We are saddened to report the death of Ian Walker, rally and racecar driver, team owner and Lotus dealer. Those few words of description, however, hide the character of a man who touched many within his era of competition and team ownership.
As a rally driver he drove for the Ford works team, and competed in nine Monte Carlo rallies, as well as RAC and Alpine rallies. British rallies used disused aerodromes for some stages, so Ian used his rally car, a Ford Prefect Special, to race with, but merely to improve his rallying skills. It was the designer of the rear end of that car who was a major influence on the rest of Ian’s career, a certain Colin Chapman. Ian purchased an ex-Graham Hill Lotus 11, the “Yellow Peril,” from Chapman, and competed with it in the 1957 Autosport championship. Although reasonably successful, his racing was only ever a supplement to his rallying career.
At the end of 1961 Ian ceased racing and began a career in team ownership by setting up Ian Walker Racing. His close relationship with Chapman meant he fielded Lotus cars for various events and was able to run the likes of Graham Hill, Jim Clark, and John Whitmore at selected events. His own contracted drivers were no slouches either, as Paul “Hawkeye” Hawkins and Frank Gardner were both great racers as well as larger-than-life characters.
It must be said that Ian was a no-nonsense type of man, and the team was run in a very professional manner under very strict rules. Once, he called the bluff of Graham Hill who was ranting about the setup of his racecar. Ian told Graham to go off and have a coffee while the mechanics “fixed it.” The mechanics, however, did nothing to the car, and after Graham had driven it he said how wonderful the adjustments had made the car.
One of Ian’s greatest moments came at a support race for the British Grand Prix when Jimmy Clark and Peter Arundell finished 1st and 2nd in his Lotus 26Rs. He summed up his emotions after the race saying simply, “That was fantastic!”
Ian did much as a Lotus Cars dealer. I recently spoke to Clive Chapman who said, “I didn’t really know Ian. However, I do know he did a great deal, in the early years, to promote the name of Lotus Cars, which was deeply appreciated by my father.”
Ian’s son, Sean, is a regular racer today, and to him, and the rest of the family, we at Vintage Racecar would like to extend our sincere condolences.
By Mike Jiggle
