VETERAN stock car drivers gathered at Oxford Crematorium yesterday to pay tribute to the fastest man in Blackbird Leys, ‘Dangerous’ Don Evans.

While millions of viewers watch the battles between two stock car driving families in a new BBC docu soap every week, more than 100 mourners gathered to pay respects to an 82-year-old who was considered one of Britain’s pioneers of the motorsport.

During three decades of racing, Mr Evans, of Balfour Road, won hearts and races across the country and yesterday fans of the “robust” racer brought a replica of his lilac coloured number 37 motorcar to his funeral.

On the track the Eynsham-born racer is revered in stock car circles as one of only two drivers to win a national finals race meeting at the old Wembley Stadium, in 1974.

However friends and family also paid tribute to the “young at heart” pensioner who was still helping his grandson, David, run a disco business until just two months before his death.

Daughter Gail Gaisford, 54, of Druce Way, Blackbird Leys said: “He was the oldest roadie in town. As an 80-year-old he was still driving his van to discos and he was always up to something.

“He used to sit and stay at the discos until 4am in the morning and help clear up.

She added: “I was incredibly proud of him. He always said ‘live life to the full’. He was the best dad you could have had.”

Mr Evans, who had been suffering from cancer of the oesophagus, helped run Domino Disco right up until his death on Thursday, August 5 The president of the Veteran British Stock Car Drivers Association, Johnny Pratt, was a former racing rival and friend of Mr Evans.

Mr Pratt, 75, from Dorchester, said: “He was a brilliant competitor and one of the best around at that time. He was a really good sport too.

Mr Pratt added he remembered one race at Coventry when Mr Evans was in a very good position but dropped out of the race to help another driver who had crashed into the safety fence.

Engineer Gary Jones and driver Pete Hill built a replica of Mr Evan’s stock car, managing to complete it in time to bring to the funeral.

Mr Hill, 65, said: “I was a schoolboy fan of Don’s. He was a robust driver, if you got past him you were always worried about him behind you and what’s going to happen next. He was fair but he was tough and you always had to watch him.

“He was always on budget equipment but he made it go.”

During the funeral service mourners listened to the song Tell Laura I Love Her as Mr Evans had been chosen to appear in a music video for Ray Peterson’s 1960 recording of the song.

The song later became a number one hit for Ricky Valance.

Mr Evans is survived by two children, four grand children, three great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren.

A minute’s silence was held for Mr Evans at the Brafield race track in Coventry on Saturday, August 7.