Sadly passed away in 2021 after many years of fighting cancer. He lived in France with wife Yvonne for nearly twenty years, but as his health worsened, they came back to Britain to be near the family. His racing involvement in more recent years was largely restricted to his regular attendance of historic festivals and reunions. Gerry is the son of former Grand Prix driver Joe Ashmore, whilst his uncle Fred also competed in Grand Prix's; Gerry's full name is actually Joseph Frederick Harold Gerald Ashmore. The Ashmore family were involved during World War Two in making parts for De Havilland for Mosquito aircraft. Gerry, who was schooled for a while in Switzerland was always interested in motor cars and engines, driving tractors from the age of five on the family farms. He then drove trucks and construction equipment and the family firm dealt with both car dealerships in the Midlands but then also War surplus material dealers for some years after World War Two. Gerry made his debut in 1957 in a D-Type Jaguar intended solely to be an one-off so he could understand his dad's passion for the sport. He finished the race despite saying that the car went straight on at all the corners! Eventually gained more enthusiasm for the sport and moved into single-seaters in 1960. Carried on racing in GT and sportscar events until 1971, when he retired to concentrate on fatherhood with his newborn daughter, Michelle. He also built a couple of his cars and was lucky to survive a huge accident in the 1961 Italian Grand Prix. Gerry drove Lister-Jaguars, the Lotus MK18, Lotus 30 and Lotus 40 as well as both the Alexis and Elva Formula Junior cars. Younger brother Chris also raced for a long time in sportscars. Gerry, for many years, operated a truck and crane business and often drove trucks and other heavy equipment himself, including from near Staffordshire to France.

Biography last updated 25 Aug 2021