVICES
ROBERT TATE
WANGARATTA 5722-2525

Any further enquiries should be made to Winton Raceway on 03 5766 4235.

[Trevor]

Unfortunately I can't edit the above post, so I wll post here:


All are welcome to get together to celebrate Don's life at Winton Motor Raceway, Fox Street Winton immediately after the funeral in Wangaratta.

[PVDA]

The service yesterday was a fitting tribute to a great man with a large turn out of family, friends and Ambulance Service & Motorsport collegues celebrating the life of Don Pirie.

Once the majority of the people had left the post service gathering at Winton a few of us sat down over several bottles of red remembering our mate Don and tried to list all the things he did before, during & after events at Winton and we're sure we only covered a small percentage.

RIP mate, you will be missed by all that knew you and we have some very large shoes to try and fill.

[Trevor]

A very fitting tribute to a great team player and family man.

I thought the lone piper leading the 4WD Ambulance followed by the hearse (and no other cars) away from the Chapel was a very moving sight and a great tribute.

[Group'C']

must have missed this before,

A sad time for the people of Winton condolences to all his Family and his huge amount of friends.

Meet Don in the early 90's when we ran the Champion of Winton series in the #16 Bottomley HQ, He always made sure we were welcome

RIP Don

[grange54]

A fitting tribute was paid to Don at yesterday's VMRC event held at Winton.
A "POLISH" lap was conducted lead by a Winton official on what I believe to be Don's trusty moped, followed by "Safety One" and the 2 "Victor" cars. All trackside personel, race control officials and all other marshalls and officials stood trackside to remember a great man and dedicated motor sport volunteer.
It was truly an emotional and fitting moment.

May I express my gratitude to those that organised this tribute.

[PVDA]

The Polish Lap is an American tradition but considering Don looked after the day to day maintainence of all the vehicles used in the reverse parade it seemed a fitting tribute to a great man.

The parade consisted of;
Don's scooter
Safety 1 (Winton Fire/Rescue Ute)
The Winton Safety Car
The Winton Course Car (me)
Safety 2 (Racesafe Cross8 ute)
Victor 1 (Racesafe SS)

Well done to Rolly from Racesafe for thinking of the idea and the BAC/Winton officials for deciding it was a fitting tribute at such short notice and allowing us to do it.

[Aquarius]

The tribute consisted of the moped, then Safety 1, then the Winton Safety Car, Winton Course Car, then 2 Racesafe vehicles. Yes it was very fitting and emotional tribute to the old bugger.