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Bill Boddy, editor of MotorSport magazine for 55 years, has died at the age of 98.

Bill Boddy, editor of MotorSport magazine for 55 years, has died at the age of 98.

Known universally as ‘WB’, Boddy first wrote for MotorSport in 1930 and continued to do so every month until a few days before his death on Thursday, his 81-year association with the title surely unrivalled by any other person in the history of journalism.

During his editorship from 1936 to 1991 he established MotorSport as the pre-eminent magazine in its field, known for its fearless testing, extraordinary attention to detail and massive reach. He was a champion of the classic car cause, the world’s leading authority on Brooklands and a tireless supporter of grass-roots motorsport.

He was awarded the MBE in 1997 for services to journalism and even when his health started to fail him in later years, he was never late with his copy nor ever short of something to say. His passing represents an irreplaceable loss to motoring journalism in general and to MotorSport in particular.

Autocar extends its sincere sympathies to his family, friends and many thousands of fans.

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