Neville Lederle
#1
Posted 05 May 2002 - 09:00
Advertisement
#2
Posted 05 May 2002 - 11:34
He was very quick and very consistent.
The preparation of his cars, by Vic Mobey, was immaculate.
Previously he raced a Lotus 20 with 1340 cc Ford in SA Championship events.
Before that he raced Porsches and much modified Volkswagens (beetles).
Crashed in practise for 1963 Rand 9 Hour race driving Lotus 23 Alfa. He injured a leg
very badly and never reached the same degree of excellence that he had before.
These days he runs a motor dealership. VW, I think.
#3
Posted 14 May 2002 - 10:45
Neville Lederle (b 25 Sept 1938) raced the Beetle before going to Britain for the year in 1961, where he raced a Formula Junior Lotus; brought the car back to contest F1 in South Africa, with the Ford engine as 'ry6' said.
(I trust you know that SA ran a full F1 championship from 1960 to 1975 and this allowed local drivers to participate in the Grand Prix)
Halfway through the 1962 season Syd van der Vyver bought a Lotus 24 and Lederle bought his old 4 cylinder Lotus 21. Van der Vyver only had bad luck with his new car, until it was destroyed in a fire early in 1963. Ernest Pieterse was champion in '62 in an identical car to Lederle's, but at the SA GP in December Lederle qualified 10th (first local) out of 17 competitors, ahead even of Salvadori's works V8 Lola. In the race he had a steady drive to finish sixth and was even leading Trevor Taylor in the second works Lotus. For South Africa it was the only time it had two drivers score points in a GP - Maggs being the other.
The SA F1 1963 season was dominated by Lederle. As mentioned, he had to beat Pieterse in an identical car, as well as John Love in a Cooper, De Klerk in a very competitive home built Alfa Special and Doug Serrurier in his LDS Cooper clone. In practice for the 9-hour race at Kyalami in November 1963, where Lederle was to share a Lotus 23 with De Klerk, he had an accident and was badly injured. He never raced again, as far as I know.
Again, as 'ry6' said, he was smooth, fast and his car was immaculately prepared. At the '62 SA GP Colin Chapman and Stirling Moss praised Lederle as being a 'natural' racing driver.
I was introduced to a lady with the name of Lederle about five years ago. I said to her that the only other Lederle I knew of was Neville, and she said that she was related to him, that he was (at the time) well and living in the Free State town of Welkom.
Tried to paste a pic, but could not manage...
#5
Posted 14 May 2002 - 17:37
It also shows Neville reunited with his old "21" now owned by Bob Woodward from Iowa, USA.
The 21 was brought to South Afrique for the historic races at Cape Town (Killarney) and Swartkops, near Pretoria.
Yes, Neville did try to make a comeback after his crash. He even drove a Lotus 21. It was a car owned by Aldo Scribante to whom Neville had sold his 21, but I think it was "re-chassisied after a crash".
To obtain Classic Car Africa, write to Box 2210, Bedfordview 2008 South Africa.
#6
Posted 15 May 2002 - 17:55
While in the UK he bought a Lotus 20 and I hear that he raced it at Mallory Park and Snetterton.
Does anyone have any information on how he fared resultswise?
#7
Posted 15 May 2002 - 18:56
Snetterton 14/5 - result uknown
Mallory Park 22/5 - result uknown
Snetterton 18/6 - finished 9th (one place behind team-mate F Gardner)
Silverstone 24/6 - finished 4th
Mallory Park 2/7/61 - result unknown
Silverstone 8/7 - not in first six of either race
Snetterton 23/7 - sixth
Mallory Park 7/8 - retired
Goodwood 19/8 - DNS
E&OE
#8
Posted 03 August 2002 - 18:28
30 January 1960 : Junior Transvaal Summer Handicap (10 laps Grand Central Circuit)
1. Dave Hume (MG Special)
2. G Xanthides (1290 Alfa Sprint Veloce)
3. N Lederle (Porsche 1588)
This "junior" race was on the card of the Transvaal Summer Handicap meeting of the same day.
#9
Posted 08 July 2003 - 06:10
Originally posted by David McKinney
1961 races in JRRDS Lotus 20
Snetterton 14/5 - result uknown
Mallory Park 22/5 - result uknown
Snetterton 18/6 - finished 9th (one place behind team-mate F Gardner)
Silverstone 24/6 - finished 4th
Mallory Park 2/7/61 - result unknown
Silverstone 8/7 - not in first six of either race
Snetterton 23/7 - sixth
Mallory Park 7/8 - retired
Goodwood 19/8 - DNS
E&OE
Can anyone perhaps supply me with Neville's results in the races that David here indicates as "result unknown".
#10
Posted 07 November 2004 - 11:04
#11
Posted 08 November 2004 - 05:58
The article in CLASSIC CAR AFRICA that ry6 mentioned is quite informative. Let me know if you are interested in a copy of this article. I also have Neville's race results available, if that will be of any help.
Why not trying to write to Lederle in person? He is a very kind chap.
#12
Posted 08 November 2004 - 12:53
I've sent you a pm.
#13
Posted 14 November 2004 - 15:27
I have sent you a PM offering you use of the pics, but would also like you to post them here.
#14
Posted 14 November 2004 - 17:32
#15
Posted 14 November 2004 - 21:55
If you have problems contacting mr Lederle, I have a couple of very good contacts/friends at VW South Africa. Get in touch if necessary.
#16
Posted 14 July 2005 - 19:34
#17
Posted 14 July 2005 - 21:25
Originally posted by Mischa Bijenhof
I am making steady progress on my Neville Lederle bio, but I'm still looking for the 1963 SA F1 final classification. Anybody?
1. Lederle
2. Pieterse
3. de Klerk
4. Serrurier
Unfortunately I don't know exact pts. Marius?
#18
Posted 21 November 2005 - 16:47
I'ts been something of a wait, but I hope it's worth it!
#19
Posted 21 November 2005 - 23:03
Advertisement
#20
Posted 22 November 2005 - 10:38
#21
Posted 22 November 2005 - 12:01
I like the photo of Lederle with the VW pickup in the background. If you look further back, you’ll see some people standing next to a car that is parked outside in the street. These people seem indulge in a typical South African courtesy gesture. Greeting some friends at their car, before they leave for home. I understand this is something that people hardly do outside the R of SA.
#22
Posted 23 November 2005 - 13:10
#23
Posted 20 May 2019 - 17:58
I regret to report that Neville Lederle sadly passed away on 17. May.
#24
Posted 20 May 2019 - 21:14
Very sad, but entirely expected news. He has been in terrible health. My sincere condolences to his widow and loving family, who I know will miss him dreadfully. A very, very underated driver.
#25
Posted 21 May 2019 - 08:19
#26
Posted 16 July 2021 - 06:55
Extract from newspaper article on the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, from Snetterton, Norfolk.
OLD BOYS
This years South African champion Neville Lederle, and works driver Frank Gardner are among the school's outstanding "old boys."
Daily Herald, Thursday 26 September 1963, Page 4
Lederle Wins Rand Spring Trophy . . .
Final 1963 South African Championship Race
NEVILLE LEDERLE, 1963 South African champion driver, won the 40-lap (100-
mile) Rand Spring Trophy race—final national championship event of the
season—at Kyalami, near Johannesburg, on 10th October (a public holiday). This
was Lederle's sixth win in the last six races he has entered, and his "best six"
performances in the 11-event championship give him the maximum of 54 points.
This is a fantastic achievement when one considers that it was only a year ago that
Lederle started racing the Lotus-Climax 21. Before that he used a Lotus 20 with 1,500
c.c. Ford engine, which he had bought while in Britain in 1961. John Love, the
experienced Rhodesian driver, drove an excellent race in his late-model four-cylinder
Cooper-Climax to take second place, only 3.2 secs. behind Lederle. For a change
his car went impeccably and on occasions he led the champion. Although taking
third place in his Alfa Special, Peter de Klerk had to be satisfied with third place
in the championship. Runner-up position went to 1962 South African champion
Ernest Pieterse (Lotus-Climax 21), who finished fourth in the Rand Spring Trophy
race.
Autosport, 25 October 1963, Page 575
So what were the eleven events counting towards the SA Championship? And the six wins for Lederle?
Republic Festival Trophy, Kyalami, Johannesburg (6 June 1963)
Royal Show Trophy, Roy Hesketh, Pietermaritzburg (22 June 1963) — Lederle DNS (see below)
Winner: Syd van der Vyver, Lotus 24. See: https://forums.autos...24/#entry818423
See also: https://www.motorspo...IXTIES.art14225
BORDER 1OO TO NEVILLE LEDERLE (LOTUS-CLIMAX)
The 24-year-old driver added another
nine points to his tally, when he won
the Border 100 on the Grand Prix cir-
cuit at East London on 8th July—a
public holiday here in his Lotus-Climax
21.
Lederle can only be beaten by Ernest
Pieterse or Peter de Klerk—if either of
these two win the remaining four races
on the championship calendar. Lederle
has registered four wins, two seconds
and a third in the eight races contested
so far this season, and he only drove in
seven, withdrawing from the recent Royal
Show Championship event because of
the death of his father.
BORDER 100 RESULTS
East London, 8th July 1963, 42 laps-101 miles
1. Neville Lederle (Lotus-Climax 21) 1h 6m 33s
2. Ernest Pieterse (Lotus-Climax 2l) 1h 6m 34.7s
3. Doug Serrurier (L.D.S.-Alfa) 41 laps
4. Brausch Niemann (Lotus-Ford 22)
5. Gordon Henderson (Scorpion-Alfa)
6. Clive Trundell (Cooper-Climax)
Fastest lap: Lederle. 1 m. 32.6s, 94.87 m.p.h.
Autosport, 19 July 1963, Page 82
RGDS RLT
Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 July 2021 - 05:32.