George Eyston: Difference between revisions
removed Category:People educated at Stubbington House School using HotCat no 100% evidence that he was educated there |
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| birth_date = 28 June 1897 |
| birth_date = 28 June 1897 |
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| birth_place = Bampton, Oxfordshire, England<ref name=odnb/> |
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| death_date = 11 June 1979 (aged 81) |
| death_date = 11 June 1979 (aged 81) |
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| death_place = Lambeth, London, England |
| death_place = Lambeth, London, England |
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[[File:JAP + George Eyston.jpg|thumb|Eyston (left) with fire-damaged MG Midget, 1931<ref>http://www.mgccwa.com/Marque%20History.htm</ref>]] |
[[File:JAP + George Eyston.jpg|thumb|Eyston (left) with fire-damaged MG Midget, 1931<ref>http://www.mgccwa.com/Marque%20History.htm</ref>]] |
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'''Captain George Edward Thomas Eyston''' [[Military Cross|MC]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (28 June 1897 – 11 June 1979<ref>[http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/de.htm The Golden Era of GP Racing 1934-40 - Drivers]</ref>) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] racing and [[land speed record]] car driver in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |
'''Captain George Edward Thomas Eyston''' [[Military Cross|MC]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (28 June 1897 – 11 June 1979<ref>[http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/de.htm The Golden Era of GP Racing 1934-40 - Drivers]</ref>) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] racing and [[land speed record]] car driver in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name=odnb>{{cite web |
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|title=Eyston, George Edward Thomas (1897–1979) |
|title=Eyston, George Edward Thomas (1897–1979) |
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|date=Sept 2004 |
|date=Sept 2004 |
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Revision as of 16:59, 2 December 2012
Captain George E.T. Eyston | |
|---|---|
| File:Eyston with Magic Midget (small).jpg George Eyston (left) with the MG Magic Midget | |
| Born | 28 June 1897 Bampton, Oxfordshire, England[1] |
| Died | 11 June 1979 (aged 81) Lambeth, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Land Speed Record holder |
.jpg){kind=link}
Captain George Edward Thomas Eyston MC OBE (28 June 1897 – 11 June 1979[3]) was a British racing and land speed record car driver in the 1920s and 1930s.[1] He was also an engineer and inventor.
Early life
George Eyston was educated at Stonyhurst College and Trinity College, Cambridge. His study of engineering at Cambridge was interrupted by World War I when he was commissioned in the Dorset Regiment[4] and later served in the Royal Field Artillery. After the war he returned to Trinity College and was captain of the First Trinity Boat Club.
Career
Motor racing
Eyston's racing career began with European road races, particularly in Bugattis, with success in races such as the 1921 and 1926 French Grand Prix [5]
Later he became well known for racing supercharged MGs such as the Magic Midget and the K3 Magnette.[6] His entries with the K3 included the 1933 Isle of Man and 1934 Northern Ireland Tourist Trophy events,[7] and the 1934 Mille Miglia[8][9]
Speed records
He fitted a diesel engine from an AEC bus into a car built on a Chrysler chassis and used it to set high-speed endurance records at Brooklands, attaining 100.75 mph in 1933 rand 106 mph in 1936.[10][11]
In 1935, he was one of the first British racers to travel to the Bonneville salt flats of Utah, with his 24 & 48 hour record-setting car Speed of the Wind.
He is best known today for land speed records set in his car Thunderbolt.[12] Between 1937 and 1939 he set three new land speed records, wresting them from Malcolm Campbell's Blue Bird, but was twice bettered by John Cobb. The rivalry was friendly, and in later years Eyston, as competitions manager for Castrol, assisted with Cobb's ill-fated attempt on the water speed record in Crusader.[13] He was also involved in the design of his Thunderbolt car at the Bean Cars factory in Tipton, Staffordshire (now West Midlands).[14]
Patents and engineering
As an engineer and inventor, he held a number of patents related to motor engineering and particularly supercharging.[15] His work on developing high-power gearboxes was important for Thunderbolt, along with his invention of the Powerplus supercharger used on MGs.
World War II
During World War II Eyston served on various bodies connected with industry and was a Regional Controller for the Ministry of Production.
Honours and awards
- Eyston was awarded the Military Cross on 18 July 1917 - 2nd Lt. (temp Lt.) George Edward Thomas Eyston, RFA., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered most valuable service when carrying out reconnaissance under heavy fire. On several occasions he went forward under heavy shell and machine gun fire. He carried out his duties with great courage and determination, and was able to obtain most valuable information.[16]
- He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1935.[17]
- He was made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1938.[18]
Publications
- G.E.T. Eyston (1933). Flat Out. John Miles. foreword by Sir Malcolm Campbell
- G.E.T. Eyston (1935). Motor Racing and Record Breaking.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - George Eyston (1936). Speed on Salt. Batsford.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - George Eyston (1939). Fastest on Earth.
References
- Charles Jennings (2005). The Fast Set. Abacus. ISBN 0-349-11596-6.
- EYSTON, Capt. George Edward Thomas, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, accessed 8 Aug 2012
- Captain George Eyston (obituary), The Times, London, 23 November 1979, page VIII (Obituaries Supplement)
- ^ a b Colin Dryden (Sept 2004). "Eyston, George Edward Thomas (1897–1979)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31092.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.mgccwa.com/Marque%20History.htm
- ^ The Golden Era of GP Racing 1934-40 - Drivers
- ^ "No. 28918". The London Gazette. 29 September 1914.
- ^ "George Eyston racing at Montlhery". (Commercial photo gallery)
- ^ Malcolm Green (1997). MG Sportscars. CLB International. ISBN 1-85833-606-6.
- ^ "The Supercharged Magnette". The Autocar. 11 August 1933.
- ^ Barré Lyndon (2 March 1934). "Number One". The Autocar.
- ^ compiled by Peter Garnier, from the archives of Autocar magazine (1979). MG Sports Cars. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-36343-0.
- ^ "Diesel record car in 1936". Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ "Diesel record car in 1936". Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ "Captain George Eyston: The Empire Club of Canada Speeches 1938-1939". (includes some images of Thunderbolt)
- ^ "John Cobb and the Crusader"., reprinted from Leo Villa and Kevin Desmond (1976). The World Water Speed Record.
- ^ [ www.sedgleymanor.com/schools/schools.htm]
- ^ GB 260804, GB 375886, GB 348524 et al.
- ^ "No. 30188". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 18 July 1917. - ^ Segrave Trophy – Royal Automobile Club
- ^ Colin Dryden (Sept 2004). "Eyston, George Edward Thomas (1897–1979)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31092.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "No. 38161". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 1 January 1948.
- 1979 deaths
- 1897 births
- People educated at Stonyhurst College
- Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
- Land speed record people
- Brooklands people
- English racing drivers
- British automotive engineers
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Dorset Regiment officers
- Royal Artillery officers
- Bonneville 300 MPH Club members
- Segrave Trophy recipients
- Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur