Driver Longevity

[Keep it stiff]

I noticed recently that the racing record for Robs Lamplough spans more than 50 years, from '64, or perhaps earlier, and that he is still a regular competitor.

Could it be that this puts Robs in pole position in terms of the longest continuous driver who is still active?

Edited by Keep it stiff on Tuesday 17th March 07:38

[PowerslideSWE]

Swedish driver Erik Berger (b 1926) is still active, saw him race a very fast MK1 Escort last summer at age 89, and believe me, he doesn't pootle about either. He started racing in 1959, but have had periods of not racing cars in between. Funny tho seeing a grand-dad absolutely on it at that age.

[Roy C]

Keep it stiff said:

I noticed recently that the racing record for Robs Lamplough spans more than 50 years, from '64, or perhaps earlier, and that he is still a regular competitor.

Could it be that this puts Robs in pole position in terms of the longest continuous driver who is still active?

He still has some work to do to catch up with Tom Delaney, who started racing at Brooklands in 1930, but retired in 2006 (shortly before he died, aged 95) after 76 years racing the same Lea-Francis Hyper he started with (now in the Coventry Transport Museum).

His father competed in the infamous 1903 Paris-Madrid Road Race and his son Geoffrey and granddaughter Lucy compete in the family's other LeaF.

Edited by Roy C on Tuesday 17th March 08:06

[Vanin]

You can continue doing all sorts of activities that would scare people half your age if you have the right mind set.

For inspiration, Look at this centenarian!

http://youtu.be/VdQfYlsVEtY

[velocemitch]

Lots of very old people in the Rally World. Bob Bean for instance, well into his seventies. Willi Cave an Octogenarian.

[Riley Blue]

I'm sure Bob Bean will love you for describing him as 'very old'!

[velocemitch]

Sorry Bob if you are listening, you are still legendary if if I do think you are getting on a bit.

[Cooperman]

Then there is Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams. He started in the '50's and is still very active and he holds MSA Comp Licence No.1 every year.
Sterling is also still 'doing a bit' and holds MSA Licence no.7.

[lowdrag]

Not in the same league really, but an interesting story nonetheless. Rose Eaton and her husband bought an XK150 new and raced it, rallied it and used it daily. By now widowed, Rose did the Alps at the wheel of this car and then decided that the steering was getting a bit hard for her so she sold the car - at 97 years of age! Last year she went up in a helicopter for the first time - for her 105th birthday. Rose and her husband were founder members of the Jaguar Car Club, an offshoot of the JDC to carry on racing when the JDC stopped.

[Cooperman]

On the subject of lady drivers, my good friend Rosemary Smith started rallying the same year as I did, 1959, and she is still doing events. last year we were both on the Sunbeam Tiger Owner's Club 'Monte Tour', a thinly disguised 7 day 'rally' in the French Alps where she drove a Tiger with her friend and long-time co-driver Pauline Gullick (I was with my best friend Bill Rogers from LA in his Tiger and he & I started rallying together in 1959).
I make that 45 years involved in the sport and Rosie is one of only 4 ladies ever to win an international rally outright. She is also a very nice lady.