Anniversary - Ashley Stichbury

Just Do It! · 16 May 2006, 19:32 (Ref:1611776)

Well today is never an easy day, primarily because the events that led to learning the news of Ashley's passing are still vividly clear in my mind.

Four years have passed, and it seems like yesterday.

To all his family; and his friends and motorsport contacts, and Ashley had a fair stable of them around the world, remember with a smile the cheery guy that left us so suddenly.

Ashley had the potential to be a champion in any category that he chose, and the potential to make a career in the V8 Supercar category.

Rest easy, great bloke

Just Do It! · 16 May 2006, 19:44 (Ref:1611795)

Hi Everyone

Just to butt in a bit, but on a most noteworthy point, it is 4 years since Ashley Stichbury left us today.

Least we forget such a great bloke. Perhaps we could have an absence of hatred on this thread for today as a tribute

sov12 · 16 May 2006, 23:59 (Ref:1611986)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Hi Everyone

Just to butt in a bit, but on a most noteworthy point, it is 4 years since Ashley Stichbury left us today.

Least we forget such a great bloke. Perhaps we could have an absence of hatred on this thread for today as a tribute

Just Do It,
So true, always missed & an inspiration to us all especially
when the chips are down.
He will never be forgotten.

EvilPumpkin · 17 May 2006, 08:07 (Ref:1612315)

RIP Ashley

Tracie · 17 May 2006, 08:09 (Ref:1612319)

Gosh is it really that long

seems only yesterday that we were at AGCM in Wellington and got the news

He was a gentleman and is missed

jim beam · 17 May 2006, 09:34 (Ref:1612394)

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilPumpkin

RIP Ashley

One of New Zealands true racing gentlemen! RIP Stitch

Razor · 17 May 2006, 11:05 (Ref:1612455)

Didn't he do an endruo paring with Paul Morris and drove against Greg Murphy back in his Fomula Ford days?

Jack racer · 17 May 2006, 12:51 (Ref:1612547)

Stich miss ya mate.

Matt H · 17 May 2006, 12:57 (Ref:1612549)

could someone please pm details of this person, rings a bell but honestly cant remember.

no need for it in here

cheers

Mark Twain · 17 May 2006, 13:07 (Ref:1612558)

It really doesn't seem that long ago, RIP Ashley

buza · 17 May 2006, 16:02 (Ref:1612683)

Remember the Day well was a huge fan of Stich!

I ended up Plastering my school folders with pix of Ashley after he passed!

R.I.P Ashley

Andy Booth · 18 May 2006, 00:35 (Ref:1613094)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Hi Everyone

Just to butt in a bit, but on a most noteworthy point, it is 4 years since Ashley Stichbury left us today.

Least we forget such a great bloke. Perhaps we could have an absence of hatred on this thread for today as a tribute

JDI, thanks for bringing everyone's attention to something truely meaningful and conversation worthy amongst all the pettiness on here recently.

Stitch was without doubt one of the most talented drivers and all round best blokes to have come out of NZ motorsport EVER. I feel privilaged to have been able to have a drink with him only 2 days before we lost this great Champion and to carry his name under the #1 on my car for the last two seasons - something I hope will be continued on future #1 NZ V8 cars.

We miss ya Stitch

V8's rule · 18 May 2006, 11:16 (Ref:1613359)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Barton

Didn't he do an endruo paring with Paul Morris and drove against Greg Murphy back in his Fomula Ford days?

Yes Stitch did Bathurst with Paul, but the car was an absolute dog, Paul managed to man-handle the thing around the mountain, but Ash really strugled with the Beast from Brisbane...Sadly for Ash there was a lot riding on that drive, and he really took it to heart when it all turned to custard...And yes Stitch raced with Greg and I think GM would conceed that Ash was the better driver..... For reasons best known to Richard Lester, who ran the Shell Scholarship program, Greg got the Shell Sponsorship at a critical point in his early career and the rest as they say is History.
RIP. Ashley..we all miss you.

Southern Man · 18 May 2006, 20:38 (Ref:1613763)

When something with the car not going right it is the little things about the people that you observe and remember. Stitch could still find time for that smile and the flash of the eyes no matter what problems he was encountering and he all ways had time for people.

In many respects he, Possum, and Roger were very very similar, competitive as hell and still neat people. I miss them all

Razor · 20 May 2006, 13:23 (Ref:1614858)

I don't want to offend anyone, but how did Stich went to the pearly gates?

Southern Man · 20 May 2006, 21:48 (Ref:1615220)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Barton

I don't want to offend anyone, but how did Stich went to the pearly gates?

Aneurysm while relaxing with friends and enjoying life

Just Do It! · 21 May 2006, 03:14 (Ref:1615324)

It really was tragic. Ashley was a showcase sportsman in so many ways - attitude, approach, sportsmanship, class, and dignity. He was reasonably humble about his achievements and always managed to keep a firm lid on an ego that never really existed.

The goal was clear - he wanted to get into Supercars. He was the sort of guy that anyone would want to help and see succeed, and he largely did it the hard way. He was always so appreciative of the people who helped him in any way, shape, or form, and even if the assistance that was offered never really netted anything.

Testament of his repute and credibility was the fact that some very internationally-respected motorsport names took the time to send tributes when Ashley passed away. The sheer volume of tributes was a sight to behold and to possibly begin the task of answering each one personally was virtually unfathomable. The people who sent tributes didn't expect a response, all they wanted to do was honour and pay respect to a guy who could have gone all the way. The package of completeness in Ashley is one that I have never seen replicated in a driver, and that is tribute to his upbringing.

If Ashley had got a break into Australia, he would have become quite a serious contender, and a very marketable driver. He knew his limits, he knew the boundaries, he knew how to explore them and how to expand them, and he looked after gear.

It's almost unfathomable even now that he is gone

Tim 27 · 24 May 2006, 21:35 (Ref:1618239)

I was extremely impressed with Ashley's driving when he came here for the Formula Ford Festival. I tried hard to keep track of his career when he returned home, but Autosport's coverage is sadly lacking in that area. To my knowledge, his death was never reported in the magazine.
It is with great sadness I read this "news", as I'm sure he was destined for much greater things.
If anyone can type a brief resume of his career on here, I for one would greatly appreciate it.
R.I.P. Ashley

ReWind · 25 May 2006, 07:22 (Ref:1618414)

This is from a now defunct page on www.auto.co.nz

Quote:

20/05/2002 The loss of a legend

New Zealands motorsport community has been rocked by the sudden death of champion driver Ashley Stichbury.
Stichbury, 30, died as the result of a massive brain haemorrhage at 2.30pm on Friday May 17.
Recently crowned New Zealand V8 Touring Car champion Stichbury was one of the most naturally talented and determined drivers to emerge in New Zealand in the last decade.
This season, driving a Ford Falcon, he won 12 of the 18 races he contested, setting the fastest race lap in every race.
The season before, driving a Chevrolet Corvette, he dominated the New Zealand TranZam championship, winning nine of the 13 races.
The second son of Paul and Susan-Jane Stichbury, Ashley was born on August 5, 1971 in Hastings, New Zealand. He was educated at Raureka Primary School and Hastings High School in Hastings and Hereworth School in Havelock North, Hawkes Bay.
On leaving school he completed an automotive technicians apprenticeship in Napier, Hawkes Bay.
Though his first taste of competition came in an Optimist dinghy, Stichbury found his true calling when he tried a friends Kart at the age of 14.
Soon he and fellow Hawkes Bay youngsters Kane Raisey, Craig Spargo and Greg Murphy were competing against and beating New Zealands best.
In the three years he raced Karts at a national level Stichbury won his class at the WKPA Champion of Champions series and in the (Australia/New Zealand) Trans Pacific Kart series
Success on the countrys Kart tracks prompted him to graduate to New Zealands motor racing tracks. And in his first full season competing in the (1991/92) New Zealand Formula Ford championships he finished second.
That performance prompted Austrian entrant Walter Lechner (who ran Alexander Wurz in the New Zealand championship that year) to invite Stichbury to return to Europe with him and help run Wurz in the German Formula Ford championship.
In return Lechner promised to provide Stichbury with a car for the World Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and for the next New Zealand Formula Ford championship.
The deal worked well for both parties - with Stichbury engineering the car, Wurz won the German Formula Ford championship, and with Lechners car Stichbury put in an impressive performance at the Festival and won the 1992/93 New Zealand Formula Ford championship.
He went back to Europe to work for Lechner in 1993 then returned to New Zealand and won his second Formula Ford title (Stichbury is the only driver to win two consecutive New Zealand Formula Ford titles) in 1993/1994.
That then led to the offer of a works drive for the Swift team in Germany in 1994.
That drive did not come to fruition and after working in Europe for much of the year Stichbury returned to New Zealand where he was offered a drive by the Alfa Romeo 2 Litre Touring Car team.
That saw his focus turn to tin tops and he went on to build a successful career in New Zealands Touring and TranZam classes. At the same time he built a parallel career in the New Zealand motor industry, working first for the Azzurra Motor Group, then Scandinavian Motors and ultimately the Giltrap Group.
After a successful period selling new Volvos for Scandinavian Motors he recently took up a position with the Giltrap Group specialising in Porsches.
As well as selling new cars he also passed on his driving skills at advanced driving courses round New Zealand.
Since Stichburys sudden death his family has been overwhelmed by the support they have received from family, friends and members of the motorsport fraternity worldwide.
"Ashley brought a lot of joy to our lives and he has obviously done the same for countless other people," his parents Paul and Susan-Jane said."We are very thankful for the messages and offers of support and we would ask everyone to remember Ashley as we do, with a smile on his face and always ready for anything."
Stichbury is survived by wife Anna and eight-month-old baby son Zac.

Tim 27 · 25 May 2006, 16:02 (Ref:1618754)

Thanks for that ReWind.A good insight into a man New Zealand can be rightly proud of.

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