Terry Little left a big impact on the Australian motor racing scene.
He was larger than life, a larrikin and a conduit for many aspiring drivers as they sought guidance on how to crack the big time.
Among those whose careers he helped on a path to fame in the current crop are four-times V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup and Adelaide-raised Tim Slade.
At 62, Little died suddenly a few days after being admitted to hospital in Adelaide late last week where he suffered a massive heart attack.
Along with Rachael and Martin Wagg, Little was the co-founder of the Australian GT before resigning as a director three years ago.
Remembered as a thinker with terrific ideas, Little had stints working for Bob Jane at Calder and at Adelaide International Raceway.
Little’s path to being associated with the Wagg’s surfaced after the Nation’s Cup category, which ran under the defunct PROCAR banner, ceased earlier last decade.
“It all began when Martin and I were running Porsche Challenge and Terry had assembled a group of sportscars following the demise of Nation’s Cup. We joined the two groups together and Australian GT was born,” Rachael remembers fondly.
“From there on, Australian GT was one of the fastest growing categories in Australia and without Terry’s vision and passion, GT racing would not be where it is today.”
It was to be a fruitful partnership where Little would often say: “Rach does all the work, I take all the credit and Martin is the handbrake.”
Little had a penchant for making light of serious situations, often ensuring everyone in his presence had fun.
“Despite the shock and sadness we are feeling and will feel for some time, we will always have the fondest memories of Terry as a great mate, a larrikin, and the man who put his heart and soul into GT racing in Australia,” his co-founders said.
“We were a great team, we all had different strengths, but above all we were great mates.
“GT racing in this country and motorsport on the whole is all the better for having Terry Little be a part of it and will now have a hole in it following his passing.”
Good friend and well known Adelaide media identity Mike Drewer had visited Little in hospital on Sunday at a time when he briefly regained consciousness.
“He went out with his boots on. Typical Terry. He was telling me to organise a bloody big wake,” Drewer told Speedcafe.com
Another close mate, veteran Tasmanian racer Greg Crick was at the Australian GT finale at the new Highlands Park circuit at Cromwell in New Zealand at the weekend when he heard Little was seriously ill in hospital.
He had immediately organised to fly to Adelaide today.
“He absolutely loved Greg and had made a point of asking to see him but unfortunately it was too late,” Drewer said.
Little leaves behind wife Carol, children Jake, Taylor and Shannon and his mother Marie.
Speedcafe.com passes on its condolences to his family.
