9 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

William Essick "Bill" Kimberly was Briggs Cunningham's favorite long distance co-driver in the early sixties. Willem Oosthoek is doing a six-part series on Bill's race career on Pete Vack's website: VeloceToday.com

Hope the forum members will enjoy it.

[pete53]

I remember him making what might have been his only (?) race appearance in the UK at the Guards Trophy meeting at Brands Hatch in 1963 in a works Aston Martin DB4GT.

[E1pix]

Great article from Willem — and Thanks for letting us know, Jerry.

 

A legend from my childhood at Road America, and for evermore.

 

 

RIP, Mr. Kimberly.

[d j fox]

It’s a long time ago but I remember he, Innes Ireland and Bruce McLaren all practised the Astons on (I think) the Wednesday prior to the August Bank Holiday race Bruce and Innes dashed off to the Nurburgring for the German GP leaving Kimberley driving all 3 cars on Saturdays practice . I spoke very briefly to him..a tall man, smoking a pipe and wearing a very English tweed jacket ! Bruce was injured in the GP and Innes and Bill drove the DP 214 GTs leaving the protototype 215- which was a bit unwieldy for Brands- in the paddock I also think this was his only UK race

[Jerry Entin]

Duncan and Pete:  Yes, Brands Hatch 1963 was Bill Kimberly’s only English race appearance, although he tested all three works Aston Martins at the MIRA track earlier that year. With his teammates McLaren and Ireland still at the German GP that weekend, Bill had to qualify the three cars himself. During the start of the Monday race the brake pedal of his own GT went straight to the floor and by lap 20 he had no brakes at all, forcing him to stuff the Aston into the bank at Dingle Dell. He later learned that the brakes were experimental ones.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 October 2020 - 23:51.

[pete53]

Duncan and Pete:  Yes, Brands Hatch 1963 was Bill Kimberly’s only English race appearance, although he tested all three works Aston Martins at the MIRA track earlier that year. With his teammates McLaren and Ireland still at the German GP that weekend, Bill had to qualify the three cars himself. During the start of the Monday race the brake pedal of his own GT went straight to the floor and by lap 20 he had no brakes at all, forcing him to stuff the Aston into the bank at Dingle Dell. He later learned that the brakes were experimental ones.

It would have been nice to have been told

[ReWind]

Bill Kimberly passed away in London on October 21, 2017, at age 84

Is that London or another town by the same name?

Edited by ReWind, 07 November 2020 - 17:31.

[Richard Jenkins]

Is that London or another town by the same name?

 

 

London, England - 

KIMBERLY, WILLIAM  ESSICK   1933   GRO Reference:  DOR  Q4/2017 in Hammersmith And Fulham  (260-1A)  Entry Number 516333756

[ReWind]

Thank you, Richard.

[tampaguy]

I imagine that Mr Cunningham was a very good judge of driving talent. He did have quite a cast of characters behind his wheels. I really enjoyed Willems article on Bill.