BEags . One family associate involved in a civil effort in the '59 race was Chris Draper ( a.k.a. "The Mad Major" ) flying a certain well-endowed female contestant - mainly just as a publicity stunt. Most of the time she complained of being cold, he told me .
Her name was :
.
,
,
Sabrina! .

Poor Sabrina. In later years she suffered from constant back pain due to her....startling anatomical features and surgery to ease the pain was botched, more or less crippling her. She became addicted to pain killers to ease the pain but eventually became a recluse and passed away from blood poisoning in 2016 at the age of 80.

Right, before we get too much off-topic and start discussing Hunter ammo-pods, here's a photo of the 'First to the Fastest' exhibition at Brooklands. It's worth a visit.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....05d1a497a1.jpg

Let's agree that they were both winners. And if anyone is willing to have a Phantom restored and loans it to the museum, I'm sure they will add it to the exhibition.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....72642a7be0.png

Didn't No. 543 Squadron, RAF Wyton -make a contribution to the Air Race?


Aaron.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....582995c54e.jpg

543 Squadron (Personal Memories Page)

Yes they did, and one member of the 543 team was at Brooklands last week to represent them.

I remember watching on TV seeing something big and grey landing at an airport near you on the return leg to the U.K.
The aircraft touched down and as it slowed down a pair of legs appeared from the belly of it and then some body parts at which point the feed made contact with the ground and started pedaling and when the grey thing finally slowed right down the rest of the body appeared and did an "exit stage left" and from memory jumped onto a motor bike and was gone. I remember thinking, I hope they've got their timing sorted out.........

There's some great footage here:

From:
https://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/rem...11364269723196

Interesting thoughts from 1969:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....52f771abb9.png
I guess we didn't quite get there... the full article is here: https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarch...l%20air%20race

"I guess we didn't quite get there."
Thank God!

Civilian Competitor who won a prize
 

I am researching the history of a Cheltenham Guide Company for its Centenary. On of its former members was Mrs Julia Turner (nee Wallace) who flew with Mr Vivian Wales in a Piper Comanche. After Guides she joined the Air Rangers and learnt to fly. They won a share of a prize for the most meritorious losers .
I would be interested to learn more about her so if anyone knows anything or can suggest routes for further research I would be grateful.

Fay, I believe Dorothy Saul-Pooley is involved with the UK branch of the Ninety-Nines, an American organisation for women pilots. Julia might be a member as was Sheila Scott.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d7f7681325.png
She is listed as one of the three winners in category 'P'. According to FlightGlobal, this category was for:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e41975f0c6.png

Thanks
 

Thank you for this. Very interesting

The Harriers also did this -----

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....80fbf08fda.jpg

I think it's worth resurrecting this thread and I'll use the excuse of a few minutes of interesting footage from 37:00 on Morning Live this morning mostly but about Alcock and Brown, but at 40:00 Lecky Thompson reminiscing about the trip was nice to see. It will only be available until March 2024 and probably only for British browsers or those who have a TV licence, honest Guv.

BBC iPlayer - Morning Live - Series 5: 24/04/2023

Great painting one of which I've never seen before.

For information purposes only, the Cunard Line RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 arrived in New York, USA on her maiden westbound transatlantic crossing from Southampton via Cherbourg at 08.00 local time on the 07 May 1969. The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 departed New York at 16.30 local time the following day on the 08 May 1969 for her maiden eastbound crossing back to Southampton via Cherbourg.

The single Harrier that took part in the race took 6.33 minutes to complete the race which occurred on the 04 May 1969.

The painting is obviously a superimposed version which never occurred in reality, but a great painting non the less.

My late grandfather was on that particular voyage as a Restaurant Manager serving in the vessels Britannia Restaurant. He served with Cunard Line for a total of 51 year's. I personally followed in his footsteps in September 1983 as a fresh faced 18yo and joined the Cunard Line and in particular on-board the Queen Elizabeth 2. I initially joined as a junior waiter and worked my way up to the rank of Purser. My personal association with Cunard Line will mark it's 40th anniversary this coming September.

Also for information purposes only, there is a whole page dedicated to this particular race on Wikipedia which I'm sure will be of interest to those reading this thread.