This page is for "all the friends, and the rogues and rascals, who knew Barry" to leave their memories of Barry, or their tributes to him (keep it clean please!):

If you wish to add to this "In memoriam" page, please send an e-mail to

Many thanks (from "The Moderators"). Barry passed away on the 29th July 2005.  So it's two years on, we're still here, and the memory of Barry is as strong and as alive as ever.  Thanks for every contribution.

Jeremy D. van Tongeren on 28/09/2007 - 12:24 

Dear Friends of Barry,
 
I was very, very sad to hear of the passing of an iconic figure in Fiat/Lancia tuning.
 
I had a FIAT x1/9 at the time (1985/86/87) which was fitted with a big valve head, twin 40DCNF and a hot cam, exhaust etc “supplied by ANOther”. The car was being set up on Franco Colasuono’s rolling road next to Barry’s workshop. Next thing I saw was Barry sticking his head through the door and telling me I was wasting my time!  [Editor's Note:  Franco had a business called "Elaborazione Colasuono" - Barry used to delight in calling it "Esagerazione Colasuono"!]
 
A wild ride (seems to have been a common theme this!) around the back streets of South London in his Montecarlo, sliding across kerbs to “open the corner” fully demonstrated the superiority of the Monte Carlo and the full availability of the 150 promised BHP! Sadly my Students stipend did not run to a “Monte”.
 
I spent a lot of time hanging around Ital-tune (well there was so much to see, from 131 Abarths, assorted racing cars, even a racing Matra!) so much so that Barry eventually offered me a job! Unfortunately I was still studying engineering at London University so couldn’t, although I have always regretted not becoming involved in the tuning business!
 
Another Barry moment was being shoehorned into the passenger seat of a left hand drive racing Uno Turbo (full on slick tyres, front spoiler low enough to roll beer cans down the street) and being given a 4” boost gauge and hose to hang on to, whilst Barry drove. Number plates optional! Here we were wheel-spinning down the narrow (wet – we were on slicks of course!) car lined roads, torque steering from gutter to gutter, in a left hand drive racing car! It was such a laugh that I was in incoherent tears by the time we got back.
 
I couldn’t believe that we escaped these outings without being pursued (they wouldn’t have caught us!) by at least a dozen SD1 “Jam Sandwiches”. It was a real Italian Job, but in South London! He was either so well known to the Police or there weren’t many Police about in those days!
 
I do remember being personally “nicked” for doing 80 Mph into the elephant and castle roundabout under the “just been at IItal-tune” influence! :
“Do you know how fast you were going sonny?” “Err… no Officer (but if you had seen us earlier!)… I had so much accumulated guilt from the previous outings that I felt it entirely reasonable to be booked at that point!
 
Then there was the Monday morning when I arrived at Italtune to find Barry rather silent and untypical antisocial. The reason arrived shortly, on an AA truck, being the remains of his 130TC in which he had been punted off into the Armco, by a wayward Mini at Brands Hatch. Barry’s silence was actually enforced as it seemed he had bitten his tongue rather badly in the impact, had a load of stitches in and couldn’t speak!
 
And then there was the visit to the local wine bar … But that’s another story.
 
I’m sad I missed the Integrale years, they must have been classic!

Carl Hammond on 16/06/2007 – 23:09
 
I will always remember Barry for helping me out in the past when I first got the Italian Bug & purchased my Delta HF. There was no end to the amount of calls & journeys I made to see Barry & he was a top man, I have many memories from meeting Barry at both the workshop (so he could provide me with many more tuning parts) & also at all of the Lancia trackdays at Goodwood.
Barry was a great man who will be missed by many

Tom Mulhall on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 - 00:29

I knew of Barry before I met Barry back in 1987. I remember unwrapping some bits that I purchased from him after hours of transatlantic stories, wrapped in that "Italtune" tape that read: "Go Like **** You-Know-What with italtune!". This is the type of man he was - without ever having met me, he went off racing to Brands, leaving me the keys to his flat so that I could spend the night after flying in from California, and the keys to his Uno Turbo. I remember that Lancia Beta Turbo poster dominating the living room at Albany Mews, driving right up there to Brands Hatch, arrving to see this fellow giving a right blowing up to an official - it had to be Barry! Oh, the wine, the stories, and the fun. The hospitality shown by he and Mira was incredible, and I will always think of Barry fondly. Christ, what a driver, too! Wherever Barry is now, he is improving something - either a white car, or a very, very red one...Tom Mulhall, San Francisco

Jeremy Barker on 26th April 2006 - 21:07

Barry "Stealth" Waterhouse, I will always remember Barry from the Lancia trackdays that I have attended with Paul Winrow over the years. The most memorable was that matt black Fiat Uno that would spin the tyres as he changed gear accelerating past the pits at Goodwood. I'm sure he will be missed by many.

Allan Knowles on 14th March 2006 - 13:10

He had a tuning works up in Peckham. He specialised in X1/9s and Monte Carlos. I remember being belted around the estates in his Monte Carlo to show me how they handled. I also remember the fact that all four tyres (slicks!) had sodding great blisters as this was his racing car. Fond memories --

Rob Castle on 8th March 2006 - 20:49
I met Barry through the LMC back in the very early 90's. He was a regular at the frequent LMC track days. I'll always remember his uno doing fast laps with an apex marker cone permanently wedged underneath!
I'm very sad to hear of his passing. He was a true eccentric genius and a great loss. RIP

J. Evan Jones on 8th March 2006 - 14:29
Barry was a great bloke and a magic engineer. I well remember the pair of us falling asleep on his sofa and armchair respectively after a night of long and earnest discussion of the merits of half a dozen bottles of red wine....

And he built the most amazing Fiat X1/9 engine for me, followed by perfecting the transplant of a 2 litre twin cam into the same car two years later...

And I will never forget his start off the line in the Italian Intermarque at Brands in the days when he was first racing and developing the Uno Turbo.

Great days, great bloke.

Evan

"HFAlex" Alex Segala on 22nd February 2006 - 19:25
A great man who will be missed by many
I'm really sad.
:°(

Richard Homewood on 17th February 2006 - 00:01
Gobsmacked to find out about Barry's sad departure. I typed him into Google to try and find him to locate and renovate another Alfa 155 Q4. His knowledge and patience always left me astounded and a bit lighter in the wallet but what price perfection. A lot will miss you

Simon Penfold on 10th February 2006 - 19:54
I have met some lovely people through owning old cars, (and some right bastards). I wish I still had the Fulvia Barry restored for me, and I wish I could take him out in it.

jason on 2nd February 2006 - 00:03
I`m so so sad, I found out about this by typing Barry`s name into google because I hadn`t seen him for so long! he knew the truth and didn`t mind sharing it!!!!!
i first saw him at goodwood circa 1990 anihilating de tomaso`s at a track day, I`LL NEVER FORGET THAT OR HIM!!!!!

Ian Phillimore on 29th January 2006 - 01:34
Soon after buying my 'grale I met Barry for the first time. He helped me on many occasions, including a chat to the AA man who I called out to a breakdown !!!The last I heard of him was from a chance meeting with a member of the garage outside my house(you know who you are) who told me he had moved to Sicily and my thoughts then where "I am sure he would be happy there with the people who loved him but secrtly missing getting his hands greasy". A great man who will be missed by many.

Tony Soper on 25th January 2006 - 11:51
I have many fond memories of Bazza - that fearsome white big arched Uno turbo barging its way around Brands in the Italian Intermarque races, great dices with Mike Buckler in his black uno turbo, the kindness and patience he showed when I spent a week putting an engine together in his workshop, quaffing chardonnay at Pembrey, his 50th birthday party, that big Lancia Montecarlo billboard poster on the walls and ceiling of his living room, his extraordinary tales of Bob the bank robber and the great affection that was so obvious between him and Mira. So long Barry, from Tony, Pauline & Frank

Nagy, Zoltan - Hungary, Budapest on 18th January 2006 - 15:32
Dear Barry,
It was a pleasure to met You! We only met once, but I felt we were friends at all times.
When I heard the sad news, it was very painful. Me and my wife will remember you forever! Zolti

Andrea Nistri on 17th January 2006 - 12:05
We all miss you a lot. So sad we cannot see you again.

Peter Dietsch on 11th January 2006 - 18:49
Totally gutted when I heard the news. Will miss him terribly. Total gentleman, honest, sense of humour...party animal ;-) ! Thanks Barry for trips down the Old Kent Road in the Fiat Uno "Stealth" Turbo at 100+ MPH !

T Brockhurst on 11th January 2006 - 00:00
Shocked, a bit like the bills I used to get. But with one rascally smile you just knew that his passion & care for your Evo was like that of a father to his kids. Will be sadly, sadly missed.

James Whelan on 9th January 2006 - 11:40
Utterly gutted. Bazza had time for everyone, giving valuable advice to enthusiasts over the phone for free. Who else would be perfect to demonstrate the extremes of towing? I can report that a Lancia Prisma cannot maintain 55mph when sliding down the M1 broadside with an Integrale on its trailer.

Nasos on 25th December 2005 - 13:46
What can i say about Barry , a great man pass away. He gave me many tips about Integrale . Now he start a new trip for new places . So long Barry
Nasos from Greece

Keith Turner on 23rd December 2005 - 21:01
I just found out I'm gobsmacked. Barry was a great help to me a few years ago when I was modifying my Trevi Volumex. Great Guy!

Rob Hardy on 19th December 2005 - 19:56
A true character, who always had time for you (even when stuck on a Welsh mountain with a broken down Grale on a Sunday). So many laughs; so much knowledge gone forever. So long, Barry. It was a privilege.

Jim Clennell on 12th December 2005 - 12:36
I found Barry to be a hugely knowledgeable, helpful and above all friendly bloke. I was shocked to hear he had passed away and offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends

Ruben Aparici on 9th December 2005 - 20:26
In many senses Barry died young. Besides his multiple laps around the sun :-) he kept his young spirit, curiousity, the need for speed. He was a great man that I'll never forget, I just can't forget him. He's gone, but all what he shared remains.

Colin Marr on 6th December 2005 - 19:29
One of the many great things about Barry was how he attracted such a diverse collection of friends and admirers over the years, each valuing him within the context of the period and the cars concerned. So, it was good that at the gathering on 3 December there were many friends from different periods of Barry’s life who joined together to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.

Simon Pimblett on 5th December 2005 - 11:58
So long, Barry. You were as characterful as the cars themselves! The Lancia community has lost a valuable friend, but as you yourself said: let's celebrate your life and not descend into morose thoughts! Cheers!!

Trevor Nicosia on 30th November 2005 - 09:27
Barry was larger than life and will be much missed by all who knew him

David Thurgate on 28th November 2005 - 15:17
Barry was such a generous spirit - he shared his bad jokes as readily as his hard-earned knowledge. I learnt more about mechanical engineering from him than all the other people in the motor trade I've ever met put together. A great lover of wine, women and song as well as a connoisseur of craftsmanship. A loss to us all.

John Gianelli on 27th November 2005 - 09:56
Just found out that Barry has passed away. Can't believe it. His knowledge, and helpfull attitude, are a rare thing in todays world. It's a sad, sad day!

Derrick Owens on 24th November 2005 - 20:53
Barry Waterhouse had more humour in his little finger than most people experience in their whole lives.
He loved sticking his middle finger up to authority or rather those who claimed to be in authority, the archetypal loveable rogue. The Bullshit Stops Here!

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