8 replies to this topic

[Noisette]

Hi All

https://www.dropbox.... 1955.jpeg?dl=0

I'm new to the forum, hello to you all.

I have an old framed photo of two ladies standing next to a TR2 at Hastings after the rally. Does anyone recognise either of them. I have searched the Internet in vain to find a list of race entrants which might narrow it down.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Hazel

[RS2000]

The limited entry data I have to date merely confirms who it isn't (not Audrey Wilds/Miss Clegg - more than one all female crew in a TR2 in 1955 RAC).

Look at the RAC Rally History thread in the main part of the forum. The link to the photos there includes some from 1955 (I haven't yet been through them for that year). It may not help as a complete entry list is still needed and I don't have a complete list prior to 1959.

 

(and it's not a race please - calling it one could still have implications for rally insurance in our modern world) 

[RS2000]

You will find them in action on a sea front driving test at the second photo on page two of the 1955 photos. Not that it helps with ID...

[AAGR]

That was an easy one - THE AUTOCAR had a complete entry list in their issue of 4 March 1955.

 

No. 22 TR2 was Mrs J.Leavens and Mrs E.Southcombe.

[Noisette]

Thank you so much guys, I spent several hours last night trying to find the complete entry list on the internet. I did find another two photographs of the same car on the Stanford University Libraries. Link below.

 

https://revslib.stan...=page&q=kak 656

 

I also found lots of interesting 1950's pictures of rally drivers and cars, always fun to research something new. I will see what if anything I can find out about the two ladies mentioned.

 

I will report back!

[RS2000]

The first photo in the link above is 1954 (No.208), the second 1955 (No.22). Helluva jump in seeding! (there wasn't any then).

 

The RAC Rally achieved seeding we would recognise by 1961 but later drifted back into some weird stuff like media-linked crews (and FI drivers) running first and even all ladies first.

[Noisette]

I did wonder if the low number was relevant, but came to the conclusion it was unlikely!

[AAGR]

Noisette - absolutely right - there was no 'seeding' on the RAC rally in those days.

 

Incidentally, for interest, in the 1954 event when the same TR2 car started from No. 208, it was driven by 'B.Leavens'. My assumption (always dangerous on this channel !) is that Mr Leavens and Mrs Leavens were husband and wife ....

Edited by AAGR, 24 January 2016 - 14:13.

[Rupertlt1]

I have Mrs J. Leavens as a competitor at Goodwood, B.A.R.C. 18th Members' Meeting, 26th March, 1955.

Event 2 - Ladies' Handicap Race (5 laps): #68 Triumph TR2, registration KAK 656:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/dy595fb7567

 

Also:

Ninth Brunton Hill Climb, 3rd April 1955 - Ladies award - Mrs J.A. Leavens (Triumph TR2, 31.13 sec.)

Tenth Brunton Hill Climb, 18th September, 1955 - Closed cars 1801-3000 c.c. - Mrs J. Leavens (Aston Martin) 28.19 sec (class record).

Source: B.A.R.C. Yearbook 1956.

 

See also London Rally, 1954:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/hf493ns3016

 

1951 MCC Daily Express Rally:

#17 - C.A. Leavens/J.A.D'H Leavens - Jowett Javelin

 

1954 Ibsley, 8th May

Closed Car Race (5 laps)

"Run in two classes, this race saw Mrs. Leavens in a Jowett Javelin

soundly trounce P.H. Channon's 1½ litre Riley saloon in the 1,500-c.c.

category,..." 

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 April 2016 - 13:38.