It is with great sadness that I must pass on the news of the death of one of AROCA Vic's long time and much loved members.
Tony lost his battle with cancer only an hour or so ago.
The Victorian Division has lost another gentleman today. Personally I greatly enjoyed Tony's company, we clicked from the first day we met, he was easy to get along with and loved to talk about his cars and the marque in general. Tony competed in Group S racing in the car now owned by Neil Choi. Tony loved life, some of my happiest memories are of nights at the "Big Fat Greek Bar and Grill" in Rhyll, we routinely drank them out of Alfa beer.
Please use this thread to post your memories of Tony, post a picture if you have one, celebrate his time with us.
My pictures were taken at Spettacolo. Tony was regaling us with facts and figures about the 2600, Phil Nash is soaking up the information in one, the other is a solo shot of Tony deep in thought.
Stuart Thomson
President AROCA Vic.
Very sad. A true gentleman; humble, sincere, loyal, and always a pleasure to be with.
Rest well Tony. The world is a poorer place with you gone.
A very sad day. Susan and I did many six hour events, both winton and mallala always enjoyable,Tony always a gentleman.Will be sadly missed
A gentleman and a great Alfa representative.
Yes, many great yarns at the Big Fat Greek and the Alfa beers.
My fond memories of Tony campaigning his Gp S Alfetta at 6 hr and PI Historics.
A sad day indeed. Tony was just a top bloke and great Club person. He was a backbone of our regular Six Hour Team until he retired from competition. This is the way I will remember him ...
A wonderful man!
Straight up and down.
Always composed.
Tony always kept it simple, called it the way he saw it and generally with great humour and verve.
A perfectionist with his cars and possessed with an erudite knowledge of many things not the least being Alfa Romeos.
Dearly missed already.
Be at peace now Tony after a long, difficult battle.
Commiserations to Clem, his daughters and their families.
Godspeed my friend! :'(
(The photo below is Tony receiving the Ian Campbell trophy for best car at AutoItalia 2011, his last big Alfa trip, for his lovely Giulietta Sprint Veloce).
Indeed a sad day. :'(
When I joined the club Tony was Rally Co-ordinator, I watched and read about his progress in Targa Tas and Classic Adelaide in his GTV6 from afar. Not long after, I called him to discuss motorsport, circuit, rally, club etc etc. Tony gave me lots of his time and advice. He was an inspiration for me to follow through and get more involved. Little did I know that many years later he and I would compete at club level, 6 Hours and Group S races.
And (more improtantly) we would share many meals, hotel rooms, garages etc. Each time we went away for a race weekend, I would always look forward to the Saturday night dinner as I always knew that Tony's red wine selection would be the right one. I too have good memories of my Big Fat Greek, likewise a night that sticks in my memory is from this very weekend a few years back while competing together at Historic Winton, Gary Pearce, Basil (Barry Williams), Tony and myself having dinner at the Tatong pub...dunno why, it was just one of those nights that sticks in your mind as 'it's great to have mates like this', Tony being his usual self and becoming instant mates with the publican!!
My thoughts are with Clem and the rest of the family.
Vale Charles 'Tony' Hawker.
Here is a particularly nice drive from Tony in the wet at PI Histics in 2010.
http://vimeo.com/10343489
Very sad to lose such a gentleman. Everyone who knew Tony was impressed by his warmth, kindness and knowledge.
Sincere regards to his family.
Ciao Tony
Greg Briggs
A lot of fun memories and similar to above Tony played a large part in my decision to go racing.
It has been a real pleasure to enjoy Tony's company and we will miss him now on our Sunday runs, when a few of us Alfisti get together for our Sunday run and a coffee. I have got lots of pictures and cherished memories most of which bring a smile to my face. This one of many depicts a very proud moment of our time together on the arrival of the famous Alfetta 159 to our shores for the 2010 Celebrations. I don't know if we really believed it would get here but as the look on Tony's face shows it was a time of joy. Tony leaves behind a loving wife Clem and 4 lovely daughters, son in laws and several grandchildren. His cars will be iconic memories of a great man but our memories and indeed those of anyone who met him will be that our time together was a great pleasure.
Bugger, bugger, bugger. I'll miss him. Agree with Victor, the photo against the GTV is characteristic - except usually the collar of his polo was not folded down.
A very sad day. A friend over many years – club sprints, 6 hour relays and 2010 celebration organisation.
Tony was always the thorough gentleman, knowledgeable of all things Alfa, a true Alfisti.
One of the memories I will remember most is the 3 days I shared with Tony babysitting the Alfetta 159 at the 2010 Grand Prix. A relaxed picture of him next to number 24. He is missed already.
My sincere condolences to his wife Clem and the extended family.
Ross Flood
Truly sad news.
My deepest sympathies got out to the family.
Tony was an absolute gentleman of the highest calibre.
It is people like Tony who help to make our club what it is and the world a better place.
Rest in peace Tony.
It is a sad day when we lose a friend and a gentleman.
Farewell Tony, we will miss you sorely and remember you fondly.
Rest peacefully Tony, you were just a great guy to be around. xxx
The trademark "upturned collar". Fondest memories.
Thank you Tony for your company and advice. I will miss the days running into you at the Magpies, chewing the fat, Alfa's and debating a new red found. Thank you for the wonderful times I had the pleasure of your company. Isn't it funny how a red was always somewhere when food was about. My deepest sympathy to Clem and Tony's family. I am thankful that I have known such a great bloke, he has left a great Legacy with the club and the rest of us who have known him.
Vale Squatter.
Jumbo
Clearly must have been a great bloke to receive such accolades and touch so many lives in a positive way. I feel compelled to pass on my condolences though I never met him - I feel I knew him through the ALFA community just the same.....life is precious.
Emmanuel
I found some more Tony photos, this time with the beloved 2600.
I still feel terrible about this, hopefully the photos and condolences can ease the pain a little.
Stuart
i cant add much more than the above
great bloke and good competitor
an utter gentleman always ready to chat with anybody that would listen
Hi all, I am a former 105 owner and am sitting on the sofa enjoying a glass of red with my lovely wife Georgie (Hawker - Tony's eldest daughter). Just wanted to tell everyone that we have really enjoyed reading everyone's kind words and looking at the photos. The Alfa Club and the people that are part of it gave Tony such pleasure.
Alfa's were an obsession of his and a fantastic distraction during his illness.
We are sure he would be very touched.
I know it's a cliche, but life is too short - we all need to follow our passions, like Tony did.
Regards,
Andrew and Georgie Nikakis
an extremely nice, good hearted gentleman, always with a kind & supportive word to say, especially in my early attempted Historic racing days and as acting President of the Vic club.
I wish to record my sympathies for Tony and family. As a visitor to Vic sprint events and he to SA he always had the time to talk to the SA visitors and as all have mentioned a true gentleman. A man of great poise and niceness!Our last dinner in 2010 at the Little Greek cafe was a memorable night. As AROCA SA Club Secretary I pass on the sincere sympathies form the Club.
I am sure bour Vic cousins will miss him.
Laurie Ardill
A Memorial Service for Mr CHARLES ANTHONY (TONY) HAWKER will be held in St John The Evangelist Anglican Church.
23 King St, Flinders, on FRIDAY (June 1, 2012) commencing at 2:00 pm.
For those able to attend Tony's service,
Clem and the family would be chuffed if Alfa club members would liike to drive their Alfas.
A wonderful human being. I'll never see buttered raisin toast again without thinking of those enjoyable Sunday runs around the Peninsula. For me, the highlight of my relationship with Tony was the super day spent comparing his gorgeous Sprint Veloce with my 2011 Giulietta QV. Unforgettable!
Jeremy
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What desperately sad news ... a hard fought battle lost .... God bless you and your family Tony, and your many dear friends and colleagues in the Alfa Romeo Owners Club who all spoke so highly of you. I know they will miss you very much and remember you fondly for a lifetime. Mark Baigent.
The 2012 AROCA 6 hr Relay is dedicated to the memory of Tony Hawker.
A respected AROCA club and committee member, he was, additionally, an experienced and gentleman competitor at many 6 hr relays, historic race meetings and tarmac rallies.
Sadly after a long battle with illness, Tony passed away on 26 May 2012.
He will be missed tremendously by his family, friends and fellow competitors.
First time on the forum in a while, and saddened to see this.
Tony was very kind to me when I sat on the committee a couple of years back. We discussed Tasmanian roads, 2600s and Giulietta Sprint Veloces that night, and it culminated in us spending a day around the Peninsula with Tony's gorgeous SV (and Jeremy's Giulietta QV). It was a real privilege to meet his wife Clem and enjoy their beautiful home for the day.
The last time I saw Tony was at the Melbourne Motor Show last year. Again we discussed 2600s (there was one at the Shannons auction). His smile was infectious when the passion was ignited!
Rest in peace, Tony.
Adam