11 replies to this topic

[oliver heal]

Having worked through Bluebelle with your help, I am now trying to put together a summary of Len Gibb's career.

 

His obituary in the local paper refers to him driving a Brabham. So far I have not come across any references elsewhere to him having a Brabham.

 

He started racing on 4 wheels in 1946 and from 47- 54 raced a couple of Rileys (Reg. JR 1256 and HKX 626). Not sure when he changed from one to the other and did the engine get transferred?

 

The lightweight HRG was raced from 51 to 54 getting rebodied and TOHCed on the way.

 

In 1955 he had a Lotus Mk VI followed by a Lotus 11 in 1956 onwards.

1960 was his first single-seater - a Lotus 18. 

1962 came the Lola Mk1 with which he won at Brands on July 1st but thereafter it was raced mainly by Bluebelle.

1964 to 67 he was driving a Lotus 31. He was then 63 years old.

Bluebelle died in 1972.

 

Did the Brabham come after that and how long did he go on racing? Did he also have two seaters at this period or confine him self to single seater?

 

[Michael Ferner]

I have him driving a BT21 in 1968.

[ensign14]

Also in 1969 and 1970, apparently.

[GazChed]

According to formula 2.net Len Gibbs raced a Brabham BT21 or BT21B on several occasions in 1968, albeit only at Silverstone. He won a Formula Libre race at a Nottingham Sports Car Club meeting on the 2nd September as well as being placed in the top three on several occasions. He was also joined by Bluebelle on the 3rd June in a second Brabham BT21.

[Allen Brown]

Any chance the Brabham driver is a different Len Gibbs?

[GazChed]

The fact that Bluebelle raced alongside Len in those Formule Libre races on June 3rd suggests it is the original Len Gibbs.

Also according to formula2.net in 1968 he only raced at Silverstone. Maybe he didn't want to travel further from home. Is it still possible to contact anyone at the Nottingham Sports Car Club as Len raced in several of their Formule Libre races that season.

[Rupertlt1]

The picture, taken at Silver-

stone in April of this year,

shows the spectacular start to

the Formula III race. The

Brabham (Ford) driven by L.

Gibbs leaped into the air after

colliding with two other cars,

but all three drivers escaped

injury.

Coventry Evening Telegraph, Wednesday 18 December 1968, Page 6

 

His love for speed showed no

signs of fading as he

approached 60 and he made his

single seater debut in a Lotus, la-

ter progressing to Brabhams.

One of the milestones of his

career was running with the lea-

ders at the 1968 Formula Three

International Trophy, aged 64.

Obit: Amersham Advertiser, Wednesday 22 January 1992, Page 2

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 July 2021 - 16:08.

[oliver heal]

Thank you! A few more gaps filled.

 

There cannot be many drivers who could claim to span the generations like Len. He raced against the likes of Moss, Collins and Hawthorn (Goodwood 9-Hour race) in the nineteen fifties and now we know he was still at it in 1970 sharing the grid with Carlos Pace, Wilson Fittipaldi and James Hunt (AMOC Martini Trophy formula 3).

[ensign14]

NGH...

[Michael Ferner]

In England maybe, but in America there were hundreds.

[Jahn1234567890]

Would this be the same Len Gibbs that entered a F5000 Lola for Keith Holland and Damien Magee during the 1976 and 1977 Shellsport International Series?

[ReWind]

He was Leonard Ernest Gibbs, but AFAIK it was E.L. Gibbs Racing.

L.E. Gibbs was 72 in 1976: too old or young enough to own/manage a racing team?

Edited by ReWind, 18 July 2021 - 08:30.