Norman Culpan

Norman Ratcliffe Culpan (born November 23, 1906 in Todmorden , † February 2005 in Calderdale ) was a British industrialist and racing driver .

Racing career

Norman Culpan was a wealthy industrialist whose Halifax company wove fabrics. Before the Second World War he competed in motorcycle races . He rode a Rudge in the Isle of Man TT in 1928 and 1929.

After the Second World War he had a short career as a racing car driver. In 1949 he borrowed a Frazer Nash High Speed ​​Le Mans Replica from Harold John Aldington in order to compete in the Mille Miglia with Dickie Stoop . On arrival the car had an accident near Dijon and was so badly damaged that it was not possible to start the race. The 1949 Le Mans 24-hour race was Culpan's first ever car race. Without any experience, he drove the repaired Frazer Nash with Aldington. The two drivers took turns after 25 laps and achieved a surprising third place in the overall standings despite a weakening clutch. Culpan achieved another third place at the Silverstone International behind the two Jaguar drivers Leslie Johnson and Peter Walker .

He also competed in the Le Mans 24-hour race and Silverstone International in 1950 . His last race start was at the RAC Tourist Trophy in 1951 , which he finished eleventh.

statistics

Le Mans results

year	team	vehicle	Teammate	placement	Failure reason
1949	Mrs. P. Trevelyan	Frazer Nash High Speed ​​Le Mans Replica	Harold John Aldington	Rank 3
1950	NR Culpan	Frazer Nash High Speed ​​Le Mans Replica	Lt. Cdr. Peter Wilson	Rank 20

literature

• Christian Moity, Jean-Marc Teissèdre, Alain Bienvenu: 24 heures du Mans, 1923–1992. Éditions d'Art, Besançon 1992, ISBN 2-909-413-06-3 .

Web links

• Norman Culpan at Racing Sports Cars
• Norman Culpan at Motorsport Magazine

Individual evidence

1. ^ Silverstone International 1949
2. ^ RAC Tourist Trophy 1951