Lawrence Bruce

[Greg Ghost]

A good guy absolutely loved his motor sport

[Grant Sprague]

A good guy absolutely loved his motor sport

Does any one know what Lawrence was up to during the last ten years or so , reason I ask is I had lost track of him over the years & was often on my mind like so many of you that were around the same tracks ....... ps looks like Kevin Ryan,s BDA escort in back ground , ... might be wrong .. have a fantastic weekend .. Grant ........

[Fitzy]

For the last few years, Lawrence was buying and selling a few cars here and there. He would still come out to the car racing and was still so passionate and knowledgeable especially about the classics at the Scope meeting. Another mate of ours has a big American camper and LVB would come out and occupy the Captains chair in the camper, at the hairpin at Ruapuna in total comfort.
I had known him for over 30 years. I never raced against LVB as I was a bit younger and later getting going, but raced against one of the cars he had previously had some success with being the ex Dickie Victor / Chev in OSCA. Funny thing is that the current owner of that car also has my old Capri. Tony Mann of Dunedin has restored both cars and they have never looked so good. Lawrence was impressed.
Sadly LVB had had some challenging health issues especially over the past 10 years or so, but just like in racing he would bounce back from what would of seemed the impossible. I last time I saw Him he came round home for Bathurst last year. Osso was also here and these 2 good old boys had a good old catch up and LVB lasted for the whole race and managed to get a Heineken or 2 down. Much better than the previous year which he only made it for a couple of hours. He had a bloody colourful life,was pretty connected, but with all the Mustangs, Camaros and the history, it was his daughter Charlotte that was the top of the list. Sadly missed Mike Fitzgerald.

[camaroman slp]

Thanks Mike Fitzgerald for the great story cherishing the moments that touch our hearts It seems life can be full of unfortunate changes but lots of wonderful memories.

[Fitzy]

Thanks for your comments, and camaroman for starting a thread. LVB would not have expected that we would be talking and remembering him on an internet site. In fact I know he would have been humbled by this. I have tried to upload a photo but not sure that this has happened. It was one that was on display at his funeral which summed him up pretty well. They were pushing the Mustang along in the pits, Lawrence was having a passing chat to another racer, cig in hand and a couple of pretty women pushing the car. Legend!!!

[Rascal]

Thanks for your comments, and camaroman for starting a thread. LVB would not have expected that we would be talking and remembering him on an internet site. In fact I know he would have been humbled by this. I have tried to upload a photo but not sure that this has happened. It was one that was on display at his funeral which summed him up pretty well. They were pushing the Mustang along in the pits, Lawrence was having a passing chat to another racer, cig in hand and a couple of pretty women pushing the car. Legend!!!

Outstanding contribution photo , certainly At levels, That old familiar water tank on the skyline, Is that Bruce Bellis, driver of the x Clyde Collins Cortina chev approaching LVB ? "independent motors" , was that a Peter Kockis, Geraldine connection ?