A tribute to Tony Gransden, our former partner and
“chief wrench”, who died in May, 2012
Mike Collins photo
Big-block Chevys were putty in his hands
Tony Gransden, extremely-talented chief mechanic and a partner at American Autoparts, who died in
May 2012, aged 64, learned his trade under the watchful eye of Steve Thompson, who resigned as head
mechanic for sole UK GM concessionaires Lendrum & Hartman in the early seventies, prior to joining
Autoparts as a major partner and adding a then-rare qualified service and repair element to our business.
Tony learned quickly, his enthusiasm for American engines and natural aptitude for mechanical
engineering rapidly earning him a reputation for top-class automotive work. In 1988 Steve decided to
move to Australia and handed over control of the workshop to Tony, who was happy to be knee-deep in
repairing, servicing and modifying cars. And when he wasn’t working on customers vehicles, he could be
found, often very late into the evening, working on his (or a mate’s) machine ready for the next drag meet.
An awful lot of dinners must have ended-up in the dog…
Performance, especially Chevrolet performance, became become his bag. Small-block Chevys were
assembled in his sleep, while the 396/427/454 family of big-block engines were mere putty in his hands.
And though he wouldn’t always be prepared to admit it, Tony had considerable respect for Ford V8s and
Mopar 440 big-blocks. Yes, he would also rebuild “six pots,” though it went against the grain. He was a
high performance man, dismissive of smog motors and diesels, though he also accepted that working
with bread and butter engines and sorting out run-of-the-mill brake and suspension problems put food on
the family table. Another area of garage work in which Tony earned significant respect was automatic
transmissions, particularly overhauling “cooked” GM Turbo Hydra-Matics and beefing-up ‘60s two-speed
Powerglide boxes so favoured by fellow drag racers.
At Blackbushe in 1983, Tony ran 10.83 at 130mph in his twin-turbo Z28 Camaro – named “The
Bottomless Pit” in recognition of its bankrupting tendencies – then the quickest UK quarter-mile elapsed
time for a street car. A later trip to Santa Pod netted a drop to 10.60 at 129mph, followed by an even
speedier trip down the Long Marston strip in 10.61 seconds with a top end of 133mph. Fast forward
(literally) to 1992 and Tony hooked-up with the renowned Terry Gibbs, another Chevy lover, who like
Tony had a penchant for first-generation Camaros. Tony was engaged to drive Terry’s imported
“Obsession” racecar in the Super Gas wars, achieving firth place in the Championship. In 1993 Tony
switched to “Just-a-Rat”, a 1979 Camaro he shared with new teammate Alex Nicol, and drove to victory at
the World Finals, taking that year’s Super Gas title by 10 points in winning the finals. Two years later he
won the Super Gas title again, this time as crew chief with Alex doing driving; the combination of Tony’s
preparation of the car and Alex’s lightning reactions off the line proving to be a formidable combination.
In 2000, the team switched to Super Comp, winning
the National Championship by more than 1,000 points
– again with Tony as crew chief and Alex driving – as
a result of taking the honours at both the Santa Pod
Racers Club Championships and Avon Park’s Super
Series. Tony had already decided at the beginning of
that Millennium-year he was going to hang-up his
boots at the end of the season, so he truly quit while
in front.
Mike Lintern
Bits of the many tributes from colleagues, customers and friends
Steve Thompson
(Ex-boss, now resident in Australia)
Tony was the most natural mechanic I have ever come across in 40 years working in the motor
trade, his previous experience being a vehicle dismantler in a wrecking yard. Although Tony had
no formal training in auto mechanics, he was able to very quickly grasp how a device or
mechanism worked and to figure out a way to repair or modify it in short order. He picked up
every bit of knowledge I had to give and never forgot it.
In the 14 years or so that we worked together, I could not have asked for a better colleague and
friend; dependable and trustworthy, he rarely had a day off for holidays or sickness. Tony will be
fondly remembered and sorely missed. We had some good times together.
_______________________________________
Dave “The Cab” Hughes
(Close mate, racer and personal tea-maker)
For about 20 years Tony used to call me The Messer and it was only after his operation, when
friend Chris Meads sent Tony a text referring to him as The Messer, that I realised it related to
the fact that --- like me --- he was a last-minute man in getting prepared to go racing, whereas
both his team-mates Chris and Terry Gibbs were well-organised. Yet, again like me, he always
got there. And nobody was more helpful than Tony in getting other racers to the track.
So, I feel a bit honoured that he called me “The Messer.” And thank you Tony for all the
fantastic memories, the laughter, the racing and the trips to Hockenheim; we will not forget
them, just like we will never forget you.
______________________________________
Andy “Big A” Kennedy
(A best mate, and crewman for Tony and Alex)
It’s with sadness that I write these words, but a sadness that will pass when I remember the
great times I had with Tony, who gave me my break into the world of drag racing. He needed a
crew member for his newly-formed “Just a Rat” team and asked if I’d be interested. Would I be
interested? Hell yes!
Tony gave me the team’s “weather station” (which enables the car to be set up according to
the prevailing air conditions etc on the day), and told me to learn how to use it by the coming
weekend. And I did. He never said, but knew I had learned from how I used it at the track.
That’s it with Tony, he would ask you to do something and then observe what you did.
It was a while before I gained his complete trust, but then he watched your back, was always
willing to go the extra mile and give advice to get you going faster. I spent many hours in the
workshop just looking and learning, and his workshop was also my workshop. I have never
known a problem Tony could not solve. He would always let you talk, digest, and then reply with
words of wisdom.
On the road to the races, be it The Pod or Europe, it was always an adventure. Lack of sleep,
long hours waiting to race or running out of gas on the run. The joy of winning, or sometimes,
losing. I would not have changed a thing.
Dear friend, until we meet again, keep the pedal to the metal.
__________________________________
Marcus Knowles
(Close mate)
He was a “toolaholic” like me and pretty much had to have the best of everything, as I found out
when doing carpentry work on American Autoparts’ premises in Redhill. Seeing me using my
big chop saw, he commented that it “looked like a good bit of kit” and that he wanted to do some
carpentry at home as a hobby, so after getting a quick tutorial on how not to cut his hand off, he
went and bought one. I thought that was a bit OTT for a hobby, but that was Tony.
For me, Tony made American car ownership that much more enjoyable. As my hobby is
messing about with a rusty old Camaro, I felt privileged I could visit the workshop on Saturdays,
borrow his tools while working on my car, and receive his help. While rebuilding my car, I’d turn
up at American Autoparts with boxes of Chevy performance parts and Tony was just as excited
to open them as I was. I’ve already missed you for some time mate, because you’ve not been
around due to your fight with a terrible illness… and I’ve broken my Camaro again.
____________________________________
Tina Gibbs
(Wife of Tony’s old team-mate and a long-time family friend)
Tony was a larger-than-life character and I can still hear him saying “Alright girl?” while giving
one of those smiles of his. Terry and Tony had been buddies for years in the Camaros, and
we all had such good times with the antics we got up to.
No more pain Tony, you can rest now.
____________________________________
Craig Gibbs
(Racer, son of Terry and Tina, and a good friend)
Some of my earliest memories of Tony were Saturday mornings down the workshop in Thornton
Heath. I was a spotty pain-in-the-arse kid who always got in the way, while Tony and dad were
thick as thieves working on the Camaros. From Black Magic to Obsession, Tony was always
involved.
It was Tony that introduced dad to drag racing and the whole street racer scene. From being
one of the first to dabble with nitrous, to pioneering the twin-turbo setup in this country, he was
always willing to try new things.
_______________________________________
Graham “Arkwright” Beckwith and John “Half Price” Price
(Commentators)
Right from our early days of involvement in drag racing, Tony was always there as an
entertainer. From the Gary’s Picnic days, the Night Doorslammer events, working with Terry
Gibbs and then, of course, the racing partnership with Alex (“Who the f*** is Alex?” Nicol), he
was always a hard competitor, plus a fun person to watch. It made our lives as commentators
so very easy.
_______________________________________
Carla Pittau
(Fellow racer)
He’s the one who came with me to check-out a red 1970 Camaro for sale in Sydenham on
1990, when I wouldn’t have known an old banger from my elbow. It was my first V8, became my
daily driver and little-by-little, my race car.
________________________________________
Tony Oksien
(Honourary President, Mopar Muscle Association of the UK)
Tony gave me so much help/enthusiasm/advice and knowledge about muscle cars… mostly
Chevys! I have really great memories of hanging around with Tony and the guys, talking cars
etc. I wanted Tony as my Big Brother! There was a kindness and understanding towards me
that I cherished.
_______________________________________
Chris Mead
(E x-team-mate)
It was 1975 and in a pub in Kings Langley that I first met Tony and Ange, and she was giving
him stick even back then. Good girl! For reasons unbeknown to myself, I then chose to spend
the next 15 years or more sitting in a workshop, a van or at a track listening to him and Tel
(Terry Gibbs) bitch and moan like a pair of old tarts. Those years the three of us spent racing
together created memories for me that will last a lifetime.
By the early ‘90s, racing or workshop visits had to take second place to work and my young
family. Despite not seeing each other for weeks, we never allowed it to go too long without
abusing each other over the phone!
Tony was as genuine as the day is long and a better friend you’d not meet, but, in spite of what
he’d tell you, he was also the biggest (and original) Messer too! RIP, my friend.
___________________________________________________
Sylvia Macdonald
(Former press officer for the Custom Car Magazine Shows)
I walk in… big blue eyes, cheeky smile, oily mechanic’s hands, takes time to talk, thrill of the
races, technical questions from colleagues, knows all the answers, brilliant at rebuilds,
hardworking, dedicated, patriotic, professional. And when it’s his time, brave, very brave.
______________________________________
Ray White
(Former fellow racer)
I raced against Tony in Super Gas. He had a twin-turbo Camaro in the 1980s and partnered
Terry Gibbs in the Camaros Unlimited car, then from the mid-1990s into the 2000s with Alex
Nicol. Tony was a real character and, together with Alex, was renowned for a sense of humour
and great sportsmanship. He’ll be greatly missed.
__________________________________________
Tim Boles (Circuit racer and secretary of the Classic Camaro Club)
This is a huge blow to all us American car enthusiasts. He was a legend way beyond his
acknowledged expertise in automatic transmissions, and one of those guys with a kind word
for everybody. He is already sadly missed.
__________________________________________
Walter Eccles
(Long-term regular customer with his succession of Pontiacs)
I’ll never forget the first time I telephoned to American Autoparts to locate the workshop for a
service on my Pontiac, and someone said it was in “Fornton Heaf,” which made my partner
giggle when she overheard me (a very American guy) repeating the spelling!
It was the start of a long and greatly-valued friendship, primarily with Tony, on whom I was
completely dependent to resolve the mysterious behavior of my cars. He was always promptly
and cheerfully responsive in correctly analyzing the problems and making them disappear.
The world is a far better place for Tony having been here!
My 16-year-old son Liam has written in memory “It was a pleasure to go to American Autoparts
and see Tony. He always had a smile on his face and laughter in his voice. As a young boy I
loved it that he would let me sit in the cars and pretend to drive.”
___________________________________________________
Captain Jonny
(Friend and customer)
Tony was my teacher for all things mechanical since 1990. He took the piss endlessly about
each vehicle I bought, but would always answer my sometimes-naive questions and help when I
got stuck rebuilding. He taught me to weld, a long-held ambition, and how to very carefully to
what he said (or sometimes mumbled), because in amongst it there’d be the sparkly gems of
knowledge that I’d be seeking.
Sometimes the penny wouldn’t drop until days later and I’d find myself thinking “Aha, so that’s
what he meant!” Tony was generous beyond measure, as all those who frequented Thornton
Heath Saturday spannering-cum-chat sessions can attest. His tool chests were always open
and his experience (and sometimes unintelligible) humour were always on tap. I really enjoyed
those long, exhausting, fume-filled, oily days and even though over the past few months we
knew he was going, I can’t quite believe he’s actually gone. The world is poorer without such
unique characters, but I’m glad his undeserved suffering is now over. God speed Tone.
__________________________________________
Keith “Spam” Hardy (Eighties pal and ex-racer)
I learned an awful lot from Tony the ‘80s and I will remember him as a guy who was happy to
pass on his knowledge, sharing it with others without heeding for one moment the potential loss
of personal income these actions undoubtedly resulted in. When I first met him I didn’t know a
hemi from a 454, but after two years of fairly casual contact I could strip and reassemble a
small-block Chevy blindfolded. And me with no mechanical background whatsoever. Of course,
they all blew up, but then they always do, don’t they?
Such selflessness was quite rare then, and it’s even rarer now. I am only sorry I didn’t make
better efforts to keep in touch, but I think we’re all guilty of that at times until, regretfully, it is too
late, as it is in this case.
__________________________________________________
Stu Bradbury (Long-time chief starter at Santa Pod and
chairman of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame)
Another of drag racing’s true pioneers and lover of American iron has joined the ever-increasing
entry in the drag race meeting of old friends out in the blue yonder. No more pain, just the roar
of a Tony Gransden V8.
_______________________________________
Brian Taylor
(Ex-BDR&HRA chairman, former Santa Pod commentator and
author of the Crazy Horses history of British drag racing)
Another one gone; I remember Tony, a really laid-back person, from Santa Pod in the 1970s.
It seems I am writing small tributes too often these days.
______________________________________
George Loucas
(Part of the “Mopar Mob” and long-time customer)
Tony the mechanic, Tony the critic and, most importantly, Tony a friend to all. Constantly ribbed
for being “the Mopar man,” I had a great affiliation with Tony while rebuilding my ’66 Cuda.
Others shunned me, but he didn’t, giving me the opportunity, ability, and, most of all, his time.
Privileged with his knowledge, I was able to put her back on the road.
Tony was a pioneer, but modest and always ready to help others.
_______________________________________
Paul Samuel
(Owner of “Grace,” a ’68 Dodge Monaco, now in Australia)
It’s early in the morning here and the first thing I did was to get the mighty Dodge out of the
shed, turn the nitrous on and bury my foot. This car ticks over like a Swiss watch. Quality; just
like the man. God bless you, Uncle Tony, you were a real man… one of the best.
_______________________________________
Ashley Reeve
(Customer with his Olds Vista Cruiser)
Tony was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet and, although I haven’t been along to
Redhill much over the last year, he was often in my thoughts. My kids loved him too and were
always asking when we could come up and see him. Sadly, it won’t be possible anymore.
A giant of the US car scene, and a truly great guy.
_______________________________________
Steve Clark
(Customer)
If they don’t have drag racing and an American car scene in the afterlife, I’m sure Tony will
rectify the situation. God bless Tony, they don’t make ‘em like you anymore.
_______________________________________
Sharon and Jan Hogarth
(Super Gas and Super Comp racers)
RIP Tony. We are sure you and Tel can fire-up the dragways of heaven and continue the
mayhem for many years to come.