Len Terry
Len Terry | |
---|---|
Born | Hackney, Greater London, UK | February 11, 1924
Died | August 25, 2014 | (aged 90)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Motorsport engineer and designer |
Years active | 1955–1993 |
Known for | Formula One designer. (Lotus, BRM, Eagle) |
Notable work | Lotus 38, Eagle Mk1, Lotus 33 |
Leonard E. Terry (11 February 1924 – 25 August 2014)[1][2] was an English racing car designer and engineer, known for his work with Lotus, BRM and Eagle. He also designed chassis for many other teams, including ERA and Aston Martin and produced his own car in which he competed.
Biography
Terry left school at 14, with few qualifications, but with ambitions to become a designer and worked for a theatrical agency as an office-boy. Quickly promoted, after his colleagues were called up for military service, he produced promotional material for his company's clients.[3] In 1943, Terry enlisted in the RAF where he served as an instrument maker.[2]
After completing military service, Terry trained as a
Terry was then asked to design chassis for
He was working on a freelance basis (including for Lotus) when
For the 1965 Indianapolis 500, Terry was given full control over the design of the Lotus 38, and the car finished first that year, and second in 1966, each time with Clark driving. However, Terry left Lotus before the 1965 race, having already been recruited by Dan Gurney's AAR team to design a Formula One car.[3] This led to the Eagle-Weslake V12, which has been considered one of the most aesthetic Formula One designs.[2][6][7]
Terry was employed by Carroll Shelby to design a Can-Am car for 1967, but the project did not come to fruition: Terry was still based in the UK and could not oversee the development.[3] Subsequently, he was recruited by BRM to design a Tasman Series car which became the 1968 BRM P126. Terry's next project was the BRM-engined Mirage M2 for John Wyer. It proved effective but its racing career was delayed by the continued success of Wyer's Ford GT40s.[3]
Terry's next design was a Formula 5000 car; intended as a privateer project it was taken up by Surtees and used by David Hobbs to finish second in the 1969 US Championship.[3] This chassis also formed the basis of the BMW 269 and BMW 270 Formula Two cars in 1969–70.[8] There followed another F5000 design, (named Leda) which was not successful, and the company formed to produce it passed into the hands of Graham McRae.[9]
Terry worked as a freelance designer on several projects, none of which were particularly successful before BRM asked him to design a Formula One chassis to accept their V12 engine. The result was the BRM P207 which competed in the World Championship in 1977 without scoring any points. This was Terry's last involvement with F1 design.[3] He subsequently worked on several projects, within the industry, though away from motorsport, but did design the Viking Formula Three car.[3]
Personal life
Terry had a mild stroke in 1993 and was largely retired thereafter.[2] He was a keen cyclist and table tennis player and continued to assist Classic Team Lotus with restoration matters.[5]
Terry was married to Iris who died in 2008.[2] He died in August 2014 aged 90, after a short illness.[2][5]
References
- ^ England and Wales births Retrieved 22 November 2015
- ^ a b c d e f "Len Terry - obituary". Daily Telegraph. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cruickshank, Gordon (March 2004). "Len Terry". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 62. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Gemini FJ Register and Heritage site: The Chequered Flag, A Brief History". hrscc.co.nz. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ a b c Cruickshank, Gordon (November 2014). "Len Terry – obituary". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 44. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "Eagle Westlake T1G". f1technical.net. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ Fearnley, Paul (September 2002). "American Beauty". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 53. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ Phillips, Nick (February 2004). "Unfulfilled quest". Motor Sport magazine archive. p. 82. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Leda LT27 and McRae GM1 car-by-car histories". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
External links
- Terrier Special at Motor Sport magazine archive
- Len Terry at IMDb