Afternoon ov9’ers.
Long post! Apologies, I didn’t realise until I got to the end.
It’s a shame to be signing up under such sad circumstances but Barry pointed me in the direction of this thread so I wanted to pop on.
Lovely comments and great pictures, I’m sure we all have so many.
My mate Craig and I met Yk online via the 911uk forum when he joined with his Carrera. So we are newbie imposters compared to you guys who knew him for years.
I was also in a C2 at the time, having sold my first GT3.
Anyway after much commenting on each others threads and chatting via PM, one day Yk mentioned he was passing ours (Northumberland) on his way to do some driving in Scotland with some of the Scottish lads and would we like to tag along.
What a kind offer and naturally we said yes.
I’d actually done very little driving in Scotland up until then somehow, so we were really looking forward to it and what a trip it was.
Oh and by this time, thanks to working his arse off, Yk had progressed to his GT3, which he thoroughly deserved.
We met him on the Friday night in Scotland where he introduced us to Barry and Marv too (also great lads) and then the Scottish guys welcomed us on the Saturday morning.
I’d just like to say a belated thanks to those lads for showing us around your playground up there, I thought we had it good in Northumberland but it’s something else up there.
I only recognise Mik and the white Evora from the little avatar pics but I’m sure there’s a few more of you on here. There was a lad in a silver S1 Elise who wasn’t hanging about.
Anyway, nice lads and a lovely day. I can communicate better via written word than spoken, so apologies if we were a bit quiet in person.
Here’s a pic where we met some of you at the start of the day (featuring the man himself).
Anyway that was a great day and weekend.
From the first time we met Yk, Barry and Marv at the hotel on the Friday night, they made us feel like part of the gang.
Yk was such a positive and enthusiastic lad. One of those guys that always seemed genuinely happy to see you when you turned up. Just a lovely lad.
That was to be the first of several great weekends away with YK and Co.
In fact as far as my car stuff goes in this country Yk was the main instigator for having stuff in the diary. I’m going to miss the adventures hugely and already feel a bit lost regarding future car stuff.
We did several Scotland trips and also a weekend in Wales after the 2019 RS day at Oulton, finishing with another trackday at Anglesey. I was between cars then having sold the C2 so we were in my mate Craig’s C2.
Coming out of the hotel one morning Yk threw me the keys to his GT3 and insisted I drove it to the next destination. As has been said on here he was so keen to spread the joy.
Needless to say it only cemented my “want” for another one.
I got back into one in 2019 and although Yk passed by mine on his way to Scotland that autumn I had just returned from a euro trip the week before, so had to sit it out.
He popped in anyway and it was good to compare cars.
Me, Craig and YK made it away together in 2020 during the various states of lockdown and had a great if wet NC500 trip. The plus side was completely empty roads.
As always Yk was a total pleasure. The rain never dampened his spirits even though I was whinging about needing a canoe not a car.
That pic of the deep fried Mars bar instantly took me back to that moment. We both tried one. It was in the pub/cafe at the Loch Ness visitors centre. We’d just finished a days driving and everything was closing at teatime so we ate there before heading back to our hotel.
He loved the stretch of road leading into/out of there.
Yk was always up for sampling the local grub and immersing himself in his surroundings.
A couple of pics of that trip.
What can I say about recent events then. Not much, it has knocked me for six to be honest.
I got a text of YK a on the Sunday after his diagnosis asking if he could ring instead of texting, which probably meant something was up, I guessed.
I had no idea about what was to come but knew he’d been expecting a diabetes diagnosis, from what we’d discussed earlier that month.
Only a week or two before, we had booked up for P’heads birthday bash at Bicester for August and he said he was having some tests etc.
Anyway he rang me and began telling me the news. I’ll be honest we were both in tears. It was the most upsetting phone conversation I’ve ever had and this is not at all about me here but just to add a bit of context I’ve had two cancer diagnosis myself and even hearing those words from your doctor is terrifying, let alone being in YK’s position with regard to how far on it was.
I still don’t know how he handled it so bravely.
He explained it was very far on and that the docs had said there was nothing they could do. They were talking months. That conversation is burned into my memory.
As you all know things deteriorated incredibly quickly. Yk kept in touch and also many thanks to Barry as he kept me updated at every stage as well.
Well, Barry messaged a couple of Fridays ago to say that Yk was being transferred to a hospice after an unsuccessful procedure in hospital and they were now talking weeks not months.
Me and my mate Craig hopped in the car on Saturday morning and headed down to Cheshire to see YK. Barry was there too which was good. It was crap to meet up under those circumstances but good to be together for a bit.
I won’t ramble on about the visit but we were glad to have gone. (Not “glad” as such, but you know what I mean.)
There were tears but there were smiles too.
We chatted about past and present and it was an important visit. (Again “important” isn’t the right word but…).
Even in that situation YK was his usual positive and honest self. He was pleased to have his finances sorted for his family and he said “Don’t be sad, I’ve had some amazing experiences and I’m at peace with it”.
He also said what Barry mentioned earlier “If there’s anything you want to do in life for yourself or your loved ones, then do it. Don’t wait as you never know what life has planned”.
So true.
Craig messaged Yk on the Sunday morning to say we’d got back no problem the night before and it had been good to see him, but he got no reply.
I spoke to Barry later that day and he said Yk had taken a turn for the worst during Sunday and they had called his family in.
Barry updated us on the Monday morning saying that Yk had passed away in the early hours with his family by his side.
Well, what can you say to that. Brutal.
YK didn’t want it to drag on though. Once he had his finances sorted which amazingly he did in the space of a week, he said as politely as ever “Sorry for you to have to hear this, but I’d happily go in my sleep now that everything is sorted”.
As much as that’s hard to hear it’s totally understandable and as he said he’d made his peace with it.
It was so typically Yk though to be more worried about the person hearing it than himself, the guy going through it.
He handled the whole thing like a proper hero. Again, I don’t know how he did it. Hard as nails.
It’s so horrible to lose anyone like that but once the outcome is known you don’t want people suffering.
Like many on here we lived miles away from Yk but kept in touch via text and forums a lot.
I wish I’d done more stuff with him but I’m so grateful for the things we did do.
He could have a good laugh, even at his own expense. I remember at one touristy place we were at, he was trying to get a decent picture. I’m sure some of you will remember he’d pull out this camera with a lens about 2 foot long.
Anyway he couldn’t get a clear shot due to all the English and Scottish tourists.
Being Chinese he said “Blimey, it’s usually my lot getting in the way for their photos”.
We had some great times and the post drive meals and beers in the hotel at night were always a good laugh with him and also Barry and Marv when they were there.
We meet thousands of people in life but only take a few along with us as we go.
Me and Craig feel lucky to have met Yk and shared in his passion of cars and driving.
As I’ve said in another thread. He was one of life’s good guys. Always positive, always pleasant and just a nice guy to be around. It’s a huge pity it ended too early.
RIP YK. You’ll be missed.
PS. Sorry for the essay. I was tempted to chop a load out but I wanted to mention it all.
PPS. Special mention to Barry for his friendship with Yk and for stepping up massively these last couple of months and taking care of him.
It must have been hard so take care of yourself. Speak soon.
I’m sure there are other friends I don’t know, who’ve helped to mind. I know he mentioned one or two who had taken him to hospital appointments etc. So well done if you’re reading.
Also, not entirely the time, but we are still doing Bicester in August so if any of you lads want to meet up for a beer or cuppa that would be good.
We are staying at Caffiene and Machine the night before. It will be bittersweet but it’s booked and is the last thing we planned with Yk.
Not sure peoples thoughts but a drive out each year in memory of him would definitely be something I’d be up for, but that can be discussed later.
I’ll certainly be remembering him in my own way if nothing is arranged.
