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Kenneth McAlpine
Kenneth McAlpine
Kenneth McAlpine
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Kenneth McAlpine OBE DL (21 September 1920 – 8 April 2023) was a British racing driver from England.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

McAlpine was born in Cobham, Surrey[1] and was a grandson of Scottish civil engineer Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet.[2] He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 July 1952 at the British Grand Prix alongside fellow Connaught driver Kenneth Downing.[3] During the development of the Connaught Racing Team based at Send in Surrey, McAlpine became a considerable financial backer[2] and enjoyed several team owner triumphs including Tony Brooks's memorable F1 victory at the 1955 Syracuse Grand Prix.[4] The team was eventually broken up in 1957 and cars sold off after McAlpine ceased receiving tax concessions.[5]

McAlpine and co-driver Eric Thompson took part in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Connaught ALSR. They retired after 6 hours with engine failure.

After retiring from motor racing, McAlpine returned full-time to his civil engineering business and later established a successful English wine growing and bottling business at his estate in Lamberhurst, Kent.[2] He was also a member of The Air Squadron.[citation needed]

McAlpine died on 8 April 2023, at the age of 102.[6]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea Francis L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
16 		GER NED ITA
Ret 		NC 0
1953 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea Francis L4 ARG 500 NED
Ret 		BEL FRA GBR
Ret 		GER
13 		SUI ITA
NC 		NC 0
1955 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type B Alta L4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR
Ret 		ITA NC 0

Non-championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
1951 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU RIC SRM BOR INT PAR ULS SCO NED ALB PES BAR GOO
DNA
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 RIO SYR VAL RIC
DNA 		LAV
DNA 		PAU IBS
DNA 		MAR AST INT
10 		ELÄ NAP EIF PAR ALB FRO ULS MNZ LAC ESS
2 		MAR SAB CAE DMT COM NAT
DNA 		BAU MOD CAD SKA MAD
5 		AVU JOE
Ret 		NEW
2 		RIO
1953 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU LAV
5 		AST BOR INT
7 		ELÄ NAP ULS
8 		WIN FRO COR
Ret 		EIF ALB PRI ESS
1 		MID ROU CRY
Ret 		AVU USF
Ret 		LAC BRI CHE SAB NEW CAD RED SKA LON MOD
NC 		MAD JOE
Ret 		CUR
Ret
1954 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU LAV
3 		BOR INT
15 		BAR CUR ROM FRO COR BRC CRY ROU CAE AUG COR OUL RED PES JOE CAD BER GOO DTT
1955 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type B Alta L4 BUE VLN PAU GLV BOR INT
Ret 		NAP ALB CUR CRN LON DRT RDX DTT OUL AVO SYR

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kenneth McAlpine

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Kenneth McAlpine OBE DL (21 September 1920 – 8 April 2023) was a British driver, entrepreneur, and member of the prominent McAlpine family, best known for his participation in seven World Championship Grands Prix between 1952 and 1955, as well as his financial backing of the Connaught team that contributed to British motorsport's postwar resurgence. Born in , to Sir Thomas McAlpine and Maud Dees, McAlpine was the grandson of , the founder of the family civil engineering firm that built major British landmarks such as and the . He was educated at and served as a pilot and flight instructor in the RAF Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. After the war, he joined the family business while developing a passion for motor racing, initially competing in smaller events and supporting the team, which he helped fund to enable its entry into international competition. His most notable racing achievement came indirectly through Connaught, as the team he backed secured the first British postwar Grand Prix victory at the 1955 Syracuse Grand Prix, driven by Tony Brooks. McAlpine's own career included a debut at the , where he finished 16th, and a best championship result of 13th at the 1954 German Grand Prix; he also achieved non-championship podiums, such as second place in the 1954 Glover Trophy and second in the 1955 Trophy. He retired from racing after the 1955 season, following a participation in the 24 Hours that year, and shifted focus to business ventures, including founding McAlpine Helicopters in 1988 (later sold to Eurocopter) and establishing Lamberhurst Vineyard in 1974, which helped pioneer the English wine industry before its sale in 1995. McAlpine married actress Patricia Jeans in 1955, with whom he had two sons, Richard and James, and three grandchildren; he served as of from 1973 to 1974 and was appointed Officer of the (OBE) in 1997 for his services to the community. At the time of his death at age 102 in , , he was recognized as the oldest surviving driver.

Early Life

Family Background

Kenneth McAlpine was born on 21 September 1920 in , , into a prominent family with deep roots in the British construction industry. His parents were Sir Thomas McAlpine, a director in the family firm, and Maud Dees, providing him with a stable and affluent early environment. McAlpine was the grandson of Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet, widely known as "Concrete Bob," a Scottish civil engineer who rose from humble beginnings as a to found the construction dynasty in the late . The company, established as a leader in techniques, amassed significant wealth through major projects, including the construction of in 1923 and Hotel in . This legacy of innovation in large-scale infrastructure underscored the family's socioeconomic prominence and financial resources. The McAlpine family's substantial wealth from these endeavors created a privileged upbringing for in , affording him educational opportunities such as attendance at the prestigious . Growing up immersed in a household tied to , he gained early familiarity with machinery and practices through the , which he later joined as a director. This background not only shaped his worldview but also positioned him to leverage family resources for personal pursuits in later years. After leaving Charterhouse, McAlpine joined the family construction firm before enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. He trained as a pilot and , including training provided by the in , and served until the war's end in 1945.

Introduction to Motorsport

Kenneth McAlpine developed a passion for in his late twenties, shortly after the end of , amid Britain's burgeoning post-war revival that saw a surge in amateur and professional events as the nation sought to reclaim its pre-war ing enthusiasm. This era's boom, fueled by demobilized enthusiasts and the availability of surplus military parts for vehicle modifications, inspired McAlpine to pursue racing as a , leveraging his family's construction wealth to support his initial forays into the . In 1948, McAlpine acquired his first racing car, an ex-Whitney Straight 8CM, a pre-war supercharged grand prix machine that he prepared for private testing and driving through specialists like Continental Cars. This acquisition marked his practical entry into , where he began honing his skills in informal sessions before venturing into competitive events. That same year, McAlpine was elected to full membership in the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), alongside emerging talent , signifying his formal integration into the community and access to the era's racing networks.

Racing Career

Pre-Formula One Activities

Following the end of , Kenneth McAlpine entered competitive in 1947 by acquiring a pair of pre-war 8CM grand prix cars, one of which had previously been owned by and , with preparation handled by the Continental Cars team. These vehicles, powered by supercharged 3-litre straight-eight engines, were used for a mix of speed trials, hill climbs, sprints, and early circuit races across Britain. McAlpine's debut circuit outing came at the Gransden Lodge airfield near , marking his shift from trials to track competition. In 1948, McAlpine supplemented his efforts with an Allard sports car and a , participating in local club events and non-championship races that honed his driving skills amid the post-war revival of British motorsport. He achieved several minor successes with the Maseratis, including victories at the Prescott and hill climbs, as well as a five-lap handicap race at Goodwood in September. That same year, his election to full membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) facilitated networking and access to race entries, aiding his progression from amateur to semi-professional status. By 1949, McAlpine continued racing the Maseratis in events and hill climbs, gaining mechanical insights through frequent maintenance and modifications, while also experimenting with a Lea-Francis-based . In 1951, he briefly entered the burgeoning 500cc category with a JBS-Norton, securing third places at Boreham and in a heat of the International Trophy at Goodwood, which provided further experience in handling smaller, more agile machinery. These activities built his reputation and prepared him for association with the Connaught team, transitioning toward higher-level Formula 2 and grand prix racing.

Formula One World Championship

Kenneth McAlpine made his Formula One World Championship debut on 19 July 1952 at the at , driving a Connaught-Lea Francis entered by the underfunded British privateer team . Starting from 16th on the grid, he completed 79 of the 90 laps to finish 16th overall, seven laps behind winner Alberto Ascari's Ferrari. Later that season, at the at , McAlpine qualified 22nd but retired after just four laps due to suspension failure, resulting in a non-classified finish. In , McAlpine contested four rounds with Connaught, facing ongoing reliability issues from the team's Lea-Francis engines, which struggled against the superior power and durability of factory-supported Ferrari and machinery. At the at , he retired after 63 laps with mechanical trouble, finishing non-classified. The at saw another early retirement for him, classified as a did-not-finish with no laps completed due to unspecified issues. He achieved his best championship result at the at the , completing 16 laps to place 13th in a shortened race affected by widespread retirements. The season ended at the , where McAlpine completed 56 laps but was non-classified, too far behind the leaders amid Connaught's persistent engine woes. McAlpine's final World Championship appearance came on 16 July 1955 at the at , now driving a Connaught-Alta that suffered from the Alta engine's notorious unreliability under the stresses of grand prix . Qualifying 17th, he retired after 30 laps with an oil leak, again non-classified. Over his seven championship starts—all with Connaught—McAlpine scored no points or podiums, a reflection of the team's resource constraints as a customer outfit competing against dominant works teams. As a paying driver from a wealthy family, McAlpine provided crucial financial support to Connaught, enabling his participation despite the era's high costs and technical hurdles.

Non-Championship and Endurance Races

Following his limited success in the World Championship, Kenneth McAlpine sustained his racing activities through non-championship events and endurance races in the mid-1950s, often driving for as both a team supporter and competitor. These outings provided opportunities to showcase the team's evolving machinery and maintain competitive presence in British and international circuits. In 1955, McAlpine competed in the BRDC International Trophy at , piloting a works Connaught Type B-Alta ( number 10); he retired from the race due to mechanical issues after starting from a midfield position. This event highlighted Connaught's push into streamlined designs for non-championship , though reliability challenges persisted. Earlier that year, he also entered the London Trophy at in the same Connaught Type B, but failed to finish. McAlpine ventured into endurance racing with his sole appearance at the 1955 , co-driving a Connaught AL/SR (chassis ALSR/12) with in the 1.1-1.5 liter class. The pair covered approximately 810 kilometers before retiring after six hours due to engine failure, amid the race's tragic circumstances. This entry underscored Connaught's diversification into sports prototypes, leveraging McAlpine's financial backing for the team's broader program. Throughout 1953 and 1954, McAlpine's non-championship schedule included several invitational and events, such as the 1954 Lavant Cup at Goodwood where he secured third place in a privately entered Connaught Type A-Lea Francis, and the 1953 Trophy at Dundrod finishing eighth in a works Connaught Type A. These races, often held at British circuits like Goodwood and , allowed McAlpine to compete in mixed-formula formats against international fields, achieving occasional podiums despite frequent retirements from mechanical woes. He also participated in national events, finishing fifth in the 1.5-liter class at the 1954 Goodwood 9 Hours in the Connaught AL/SR with Thompson as co-driver. Such engagements reflected Connaught's versatile racing efforts and McAlpine's role in sustaining the team post his active driving phase. McAlpine's involvement with Connaught extended beyond driving, as he continued supporting the team financially after , enabling further development even as he shifted focus from the cockpit.

Later Life

Business and Personal Pursuits

Following his retirement from competitive at the end of the 1955 season, Kenneth McAlpine shifted his focus to the family firm, where he took on a prominent role in managing construction projects, drawing on the company's longstanding heritage in infrastructure development established by his grandfather, . This transition was influenced by the gradual winding down of the Connaught racing team, which disbanded around 1957 amid declining European race opportunities. In the , McAlpine expanded into by founding McAlpine Helicopters in 1974, a that provided services and which he later sold to Eurocopter, eventually becoming part of . Concurrently, he ventured into agriculture by developing a at his estate in Lamberhurst, , beginning plantings in 1972 and formally establishing Lamberhurst Vineyard in 1974; this operation grew to become one of England's largest, producing wines that helped pioneer and elevate the domestic industry through innovative cultivation and bottling techniques, before its sale in 1995. Post-racing, McAlpine pursued as a personal passion, competing in events with a Bembridge Redwing class yacht. He resided primarily in Lamberhurst, , where his business interests were centered, and his sons continued to oversee aspects of the family enterprises after his active involvement. McAlpine married in 1955, marking the start of his settled family life alongside these professional pursuits.

Honors and Recognition

In recognition of his contributions to the English wine industry and the building sector in , McAlpine was appointed Officer of the (OBE) in the 1997 . He was also appointed (DL) of in 1976, acknowledging his local civic involvement. McAlpine held membership in The Air Squadron, an elite association for aviators and aviation enthusiasts, reflecting his personal interest in flying developed through his post-war helicopter business. From 2019 until his death, McAlpine was recognized as the oldest surviving World Championship driver, a distinction highlighted in motorsport publications and obituaries. Upon reaching his 100th birthday in September 2020, he received tributes from the English wine community and racing circles, celebrating his longevity and diverse achievements. McAlpine was a lifelong member of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), having been elected to full membership in 1948—the club's oldest and longest-serving member at the time of his passing—and he made occasional appearances at club events in his later years.

References

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/20/kenneth-mcalpine-obituary
  2. https://brdc.co.uk/notice-of-death-kenneth-mcalpine-obe-dl-1920-2023/
  3. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/obituaries/kenneth-mcalpine-oldest-surviving-f1-driver-dies/
  4. http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/www2/flibre/54flibre.html
  5. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-2023/22/kenneth-mcalpine/
  6. https://www.srm.com/projects/wembley-stadium/
  7. https://scarfandgoggles.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/a-brief-history-of-british-motor-sport-part-3-1945-1953/
  8. https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-mcaken.html
  9. http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db2=LWF&db=ct&n=2791
  10. https://500race.org/people/ken-mcalpine/
  11. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1952/races/113/great-britain/race-result
  12. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1952/races/116/italy/race-result
  13. https://www.statsf1.com/en/1952/italie/classement.aspx
  14. https://www.conceptcarz.com/z20451/connaught-a-series.aspx
  15. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1953/races/119/netherlands/race-result
  16. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1953/races/122/great-britain/race-result
  17. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1953/races/123/germany/race-result
  18. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1953/races/125/italy/race-result
  19. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1955/races/140/great-britain/race-result
  20. https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-drivers/kenneth-mcalpine-information-statistics/
  21. http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/can/preview/okeefe.html
  22. https://www.statsf1.com/en/ken-mcalpine/engagementhc.aspx
  23. https://www.24h-en-piste.com/en/AfficherDetails.php?Type=Course&Annee=1955&Numero=43
  24. https://www.racingsportscars.com/chassis/results/ALSR__12.html
  25. https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/kenneth-mcalpine
  26. https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/Ken-McAlpine-GB.html
  27. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1974/35/looking-back-with-mike-oliver/
  28. https://www.helis.com/database/org/McAlpine-helicopters/
  29. https://englishwine.com/kenneth-mcalpine-is-100-on-21st-september-2020/
  30. https://www.f1forgottendrivers.com/drivers/kenneth-mcalpine/
  31. https://www.thepeerage.com/p50213.htm
  32. https://www.brdc.co.uk/notice-of-death-kenneth-mcalpine-obe-dl-1920-2023/
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