40 replies to this topic

[hatrat]

I'm looking for information on a driver Francis Francis (yes - his real name but occasionally called Frank Francis).

 

He was listed as a Great Britain domiciled entrant and I have him racing a Fitzwilliam Team Lola Mk2 FJ (incorrectly recorded as a Mk3 rear engine car) at Monaco on 13 May 1961, Chimay 21 May 1961, Roskilde Ring 28 May 1961 and Montihery on 24 September and 8 October 1961 - then he seems to disappear.

 

There was a recollection that he may have been related to Marion (Jo) Carstairs - the powerboat racer and sometimes funder of Malcolm Campbell and John Cobb.

[john winfield]

Couldn't resist having a dig around, but have found no trace of FF after that October 1961 Montlhéry race. I noticed though that he moved from the Fitzwilliam team to S.O.A.P. Racing. Strange too that, if GB domiciled, he doesn't seem to have raced in the UK.

[john winfield]

If this is the same Francis Francis who was 'Joe' Carstairs half-brother then he would have been quite old when racing in 1961. Born in 1906, according to WikiTree, he would have been 54/55, so perhaps age is the key reason for his disappearance from the racing records. 

 

Geni.com suggests he died in 1982, in the Bahamas, and is buried in Twickenham, where he was born. Here's a photo for anyone interested:

 

https://www.geni.com...000013414755995

[hatrat]

Thanks John - perhaps he was born in GB but resided in Europe (or even Bermuda if related to Jo Carstairs). The S.O.A.P racing is interesting as the car was entered as a Fitzwilliam Team owned car (but leased by Ecurie Mille Miglia) in 1962 for Teddy Pilette at Goodwood, so presumably they still owned it when S.O.A.P entered it? As for FF he just seems to have arrived and done a few races then disappeared.

[hatrat]

If this is the same Francis Francis who was 'Joe' Carstairs half-brother then he would have been quite old when racing in 1961. Born in 1906, according to WikiTree, he would have been 54/55, so perhaps age is the key reason for his disappearance from the racing records. 

 

Geni.com suggests he died in 1982, in the Bahamas, and is buried in Twickenham, where he was born. Here's a photo for anyone interested:

 

https://www.geni.com...000013414755995

Thanks - so if it was him then he was related to Jo Carstairs.  As you say, if born in 1906 he would have been around 55 in 1961 - maybe S.O.A.P stood for something like Squadra Old Age Pensioner?

[john winfield]

Thanks - so if it was him then he was related to Jo Carstairs.  As you say, if born in 1906 he would have been around 55 in 1961 - maybe S.O.A.P stood for something like Squadra Old Age Pensioner?

 

Ha! Could be!

 

Or another possibility...I read that, when young, he inherited a lot of Standard Oil shares. Might FF have set up a short-lived team post-Fitzwilliam,  SOAP...Standard Oil A? P?.....with a limited amount of Esso sponsorship until they decided that Jack Brabham was a better bet!

Edited by john winfield, 23 April 2020 - 12:39.

[Geoff E]

On the death of his father in 1928, Francis Francis was one of the will's executors.  He was described as Lieutenant, HM Army.

[ReWind]

Maybe there was even Francis Francis the Fourth. A son of FF III could have been born in the late 1920s or the 1930s giving him the fitting age for a motor racing adventure in 1961.

[Geoff E]

"The Sketch"  of 11 December 1929 tells of the engagement of "A millionaire subaltern of the Blues and his actress fiancee, Mr Francis Francis and MIss Sunny Jarman."  The GRO marriage index names her as Sunshine Jarmann.

 

A newspaper report of the marriage, later that month, can be found here https://www.nytimes....ctress-and.html

[Michael Ferner]

I'm looking for information on a driver Francis Francis (yes - his real name but occasionally called Frank Francis).

 

He was listed as a Great Britain domiciled entrant and I have him racing a Fitzwilliam Team Lola Mk2 FJ (incorrectly recorded as a Mk3 rear engine car) at Monaco on 13 May 1961, Chimay 21 May 1961, Roskilde Ring 28 May 1961 and Montihery on 24 September and 8 October 1961 - then he seems to disappear.

 

Hm. I have him racing on solidly through 1962 and '63! With a Caravelle in the former year (variously entered by himself, SOAP, Bob Hicks and/or Richard Utley - meaning, a "works" entry iirc), and a Lotus 27 in the latter (self entered, except for one race at Goodwood - Inter Auto Course). Same man, surely?

[ReWind]

There actually was a younger Francis Francis, born on 02 July 1933 in Freiburg (!) to Francis & Solveig Jarman.
Source

[Vitesse2]

There actually was a younger Francis Francis, born on 02 July 1933 in Freiburg (!) to Francis & Solveig Jarman.
Source

He seems to have spent the war years in the USA. Ancestry has him arriving in New York from Galway in June 1940 with his mother and younger brother, returning  to Southampton in December 1945.

[hatrat]

There actually was a younger Francis Francis, born on 02 July 1933 in Freiburg (!) to Francis & Solveig Jarman.
Source

That may be a better bet for our man - he would have been 27 at the time of the Monaco race as compared to the older FF who would have been 54. Presume still members of the same family?

[hatrat]

Hm. I have him racing on solidly through 1962 and '63! With a Caravelle in the former year (variously entered by himself, SOAP, Bob Hicks and/or Richard Utley - meaning, a "works" entry iirc), and a Lotus 27 in the latter (self entered, except for one race at Goodwood - Inter Auto Course). Same man, surely?

Hadn't picked those races up - will have to pull my results book out again as clearly the same man to the 1961 Lola entries.

[hatrat]

"The Sketch"  of 11 December 1929 tells of the engagement of "A millionaire subaltern of the Blues and his actress fiancee, Mr Francis Francis and MIss Sunny Jarman."  The GRO marriage index names her as Sunshine Jarmann.

 

A newspaper report of the marriage, later that month, can be found here https://www.nytimes....ctress-and.html

This ties in with the FF identified in post #11 as the identity document shows his mother Solweig (Sunny?) Jarman.

[KWSN - DSM]

That may be a better bet for our man - he would have been 27 at the time of the Monaco race as compared to the older FF who would have been 54. Presume still members of the same family?

 

Must be both father and mothers name match, they lived in a house / mansion in Switzerland named 'Solveig' which I presume named from Sunny... Interesting person being uncovered here.

 

[hatrat]

Must be both father and mothers name match, they lived in a house / mansion in Switzerland named 'Solveig' which I presume named from Sunny... Interesting person being uncovered here.

 

Just found the following reference :

 

Jo Carstairs' half brother Francis (Frank) Francis had been selected to represent Britain in three Olympics events in 1928, though he had to withdraw after contacting scarlet fever. He had then become a daring aviator and champion amateur golfer. During the Second World War, Frank helped produce fighter aircraft for the RAF and ferried planes between airfields; he later played a part in inventing the ejection seat. Frank Francis shared Jo's enthusiasm for actresses. In 1929 he had been dismissed from the Royal Horse Guards for marrying an actress, an American named Sunny Jarman; they were later divorced.

 

So it appears that "our" FF was the son of Francis (Frank) Francis and Sunny Jarman and as such, was the nephew of Jo Carstairs and a heir to the Standard Oil fortune which no doubt helped fund his racing. I wonder if he is still around - he would be 86.

[Vitesse2]

Ferrying planes would suggest the elder Francis Francis flew with the Air Transport Auxiliary and the ejection seat stuff presumably means he was connected with Martin-Baker.

 

Oddly enough, he's the second person I've come across this week who had to resign a commission for daring to marry an American actress!

[hatrat]

Just found this for the younger Francis Francis :

 

The first Japanese GP was held at Suzuka in May 1963. The main race of the event was a sports car and GT race and the organisers invited some foreign drivers:

 

Francis Francis drove an ex-Ecurie Francorchamps Jaguar D and his mechanic was Gérard Crombac, Editor of Sport Auto.

[Ray Bell]

He certainly moved in the best circles...

 

I can't add anything, except to say that I'm sure I heard about the S.O.A.P. entrant before somewhere (in the very distant past) and I feel sure it was explained at the time.

[raceannouncer2003]

The D type was apparently owned by Crombac.

 

A little more here.  Francis is described by this site as "Francis Francis, Jr."

 

https://www.racingsp...Francis-GB.html

 

Vince H.

[hatrat]

The D type was apparently owned by Crombac.

 

A little more here.  Francis is described by this site as "Francis Francis, Jr."

 

https://www.racingsp...Francis-GB.html

 

Vince H.

Thats interesting as it shows him racing in the GP of Rio de Janeiro in an Lotus Elite in November 1960 and the identity document in post #11 is a entry permit for him going to Brazil on 24 October 1960 - presumably to race at the GP of Rio de Janeiro?

[PZR]

Just found this for the younger Francis Francis :

 

The first Japanese GP was held at Suzuka in May 1963. The main race of the event was a sports car and GT race and the organisers invited some foreign drivers:

 

Francis Francis drove an ex-Ecurie Francorchamps Jaguar D and his mechanic was Gérard Crombac, Editor of Sport Auto.

Official programme for the event lists Frank Francis as being 29 years old. 

 

 

That's Francis in the middle, between Peter Warr and Huschke von Hanstein.

Photos courtesy Auto Sport Japan Archives.

[hatrat]

Official programme for the event lists Frank Francis as being 29 years old. 

 

 

That's Francis in the middle, between Peter Warr and Huschke von Hanstein.

Photos courtesy Auto Sport Japan Archives.

 

Thanks

[Doug Nye]

I remember FF as racing right at the outset of what might laughingly be described as my 'career' - in 1963.  Never knew much about him but was intrigued by the name - which I took initially to be a misprint.

 

DCN

[Peter Morley]

Presumably the same Francis Francis who had Formula Junior Lotus 27 chassis no. 1 in 1963?

[hatrat]

Presumably the same Francis Francis who had Formula Junior Lotus 27 chassis no. 1 in 1963?

He didn't seem to have had a very successful time with the Lotus 27 in 1963. As it was chassis #1 then I presume it was one of the "flexi" cars with a part fibreglass monocoque which may have been the reason.

 

I have managed to contact his family who have confirmed the lineage noted at the end of post #17 but not much more information at this stage.

[Ray Bell]

There's a photo of Francis Francis at Monaco in 1962 here:

 

http://mydadsphotos....f22ad4edf1/1393

 

There are photos of dozens of others at Monaco in 1962 in that 'dadsphotos' lot.

[Peter Morley]

He didn't seem to have had a very successful time with the Lotus 27 in 1963. As it was chassis #1 then I presume it was one of the "flexi" cars with a part fibreglass monocoque which may have been the reason.

 

I have managed to contact his family who have confirmed the lineage noted at the end of post #17 but not much more information at this stage.

 

It certainly would have started as a fibreglass car but Lotus were fairly quick to replace them, no idea whether they replaced all of them though.

One problem was being much stiffer than space framed cars 27s were less forgiving than more flexible cars, and required rather more skill at the limit - e.g. you had to be really good to make the most of them.

 

I would really like to know what happened to his 27, please bear that in mind if you find anyone in the family who has any records/recollection.

[Henk Vasmel]

Accidentally found another picture of a Francis Francis in "Les Grandes Heures de Montlhéry" (Dominique Pascal). At the start of the Coupe De Paris (Formula Junior, 23-09-1962) he is on the front row (Right hand side) with a Caravelle-Ford, no. 56. This is obviously the same car as the Monaco picture earlier that year.

[PZR]

A shot of Francis in his Cosworth Ford-powered Lotus 22 at Suzuka Circuit during the 2nd 'Japan Grand Prix' race meeting in May 1964.

 

There were two Formula Junior races at the meeting, both won by Michael Knight in his Brabham BT6. Francis was 3rd in race 1, and 4th in race 2.

 

Photo credit Auto Sport Japan magazine:

 

Edited by PZR, 18 June 2020 - 13:27.

[KWSN - DSM]

A shot of Francis in his Cosworth Ford-powered Lotus 22 at Suzuka Circuit during the 2nd 'Japan Grand Prix' race meeting in May 1964.

 

There were two Formula Junior races at the meeting, both won by Michael Knight in his Brabham BT6. Francis was 3rd in race 1, and 4th in race 2.

 

Photo credit Auto Sport Japan magazine:

 

 

 

Great shot, great looking car, how much fun must it be to do laps in that?

 

[NessieFrancis]

Hi Guys

 

It's so lovely to read these messages.

 

My name is Nessie (Vanessa) Francis and I am Francis Francis' niece.  My father Peter was his younger brother.  I can see where all the confusion is coming from.  It's a family tradition to name the eldest son of the eldest son Francis.  I like it but it can be a nightmare trying to work out the generations.

 

Doug - I'm Nessie from the old Brooks days.  You see cars and motor boats ran in the blood!

 

Uncle Frank died in 2010 I think.  He had been living in Switzerland for a long time.  He was British, went to Rugby School, Cambridge and Harvard.  But he never lived here once he left for Harvard.  I believe his first job was working for Barclays in Monaco.  Joe Carstairs was his half aunt.

 

I absolutely love the photos and I would be delighted if you could give me the links to them or let me know where I could find them.

 

Nessie Francis

 

 

[john winfield]

Hi Guys

 

It's so lovely to read these messages.

 

My name is Nessie (Vanessa) Francis and I am Francis Francis' niece.  My father Peter was his younger brother.  I can see where all the confusion is coming from.  It's a family tradition to name the eldest son of the eldest son Francis.  I like it but it can be a nightmare trying to work out the generations.

 

Doug - I'm Nessie from the old Brooks days.  You see cars and motor boats ran in the blood!

 

Uncle Frank died in 2010 I think.  He had been living in Switzerland for a long time.  He was British, went to Rugby School, Cambridge and Harvard.  But he never lived here once he left for Harvard.  I believe his first job was working for Barclays in Monaco.  Joe Carstairs was his half aunt.

 

I absolutely love the photos and I would be delighted if you could give me the links to them or let me know where I could find them.

 

Nessie Francis

 

Welcome Nessie!  I'm sure the guys posting above will see your message and be in touch. Eventually. 

[ensign14]

There were two Formula Junior races at the meeting, both won by Michael Knight in his Brabham BT6.

 

A man who did not exist?
 

[Michael Ferner]

If this is the same Francis Francis who was 'Joe' Carstairs half-brother then he would have been quite old when racing in 1961. Born in 1906, according to WikiTree, he would have been 54/55, so perhaps age is the key reason for his disappearance from the racing records. 

 

Geni.com suggests he died in 1982, in the Bahamas, and is buried in Twickenham, where he was born. Here's a photo for anyone interested:

 

https://www.geni.com...000013414755995

 

 

That made for some interesting reading! Not only was his father also called Francis Francis, but his mother was Frances Francis! Also, the mother was (somewhat unusually) married five times, but more importantly was the sister of auto racing pioneer Albert Bostwick!!

 

 

EDIT Ah, stop - I was getting confused! The auto racing FF was the grandson of Bostwick's sister; I was one generation out!

Edited by Michael Ferner, 28 May 2021 - 07:05.

[PZR]

I absolutely love the photos and I would be delighted if you could give me the links to them or let me know where I could find them.

 

Nessie Francis

I would be happy to send you scans of the photos I posted here. Can you message me with an e-mail address?

[PZR]

A man who did not exist?
 

Michael Knight? Sorry, I don't follow...

 

Edit: Ah! The penny just dropped.

No, the Michael Knight who was racing in Japan was - I'm sure - of the 'Verray parfit gentil' variety.

Edited by PZR, 28 May 2021 - 07:26.

[Michael Ferner]

ensign special... probably something mundane like a refernce to Knight Rider movies...

 

 

 

EDIT - I was right: https://www.imdb.com...cters/nm0000865

Edited by Michael Ferner, 28 May 2021 - 07:25.

[hatrat]

Hi Guys

It's so lovely to read these messages.

My name is Nessie (Vanessa) Francis and I am Francis Francis' niece. My father Peter was his younger brother. I can see where all the confusion is coming from. It's a family tradition to name the eldest son of the eldest son Francis. I like it but it can be a nightmare trying to work out the generations.

Doug - I'm Nessie from the old Brooks days. You see cars and motor boats ran in the blood!

Uncle Frank died in 2010 I think. He had been living in Switzerland for a long time. He was British, went to Rugby School, Cambridge and Harvard. But he never lived here once he left for Harvard. I believe his first job was working for Barclays in Monaco. Joe Carstairs was his half aunt.

I absolutely love the photos and I would be delighted if you could give me the links to them or let me know where I could find them.

Nessie Francis

Hi Nessie,
Good to hear from you with some background on Frank - I have the Lola he raced at Monaco, Chimay, Roskilde Ring and Montlhery (twice) in 1961 and have a few photos. I've send you a personal message with my contact details.

[bradbury west]

Thats interesting as it shows him racing in the GP of Rio de Janeiro in an Lotus Elite in November 1960 and the identity document in post #11 is a entry permit for him going to Brazil on 24 October 1960 - presumably to race at the GP of Rio de Janeiro?

That date is interesting  as I have an article hereabouts, dated   October 1959, saying that  an Elite was  earlier checked over and prepared for a Francis Francis, might have been Frank, before it went to France. The Lotus chassis  register of  Elite sales  shows nothing in his name in that period, but several “for export” , so there may well have been another connection with Jabby Crombac.

Remember, too, that Peter Warr was one of the group of peripatetic  Formula Junior drivers who traipsed around Europe in those days.

The Elite to Brazil may have been part of a process to race then sell the car down there, a not unknown practice elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, and  may indicate a bit more of Jabby’s handiwork, possibly simplifying paperwork.... 

Roger Lund

 

Edit. Perhaps there are photographs from Brazil on the glorious REVS site.  I have seen shots of  an Elite there elsewhere in South America in that period.  Age sadly means I cannot recall  the name of the photographer, but it was an unusual place name. I do recall that the first shot in that photographer’s gallery, but that was  fives years ago,  showed  Penske and his FUBAR spl, in colour, the first time that I knew it was red. Yes, I have had a sheltered life....

RL.

Edited by bradbury west, 03 June 2021 - 11:36.