NOTICE OF DEATH - HARRY MENDEL - 1948 - 2015

The Club has recently learned of the death of Associate Member Harry Mendel at the age of 66. Harry was one of the many Antipodeans who came to England to work in motor racing. Beginning in the assembly shop at Motor Racing Developments building Brabhams, Harry progressed via Fred Opert Racing to the Tyrrell Racing Organisation where he became number one mechanic to Ronnie Peterson, Didier Pironi and Derek Daly between 1975 and 1980. After some time back in Australia, Harry returned to Formula 1 as joint number one mechanic for Niki Lauda in his championship winning year with McLaren in 1984 before spells as chief mechanic with the FORCE and Arrows teams and as team manager at Leyton House. In 1990 Harry established his own company in Brackley – Mendel Auto Sport – which became a leading producer of exhibition cars for amongst others the Williams, Ferrari, Stewart, Benetton and Jordan teams. Funeral details are not yet known.