Today we return with the sad news that Ian Cummins passed away unexpectedly last weekend at the age of 77. Rick Marks has kindly put together these words to share some of Ian’s story with us.
Thanks to Rick Marks
Ian was a founder member of HSRCA and held member #8. He had been life member and Patron of the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia for many years.
Ian was very well known and highly regarded amongst the classic car and historic racing fraternity both here and overseas – even working for the late Tom Wheatcroft managing the Donnington Museum quite a few years ago.
Ian probably owned more significant historic racing and classic cars over his lifetime than most of us have had hot dinners. From original C & D Type Jaguars, SS100, Ferrari Super Squalo, Ford GT70 prototype just to name a few.
After selling Cummins Classic Cars at Mortlake, Ian moved to historic Ross, Tasmania, with wife Judith some five years ago where they set up an Antique Shop and two large Motor Houses to display his fantastic classic car and motoring memorabilia collection largely for the benefit of car clubs touring Tasmania. He was also involved with the National Automobile Motor Museum at Launceston where several of his cars have been displayed for various themes.
Ian’s other passion (aside from his family and a good red wine) was antique Australian military weaponry and memorabilia and he had an impressive collection. He was very well respected in these circles as well. There will be a lot more written about Ian Cummins by several of his closest friends for the next Oily Rag – this is a very small part. I knew Ian well for the past 30 years and we spent a lot of time together this past four years. Ian had so many stories to tell from his colourful life – he was a real character. He will be missed by family and friends very much.
Rick Marks
Ian’s funeral will be held on Friday 11 November at 1pm in the chapel of Collier Trennery, 202 Yambil Street, Griffith. For those unable to attend, there will be a memorial service in Sydney in a few weeks’ time. More information on this will be provided in due course.
Image via the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia
Ian is my cousin and he was a real Jag nut, I remember when we were teenagers he would buy cars do them up and drive them for awhile, he would save any profit he made and put it away until he could go to Melbourne and pay cash for his first jag.
I met Ian through a mutual intrest in antique weapons and the Antique Arms Collectors Society of Australia. This occurred in the 1960’s and we interacted up until the Tuesday prior to his untimely passing. We used to gig each other mercilessly on sight and it was a lot of fun. Rest in Peace, Mate.
We used to do radiators for Cummins Classic Cars so we knew Ian really well always a gentleman and a beautiful human being a stellar person with smile on his face every time I saw him. I remember one weird moment with Ian, I was crossing the road (Parramatta Road, Ashfield) in front of our workshop it had rained earlier but the roads were still wet and out of nowhere Ian was in Fredrick Street in his Jaguar D-Type coming towards me, I was standing there in the middle of the road on the the traffic island with my mouth open because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I twirled my finger by the side of my head and mouthed to him “you’re crazy” and all he did was smile, it was the craziest thing I have ever seen but that was Ian, a giant of a man who didn’t care what could have happened he was just enjoying himself. Bloody legend.