Name Eileen Ellison Role Auto racer | Died July 29, 1967 | |
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Eileen Ellison (12 December 1910 – 29 July 1967) was a British Grand Prix racer. Born in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, she was a daughter of Sidney and Theresa Ellison (formerly Vinter). She had a sister, Diana, and a brother, Tony.
Background
Due to her brother's interest in motorsport, Eileen became interested in racing in the late 1920s. She befriended a racing driver of the day, Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper, and Eileen soon began racing herself. She was frequently noted as the entrant when Cholmondeley-Tapper raced, chiefly because it was her car(s) used; Tony Ellison invariably being the mechanic.
Her main racing achievement came in 1932 when she won the Duchess of York's race for women drivers at Brooklands. The competitors included Elsie Wisdom (Invicta), Fay Taylour (Talbot 105) and Kay Petre (Daytona Wolseley Hornet Special). Eileen Ellison won from Kay Petre, who was arguably the most famous female racing driver of her day.
With her brother and Cholmondeley Tapper, Eileen Ellison travelled throughout Europe to racing venues. Cholmondeley-Tapper wrote a book entitled Amateur Racing Driver about his exploits but Eileen Ellison is only briefly mentioned in the book.
World War 2 drew a halt to motorsport in Europe but by this time, Eileen Ellison had found another interest in life - her new husband. Eileen married Squadron Leader Brian Lane in 1940. The marriage was brief, as he was killed in action in 1942.
After a period of mourning, she moved to South Africa where she met landowner, Owen Fargus. He owned property in the United Kingdom, in South Africa and Jersey and the couple led a jet-setting lifestyle. She remained with Fargus until death from illness in 1967. Owen Fargus died in Jersey in 1990.