George Abecassis

George Edgar Abecassis DFC^[4] (21 March 1913 – 18 December 1991) was a British racing driver, and co-founder of the HWM Formula One team.

George Abecassis
Abecassis on left, with Lance Macklin and Aston Martin DB2 LML/50/8 at 1950
Born	George Edgar Abecassis (1913-03-21)21 March 1913 Oatlands, Surrey, England
Died	18 December 1991(1991-12-18) (aged 78) Ibstone, Buckinghamshire, England
Formula One World Championship career Nationality British Active years 1951 – 1952 Teams HWM Entries 2 Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 Career points 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 First entry 1951 Swiss Grand Prix Last entry 1952 Swiss Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career Years 1950–1951, 1953 Teams Aston Martin Best finish 5th (1950; 1951) Class wins 1 (1950)
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve)
Years of service	c. 1940–1953[1]
Rank	Squadron leader[2]
Service number	115865
Unit	No. 161 Squadron RAF[3]
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross[4] Mentioned in dispatches[5]
Website	Profile at Traces of War

Pre-1946 career

Born in Oatlands, Surrey, Abecassis was educated at Clifton College.^[6] He began circuit racing in 1935 in a modified Austin Seven which became known as The Einsitzer. After taking 1937 as a year away from the track, he acquired an Alta and made a name for himself in English national racing during the 1938 and 1939 seasons. In 1939, he won the Imperial Trophy Formula Libre race at Crystal Palace, driving his Alta, defeating Prince Bira, in the E.R.A. known as Romulus, in a wet race,^[7] "that being the only time it was beaten by a 1,500 cc (92 cu in) car in the British Isles."^[8]

At one point, Abecassis held the Campbell circuit lap record at Brooklands at 72.61 miles per hour (116.85 km/h)^[9] On 3 July 1938 Abecassis broke the Prescott Hill Climb record with a climb of 47.85 seconds in his supercharged 1½-litre Alta.^[10]

When World War II broke out he joined the Royal Air Force, as a member of the Volunteer Reserves, and became an experienced pilot, ultimately becoming a member of the secret "Moon Squadrons",^[11] ferrying secret agents in and out of occupied countries in Europe with specially-modified Halifax and Stirling aircraft. During the course of his wartime service Abecassis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross^[4][12] and was mentioned in dispatches^[5] with the following citation:^[13]

[Abecassis]... has been employed as a Flying Instructor and latterly as Deputy Flight Commander. His keenness and enthusiasm, combined with conscientious and consistent instruction, have always been an inspiration to trainee pilots and his pupils have in every case displayed the hallmark of his careful attention. He has carried out a long spell on the arduous and exacting duties of a Flying Instructor at an Operational Training Unit.

— as per London Gazette, 11 January 1944.

Abecassis achieved the rank of squadron leader,^[2] and, following the war, continued as a member of the RAF Volunteer Reserves prior to his discharge in 1953.^[1]

Post-1946 career

See also: Hersham and Walton Motors

After World War II Abecassis went back to racing, initially with pre-war machinery. He won a race at Gransden Lodge in a road-going 3.3-litre Bugatti on 15 June 1946.^[14] In 1947, Abecassis finished second in the Swedish Grand Prix, held on a frozen lake at Vallentuna, driving an E.R.A.^[15] In 1948, he finished second to Bob Gerard in the Jersey International Road Race.^[16] He became a partner, with John Heath, in Hersham and Walton Motors Ltd., a motor dealership and garage in Walton-on-Thames. Building on his pre-war association with the Alta marque, Abecassis and HWM assisted in the development of the Alta GP car,^[12] designed to comply with the recently introduced Formula One regulations.

After the failure of this enterprise, Abecassis and Heath decided to construct their own cars under the HWM banner, but retaining Alta engines. Initially the HWM cars were designed to compete in the Formula Two class, but when the World Championship switched to Formula Two regulations in 1952 HWM cars became eligible to compete in the Grand Prix events. During their prime, HWM employed such future stars as Stirling Moss and Peter Collins, and the Belgian Johnny Claes scored their first victory, in the Grand Prix des Frontières at a street circuit in Chimay, Belgium.^[11] Abecassis's HWM team also took a notable victory in the International Trophy race at Silverstone in 1952, this time with Lance Macklin at the wheel. With the reintroduction of Formula One cars to the World Championship in 1954, Abecassis and Heath attempted to produce a competitive car using the 2.5-litre version of the Alta engine but it was not a success;^[11] HWM cars only contested two further Grand Prix events after 1953.

It was with his own HWM cars that Abecassis raced in his only two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, at the Bremgarten circuit, in the 1951 and 1952 Swiss Grand Prix. He was more successful as a sports car driver with Aston Martin and won his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950, sharing his DB2 with Macklin. He also finished second in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1953, partnered by Reg Parnell. In 1953, Abecassis constructed an HWM sports car for his own personal use, powered by a Jaguar straight-6 engine, with which he successfully contested many national British races until 1956.^[17]

In 1955 Mille Miglia he drove a red Austin Healey 100S (AHS3804) very fast in the last "Rome section" to an outstanding position close to the speeds of Stirling Moss with the Mercedes SLR and finished 11th overall.

In 1956, Heath was killed in an accident in the Mille Miglia and Abecassis retired from racing, turning his attention to running the HWM operations. He was the Facel Vega importer for Britain, while his motor industry connections were aided by the fact that he was married to Angela, the daughter of Aston Martin chairman Sir David Brown. He died aged 78, in Ibstone, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

In September 2010 his son David Abecassis published a comprehensive biography of his father under the title A Passion for Speed.

His grandson, Jonathan Abecassis, has an active interest in vintage sports car racing. He competes in the Fifties Sports Car Racing Club ("FISCAR") series, driving an Austin Healey 100/4.

Racing record

Career highlights

Season	Series	Position	Team	Car
1935	Aston Clinton Speed Trails [18]	1st		Austin 7 "Einsitzer"
1936	Lands End Trial[19]	Premier Award		1934 Wolseley Hornet Special AXK 777
1938	Easter Road Race [18]	1st		Alta 2.0 s/c
	Lewes Speed Trials [18]	1st		Alta S
	British Trophy [18]	1st		Alta S
	Crystal Palace Cup [18]	1st		Alta S
	Crystal Palace Grand Prix[20]	2nd		Alta 12/50
	Crystal Palace Plate [20]	2nd		Alta 2.0 s/c
	Imperial Trophy [20]	2nd		Alta 12/50
	Imperial Plate [20]	2nd		Alta 2.0 s/c
1939	Imperial Trophy [20]	1st		Alta 12/50
	Imperial Plate [21]	1st	George Abecassis	Alta 2.0 s/c
	Crystal Palace Plate [20]	3rd	G. E. Abecassis	Alta 2.0 s/c
1946	MAC International Hill Climb [18]	2nd		Alta S
	Gransden Lodge Trophy [22]	2nd		Alta
1947	Bo'ness Hill Climb [23]	1st		Bugatti Type 59
	British Hill Climb Championship [24]	2nd		Bugatti Type 59
	SAK Stockholm Grand Prix [25]	2nd		ERA A-Type
	Prix de Rome [26]	2nd		Cisitalia-Fiat D46
	Gransden Trophy [18]	2nd		Bugatti Type 59
	JMC & LCC Hill Climb [18]	2nd		Bugatti Type 59
	KAK Winter Grand Prix [27]	3rd		ERA A-Type
	Ulster Trophy [28]	3rd		ERA A-Type
	Craigantlet Hillclimb [18]	3rd		Bugatti Type 59
1948	Jersey International Road Race [29]	2nd		Maserati 6CM
1951	Winfield Formula 2 Cup [30]	2nd	H. W. Motors Ltd.	HWM-Alta 51
	Madgwick Cup [18]	3rd	H. W. Motors Ltd.	HWM
	Hastings Trophy [31]	3rd	H. W. Motors Ltd.	HWM
1952	Ibsley Grand Prix [32]	2nd	H. W. Motors Ltd.	HWM-Alta 52
	Silverstone International [20]	3rd	David Brown	Aston Martin DB3
	Jersey International Road Race [20]	3rd	David Brown	Aston Martin DB3
1953	Goodwood International [33]	1st	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	Grand Prix, 12 Hours of Sebring [34]	2nd	Aston Martin Ltd.	Aston Martin DB3
1954	Silverstone International [20]	2nd	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	Hedemoraloppet [20]	2nd	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	Goodwood International [20]	3rd	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
1955	AMOC USAF Trophy [35]	1st	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	BM Trophy [36]	1st	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	RedeX Trophy [37]	1st	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar
	Mille Miglia	11th	Donald Healey Motor Company	Austin Healey 100S
	Brighton Speed Trials [38]	2nd	H. W. Motors	HWM-Jaguar

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	WDC	Points
1951	HW Motors Ltd	HWM	Alta Straight-4	SUI Ret	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP	NC	0
1952	HW Motors Ltd	HWM	Alta Straight-4	SUI Ret	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA	NC	0
Source:[39]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1950	Aston Martin Ltd.	Lance Macklin	Aston Martin DB2	S3.0	249	5th	1st
1951	Aston Martin Ltd.	Brian Shawe-Taylor	Aston Martin DB2	S3.0		5th	2nd
1953	Aston Martin Ltd.	Roy Salvadori	Aston Martin DB3S	S3.0	74	DNF (Clutch)

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1953	Aston Martin, Ltd.	Reg Parnell	Aston Martin DB3	S3.0	172	2nd	1st

Complete Mille Miglia results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Pos.	Class Pos.
1952	Aston Martin Ltd.	Pat Griffith	Aston Martin DB2	GT+2.0	DNF (Clutch)
1953	Aston Martin Lagonda	Pat Griffith	Aston Martin DB3	S+2.0	DNF (Steering, accident)
1954	H.W. Motors	Denis Jenkinson	HWM-Jaguar	S+2.0	DNF (Shock absorber)
1955	Donald Healey Motor Company		Austin-Healey 100S	S+2.0	11th	5th

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1948		John Heath	Alta	S2.0	172	DNF (Accident)

Complete 12 Hours of Reims results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1953	H.W. Motors	Paul Frère	HWM-Jaguar	S+2.0		DNF (Suspension)
1954	H.W. Motors	Lance Macklin	HWM-Jaguar	S+2.0		DNF (Engine)

Complete 12 Hours of Hyères results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1954	H.W. Motors	Tony Gaze	HWM-Jaguar			DISQ (Disqualified)

References

1. "No. 39878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1953. p. 3110.
2. "No. 36299". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 December 1943. p. 5590.
3. "No. 36997". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 March 1945. p. 1597.
4. "No. 36997". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1945. p. 1597.
5. "No. 36329". The London Gazette. 11 January 1944. p. 292.
6. "Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p434: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948
7. Motor Sport, November 1938, Page 388.
8. Motor Sport, November 1940, Page 202.
9. Motor Sport, May 1939, Page 135.
10. Motor Sport, July 1938, Page 246.
11. "Drivers: George Abecassis". GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
12. "The World Championship drivers — Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
13. Halliday, Hugh (16 February 2014). "Mention-in-Despatches". Royal Air Force Commands. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
14. Motor Sport, July 1946, Page 143.
15. Motor Sport, April 1947, Page 98.
16. Motor Sport, June 1948, cover.
17. "Driver: Abecassis, George". Autocourse Grand Prix Archive. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
18. "George Abecassis Race List". www.georgeabecassis.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
19. "THE M.C.C. LAND'S END TRIAL". www.motorsportmagazine.com. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
20. "George Abecassis (GB) - All Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
21. "Imperial Plate 1939 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars".
22. "1946 Gransden Lodge Trophy - ChicaneF1.com". www.chicanef1.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
23. "British Hillclimb Championship (1947-to date) - Motorsport Winners". 23 October 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
24. "George Abecassis Life Achievements". www.georgeabecassis.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
25. "1945 Robert Benoist Cup - ChicaneF1.com". www.chicanef1.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
26. "F2 Register - Index". www.formula2.net. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
27. "1945 Robert Benoist Cup - ChicaneF1.com". www.chicanef1.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
28. "2000 British GP - ChicaneF1.com". www.chicanef1.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
29. http://www.chicanef1.com/r=race.pl?year=1948&gp=Jersey%20Road%20Race&r=18&type=res%5B%5D
30. "F2 Register - Index". www.formula2.net. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
31. Galpin, Darren. "1951 Formula Libre Races". www.teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
32. "F2 Register - Index". www.formula2.net. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
33. "Goodwood International [S+1.5] 1953 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
34. "Sebring 12 Hours 1953 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
35. "National Oulton Park [Sports Unlimited] 1955 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
36. "BARC Goodwood [S3.5] 1955 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
37. "Castle Combe International 1955 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
38. "Archived copy". www.georgeabecassis.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
39. Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 12. ISBN 0851127029.

Further reading

• Abecassis, David (2010). A Passion for Speed: the life and times of George Abecassis. P J Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9550102-6-2.

External links

• George Abecassis Racing Driver with a Passion for Speed (georgeabecassis.com), 2010.
• Our History, HWM of Walton on Thames, West London.
• Fast motoring in a Facel Vega,, Motor Sport Magazine, August 1958.
• "Abecassis, George Edgar". Traces of War. Netherlands: Foundation for Information on World War 2. 2019.