148 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

Would members of the forum be able to list some of the
husband and wife racers that they can think of?

I would be be especially interested in couple who raced
at the same time, and even shared the same car.
I know of at least one husband/wife pairing in the
Australian Rally Championship, where the twin roles
of driver and co-driver allow both to compete in the
same car.

Away from rallying, there was the pairing of Fred and
Christine Gibson in Australian touring car racing in the
late 70's and early 80's. They drove together at least
once in a Ford Falcon in an endurance race.

The other pairing was in speedway. Alan and Denyse
Butcher drove V8 Grand National/Late Model Sedans
on Australia's ovals from the late 70's up to the
late 80's.

Are there many others?

[Stefan Ornerdal]

Erik Carlsson and Pat Moss-Carlsson in rally. AFAIK not in the same car.
Another swedish rally-pair was Ingemar and Sylvia Osterberg in Renault R8 Gordini.
Tommy and Elsie Wisdom in sportscars in the 30's.

[Rainer Nyberg]

American sportscar drivers Peter and Deborah Gregg.

[Gil Bouffard]

Peter Gregg was dead before Deborah started racing.
In American sportscar racing in the fifties there were Peg and her husband Dr. M.R.J. Wylie drove a Lotus 11.

Evelyn and John Mull raced AC Aces.

Isabell Haskell de Tomasso and Alejandro de Tomasso.

Not bad, huh?

Gil

[Rainer Nyberg]

Kenyan rallycrew Shekhar and Yvonne Mehta.

I wasn´t sure if Deborah had taken up racing before her husband took his life.
She was born in 1955 and was 25 by 1980, so I assumed she had started racing by then.

Rainer

[David McKinney]

Dr Tony Denton and his wife Jean raced the ex-Jackie Stewart F3 Cooper around 1965. Mrs D later played her part in the larger world of industry and politics, and was created Baroness Denton in 1991. She died last Monday.
In New Zealand Percy Lupp raced a Ford V8 and MGs in the late 40s and early 50s, and his wife Sybil was very well-known on the circuits with MGs and later Jaguars.
Later, also in NZ, Jim Carney raced a Twincam Escort and his wife Mary a Mini. I think they might have driven rallies together as well.
There must have been scores of husband-and-wife rally partnerships, particularly at the lower levels.

[Wolf]

Stefan, while You were at Moss family, You should have mentioned Aileen and Alfred Moss (Stirling's and Pat's parents) he competed in America (IIRC) and she was English women rally champion in '36.

[Ray Bell]

In Australian rallying there was the famous David and Kate Officer pairing, not to mention (at a lesser level) Neville Harlow and Margaret Stahl.
Verona Larkin married (and divorced) - I think - Mike Hart and they were both racing Sports Cars at the time in club stuff. Ian Corness and his wife were racing the MGB at the same time, this gets stupid, because we can get down to wives who came out for ladies' races more or less only, like Gloria Taylor, Herb's wife...
On the subject of Christine Cole (Gibson), could we count the various drivers she was dating during the time she raced?
Peter Brock's first wife, Heather, ran at Rallycross at the same time as Peter, drove the tow car...

[Graham Clayton]

Some good contributions already!

I have another Australian speedway pairing.
Melinda Moore married sprintcar driver
Max Dumesny, and raced for a short period
alongside her husband in the mid 1980's.

Re Ray's comments, I think we should stick
to "serious" racing careers, and not one-off
races.

[Ray Bell]

Of course there was the fairly serious career of Lorraine Hill, who married Brique Reed.

[dbw]

the juneks of course....

[Gerr]

Mike and Arlene Hiss both raced in USAC champ cars.
Kathy Rude(IMSA)and Ludwig Heimrath Jr.(CART)are married.
In 1965,Craig Breedlove's then wife,Lee set the land speed
record for women at 308+mph in Spirit of America.
Joan Richmond and "Bill"Bilney were engaged when they did LeMans in 1937. Bilney was killed before they were married.
Has anyone out there have a photo of the Ford 10 this pair drove at LeMans?

[jarama]

Salvador Servià, father of the nowadays CART driver Oriol Servià, took the start for his first Monte-Carlo Rally with his wife Montse Imbert as navigator, back in 1973.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Gerr
Joan Richmond and "Bill"Bilney were engaged when they did LeMans in 1937. Bilney was killed before they were married.
Has anyone out there have a photo of the Ford 10 this pair drove at LeMans?

Box Brownie pics are welcome?

At the speed they were doing it wouldn't matter, would it?...

[Marcor]

1- The father and mother of Harry Schell, Laury and Lucy Schell. But did they race at the same time ? I had to check it. (I think especially about the Monte Carlo Rally)


2- Sacha Gordine and his wife drove some Simca at Le Mans but they didn't share the same car. In 1950, both qualified for the great endurance race.

Miss Gordine shared his Simca Gordini with Madame Rouault. They had a crash in the 20th hour and retired.

Earlier (at the 16th hour) Sacha Gordine and his co-driver Mahe retired after a mechanical problem.

[Gil Bouffard]

In my research into the life and times of Harry Schell, I have learned the both Harry's father and mother were rallyists. Lucy O'Reilly, won the 1929 Monte Carlo Rally, and Laury Schell, won the 1936 Paris-Nice Rally. However, it is not clear that they ever shared a car. Harry's father was killed in a road accident and his mother soldiered on entering two Maserati 8CTF's in the 1940 Indy 500 under the L O'R Schell banner.

Gil Bouffard

http://www.norpaccrows.org

[Leif Snellman]

Yes, Laury and Lucy Schell together finished third in the 1935 Monte Carlo Rally in a 3.6 litre Sports Delahaye.

And someone already mentioned Cenek and Elizabeth Junek. They actually managed to finish first and second in some minor race.

[Barry Lake]

Reg Challenger raced motorcycles at venues including Penrith Speedway in the 1930s and his wife Margaret raced sports cars at Warwick Farm in the 1960s. I don't think Reg raced cars, though. Does that count?

Reg is in his 90s now but resists all efforts to get him to write his memoirs. He says he will "one day" but he is busy right now with his computer, scanner and digital camera, and restoring his Jaguar...

[Ray Bell]

And now I remember... how could I forget, and Barry too!

Still in the nursing home, but alone these days, Bess Dentry, who was to be the riding mechanic with her husband Barney in the Seneschal they entered for the 1928 AGP. She found out that she was pregnant a week before, so he got another passenger.

They went on and contested many races, including all the other AGPs, I think, until 1938, usually in their Riley Special. All together.

[Barry Lake]

Don't forget Barney and Bessie Dentry. Bess was riding mechanic for Barney in all but two Australian GPs between 1928 and 1938 inclusive. She also stood in for him as driver of his speedway midget c1935 when he couldn't otherwise fulfill his contract to appear at every meeting, when he dropped an anvil on his foot.
She drove Barney;s cars in hillclimbs also.
A lovely lade, Bessie. She is still alive, in her 90s, but doesn't recognise visitors.

[Barry Lake]

Almost a dead heat, Ray.
I hadn't forgotten. This is the first time I have had time to look at this thread.

Plenty of husband and wife teams in the many Round Australia Trials over the years, I think you will find.

Bill MacLachlan/Marie (Higgs) MacLachlan. I don't think she raced at all, though.

Bill Thompson's wife (one of them) went with him in his GP Bugatti in Reliability Trials but I doubt she drove, either.

[Ray Bell]

Oh! That Mrs. MacLachlan....



August 5, 1954... one of the Sydney papers...

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Gerr
Kathy Rude(IMSA)and Ludwig Heimrath Jr.(CART)are married.

Does Kathy still race ? About all I recall about her is some gad-awfull accident she suffered (twenty-something years ago ?) in a Porche 911 variant.

John Boffum (American Rally Driver) and his ex-Wife Vicky Dekema (sp ?) used to rule the "Press on Regaudless" rallies.

No idea where Vicky is now, though...

[Barry Lake]

Has anyone mentioned Roy Bloxam and Jean Bloxam on this thread?

We did on another thread. Both raced sports cars in Britain.

And wasn't the US rally driver John Buffum?

[FlagMan]

A few from UK National/club racing

Martin Stretton (TGP) and Amanda Stretton (historic sports cars)

Vin Malkie & Helen Bashford both raced Chevron sports cars a few years ago - Helen still races (TGP) though Vin now concentrates on car preparation.

The Maserati family, Jamie, Dorothy and Piers, all raced Porches (cannot remember which is the husband and which the son).

Nick Mason and his wife (and both daughters) race in Historics - I think all four in the same race at Coys a couple of years ago.

There are/have been many more in vintage racing, plus all combinations of father/son, father/daughter, mother/son and mother daughter.

[Ray Bell]

Peter and Mary Hitchin, of course... they raced in the same events in Historic races from the first All-Historic event at Amaroo. Mary usually drove the Salmson, Peter naturally had the Hudson Special. Mary also had a go in a Turner... and there was a Nota in there somewhere.

[Paul Hartshorne]

Marc and Yolanda Surer, although I think that Marc may have already retired (following his rally crash) before Yolanda began her career.

Former F3000 driver Alfonso Garcia deVinuesa and his wife, whose name escapes me for the moment (I'm thinking Pilar for some reason).

Lisa Thackwell, sister of Mike, did a couple of seasons of club racing in the UK before marrying one of the Brabham brothers.

Cheers, Paul

[Eagle104]

Some years after Jim Rathmann (1960 Indianapolis 500 winner..1958 Monza 500 Miles "Race Of Two Worlds" winner)retired, his wife, Kay, drove in a few smaller formula races.(I think it was FF...)

[fines]

Hans and Cilly Stärkle, multiple winners of the Swiss sidecar GP in the thirties. Hans' brother Ernst won another one for the family.

[Rob29]

Mary Foulston wife of the late John,I remember seeing race a Lotus 24 at Donington Park.
Then there was Juliette Scott-Gunn who met her husband(Slaughter) on the Snetterton circuit-literally they hit each other! later they divorced and she married John Brindley. Seeems to have retired soon after that.

[David McKinney]

Then there were Mark and Gabriel Konig, who shared a Nomad in the Targa Florio one year.
And Graham and Jenny Birrell, who raced against each other in Scottish saloon races in the 70s.
BTW, is Nick Mason the only driver who has raced against both his wives (at different times)?

[Marcor]

Jos Verstappen's wife is Sophie Kumpen, an ex-karting Belgian driver. Does that cout ?

[Milan Fistonic]

Brian Lawrence, brother of Graeme the 1970 Tasman Champion, and his wife Heather Spurle, the holder of the Women’s World Water Speed Record, have both raced and if my memory is correct, they shared a car at the 24-hour races at the Nurburgring and/or Spa. Brian and Graeme’s father Doug and brother Tony also raced as did Heather’s brother Ian.

Heather is one of only two women to race in the New Zealand Grand Prix, the other being Desire Wilson. Brian has just been named as team manager for Dick Johnson Racing.

As someone mentioned there are any number of husband and wife rally teams but Judy and Roy Hanbury were unusual in that Judy did the driving. Both had rally cars but when they shared a car it was Judy who was behind the wheel.

[alessandro silva]

I wish to mention Alberto Comirato and Lia Comirato Dumas who had I think one of the best results ever as a man and wife pairing. They came in second OVERALL in the
1948 Mille Miglia, a result unfortunately overshadowed by Nuvolari's last heroic drive. Albeit one and half hour behind the winner Biondetti they managed to keep an average of
110.559 kmh. for 16 hours and 33 minutes of racing on a Fiat 1100 special with tiny Topolino brakes and rudimentary chassis. The origin of the Comiratos car is difficult to
trace. In 1946 Alberto raced with a Fiat Stanguellini; he kept taking away bits of body and chassis so that by mid 47 his car looked as an ante-litteram Lotus 7 narrower and a bit
taller with a more angular looking body if possible. He was so successful in the town circuit season in Italy that year that his adversaries took him to court claiming that his car
was dangerous (was he losing pieces of it on the track?) but the results were upheld. It is not known if it was the same car the unnamed Fiat 1100 that was used in the 48 MM. If
not, it must have been a similar one and you should think about racing for 16 hours on a car on which you would not sit for 16 minutes. Comirato and Dumas were successful in
pre and post war long distance sports car racing in Italy always on Fiat Spls and a list of some of their achievements can be found in the excellent site The World of Sports and
Prototype racing.

[Falcadore]

Dinta & Kate Officer in rallying, and their mid 90's team mates, Steve Ashton & Ro Nixon. Plus the recently dumped by Volkswagen team of Dean & Sue Evans (nee Brick).

Rachael (Sports 1300) and Nigel (Improved Production) Smeaton are another pair I can think of.

Coral Taylor, Neal Bates navigator's husband Peter rallied for many years - mostly in a 'leave-the-sanity-outside-the-car' GTHO Phase III replica.

Isn't a high up in Ford and his wife a crew in the last London to Sydney in a Falcon GT?

Bathurst most famous 'shunter' Bill Brown and Sue Ransome were married during their careers.

Greg & Liz Hurst brilliantly won class in the 1995 Eastern Creek 12 hour.

Phil and Megan Kirkham in GTP.

Gary (Group N) & Carol (GTP) Jackson.

starting to run dry......

[Yves]

From another thread, wasn't Mlle Hellé-Nice "sponsored" by a "very" good friend of her from the Rotschild family ?
But they were not maried isn't it ? So doesn't account for good ;)

Y.

[FLB]

There are have been two Canadian Rally Championship teams of husbands and wives over the past few years: Sylvain Vincent and Dominique Cyr, and Tom and Trish McGeer. Mrs. McGeer stepped out of the car to have a child.

[Yves]

In the very old time, Le Blon and Madame also participate to the first Targa Florio in 1906 on a Hochkiss and finished 6th over 10 staters.

Y.

[275 GTB-4]

Brian Lawrence, brother of Graeme the 1970 Tasman Champion, and his wife Heather Spurle, the holder of the Women’s World Water Speed Record, have both raced and if my memory is correct, they shared a car at the 24-hour races at the Nurburgring and/or Spa. Brian and Graeme’s father Doug and brother Tony also raced as did Heather’s brother Ian.

Heather is one of only two women to race in the New Zealand Grand Prix, the other being Desire Wilson. Brian has just been named as team manager for Dick Johnson Racing.

As someone mentioned there are any number of husband and wife rally teams but Judy and Roy Hanbury were unusual in that Judy did the driving. Both had rally cars but when they shared a car it was Judy who was behind the wheel.

Milan....do you know if Desire also raced on the big Island?? (Australia that is...)

[Ray Bell]

Of course she didn't...

Only Lella Lombardi and Bronwyn Taylor... unless, of course, you count Bess Dentry.

[Frank de Jong]

Tom Coronel and Paulien Zwart raced in the same team in the 2004 ETCC. Not sure if they were actually married at the time (or even if they are now). But they are a couple.
Now some something really obscure: Dick and Mabel 't Hooft both raced at Zandvoort in the mid-60's and shared a car at the annual hillclimb at Vaals...

[Eric Dunsdon]

Don Farrell and his wife Stella did sprints and hill climbs with their Farrellac during the late 1950's.

Edited by Eric Dunsdon, 14 September 2011 - 12:14.

[fuzzi]

Husband and wife Gray and Agnes Mickel shared a number of single seaters in hillclimbs during the 1960s and 70s. Both drove very effectively with best times of the day for each of them.

[cheapracer]

I know of at least one husband/wife pairing in the
Australian Rally Championship,

The most famous would be Dinta (David) and Kate Officer who won the Australian Rally Championship in 1984.

Then there was a slightly lesser known but heroes in my eyes pairing in the late 60's in the Victorian Rally scene - my Mum and Dad

[Repco22]

Anne, the wife of well known Western Australian driver of the fifties, Syd Anderson, [ Double V8, Austin Healey, Alta] occasionally raced an MGTC. During practice for a round-the- houses meeting at Goomalling, the local baker was going about his business and blithely drove his breadvan onto the circuit where he was promptly t-boned by Anne.

[GMACKIE]

Reg Challenger raced motorcycles at venues including Penrith Speedway in the 1930s and his wife Margaret raced sports cars at Warwick Farm in the 1960s. I don't think Reg raced cars, though. Does that count?

Reg is in his 90s now but resists all efforts to get him to write his memoirs. He says he will "one day" but he is busy right now with his computer, scanner and digital camera, and restoring his Jaguar...

I'm sure Reg drove the MG [blue TC?]. He was at The Farm one day, in the early '60s, when I was there with my Beetle. I seem to recall that Margaret was quicker than Reg!

Now I think about it, it may have been one of those AARC club meetings.

[GeoffR]

The most famous would be Dinta (David) and Kate Officer who won the Australian Rally Championship in 1984.

Who are still competing in Historic rallies in Mitsubishi Galant, same type of vehicle that they won the ARC in.
At a much lesser level, my wife and I have competed together in navigational rallies for many years, although we were leading Dinta & Kate in a recent HRA event before they retired!

[Ray Bell]

Peter and Heather Brock both ran in Rallycross...

While Peter was out dicing with Bob Watson, Allan Moffat et al, Heather ran the EJ panel van with a red motor in it. It was painted the same colours as Peter had originally used on his A30... dark blue and yellow.

Then there was Herb and Gloria Taylor, Gloria often ran the EH in 'ladies races' at Oran Park. In fact, if you went through the entry lists there you'd find a few who were racing their husbands' cars.

Not Christine Cole, of course. She was running John Leffler's car and later married Fred Gibson. When Fred was running the Nissan team she drove (and rolled at Amaroo...) one of those little Pulsar-powered sporty cars. What were they called again?

Once again at Rallycross, I seem to recall Marje Collier running Bruce's car at times. Actually, when I checked that I also found Jill Nelson, wife of Ken, was among them.

The format of Rallycross was ideal for husband and wife pairings. Some used rally cars, some used modified circuit cars, but with a whole bunch of run-offs and ladies' events they cars could have two or three drivers in a day with no problem.

[PCC]

Peter Ferguson and Linda Wilson raced in Canadian Formula Atlantic in the early (mid?) '70s - I think we may still have called it Formula B at that time. My recollection is that they raced Chevrons, his sponsored by Esso and hers by hers by... I don't recall. I don't think they were actually married, but they were a couple.

[wagons46]

When Fred was running the Nissan team she drove (and rolled at Amaroo...) one of those little Pulsar-powered sporty cars. What were they called again?

Nissan Pulsar EXA Coupe. A horrible, dangerous little road car that was almost un-insurable for most people.

Edited by wagons46, 15 September 2011 - 04:43.