15 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

Earlier I saw a tweet from the BRDC that 98 year old Leslie Marr has passed away, he was the second oldest surviving Grand Prix driver, making his debut at the British Grand Prix of 1954. A few years ago I was put in touch with Leslie by a member of this forum, David ?? he eventually donated his set of home movie film to me. Once I had had it all professionally transferred I copied it all on DVD's for him and sent them to him. On their arrival I enjoyed a lovely half hour phone call from him thanking me for the copies 'Just so the grand children can see what I used to get up to!' Here is a link to some of his film from Davidstow in 1954: https://m.youtube.co...W-xiB3d68&t=46s

[ensign14]

Sad news, I thought he'd get the ton. 

 

His other expertise of course was in art - rather dramatic impasto landscapes in an Expressionist style.

 

[Allan Lupton]

' Here is a link to some of his film from Davidstow in 1954: https://m.youtube.co...W-xiB3d68&t=46s

On youtube you've identified it as 30 May 55 not 1954. Marr's Connaught (B3) is to be seen several times but what we don't see is that he won the F1 race but not the Formule Libre (according to Motor Sport).
 

Edited by Allan Lupton, 06 May 2021 - 16:41.

[Gary C]

That's all the film of that meeting.

[Richard Jenkins]

A fantastic long life, lived well and without any regrets. A multi-talented man indeed. 98 is a cracking age when you consider he outlived Onofre Marimon by over 66 years. That said, I thought, like Ensign, he would make 100. RIP 

[Eric Dunsdon]

Thank you for the Davidstow footage Gary. I was something of a Leslie  Marr fan and his Green Connaught with its red spoked wheels was a very familiar  sight in those good days. I remember him with affection. R.I.P.

[cpbell]

Earlier I saw a tweet from the BRDC that 98 year old Leslie Marr has passed away, he was the second oldest surviving Grand Prix driver, making his debut at the British Grand Prix of 1954. A few years ago I was put in touch with Leslie by a member of this forum, David ?? he eventually donated his set of home movie film to me. Once I had had it all professionally transferred I copied it all on DVD's for him and sent them to him. On their arrival I enjoyed a lovely half hour phone call from him thanking me for the copies 'Just so the grand children can see what I used to get up to!' Here is a link to some of his film from Davidstow in 1954: https://m.youtube.co...W-xiB3d68&t=46s

Oh dear - that's sad to hear!

[cpbell]

Melton Constable - not far from me!

[Alan Lewis]

I see one of the other videos on Ensign's link is Leslie visiting Corndon Hill, and I remember something on the Motor Racing Pubs thread last year about him living in the pub in Pulverbatch for a while. As a Shropshire Lad who now lives in the North East, it's nice to think he did the same trip in reverse.

My great aunt farmed near Corndon. The Mitchell's Fold stone circle was right next to her fields and my brother and I spent hours playing round there on our visits in the seventies.

[Paul Taylor]

98 is a great age. Seems like he considered himself an artist more than a former racing driver.

 

So Ken McAlpine continues to be the oldest living (championship) Grand Prix driver still alive...Getting on for 101 this year.

[Alan Lewis]

I believe Paul Goldsmith now moves up to second place (and is already oldest Indy driver and World Championship points scorer), and Nano da Silva Ramos third?

[Tim Murray]

Yes indeed:

https://www.statsf1....e/gp/doyen.aspx

[cooper997]

Sixty-Five years ago AMS ran this Leslie Marr Connaught photo at Ardmore, New Zealand.

.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[RobertE]

A nice Obit notice yesterday in the Daily Telegraph...

[9203RW]

I had not realised, until I saw the obituary in The Times, that he was Sir Leslie Marr, having inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father in 1932.

[19500513]

98 is a great age. Seems like he considered himself an artist more than a former racing driver.

 

So Ken McAlpine continues to be the oldest living (championship) Grand Prix driver still alive...Getting on for 101 this year.

 

Today Ken McAlpine same old like old was Paul Pietsch. From tomorrow Ken McAlpine will the oldest F1 driver ever