Henry Taylor was a farmer, born in Shefford, Bedforshire, UK, and was initially smitten with Speedway (motorcycle racing) at West Ham, London, before changing to four wheels and 500-cc racing cars, in 1954. The following year he won two races, the first at Silverstone, and in 1956 became very proficient, adding 15 further wins aboard a Cooper Mk VIII-JAP. The successes of the 1956 season not only established him as the British Championship winner in 1957, but it also opened the door of opportunity to drives in other cars, such as a run in a D-Type Jaguar in the Belgian Sportscar GP where he finished on the podium in 3rd place. During the winter months Henry took part in a different sport, Bobsledding, as part of the British team.
In 1959, Taylor came of age in motor racing terms as he moved into Formula One with Reg Parnell, who ran him at Aintree in an F2 Cooper T51-Climax, finishing 11th overall and 2nd in the F2 class. Greater things were on the cards for 1959 with the Yeoman Credit team, part of the British Racing Partnership (BRP) set up by Stirling Moss and managed by Ken Gregory. He started the Dutch, French, British and U.S. Grands Prix, with a best finish of 4th in France, driving a 2.5-liter Cooper T51-Climax. BRP became united with UDT/Laystall and switched from Cooper to Lotus 18 cars, but the 1961 season was a torrid year for Taylor, who struggled to finish higher than 10th. A serious accident at the British GP, followed by another at the tragic 1961 Italian GP, where he lost an eye, concluded his F1 participation.
It was during the 1960s when Taylor began his association with the Ford Touring Car Team, initially as a driver in the European Touring Car Championship—the first to compete in the Ford Cortina. He drove the Lotus Cortina successfully for Alan Mann with good finishes at Zolder, Brands Hatch and the Nürburgring. Retiring from racing in 1966, he became Ford’s Competition Manager and also set up the Ford Special Vehicles division.
Falling in love with the South of France, Henry decided to move his family there and entered the world of powerboats, assisting in the development of the “Sunseeker” brand. Further marine businesses flourished both in France and Monaco.
Recently, he became ill and died peacefully in hospital. Vintage Racecar offers sincere condolences to his wife, Peggy, his family and many friends.
by Mike Jiggle
