A ROUND of applause was observed as banger car racer Richie Cole received the chequered flag for one last time.

More than 300 mourners were in attendance at Basingstoke Crematorium on Friday, December 8 to remember the popular Basingstoke mechanic.

The avid banger car racer died after suffering a stroke, aged 59, but even in death, the man who lived life in the fast lane went out in style.

At the ceremony, everyone in attendance wore red and white – the colour of Richie’s banger car – as he was brought in on the back of a customised lorry, with chequered flags waving, and a personalised coffin with his 668 car number painted on the side.

Leading the procession was Ritchie’s grandson Hayden, who shared in his grandad’s love of banger cars and would go out racing with him all the time.

In a reading, Hayden said: “Granddad you are my hero and my idol, and I miss you very much.”

Born in Blackheath before moving to Basingstoke at a young age, Richie’s family said he was obsessed with cars and being a mechanic was something that he was always going to be. He was known as a man who could just listen to a car engine and know what was wrong with it.

Richie owned Chineham Car Repairs, but it was his love of bangers where he got his reputation of being carefree and a bit “cheeky”.

He took up the sport in 1989, getting the nickname Ditchie Ritchie, and a day at the racetrack quickly became a family affair, with son Shaun and daughter Danielle both racing at some point as well.

Richie’s niece Melisa Gates, who helped organise the funeral, said: “There were so many faces at the funeral which I haven’t seen in years, so it just goes to show what an impact Richie had on people’s lives.”

Donations were collected for the Stroke Association.