Roy Pierpoint?

During the 1968-69 season Roy Pierpoint made a handfull of starts at the Jyllands-Ringen in Denmark.

Two starts in 1968 resultet in a second (learning the circuit) and a first, while two 1969 appearances resultet in another win in his Ford Falcon. For the second meeting he was entered in a Duncan Hamilton Racing Ford Escort Twin Cam, but retired early on with a broken engine.

He was the 1965 Bristish Saloon Car Champion and was generally a force to be reckoned with in British Saloon Car racing of the mid-late 1960's, as far as I know, and also made a few World Sports Car starts during this period.

But who was (is?) he? If it wasn't for making him such a name in Denmark during those four races, I would probably just recognise him as another "name". For a driver with what appear to have had some talent he seems to have been remarkably restricted to the British isles. No interest or just not the options?

So, can anybody provide me with a bit of data about this guy? - birth/death, career-start/finish, high lights/(low lights!) or a discription of his personality ...and some pictures of him and his cars would be very welcome too, thank you very much!

Jesper (in Denmark)

I don't have any specific information, but I seem to recall reading that he now lives in Cornwall (in the far South West of England), a very attractive part of the UK, but quite remote. He was quite a leading light in British saloon car racing, specialising in the "Big Bangers" which were so popular with racing crowds at the time.

IIRC Roy came from the Weybridge area of Surrey and (I think) was a scrap metal dealer by trade.
He certainly raced big hairy saloon and sports cars such as Mustangs (BTCC champion in 1965), Falcons and Camaros as well as the fearsome Attilla Chevrolet sports car. He also ran a works supported Rover 3500 V8 that graced British club races in the early seventies.
Graham Robsons book "50 Years of Ford in Touring Cars" has a photo of Roy in his '65 Mustang which is being tended by a large jolly looking gentleman by the name of Ernie Brawn, yes thats right, Ross' father.
Glyn

Thanks to Cirrus' reply of his current where-about, I did a search on the net, and this is what I found:

Firstly I found his name mentioned in this Mazda MX-5 rally in North Devon (a later search did confirm that that is in the very southern of England) : http://www.mx-5.org/...evon oct 02.htm

Searching a little further I found this link: http://www.berrynarb...st-house.co.uk/

So, Roy Pierpoint of the new century is still alive and kicking and a hotellier - and I have a web adress...

Jesper

I've been trawling through Google for info on Roy Pierpoint. Check out web page, its a long one, if you'll forgive the expression! www.ruediger-wicke.de/TESTGB/P6Racer11.htm. It goes into some details about Roy's Rover project.

Anyway, Roy had a garage in Walton -on-Thames, rather than Glyn's idea that he was in the scrap trade. Somehow, I didn't think that was correct.

Ought to work better without the space

www.ruediger-wicke.de/TESTGB/P6Racer11.htm

but doesn't! :

I recall him driving some quite fearsome motor-cars at Crystal Palace in the 1960s.

I also recall that his home was listed as being Hurstpierpoint in Sussex, which I thought at the time was really rather smart...

PdeRL

Was Roy any relation to the 'hanger', Albert Pierrepoint ?

Richie.
Thanks for the reminder, I knew it was a scrap metal connection, just depends on how the locals drove in that area of south west London.
Glyn

Is Roy still with us?? There seems to be precious little about him on the forum

They certainly haven’t forgotten Roy down in South Africa, we were out there the last two weeks with David Piper’s race series and took one of our Falcon Sprints, the reception for the car was amazing with lots of people talking fondly of Roy’s attempts to beat the locals in their Mustangs with his Falcon, and they hadn’t seen one since. He obviously made a big impression with the car out there.

With some help from the posts above and additional research...................

Roy Pierpoint was from Weybridge and at the time he started racing, was living at 5 Heathdene, Heath Road, Weybridge. Born in 1929 he first raced in 1949 driving a Fiat 1100 in a BARC meeting at Goodwood. However his first full season did not come until 1961.

In 1962 he finished third in class driving a Lotus XV in the BRDC Trophy meeting at Silverstone and a class second in the Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch. He co-drove with Bruce Halford in the Brands Six Hour Race, finishing third in class. He also took a number of other wins and podiums in National and Club races that year as well as the Bodiam Hill Climb.

He drove a Attila-Climax MKII in sports car races in 1963, finishing 3rd at Mallory Park in April and a 5th Guards Trophy once again at Mallory Park in May 1964. He took a win at Croft with the car in August of that year.

In 1965 he entered the BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship driving one of three Mustangs prepared by Alan Mann Racing. He took the title from Warwick Banks though they were tied on points with the best six results counting to the Championship and with six class win each. However Roy had two seconds which gave him the title. In the eight rounds he had taken four outright wins two seconds and two thirds.

In 1966 he traveled to South Africa and raced in the Cape Town 3 Hour race with Doug Serrurier driving a Lola T70 to second place. In saloon cars he replaced the Mustang with a supercharged 1963 Ford Falcon Monaco Sprint. This proved to be a bad move as the car was unreliable. He had a few good results but was unable to defend his BSCC title.

He raced the Falcon again in 1967 and it was a similar season which after early season optimism, the unreliability returned. As well as the BSCC he also took in a number of International Sports Car races. At the Nürburgring 1000 km race he drove with Colin Crabbe in Colin's Ford GT40 finishing eighth overall and second in class. At the Circuito del Mugello he drove with Terry Hunter in the latter's Porsche 911, finishing third in class. At Brands in late July he took a class win with Hugh Dibley in David Piper's Ferrari 250LM.

The BSCC featured eleven races in 1968 with all counting to the Championship. Frank Gardner was dominant in his Ford Cortina Mk 2 Lotus with nine class wins and finishing second twice to end on 84 points. Roy was fifth on 44 points with two class wins, two seconds and a third.

In 1968 he raced with Pedro Rodriguez in David Piper's Ferrari 250LM in the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch in April finishing fifth overall and third in class. In May he traveled to the Nürburgring for the 1000km race but retired Edward Nelson's Ford GT40 with engine problems.

During 1968 and 1969 Roy Pierpoint took his Ford Falcon to the Jyllands-Ringen in Denmark. He made two starts in 1968 and finished with a second and a first, while his two appearances in 1969 resulted in another win in the Falcon and a retirement in a Duncan Hamilton Racing entered Ford Escort Twin Cam. In the BSCC 1969 was the last year of Group 5 in Britain and the last year of the Falcon Sprint. About midway through the season, Roy was lying second just two points behind eventual champion Alec Poole in his Mini Cooper. However four DNFs, two from mechanical failure and two accidents put paid to his title aspirations and he finished third.

In 1970 with the rule changes Roy switched to racing a 4956cc Chevrolet Camaro in the BSCC. He had just two third place finishes in a limited season. In sports cars he drove with David Piper in a Lola T70 Mk.3B. During the race the similar Lolas of Ulf Norinder and Paul Hawkins had suffered broken wishbones and after Jo Bonnier walked away from a massive crash at Bottom Bend which saw his T70 cartwheel off the Armco at 100 mph, the other Lolas were asked to stop for checks. Both David Piper and Trevor Taylor decided to withdraw their cars when hairline cracks were found in their rear wishbones.

In 1970 Bill Shaw at British Leyland's competition department built a lightweight 4.3 Litre Traco Oldsmobile engined Rover P6B. After some brief tests it was entered into the 86 Hour marathon race at the Nurburgring. After 15 hours the car hap a full three lap lead on the field and was cruising. The driver were only making one gear change per lap but a prop shaft vibration spelled retirement rather than taking any risks. Unfortunately BL's competition department closed down shortly afterwards though Roy did drive the Rover in some Special Saloon races.

The BSCC became the British Touring Car Championship in 1971 and Roy continued with the Camaro but raced less than previous years.

He continued to cut down on his racing but did appear in historic racing in the 1980s. In 1984 had a crash in a Ford GT40 at Silverstone when a car stalled on the grid and he was unable to avoid it.

historicracing.com

I have a programme for the Easter 1960 Nottingham Sports Car Club meeting at Mallory Park. Event 5 is a 20 lap race for 'Unlimited Sportscars' and includes three entries from Wayside Garage Ltd.. An Alan Mann website tells me that Wayside was a joint venture, located near Gatwick, between Alan and Roy Pierpoint.
Alan is entered in an HWM Jaguar, Roy in a Tojeiro-Bristol. The third car is a D-Type, driven by D.A.Pierpoint. I have never heard of another racing Pierpoint, but would this be Roy's brother?

'Edit'. I have just had a look at the RSC site and a D. Pierpoint raced an XK120 in 1951, so perhaps an older brother, maybe even Roy's father?

The third car is a D-Type, driven by D.A.Pierpoint. I have never heard of another racing Pierpoint, but would this be Roy's brother?

There was a birth registration of a Douglas A Pierpoint in Greenwich district in 1920
and
a registration of a Roy F Pierpoint born in Cuckfield district in 1929. Both of these Pierpoints have a mother's maiden name of Hall, so they may well be brothers.

Suggestions that Roy was born in Weybridge would seem to be wrong as Cuckfield district does not include Weybridge.

There was a birth registration of a Douglas A Pierpoint in Greenwich district in 1920
and
a registration of a Roy F Pierpoint born in Cuckfield district in 1929. Both of these Pierpoints have a mother's maiden name of Hall, so they may well be brothers.

Suggestions that Roy was born in Weybridge would seem to be wrong as Cuckfield district does not include Weybridge.

Thanks for the research, Geoff. Yes, sounds like an older brother who, if I've found (extended Googling....) the right person, moved off to South Wales. I don't recall any mention of his racing activities.

My electoral roll CD is not the newest now, but I have a Douglas A in the English Riviera
Roger Lund

My electoral roll CD is not the newest now, but I have a Douglas A in the English Riviera
Roger Lund

Skeggy?

Skeggy?

Ah yes, Winfield is a midlands name isn't it?

The recent Alan Mann biography contains a great deal of information on his links with Roy Pierpoint - joint garage operation, flat sharing etc.

Crystal Palace Official Programme 1/-
National Car Race Meeting, September 5 1964, B.R.S.C.C.
PALACE PORTRAITS
#8 Roy Pierpoint
Roy Pierpoint who is among the entrants in today's Anerley Trophy race, first
competed at the Palace in the September meeting two years ago-also for the
Anerley Trophy. Roy won the race and the Trophy then by 1.4 seconds after what
he regards as one of the two finest performances of his motor racing career, the
other being his win in the Kingsdown Trophy race at Brands in the same year.
Roy's first race ever was at Goodwood in 1948 at the age of 19 in a Fiat 1100
special he built himself. He has competed on and off ever since and thoroughly
enjoys the sport which, he thinks, leaves little, if any, room for improvement.
Despite his fine wins at the Palace and Brands, his favourite circuit is Cadwell
Park, which, incidentally, is the country's only circuit other than the Palace which
operated before the last war. However, it is unlikely that Roy did much driving
there in those days.
Roy is married, with a baby daughter of 21 months and lives at Woking. Outside
car racing he enjoys shooting, fishing and photography. Roy's good humour and
amiability are well captured in our picture, which also bears-we think- a faint
resemblance to Kingsley Amis. No relation, we are assured.
Since his 1962 triumph Roy has not recorded a win on this circuit. His closest
attempt was two months ago at the Jag D.C. meeting when his Attila Ford stopped
when leading on the last lap. Indeed this has not been a particularly lucky season
for Roy. Following the Jaguar D.C. meeting his machine broke down after only
one lap in the Guards Trophy race at the European G.P. meeting at Brands, and
just three weeks ago at Castle Combe the Attila's suspension failed after a tremen-
dous start. However, Roy has had the taste of success this year as well-not least
perhaps winning the Ouston (sic) Gold Cup, presented by Jim Clark. Today the 4.7
litre monster will be running again and Roy could well win back the trophy.

END

I'll never forget that Anerley Trophy race even if it is now almost 50 years ago. The grid featured Frank Gardner in the Repco Brabham Climax; Chris Summers in the mighty Lotus-Chevrolet, Tony Lanfranchi's Elva-BMW and Roy's Attila.  From Pierpoint's point of view the race was disappointing. He made up a place from his 5th on the grid and by lap 7 had taken third place but the car was smoking and he dropped back. My lap chart suggests he dropped out by lap 14.  Summers, too suffered a similar fate after leading early on and the race was dominated there after by Frank Gardner who lapped at nearly 86mph just short of Innes ireland's 1962 F1 record lap of 87.4mph.

AFAIK Pierpoint had two Lotus 15s, (? and 15-622-3?). He was a class winner up to 1,500 c.c., 28.8 sec at Firle Hill Climb on 2 October 1960 (See Autosport, Sept 16, 1960, Page 394.) FTD at Bodiam, October 13, 1962, in 28.0 sec in the Lotus 15-Climax 2-litre (Autosport, October 26, 1962, Page 584). I think these were two different cars. Drove the latter, #82, to win the Anerley Trophy, 15 laps at Crystal Palace, September 1, 1962. Car fitted with 1,960 c.c. Coventry-Climax motor.
What do we know of the Attila cars? Who designed and built them?

I think he may have replaced 622-3 with an ex-Templeton car from Ireland, but am not sure. And don't know its number

There have been other threads in the Attila

Roy Pierpoint is here in his Lotus 15 at Bodiam in 1962:

 

http://www.bygonebod...co.uk/Group.jpg

Edited by Rupertlt1, 05 January 2014 - 13:43.

Reading between the lines in the Alan Mann biography, it's possible to attribute Paddy Hopkirk's 1964 Monte Carlo rally win to Roy Pierpoint! A somewhat dubious distinction, as he was working for the Alan Mann-run Ford Falcon team...
Running just ahead of the rally to make tyre recommendations (as opposed to full ice notes), with Chris Craft, they seem to have erred on the safe side and told Lungfeldt full studs were the right choice for one critical section. Subsequently Lungfeldt is said to have told Mann it cost them the rally, as he could have made it without studs on the icy part and gained much more time on the non-iced part.
Quite why Mann was using racing drivers for this is not explained but, although this was early days for full ice notes prepared by rally drivers who were not competing (as BMC already had by then?), there is a flavour of "jobs for the boys" (as with Whitmore at the wheel of a service van and writing it off soon after the start...).

To be fair to Craft, his first day job at Ford had been with the rally team and was more than aware of the jobs requirements.
glyn

What do we know of the Attila cars? Who designed and built them?

Designed by Val Dare-Bryan, first one a road car, now in Belgium, second based on crashed 15, both built by the brilliant Mark Perry at his father's North London garage, later cars built in Woking afaik, funded by Pierpoint. After more race engineering work Mark went on to become one of Neil Twyman's most highly regarded engineers, trusted with some of our sport's finest machines. He was also a fine beekeeper and photographer and a good bloke, also a tidy circuit driver.
Sadly he succumbed to a very vicious cancer and died two days after the 2013 Revival meeting. His funeral was very well attended indicative of the wide respect which he enjoyed.
Val went onto wider motor industry engineering development work, centring on large commercial vehicles.
Roger Lund

Edit. Check the front suspension on the Attila Chev if you have a chance.

Edited by bradbury west, 05 January 2014 - 22:33.

The following kindly sent to me by Bill Colson, Lotus 15 Registrar:

 

Roy Pierpoint:
The following is a sporting profile from the 1965 edition of the Motor Racing Register:
PIERPOINT, R. F. (Roy) – b.1929, married. Company director. Member BRSCC. First race 1949 Goodwood (BARC) driving Fiat 1100. Other cars raced have included Frazer Nash, AC and Tojeiro Bristols, XK120, HWM and D-type Jaguars, Lotus XV. First full season in 1961. Awards in 1962 driving Lotus XV [sic] include class 3rd Silverstone BRDC Trophy (INT) and class 2nd Brands Guards Trophy (INT). Also 1sts in national events at Silverstone (MMEc), Snetterton (Eastern Counties July 1st and class 1st SMRC July 15th), and Crystal Palace (BRSCC September 1st). 1sts in club events at Silverstone, Brands, Cadwell and 3 times at Snetterton. Class 3rd with Bruce Halford in Brands 6 hour driving 3.8 Jaguar. In 1963 competed successfully with Attila-Climax MK II and 1964 results driving Attila-Ford V8 (sports) included 1st Oulton (Gold Cup Mtg) NB, 1st and circuit record Croft (BRSCC) NB, 2nd Mallory (Whitsun) NO and 3rd in class C of 1964 Autosport Championship.

 

Reading between the lines in the Alan Mann biography, it's possible to attribute Paddy Hopkirk's 1964 Monte Carlo rally win to Roy Pierpoint! A somewhat dubious distinction, as he was working for the Alan Mann-run Ford Falcon team...
Running just ahead of the rally to make tyre recommendations (as opposed to full ice notes), with Chris Craft, they seem to have erred on the safe side and told Lungfeldt full studs were the right choice for one critical section. Subsequently Lungfeldt is said to have told Mann it cost them the rally, as he could have made it without studs on the icy part and gained much more time on the non-iced part.

 

To me demonstrates a lot about Bo Ljungfelt's level driving skill with the Falcon   Even Sir John Whitmore, not a man known to praise other drivers unnecessarily, admitted that Bo was one of the finest drivers he'd ever seen. Dad always wondered what would have happened if Bo had been 'discovered' when he was younger - he was 42 when he competed in the '64 Monte...

Bo  Ljungfelt was a fine driver and I remember him racing at Oulton Park in late 1960's, I forget if he won but after racing ended he drove out alongside us in the car he had been racing.

I think he passed away in 1988.

Bo  Ljungfelt was a fine driver and I remember him racing at Oulton Park in late 1960's, I forget if he won but after racing ended he drove out alongside us in the car he had been racing.

I think he passed away in 1988.

Probably the 1967 RAC TT race at Oulton, which that year was an ETCC qualifier, in which Bo drove a Ford Mustang. He won his heat but didn't feature in the results in the final.