Member
Posted 24 September 2017 - 17:37
Hi,
Johnny Lockett is a name which has been linked with racing driver Ken Miles. He was at Le Mans with Miles in an MG in 1955 and the following year record breaking with him at Bonneville also in an MG. I would like to know about this gentleman who as far as i know started out racing motorcycles, Norton for one. Anyone know anything about Johnny Lockett and why he switched from bikes to cars?
Thanks, Paul
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Administrator
Posted 24 September 2017 - 20:22
The Motor Sport database gives his full name as Reginald St John Lockett. First ran at Le Mans in 1953 with a Healey, finishing 12th with Maurice Gatsonides. Also did the Mille Miglia that year in a works Healey. So maybe the Healey connection might be worth exploring? Presumably he moved to MG due to Healey's sudden withdrawal from racing in 1954.
His birth was registered in Long Ashton, Somerset (essentially in Bristol), according to Ancestry. Married 1941 to a Pamela Prideaux (later divorced - see entry for Anderson, Claudius Charles Grigor here: http://www.unithisto...ficers_A06.html )
According to The Gazette, he was an electrical engineer.
https://www.thegazet...ice/L-57425-313
As he was still racing bikes up to at least 1951 (by which time he was 36) maybe he just thought he was getting too old? Or maybe Nortons just didn't renew his contract for 1952? He's mentioned in the season previews in Chain Chatter in Motor Sport for both 1950 and 1951, but not here in a list of 1952 works riders: http://racingmemo.fr...OTO-GP-1952.htm - he is in the equivalent 1950 and 1951 lists though.
Administrator
Posted 24 September 2017 - 20:54
Aha! Google Books link: https://books.google...Lockett&f=false
Retired from racing after a head injury. Another reference in the same e-book calls him a 'precision grinder'.
Administrator
Posted 25 September 2017 - 07:46
Looks like his last event might have been the Gran Premio della Nazioni at Monza on September 9th 1951. I wonder if it was a practice crash - he's mentioned in a preview in La Stampa, but not in their race report and didn't score points in either the 350cc or 500cc class. Although their reporter was understandably excited that some of his countrymen had beaten Geoff Duke in the 500cc race; as Duke was already champion before the race, I doubt he was that bothered!
Maybe there's something in Jean-Claude Schertenleib and Maurice Büla's book Continental Circus 1949-2000?
Member
Posted 25 September 2017 - 09:32
Wow!, thank you Richard, you have been busy. Fascinating reading and i am learning all the time. Now Johnny Lockett is not just a name, you have filled in a lot of blanks. Seems his last address is not a million miles away from me.
Paul
Member
Posted 25 September 2017 - 18:21
Administrator
Posted 26 September 2017 - 09:33
Johnny Lockett, 34, electrical engineer from Oxshott, Surrey ...
Daily Mail, Saturday, June 10, 1950; pg. 2; Issue 16867.
I've also found references to him living in Oxshott in both The Guardian (1950) and The Irish Times (1951) - circumstantially, probably from details in IoM TT programmes, as all three mentions are in TT reports.
Member
Posted 26 September 2017 - 17:45
It seems your man Johnny Lockett had a very impressive motorcycle racing career before he switched to cars.
The following information is from the Isle of Man TT Database:
1936 Manx Grand Prix 350cc (Norton) - 5th place.
1937 " 350cc ( " ) - 3rd place.
1937 " 500cc ( " ) - 9th place.
1938 " 350cc ( " ) - DNF.
1938 " 500cc ( " ) - 2nd place.
1939 TT 350cc (Norton) - 16th place.
1939 TT 500cc ( " ) - DNF.
1948 TT 350cc ( " ) - 4th place.
1948 TT 500cc ( " ) - DNF.
1949 TT 350cc ( " ) - 7th place.
1949 TT 500cc ( " ) - 2nd place.
1950 TT 350cc ( " ) - 6th place.
1950 TT 500cc ( " ) - 3rd place.
1951 TT 350cc ( " ) - 2nd place.
1951 TT 500cc ( " ) - DNF.
It must be said, that to have only four non-finishes in fifteen races at the Isle of Man is a remarkable achievement!
Member
Posted 26 September 2017 - 18:05
Hi,
Johnny Lockett is a name which has been linked with racing driver Ken Miles. He was at Le Mans with Miles in an MG in 1955 and the following year record breaking with him at Bonneville also in an MG. I would like to know about this gentleman who as far as i know started out racing motorcycles, Norton for one. Anyone know anything about Johnny Lockett and why he switched from bikes to cars?
Thanks, Paul
It's entirely possible that I've imagined the following, or indeed that I've been the victim of an elaborate con - however, wasn't it the case that Johnny was discussed here several years back and he was revealed as a former teacher at some posh public school or other, as well as a Cambridge University graduate? I can't find the posts here, nor, despite furious Googling, any info online. Maybe someone can help, or perhaps I've finally flipped out totally.
Edited by Russell Burrows, 27 September 2017 - 09:38.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 01:37
I think Crasher White maybe your man I remember reading about him a long time ago and it sounds familiar Bill Lawrence
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 06:58
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 09:37
Paul, ISTR that there was a self published book a while back, mentioned here, poss as a promo exercise, about an MGA effort at le Mans in the fifties by some of those connected with the team, the Ted Lund group I believe, no relation, wrong side of the Pennines.... Perhaps someone has access to a copy of it in case it has any narrative about the other MGA drivers there previously.
There were a couple of photos on e bay recently showing your man and Miles racing there. I will send copies on to you for your records. Sadly they only show Miles' car from the rear, but a good shot of Lockett.
Roger Lund
Edited by bradbury west, 27 September 2017 - 09:40.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 09:40
I think Crasher White maybe your man I remember reading about him a long time ago and it sounds familiar Bill Lawrence
Oops, I'm kinda half relieved..... Thanks.
Edited by Russell Burrows, 27 September 2017 - 09:42.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 09:44
Johnny on the right in March 2000. I guess you hotshots know the gent in the middle as well
Hi Rupert. I recall it being up before but can't ID the other bloke. I immediately thought Jeremy Corbyn but that's probably not right .
Edited by Russell Burrows, 27 September 2017 - 09:48.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 15:07
Hi Rupert. I recall it being up before but can't ID the other bloke. I immediately thought Jeremy Corbyn but that's probably not right .
It is Ted Frend. The bloke on the left is Rolf Eggersdorfer. who paid a visit to him way back in 2000 after they had been in contact for quite a long time. In the beginning, Ted was surprised that any anyone knew him behind the 'Iron Curtain', he probably thought that they read only 'Neues Deutschland' and 'Prawda' there..Edited by Rennmax, 27 September 2017 - 15:09.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 16:19
JC is a nice one
The picture was taken when they took a trip from Ted's home in Weybridge to the South to meet his old pal Johnny Lockett and his wife.
http://www.eggersdor...d/ted_frend.htm
Thanks Renn. Rolf seems reasonably happy, the others not so much.
Member
Posted 27 September 2017 - 20:08
Really enjoying this interesting thread. I have just read in a 1948 copy of "The Motorcyclist" that Lockett raced at Brooklands in 1936 and again in 1939. He was partnered with Francis Beart in 1939. Roger, please do email me the pictures, very interested to see them. I have just been reading John Thornleys 1956 edition of "Maintaining the breed". There is a very good account of the MGA team at the 1955 Le Mans.
Paul
Administrator
Posted 27 September 2017 - 20:37
Several mentions of him in The Times 1936-39, racing bikes at both Brooklands and Donington, as well as his TT exploits. Seems to have teamed up with Beart in 1938.
He also took part in the big invitation car/bike event at Shelsley in October 1946.
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