16 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

I have just stumbled across this:

http://www.doubledeclutch.com/?p=1207

[Doug Nye]

Now that is a surprise - not least that he was so old - but Eric came across to us as a very pleasant and engaging character...front-running driver, nice man.

DCN

[Giraffe]

His career results:

http://www.racingspo...Liddell-GB.html

[pete53]

Sad news. Obviously not a driver that would have been known to the public at large but he was certainly familiar to enthusiasts of the time. I will always remember being thrilled as a 12 year old to see a trio of Ford GT40s appear at Crystal Palace in the 1966 July meeting. On that day Eric finished 2nd having hounded Peter Sutcliffe,in another GT40, right to the chequered flag ( with Brian Redman 3rd in another Ford GT).

[David Lawson]

There is an obituary in this month's MotorSport magazine (July!)

David

[MCS]

His career results:

http://www.racingspo...Liddell-GB.html

Interesting. He only really raced for four years...I hadn't realised that.

[pete53]

Interesting. He only really raced for four years...I hadn't realised that.

I'm not sure how thorough the stats are on this website. Eric certainly appeared more than a 2/3 times in 1965. I certainly saw him run at the Whit Monday International at Crystal Palace that season. Whilst he didn't race much beyond 1969 I have a feeling he did race before 1965.

[MCS]

I'm not sure how thorough the stats are on this website. Eric certainly appeared more than a 2/3 times in 1965. I certainly saw him run at the Whit Monday International at Crystal Palace that season. Whilst he didn't race much beyond 1969 I have a feeling he did race before 1965.

Mmmmn...okay Pete. I did wonder.

[JtP1]

I'm not sure how thorough the stats are on this website. Eric certainly appeared more than a 2/3 times in 1965. I certainly saw him run at the Whit Monday International at Crystal Palace that season. Whilst he didn't race much beyond 1969 I have a feeling he did race before 1965.

Eric started his racing career in stock cars in the mid 50s. Brakedisc used to deliver his milk at one time.

[Peter Morley]

Interesting. He only really raced for four years...I hadn't realised that.

That list only covers sports cars, he raced (well crashed and burned) the Emeryson F1 in 1963 at Charterhall.

[pete53]

The answer to what Eric's racing career pre-1965 was, was staring me in the face all the time .. the link in Giraffe's original posting gives the answer

"He began his competitive life as a speedway rider for the Glasgow Giants but soon turned to four wheels. He had a Lola Junior but acquired in 1963 one of the Formula 1 Emeryson-Climaxes which he took to the first meeting that year at Charterhall. Alas, in practice a breakage caused it to crash and the car caught fire, inflicting second and third degree burns on Eric and burning itself to destruction. These injuries kept Eric out of action for a considerable time but he vowed henceforth never to race open-seater cars again.

He bought then the red ex-Jackie Stewart E-type Jaguar and, among other successes, used it to win the last race held on his local Charterhall circuit."

[sterling49]

I saw Eric race in most of the cars that he drove, he drove fabulously in the Ilford Films 500, when he took 2nd overall behind the Shelby Cobra..............................R.I.P.

[Sebastian Tombs]

An exceptionally nice guy and a real gentleman, damn good racer too. I last saw him at Snett when our respective sons were vying for an FVJ seat. We were commiserating on the sad spectacle of motor-racing dads, as I recall. RIP Eric

[HiRich]

I'm sure it's Eric who appears in the results with a Cooper Mk VIII through late 1957 and 1958. The scale of the programme (covering the southern circuits) suggests it wasn't his first car.

[hamsterace]

I had the priviledge of meeting Eric on numerous occasions - a more genuine, considered and kind man I am pushed to think of. In a sport dominated by inflated egos and misplaced self-confidence, Eric was always unfailingly modest and keen to hear about the adventures of others - whether racing related or not. He never sought to impress or to be anything other than what he was - a gentleman, who happened to be a very fine racing driver.

Rest in peace Eric. I am sure your good friend Hawkeye will have a beer ready for you at the bar.....

[Graham Gauld]

I'm sure it's Eric who appears in the results with a Cooper Mk VIII through late 1957 and 1958. The scale of the programme (covering the southern circuits) suggests it wasn't his first car.

This is correct Eric's first racing car was a Cooper 500.

I have attached a photo of Eric in the Lola Junior being overtaken by Jimmy Blumer in the DBR2 Aston Martin at Charterhall in 1962



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[brakedisc]

"Brakedisc used to deliver his milk at one time."

True. We used to start our early morning deliveries outside his house in Bishopbriggs. When it was raining we used to seek shelter in a convienent doorway and the Liddell house became a very popular place after I spotted a GT40 in the garage. Every morning I would look through the garage window to see what cars there were and at one time there seemed a good turnover in racing cars. I never meet Eric but know he was very active in the motor trade in Glasgow, did he also deal in racing cars?