14 replies to this topic

[Paul Rochdale]

I am trying to put a name to a former F1 driver who I believe raced in GPs once or twice in the 1950s. He would be aged around 100 by now and was last reported living in retirement in my home town of Ramsgate. I've tried the 'Search' facility but can locate his name. I wonder if he's still with us?

[David McKinney]

Have a look through this
http://www.oldracing...m/drivers/watn/

[Tim Murray]

A quick flick through the Wiki list of English F1 drivers might suggest a few names worth following up in the WATN list suggested by David:

http://en.wikipedia....ula_One_drivers

[taylov]

I am trying to put a name to a former F1 driver who I believe raced in GPs once or twice in the 1950s. He would be aged around 100 by now and was last reported living in retirement in my home town of Ramsgate. I've tried the 'Search' facility but can locate his name. I wonder if he's still with us?

Possibly, Don Parker? Best known for his F3 exploits he raced in several "Grands prix" although not in F1. He was a "man of Kent" who I think went back to retire there. He passed away aged 89 in 1998.

[David McKinney]

...he raced in several "Grands prix" although not in F1

Really?

[taylov]

...... he raced in several "Grands prix"....., such as the Luxembourg Grand Prix of 1950 and 1951, both run for 500cc cars.

[Richard Jenkins]

There's only one former Grand Prix driver over 100 still alive - Paul Pietsch, not normally associated with Ramsgate. Pietsch will be 101 this summer, all being well.

The only possibilities I can think of are:

John Campbell-Jones, now 82, who has a home in Ramsgate.
Lance Macklin, who would've been 93 this year, who in late life lived in Kent (where he died)
Kenneth McAlpine, 92 in September still alive, who was former High Sherrif of Kent
Phillip Fotheringham-Parker, who would now be 104, who was born in Kent, but was best associated with East Sussex.

Unless it was someone who raced in high-profile events but never started a World Championship event.

[Paul Rochdale]

There's only one former Grand Prix driver over 100 still alive - Paul Pietsch, not normally associated with Ramsgate. Pietsch will be 101 this summer, all being well.

The only possibilities I can think of are:

John Campbell-Jones, now 82, who has a home in Ramsgate.
Lance Macklin, who would've been 93 this year, who in late life lived in Kent (where he died)
Kenneth McAlpine, 92 in September still alive, who was former High Sherrif of Kent
Phillip Fotheringham-Parker, who would now be 104, who was born in Kent, but was best associated with East Sussex.

Unless it was someone who raced in high-profile events but never started a World Championship event.

Richard,

You hit the nail on the head with John Campbell-Jones, elderly but not quite 100. Thank you. I may well try to contact him as he probably has a wonderful tail to tell.

[David McKinney]

...... he raced in several "Grands prix"....., such as the Luxembourg Grand Prix of 1950 and 1951, both run for 500cc cars.

Yes, I knew about those. I wouldn't have thought anyone would apply the term in this context

[Ray Bell]

82 is a long way from 100, ask anyone who's in their eighties that!

If he has a tail it really will be interesting...

[ensign14]

If he has a tail it really will be interesting...

I'd certainly give Terry Nutkins a call in that case. Or maybe an Archbishop.

[bradbury west]

Richard, you hit the nail on the head with John Campbell-Jones, elderly but not quite 100. Thank you. I may well try to contact him as he probably has a wonderful tail to tell.

John still enjoys excellent recall of his racing days, and he is one of those people who knew everyone, as a couple of us know well, especially at the FoS a couple of years ago when SCM came across to "borrow" John to establish who was a year younger or older as part of a separate discussion with soemof SCM's guests. TNFer David Holland has already prepared a detailed interview with him.
Roger Lund

[David McKinney]

But John C-J doesn't live in Ramsgate...

[Vitesse2]

But John C-J doesn't live in Ramsgate...

A google site-specific search of oldracingcars.com for "Ramsgate" directs to the C page of WATN, although the word Ramsgate does not appear on the current version of that page. Campbell-Jones's entry was last updated in 2010, so perhaps google is pointing to a cached earlier version from which that has been removed?

[Richard Jenkins]

A google site-specific search of oldracingcars.com for "Ramsgate" directs to the C page of WATN, although the word Ramsgate does not appear on the current version of that page. Campbell-Jones's entry was last updated in 2010, so perhaps google is pointing to a cached earlier version from which that has been removed?

I think the "Ramsgate" JCJ thing comes from Steve Small in a previous GP Who's Who. He was involved in business there and then it got morphed into that he lived there. JCJ, without giving his full address in a public forum, lives in London.