Geoffrey Crossley

Geoffrey Crossley

Born	11 May 1921 Baslow, Derbyshire, England
Died	7 January 2002 (aged 80) Headington, Oxfordshire, England
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	British
Active years	1950
Teams	privateer Alta
Entries	2
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 British Grand Prix
Last entry	1950 Belgian Grand Prix

Geoffrey Crossley (11 May 1921, Baslow, Derbyshire – 7 January 2002, Headington, Oxfordshire)^[1] was a British racing driver from England. He participated in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 13 May 1950. He scored no championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races.

Racing career

By profession, Geoffrey Crossley was a furniture manufacturer,^[2] but he had been a keen amateur racing driver since just before World War II. Following the war he maintained his interest, and competed in a few races using a pre-war Alta, including the 1947 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man.

In 1949 he bought an Alta GP Grand Prix car, GP2, from the manufacturer, in Surrey. Made to order, the car featured a revised tubular chassis and sleeker bodywork than its predecessors, and incorporated a preselector gearbox.^[3] With it, Crossley took International Class F (1,100 cc (67.1 cu in) to 1,500 cc (91.5 cu in)) standing start speed records over 50 km (125.92 mph), 50 miles (124.49 mph) and 100 km (124.17 mph) at the Montlhéry circuit in late 1949.^[4] Crossley also campaigned the Alta GP in selected races in 1949, including the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh and last, six laps down on the winner.

The following year he took part in the first ever World Championship Formula One race: the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. He qualified in 17th place,^[5] three places ahead of Joe Kelly in a similar Alta, despite the latter's higher specification engine. Crossley's race ended with transmission failure on lap 43.^[6] Later that season Crossley entered the Alta for the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix, where he qualified 12th and finished in ninth position.^[7] In addition to his Championship entries, Crossley also took part in a number of non-Championship races in the Alta, but at the end of the 1950 season he decided to retire due to the high costs of the sport.^[2]

He made a brief return to motorsport in 1955, after he built a Lea-Francis-engined special using parts taken from GP2, which he called the Berkshire Special.^[8] Crossley entered the car for the 1955 Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Circuit, but teething troubles with the car meant that he was slowest in practice^[9] and he decided to withdraw from the event.^[2] Owing to work and family commitments Crossley abandoned the Berkshire Special's development,^[10] and withdrew from racing for good.

Geoffrey Crossley died from a stroke, in the John Radcliffe Hospital, on 7 January 2002.^[1]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	WDC	Points
1950	Geoffrey Crossley	Alta GP	Alta L4s	GBR Ret	MON	500	SUI	BEL 9	FRA	ITA	NC	0

References

1. "Where Are They Now?: Geoffrey Crossley". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
2. Parker, Paul (2011). Formula One in Camera: 1950-59. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-84425-553-5.
3. "Alta 2-Litre". Conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
4. "The Sportfolio". The Autocar. Iliffe, Sons & Sturmey Ltd. 94: 1236. 1949.
5. Muelas, Felix; Diepraam, Mattijs; England, Greg (November 1999). "Geoffrey Taylor's brainchild". 8W. Archived from the original on 15 April 2002.
6. "1950 British GP: Classification". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
7. "1950 Belgian GP". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
8. Jenkinson, Denis (1987). Directory of Historic Racing Cars. Aston Publications Ltd. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-946627-08-0.
9. "1955 Glover Trophy". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
10. Diepraam, Mattijs; 'Uechtel'; Reyna, Rafael; Breevoort, Leo; Heymans, Jasper (20 May 2010). "Grand Prix cars that never raced". 6th Gear.