Dick Bailey - RIP

Posted: April 15, 2002 4:49 PM

Dick was also a man that was always thinking of running a car that was a little special. On a visit to his workshop on one occasion I spotted the start of a project that he was working on, a rear wheel drive Fiesta. Whether this ever got finished or not I never found out but it would take Dick to think of something as unique as it.

Also one thing that I will always remember about Dick is the fact that there was an almost permanent smile welded to his face. In the last number of years when I have been involved as a journalist I have seen more of the backstage work that goes in to such a well run rally as the ^ÓWexford^Ô. Dick was very much to the fore in this backstage work. The place Dick was to be found most of the time during the rally was at the start of the service area where he usually ruled the roost. This is the place where hacks like myself would try get times to come up with the latest news. Between the service intervals it could get very quiet and almost boring. The usual person to break the monotony was Dick.

His sharp, yet subtle, wit would usually get the conversation to something that would have any one within earshot in stitches of laughter. Up till the start of the rally website, which has necessitated me being in an office close to the service rather than actually at the start of service, I have been at the timing van at the discretion of the club. Dick was one person that always made me feel part of the club facilities rather than a guest. Her would always turn up with the generator and say, ^ÓI suppose you would like some power for that van of yours^Ô which would always be followed quickly by ^ÓI suppose there is a cup of tea on that stove of yours^Ô. That co-operation was always forthcoming and never in doubt from either side.

In all my time involved as a journalist Dick was one of the people that realised that the coverage that was given to the Motor club and it^Òs events was mutually beneficial and would always work with you and not just put up with a necessary nuisance. To say that there was total 100% agreement between my methods and the club committee would be a slight exaggeration, but Dick always realised that I had to do my job and he had to do his. I can say there was never a cross word between the two of us as we did our jobs. People rate the greats of Motorsport as those that were household names. I would take a differing view in that I would rate people as to the enjoyment that they gave to the followers of the sport. To this end any one that put their life into aspects that no one noticed or took for granted are among those greats. They now have a new member, Dick. He has helped in the seen side and the unseen side of the motor club. One of the ways was as treasurer of Wexford motor club. No more so than last year. When foot and mouth almost sounded the death knell of the sport, Dick helped make sure that the club survived the biggest test of its life. I will always remember his broad smile as he pointed out that the club had survived the year with money in the piggy-bank.

If there is not a Motorsport facility in heaven, there will be on on the plans very shortly. You can guess who will be in the thick of things having a good natter to Messers Senna, Clark, Fisher,Toivenin,Stafford etc. I hope it is a long while before I get the job of reporting on it, but when the day comes at least I will get a good welcome.