Community mourns dealer
The automotive and motorsport community is mourning the tragic loss of a used-car dealer who died in a two-vehicle crash in South Canterbury.
Darryl Phillips, 65, had been the owner of a dealership in Ashburton since 1999 and had more than 45 years of experience in the automotive industry.
He was one of two people to die in an accident at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Looker Road, south of Rangitata, on September 30.
Phillips, pictured above, completed his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at a polytechnic and at the age of 25 was running his own workshop/service station in Ashburton
In 1996, he leased out his business and began importing and selling vehicles with a dealership in the town. Three years later he owned the business and named it Darryl Phillips Motor Company.
One of his sons, Terence, is also a car dealer and runs TA Phillips in Ashburton.
In a death notice, his family says Phillips “had a lot of love to give and shared it with many”.
He leaves behind his wife Heather, and their four children and eight grandchildren. A service to celebrate his life was held at the Hotel Ashburton on October 7.
Phillips has also been remembered by the South Island Endurance Series Racing Drivers Club (SIERDC) in a post on its Facebook page.
“Really, really sad news for our SIERDC family with the sudden passing of competitor Darryl Phillips,” the post says.
“Darryl competed in the black/gold [Honda] Civic with his son Terence over the past few seasons and we will really miss his big smile and his wonderful personality in the pits. Our sincere thoughts go out to all his family.”
The father-and-son combination secured the Class A (0-2000cc) title in the 2021 South Island Endurance Series after winning their category in the season-ending three-hour race at Ruapuna, Christchurch.
Private Tristan McQueen, 24, of Burnham, whose name was confirmed by NZ Army, was the other person to die in the crash. A young child in one of the cars was also injured and airlifted to hospital.
Police were investigating the circumstances of the accident.
