| GoGoGo Awards 2008 |
| Written by Kurt Schleier |
| Friday, 26 December 2008 18:35 |
 This year we introduce the first annual GoGoGo awards for the greatest classic, racing and sports car highs and lows of the year 2008. In the following article we won't only be giving away awards but we will also think about those who passed away this year. Now, let’s see how long we’ll keep this up and give away these awards without being biased...Classic car of the year Award
Without doubt this year’s winner is the Audi Quattro of the 1980s. Why? Because it has seen such a revive in interest after the BBC police-drama ‘Ashes to Ashes’ featured one immaculate red example. It looked so icy-cool being driven (abused) through some of the toughest areas of London by its equally brash driver DCI Gene ‘Genie’ Hunt (Philip Glenister). Besides, Keeley Hawes, who played Alex Drake, complemented the car very well with her red leather jacket. Anyway, as I said before, the Audi Ur-Quattro is without doubt the classic car of the year to recieve the prestigious award for the first time.
GoGoGo Man of the Year Award
We had a longer think about this one but some names popped up. Like Mauro Pane winner of historic FIA world championship with his Tyrrell 6 wheeler. But we should look further than champions of historic racing championships. We were actually contemplating giving the award to Roberto Giolito, who was responsible for reviving the Fiat 500 in such a brilliant way that nobody in the world could stand next to the car and not be impressed. But, in the end we were most impressed by Jochen Mass who managed to roll a Lancia-Ferrari D50A at this year’s Goodwood Revival. When coming out of the chicane the car flipped over and Mass got stuck underneath the car, fortunately he got out relaticely unscathed with just a cut to the forehead and bruises.
 Mass still intact while getting into the Lancia-Ferrari (c) festivalos Mass deserves the award for his courage (and stupidity) to get in a car without a rollbar and race, even after racing just about everything for half his life without being killed. So here we are Herr Mass, the prestigious GoGoGo Man of the Year Award is yours. Sadly though, the award only consist of a honourable mention on an obscure online car magazine which recieves as many visitors a week as a Sunday church service in Soho, London.
Deaths
Still, after all of the foregoing awards ceremonies it’s now time to think about those who passed away. It’s difficult to decide with whom we shall start as some very special people have passed away and certainly who had a big influenceon the world of motoring. Let’s list some which popped into our minds and let’s just take a moment to think about them:
-Paul Frère
-Paul Newman
-Pat Moss
-Ron Hornaday Sr
-Phil Hill
-Dino Toso
-Ove Andersson
-David Leslie
-Richard Lloyd
-Jean-Marie Balestre
-Ian Walker
Motorsport in particular lost some of its most influential characters of the last dedaces who helped to shape motorsport as it is today. Take for example Ove Andersson, who was involved with Toyota’s motorsport activities for more than 30 years and even becoming director of all its motorsport activities a few years ago. Sadly he lost his life somewhat less glamorous, as he bumped head-on into a lorry when participating in a historic rally. Fate also decided over David Leslie and Richard Lloyd who died at the beginning of the year in an aircraft accident, when they crashed into a residential area. The accident was shown all over the world but outside of the UK, sadly almost no sympathy was payed or mention was made for the people inside.
Then there is Jean-Marie Balestre who was renowned for his role in the formula 1 conflict between the FISA and Bernie Ecclestone’s FOCA almost 30 years ago. As a result he left a clear mark on one of the biggest sports in the world. And what to think about Dino Toso, Renault F1’s chief aerodynamicist who was instrumental in breaking Ferrari’s hegemony of the sport and allowing Alonso to take two world championshipsin 2005 and 2006. We could go on and on showing our respect to all of them who deceased this year, fortunately we already did to many. As a result you can read about Phil Hill, Paul Newman and Pat Moss if you search this site.
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