Edwin Hodson : Rally Driver

The name of Edwin Hodson has, I understand, been mentioned previously in connection with the 1961 Triumph TR4 VJA 20, that Edwin used in the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally.

I have become interested in EH's rally career, which appears to stretch from 1955 to 1973, or thereabouts.

There is no doubt that in that period he competed, if rather unsuccessfully, in RAC, Monte Carlo, Tulip and Liege Rallies.

My attempts to identify his appearance in UK national events have been largely unsuccessful with only two events at best discovered.

It seems very unlikely however that he ignored the UK scene!

Can anyone help with pointers to a website(s) that reported UK events of the '50s through the '60s. 

Repeated Googling on my part has only raised the 'racecarstory' site which reports only on award winners. It is also rather inconsistent from year to year. Some years with a profusion of UK events reported, and other years with few to none at all.

 

Pointers to information sources, or better still specific notes of events contested gratefully received.

 

nca

 

 

 

1960 RAC Rally, #19:

 

https://forums.autos...-2#entry7431386

 

RGDS RLT

A picture of Edwin Hodson can be seen there (page 3 of 12).

The life story of his deceased son Richard also tells something about the father.
More about him here.
His son Noel (b. December 1942) hasn’t updated his web presence for quite a while. But maybe he (obviously a well-known author of Science Fiction stories) or one of his younger siblings can be contacted anyway. Noel’s blogspot contains his email address.

I should perhaps offer more background to my initial post of yesterday.

The research is being conducted in conjunction with Bernard Northmore. Bernard navigates for David Stanley, the owner of Triumph TR4 Reg VJA 20, which was initially owned by Edwin Hodson.

David Stanley became interested in the history of the car, while Bernard and I looked into the history of its first owner.

I have made contact with Noel Hodson, who pointed me to his nephew, and grandson of Edwin, one Dan Hodson.

Dan has a collection of old rally plates from the RAC, Monte Carlo, Tulip & Liege rallies. These plates all carry a competition number, but some are year dated, and some are not. 

Dan also has a collection of black & white photos of his grandfather's rally cars.

From the collection of plates and photos we have been able to put together a history of EH entries in the rallies mentioned above.

We have a reasonable level of confidence as to the accuracy of the information. The Liege has posed particular problems in so far as we have found very little 'on line'

We understand that an archive of Liege rallies has been produced but so far we have been unable to trace it. The Tulip is the opposite scenario, in that there is a well documented archive accessible on line.

The area that causes the most frustration is the EH record with respect to UK based events, other than the RAC International. It seems reasonable to assume that EH would have entered some UK one, two or three day events in the period from the mid 50's to the late 60s, but so far we have been unable to trace his activities.

That is the key area where other posters may be able to assist.

 

nca 

The problem with UK events is in the wording in your first post. I know you didn't mean literally a "website that reported UK events in the 50s and 60s" but it is because we had no internet then that you are entirely dependent on the few records subsequently put on line or into books.
Of the "Home Internationals", only the Scottish and the Circuit go back as far as you need. The Welsh entries/results are now all in a book - "The Welsh Rally" but only the International events that began in 1964. I have the Gulf London International entries from its short life of 1965-68 and will check.
Then you are into Nationals. Arguably the leading National then was the "Express and Star" and some years' entries or more often results are now in the archive on the Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club site. The first two volumes of Peter Robinson's books on the Motoring News Championship ("The Beginning" and "The Early Years") have probably included all the national and restricted events entry lists in that championship that survive.
Beyond that, few organising clubs of restricted and clubman events seem to have retained entry lists and it is a matter of luck as to which have. There were far too many rallies in those years for there to be any central record. I certainly have no records now of the restricted regional championship rally I was CofC for.

1958 Liège-Rome-Liège, Jaguar 2.4, Hodson/Boardman, DNF  

 

Coventry Evening Telegraph, Monday 23 February 1959:

 

"Jaguar Club Pair Win Week-end Rally: An outstanding performance in a Standard 10 brought victory to E. Hodson and A. Collinson in the all-night navigation rally organised by four Coventry motor clubs over the week-end."

 

1960 Monte, TR3, DNF.

 

#46 on the 1962 Monte, Triumph TR4, VJA 20, Hodson/Jones, started from Glasgow, first to arrive at the Banbury Control at the Whately Hotel.

Reached Chambéry without penalty. Accident Col du Granier.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 March 2019 - 01:17.

Top research, as ever, RLT.
Roger Lund

1958 Liège-Rome-Liège, Jaguar 2.4, Hodson/Boardman, DNF  

 

Coventry Evening Telegraph, Monday 23 February 1959:

 

"Jaguar Club Pair Win Week-end Rally: An outstanding performance in a Standard 10 brought victory to E. Hodson and A. Collinson in the all-night navigation rally organised by four Coventry motor clubs over the week-end."

 

1960 Monte, TR3, DNF.

 

#46 on the 1962 Monte, Triumph TR4, VJA 20, Hodson/Jones, started from Glasgow, first to arrive at the Banbury Control at the Whately Hotel.

Reached Chambéry without penalty. Accident Col du Granier.

 

RGDS RLT

My thanks to RLT.  Our research has given R Grant as the co-driver of the Jaguar on the '58 Liege,  so I will recheck the source.

The win in the Coventry Club event is fresh information. We were previously unaware of the victory, and you have added to the list of cars that EH rallied.

The accident on the '62 Monte is well documented, with photos of the car on its roof.

 

Inca

Ref 1958 Liège-Rome-Liège possibly a crew of three?

Is he J.P. Boardman, of Great Harwood, Lancashire? (Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph - Saturday 30 August 1958 - refers to "Hodson and Boardman")

Is he R. Grant from Worsley?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 March 2019 - 16:15.

I could readily accept a crew of three on such a tough event as the Liege, so Hodson / Boardman / Grant on board the Jaguar could well have been the situation.

Bob Grant was EH's co-driver in 1959, on board a TR3A, when a third man can be ruled out.

 

Among Dan Hodson's collection of Rally Plates is one for the Welsh Festival Rally  Sponsored by The Liverpool Daily Mail. 

The plate is not year dated, but carries the Competitor No of 15.

Googling has revealed very little. However a Les Jones was EH co-driver on the 1961 & 63 Monte Carlo Rallies, and a Les Jones was the Motoring Correspondent of the Liverpool Daily Mail.

What Google did reveal was that Wales has a great many festivals, but apparently not a car rally with that title.

Speculation would suggest that Les Jones / co-driver was also Les Jones / Motoring Correspondent.

 

Would like to know the year of the rally, the car used , the name of co-driver and whatever result was achieved.

There was a Welsh Festival Rally held May 8-11, 1958.

Described as sponsored by the Liverpool Daily Post.

A qualifying event for the R.A.C. Rally Championship 1958.

Starting from Llandudno, Kenilworth, Warrington, Bristol, Cardiff.

1,300 miles, common route from Llandrindod Wells.

Overall winners: P.P. Roberts/Val Domleo, Austin Healey.

Dr. John Spare (Singer), of Taunton, was a class winner.

Llandudno start prize.-J.A. Hall (Riley)

Warrington start prize.-E. Hodson (Jaguar)

Kenilworth start prize.-T.S. Baker (Austin)

Bristol start prize.-A. Piggott (Volkswagen)

Cardiff start prize.-A.L. Bennett (Morris)

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 March 2019 - 00:50.

If you have rally plates they will probably have the name of the organising club on them somewhere, even if only initials. (It was mandatory later on).This maybe more productive than the event name.
The "Welsh Rally" was a round of the MN Championship in 1962 (but not 61 or 63 and by 64 it was an International). SWAC organised. From 69 it ran on the same May weekend as the 58 event identified above. That would suggest the "Welsh Festival Rally" was a South Wales Automobile Club event too. For his book "Memory Lanes-The Beginning" Peter Robinson was unable to find more than a top ten for the 1962 Welsh. One of the vast majority of cases where complete entry lists/results have disappeared for that era.

Address given for Welsh Festival Rally, 1958:

Entry Forms and Regulations from THE HON. SECRETARY:

J.S. WILLIAMS, 21 CHURCHILL WAY,

CARDIFF

 

S.W.A.C. organised the 10th Welsh Car Rally held 4/5 January 1958.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 March 2019 - 22:04.

My co-researcher Bernard Northmore reports that the Marathon de la Route by J-P Desoux (1931 to 1971) provides complete entry lists for each year of the event.

The entry for 1958 reads "1958 (28 to 31 August)  99 Hodson Boardman (GB GB) Jaguar." Suggesting a two man crew, rather than three!

 

The plates that are in the grandson's collection, and which I have seen photographs of, are for Monte Carlo Rallies, RAC Rallies, Tulip Rallies, Liege Rallies and the solitary Welsh Festival Rally.

All the Monte plates are year dated, and with Rally No.

None of the RAC plates are year dated, but all carry the Rally No

There are 2 Tulip plates, one dated 1956, and with Rally No

None of two Liege plates are year dated, with both carrying the Rally No

The Welsh Festival Rally Plate is not year dated, but carries the Rally No.

 

There is no doubt that these are the real plates, and in some cases we have photographs of the cars with plates mounted.

We are reasonably confident that we have been able to define EH's international career, including co-driver details, car make & model, and in many cases the car registration number.

We have few results other than Retired, and would like to know more about why?

 

Our weakest section is UK events other than RAC Internationals.

 

nca

Edited by nca, 20 March 2019 - 22:08.

Feb 20/21 1960: Jaguar Apprentices' MC/Coventry and Warwickshire MC/Godiva Car Club/Nuneaton Motor Club/Jaguar Drivers' Club.

Night Rally. Secretary: Graham Robson.

Start/finish Weston Rhyn, nr Chirk on the A5. Route mostly in Wales.

Entered Edwin Hodson (TR3) J.D.C.

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 March 2019 - 01:21.

61 RAC
No.71
E.Hodson/A.Collinson
Ford
TJA500
Class 6

Older entry lists tend to give car make rather than model. Being in Class 6 suggests this was a Group 3 Zephyr.
(Gp3 GT cars category included saloon cars modified beyond Group 2 regs. If a Zephyr, it probably had front discs and a Mays head)


Monte entry lists of that era usually listed first two drivers even where there were actually three, just to confuse historians. Not sure if Liege was same.

If Hodson was in the north west, A.Collinson may have been the father of the later MN etc. competitor (Dave? Collinson/Steve Bye).

Edited by RS2000, 21 March 2019 - 20:15.

59 RAC
No.14
E.Hodson/A.H.Collinson
TR3A
WNF6

58 RAC
Entry included a TR3 reg no MJA400. No details of crew but JA reg may be significant.

RS2000 : We agree with your post 16 re the 1961 RAC. We believe the car was a Zodiac that had possibly had some attention from Holbay. They certainly worked on some of his Fords.

We have not been able as yet to determine if he finished the rally, or retired at some point.

 

We also agree with your data for the 1959 RAC.  We did not have a car registration number, but if as you say WNF6, it was the same car as he used on the Liege earlier that year.

Edwin Hodson with Alan Collinson, as co-driver, came 10th O/A on this RAC.

 

For the 1958 RAC, we have EH in a Jaguar 2.4 registration TNB 945, and running at 141, with Bob Grant as his co-driver. They retired for reason(s) unknown as yet.

 

Our thanks to RS2000 and RLT for your useful contributions.

 

nca

My co-researcher Bernard Northmore reports that the Marathon de la Route by J-P Desoux (1931 to 1971) provides complete entry lists for each year of the event.

The entry for 1958 reads "1958 (28 to 31 August)  99 Hodson Boardman (GB GB) Jaguar." Suggesting a two man crew, rather than three!

 

The plates that are in the grandson's collection, and which I have seen photographs of, are for Monte Carlo Rallies, RAC Rallies, Tulip Rallies, Liege Rallies and the solitary Welsh Festival Rally.

All the Monte plates are year dated, and with Rally No.

None of the RAC plates are year dated, but all carry the Rally No

There are 2 Tulip plates, one dated 1956, and with Rally No

None of two Liege plates are year dated, with both carrying the Rally No

The Welsh Festival Rally Plate is not year dated, but carries the Rally No.

 

There is no doubt that these are the real plates, and in some cases we have photographs of the cars with plates mounted.

We are reasonably confident that we have been able to define EH's international career, including co-driver details, car make & model, and in many cases the car registration number.

We have few results other than Retired, and would like to know more about why?

 

Our weakest section is UK events other than RAC Internationals.

 

nca

 Hodson also entered the Liège in 1959 in the Triumph. He was number 39, co-driven by a certain Grant

We are well aware of Hodson's run in the 1959 Liege. We have an excellent Black & White photograph of a smartly dressed crew standing by Triumph TR3A registration WNF 6.

The rally plate, 39, is mounted on the bonnet, but is not year dated.

The car is equipped with wire wheels, twin Lucas auxiliaries and a roof mounted spotlight.

The photo was probably taken in, or close to Liege, prior to the rally start. The possibly controversial aspect of this photo is that it has a printed, not handwritten, caption stating:-

 

               Liege Rome Liege International Rally, September 1959

                    Edwin Hodson and Bob Grant in a factory TR3A

 

nca.

Edited by nca, 23 March 2019 - 13:20.

1959 R.A.C. Rally

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 23 November 1959

"At Crystal Palace on Saturday a series of races for competitors were held. These had no bearing on the result of the rally." (What does this mean?)

Event 1:

1. P.H.G. Morgan (Morgan Plus 4)

2. J.H. Ray (Sunbeam Alpine)

3. E. Hodson (TR3A)

 

Triumph TR3A won the Manufacturers' Team Award - Soisbault, Hodson, Siegle-Morris

 

Is the car/driver here?

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

Definitely here:

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 March 2019 - 13:59.

1960 Monte, Triumph TR3, DNF.

#259 Edwin Hodson of Stockport, with Leslie Jones of Liverpool. Started from Glasgow.

 

RGDS RLT

Thank you again RLT. Your research is much more fruitful than mine!

We were not aware of EH being a member of the team that won the Manufacturers' prize

His team mates were to prove useful drivers.

In "The Works' Triumphs" Robson talks of "Annie Soisbault's Works TR being supplemented by two 'Privately Owned TRs, to form a Manufacturer team.

This was a secondary effort, as their main thrust was a team of three 948 Herald Coupes for Bolton, Ballisat & Corbishley

 

We have several photos of Edwin, so I am certain that the centre figure in the foreground of the first photo (the group of three gathered round the TR) is indeed Edwin.

We believe that EH raced at Oulton Park and other circuits, but we have not researched those activities

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

 

Hodson on 1966 Monte in a Ford Corsair. Co-driver Roger Farmer. Started from London. DNF. Over time limit.

 

Eddie Hodson/John Allen on 1973 Monte.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 March 2019 - 16:50.

1959 R.A.C. Rally
Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 23 November 1959
"At Crystal Palace on Saturday a series of races for competitors were held. These had no bearing on the result of the rally." (What does this mean?)
RGDS RLT

Not unusual for race circuit ending the rally to not count towards the overall result. (59 RAC of course, not much counted at all if you took the wrong decision regarding the snow blocked Tomintoul road!)
The Welsh International ended with a race circuit stage (not a race as such) at Llandow that you had to attempt but didn't count otherwise in the results (ten laps but a lot of sick cars, including mine two years in succession, pulled off after one lap).

nca Do you have all the Monte details for EH eg 68 in Lotus Cortina, 69 in Escort TC?

Edited by RS2000, 22 March 2019 - 20:08.

RS2000. This is what we know re EH Monte Carlo entries :-

 

We have no data prior to 1955.

1955 : S Gregory / E Hodson : Vauxhall Velox JBU 184 : Comp No128 : Glasgow starter : 225 O/A.  (EH co-driver)

 

1956 : No Trace of EH Entry.      1957:  No rally due to Suez Crisis.

 

1958 : E Hodson / R Adamson : Jaguar 2.4 TNB 945 :   Comp No 141 : Glasgow starter : Retired (No reason known)

 

1959 : No trace of EH Entry.

 

1960 : E Hodson / S Gregory  : Triumph TR3  Regn No ?? : Comp No 259 : Glasgow starter : Retired (No reason known)

 

1961 : E Hodson / L Jones  : Triumph TR3A. TBD1 Comp No 310 : Glasgow starter : Retired off road in ditch.

 

1962 : E Hodson / L Jones :  Triumph TR4 VJA 20 : Comp No 46 : Glasgow starter : Clean to Chambery : Retired after collision with snow bank & rolled onto roof.

 

1963 : E Hodson / S Gregory : Ford Zephyr  Regn No ?? : Comp No 132 : Glasgow starter : Retired ( No known reason)

 

1964 : E Hodson / K Coffey  : Ford Cortina GT Regn No ?? : Comp No 248 : Glasgow starter : Retired ( No known reason)

 

1965 : E Hodson / K Coffey : Ford Cortina GT Regn No ?? : Comp No 111 : London starter : Retired ( No known reason)

 

1966 : E Hodson / R Farmer : Ford Corsair Regn No JNO 310C : Comp No 83 : London starter : Retired (No known reason)

 

1967 : E Hodson / co-driver not known, : Ford Model not known : Comp No 20 : Did Not Start

 

1968 : E Hodson / J Allen : Ford Lotus Cortina Regn No ?? : Comp No 189 : Dover starter : Retired (No known reason)

 

1969 : E Hodson / J Allen : Ford Escort Twin-Cam Regn No ?? : Comp No 133: London starter : Retired (No known reason)

 

1970 : E Hodson / J Allen : Ford Escort Twin-Cam Regn No ?? : Comp No 55 : Dover starter, but Did Not Start

 

1971 & 1972 : No trace of entry by EH

 

1973 : E Hodson / J Allen : Ford Capri V6 Regn No ?? : Comp No 157 : Glasgow starter : Retired (No known reason)

 

We have no data post 1973.

 

Edwin was nothing if not persistent!

 

nca

Edited by nca, 22 March 2019 - 21:58.

I have a record of a rally Cortina GT CAL588C in the name Hodgson (not Hodson) but that couldn't be the 64 car nor likely to be the 65 car, so probably a different person entirely.

Retirement in 73 would almost certainly be OTL as part of "L'affaire Burzet", which left only the first 30 something cars running.

Pretty sure the Corsair appears in a (Pathe?) film of the 66 Monte that is on line somewhere (white car, arriving at Dover in snow). It's likely a borrowed Ford press car with that JNO reg no.

Edited by RS2000, 22 March 2019 - 22:43.

RS2000, you are correct about the Corsair appearing in the British Pathe film, of that year.

You see the Corsair reach the Dover Dock assembly area, when a trolley jack makes an appearance with the front end being raised.

Interesting that you make the connection to a Ford Press Fleet car. The reporter for either Motor, or Autocar, also used a Corsair which was obviously a loan car, of which he spoke enthusiastically.

It crossed my mind that perhaps Ford had either loaned a car to EH, or sold it to him at a highly discounted price.

 

nca

Edited by nca, 23 March 2019 - 17:56.

Was reading through some early posts on this section of the forum, when I came across a link to a results archive of the Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club.

The link was posted by RS2000, and leads to a very informative archive. It concerns the 'Express & Star' which was the club's leading rally.

 

I have scoured it for any mention of Edwin Hodson, without any luck, but some very interesting reading. In many cases it provides a full results table.

Well worth a try, and my thanks again to RS2000.

 

www.wssccrally.org.uk

 

nca

Was reading through some early posts on this section of the forum, when I came across a link to a results archive of the Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club.
The link was posted by RS2000, and leads to a very informative archive. It concerns the 'Express & Star' which was the club's leading rally.
 
I have scoured it for any mention of Edwin Hodson, without any luck, but some very interesting reading. In many cases it provides a full results table.
Well worth a try, and my thanks again to RS2000.
 
www.wssccrally.org.uk
 
nca

Yes. I looked for likely years but could find no trace of EH. No trace of EH on the Gulf London or Welsh Internationals either.

The 64 edition of the Express and Star passed where I now live and the famed tree (described as a tree stump in some reports) that did for many of the front runners very early on still bears the scar. That "rough" track is probably even more rough now. A then rising crew dropped 3 minutes on that section. They (R.Clark/J.Porter) soon went on to better things...

Repeated Googling on my part has only raised the 'racecarstory' site which reports only on award winners. It is also rather inconsistent from year to year. Some years with a profusion of UK events reported, and other years with few to none at all.

 

Pointers to information sources, or better still specific notes of events contested gratefully received.

 

nca

Dear NCA, i'm the author of racecarstory. I'm too very surprise which is at first places when you do a searching in Google, but..are you sure to see http://racecarstory.netsons.org ? about this url i must tell, as i have already said:

1 - the results now are from 1894 to end of 1970. 
2 - I report all results from a lot of sources lie motorsport, locomtion automobile, automobile journal, allgemeine zeitung, automobil revue and also AUTOSPRINT and AUTOSPORT
3 - from these newspaper (and thanks also to Allgemeine auto, l'Auto, Motor und Sport) i insert all results i find with all positions are reported (on autosport for example for rallies in the 60th-70th are reported only first ten position of every rally)

4 - there are always missing ror incomplete championshi races ( i don't have a lot of autosport, obsviouly so i don't know a lot of results...) and so i try to find them and to insert...above all of first 4 categories for now...it's a very hard work...
5 - i think no one has done a similar archive and i insert all only for passion and for all passionates. Give me time and i with another my friend insert now more races possible in a less time! or write me and help me...

I hope, NCA, i have explained all... 

Edited by racecarstory, 26 March 2019 - 21:35.

racecarstory, I meant no criticism in my post of 18March. My initial reaction, as I scanned through the early years of my subject, was that I had stumbled on a "gold-mine" 

 

I appreciate that you cannot be expected to detail full finishing lists of rallies, but of course that means that unless the subject finishes in the top ten, or even higher, they do not appear in your listing.

It was my disappointment, that EH appears very infrequently in your listings, but that was my disappointment,  and was certainly not your fault.

 

You have clearly undertaken an enormous task, for which you are to be commended! 

 

nca

RS2000, The WSSCC Archive brought back many happy memories. I lived on the Staffs / Shropshire border from 1965 to 1970, and drove past the Bloxham Garage on my way to and from work

The late Mark Ridout , of Performance Engine Services looked after my 998 Cooper, and then a 1275 Midget.

I attended the start venues of most of the Express & Star Rallies of the period, along with many more other rallies. We seemed to be "popping down" to Welshpool, or such like every other Saturday evening.

Reading these, and the 'racecarstory' archive, it is fascinating to note the progression of vehicles used by rising stars. I have noted J Bloxham in a Simca, I think perhaps the family garage were Simca Agents, although in my time it was FIAT. John then appeared in an Austin Healey 3000, a genuine ex works Big Healey, before progressing to 1275Cooper S and onto a very early Escort Twin Cam.

I can remember the Escort, a Lancia Fulvia, and a Hillman Hunter on display in their small showroom. Happy Days!

 

nca