Australian motojourno icon Ken Wootton passed away overnight
— Family Statement
Following the recent passing of renowned motorcycling journalist, Ken Wootton, his family have released the following statement:
“We’re all deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Ken’s death so suddenly while overseas – it’s hard to believe he’s no longer with us.
“It’s been a horrible day, but we have been completely overwhelmed at the kindness of all who knew Ken.
“We have been touched by the outpouring of support from those who tell us how Ken assisted them in their careers or about his generosity in the sharing of his knowledge and his passion for motorcycling, and on the many comments about his sense of humour and the warmth of his friendship.
“We’ve had so many calls from people who knew him; reflecting on what he meant to them and it has been a great help.
“We’d like to thank the entire motorcycling fraternity for their support, it means a lot during this incredibly difficult and sad time.”
Details of Ken’s funeral/memorial will be released once arrangements have been made.
— 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 subjected to each others’ acerbic wit. But we were certainly not in the same skill grade of cutting remarks as Ken. Ken and I shared a similar sense of humour, so where others often found offence I almost always saw the joke. Although it must be said he sometimes could shock even me!
Due to being self-employed, I never had to work for Ken directly, which – due to his famously tireless work ethic – I am quite grateful for!
I did, however, write material on a freelance basis 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 in what were the pioneering days of reporting motorcycle news via the web. I believe Ken also perhaps played a role in helping to stave 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 jokingly dubbed the Eddie McGuire of the motorcycle industry. His attendance at almost every motorcycle media event in the country was a given, as either a reporter or master of ceremonies. And of course the tireless assistance he has given to the Australian Superbike Championship over the years, and racers alike, largely for free, is beyond measure.
It is rare for someone in our business to be given genuine respect, and KW had plenty of 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.
