A big loss to the Porsche community: Hayden Burvill

[Jack Olsen]

Hayden Burvill passed away earlier this week from a long illness. Whether or not you’d ever met him, there’s a decent chance that if you race a Porsche you’re using some of the innovative parts he developed. Wevo shifters and transmission modifications are the stuff of legend. The Cup-Engine-in-an-early-911 PVX project documented here on Pelican is one of his many accomplishments as an engineer, but he also worked on Jay Leno and Mark Donohue’s record-setting high speed run at Talladega in a Carrera GT, as well as stints with Brumos Racing and projects with IndyCar. He helped a lot of people here on Pelican as WevoID, and – speaking personally – was a tremendous ally in putting together my own 911. He had a great (and perhaps typically-Australian) sense of humor, tremendous loyalty, and was helping me with shock-tuning advice even in his later days.

The Porsche community has lost another great individual. His absence will be deeply felt.

[RNajarian]

Huge loss indeed. RIP Hayden, thanks for your innovation, insight and passion.

[JeremyD]

I'll say - Sorry to hear about Hayden - Wevo made lots of Porsche's better over the years. I was a fan and appreciated his insights

[joshuars]

Really sorry to hear about it.

Never had a chance to meet but hear a lot of good things.

Wysane z mojego M2101K9G przy uyciu Tapatalka

[Matt Monson]

RIP Hayden. His contribution will be missed.

PS. I thought he was a Kiwi? Am I mistaken?

[wkrtsm]

RIP Hayden!

[Danimal16]

Wow, a big loss. RIP Hayden you made my cars so much better.

[proporsche]

R.I.P Hayden...a lot of knowledge went with you to Porsche heaven...
Ivan

[blue911rsr]

Rip Hayden you will be missed !
Claudio

[blue911rsr]

Rip Hayden you will be missed !
Claudio

[Cory M]

Sad to hear this. Hayden introduced a lot of innovative parts for these cars back in the day. If you are up for an interesting read here's the story of a the Allard J2X he helped design:

https://www.mulsannescorner.com/allardj2xstory.html

[Racerbvd]

When was he at Brumos?

[Jack Olsen]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

RIP Hayden. His contribution will be missed.

PS. I thought he was a Kiwi? Am I mistaken?

I believe so. He described himself as "an Australian who has lived most of my adult life outside of Australia." It's possible some of that time was spent in New Zealand?

Another memorable episode in Hayden's life was the Paris to Peking rally that he drove in a 356. Here he is in Iran.




There was also a London to Capetown adventure. And others. They didn't always go well, but Hayden had a fantastic appetite for adventure in Porsches.

Much of it is documented in his blog:

https://wevo.com/wordpress/welcome-to-wevo?paged=1

[ericwitte]

So sorry to hear about Hayden. What a loss.


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[AG81]

While I never met Hayden, he sounds like someone I would have liked to know.
I have sung the Wevo product praises on this forum. RIP. A terrible loss.

[Joesmallwood]

RIP and prayers for his family.

[Rusty911]

Very sad news. I’ve always enjoyed interactions with him when visiting him at Wevo at his San Carlos/Belmont location when he still owned it. RIP Hayden and my condolences to the family.

[Jeff Alton]

RIP Hayden.

All around good guy and incredible innovator. Best wished to his family and close friends.

Cheers

[Jack Olsen]

Hayden's partner Cynthia created this page. A life well-lived.

https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/J2HX4gMX/WEVO-HB

[Tyson Schmidt]

RIP Hayden,

I was lucky enough to work for him for 3 years 2006-2009. To say I learned a lot from him would be a major understatement. Learned a lot of Australian colloquialisms too. There was never a dull moment.

He always had great stories of course, being a Pro race engineer and rubbing elbows with the big names of Motorsport. One of the brightest minds I've ever encountered, and one of the most interesting and likeable as well.

He will be greatly missed.