A gathering of speedway and circuit racing identities have attended a moving memorial service for top journalist Jon Evans who lost his battle following a long illness last month.
Packing into the committee room at Sandown, the well-wishers listened to speakers which included Evans’ business partner Michelle Jordison (Oval Express magazine), Premier Speedway general manager David Mills and World Series Sprintcar founder John Hughes.
Many a story was retold, including how the Speedway community at Knoxville in the United States held Evans in high regard.
Evans was a regular at Knoxville and he would never tire of retelling stories of the people and the racing at one of his most favourite destinations on his motor racing schedule.
Among speedway competitors to pay their respects was racer Mitchell Dumesny, the son of four-times Australian Sprintcar champion Max Dumesny, South Australia’s Trevor Green and Phil March. Original WSS commentator Jimmy Shone and long-time Hoosier tyres representative Freddy Baker, officials Mandy Searle & Lance McMinn along with South Australian Speedway identities Peter & Deb Tucker and Jeff Drew from Avalon Speedway.
As well as writing, Evans enjoyed reading and the final book he read while in hospital was the Declaration of Independence, a gift from Australian V8 Supercar and NASCAR racer Owen Kelly.
Tributes from several V8 Supercars team owners and officials including Garry Rogers and Brad Jones were read out to those in attendance.
The service was conducted jointly by V8 Supercars chaplain Gary Coleman and his Sandown and Avalon counterpart Mark Bateman.