“Depth of character, exceptional performance, ethical conduct, life-long dedication, and respect amongst the industry -- John Rettie checks each of these boxes with high ranks,” said ORMHOF inductee Chris Collard, “John was one of those modest, behind-the-camera guys. Whether it happened in Kenya, China, Morocco, or Mexico, John’s lens was focused on the action.”
With images and articles published the world over, John’s writing has been translated into multiple languages. His work has appeared in dozens of publications, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, plus major industry periodicals Road & Track, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Autoweek.
ORMHOF inductee Ivan “Ironman” Stewart told ORMHOF, “I liked John for his enthusiasm and love of motorsports and would often see his magazine articles. He is one of the most traveled people I know, and probably knows more about off-road motorsports than all the other people I know.”
John began his career in 1968, covering off-road events in England while attending University. On a trip to the United States in 1970, John met Jim Ober of Trackside Photo, joining Jim to cover the NORRA Mexican 1000.
In the 1970s, John started contributing to Hot VWs magazine, becoming full time tech editor in 1978. He was a major contributor to the popular Mears Gang column in Hot VWs as well, writing for Rick and Roger Mears.
John also enjoyed getting seat time, pre-running the Baja 500 in 1975 with Sig Erson and co-driving with the Robertson Brothers while reporting on the 1978 Baja 1000. In 1976 he co-founded a public relations firm to support BFGoodrich in the early years of their off-road ventures.
In the 1980s, reporting on the sport of off-road took Jon around the world. He started the decade attending the East African Safari Rally in Kenya, covering the efforts of Rod Hall and Malcolm Smith. In 1991, to get the full story, John rode in an Audi Quattro during the WRC Acropolis Rally in Greece. In 1982 he was one of three journalists to cover the Camel Trophy in Papua New Guinea. He also worked with Trackside Photo as chief photographer for the Long Beach Grand Prix through 1983, the same year he competed in and reported on SCCA Pro Rallies, finishing a respectable second overall. In 1985 John photographed the Paris to Dakar Rally, and the inaugural Hong Kong to Beijing Rally.
John took a break in the 1990s, choosing to spend his weekends as a father to his young sons instead of covering off-road events. John’s son Nick told ORMHOF, “While he took a break to spend the weekends with my brother and I, when he started back up in the 2000s he brought me and my brother to tons of races and put a camera in our hands as ‘official’ snappers for Trackside. Rim of the World rally was a regular event for us starting in probably 1999 -- I was 9 -- until it ended, and I tried to go to every Baja race I could with him starting with the Baja 2000, pretty much until I moved to the east coast in 2014.”
John resumed his continent-hopping ways in the early 2000s, photographing and reporting on multiple Dakar Rallies in Africa and South America, and traveled with Volkswagen to do vehicle testing in Morocco and Dubai.
The inaugural Sonora Rally was held in 2014, and John was there from the very beginning. Organizers Darren and Erin-lee Skilton told ORMHOF, “John Rettie has been instrumental as an enthusiast, supporter and photographer with us from day one. He was our first volunteer. John’s photography reflects his genuine passion for off-road and the people who enjoy it. He has never scoffed at a ‘job’ asked of him. He is up early and last to bed and we have never witnessed him cross. His happy-go-lucky attitude is always welcome. He has exposed the public to the off-road industry in an authentic way. “
In 2022 John once again traveled to Saudi Arabia, this time to cover the inaugural all-female Rally Jameel. Also in 2022, John returned to his roots in Baja and the NORRA Mexican 1000, where he covered his first north American race in 1970. John joined the McMillin racing team for the 2022 event.
It wasn’t all about off-road for John Rettie. He also loved early rock and roll. As a student at Leeds University in England and reporter for the university newspaper, John had a front row seat to rock and roll history. He photographed the ‘golden age’ of rock and roll, as one of only two professional photographers to cover The Who ‘Live at Leeds’ concert in 1970. In addition to The Who, John captured early images of the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and many iconic rock bands of the era.
John passed away unexpectedly in June of 2024, just days after learning he would be inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
