Former kart manufacturer, engine tuner and magazine publisher Paul Ardill lost his life in a cycling accident on the weekend.
The 78-year old passed away after a terrible accident near Kilkivan, north of Brisbane, on Saturday morning.
Ardill had a long history in karting. Based in Orange at the time, he was manufacturing his own range of chassis, building and blueprinting engines and even ran the Australian Kart Report magazine for a number of years.
“I stocked his Ardill karts in ’83 and had many up here in Queensland” Ralph van Doorn told KartSportNews.
“He was a really nice guy and matched it will Drew (Price) and Russell Ingall in the day. Sad to see he died the way he did.”
After suffering a stroke at 65, Ardill became heavily involved with bicycles and was known as the Elder Statesman of Endurance Cycling.
Bicycling Australia has published a tribute and a 2017 interview with Paul – it can be read HERE.