Hello everybody!
I collect information about Leslie Johnson for his profile, I’ll put it on this forum soon (if it’ll be interesting), but now I need some information:
1. His financial status, his work, proffesion, what did he do before WWII
2. Private life – wife, children (parents?)
3. His photos (I have one from http://statsf1.phidji.com, but it’s very oweful)
4. In what classes did he race, except F1, F2 and Le-Mans
5. In what races did he enter on Delage for RH Parnell in 1946
6. Why did he race for private team (TASO Mathieson) in 1949-1950 if he was an owner of ERA Ltd.
7. Any else information
I’ll be very grateful for your help.
Leslie Johnson
Started by
Oleksij Hrushko
, Jan 14 2003 11:34
53 replies to this topic
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#2
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 17 February 2003 - 13:00
As I promised:
Leslie George Johnson (22.03.1912 – 8.06.1959)
Participant of British GP 1950 (13/05)
Career summaries
1954
Rally Monte-Carlo - retired
1953
14/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – 11th, 8th in class (with B. Hadley, works Nash-Healey)
1952
15/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – 3rd, 1st in class (with T. Wisdom, works Nash-Healey)
04/05 Mille Miglia – 7th, 4th in class (with W.À. MacKinzey, works Nash-Healey)
1951
23/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with C. Biondetti, Biondetti’s Jaguar)
1950
Formula-1 World Championship, 1 GP – retired (team TASO Mathieson, ERA)
25/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with B. Hadley, own Jaguar)
23/04 Mille Miglia – 5th, 4th in class (with J. Lea, Jaguar)
Sportcar races: Tourist Trophy (16/09) – 7th, 3rd in class; International Daily Express (26/08) – 8th; Palm Beach Shores Road Race (03/01) – 4th (all - Jaguar)
1949
18/04 Richmond Trophy – 5th (team TASO Mathieson, ERA)
26/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with Ch. Brakenbury, works Aston Martin)
25/07 Bentley Drivers Club, National Meeting, 1st (Bentley)
? - 24 Hours Cpa – 2nd (Aston Martin)
? - Production Sports Car Race (Silverstone) – 2nd (works Jaguar)
1948
Teams LG Johnson and English Racing Automobiles Ltd (ERA)
25/05 X British Empire Trophy – 5th, Fastest lap
02/10 British Grand Prix – front row, retired (?)
10/10 Grand Prix du Salon – pole-position, retired (?)
25/05 II Manx Cup (Voiturette Race) – 3rd (team Gerry Dunham, Alvis)
? - 24 Hours Spa – 1st (with J. Horsefall, Aston Martin)
1947
08/05 I JCC Jersey Road Race – 6th (team LG Johnson, Talbot)
1946
GP racing – team RH Parnell (Delage)
16/06 Sportcars GP Automobile de Belgique – 2nd, Fastest lap (Frazer Nash-BMW)
Does anybody want to add something? I’ll be very grateful.
Oleksij
Leslie George Johnson (22.03.1912 – 8.06.1959)
Participant of British GP 1950 (13/05)
Career summaries
1954
Rally Monte-Carlo - retired
1953
14/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – 11th, 8th in class (with B. Hadley, works Nash-Healey)
1952
15/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – 3rd, 1st in class (with T. Wisdom, works Nash-Healey)
04/05 Mille Miglia – 7th, 4th in class (with W.À. MacKinzey, works Nash-Healey)
1951
23/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with C. Biondetti, Biondetti’s Jaguar)
1950
Formula-1 World Championship, 1 GP – retired (team TASO Mathieson, ERA)
25/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with B. Hadley, own Jaguar)
23/04 Mille Miglia – 5th, 4th in class (with J. Lea, Jaguar)
Sportcar races: Tourist Trophy (16/09) – 7th, 3rd in class; International Daily Express (26/08) – 8th; Palm Beach Shores Road Race (03/01) – 4th (all - Jaguar)
1949
18/04 Richmond Trophy – 5th (team TASO Mathieson, ERA)
26/06 24 Hours Le-Mans – retired (with Ch. Brakenbury, works Aston Martin)
25/07 Bentley Drivers Club, National Meeting, 1st (Bentley)
? - 24 Hours Cpa – 2nd (Aston Martin)
? - Production Sports Car Race (Silverstone) – 2nd (works Jaguar)
1948
Teams LG Johnson and English Racing Automobiles Ltd (ERA)
25/05 X British Empire Trophy – 5th, Fastest lap
02/10 British Grand Prix – front row, retired (?)
10/10 Grand Prix du Salon – pole-position, retired (?)
25/05 II Manx Cup (Voiturette Race) – 3rd (team Gerry Dunham, Alvis)
? - 24 Hours Spa – 1st (with J. Horsefall, Aston Martin)
1947
08/05 I JCC Jersey Road Race – 6th (team LG Johnson, Talbot)
1946
GP racing – team RH Parnell (Delage)
16/06 Sportcars GP Automobile de Belgique – 2nd, Fastest lap (Frazer Nash-BMW)
Does anybody want to add something? I’ll be very grateful.
Oleksij
#3
Marcor
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Posted 17 February 2003 - 17:42
Have you the dates of the events ?
Here some results of 1947 not in your list:
08 June, Swiss GP, Bremgarten, Talbot T150C #28, DNF qualifying heat, DNS in final
29 June, GP d'Europe, Spa-Francorchamps, Talbot T150C #40, 7th
13 July, Gransden Lodge (exact title of the race not available), Talbot Lago SS, 4th
21 August, British Empire Trophy (Douglas, Isle of Man), Talbot Darracq T150C #50, DNF
in fact same car, sometime called Darracq, sometimes called Talbot.
Here some results of 1947 not in your list:
08 June, Swiss GP, Bremgarten, Talbot T150C #28, DNF qualifying heat, DNS in final
29 June, GP d'Europe, Spa-Francorchamps, Talbot T150C #40, 7th
13 July, Gransden Lodge (exact title of the race not available), Talbot Lago SS, 4th
21 August, British Empire Trophy (Douglas, Isle of Man), Talbot Darracq T150C #50, DNF
in fact same car, sometime called Darracq, sometimes called Talbot.
#4
jarama
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Posted 17 February 2003 - 23:08
1954 Monte-Carlo Rally, 18th-27th January, Johnson's car was a Sunbeam-Talbot 90.
Carles.
Carles.
#5
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 20 February 2003 - 11:13
I edited career summarries with dates, as Marcor asked.
Also I found one more race in 1949 - Bentley Drivers Club
And new info:
Some bio facts about Leslie Johnson (? – I’m not sure)
Reach amateur driver, began to race after WWII, in 1946
In incident with Leslie Johnson (locked brakes) were killed two at Swiss GP.
Bought ERA ltd in Nov 1947
In 1948 began to race on sport-cars
The first driver to win on Jaguar XK120 – august 1949, Silversone (?)
Team manager of TASO Mathieson – work team of ERA (?) in 1950 and work team ERA in 1952 (?)
1952 – first heart-attack
Participant of public demonstration Humber Super Snipe (Rootes Group) – “From Oslo to Lisbon in 5 days” (with Stirling Moss, John Cutts and David Hamphrey)
In 1953 (?) sold factory of ERA to Sonax, project of ERA-G – to Bristol.
1954 – heart-attack at Monte-Carlo Rally, retired from racing
Died from heart-attack
Oleksij
Also I found one more race in 1949 - Bentley Drivers Club
And new info:
Some bio facts about Leslie Johnson (? – I’m not sure)
Reach amateur driver, began to race after WWII, in 1946
In incident with Leslie Johnson (locked brakes) were killed two at Swiss GP.
Bought ERA ltd in Nov 1947
In 1948 began to race on sport-cars
The first driver to win on Jaguar XK120 – august 1949, Silversone (?)
Team manager of TASO Mathieson – work team of ERA (?) in 1950 and work team ERA in 1952 (?)
1952 – first heart-attack
Participant of public demonstration Humber Super Snipe (Rootes Group) – “From Oslo to Lisbon in 5 days” (with Stirling Moss, John Cutts and David Hamphrey)
In 1953 (?) sold factory of ERA to Sonax, project of ERA-G – to Bristol.
1954 – heart-attack at Monte-Carlo Rally, retired from racing
Died from heart-attack
Oleksij
#6
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 25 February 2003 - 17:41
Some else information, some corrections...?...?
#7
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 02 March 2003 - 15:28
Australian GP 1949 (18 sept.)
DNS - Arrived without car (Lea Francis)
DNS - Arrived without car (Lea Francis)
#8
David McKinney
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Posted 02 March 2003 - 18:42
That's a new one on me - neither driver nor car is listed in the entry published in the 'Fifty Year History'Originally posted by Oleksij Hrushko
Australian GP 1949 (18 sept.)
DNS - Arrived without car (Lea Francis)
#9
David McKinney
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Posted 02 March 2003 - 20:17
Made his name in rallies with BMWs - won 1937 Scottish and Torquay Rallies, third in the RAC in 1938 and 1939
Also raced in sportscar races at Crystal Palace 1939, finishing 6th in the Crystal Palace Plate on 1/7 and 2nd in the Imperial Plate on 28/8, both times in his BMW 328
Postwar:
1946
2nd 2-litre sportscar race Brussels 17/6 (BMW 328)
DNF unltd sportscar race Brussels 17/6 (Talbot)
DNF Ulster Trophy Ballyclare (Delage GP)
FTD Bo’ness hillclimb 7/9 (Talbot); also placed at Prescott
1947
6th Jersey road race 8/5 (Talbot)
DNF Swiss GP heat 8/6 (Talbot)
7th Belgian Grand Prix 29/6 (Talbot)
4th main race Gransden Lodge 13/7 (Talbot)
DNF Empire Trophy IoM 21/8 (Talbot)
1948
DNA Jersey road race 29/4 (ERA E-Type)
3rd Manx Cup Isle of Man c25/5 (Alvis)
5th Empire Trophy Isle of Man 25/5 (ERA E-Type)
1st Belgian 24hrs/Horsfall 10-11/7 (Aston Martin 2.0)
DNS Zandvoort 7/8 (ERA E-Type)
DNS Goodwood Trophy race 18/9 (ERA E-Type)
DNF RAC Grand Prix Silverstone 2/10 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Coupe du Salon Montlhéry 9/10 (ERA E-Type)
1949
3rd Chichester Cup race Goodwood 18/4 (ERA E-Type)
5th Richmond Trophy race Goodwood 18/4 (ERA E-Type)
DNS Jersey road race 28/4 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Brackenbury 25-26/6 (Aston Martin DB2)
3rd Spa 24hrs/Brackenbury 9-10/6 (Aston Martin DB2)
1st 1hr sportscar race Silverstone 20/8 (Jaguar XK120)
1950
4th Palm Beach Shores 3/1 (Jaguar XK120)
5th Mille Miglia 23/4 (Jaguar XK120)
DNF British Grand Prix Silverstone 13/5 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Hadley 24-25/6 (Jaguar XK120)
4th in class Silverstone 1hr sportscar race 26/8 (Jaguar XK120)
7th Tourist Trophy handicap Dundrod 16/9 - 3rd on scratch (Jaguar XK120)
1951
DNF Mille Miglia 29/4 (Jaguar XK120)
5th Silverstone sportscar race 5/5 (Jaguar XK120)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Biondetti 23-24/6 (Jaguar C-Type)
4th Tourist Trophy handicap Dundrod/Rolt 15/9 - 3rd on scratch (Jaguar C-Type)
1952
7th Mille Miglia 4/5 (Nash-Healey)
DNS Monaco GP 2/6 (Jaguar C-Type)
3rd Le Mans 24hrs/Wisdom 14-15/6 (Nash-Healey)
1953
DNF Mille Miglia 26/4 (Jaguar C-Type)
7th in class Le Mans 24hrs/Hadley 13-14/6 (Nash-Healey)
Also raced in sportscar races at Crystal Palace 1939, finishing 6th in the Crystal Palace Plate on 1/7 and 2nd in the Imperial Plate on 28/8, both times in his BMW 328
Postwar:
1946
2nd 2-litre sportscar race Brussels 17/6 (BMW 328)
DNF unltd sportscar race Brussels 17/6 (Talbot)
DNF Ulster Trophy Ballyclare (Delage GP)
FTD Bo’ness hillclimb 7/9 (Talbot); also placed at Prescott
1947
6th Jersey road race 8/5 (Talbot)
DNF Swiss GP heat 8/6 (Talbot)
7th Belgian Grand Prix 29/6 (Talbot)
4th main race Gransden Lodge 13/7 (Talbot)
DNF Empire Trophy IoM 21/8 (Talbot)
1948
DNA Jersey road race 29/4 (ERA E-Type)
3rd Manx Cup Isle of Man c25/5 (Alvis)
5th Empire Trophy Isle of Man 25/5 (ERA E-Type)
1st Belgian 24hrs/Horsfall 10-11/7 (Aston Martin 2.0)
DNS Zandvoort 7/8 (ERA E-Type)
DNS Goodwood Trophy race 18/9 (ERA E-Type)
DNF RAC Grand Prix Silverstone 2/10 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Coupe du Salon Montlhéry 9/10 (ERA E-Type)
1949
3rd Chichester Cup race Goodwood 18/4 (ERA E-Type)
5th Richmond Trophy race Goodwood 18/4 (ERA E-Type)
DNS Jersey road race 28/4 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Brackenbury 25-26/6 (Aston Martin DB2)
3rd Spa 24hrs/Brackenbury 9-10/6 (Aston Martin DB2)
1st 1hr sportscar race Silverstone 20/8 (Jaguar XK120)
1950
4th Palm Beach Shores 3/1 (Jaguar XK120)
5th Mille Miglia 23/4 (Jaguar XK120)
DNF British Grand Prix Silverstone 13/5 (ERA E-Type)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Hadley 24-25/6 (Jaguar XK120)
4th in class Silverstone 1hr sportscar race 26/8 (Jaguar XK120)
7th Tourist Trophy handicap Dundrod 16/9 - 3rd on scratch (Jaguar XK120)
1951
DNF Mille Miglia 29/4 (Jaguar XK120)
5th Silverstone sportscar race 5/5 (Jaguar XK120)
DNF Le Mans 24hrs/Biondetti 23-24/6 (Jaguar C-Type)
4th Tourist Trophy handicap Dundrod/Rolt 15/9 - 3rd on scratch (Jaguar C-Type)
1952
7th Mille Miglia 4/5 (Nash-Healey)
DNS Monaco GP 2/6 (Jaguar C-Type)
3rd Le Mans 24hrs/Wisdom 14-15/6 (Nash-Healey)
1953
DNF Mille Miglia 26/4 (Jaguar C-Type)
7th in class Le Mans 24hrs/Hadley 13-14/6 (Nash-Healey)
#10
Ray Bell
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Posted 02 March 2003 - 22:35
Originally posted by David McKinney
That's a new one on me - neither driver nor car is listed in the entry published in the 'Fifty Year History'
Actually, David, it is...
Graham would be posting about this if he saw it! His mention of Johnson (who isn't, strangely enough, listed in the entries in the book) comes in the discussion about the lack of Victorian competitors in the race and reads thus:
The immediate impact of these AAA decisions was to divide opinion very strongly. The total absence of an effective Victorian presence at Leyburn was a pointed reaction; and of course the loss of an AGP - especially a scratch event - to drivers like Barrett, Davison, Gaze Dean and Whiteford cannot be forgotten when recalling the course of the race, or its result.
The longer-term, more sweeping changes, of course, had barely started - and that is what makes Leyburn so fascinating, because it was a wonderful snapshot of a style of Australian motor sport that was soon to be lost.
Not that there was actually a great deal of racing going on. In NSW there had been the Easter Bathurst meeting, and two meetings up and down the strip at Mt Druitt; in Victoria, there had been just one meeting at Fishermen's Bend, shared with motorcycles (although there was to be a second 'Bend meeting in October). There had been two meetings in South Australia, one at Woodside, the other to initiate the 1950 AGP course at Nuriootpa. Far-off West Australia, with its round-the-houses tradition, must have been laughing. To forego Leyburn, despite this lack of racing, the Victorians must very badly have wanted to prove a point.
(In fact, Leyburn attracted one Victorian, the unknown Les Johnson. He had trailer trouble on the way up and arrived, without his Lea Francis racing car, after the AGP had finished; he had brought his Victorian beer, however, and was made duly welcome.)
The decisions involved... the inclusion of the broader number of states in the cycle for rotation of the AGP and the restriction of the name 'Grand Prix' to just one race per year (later broken by the Albert Park meetings...)... were significant and later did prove to be worthwhile. As Graham included in this account...
By insisting on Queensland's right to stage the 1949 race, the AAA initiated a phase of the AGP which lasted through until the early 1960s, where the race seemed to belong to the whole of Australia - and where year after year, the AGP brought regional record crowds, the one at Leyburn being typical.
I have written in to my copy of the book an entry for Johnson as an addition to the entry list. It's a shame, but there are (I have found) many errors in the results, entries and grids in this book. While you have it open, put in No. 14. L F Johnson ... Lea Francis. I have also a query as to whether Connie Jordan's TC should be an entry. I don't remember where I got these details, but I have had a lot to do with the 50th anniversary of this race and had the programme details at one stage.
Worth mentioning, too, is the previous discussion on this forum about the lack of continuity in entries between this race and the next, just 15 weeks later at Nuriootpa. Only one or two of the entries from Leyburn made it to the South Australian event. You will, no doubt, be familiar with Graham's reference in that report to the fact that it was also a scratch event, but that only the winner on scratch got anything out of the scratch results, no placings on scratch beyond the winner ever being published and all the placings on handicap attracting prizes and recognition in results... except that the scratch winner was disqualified from any handicap winnings!
The final race under these conditions, Narrogin in 1951, saw a handicap race with a scratch winner too. But this time there were published placings and awards for both sections. The downside, as Graham points out markedly, was that by starting the race as a handicap, the onlookers missed out on a most intriguing and hard-fought race for actual positions, the lead changing regularly and several taking charge during the course of the race.
And, of course, his classic quote: "As it was, this race was so specials-dominated that at one stage it presented the apparently paradoxical situation of having four Ford V8 engines in the first three places."
#11
Ray Bell
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Posted 02 March 2003 - 22:43
All of that said, I think you can safely conclude that this was a different Les Johnson...
He would hardly have been at Silverstone on August 20 and en-route from Melbourne to Leyburn on... say... 15th September. Then again, 'Palm Beach Shores'? Is that the US Palm Beach? Was he on a World tour?
I know it's possible, but it seems that he was recognised as a Victorian, and Graham would have derived this information from somewhere... possibly the little 'after event' programme that described the meeting for Club members.
I'll see if I can have a look at Bill Westerman's copy of this when I see him later this week...
He would hardly have been at Silverstone on August 20 and en-route from Melbourne to Leyburn on... say... 15th September. Then again, 'Palm Beach Shores'? Is that the US Palm Beach? Was he on a World tour?
I know it's possible, but it seems that he was recognised as a Victorian, and Graham would have derived this information from somewhere... possibly the little 'after event' programme that described the meeting for Club members.
I'll see if I can have a look at Bill Westerman's copy of this when I see him later this week...
#12
David McKinney
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 06:02
I should have looked more carefully
Mention of L G Johnson at an AGP did not ring any bells, but I thought I should check at least one source before saying so. Found nothing on the list, nor in my apparently too cursory scan of the text
But there is, as you say, no suggestion that the Leaf driver had anything to do with the Englishman
Mention of L G Johnson at an AGP did not ring any bells, but I thought I should check at least one source before saying so. Found nothing on the list, nor in my apparently too cursory scan of the text
But there is, as you say, no suggestion that the Leaf driver had anything to do with the Englishman
#13
Ray Bell
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 09:37
I guess the initials are a good indication it's not the same bloke...
But it's interesting that most years he raced in England at the same time as the AGP was on, but this year (and 1947... ) he didn't.
Of course, organising such a thing would be a trick... the AGP was a on-again, off-again affair as they had no idea where they were going to hold it until very late in the peace.
By the way, David, what do you think of Graham's question mark over that empty centre spot on the second row of the grid?
But it's interesting that most years he raced in England at the same time as the AGP was on, but this year (and 1947... ) he didn't.
Of course, organising such a thing would be a trick... the AGP was a on-again, off-again affair as they had no idea where they were going to hold it until very late in the peace.
By the way, David, what do you think of Graham's question mark over that empty centre spot on the second row of the grid?
#14
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 10:45
David, thanks for list - may be I'll add something this week. About AGP and Johnson - I was not sure about it, wanted ask TNF, but forgot to put "?". Sorry 
. Thanks for corrections.
Oleksij
. Thanks for corrections.Oleksij
#15
Ray Bell
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 10:48
I have a question for you, Oleksij...
Where did you get the information about Johnson in the Leyburn race? I didn't know the 50-race AGP book went on sale in the Ukraine...
Where did you get the information about Johnson in the Leyburn race? I didn't know the 50-race AGP book went on sale in the Ukraine...
#16
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 10:52
Actually, I was searching through the BB with "Johnson". In thread dedicated to AGP (don't remember the link) it was found with initial L. It was my bad mistake to put this info, but it helped to activate this thread .
.
#17
Ray Bell
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Posted 03 March 2003 - 11:42
Oh, yeah, this thread...
http://www.atlasf1.c...=&threadid=1097
You can blame me for most of that.
I do hope David has an answer to my question...
http://www.atlasf1.c...=&threadid=1097
You can blame me for most of that.
I do hope David has an answer to my question...
#18
Ray Bell
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Posted 04 March 2003 - 21:23
David...
Here's a clue:
I don't think you've ever seen that before...
Here's a clue:
I don't think you've ever seen that before...
#19
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 05 March 2003 - 12:21
Some corrections, some new info
1954
#57 18-27 January: Monte Carlo Rally (Sunbeam-Talbot-90) - DNF
1953
#56 05 September: Tourist Trophy (Jaguar C-Type, with Bert Hadley) - DNA
#55 22 August: BARC - Second Nine Hour International Car Race (Jaguar C-Type, with Bert Hadley) - DNS
#54 16 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Nash-Healey, with Bert Hadley) - 11th, 8th in class
#53 25-26 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar C-Type, with W.A. Mackenzie) - DNF
1952
#52 02 August: International Festival of Motor Sport - International Motor Race Meeting sponsored by The Daily Mail - Second 100-Mile Sports-Car Race (Jaguar C-type) - DNA
#51 15 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Nash-Healey, with Tomas Wisdom) - 3rd, 1st in class
#50 02 June: GP Monaco (Jaguar C-type) - DNA
#49 04 May: Mille Miglia (works Nash-Healey, with W.A. Mackenzie) - 7th, 4th in class
1951
#48 15 September: RAC Tourist Trophy (Jaguar C-type, with Tony Rolt) - 4th, 3rd in class
#47 15 September: handicap Dundrod/Rolt (Jaguar C-type) - 3rd on scratch
#46 23-24 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (Jaguar XK120, with Climente Biondetti) - DNF
#45 05 May: 1 Hour Production Car Race - Silverstone (Jaguar XK120) - 5th
#44 29 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar XK120, with John Lea) - DNF
1950
#43 30 September: Goodwood International - 4th September Handicap (Bentley 8.0) - 2nd
#42 16 September: RAC Tourist Trophy 3 hours (Jaguar XK120) - 7th, 3rd in class
#41 16 September: handicap Dundrod (Jaguar XK120) - 3rd on scratch
#40 26 August: International Daily Express Trophy Meeting - 1 Hour Production Sport Car Race (Jaguar XK120) - 8th, 5th in class
#39 25 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (Jaguar XK120, with Bert Hadley) - DNF
#38 13 May: British GP - GP d'Europe (works ERA-E) - DNF
#37 23 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar XK120, with John Lea) - 5th, 4th in class
#36 03 January: Palm Beach Shores Road Race (Jaguar XK120) - 4th
1949
#35 20 August: International Daily Express Trophy Meeting - 1 Hour Production Sport Car Race (works Jaguar XK120) - 1st
#34 25 July: Bentley Drivers Club - National Meeting (Bentley) - 1st
#33 09-10 July: 24 hours Spa (works Aston Martin DB2, with Charles Brackenbury) - 3rd, 2nd in class
#32 25-26 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Aston Martin DB2, with Charles Brackenbury) - DNF
#31 28 April: Jercey Road Race (works ERA-E) - DNS
#30 18 April: Richmond Trophy (works ERA-E) - 5th
#29 18 April: Chichester Cup race (works ERA-E) - 3rd
#28 ?? ????: Production Sports Car Race - Silverstone (works Jaguar XK120) - 2nd
1948
#27 10 October: GP du Salon (works ERA-E) - DNF, pole-position
#26 02 October: British GP (works ERA-E) - DNF, front row
#25 18 September: Goodwood Trophy (works ERA-E) - DNS
#24 12 September: 12 hours Paris (Healey, with Nick Haines) - DNF
#23 07 August: GP Zandvoort (works ERA-E) - DNS
#22 10-11 July: 24 hours Spa (Aston Martin DB1, with 'Jock' Horsfall) - 1st
#21 25 May: British Empire Trophy (works ERA-E) - 5th, Fastest lap
#20 25 May: Manx Cup (Alvis) - 3rd
#19 29 April: Jercey Road Race (works ERA-E) - DNA
1947
#18 21 August: British Empire Trophy (Talbot T150C) - DNF
#17 13 July: Gransden Lodge - main race (Talbot Lago SS) - 4th
#16 29 June: Belgian GP - GP d'Europe (Talbot T150C) - 7th
#15 22 June: Circuit Vigevano (Talbot T150C) - DNA
#14 08 June: Swiss GP (Talbot T150C) - DNF in qual-heat, DNS final
#13 08 May: Jercey Road Race (Talbot 150C) - 6th
1946
#12 07 September: Bo'ness hillclimb (Talbot) - FTD
#11 10 August: Ulster Trophy Ballyclare (Delage GP) - DNF
#10 10 August: Champion Trophy (BMW 328) - 3rd qual-heat, 8th(?) final
#09 16 June: GP Automobile de Belgique - 2.0 l (Frazer Nash - BMW) - 2nd, Fastest lap
#08 16 June: GP Automobile de Belgique - libre (Talbot) - DNF
1939
#07 28 August: Imperial Plate (BMW 328) - 2nd
#06 01 July: Crystal Palace Plate (BMW 328) - 6th
#05 01 January: Crystal Palace Plate - Handicap Race (Frazer Nash - BMW) - 5th
#04 ?? ????: RAC Rally (?) - 3rd
1938
#03 ?? ????: RAC Rally (?) - 3rd
1937
#02 ?? ????: Scottish Rally (?) - 1st
#01 ?? ????: Torquay Rally (?) - 1st
1954
#57 18-27 January: Monte Carlo Rally (Sunbeam-Talbot-90) - DNF
1953
#56 05 September: Tourist Trophy (Jaguar C-Type, with Bert Hadley) - DNA
#55 22 August: BARC - Second Nine Hour International Car Race (Jaguar C-Type, with Bert Hadley) - DNS
#54 16 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Nash-Healey, with Bert Hadley) - 11th, 8th in class
#53 25-26 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar C-Type, with W.A. Mackenzie) - DNF
1952
#52 02 August: International Festival of Motor Sport - International Motor Race Meeting sponsored by The Daily Mail - Second 100-Mile Sports-Car Race (Jaguar C-type) - DNA
#51 15 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Nash-Healey, with Tomas Wisdom) - 3rd, 1st in class
#50 02 June: GP Monaco (Jaguar C-type) - DNA
#49 04 May: Mille Miglia (works Nash-Healey, with W.A. Mackenzie) - 7th, 4th in class
1951
#48 15 September: RAC Tourist Trophy (Jaguar C-type, with Tony Rolt) - 4th, 3rd in class
#47 15 September: handicap Dundrod/Rolt (Jaguar C-type) - 3rd on scratch
#46 23-24 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (Jaguar XK120, with Climente Biondetti) - DNF
#45 05 May: 1 Hour Production Car Race - Silverstone (Jaguar XK120) - 5th
#44 29 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar XK120, with John Lea) - DNF
1950
#43 30 September: Goodwood International - 4th September Handicap (Bentley 8.0) - 2nd
#42 16 September: RAC Tourist Trophy 3 hours (Jaguar XK120) - 7th, 3rd in class
#41 16 September: handicap Dundrod (Jaguar XK120) - 3rd on scratch
#40 26 August: International Daily Express Trophy Meeting - 1 Hour Production Sport Car Race (Jaguar XK120) - 8th, 5th in class
#39 25 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (Jaguar XK120, with Bert Hadley) - DNF
#38 13 May: British GP - GP d'Europe (works ERA-E) - DNF
#37 23 April: Mille Miglia (Jaguar XK120, with John Lea) - 5th, 4th in class
#36 03 January: Palm Beach Shores Road Race (Jaguar XK120) - 4th
1949
#35 20 August: International Daily Express Trophy Meeting - 1 Hour Production Sport Car Race (works Jaguar XK120) - 1st
#34 25 July: Bentley Drivers Club - National Meeting (Bentley) - 1st
#33 09-10 July: 24 hours Spa (works Aston Martin DB2, with Charles Brackenbury) - 3rd, 2nd in class
#32 25-26 June: 24 hours Le-Mans (works Aston Martin DB2, with Charles Brackenbury) - DNF
#31 28 April: Jercey Road Race (works ERA-E) - DNS
#30 18 April: Richmond Trophy (works ERA-E) - 5th
#29 18 April: Chichester Cup race (works ERA-E) - 3rd
#28 ?? ????: Production Sports Car Race - Silverstone (works Jaguar XK120) - 2nd
1948
#27 10 October: GP du Salon (works ERA-E) - DNF, pole-position
#26 02 October: British GP (works ERA-E) - DNF, front row
#25 18 September: Goodwood Trophy (works ERA-E) - DNS
#24 12 September: 12 hours Paris (Healey, with Nick Haines) - DNF
#23 07 August: GP Zandvoort (works ERA-E) - DNS
#22 10-11 July: 24 hours Spa (Aston Martin DB1, with 'Jock' Horsfall) - 1st
#21 25 May: British Empire Trophy (works ERA-E) - 5th, Fastest lap
#20 25 May: Manx Cup (Alvis) - 3rd
#19 29 April: Jercey Road Race (works ERA-E) - DNA
1947
#18 21 August: British Empire Trophy (Talbot T150C) - DNF
#17 13 July: Gransden Lodge - main race (Talbot Lago SS) - 4th
#16 29 June: Belgian GP - GP d'Europe (Talbot T150C) - 7th
#15 22 June: Circuit Vigevano (Talbot T150C) - DNA
#14 08 June: Swiss GP (Talbot T150C) - DNF in qual-heat, DNS final
#13 08 May: Jercey Road Race (Talbot 150C) - 6th
1946
#12 07 September: Bo'ness hillclimb (Talbot) - FTD
#11 10 August: Ulster Trophy Ballyclare (Delage GP) - DNF
#10 10 August: Champion Trophy (BMW 328) - 3rd qual-heat, 8th(?) final
#09 16 June: GP Automobile de Belgique - 2.0 l (Frazer Nash - BMW) - 2nd, Fastest lap
#08 16 June: GP Automobile de Belgique - libre (Talbot) - DNF
1939
#07 28 August: Imperial Plate (BMW 328) - 2nd
#06 01 July: Crystal Palace Plate (BMW 328) - 6th
#05 01 January: Crystal Palace Plate - Handicap Race (Frazer Nash - BMW) - 5th
#04 ?? ????: RAC Rally (?) - 3rd
1938
#03 ?? ????: RAC Rally (?) - 3rd
1937
#02 ?? ????: Scottish Rally (?) - 1st
#01 ?? ????: Torquay Rally (?) - 1st
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#20
David McKinney
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Posted 05 March 2003 - 14:01
It's your thread, OH, and you're entitled to update information posted
What I strongly object to however is when you take information provided, then replace it with wrong information, and call it a "correction"
What I strongly object to however is when you take information provided, then replace it with wrong information, and call it a "correction"
#21
Frank S
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Posted 06 March 2003 - 02:22
Fifties Motor Racing - The GP Scene - through the lens of Alan R. Smith, page 62:
"1952 Disappointment. The G-type ERA was manufactured by Moss' ex-Jaguar team-mate, Leslie Johnson, who had bought the original ERA company. The G-type gave Moss a whole string of headaches. It was rather an ugly car, and another example of a sophisticated concept lacking sufficient backing to iron out the many bugs. This photograph was taken during the 1952 British Grand Prix, when it suffered from overheating and misfiring."
Frank S
"1952 Disappointment. The G-type ERA was manufactured by Moss' ex-Jaguar team-mate, Leslie Johnson, who had bought the original ERA company. The G-type gave Moss a whole string of headaches. It was rather an ugly car, and another example of a sophisticated concept lacking sufficient backing to iron out the many bugs. This photograph was taken during the 1952 British Grand Prix, when it suffered from overheating and misfiring."
Frank S
#22
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 06 March 2003 - 14:29
Frank, thanks! I read somewhere, that ERA-G was constructed as basis for future SportCar. Comments?
#23
Vitesse2
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Posted 06 March 2003 - 15:32
Originally posted by Oleksij Hrushko
Frank, thanks! I read somewhere, that ERA-G was constructed as basis for future SportCar. Comments?
Not deliberately, but that's what it became. The G-type was sold to the Bristol Aeroplane Company, who used it as the basis of the first Bristol 450 sports car, three of which ran at Le Mans in 1954, coming 7th, 8th and 9th overall and 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their class.
#24
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 13 March 2003 - 12:58
Nothing new, just foto
#25
Egon Thurner
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 11:25
Only some DNAs to add:
1948-05-16 GP de Monaco (ERA E)
1948-07-18 GP de l'ACF (ERA E)
1949-05-14 British GP (ERA E)
1949-07-17 GP de France (ERA E)
1948-05-16 GP de Monaco (ERA E)
1948-07-18 GP de l'ACF (ERA E)
1949-05-14 British GP (ERA E)
1949-07-17 GP de France (ERA E)
#26
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 19 March 2003 - 14:19
Thanks for info!
May be somebody have an idea about so many DNA and DNS (13 times, 21%) in his racing career? Business or health, may be money?
And one more question – what about his rally career? I can’t find any information, exept in David list, but I ‘feel’ that it have to be.
May be somebody have an idea about so many DNA and DNS (13 times, 21%) in his racing career? Business or health, may be money?
And one more question – what about his rally career? I can’t find any information, exept in David list, but I ‘feel’ that it have to be.
#27
Doug Nye
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Posted 07 April 2003 - 11:33
Just for background, to round out this Leslie Johnson material - recollections of the man from contemporary photographer Guy Griffiths.
He recalls Johnson as having been quite the most charming, friendly, unassuming and courteous man in motor racing around the wars. Apparently he lived in the depressed East End of London, which he liked, because his business was based there, and whose people he liked very much. It was where he ran a large furniture factory. He presided over an extremely paternalistic, caring concern, in which long-term employees were looked after virtually to the grave. When they became too old for their regular work they might be put onto lighter duties for a lesser wage, but there'd always be something for them, Johnson made sure of that.
When he acquired ERA Ltd and re-established it at Dunstable he gave employment there to a number of old lags from pre-war racing who were looking for a job postwar. When he drove the E-Type, I think in the Isle of Man, Reg Parnell wandered over for a chat with Johnson, and absent-mindedly gave the car's steering wheel a tweak, to discover VAAAST free-play. "You can't race this Leslie, you'll kill yourself". "Oh yes, well, it takes a bit of getting used to but you know, the boys have worked so hard to get it ready I really feel I ought to give it a go...".
He apparently never complained, he was a very buttoned-up, stoical, philosophical chap. He died of cancer, not just a heart attack, and his final illness was very quick, and extremely painful for him, yet he never let it show...because that was not what an English gentleman did. He, perhaps literally, just bit his lip...and such things were never discussed. A good friend of his was Mrs Kay Petre. He was regarded as being straight as a die...a good fellow.
DCN
He recalls Johnson as having been quite the most charming, friendly, unassuming and courteous man in motor racing around the wars. Apparently he lived in the depressed East End of London, which he liked, because his business was based there, and whose people he liked very much. It was where he ran a large furniture factory. He presided over an extremely paternalistic, caring concern, in which long-term employees were looked after virtually to the grave. When they became too old for their regular work they might be put onto lighter duties for a lesser wage, but there'd always be something for them, Johnson made sure of that.
When he acquired ERA Ltd and re-established it at Dunstable he gave employment there to a number of old lags from pre-war racing who were looking for a job postwar. When he drove the E-Type, I think in the Isle of Man, Reg Parnell wandered over for a chat with Johnson, and absent-mindedly gave the car's steering wheel a tweak, to discover VAAAST free-play. "You can't race this Leslie, you'll kill yourself". "Oh yes, well, it takes a bit of getting used to but you know, the boys have worked so hard to get it ready I really feel I ought to give it a go...".
He apparently never complained, he was a very buttoned-up, stoical, philosophical chap. He died of cancer, not just a heart attack, and his final illness was very quick, and extremely painful for him, yet he never let it show...because that was not what an English gentleman did. He, perhaps literally, just bit his lip...and such things were never discussed. A good friend of his was Mrs Kay Petre. He was regarded as being straight as a die...a good fellow.
DCN
#29
Oleksij Hrushko
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- 97 posts
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Posted 25 April 2003 - 11:10
One more Leslie Johnson race:
18 May: Goodwood Chichester Cup (works ERA E) – 3th
And exellent link, which shows us a great portrait foto of Leslie Johnson and some words about him.
http://stat.f1news.r...=J&id=195001008
18 May: Goodwood Chichester Cup (works ERA E) – 3th
And exellent link, which shows us a great portrait foto of Leslie Johnson and some words about him.
http://stat.f1news.r...=J&id=195001008
#30
McRonalds
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- 444 posts
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Posted 25 April 2003 - 12:43
@Oleksij:
There are some pictures in my archive from Leslie Johnson during early postwar races '46 to '48 - here are the links:
Leslie Johnson during one of the '46 Hillclimbs at Prescott with his T150 (picture from Guy Griffiths). Leslie Johnson raced a couple of hillclimbs with this car in '46. If you are interested I will search where I have read about it and summarize the dates. But it surely will take some time.
Same car (without mudguards) in GP finish, Bremgarten 1947 from: Talbot Automobile --- Jacques Borgé/Nicolas Viasnoff).
And again at Spa-Francorchamps 1948(from: Spa-Francorchamps 1922-1947 --- J.-P. Delsaux).
Finally two picture showoing Leslie Johnson driving his E-Type ERA during the '48 British Empire Trophy, Douglas, Isle of Man. (Pictures from: History of the Grand Prix Car 1945-65 --- Doug Nye and 50 Years of British Grand Prix Drivers --- Peter Scherer).
to be continued...
There are some pictures in my archive from Leslie Johnson during early postwar races '46 to '48 - here are the links:
Leslie Johnson during one of the '46 Hillclimbs at Prescott with his T150 (picture from Guy Griffiths). Leslie Johnson raced a couple of hillclimbs with this car in '46. If you are interested I will search where I have read about it and summarize the dates. But it surely will take some time.
Same car (without mudguards) in GP finish, Bremgarten 1947 from: Talbot Automobile --- Jacques Borgé/Nicolas Viasnoff).
And again at Spa-Francorchamps 1948(from: Spa-Francorchamps 1922-1947 --- J.-P. Delsaux).
Finally two picture showoing Leslie Johnson driving his E-Type ERA during the '48 British Empire Trophy, Douglas, Isle of Man. (Pictures from: History of the Grand Prix Car 1945-65 --- Doug Nye and 50 Years of British Grand Prix Drivers --- Peter Scherer).
to be continued...
#31
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 25 April 2003 - 14:05
McRonalds 
Great fotos, thanks a lot! 
I hope, you'll continue.
I have only one racing foto of LGJ - British GP 1950 - here is a link: http://mypage.bluewi...ges/gb50_08.JPG
Great fotos, thanks a lot! I hope, you'll continue.I have only one racing foto of LGJ - British GP 1950 - here is a link: http://mypage.bluewi...ges/gb50_08.JPG
#32
David Holland
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- 166 posts
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Posted 26 April 2003 - 11:59
I have seen a copy of Leslie George Johnson's death certificate and his cause of death states:-
Ia) Chronic myocardial degeneration
b) Coronary Thrombosis
II) Chronic Nephritis
My wife (who's in the hospital business) translates this as heart failure caused by a heart attack with secondary kidney failure.
His age is given as 47 (still young as far as I'm concerned) and occupation as Company Director and Farmer.
Under When and where died, it is handwritten as :-
Eighth June 1959. Foxcote House, Andoversford, Withington (which is near Cirencester,Glos)
I hope this is of some interest. It's another case of the good dying young.
Ia) Chronic myocardial degeneration
b) Coronary Thrombosis
II) Chronic Nephritis
My wife (who's in the hospital business) translates this as heart failure caused by a heart attack with secondary kidney failure.
His age is given as 47 (still young as far as I'm concerned) and occupation as Company Director and Farmer.
Under When and where died, it is handwritten as :-
Eighth June 1959. Foxcote House, Andoversford, Withington (which is near Cirencester,Glos)
I hope this is of some interest. It's another case of the good dying young.
#33
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 26 April 2003 - 12:09
David Holland
McRonalds, I read more carefully your post and interested about LGJ’s hillclimbs in 1946. In my table of results I have only Bo’ness hillclimb, 7 September (by the way – what is the meaning of FTD?). Can you help with Prescott and other events’ data?
McRonalds, I read more carefully your post and interested about LGJ’s hillclimbs in 1946. In my table of results I have only Bo’ness hillclimb, 7 September (by the way – what is the meaning of FTD?). Can you help with Prescott and other events’ data?
#34
Vitesse2
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Posted 26 April 2003 - 12:19
FTD = Fastest Time of the Day
#35
McRonalds
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Posted 03 May 2003 - 18:51
Here's finally my research about Leslie Johnson 1946 and 1947 seasons with his Talbot T150C:
1946
19/05/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#46) - 22nd
01/06/46 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#105) - 25nd
16/06/46 GP de Belgique, Bois de la Cambre à Bruxelles/Talbot T150C (#59) - dnf
23/06/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#??) - 10th
28/07/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - 9th
07/09/46 Bo'ness Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#??) - 1st
22/09/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#53) - 2nd (sportcars 1,5-3-l without s/c)
05/10/46 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#52) - 21st
12/10/46 Cofton Hackett Speed Trails/Talbot T150C (#??) - 4th
17/10/46 Bouley Bay Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#11) - 9th (racecars +2,5l)
1947
09/02/47 Swedish GP, Rommehed/Talbot T150C (#??) - dna
08/05/47 Jersey GP, St. Helier/Talbot T150C (#28) - 6th
11/05/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - dns
26/05/47 GP des Frontieres/Talbot T150C (#4) - dns
08/06/47 Großer Preis der Schweiz, Bremgarten/Talbot T150C (#28) - dnf
21/06/47 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#74) - dns
22/06/47 Mille Miglia (with Eason-Gibson)/Talbot T150C (#??) - dna
29/06/47 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps/Talbot T150C (#40) - 7th
12/07/47 Grandsen Trophy/Talbot T150C (#8) - 4th (formula libre)
20/07/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - ??
21/08/47 British Empire Trohpy, Douglas-Isle Of Man /Talbot T150C (#50) - dnf
14/09/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#41) - 8th (class 3)
27/09/47 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#59) - ??
1946
19/05/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#46) - 22nd
01/06/46 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#105) - 25nd
16/06/46 GP de Belgique, Bois de la Cambre à Bruxelles/Talbot T150C (#59) - dnf
23/06/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#??) - 10th
28/07/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - 9th
07/09/46 Bo'ness Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#??) - 1st
22/09/46 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#53) - 2nd (sportcars 1,5-3-l without s/c)
05/10/46 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#52) - 21st
12/10/46 Cofton Hackett Speed Trails/Talbot T150C (#??) - 4th
17/10/46 Bouley Bay Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#11) - 9th (racecars +2,5l)
1947
09/02/47 Swedish GP, Rommehed/Talbot T150C (#??) - dna
08/05/47 Jersey GP, St. Helier/Talbot T150C (#28) - 6th
11/05/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - dns
26/05/47 GP des Frontieres/Talbot T150C (#4) - dns
08/06/47 Großer Preis der Schweiz, Bremgarten/Talbot T150C (#28) - dnf
21/06/47 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#74) - dns
22/06/47 Mille Miglia (with Eason-Gibson)/Talbot T150C (#??) - dna
29/06/47 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps/Talbot T150C (#40) - 7th
12/07/47 Grandsen Trophy/Talbot T150C (#8) - 4th (formula libre)
20/07/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#48) - ??
21/08/47 British Empire Trohpy, Douglas-Isle Of Man /Talbot T150C (#50) - dnf
14/09/47 Prescott Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#41) - 8th (class 3)
27/09/47 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb/Talbot T150C (#59) - ??
#36
jarama
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Posted 06 May 2003 - 22:16
Originally posted by Oleksij Hrushko
And one more question – what about his rally career? I can’t find any information, exept in David list, but I ‘feel’ that it have to be.
Oleksij,
that's what I've found:
'51, Rallye Monte-Carlo, Jaguar MkVII, entered but DNS
'52, R.A.C. Rally of Great Britain, Jaguar XK120 Roadster, #88, JWK 651, ?
'54, Rallye Monte-Carlo, Sunbeam-Talbot 90, finisher (Team Award winner with Stirling Moss & Sheila Van Damm)
Carles.
#37
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 13 May 2003 - 12:59
McRonalds stunning!
Jarama , thanks for searching. What about dates of the events, do you have it?
stunning!Jarama
, thanks for searching. What about dates of the events, do you have it?
#38
jarama
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Posted 13 May 2003 - 23:45
Oleksij,
'51 M-C Rally, January
'52 RAC Rally, March? April?
'54 M-C Rally, 18th-27th January
Deplorably, I can't be more precise,
Regards,
Carles.
'51 M-C Rally, January
'52 RAC Rally, March? April?
'54 M-C Rally, 18th-27th January
Deplorably, I can't be more precise,
Regards,
Carles.
#39
Vitesse2
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Posted 14 May 2003 - 00:01
Originally posted by jarama
Oleksij,
'51 M-C Rally, January
'52 RAC Rally, March? April?
'54 M-C Rally, 18th-27th January
Deplorably, I can't be more precise,
Regards,
Carles.
1951 Monte Carlo January 23rd-31st
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#40
jarama
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Posted 14 May 2003 - 19:40
Vitesse,
thankyou.
Carles.
thankyou.
Carles.
#41
Roger Clark
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Posted 14 May 2003 - 21:02
Originally posted by jarama
Oleksij,
'51 M-C Rally, January
'52 RAC Rally, March? April?
'54 M-C Rally, 18th-27th January
Deplorably, I can't be more precise,
Regards,
Carles.
'52 RAC Rally 31st March - 5th April
#42
Oleksij Hrushko
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Posted 15 May 2003 - 12:37
Roger, Great Foto, thanks a lot!
But what about his rally career in 40s? He did not race or there were no rally events? Sorry for so many questions - in Ukraine we have completely nothing about racing in 40s-50s
But what about his rally career in 40s? He did not race or there were no rally events? Sorry for so many questions - in Ukraine we have completely nothing about racing in 40s-50s
#43
Oleksij Hrushko
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- 97 posts
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Posted 21 July 2004 - 16:41
Found this information (from russian site www.f1news.ru
24 h Le Mans 1959 - DNS (Jensen 541 R, GT 5.0, entry - Leslie Johnson)
Race held 20-21 June, Johnson died 8 June that year. Did he really want to enter this race ?
24 h Le Mans 1959 - DNS (Jensen 541 R, GT 5.0, entry - Leslie Johnson)
Race held 20-21 June, Johnson died 8 June that year. Did he really want to enter this race ?
#44
Muzza
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Posted 27 September 2004 - 21:23
Hello, Oleksij,
(I am working on a Pierre Maréchal's bio, so maybe we can exchange material)
Leslie Johnson married Brigid, the widow of Pierre Maréchal - his team mate at the Aston Martin team at the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnson drove the Aston Martin's "hare"car in that race - a DB 2 equipped with a larger, 2580 cm3, six-in-line engine - which he shared with Charles Brackenbury. In the meantime, Maréchal was paired with T. A. S. O. Mathieson - usually called "Donald" Mathieson - in one of the two Aston Martin "tortoises" (1971 cm3, four-in-line engine) disguised as private entries (the fact that the hare and the tortoise looked identical and had the same livery did not help to fool anyone).
Maréchal had a terrible accident between Arnage and Maison Blanche with little more than one hour to go for the chequered flag. It was learned later that his car had raced with fading brakes for the last six laps, and possibly lost them completely by the time the accident happened. Braking fluid had leaked continuously due to a defective controller for a while, but Maréchal received orders from Aston Martin team manager - with a possible great finishing position in his mind (the car was running seventh place in the general classification and the fourth on the perfomance index standings) - to stay on track in spite of the damage. Maréchal did that, and continued to drive as fast as possible - until the brakes completely ceased, with awful consequences.
And while Brigid stood by her dying husband at the Delagénière clinic, the Aston Martin team packed its belongings and made the journey back to England. Brigid was faced with a terrible nightmare - her beloved, newlywed husband dead, and both stranded in a foreign country.
Fortunately, the young and wealthy racer Lance Macklin - a close friend of Pierre Maréchal - heard the news of his the tragedy on the radio and immediately flew to Le Mans on his private airplane. Macklin, who Brigid did not know, provided the widow all possible support in those most difficult moments and repatriated the Maréchal's body back to England.
Sometime later Brigid would marry Johnson. After becoming widow for the second time she spoused Leslie Waite, who passed away some fifteen years ago. It seems that Brigid lives today somewhere in Dorset, England.
(thanks to Alain Dufief, Jean-Louis Mathieu and Olivier Mendez who are also working on Maréchal's bio)
Regards,
Muzza
(I am working on a Pierre Maréchal's bio, so maybe we can exchange material)
Leslie Johnson married Brigid, the widow of Pierre Maréchal - his team mate at the Aston Martin team at the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnson drove the Aston Martin's "hare"car in that race - a DB 2 equipped with a larger, 2580 cm3, six-in-line engine - which he shared with Charles Brackenbury. In the meantime, Maréchal was paired with T. A. S. O. Mathieson - usually called "Donald" Mathieson - in one of the two Aston Martin "tortoises" (1971 cm3, four-in-line engine) disguised as private entries (the fact that the hare and the tortoise looked identical and had the same livery did not help to fool anyone).
Maréchal had a terrible accident between Arnage and Maison Blanche with little more than one hour to go for the chequered flag. It was learned later that his car had raced with fading brakes for the last six laps, and possibly lost them completely by the time the accident happened. Braking fluid had leaked continuously due to a defective controller for a while, but Maréchal received orders from Aston Martin team manager - with a possible great finishing position in his mind (the car was running seventh place in the general classification and the fourth on the perfomance index standings) - to stay on track in spite of the damage. Maréchal did that, and continued to drive as fast as possible - until the brakes completely ceased, with awful consequences.
And while Brigid stood by her dying husband at the Delagénière clinic, the Aston Martin team packed its belongings and made the journey back to England. Brigid was faced with a terrible nightmare - her beloved, newlywed husband dead, and both stranded in a foreign country.
Fortunately, the young and wealthy racer Lance Macklin - a close friend of Pierre Maréchal - heard the news of his the tragedy on the radio and immediately flew to Le Mans on his private airplane. Macklin, who Brigid did not know, provided the widow all possible support in those most difficult moments and repatriated the Maréchal's body back to England.
Sometime later Brigid would marry Johnson. After becoming widow for the second time she spoused Leslie Waite, who passed away some fifteen years ago. It seems that Brigid lives today somewhere in Dorset, England.
(thanks to Alain Dufief, Jean-Louis Mathieu and Olivier Mendez who are also working on Maréchal's bio)
Regards,
Muzza
#45
Xian
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- 16 posts
- Joined: October 05
New Member
Posted 20 October 2005 - 07:33
Hello all,
Researching Leslie Johnson I just lucked into this site and in particular this ancient thread. Leslie was my stepfather. (Pierre Marechal was my father; Brigid my mother.)
There were links in some of the posts but it's no surprise that they're crapped-out now. If anyone can send me pics and/or links I'd be very grateful--I'm trying to gather material for my family archive and I have hardly any documentary records or photographs because Leslie never kept mementos of his racing, except for a couple of Mille Miglia trophies I found in the attic along with some bits and pieces from JWK 651 that somehow never got thrown away.
I'll be happy to try to answer any questions about him. Likewise, I'll welcome any info that comes my way.
Olivier Mendez and Alain Dufief have already been enormously helpful and generous with information about my father that they brought to light while researching his father.
I was touched by Doug Nye's post: Guy Griffiths's impression of Leslie accords perfectly with my own memories--he was a wonderful father to me, very warm and kind, and great fun--and I'll copy the text for my mother. Leslie was the love of her life.
Great to have found you guys! (Hope you still check in here now and then.) Sorry I'm a couple of years late.
Christian Marechal
Researching Leslie Johnson I just lucked into this site and in particular this ancient thread. Leslie was my stepfather. (Pierre Marechal was my father; Brigid my mother.)
There were links in some of the posts but it's no surprise that they're crapped-out now. If anyone can send me pics and/or links I'd be very grateful--I'm trying to gather material for my family archive and I have hardly any documentary records or photographs because Leslie never kept mementos of his racing, except for a couple of Mille Miglia trophies I found in the attic along with some bits and pieces from JWK 651 that somehow never got thrown away.
I'll be happy to try to answer any questions about him. Likewise, I'll welcome any info that comes my way.
Olivier Mendez and Alain Dufief have already been enormously helpful and generous with information about my father that they brought to light while researching his father.
I was touched by Doug Nye's post: Guy Griffiths's impression of Leslie accords perfectly with my own memories--he was a wonderful father to me, very warm and kind, and great fun--and I'll copy the text for my mother. Leslie was the love of her life.
Great to have found you guys! (Hope you still check in here now and then.) Sorry I'm a couple of years late.
Christian Marechal
#46
Adam F
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- 430 posts
- Joined: October 02
Member
Posted 23 October 2005 - 19:02
Christian,
Welcome to TNF.
I have sent you an e-mail re. some photos I have of Leslie Johnson.
Good Luck with your research.
Welcome to TNF.
I have sent you an e-mail re. some photos I have of Leslie Johnson.
Good Luck with your research.
#47
Mike Lawrence
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- 288 posts
- Joined: September 04
Member
Posted 25 October 2005 - 12:22
A few more observations about Leslie Johnson.
When he bought ERA in 1947, it became primarily a research and development company. Someone has posted that he later sold it to Sonex, an unfortunate typo, it was to Solex, the carburretor maker.
The ERA G-type which Moss drove in 1952 (not even he could make much sense of it) has intended to be practice for a new compeition department because Johnson had his eye on a new F1 project for the 2.5-litre formula. At the heart of this was to be a straight-six water-cooled engine based on Norton motorcycle designs. A single-cylinder engine was made in 1952 and seemed able to deliver the magic 100bhp/litre.
The G-type was only ever for practice though Johnson had hoped it would perform better than it did. It was designed by a chap called David Hodkin who had been number two to ex-Auto Union designer, Prof. Robert Eberan von Eberhorst on an ERA project which had been taken over by Jowett. Von Eberhorst liked to begin the design of a chassis with two large-diameter tubes, which doesn't always work. His connection with Auto Union gave him a certain amount of glamour and prestige, but none of his independent designs was remarkable (he did the Aston Martin DB3).
The ERA G-type was not good but was not actually bad, the chassis did quite well as the Bristol 450. It was a steeplechaser running in flat races.
Had it worked a second car would have been built up. Parts had been made for three cars, it was a very serious project. By 1952, everyone knew that if Moss struggled in a car, it was the fault of the car. The G-type was sold to Bristol at the end of 1952, but work continued on the new F1 engine. In 1953 Johnson suffered a serious heart attack and, on advice from his doctor, he sold his business interests. ERA kept the old logo, but changed its name to Engineering Research Association.
The raw stastics some have provided do not tell how Johnson was one of the few Brits to race on the Continent immediately after the War. There was a reason why he received the use of one of the first six Jaguar XK 120s.
It is great to hear from Johnson's stepson that Leslie could inspire love.
When he bought ERA in 1947, it became primarily a research and development company. Someone has posted that he later sold it to Sonex, an unfortunate typo, it was to Solex, the carburretor maker.
The ERA G-type which Moss drove in 1952 (not even he could make much sense of it) has intended to be practice for a new compeition department because Johnson had his eye on a new F1 project for the 2.5-litre formula. At the heart of this was to be a straight-six water-cooled engine based on Norton motorcycle designs. A single-cylinder engine was made in 1952 and seemed able to deliver the magic 100bhp/litre.
The G-type was only ever for practice though Johnson had hoped it would perform better than it did. It was designed by a chap called David Hodkin who had been number two to ex-Auto Union designer, Prof. Robert Eberan von Eberhorst on an ERA project which had been taken over by Jowett. Von Eberhorst liked to begin the design of a chassis with two large-diameter tubes, which doesn't always work. His connection with Auto Union gave him a certain amount of glamour and prestige, but none of his independent designs was remarkable (he did the Aston Martin DB3).
The ERA G-type was not good but was not actually bad, the chassis did quite well as the Bristol 450. It was a steeplechaser running in flat races.
Had it worked a second car would have been built up. Parts had been made for three cars, it was a very serious project. By 1952, everyone knew that if Moss struggled in a car, it was the fault of the car. The G-type was sold to Bristol at the end of 1952, but work continued on the new F1 engine. In 1953 Johnson suffered a serious heart attack and, on advice from his doctor, he sold his business interests. ERA kept the old logo, but changed its name to Engineering Research Association.
The raw stastics some have provided do not tell how Johnson was one of the few Brits to race on the Continent immediately after the War. There was a reason why he received the use of one of the first six Jaguar XK 120s.
It is great to hear from Johnson's stepson that Leslie could inspire love.
#48
Xian
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- 16 posts
- Joined: October 05
New Member
Posted 25 October 2005 - 21:46
Originally posted by Mike Lawrence
The raw stastics some have provided do not tell how Johnson was one of the few Brits to race on the Continent immediately after the War. There was a reason why he received the use of one of the first six Jaguar XK 120s.
As I understand it the reason he was given the Jaguar was fourfold:
1 Warm friendship with William Heynes.
2 Acquaintance, albeit somewhat reserved, with Lofty England.
3 Close interest in the creation of the XK120---the works borrowed Leslie's BMW 328 for their preliminary research.
4 His pre- and immediate postwar ability, vide The Motor's report of the 1946 sports car race in Brussels:
"Sommer and Chiron danced with fiendish glee as Johnson [in the 328] shot by and took the esses in a single controlled slide. Chiron [no bad judge, surely] said he had the flair of Nuvolari. Sommer, inarticulate with emotion, kissed the poor chap."
Before he ran out of brakes he posted fastest lap of the day--faster than Chaboud's Delahaye in the "big car" race. Again from The Motor: "The consensus of opinion was that in Johnson we now have a budding Seaman..." The report added: "...but this remains to be seen."
Wise, that cautionary note at the end, as things turned out: the promise went unfulfilled. Why? Leslie was as interested in people, business, entrepreneurship, manufacturing and engineering as in race driving---perhaps more so (he would never have--nor want--the narrowed focus of the greats). Moreover, had he reached for greatness, the ill-health that plagued him throughout his life would have kept it from his grasp: in his youth, he suffered acromegaly and nephritis, which fatally weakened his heart; in adulthood, the chronic cardiac illness that eventually killed him. My mother, who was with him from the early '50s to the end, says she often felt he ran on will-power alone.
The faith of Heynes and Lofty England was well placed: Leslie gave the 120 successful competition debuts on both sides of the Atlantic. The showing at Palm Beach, in particular, though less celebrated than the 1949 Silverstone win, launched Jaguar as an iconic import in the lucrative American market.
#49
taylov
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- 624 posts
- Joined: February 05
Member
Posted 29 September 2010 - 20:01
I have a slightly different interest in Leslie George Johnson.
I am trying to find out about his military service during WW2. Is anything known?
Tony
I am trying to find out about his military service during WW2. Is anything known?
Tony
#50
terry mcgrath
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- 650 posts
- Joined: September 03
Member
Posted 17 February 2015 - 00:43
I tripped over this posting on Lelie Johnson and obviously greatly interested in his career being a jaguar driver and the mention of Australia I havn't had the chance to read through in detail but thought
I would get it back to the top of the list
terry
