Geoffrey Crossley (11 May 1921 – 7 January 2002)[1] was a British racing driver from England. He participated in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 13 May 1950. He scored no championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races.
By profession, Geoffrey Crossley was a furniture manufacturer,[2] but he had been a keen amateur racing driver since just before World War II. Following the war he maintained his interest, and competed in a few races using a pre-war Alta, including the 1947 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man.
In 1949 he bought an Alta GP Grand Prix car, GP2, from the manufacturer, in Surrey. Made to order, the car featured a sleeker bodywork than its predecessors.[3] With it, Crossley took International Class F (1,100 cc (67.1 cu in) to 1,500 cc (91.5 cu in)) standing start speed records over 50 km (125.92 mph), 50 miles (124.49 mph) and 100 km (124.17 mph) at the Montlhéry circuit in late 1949.[4] Crossley also campaigned the Alta GP in selected races in 1949, including the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh and last, six laps down on the winner.
The following year he took part in the first ever World Championship Formula One race: the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. He qualified in 17th place,[5] three places ahead of Joe Kelly in a similar Alta, despite the latter's higher specification engine. Crossley's race ended with transmission failure on lap 43.[6] Later that season Crossley entered the Alta for the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix, where he qualified 12th and finished in ninth position.[7] In addition to his Championship entries, Crossley also took part in a number of non-Championship races in the Alta, but at the end of the 1950 season he decided to retire due to the high costs of the sport.[2]
He made a brief return to motorsport in 1955, after he built a Lea-Francis-engined special which he called the Berkshire Special.[8] Crossley entered the car for the 1955 Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Circuit, but teething troubles with the car meant that he was slowest in practice[9] and he decided to withdraw from the event.[2] Owing to work and family commitments Crossley abandoned the Berkshire Special's development,[10] and withdrew from racing for good.
^"1955 Glover Trophy". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
^Diepraam, Mattijs; Uechtel; Reyna, Rafael; Breevoort, Leo; Heymans, Jasper (20 May 2010). "Grand Prix cars that never raced". 6th Gear. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
geoffrey, crossley, british, diplomat, geoffrey, allan, crossley, 1921, january, 2002, british, racing, driver, from, england, participated, world, championship, formula, grands, prix, debuting, 1950, scored, championship, points, also, participated, numerous,. For the British diplomat see Geoffrey Allan Crossley Geoffrey Crossley 11 May 1921 7 January 2002 1 was a British racing driver from England He participated in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix debuting on 13 May 1950 He scored no championship points He also participated in numerous non Championship Formula One races Geoffrey CrossleyBorn 1921 05 11 11 May 1921Baslow Derbyshire EnglandDied7 January 2002 2002 01 07 aged 80 Headington Oxfordshire EnglandFormula One World Championship careerNationalityBritishActive years1950Teamsprivateer AltaEntries2Championships0Wins0Podiums0Career points0Pole positions0Fastest laps0First entry1950 British Grand PrixLast entry1950 Belgian Grand PrixRacing career editBy profession Geoffrey Crossley was a furniture manufacturer 2 but he had been a keen amateur racing driver since just before World War II Following the war he maintained his interest and competed in a few races using a pre war Alta including the 1947 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man In 1949 he bought an Alta GP Grand Prix car GP2 from the manufacturer in Surrey Made to order the car featured a sleeker bodywork than its predecessors 3 With it Crossley took International Class F 1 100 cc 67 1 cu in to 1 500 cc 91 5 cu in standing start speed records over 50 km 125 92 mph 50 miles 124 49 mph and 100 km 124 17 mph at the Montlhery circuit in late 1949 4 Crossley also campaigned the Alta GP in selected races in 1949 including the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix where he finished seventh and last six laps down on the winner The following year he took part in the first ever World Championship Formula One race the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit He qualified in 17th place 5 three places ahead of Joe Kelly in a similar Alta despite the latter s higher specification engine Crossley s race ended with transmission failure on lap 43 6 Later that season Crossley entered the Alta for the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix where he qualified 12th and finished in ninth position 7 In addition to his Championship entries Crossley also took part in a number of non Championship races in the Alta but at the end of the 1950 season he decided to retire due to the high costs of the sport 2 He made a brief return to motorsport in 1955 after he built a Lea Francis engined special which he called the Berkshire Special 8 Crossley entered the car for the 1955 Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Circuit but teething troubles with the car meant that he was slowest in practice 9 and he decided to withdraw from the event 2 Owing to work and family commitments Crossley abandoned the Berkshire Special s development 10 and withdrew from racing for good Geoffrey Crossley died from a stroke in the John Radcliffe Hospital on 7 January 2002 1 Complete Formula One World Championship results edit key Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points 1950 Geoffrey Crossley Alta GP Alta L4s GBRRet MON 500 SUI BEL9 FRA ITA NC 0References edit a b Where Are They Now Geoffrey Crossley OldRacingCars com Retrieved 1 February 2012 a b c Parker Paul 2011 Formula One in Camera 1950 59 Sparkford Yeovil Somerset Haynes Publishing p 12 ISBN 978 1 84425 553 5 Alta 2 Litre Conceptcarz com Retrieved 1 February 2012 The Sportfolio The Autocar 94 Iliffe Sons amp Sturmey Ltd 1236 1949 Muelas Felix Diepraam Mattijs England Greg November 1999 Geoffrey Taylor s brainchild 8W Archived from the original on 15 April 2002 1950 British GP Classification ChicaneF1 com Retrieved 1 February 2012 1950 Belgian GP ChicaneF1 com Retrieved 1 February 2012 Jenkinson Denis 1987 Directory of Historic Racing Cars Aston Publications Ltd p 192 ISBN 978 0 946627 08 0 1955 Glover Trophy ChicaneF1 com Retrieved 1 February 2012 Diepraam Mattijs Uechtel Reyna Rafael Breevoort Leo Heymans Jasper 20 May 2010 Grand Prix cars that never raced 6th Gear a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty url help Records Preceded byNone Youngest driver to starta Formula One race29 years 2 days 1950 British Grand Prix Succeeded byJose Froilan Gonzalez27 years 228 days 1950 Monaco GP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoffrey Crossley amp oldid 1184506211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
