RIP Ken Wootton

[fezzick]

Word is just filtering in that Ken Wootton, for many years the "voice" of AMCN, has passed away while touring in the Czech Republic. Details are sketchy at this stage but it's thought a heart attack was to blame. Apparently he was found dead in his hotel room. A very sad day for Australian motorcycling.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid= ... =785170756

[robracer]

no way

[MadKaw]

It appears to be correct..
RIP...

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2011/July/KW.htm

-- Australian motojourno icon Ken Wootton passed away overnight

-- Statement from AMCN

It is with great sadness that AMCN this morning learnt of the passing of ex-AMCN Editor, Ken Wootton.

The “Woose” was holidaying in Europe, where he passed away in his sleep on Sunday, 24 July in Czechoslovakia.

Ken will be sadly missed across the motorcycling world, as his reach and achievements were enormous. He was the man who set AMCN on its successful modern course, sat in the editor seat at Motorcycle Trader, possessed an incredible motorcycling and Australian road-racing knowledge no-one can rival, helped many Australian road racers on their path to success and tested all genres of motorcycles.

He achieved a lot in his too-short 57 years, and has left some massive shoes to fill. Everyone at AMCN is thinking of his sister Karen, and all those who knew the Woose. He was a real character of Australian Motorcycling and will be missed around the motorcycling world.

Sam Maclachlan
Editor
AMCN

-- Trev's Note

Ken was the journalist I spent the most time with during my early days in this business, right back to when I started mcnews.com.au in 1999. Actually, KW's history goes back so far that virtually every Australian motorcycling scribe has spent the majority of his/her formative years in the presence of KW, in one form or another.

For most of the previous decade we shared the media centre at every round of the Australian Superbike Championship. For most of that time, we were the only pair of scribes in attendance at the rounds. Along with photographers Arthur Thornton and Keith Muir this was essentially the entire media contingent and from the Friday morning through to the Sunday evening, we were the subjects of each others' acerbic wit. But we were certainly not in the same skill grade of cutting remarks as Ken. We had similar senses of humour, so where others often found offence I almost always saw the humour, although it must be said he sometimes could even shock me!

Due to being self-employed, I never had to work for Ken directly, which - due to his famous work ethic - I am quite grateful for!

I did, however, write some material for AMCN many years ago under the pseudonym 'Vert Bush', which Ken had given me as a play on my real name, partly due to his quirky sense of humour and partly because of the need to not link AMCN with MCNEWS.COM.AU.

In those earlier days some people believed MCNEWS.COM.AU was the web arm of AMCN and due to the somewhat closed and guarded nature of the bike journo circle, some in this industry wished me ill will. I heard from several sources that at that time, KW more often than not actually defended what I was trying to do with MCNEWS.COM.AU, perhaps even staving off potential legal challenges that could have come my way.

Thus, I do have plenty to thank Ken for. I will miss him and his cutting remarks. Over the years I developed a genuine affection for the man I once jokingly dubbed the Eddie McGuire of the motorcycle industry, due to his attendance at almost every motorcycle media event in the country, as either a reporter or master of ceremonies.

It is rare for someone in our business to be given genuine respect, and KW had plenty of vocal detractors, but even amongst those detractors I believe most still held a grudging respect for the biggest figure in Aussie moto-journalism. I can't see there being another like him. RIP.

- LATE BRAKING NEWS - REVIEWS - FORUM - WALLPAPER -

[chimp]

End of an era...R.I.P Woose

[Glen]

That's extremely sad news...... R.I.P. Woose

[Wattie]

RIP.

Sad News. Goes to show, bikes dont kill people. Sleeping does.

[RustyAs]

Great loss to the motorcycling community

RIP

[smithy5]

RIP condolences to family and friends

[Six Addict]

thats sad, obviously heading to the brno gp ... sad news!

[laidback]

RIP Ken...very sad news.

[red_dave]

Very sad...

[bonester]

Damn. Another great journo gone. First Mr Smith, now Ken. RIP

[mike-s]

Dang, that sucks. Condolences for his family & to those affected by his passing, be it friendship or his worklife.

[Disco]

Not good RIP Ken ....I'm sure there will be a tribute on RRR tonight

[greenmeanie]

RIP Ken.