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Gordon Spice

{{Short description|British racing driver (1940–2021)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Gordon Spice

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1940|4|18}}

| birth_place = London, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|09|09|1940|04|18|df=yes}}

| death_place =

| retired = ca. 1989

| related to =

| last series = World Endurance Championship

| years active = 1980–1989

| teams = Spice Engineering, Rondeau

| starts = 50

| wins = 0

| poles =

| fastest laps =

| best finish = 1st in C2 class in 1988
10th in overall standings

| year = 1987

| prev series = British Touring Car Championship

| prev series years = 1960s–1980

| titles =

| title years =

| awards =

| award years =

}}

File:1980 Rondeau M379 B - Le Mans GTP Racing Car.jpg

Gordon Spice (18 April 1940 – 10 September 2021) was a British racing driver who competed in both sports cars and Touring Car racing in the 1960s and 1970s, before starting Spice Engineering with fellow racing driver Ray Bellm in the 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport/gordon-spice-racing-ford-capri-driven-goodwood|title=Gordon Spice Racing Ford Capri driven at Goodwood - Autocar|website=Autocar.co.uk|access-date=21 May 2019}}

Racing career

Spice was most notable for his involvement with the Ford Capri, both as a driver and as part of Spice Engineering. Starting off his British Saloon Car Championship career racing Minis in the late 1960s for Downton Engineering{{cite web|url=http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/downton.htm|title=Downton Engineering Works|website=Mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk|access-date=21 May 2019}} Spice went on to paid drives in Minis for Jim Whitehouse’s Equipe Arden team in 1968 (winners of the British Saloon Car Championship title with a Mini the year later with Alec Poole) and raced John Cooper’s team Minis with Steve Neal in 1969 but despite Spice’s pace and occasional race win were outclassed by the 1300 Broadspeed Ford Escorts.

Gordon eventually progressed to the works Ford team, CC Developments, co-run by Dave Cook, running the Capri 3.0S. He won his class on five occasions between 1976 and 1980, but never won the championship outright. In all, he took 24 overall race victories.{{cite web|url=https://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79287&page=6|title=CC Racing Developments Group 1 Ford Capri Mk III's - Page 6 - TenTenths Motorsport Forum|website=Tentenths.com|access-date=21 May 2019}} In 1980, he took on Andy Rouse as teammate, and the two dominated their class, only losing out on the title to Win Percy.

In the 1980s, Spice competed in the World Endurance Championship with his own cars, under the banner Spice Engineering, or those of Jean Rondeau.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/gordon-spice|title=Gordon Spice|website=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=30 October 2019}} He won the C2 class in the World Championship in 1988.{{cite web|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/gordon-spice/|title=Gordon Spice|website=Driver Database|access-date=30 October 2019}}

Spice, as well as running a car accessory shop in Ashford (Middlesex), in the early days of car accessory retailing, he co-founded in 1971, with his brother Derek, Gordon Spice Cash And Carry. They supplied motor accessories to trade customers and, at the peak of the business, they had cash and carry depots in Staines, Watford, Canning Town and Leicester.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-2003/60/variety-life-spice|title=Variety: the life of Spice - Motor Sport Magazine Archive|date=7 July 2014|website=Motor Sport Magazine|access-date=21 May 2019}} Subsequent flotation as a PLC in 1986, and an over ambitious investment in a state-of-the-art central distribution centre, plus changing market conditions, led to the demise of the company.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-2006/86/spice-trade|title=the Spice trade - Motor Sport Magazine Archive|date=7 July 2014|website=Motor Sport Magazine|access-date=21 May 2019}}

Personal life

Spice died on 10 September 2021 from cancer, at the age of 81.{{cite web|last1=Turner|first1=Kevin|title=Touring car ace and Le Mans class winner Gordon Spice dies|url=https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/touring-car-ace-and-le-mans-class-winner-gordon-spice-dies/6664899/|website=Autosport|date=11 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=Gordon Spice 1940–2021|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/09/10/gordon-spice-1940-2021.html|website=Daily Sports Car|date=10 September 2021}}

Racing record

=Complete British Saloon Car Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Pts

! Class

1965

! Gordon Spice

! Austin Mini Cooper S

! {{Tooltip|B|Class B}}

| BRH

| OUL

| SNE

| GOO

| SIL

| CRY

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
2

| OUL

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

! 25th

! 6

! 9th

rowspan=2| 1966

!rowspan=2| Gordon Spice

! Austin Mini Cooper S

!rowspan=2| {{Tooltip|B|Class B}}

| SNE

| GOO

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
16

|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
10

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2| 19th

!rowspan=2| 12

!rowspan=2| 5th

Morris Mini Cooper S

|

|

|

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CRY
2†

|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OUL
5†

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BRH
DNS

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1967

! Gordon Spice

! Morris Mini Cooper S

! {{Tooltip|B|Class B}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SNE
Ret

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
?

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL
5

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAL
3†

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
?

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
?

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| OUL
3†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|

|

|

|

|

! 10th

! 24

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

1968

! Equipe Arden

! Austin Mini Cooper S

! {{Tooltip|A|Class A}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
?

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| THR
10

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
13

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CRY
Ret†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAL
Ret†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
?

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL
23

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CRO
11

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
15

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
14

|

|

|

|

! 7th

! 40

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1969

! Britax-Cooper-Downton

! Morris Mini Cooper S

! {{Tooltip|B|Class B}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
4

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SNE
Ret

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| THR
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CRY
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAL
1†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CRO
7

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL
7

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OUL
14

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH
11

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
14

|

|

|

! 5th

! 47

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

1970

! Equipe Arden

! Morris Mini Cooper S

! {{Tooltip|B|Class B}}

| BRH

| SNE

| THR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CRY
2†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
14

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL
18

| CRO

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
12

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OUL
10

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
10

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BRH
DNS

|

|

|

! 6th

! 48

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

1974

! Wisharts Garages

! Chrysler Hemi 'Cuda

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

| MAL

| BRH

| SIL

| OUL

| THR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

| THR

| BRH

| ING

| BRH

| OUL

| SNE

| BRH

|

|

! NC

! 0

! NC

1975

! Wisharts Garages

! Ford Capri 3000 GT

! {{Tooltip|C|Class C}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAL
3†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
3†

| THR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
10

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
6†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
7

| SIL

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAL
6†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SNE
4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

| ING

| BRH

| OUL

| BRH

! 7th

! 46

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1976

! Wisharts Garages

! Ford Capri II 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OUL
2†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| THR
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| THR
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAL
3†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SNE
1†

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
6

|

|

|

|

|

! 4th

! 58

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1977

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri II 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
7

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
2†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| THR
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| THR
Ret

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DON
3†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DON
Ret†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
7

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1

|

|

|

! 5th

! 28

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1978

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri III 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DON
2†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAL
1†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
9

|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DON
DSQ†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OUL
2†

|

|

|

! 4th

! 75

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1979

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri III 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DON
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MAL
4†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

| SNE

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
4†

|

|

|

! 4th

! 75

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1980

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri III 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MAL
2†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
5

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAL
1†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 67

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1981

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri III 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAL
11†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
2†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| THR
2

| BRH

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
5†

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
4

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| THR
7

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|

|

|

|

! 10th

! 38

! 4th

1982

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Ford Capri III 3.0s

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
5

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAL
3†

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
1†

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| THR
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| THR
3

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DON
Ret

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRH
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DON
3

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
?

|

|

|

|

! 11th

! 39

! 4th

1983

! Gordon Spice Racing

! Rover Vitesse

! {{Tooltip|A|Class A}}

| SIL

| OUL

| THR

| BRH

| THR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

| DON

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
28

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
4

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
5

| SIL

|

|

|

|

! 21st

! 5

! 9th

1984

! Team Toyota GB / Hughes of Beaconsfield

! Toyota Celica Supra

! {{Tooltip|A|Class A}}

| DON

| SIL

| OUL

| THR

| THR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNE
4

| BRH

| BRH

| DON

| SIL

|

|

|

|

! 21st

! 4

! 13th

colspan="22"|{{center|{{small|Source:{{cite web |last1=de Jong |first1=Frank |title=British Saloon Car Championship |url=http://www.touringcarracing.net/Pages/BSCC.html |website=History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993 |access-date=29 September 2022}}}}}}

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

= Complete Formula One non-championship results =

(key)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

1970

! Gordon Spice

! Kitchiner K3A

! Chevrolet 5.0 V8

| ROC

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| INT
{{small|14}}

| OUL

|

|

|

|

|

1971

! Gordon Spice

! McLaren M10B

! Chevrolet 5.0 V8

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| ARG
{{small|NC}}

| ROC

| QUE

| SPR

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| INT
{{small|16}}

| RIN

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| OUL
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| VIC
{{small|13}}

1972

! Gordon Spice

! Kitchmac M10B

! Chevrolet 5.0 V8

| ROC

| BRA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INT
{{small|Ret}}

| OUL

| REP

| VIC

|

|

=24 Hours of Le Mans results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Team

! Co-Drivers

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}

! {{Tooltip|Class
Pos.|Class Position}}

1964

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Lawrence Tune Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Lawrence

| align="left"| Deep Sanderson 301

| P 1.3

| 13

| DNF

| DNF

1978

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Ivey Racing

| align="left"| {{flagicon|AUS}} Larry Perkins
{{flagicon|USA}} John Rulon-Miller

| align="left"| Porsche 911 Carrera RSR

| IMSA GTX

| 278

| 14th

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

1979

| align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} Dome Co. Ltd.

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Craft
{{flagicon|GBR}} Tony Trimmer

| align="left"| Dome Zero RL

| S +2.0

| 40

| DNF

| DNF

1980

| align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Belga Jean Rondeau

| align="left"| {{flagicon|BEL}} Philippe Martin
{{flagicon|BEL}} Jean-Michel Martin

| align="left"| Rondeau M379

| GTP

| 329

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1981

| align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Otis Jean Rondeau

| align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault

| align="left"| Rondeau M379

| GTP 3.0

| 335

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

1982

| align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Malardeau Automobiles Jean Rondeau

| align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault
{{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Lapeyre

| align="left"| Rondeau M382

| C

| 150

| DNF

| DNF

1984

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice-Tiga Racing

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ray Bellm
{{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Crang

| align="left"| Tiga GC84

| C2

| 69

| DNF

| DNF

1985

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ray Bellm
{{flagicon|IRL}} Mark Galvin

| align="left"| Spice-Tiga GC85

| C2

| 312

| 14th

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1986

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ray Bellm
{{flagicon|BEL}} Jean-Michel Martin

| align="left"| Spice SE86C

| C2

| 257

| 19th

| 6th

1987

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|ESP}} Fermín Velez
{{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe de Henning

| align="left"| Spice SE86C

| C2

| 321

| 6th

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1988

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ray Bellm
{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre de Thoisy

| align="left"| Spice SE88C

| C2

| 351

| 13th

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1989

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ray Bellm
{{flagicon|USA}} Lyn St. James

| align="left"| Spice SE89C

| C1

| 229

| DNF

| DNF

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.haynes.co.uk/press/Releases_HTML/090327_LifeofSpicePR_haynes_press_release.htm Summary on Haynes Publishing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605044149/http://www.haynes.co.uk/press/Releases_HTML/090327_LifeofSpicePR_haynes_press_release.htm |date=5 June 2010 }}

Further reading

  • Jeremy Walton, Life of Spice: The Autobiography of Gordon Spice {{ISBN|1-84425-568-9}}

{{Spa 24 Hours winners}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spice, Gordon}}

Category:1940 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:British Touring Car Championship drivers

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers

Category:Place of birth missing

Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers

Category:Racing drivers from London

Category:Deaths from cancer in the United Kingdom

Category:20th-century English sportsmen