St John Horsfall facts for kids

St John Ratcliffe Stewart "Jock" Horsfall (born 31 July 1910 – died 20 August 1949) was a brave and skilled British motor racing driver. He was known for his exciting races and even helped with secret missions during World War II.

Early Racing Days (1920s-1930s)

When Jock Horsfall was in his early twenties, he started racing cars in local events across Britain. He quickly showed his talent. In 1934, he won The Motor Trophy at the Motor Cycling Club's Llandudno Trials, driving a Wolseley car.

As the 1930s continued, Jock became a well-known and liked racer. He competed in many motor races in Britain and Europe. He often drove his special Aston Martin 2-litre Speed Model, which everyone called the 'Black Car'. Sometimes, he also raced a car from ERA that belonged to his friend, Tony Rolt.

With his 'Black Car', Jock won the 1938 Leinster Trophy race in Tallaght. That same year, he and his 'Black Car' also won their class (the 2-litre category) and came in second place overall in the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Donington Park. This was a big achievement, as they beat some very strong BMW factory racing cars.

Secret Work During World War II

During World War II, Jock Horsfall used his driving skills for a very important job. He worked as a special driver for the British secret service, which was part of the military intelligence.

One of his most famous tasks was helping with Operation Mincemeat. This was a clever plan to trick the German army. The goal was to make them believe the Allies (Britain and its friends) were going to attack Greece, when in fact, they planned to land in Italy. This operation was very successful and helped the Allies win the war. You can learn more about Operation Mincemeat in two movies: The Man Who Never Was (from 1956) and Operation Mincemeat (from 2021).

Return to Racing (1940s)

After World War II ended, Jock Horsfall returned to his passion: motor racing. In 1945, he bought another Aston Martin Speed Model, which he called EML129. He worked hard to improve this car, turning it into a powerful "Formula B" racing car that ran on methanol fuel.

In 1946, Jock drove his famous 'Black Car' to victory in the Belgian Sports Car Grand Prix. This showed he was still a top driver after the war.

In 1948, Jock teamed up with fellow driver Leslie Johnson. Together, they won the challenging Spa 24 Hours race, driving a special prototype Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports car. Also in 1948, Jock entered his EML129 car in a Hill Climb event at Luton Hoo. He set the fastest time for any 2-litre car that didn't use a supercharger.

In 1949, Jock changed his EML129 car back to a sports car setup. He entered the Spa 24 Hours race again, this time as a private racer, not with a factory team. Even though he had Paul Frère as a co-driver, Jock decided to drive the entire 24-hour race by himself! He finished second in his class and fourth overall. He even covered a longer distance than he had the year before with the factory team car. Many people consider this solo effort one of his greatest achievements. After this race, his car became known as the 'Spa Special'.

A Sad End

Sadly, St John Horsfall died in a racing accident on 20 August 1949. He was driving an ERA racing car in the 1949 BRDC International Trophy race at Silverstone Circuit. He had finished well in the first part of the race. However, during the final race, on lap 13, his car hit a straw bale at Stowe Corner and rolled over. Jock was trapped inside the car as it rolled, and his injuries were very serious, leading to his death.

Legacy

Even today, Jock Horsfall is remembered in the racing world. The Aston Martin Owners Club holds an annual race meeting in his honor, celebrating his contributions to motor racing.