11 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

Chris Threlfall lost his life in 1960 in the infamous Aix-les-Bains accident in which six spectators were also killed. A temporary wooden footbridge over the street track, jammed with spectators, collapsed. Threlfall was the first racer to arrive to the place and crashed.

In the 1950s he competed in sportscar races in UK and Europe, driving Tojeiro and Lotus machinery. Other drivers by the same surname (Dick, Julian and Tom Threlfall) were also active in the same years. Even Chris and Tom Threlfall drove togheter a Elva MkV - Climax in the World Sportscar Championship's RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1959.

Were Chris, Tom, Julian and Dick related? Brothers?
Any bio notes?

[mikeC]

Chris and Tom were brothers; I don't know about Julian and Dick.

[David McKinney]

Don't recall Julian at all, though Richard Threlfall rings a bell

[Alan Cox]

... though Richard Threlfall rings a bell

By coincidence, Tom and Di's son is called Richard and he did a little bit of VSCC racing some years back.

[Tim Murray]

From an earlier thread on Castle Combe:

Some additions to Darren's results for October 1951:

Year: 1951 Date: 6 October
Track: Castle Combe

Sports-cars up to 1500cc
1 Cliff Davis 1467 cooper-MG 15'28 71.38mph
2 Pat Griffith 1467 Lester MG 15'38.2"
3 RJL Threlfall 1467 Lester-MG
4 David Pritchard 1496 HRG

Richard or Julian?

[David McKinney]

By coincidence, Tom and Di's son is called Richard and he did a little bit of VSCC racing some years back.

Perhaps that's the origin of the ringing bell

[Geoff E]

These three appear to have been brothers (same mother's maiden name)

Richard JL (1928)
Christopher H (1930)
Thomas J (1935)

[ReWind]

According to Mike Kettlewell's "Motor Racing Directory" Tom Threlfall was in fact born in December 1934.

RacingSportsCars website has only one race for Julian Threlfall which happened in 1955. I would suggest that he is identical to Dick Threlfall, the "J" in RJL perhaps standing for "Julian".

Strangely RacingSportsCars claims that Chris Threlfall competed in a race at Spa on 14 May 1961 which of course is impossible. That must have been his brother Tom.

[Geoff E]

According to Mike Kettlewell's "Motor Racing Directory" Tom Threlfall was in fact born in December 1934.

Could be, the date I gave was the year of registration and you are allowed 6 weeks to register a birth.

Edited by Geoff E, 23 March 2012 - 20:25.

[Geoff E]

RacingSportsCars website has only one race for Julian Threlfall which happened in 1955. I would suggest that he is identical to Dick Threlfall, the "J" in RJL perhaps standing for "Julian".

Yes, Richard Julian L THRELFALL died in 1969 in Pembrokeshire ... date of birth given as 16 Aug 1928.

Death notice in The Times says "suddenly, whilst on holiday".

Edited by Geoff E, 23 March 2012 - 20:33.

[bradbury west]

Somewhere in my files I have an article on Elva sports racers, launch of mk 6 possibly, I think, 3 Elvas rings a bell, from the late 50s, in which it says Chris Threlfall ran an Elva FJ in 1958 with a linered down Hillman Minx engine, presumably the 1390cc square dimension version. In that first season the choice of suitable engines was limited, certainly in the UK, so it was an act of real optimism. Worth noting from a family history point of view, if only for the enterprise and initiative shown. I think it raced just once. I will try to find it. Raise a reminder in a week or two if no result quickly.
Best of luck with your venture
Roger Lund

PS I may be totally wrong, of course......

[hughthrelfall]

Thanks Roger. That sounds interesting, I know little about cars and engines although I do go to Goodwood Revival most years!

Just to confirm (from a family history point of view) eldest sons of Threlfalls are meant to have Richard as a Christian name although they don't necessarily use them. Julian was the eldest born in 1928 (so would have beeen Richard Julian Leslie Threlfall, died August 1969), then Christopher Hugh Threlfall (born 1930 died May 1960) and lastly Thomas Jeremy Threlfall (born 1934 died in 2016).

Hugh