I had the privilege of interviewing Harold John Coombs a couple of years ago for Vintage Racecar’s Jaguar XKE issue (August 2011). In period, he was affectionately known by some as “Noddy,” others more formally, but again with a certain fondness and a deep respect as “Mr. John.” I simply referred to him as “Mr. Coombs.” Immediately, he said, “Please call me John” which put me at ease. This high regard had been well and truly earned when as a team owner he ran such drivers as Sir Jackie Stewart—in fact giving him one of his first breaks in the sport, Graham Hill, Sir Jack Brabham, Roy Salvadori, Dan Gurney, even Colin Chapman, and countless others. He was still entering cars at the Goodwood Revival until a couple of years ago with drivers like Sir Stirling Moss, Richard Attwood and Martin Brundle.
From a very early age it was inevitable that he would, in some way, shape or form be involved heavily in the motor industry. His father, a coach builder, blacksmith and wheelwright, converted the ground floor of the family home in Guildford into a showroom to display four cars. As a young boy, it was mesmerizing for him to see craftsmen at work in the workshops, and he learned a great deal by simply watching and listening to conversations about mechanical issues. A trip to Brooklands cemented his love of motors and motor racing, and further visits post-war to the likes of Goodwood and Silverstone got him thinking, “I must have some of this.”
Using the knowledge he’d gained from all those years in his father’s workshop, he prepared an Aston Martin for his first race. That later led to him buying a sportscar from Cooper, but the Rover engine he placed in it was in his own words, “Terrible.” 500-cc racing was popular in the early post-war years and he was drawn by the excitement. First he drove a JBS with varying degrees of success, but the wins eluded him. Then, in 1952, he teamed up with Alan Rippon and they raced Cooper-Norton cars under their team banner “Ecurie Britannique.” Success and the wins he so dearly wanted soon came at Thruxton and Silverstone. His success was rewarded with membership of the British Racing Drivers Club. In 1953, aboard an Erskine-Staride, he beat Sir Stirling Moss, recalling his achievement and summing up his time in 500-cc racing, he said, “If you could beat Stirling at his own game, that’s not bad—I did!” Sportscars were his passion and in 1954 he competed in a Lotus Mk XIII-Connaught and the following year a Lotus Mk IX with great success, wins and podium places aplenty. Team management was next on the Coombs agenda, starting with Ron Flockhart, Tony Brooks and then Roy Salvadori as his first drivers. During the late 1960s he formed a relationship with Ken Tyrrell running Jackie Stewart and Johnny Servoz-Gavin in the F2 team. Later he would be involved with the up and coming drivers who would become household names such as Depailler and Cevert.
In the background to all this motorsport the Coombs garage business kept him very busy as he formed trade dealings with many marques of the period, but it was with Jaguar he became most synonymous. A special relationship grew between Sir William Lyons and “Lofty” England in particular with dealings both on and off track. The Coombs of Guildford garage would take in production cars from Jaguar and add their particular refinements, which would significantly increase performance. Many of us who can remember that far back can envisage the likes of Salvadori and Hill at the wheel of Mk II Jaguars screaming through corners. Later, Coombs expertise along with the co-operation of Lofty England and Jaguar Development Department would result in the ultra-competitive Lightweight XKE Jaguars, and it’s probably for this that John Coombs will be remembered more than anything. He told me his finest hour was, “Beating the Ferraris, that was the best thing…” However, he did so much more in the background without shouting it from the rooftops.
Despite being a shrewd businessman, there was a very human side of John Coombs too. Many to whom I have spoken since his passing remember that in particular. One look from his twinkling eyes would instantly command respect, his thick white hair would become his trademark and his words were both quiet and authoritative. However, when a friend was in any kind of trouble, or ill, he would be the first to offer any help he could. Those who looked upon him as a friend will miss his counsel, humor and generosity, but mostly his warmth and friendship. British motor racing has lost one of the stalwart figures of the sport; his family and friends have lost a lot more and it is to them that Vintage Racecar offers sincere condolences.
By Mike Jiggle
