Ken Chambers (UK)

Please forgive me for once again using the Nostalgia Forum to gather information but I'm sure that you'll be able to help with info about Ken. I've searched the internet and found very little about his racing and rallying.

It seems incredible to me that my dad could do all those endurance runs with Ken and yet know comparatively little about his racing career. But my dad's explanation makes sense. They did a two-hours-on, two-hours-off driving system and quite often, the person who was not driving was sleeping, map reading, eating or repairing something. Then of course, the trip were pretty action packed, with one thing and another.

I still maintain though that if you put two women together for more than a day, they'd know everything about each other.

So if anyone can help with information pre-1963, that would be wonderful.

Another thing, in 1963, Ken's wife Margaret was expecting their first child. My dad, you have to forgive him - he's 86 - can't remember anything about that child. Well, neither can I - and I'm not 86! I remember visiting the Chambers household in the mid-sixties but I don't remember a child at all. The reason I'm asking about the child is that my dad thought Ken was a marvellous bloke and if there is a son or daughter, he'd love to be in touch with him or her.

Thank you!

Although, as I mentioned elsewhere, I knew Ken slightly in the 1960s I can't help directly. I have asked some others who were Verulam AC Committee members at that time, just in case there is a lead there.

Edited to suggest Vic Elford (I think he's still around) might know - they were both Ford drivers in the 1960s and Vic lived in Silsoe, not that far from St Albans (where, or near where, Ken lived).

Edited by Allan Lupton, 01 November 2010 - 12:03.

Thank you Allan, that's an avenue I'll explore. It's such a shame that his achievements have been largely forgotten. Let's hope we can change that. Thank you too for asking the Verulam committee members. Hopefully we can help to get Ken the recognition he deserves.

Although, as I mentioned elsewhere, I knew Ken slightly in the 1960s I can't help directly. I have asked some others who were Verulam AC Committee members at that time, just in case there is a lead there.

Sorry to report that we all have the same problem, which is that it was a long time ago that Ken was President of Verulam AC (which club was wound up in 1981) and although we all remember him from that time, we had no further contact.
The man who knew him well enough to introduce him to the Club has died, so we can't ask him either.

It's such a shame that these people get forgotten about. Thank goodness for the Nostalgia Forum!

hello Jackie,i had to join the site when i seen your post.i know ken chambers son,Ian and hope to get his e-mail address so you can contact him.i did talk to him briefly about his dad when one of the classic ford magazines had a feature on one of the races he was involed in a few years back.from what he said i don't think he knew much about his dads driving exploits.Martin

That's wonderful, Martin, thank you so much! It will be wonderful to hear from Ian - I hope he gets in touch.

Thank you!

Indeed, fantastic news...

Let's hope it all works and maybe Ian can learn more about his father's exploits.

I'm very excited, Ray! My dad speaks so highly of Ken and he'll be delighted to know about Ian. And as you know, I have lots of photographs of Ken on various trips. I hope Ian will want to see them.

My dad sent me a great one the other day of himself and Ken in the round-the-world Corsair. It has Ken's wife Margaret on the photograph too. I must get it scanned and posted.

You must...

Like to see some of this stuff, especially shots taken in out of the way places.

pm sent with Ians mobile number Martin

Martin, that is marvellous, wonderful, brilliant - thank you! I'm sending the number to my dad - I think he'll want to be the one to call.

Thank you SO much

Here's a photo that Ian might like to see, if he hasn't seen it already. My mum and dad on the left and Ian's mum and dad on the right.

What a great pic, Jackie...

Glad you shared it here.