Remembering better days - Geoff Polites

TMC · 28-05-2013, 02:01 AM

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...742941544.html

Article about Geoff Polites, the father of the Territory.

GTENVY · 28-05-2013, 02:12 AM

Hard to believe its been 5 years since his death. Very sad loss to the automotive world that's for sure. A part of me always wished he'd never moved on from Ford Aus. I wonder what it would have been like if he'd stayed?

GQ_Smooth · 28-05-2013, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTENVY

Hard to believe its been 5 years since his death. Very sad loss to the automotive world that's for sure. A part of me always wished he'd never moved on from Ford Aus. I wonder what it would have been like if he'd stayed?

If he stayed:

1) We would have had territory diesel instead of the turbo.
2) The inline 6 would have been dead in 2012 and we would be importing the V6 duratec.

Whether this would be enough to hold off factory closures is debatable. If he was born in America he would have run Ford globally before he passed away.

jpd80 · 28-05-2013, 08:48 PM

Polites passion for Teritory and diesel:

Quote:

He was so passionate about that vehicle that a few years later on a visit to Australia he was spotted drilling the chief engineer in the corner of a room, asking why a diesel engine hadn't been approved. It might not have been so awkward had it not been at a funeral for a Ford Australia executive; his wife Linda politely escorted him away.

RHR · 28-05-2013, 09:06 PM

"If only" comes to mind

R-Design · 28-05-2013, 09:13 PM

Ford Australia's loss was Jaguar's gain. The XF Jag is a work of art, and Polites was a magician.

GTpilot · 28-05-2013, 11:48 PM

I work with several people that were close to Geoff, some of the stories they have to tell of him are truly amazing, he certainly was a unique and approachable man.

Eaturbo · 29-05-2013, 01:27 PM

Yes and i think without him that ford would have shut up shop years ago. Geoff is the reason we even had Ford until 2016 if they do go that long. Very gifted man and to think that guys like him and Tom Walkinshaw are taken from us only to leave the murders and drug dealers behind. Wheres the justice

GT-spec15 · 29-05-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

If he stayed:

1) We would have had territory diesel instead of the turbo.

Great guy, was a big loss for the automotive world indeed.

fgpsi · 29-05-2013, 01:42 PM

I remember when the ba was coming out and he drove an xr6 turbo over to Holden at fishermans bend so that they could froth

FOMOCO 1 · 29-05-2013, 06:57 PM

Geoff Polites and also Howard Marsden would have to go down in history as the modern day dream team of Ford Australia. It was exciting times back in 2002. Reminiscent of the glory days of Bill Bourke and Al Turner. All sadly gone to the race tracks of the sky.....

Eaturbo · 29-05-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOMOCO 1

Geoff Polites and also Howard Marsden would have to go down in history as the modern day dream team of Ford Australia. It was exciting times back in 2002. Reminiscent of the glory days of Bill Bourke and Al Turner. All sadly gone to the race tracks of the sky.....

Not to mention the BA's success at the race track thanks to Howard. I still believe the BA was the best Falcon of all time. They had the best engine line up ever offered by Ford Australia.