Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe
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Hereditary Peerage | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preceded by | The 4th Earl Howe | ||||||
Succeeded by | The 6th Earl Howe | ||||||
Member of Parliament for Battersea South | |||||||
In office 14 December 1918 – 10 January 1929 | |||||||
Preceded by | constituency created | ||||||
Succeeded by | William Bennett | ||||||
Personal details | |||||||
Born | 1 May 1884 Mayfair, London, England | ||||||
Died | 26 July 1964 Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England | (aged 80)||||||
Political party | Conservative | ||||||
Spouses | Joyce Mary Mclean Jack
(m. 1937; div. 1943)Sybil Boyter Johnson
(m. 1944) | ||||||
Children | by Mary Curzon: Champ Car career | ||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
First race | 1936 Vanderbilt Cup (Westbury) | ||||||
| |||||||
24 Hours of Le Mans career | |||||||
Years | 1929–1932, 1934–1935 | ||||||
Teams | Bentley, privateer | ||||||
Best finish | 1st (1931) | ||||||
Class wins | 2 (1930, 1931) | ||||||
Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe,
Early career
Francis,
During the First World War, as a keen film maker, he organised the cinematograph service for the Navy. (See: The Scotsman - Wednesday 24 May 1922 p 19 col 3). He took the cinematograph film of the surrender of the German fleet at Scapa Flow from the deck of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth (The Bioscope - Thursday 28 November 1918 P 6 col 2 "Gossip and Opinions" and https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/surrender-of-german-fleet-at-scapa-flow-in-the-orkneys-news-photo/3139960).
Following the armistice Viscount Curzon moved into politics. In the 1918 General Election he won the Battersea South seat, standing for the Conservative Party. When the RNVR was reconstituted in 1921 Viscount Curzon resumed his position as the commanding officer of the Sussex division with the rank of Captain; he was to hold this appointment until the RNVR was mobilised again in September 1939 on the outbreak of World War II. Following his father's death in 1929 Francis Curzon ascended to the title Earl Howe, making him ineligible for parliamentary re-election. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in the 1929 Dissolution Honours. However, during his later years as an MP Curzon had begun to become involved in motor racing. An associate of the Bentley Boys, he was instrumental in forming the ideas which led Dudley Benjafield to set up the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1928. The newly ennobled Earl Howe was elected its president at the BRDC's first Annual General Meeting in 1929.
Motor racing career
Francis Curzon made his race debut at the comparatively old age of 44, in the 1928 Irish TT with a
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Birkin_and_Howe_at_the_1931_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans.jpg/220px-Birkin_and_Howe_at_the_1931_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans.jpg)
Away from
In 1937, Howe was seriously injured in an accident driving his pale blue and silver – Howe's personal racing colours –
Aside from assuming the presidency of the BRDC, Earl Howe also served as vice-president of the
Post-war career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A11744.jpg/220px-The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A11744.jpg)
The start of the
The Earl Howe Trophy
Today the BRDC maintains a highly prestigious award in his memory: The Earl Howe Trophy. Until 2018 this was awarded annually "to the highest placed British Driver in the Indy 500 race or to the British driver who has established the most meritorious performance of the year in North America".[2] The winning criteria were subjective and were determined at the discretion of the awarding panel. In 2016 the winner was Ed Jones,[3] the Dubai-born driver who won the 2016 Indy Lights series, while no British driver finished within the top ten of the 2016 Indianapolis 500. In 2017, the Earl Howe Trophy winner was Sam Bird,[4] who won both races at the USA round of the Formula E world championship: the 2017 New York City ePrix. In contrast to the previous year, two British drivers had finished in the top ten at Indianapolis – Jones (third) and Max Chilton (fourth) – with Chilton also leading the most laps during the race. Previously, Justin Wilson won the 2013 award[5] having finished in fifth place at that year's Indianapolis 500 event.
From 2019, the award has been made to "the most outstanding performance of the year in Historic racing".[6] The inaugural winners under the new criteria were Philip Walker and Gordon Shedden who, together with co-driver Miles Griffiths, won the 2019 Spa Six Hours historic endurance race.
Winners of the Earl Howe Trophy - Historic Racing | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Recipient | Achievement |
2023 | Andy Priaulx[7] | Winner of the Goodwood RAC TT Celebration and Spa Six Hours races |
2022 | Gordon Shedden[8] | |
2021 | Michael Lyons[9] | Three-fold winner at the 2021 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco |
2020 | Not awarded | |
2019 | Philip Walker Gordon Shedden[6] |
Winners of the Spa Six Hours race |
Winners of the Earl Howe Trophy - Merit in North America | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Recipient | Achievement |
2018 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
|
2017 | ![]() |
Winner of both races of the 2017 New York City ePrix |
2016 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2016 Indy Lights series |
2015 | ![]() |
Championship runner-up and two-time race winner in the 2015 United SportsCar Championship
|
2014 | ![]() |
Championship runner-up and four-time race winner in the 2014 Indy Lights season
|
2013 | ![]() |
Fifth place in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 |
2012 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2012 Indianapolis 500 |
2011 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2011 Indianapolis 500 |
2010 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 |
2009 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2009 IndyCar Series |
2008 | ![]() |
Third place in the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix |
2007 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2007 Indianapolis 500 |
2006 | ![]() |
Fourth place in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 |
2005 | ![]() |
Winner of the 2005 Indianapolis 500 |
2004 | ![]() |
Third place in the 2004 Indianapolis 500 |
2003 | Mark Taylor
|
Winner of the 2003 Infiniti Pro Series
|
2002 | ![]() |
Three-time race winner in the 2002 CART season |
2001 | ![]() |
Championship runner-up and two-time race winner in the 2001 Indy Lights season |
2000 | James Weaver
|
Winner of the 2000 Grand American Road Racing Championship
|
1999 | ![]() |
Championship runner-up and three-time race winner in the 1999 CART season |
1997 | Winners of the 1997 24 Hours of Daytona | |
1996 | ![]() |
Two top-five finishes in the 1996 IndyCar World Series |
1993 | ![]() |
Winner of the 1993 IndyCar World Series |
1987 | ![]() |
Race winner in the 1987 IMSA GT Championship
|
1984 | ![]() |
Five-time race winner and third place in the 1984 IMSA GT Championship
|
This list is incomplete. † Awarded posthumously. |
Personal life
Francis Curzon was the son of Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe, and his wife Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill.
On 28 October 1907 he married his first cousin Mary Curzon (30 October 1887 – 1 September 1962), daughter of The Hon. Montagu Curzon and wife Esmé FitzRoy. They divorced in 1937. A daughter, (by Sybil Boyter Johnson) Lady Sarah Curzon (born 25 January 1945), married Formula One driver Piers Courage. After Courage's death in the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, she married John Aspinall. Another daughter (by Mary Curzon) Lady
Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe died in July 1964. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward.
Motorsports career results
European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | EDC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1931 | Earl Howe | Bugatti T51
|
Bugatti 2.3 L8 | ITA | FRA 12 |
BEL | 17th | 20 | ||||
1932 | Earl Howe | Bugatti T54
|
Bugatti 5.0 L8 | ITA | FRA 9 |
GER | 9th | 20 | ||||
1935 | Earl Howe | Bugatti T59
|
Bugatti 3.3 L8 | MON Ret |
FRA | BEL | GER | SUI 10 |
ITA | ESP | 19th | 50 |
1936 | Earl Howe | Bugatti T59
|
Bugatti 3.3 L8 | MON | GER | SUI Ret |
ITA | 26th | 30 | |||
Source:[19]
|
24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1929 | ![]() |
![]() |
Bentley 4½ Litre
|
5.0 | 7 | DNF (Electrics) | |
1930 | ![]() |
![]() |
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750GS | 2.0 | 159 | 5th | 1st |
1931 | ![]() |
Henry Birkin
|
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300LM | 3.0 | 184 | 1st | 1st |
1932 | ![]() |
Henry Birkin
|
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300LM | 3.0 | 110 | DNF (Engine) | |
1934 | ![]() |
![]() |
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300LM | 3.0 | 85 | DNF | |
1935 | ![]() |
![]() |
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 | 3.0 | 129 | DNF |
Awards and honours
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- British War Medal
- Victory Medal
- 1939-1945 Star
- Defense Medal
- War Medal 1939-1945
- King George V Coronation Medal
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
- King George VI Coronation Medal
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- Reserve Decoration
See also
- Bugatti Type 57S Atalante number 57502
References
Footnotes
- ^ "Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe; Ex-Member of Parliament and Racing Driver Dies". The New York Times (Monday, 27 July 1964), p.30
- ^ "2009 BRDC Annual Award Winners" (PDF). BRDC.co.uk. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ a b "BRDC Celebrates the Best of British Motor Sport at the 2016 Annual Awards". BRCD.co.uk. British Racing Drivers' Club. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ a b "BRDC Celebrates the Best of British Motor Sport at the 2017 Annual Awards". BRCD.co.uk. British Racing Drivers' Club. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ a b "BRDC Annual Awards". BRDC.co.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Best of British Motor Sport Celebrated at the 2019 BRDC Annual Awards". BRDC.co.uk. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "The best of British motor sport celebrated at the 2023 BRDC Annual Awards". BRDC.co.uk. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "The best of British motor sport celebrated at the 2022 BRDC Annual Awards". BRDC.co.uk. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "2021 BRDC Annual Award Winners Announced". BRDC.co.uk. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "BRDC Celebrates the best of British motor sport at the 2018 Annual Awards". BRCD.co.uk. British Racing Drivers' Club. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Annual Awards". BRDC.co.uk. British Racing Drivers' Club. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "BRDC Celebrates the Best of British Motor Sport at 2014 Annual Awards". Silverstone.co.uk. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "BRDC Annual Awards 2012". BRDC.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "NA-F2000: Weldon awarded The Earl Howe Trophy". motorsport.com. 15 January 2002. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ Bekker, T. (27 November 1997). "Awards to Frank Williams and Gerhard Berger". AutoRace.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Blundell Earns Award". SpeedCentre IndyCar News. 1996. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ Hunston, Hugh (6 November 1987). "Motorsport: McNish fulfills racing promise". The Glasgow Herald. p. 38.
- ^ "News". Motor Sport. 60 (12): 1459. December 1984.
- ^ "THE GOLDEN ERA – OF GRAND PRIX RACING". kolumbus.fi. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
Other sources
- "The Golden Era - Drivers (H)". The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing. Archived from the original on 2 October 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- "Revival Race". Time. 16 October 1936. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- "Earl Howe". The Brooklands Society. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- Francis Curzon profile at The 500 Owners Association
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)