Vince travelled with Dad to numerous vintage car shows on the West Coast.
This is a photo from our trip to Tacoma in June...your dad admiring a familiar looking MGTD at the Le May museum. and a link to the nostalgia forum thread (worth visiting for more memories and pictures).
On other trips Merv had a chance to meet such notable racers as 1962 Formula One World Champion, Phil Hill here seen with his wife, Alma.
I always enjoyed spending time with him, especially at Silverstone in 2005 and 2008. We got my blazer for the Gala at a thrift shop in town! I think the shirt and tie were Merv’s. Here are a few shots of us at Silverstone in 2008. The guy in the third picture is Billy.
(Phil provided Dad insurance on the van for his trips to England)
I knew your father way before I insured him as I was a manager at Silverstone for many years. Our BRDC after work drinks we the norm in the campsite with other members and instructors alike.
From when he would land here in my village to the exploits off to Goodwood and so on made me smile in his adventures. The man had energy for sure!
He had many, many friends over here and the respect of many too. He was never alone that’s for sure!
Be proud of his achievements in his life and career. He sure was a story book!
Summer isn't going to be the same without his dry nature, wit and the long stories of what he had got up to the year before.
His greetings were always classic-I most fondly remember them almost always beginning with the word 'Well'
-"Well good day Sir.." (He frequently called me 'Sir' which I always found amusing as there was a 25 year age difference between us!)
-Well good day Hugh..."
I also loved the way he said the word 'Ferrari' - it was with all the passion of the Tifosa from Maranello! (I wish I could imitate him better!)
When talking about 'the Pig' - I loved how he would emphasize that it was a 'Club privee' - somehow he got the pronunciation of 'privee' just right! ('the Pig' is an enthusiast's ephemeral pub that pops up in the Silverstone campsite every Grand Prix weekend.)
I've kept a number of the BRDC Christmas cards he sent over the years - absolute classics!
Such great memories...hope he knew how much joy he brought to my life.
From the Autosport Nostalgia forum
http://forums.autosport.com/topic/207656-merv-therriault/
Having known Merv for over 60 years since our early Hornsey days we were reunited in the '90s when we would meet up every year ar the British GP .I sometimes stayed in the old Wesphalia or it's bright orange awning , this being quite painless after time was spend at "The Pig" ,a gathering of motor sport friends and drinking buddies in the BRDC Campsite.
Everyone knew Merv and his various travel tales either in his original 1957 Beetle (collected from the Factory) when he travelled Europe with his wife and newly born Son having had various members of Lotus at Hornsey build a sink,bottle warming facility and numerous other essentials for the Beetle after work hours and his journeys round Europe in what was once new (and again collected from the factory) Wesphalia .
Merv was also famous for the gas powered kettle that flew through the roof mysteriously one evening at the Factory .The Lotus 12 Christmas road run is well recorded elsewhere .This came about when every sane person at Lotus was taking a hard earned break but good old Merv volounteered to help to make the run happen.
In his younger days in Canada he concocted a strange vw off road vehicle and was also involved in the setting up of his local motor sport circuit ,more of which I'm sure other folk will elaborate on.
As recently as last year we were trying to bring about the saving of the famous pond in the BRDC members campsite but I fear the requests that Merv made fell on deaf ears . But that's all over now that a whole load of people have lost a dear friend who stood out from the crowd of Hooray Henrys that one so often encounters in our modern motorsport world .
Goodbye old Mate You will be missed .
(Sept. 22nd, 1928, to Sept. 30th, 2017) born in Edmonton, Alberta to George and Mary Therriault. Survived by his former wife Betty; his companion Micki Houssian; his children Bob (Diane), Wendy (Ken), and Michele (Bryan); his grandchildren Barry (Marie-Soleil), Alison (Lucas), Nicholas, and Stephen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Dad was a man of many talents with a deep understanding of the world. His adventurous life ranged from working as a mechanic with Lotus F1 in the late 1950's to starting BC Air Filter from the family garage in 1967, growing it until it was sold in 1992. He lived his life optimistically, often providing a second chance to those who badly needed it. In later years he could be seen driving his MG with the "Crumpeteers". He is now reunited with his mother and father, sister Arlene, nephew Tommy, and best friend Wave Spetch. Our hearts feel his presence, as once again he wins the game of "touched you last".
The family thanks the staff at VGH and Deltaview Habilitation Centre for their excellent care. A celebration of life will be announced at http://www.mervtherriault.com.