Alf Francis facts for kids
Alf Francis was a very talented mechanic and designer of racing cars. He was born as Alfons Kowaleski (or Alphons Kowalewski) on June 18, 1918. He passed away on June 28, 1983. He became famous for his work in the exciting world of motor racing.
Early Life and World War II
Alf Francis was born in a city called Danzig (which is now Gdańsk, Poland). When World War II started, he had to leave his home. He first traveled to Portugal. From there, he sailed by ship to Liverpool in the United Kingdom. In the UK, he joined the Polish 1st Armoured Division. This was a military group that fought alongside the Allies in the war.
After World War II ended, Alf Francis decided to become a British citizen. He also changed his name from Alfons Kowaleski to Alf Francis.
Becoming a Racing Mechanic
Alf Francis became a top racing mechanic. He worked for famous race car drivers like Stirling Moss. He also became the Chief Mechanic at the Rob Walker Racing Team. A Chief Mechanic is like the head engineer for a racing team. They make sure the cars are in perfect condition for races. They also help to make the cars faster and better.
At the Rob Walker Racing Team, Alf Francis worked on many different Grand Prix cars. These included cars from companies like Cooper-Climax and Lotus 18. He also helped the team build their very own Formula 1 car. This car was called the "Walker Special."
Designing Race Cars
Alf Francis was not just a mechanic; he was also a car designer. He worked with a talented engineer named Valerio Colotti. Together, they formed a company called Colotti-Francis. Alf Francis then moved to Italy to continue their work.
In 1963, Alf Francis came back to England. He was involved in another Formula One project called Derrington-Francis. However, this project was not very successful. Later, he moved to the United States. There, he continued to build cars for smaller racing competitions.
Alf Francis passed away in Oklahoma City, USA, in 1983.
His Book
In 1957, Alf Francis wrote a book about his life. It was called Alf Francis: Racing Mechanic. He wrote it with a journalist named Peter Lewis. The book shares his amazing experiences in the world of motor racing.
