Dennis Poore
 Poore sitting at the wheel of a historic hillclimb car in 1966 | |
| Born | Roger Dennistoun Poore 19 August 1916 London, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 February 1987 (aged 70) London, England |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1952 |
| Teams | Connaught |
| Entries | 2 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 3 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1952 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1952 Italian Grand Prix |
Roger Dennistoun Poore (19 August 1916 – 12 February 1987)
Background and family
Poore was born in Paddington, London. His father, Roger Poore, DSO, was killed in action during the First World War on 26 September 1917.[citation needed]
On 24 March 1949, Dennis Poore married Peta Farley nee Coast. They had one daughter, Victoria Borwick MP.[2]
Racing career
Poore was a keen motor sport participant, and competed in two World Championship Grands Prix in 1952. He made his debut in the British Grand Prix on 19 July 1952, where he finished fourth. He scored 3 championship points. Poore won the British Hill Climb Championship in 1950 driving a 3.8-litre twin-Wade-blown Alfa Romeo.[3] He finished second at Shelsley Walsh, first at Prescott, second at Bo'ness, taking the win at Rest and Be Thankful, then second at Bouley Bay and first at Val des Terres, rounding off the season with another win at Prescott.[4] After his World Championship Grands Prix, Poore raced sportscars for Aston Martin, winning the Goodwood International Nine Hour race with a DB3S in 1955, co-driven by Peter Walker.[5]
Poore used his personal wealth to bankroll the founding, in 1950, of the
NVT career
Poore became chairman of
Following the collapse of
Compared with BSA's hopeless management team who had led their once-mighty company to ruin through incompetence, dire business decisions and a failure even to appreciate bikes, Poore at first seemed a breath of fresh air who could be the hoped-for saviour of the British motorcycle industry. His sporting past showed he was in tune with motorsport and engineering. However, his reconstruction and redundancy plans were heavy-handed and some regarded him a little more than an asset-stripper. What is clear is that his actions led to the fragmentation of the industry when consolidation was essential to save the day.[6][full citation needed][dubious ]
London cabs
With the purchase of BSA came its subsidiary Carbodies, builder of the FX4 London taxi; the classic "black cab". After disposing of the motorcycle manufacturing arms, Poore continued to head Manganese Bronze as a taxi and component manufacturer until his death in 1987.[citation needed]
Complete World Drivers' Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Connaught Engineering | Connaught Type A | Straight-4
|
SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR 4 |
GER | NED | 13th | 3 | |
| Connaught Racing Syndicate | ITA 12 |
References
- ^ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers – Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ Burke's Peerage, 107th edition, p3172
- ^ Motor Sport, October 1950, Page 524.
- ^ Motor Sport, February 1951, Page 53.
- ISBN 0851127029.
- ^ "BSA – Decline & Fall" – Bill Murray – 1985 monograph
External links
- Dennis Poore's Alfa Romeo 8C 35 Photographs and information about the 8C-35 (chassis 50013) that Poore owned for many years.