Drivers

Formula One

Jack Lewis
Jack Lewis was born on November 1 1936. Jack, the son of a motorcycle dealer, started racing in 1958 with an F3 Cooper-Norton and won 3 races in his first season. For 1959 he bought an F2 Cooper, and in 1960 became the Autocar British F2 champion. Jack moved up to Formula 1 in 1961 with a Cooper T53-Climax, the highlight of the season being 4th place in the Italian GP at Monza. A switch to a BRM P57 V8 for 1962 proved to be a mistake, as, despite a 3rd in the non-championship race at Pau, the BRM proved to be very unreliable. Dissatisfied, Jack returned the car to the factory as was refunded the £7000 paid for it. He returned to his Cooper, but, disenchanted, Jack decided to retire, and spent the next 40 years sheep farming near Llandovery.

Alan Rees
Alan Rees was born in Langstone, near Newport on January 12 1938. Alan started his career in 1959 driving a Lotus 11. He progressed to a Lotus 20 Formula Junior, and in 1961 won the British Formula Junior Championship. For 1962 he drove in Formula Junior for the works Lotus Team and took 3 wins before a crash in a Lotus 23 at the Nurburgring 1000 Km sports car race curtailed his season. By 1964 Alan had joined the Ray Winkelmann F2 team as a driver, later becoming team manager. He had two German GP outings (1966 and 1967) in F2 Brabhams and drove a Cooper-Maserati in the British GP at Silverstone in 1967. Retired from racing at the end of 1968. In 1969 joined with Robin Herd, Max Mosley and Graham Coaker to set up March Engineering. He ran the March F1 team before joining Shadow as team manager. Joined with Jackie Oliver in establishing the Arrows Formula 1 team in 1976, working as team manager and then financial director. He sold his share in Arrows when Tom Walkinshaw took over in 1996.

Tom Pryce
Thomas Maldwyn Pryce was born on June 11 1949 in Ruthin, Denbighshire. Tom started racing in the 1970 Daily Express Crusader Series, which he won. The prize a Lola T200 Formula Ford. After progressing through Formula 100, Formula Super Vee, Formula 3, Formula Atlantic and Formula 2, Tom started his first Formula 1 race, with the Token team, at the 1974 Belgium GP. When he was refused entry to the 1974 Monaco Formula 1 race due to lack of experience, he entered the Formula 3 race instead, dominated it, and was offered the chance to join the Shadow Formula 1 team for the rest of the season. Tom's first full season with Shadow was in 1975, the highlights being; a win in the Race of Champions, qualifying second for the Monaco GP, starting the British GP in pole position, and finishing third in the Austrian GP. He stayed with Shadow for 1976, finishing third in the Brazilian GP. In March 1977, after promising qualifying sessions in Argentina and Brazil were scuppered by mechanical problems, Tom arrived at the South African GP. Unfortunately, it was to be his last. Tom Pryce died in an accident in the South African GP at Kyalami on March 5 1977.

Pre War

J G Parry-Thomas
John Godfrey Parry-Thomas was born the son of a vicar in Wrexham on April 6 1884. He studied engineering at college in London, and became the Chief Engineer at Leyland Motors where he designed the luxurious Leyland Eight. After racing a Leyland Eight at Brooklands, Parry Thomas left Leyland to pursue racing full-time. He moved into a cottage in the grounds of Brooklands where he designed and built Leyland-Thomas racing specials, smaller four cylinder Thomas specials and straight eight supercharged "flat iron" specials. In 1925 Thomas bought the Higham Special from Count Louis Zborowski's estate, he had been killed at Monza, and developed it into "Babs". Parry Thomas raced Babs at Brooklands breaking the outer circuit lap record, and took the Land Speed Record at Pendine Sands on April 1926, raising it 20mph to 170.634mph. He returned to Pendine in 1927, but on March 3rd, while attempting to increase the record, the car turned over, and Parry Thomas was killed.

Milton Jones

Charles Rolls

Charles Sgonina
From Cardiff. In the early 1920's designed and built the advanced twin-ohc Sgonina special racing motorcycle, which he ran very successfully in speed trials and at Pendine. Also competed with a GN in local speed events such as Margam Park and Rhiwbina Hill. Raced a 1914 Humber TT at Brooklands. Went to work in USA but returned to local speed events in the 1950's with Aston Martin DB3S/10, which was then replaced by the ex Jim Clark Le Mans Aston Martin DBR1/3.

Charles Sgonina driving an Aston Martin DB3S at Castel Farm Hillclimb 1960 (Swansea Motor Club)

Donald Marendaz
Born Margam 1897, of Portuguese descent. In 1918 Captain D.M.K. Marendaz partnered the launch of Alvis, but left shortly afterwards to start the Marseal car company. When Marseal folded in 1925 he launched the Marendaz Special which he built from 1926 to 1936. Donald raced his cars at Brooklands and entered Le Mans twice (but never actually took to the track). His cars were also raced by his secretary Miss Dorothy Summers and Mr and Mrs AE Moss, the parents of Stirling. After WW2 emigrated to South Africa, returning to The UK in 1971. He died in 1988.

Philip Turner
PhilipTurner, who was also an accomplished power-boat racer and point-to-point rider, appeared at Brooklands between 1924 and 1933. Mysteriously he often raced using a nom de course such as "J. Taylor", "S. Bird", "R. Wilson", J. Sinclair" and "J. Philip". His great successes came in the major event of the year the Brooklands 500 races, retiring while in second place in 1931, finishing second in the following year's race as "J. Philip" and third in 1933 using his own name. Born Joshua Philip Tanchan in Abergavenny in 1897, he changed his name to Turner in 1919. The Tanchan's were a Jewish family who came into South Wales from Prussia via America in the middle years of the nineteenth century. Turner's family were originally in the clothing trade but young Philip was soon to become one of the leading car dealers in London, specialising in Rolls Royce and other top of the range motors. In 1935 Turner's businesses ran into financial trouble and he was declared bankrupt with liabilities of £30000 (at least a million in modern terms) and assets of only £10. Turner blamed his demise on share dealing and heavy racing expenses, the court's verdict was "rash and hazardous speculations and unjustifiable extravagance in living." Like so many of the racing crowd Turner was above all else a risk-taker. (profile by Ken Jones)

Owen Saunders Davies
Arthur Owen Saunders-Davies was born 2 June 1901 in Newcastle-in-Emlyn, Carmarthen. The highlight of his career was in 1931 when Owen partnered by Tim Rose-Richards drove to third place at Le Mans in a Fox & Nicholl Talbot AV 105. He also entered Le Mans in 1929 (driving an Invicta S-type) and 1934 (Alfa Romeo 8C 2300). Raced at Brooklands from 1928 to 1939 in a Bugatti, Talbots and a Lagonda. Owen died on 12th October 1959, in a motor accident in Romsey, Hants.

Roy Eccles
Roy, older brother of Lindsay was born in 1901. He drove a MG K3 Magnette to 4th place at Le Mans with Charles Martin in 1934, which earned them victory in the 1100 class. Also entered Le Mans in 1937 with his wife Majorie and Freddie Clifford. Entered a Singer in the 1936 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France des Voitures de Sport at Montlhery. In 1935 he built the single-seater 1100cc supercharged Eccles Lagonda Rapier Special which provided much success at Brooklands. Roy died of a brain haemorrhage in 1938.

Lindsay Eccles
Alexander Herbert Lindsay Eccles was born in Briton Ferry on May 14 1908. He was a keen supporter of the Bugatti marque having owned or raced examples of Types 37, 39, 35, 51, 57 and 59. He raced his T35 and T51 primarily at Brooklands and Donnington Park, best result being a 2nd place in the 1933 Donnington Park Trophy. In 1935 he moved up to a new T59. Lindsay died in Sketty, Swansea on August 29 1991.

Lindsay Eccles in Bugatti at Brooklands 1935 ( photograph from Brooklands Society )

Clifton Penn-Hughes
Born in Penarth 1905. Started racing with a Frazer Nash at Brooklands but quickly progressed to a Bugatti Type 35. Clifton entered his Bugatti in the 1931 Monaco GP and finished 8th. Entered Monaco GP again in 1932 but didn't start due to a crash. By 1933 he had acquired an Alfa Romeo Monza and finished 2nd at the Chimay GP. In 1934 he finished 5th in the Bordino, Dieppe and Eifel GPs, and second in the Donnington Trophy. Entered Le Mans in 1933 (5th), 1934 and 1935 with an Aston Martin Ulster. Took part in the Mille Milgia in 1933 and 1934. Died in an aircraft accident Folkestone, Kent 1939.

Clifton Penn-Hughes driving a Bugatti at Brooklands in 1931

Tim Rose-Richards
Thomas Essery "Tim" Rose-Richards was born in Glamorgan in 1902. Tim entered Le Mans 5 times finishing in 3rd place in 1931 (with Owen Saunders Davies), 1932 and 1933. He also raced in Grand Prix finishing 4th in the 1934 Dieppe GP with a Bugatti T51, and 3rd in the 1935 Eifel Voiturette GP driving ERA R1A. Tim won a BRDC Gold Star in 1935. He was a Lieutenant in the Navy and died at sea on October 7 1940.

Tim Rose-Richards driving the Napier-Railton at Brooklands in the 1935 BRDC 500

Charles Martin
Charles Edward Capel Martin was born in Abergavenny in 1912. Made his debut at the Southport sand races with a blown Austin Ulster in 1932. He started circuit racing in an MG, followed by a Bugatti Type 35 and then a Type 59. Progressed to an ex-Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo Tipo B in 1936 achieving 2nd places at the Donnington, Pau and Deauville GPs, and won the Nuffield Trophy race at Donnington in ERA R9B. Won 1936 Brooklands BRDC 500 in a Riley with Freddie Dixon. In 1937 Charles drove ERA R3A, winning at Avus, and finishing in 2nd place at the Albi and Brno Voiturette GPs. Retired after a test for Auto Union failed to result in a works drive. He was awarded a DSC and the American Legion of Honour for his work in the war. Died in Notting Hill, London 1998.

Charles Martin at the 1936 Donnington GP driving an Alfa Romeo

Post War

Dudley Folland
Dudley Folland was born in Brondeg Glanamam, Carmarthenshire on November 28 1912. He started racing pre-war under the alias Tim D. Davies, entering the 1935 Le Mans with a Frazer Nash. After the war he drove an Aston Martin and an MG K3 in sports car races. In 1949 he imported the first Ferrari into the UK, a 166 Spyder Corsa which was painted British Racing Green with a small dragon on each side of the nose. With this car Dudley won the 1949 Lavant Cup at Goodwood and entered the Pau, Angouleme, Rheims and British GPs. Entered Le Mans again in 1949 with an Aston Martin. Dudley died in Abergavenny in 1979.

Sir Clive Edwards
A tenuous link exists between that “cathedral of Welsh nonconformity”, Tabernacle in Morriston, and the world of motor racing. Built in 1872 at a cost of £15000 by local tinplate manufacturer Daniel Edwards, it was this same fortune that enabled his great-grandson Sir John Clive Leighton Edwards to pursue a motor racing career which, although undistinguished, earned him WB’s plaudit as being “the best type of amateur competitor“. Clive Edwards was born at Hendrefoilan, Sketty on 11th October 1916 and by his sixth birthday had already inherited both a title and great wealth. Before the war he competed in an R-type MG and afterwards in two HRGs, the best remembered of which was a 1767cc Lea-Francis engined 1100-type single seater with twin rear-wheels and a Cooper-Bristol sportscar. He also competed in the London-Brighton run in his 1900 New Orleans and was President of Swansea Motor Club and Vice-President of the Welsh Motor Racing Club who organised the Fairwood race meetings. Edwards moved to the Isle of Man where he lived with his great friend Bob Thomas, his Milntown estate being situated next to the TT circuit on the outskirts of Ramsey. Sir Clive died on 19th February 1999, the house and grounds being left in trust for the benefit of the Manx public. (profile by Ken Jones)

ex Sir Clive Edwards Cooper Bristol at Brighton Speed Trials 2005

David Boshier-Jones
David Boshier-Jones began racing in the early 1950s hillclimbing a Kieft 500 at Lydstep in Pembrokeshire. He soon progressed to circuit racing, winning numerous F3 races. Entered the 1954 Tourist Trophy at Dundrod in a Kieft 1100. In 1956 he switched from Kieft to a MkX Cooper-JAP. By 1957 F3 500 was in decline and at the end of the season David sent his Cooper back to the works to be fitted with a 1100cc JAP twin. With this car he now turned to hillclimbing and became the RAC Hillclimb Champion in 1958, 1959 and 1960. David retired in 1961.

ex David Boshier-Jones Cooper Twin at Shelsley Walsh 2005

Peter Boshier-Jones
Peter Boshier Jones was the younger brother of David. He competed in the RAC Hillclimb Championship, and local speed events, primarily with a supercharged Lotus 22 single-seater. He had many F.T.D.s but never managed to become overall champion. He also competed in National sports car races with a Lotus 23. Peter retired from the RAC championship in 1968. "His withdrawal ensured that he would remain probably the best driver not to win the RAC title," said Chris Mason in his book Uphill Racers.

Anthony Boshier-Jones

John "Jack" Niell
Jack (John) Niell was one of the earliest Kieft drivers. Jack ran the Terminus Garage on Eversley Road, Sketty in Swansea. He bought a Kieft MK1 500 which he hillclimbed at Lydstep, and raced at Fairwood, Castle Combe and Brands Hatch. In November 1950 Jack took part, along with Stirling Moss and Ken Gregory, in Kieft's record breaking runs at the Montlhery circuit outside Paris. He became the Welsh agent for Kieft racing cars.

Charles David Headland
Charles David Headland was born in Cowbridge in 1910. In the early 40s he was one of the leading racers in 500cc F3, a crowd favourite who drove with dash and verve. Charles started in 1950 with the ex-Spike Rhiando Cooper. For the 1951 season he bought a new Cooper MKV/9/51 and won at Ards, Croft, Castle Combe and Silverstone. Switching to a Kieft in 1952 brought reliability problems, and a victory at Ibsley. Charles ran his own car in 1953/54 developing a Ray Martin Special into the Martin-Headland.

Berwyn Baxter
Baxter was born on the 20th July 1920. Baxter began his racing career after the Second World War & competed in numerous club events in the early 1950's. Before long, he progressed upwards and from 1952-1954, was a regular competitor in Formula Libre events, Formula 2 & non-Championship Formula 1 races based in Britain, achieving some success.In 1954, Berwyn bought Kieft Cars from fellow Welshman Cyril Kieft. Berwyn then largely tackled a sportscar programme, competing in the Paris 24 hr race at Montlhery, club events nationally & the Le Mans 24 hours, the last of which he drove with John Deeley, but sadly, overheating on the sixth lap ended their attempt early.Baxter carried on until 1956, mostly, again in club events, with a few big British races to boot, but lack of reliability left Berwyn rather disenchanted & he retired at the seasonís end.Berwyn Baxter then transferred the Kieft company to new premises in Bordesley Road, Birmingham. The company undertook the preparation of competition cars in addition to Baxter's own Aston Martin DB3S. Baxter had ambitious plans for marketing a production version of the Kieft 1100ccc sports car but it came to nothing. The company was eventually bought out in 1960.Berwyn Baxter died on the 16th July 2005. (profile by Richard Jenkins)

Jim Diggory
Sydney James Diggory was born in 1928, and ran the Imperial Garage in Rhostyllen, Wrexham. He built the Gwynniad Formula Junior and was involved in the Heron Formula Junior. Also successfully competed in National sports car events, winning 9 races 1960-63. Jim raced in Frazer Nash, Marcos, Lister-Jaguar, Cooper Monaco and Aston Martin DBR2.

Peter Cottrell
Pontypridd's Peter Cottrell was a dairyman by trade. His use of a VW milk float as a tow car meant he could fit a Cooper 500 on the back and tow one of his Lotus racing cars behind. Peter took part in circuit racing but it was in hillclimbs that he had most success, becoming Junior hillclimb champion. He competed in a Cooper 500, Lotus 10 (NOY 1), Lotus 15, Felday Daimler and a Gilbern GT, a company of which he was a director.

Tony David

Ken Wilson

Brian Field

Gary Hocking
Long before Tom Pryce even started in Formula 1, Wales had a potential World Champion amongst its' ranks. The driver in question was Gary Hocking. Born on the 30th September 1937 in Caerleon, Newport, Hocking will primarily be remembered as a motorbike racer. Between 1958 and 1962, Hocking achieved a string of successes, including a 500cc win.Like many motorcyclists then, Hocking decided to cross over to 4 wheels, citing that bike racing was too dangerous at that time. His first race came at the Roskildering for the non-championship F1 Danish GP. In a Lotus-Climax, a car he would drive entirely during his brief motorsport career, he came 4th ñ a great result, considering he had no previous experience on 4 wheels. Another outstanding performance at Oulton Park, where he eventually had to retire in the Gold Cup race affirmed him as one to watch.Gary then chose to do a series of races in South Africa to build up experience. His startling prowess was confirmed with three successive wins, at Kyalami, Swartkops & Kumalo (Rhodesia). A 4th place at the Rand GP on the 15th December 1962, did him no harm either. The next race was the Natal GP, at Westmead.Then disaster struck. During the last practice session for the race, on the 21st December, 1962, uttering his last known words ìIíd better go for a time thenî, Hocking went out. His car went off on a fast curve, Devils' Leap, tripped into a ditch & then stuck the stump of a tree. This area had seen some large trees been felled recently, and many stumps remained. The stump was the factor that broke the car & inflicted immediately fatal head injuries on Gary. He was just 25.His body was repatriated home to Wales & he is buried in Christchurch, Newport. His younger brother, Duncan also raced motorcycles. He now lives in Pontypool, after a spell in the US. (profile by Richard Jenkins)

Shane Summers
Enter a World Championship Grand Prix and you enter the realm of the "encyclopedias" and record books, you also get to feature on the large number of websites which copy their data from such sources. If your career was cut short before you actually made a Championship race then you're very much a non-person as far as the average motor sport historian is concerned, even if you did make it to Formula One in the Non-Championship races of the Golden Era. One such non-person is Shane Lister Summers, born at Darland Hall, Rossett, Denbighshire on June 23rd 1936. Summers was a member of a family whose wealth was derived from the John Summers Steelworks at Shotton, his father was the Conservative MP Sir Spencer Summers. Shane's career had hardly started when he was entering the 1961 Non-Championship races in a Cooper T53. An 8th place at Snetterton in the season opener, Continental outings at the Brussels Grand Prix and the Preis von Wien (where he started second on a small grid behind Moss), and a best finish in the early season British races of 4th at the Crystal Palace. On June 1st 1961 Summers went out to practice in the rain for the Silver City Trophy race at Brands Hatch. He left the track at Paddock Bend, crashing through fencing and demolishing a wall before the Cooper was finally destroyed against a concrete buttress. A Welsh born driver who, like the talented Gary Hocking, did not live long enough to bother the compilers of books that claim to tell the story of Formula One. (profile by Ken Jones)

Richard Bond
Richard Bond was born in Cardiff and began racing in 1964, his first event being in a Jaguar 3.4 at Oulton Park. The following year saw him gain numerous club wins in a lightweight Jaguar E-type, a Ford Mustang and a Ford Falcon. In 1965-66 he competed in a Ford GT40 in World Championship sports car races, his successes including 7th at Reims, 8th at Francorchamps, 10th at Monza and 13th at Nürburgring. In 1967 Bond was 9th in the Targa Florio, sharing an Austin-Healey 3000 with Ted Worswick. Four years later he was 12th at Le Mans, driving a Porsche 911S with Paul Vestey, and the following season he finished 8th in the 24-hour classic, this time racing a Ferrari Daytona with Derek Bell and Teddy Pilette. The 1973 season saw Richard campaigning a Ferrari Daytona at Francorchamps and Le Mans. (Mike Kettlewell)

David and Bill Morris

Bob Miller
Bob Miller was the proprietor of Motorama, a Cardiff car dealership. He started racing at Llandow in saloon cars, progressed into sports cars, most notably a Lotus 23B (later converted into a Mercury GT), and ended up racing a Dulon F5000 in non-championship F1 races. He entered the 1970 and 1971 Oulton Park Gold Cups and the 1971 Silverstone International Trophy.

Maurice Charles

Alan Taylor

Rob Darlington

Ken Bowen
Ken Bowen was a Post Office engineer from Swansea. He was part of the Baglan Racing Team who raced Minis at Llandow in the '60s and '70s. Ken was the holder of a number of lap records for saloon cars at Llandow.

Ken Bowen at Llandow in Baglan Racing Mini. Photograph by Philippe Roche.

John Davies
Raced at Llandow in the 60s. Lived in Bridgend. At one point held the Llandow lap record in Brabham BT 14. Drove Charles Sgonina's Aston Martin DBR1 on occasion, setting fastest lap with it in the 1967 Six Hour Relay Race at Silverstone. Raced for the Bladon works Clubmans team in 1974, moving to Herb Mogers' Gryphon in 1975. In 1993 John won the Toyota Formula 3 championship in an ex Thierry Thassin Argo JM6.

Vernon Davies
Vernon Davies is a Clubmans racer from Port Talbot. He started racing in a Lotus 7 at Llandow in 1965, switching to a Mallock U2 in 1966. It was with Mallocks that he achieved his success, winning races from the 1960s through to the 1990s. He holds the overall lap record for Llandow circuit, 33.8 seconds, an average of 106.51 mph, set in a Mallock U2 MK16 on the 25th August 1975.

Dave McCloy

Dave McCloy at Llandow with Llantwit TV Mini, Dave McCloy's Escort

David Williams

Tony Williams

John Morgan

John Morgan with Risca Garages' Jaguar Llandow 1976

Dennis Gregory
Dennis "Joe" Gregory was a saloon and sports car driver who competed at Llandow. He started racing in 1963, and primarily ran with an ADS-Climax, a car with which he broke the Llandow Sports Racing and GT Cars up to 1150 c.c. and up to 1600 c.c. lap records. On 1st September 1974 Dennis was leading a race at Llandow in his Ford Escort special saloon, he had an accident, and died the next day at Bridgend hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Dennis Gregory's 1974 Ford Escort special saloon. Photograph courtesy of Jon Gregory.

Albert Powell

Chris Martin

Cyd Williams

Cyd Williams in Graham Eden Formula Atlantic Brabham BT40 in 1973. Photograph by MCS.

Barry Reece
Barry Reece was born May 12 1946 in Cardiff. Barry was a prolific and very successful racer of Minis, primarily in 850 c.c. Special Saloons. He started in racing in 1969 and concentrated on local races, twice being Welsh 850 champion. When Llandow closed Barry entered more national events and won the BARC Wendy Wools 1000 Special Saloon Car Championship. Barry was involved in an accident during qualifying at Castle Combe on September 17 1983 driving an Imp Californian. He suffered multiple injuries to his legs and head and was in a coma for a number of weeks. Barry died on 13 October 1989.

Barry Reece 850 Mini at Silverstone in 1980 (photograph by Andrew Kitson)

Johnny Jenkins

Dafydd Roberts

Tim Davies

Phil Kempe

Karl Jones
Karl Jones was born in Lampeter in 1957. Karl started his career at the Brands Hatch racing school and went on to win the Champion of Brands FF1600 title. He then switched to saloons and won Production titles in a Fiat Strada and a Ford Escort RS Turbo. In 1988 he moved into the BTCC to drive a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, staying with the team in 1989. Karl left Touring cars in '92 to enter the RS2000 rallysport series.

Julian Westwood
Julian Westwood is one of Britain's most experienced racing drivers now. Born on the 28th November 1967, in Shrewsbury, but a long-time Caerphilly native, Julian started his career in karting, racing from 1981-1986. In 1987, he moved up to British Formula Ford, staying in the category for a few years. However, it wasn't until 1991 that Julian found more regular drives. That year saw him compete in the British F3000 Championship. He came third, winning the last round in a season overshadowed by Champion Paul Warwick's death. In 1992, competed in the British F3 series. Julian also went globetrotting, as he made appearances in Japanese F3 & New Zealand Formula Atlantic as well! Lack of money put paid to his single-seater prospects, so he became a regular club racer in Britain. In 1996, he was in the British Renault Spider Cup, 1997, the Vauxhall Vectra Challenge, winning the title & in 1998, returned to the Spider Eurocup. This was in addition to a number of single-seater drives. 1999 saw him in the British GT championship, but then saw another period away from racing, bar the odd appearance in the Danish Touring Car Championship. In 2003, he returned, to race in the British Seat Leon Cupra Cup but also appeared in a MG Championship. He is still racing and most recently, he could be seen in the EERC Britcar championship. Away from racing, Julian is a partner in a graphics business. (profile by Richard Jenkins)

Robert Lee-Lewis