Celebrities & Famous people who have raced

[Milkyway]

I saw a interview on FB with Ben Elton, he was talking about F1 & fast cars & how he had been taken for a spin by Rowan Atkinson & George Harrison in their Mclarens.
It got me thinking about the old days, watching Rowan & Andrew Ridgeley ( Wham) in the Renault 5 GT Championship.
( The normal ones... not the ‘surgical boot’ beasts.

The most recent one that I can recall, is Kevin Fletcher in the Porsche’s.

Just got me thinking... who else has dabbled.
( Obviously, some were better than others).

NB: RA & AR usually ended up in the ‘Kitty litter’ or on their roof.

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 07:08

[Milkyway]

I can remember the celebrity / charity races...
Usually @ Brands Hatch in Escort Mexico’s or Sunbeam Ti’s.
A few quick peddlers, & cricketers used to seem to go well... if I recall.
Noel Edmonds was a decent driver. ( GT40 lover too)
Alan Minter ( Boxer), If I recall was pretty good too.

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 12:11

[Milkyway]

Stigproducts said:

DLT!

https://www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk/inducted-me...

Of course... forgot about that .
( Saw him filling up his beloved yellow Pontiac Trans Am...didn’t he call it
‘ The yellow banana’, or something)

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 07:09

[Milkyway]

Drew Pritchard....well, he keeps saying that he is “a racing driver & had got a licence”

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 12:43

[Milkyway]

Kilkerran said:

Chris Rea and Brian Johnson of AC/DC are the two that immediately come to mind.

Mark Knopfler.
Mario Franchitti’s Father in Law... Nick Mason

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 07:36

[Milkyway]

David Blakely ... Made famous, as he was murdered by Ruth Ellis.
( Don’t think he was that good)

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 21st December 14:01

[Milkyway]

hunter 66 said:

Main names are Steve Mcqueen and Paul Newman .... Newman even did Daytona in his late 70;s and was on the pace .Dempsey ( my team mate owns his Le Mans RSR ) and Fasbenber both with Dempsey, Proton team ... All actors . Also the late Steve O'Rouke the `pink Floyd manager ......remember the EMI 993 GT2 R , who had Nick mason drive with him once as well...

James Dean...Didn’t really get his chance to shine did he.

[Milkyway]

LukeBrown66 said:

Have seen Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea driving sports cars fairy slowly in histrionics.

Was Rowan with them... but he’s more of a big ‘Jag’ man.

[Milkyway]

Barry Sheene used to race in the touring car Championship.
The old joke was...that he had trouble getting his knee down on the left handers.
( There was a Cartoon depicting that too)

Valentino Rossi: Very quick in a car... but not sure if he’s actually competed in a race?
( I think that is part of his future plans... could be interesting)

[Milkyway]

Zarco said:

Milkyway said:

Barry Sheene used to race in the touring car Championship.
The old joke was...that he had trouble getting his knee down on the left handers.
( There was a Cartoon depicting that too)

Valentino Rossi: Very quick in a car... but not sure if he’s actually competed in a race?
( I think that is part of his future plans... could be interesting)

We're naming famous motorsport personalities that have raced now?

Soz, I went a bit off piste there...
( Comparing a rider v driver)

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 14:34

[Milkyway]

Thanks... Anne Moore, racking my brains about the showjumper turned racer.

Caption said Desire Wilson... Well That’s Ann Moore on the left.

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 17:46

[Milkyway]

covboy said:

Wombat917 said:

Davina went on to become the only woman, to date, to win an F1 race (Aurora AFX Championship) I believe.





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.

I think you will find that was Desire Wilson

Bit of a Google: Lella Lombardi scored 0.5pts in the 1975 F1 World Championship...
( Probably not really relevant... but I’ll throw it out there)

[Milkyway]

Thundersports said:

There was a very famous celebrity who raced under a pseudonym in the 90s.

..... That’s a good teaser.

Wasn’t Margaret Thatcher, was it? for security reasons).

[Milkyway]

generationx said:

Milkyway said:

Thundersports said:

There was a very famous celebrity who raced under a pseudonym in the 90s.

..... That’s a good teaser.

Wasn’t Margaret Thatcher, was it? for security reasons).

Also, of course, her son Mark who, amongst other things, caused an international incident when getting lost on the 1982 Paris-Dakar...

She was useless...OK on the straights, but she wasn’t for turning

[Milkyway]

Stigproducts said:

DLT!

https://www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk/inducted-me...

DJ Johnnie Walker raced in stock cars....MG Magnette.

[Milkyway]

Chunkychucky said:

Milkyway said:

David Blakeley.... Made famous, as he was murdered by Ruth Ellis.
( Don’t think he was that good)

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 20th December 12:09

That reminds me, my father was racing a couple of Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas in the mid-80s, and was asked through the club to take one down to Goodwood one day as a company were filming something about Ruth Ellis, and wanted to get some footage of Cortinas moving as I believe that's what Blakeley may have raced... The old man couldn't be arsed with it, but a friend he competed with went - not sure if anything ever came of the filming!

Sorry... David BLAKELY;
Had a few good results, better than I was expecting... No Cortinas on here though.
(NB: He was murdered in ‘55... Lotus Cortina from ‘63)
https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Da...

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 21st December 14:22

[Milkyway]

Lady Jane Wellesley... dated Prince Charles for a year in the 70’s.
I reckon that is an Escort MkI 1600 Sport.
( I have a programme with her mentioned in a SPARKS charity race)



https://www.alamy.com/mar-03-1975-lady-jane-practi...

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 21st December 18:08

[Milkyway]

Red9zero said:

Simon Le Bon did a bit of bike racing. His wife used to cause a bit of a stir in the paddock.

Saw John Noakes of Blue Peter fame, racing as a sidecar passenger at Snetterton.
( Doing one of his daring challenges).

[Milkyway]

Singer Jim Mirrorqwai
A big petrol head, but I think he’s done a few historic races.

[Milkyway]

paulwirral said:

I seem to recall the lead singer of marrillion fish was partial to a stock car race at Cowdenbeath.

That reminds me of when they would do the annual Banger charity night at Wimbledon.... except they would announce who would be appearing BEFORE even being approached.
Boy George never did race...