David Whitworth (racing driver)

Malcolm David Whitworth ( 1904 - July 3, 1950 in Spa , Belgium ) was a British motorcycle racer .

Career

David Whitworth already competed in motorcycle races before World War II and started in numerous races in his British homeland. In 1935 and 1936 he took part in the Manx Grand Prix , but was eliminated in each case. In 1937 he competed for the first time in the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man , which at that time was considered the most difficult motorcycle race in the world. In the race in the 250 cm³ class ( Lightweight TT ) he was eliminated again with his Cotton . In 1938 Whitworth could not finish the lightweight race either, in the 350cc class, the junior TT , he finished sixth on a Velocette . At the 500 cc race of the Ulster Grand Prix , he finished third behind Jock West and Ginger Wood , which meant he finished eleventh in the European Championship in this class. In 1939 Whitworth finished fifth in the junior race of the TT, in the 500 cc race, the senior TT , in which he competed for the first time, he was twelfth.

At the first post-war TT, David Whitworth on a Velocette achieved the best TT position of his career with second place behind his brand colleague Bob Foster in the 350 cc race. He dropped out in the half-liter run. In the 1949 season , David Whitworth competed in two races in the newly created motorcycle world championship . He finished fourth at the Dutch TT and the Belgian Grand Prix , which earned him sixth place overall. At the Grand Prix of France held in Saint-Gaudens , which was not part of the World Cup , the Briton won the 350cc race.

In the 1950 season Whitworth started with the ranks eleven and 19 in the junior and senior TT . In the 500 cc class he started as a Triumph factory driver for the first time .

Deadly accident

On July 2, 1950, David Whitworth had a serious accident in the 350cc race of the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps . He was on his privately used Velocette fighting Harold Daniell , Ted Frend and Charlie Salt for fifth place. On the tenth lap he attacked between Stavelot and Francorchamps Salt, and the two drivers touched, which caused Whitworth to crash heavily. The Briton was taken to the hospital in Spa , where a skull fracture was diagnosed.

The following day, July 3, 1950, David Whitworth died of serious injuries at the age of 46. In accordance with his wish to be buried near the scene of the accident in the event of a fatal accident, he was buried at the Cimetière de Spa .

statistics

Race wins

year	class	machine	run	route
1949	350 cc	Velocette	French Grand Prix	Saint-Gaudens

In the motorcycle world championship

season	class	motorcycle	run	Victories	Podiums	Points	Result
1949	350 cc	Velocette	2	-	-	12	6th
1950	350 cc	Velocette	1	-	-	-	-
	500 cc	triumph	1	-	-	-	-
total			4th	-	-	12

Web links

• David Whitworth on the official website of the Motorcycle World Championship.
• David Whitworth on the Isle of Man TT official website.
• David Whitworth at motorsportmemorial.org (English)
• Photo: David Whitworth with his Velocette