Philip Young, the indomitable force behind the revival of endurance rallying and founder of the Endurance Rally Association, passed away on the 11th March 2015, at the age of 65 following a motorcycle accident in Burma.
His passing marked the end of a chapter for the classic motoring world – one driven by grit, adventure, and the enduring belief that cars were made to be driven, not just displayed.
Born in 1950, Young’s love for motorsport took root early. As a young man, he watched the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon – a colossal feat of stamina, engineering, and sheer will — and vowed that if the rally ever returned, he’d take part. He kept that promise in 1977, navigating a Lightspeed Magenta kit car across continents as part of a spirited, privately-entered team. It was a rough-and-ready effort, but one rich in character – just like the man himself.
Philip was never one for convention. A journalist by trade, he worked at the Daily Mail, Motoring News, and Cars & Car Conversions, blending a keen editorial eye with an insatiable appetite for the road less travelled. But it was in the world of endurance rallying that his true legacy was forged.
In 1988, he created the Pirelli Classic Marathon, kick starting a golden era for classic rallying. Over the years, he would mastermind some of the world’s most ambitious and imaginative long-distance events: the London to Cape Town Rally, the Flying Scotsman, the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, and many more. These weren’t just rallies — they were odysseys, conducted over thousands of miles of remote terrain, often in pre-war or classic cars, and held together by his unshakeable belief in camaraderie, determination, and mechanical ingenuity.
Philip had a unique ability to rally people as much as he rallied cars. He inspired trust in hundreds of entrants, volunteers, and mechanics, bringing together a tribe of enthusiasts who shared his passion for pushing both man and machine to their limits. His events weren’t always easy — and they weren’t meant to be. He believed that challenge built character, and that perseverance could be life-affirming.
Even as endurance rallying became more polished and popular, Young remained the same: fiercely independent, slightly rebellious, and full of vision. He was never afraid to take a risk, especially if it meant discovering a new route, a new story, or a new horizon.
He is survived by his partner, family, and a global community of classic car adventurers who continue to follow the roads he first dared to explore.
Philip Young’s legacy isn’t just found in maps or mileage — it lives on in the spirit of every driver who chooses the long way round.
