Leslie Brooke

Brooke began his career in 1937 with a self-built special based upon a Riley Imp chassis, with an {{convert|1100|cc|abbr=on}} MG engine. He entered several events that season but without much success. However, he continued to develop the car over the subsequent two seasons and in 1939, using a Riley {{convert|1750|cc|abbr=on}} straight-six engine, achieved three podium finishes at Brooklands, together with a second place at Shelsley Walsh and another second place in the International Trophy at Silverstone.{{cite web|last=Jenkinson|first=Denis|author-link=Denis Jenkinson|url= http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1978/27/international-trophy|title=The International Trophy|website=Motor Sport magazine archive|date=April 1978|page=27|access-date=15 March 2017}}

Brooke's career was then interrupted by World War II. He resumed thereafter, initially with his special, but subsequently purchased an ERA B-type. With this car he won the Grand Prix des Frontières in 1946{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1946/7/reports-recent-events|title=Reports of Recent Events|date=August 1946|website=Motor Sport magazine archive|page=7|access-date=17 November 2016}} and hillclimb events.

In 1947, he finished second in the Swedish Winter Grand Prix{{Cite news|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13946-1947-swedish-winter-grand-prix|title=1947 Swedish Winter Grand Prix|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=30 November 2016}} in February, but retired from the Vallentuna F1 race held later the same month{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13947-1947-vallentuna-f1|title=1947 Vallentuna F1|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=5 December 2016}} and from the Jersey F1 race held at Saint Helier.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13947-1947-jersey-f1|title=1947 Jersey F1 Race|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=6 December 2016}} Brooke then purchased an ERA E-type which he used to compete in the Reims Grand Prix retiring after five laps after which he shared Fred Ashmore's ERA B-type which also retired after 33 laps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/nc/1947/1947.html#reims|title=XVI Grand Prix de Reims|last=Galpin|first=Darren|website=www.silhouet.com|access-date=8 December 2016}} At the Grand Prix d'Albi, Brooke resumed with his own B-type but having qualified sixth,{{Cite news|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13953-1947-albi-grand-prix|title=1947 Albi Grand Prix|access-date=8 December 2016|website=Motor Sport magazine datadase}} retired after 18 laps with an engine problem.{{Cite web|url=http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/nc/1947/1947.html#albi|title=IX Grand Prix de l'Albigeois|last=Galpin|first=Darren|website=www.silhouet.com|access-date=8 December 2016}} At the Nice Grand Prix, he finished seventh with the B-type having qualified 20th, and last. He achieved the first-ever race finish (fourth) for the E-type in the 1947 British Empire Trophy at Douglas Circuit and at the 1947 French Grand Prix, qualified in eighth position with the same car but retired after only one lap with an engine problem.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2713-1947-french-grand-prix|title=1947 French Grand Prix|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=17 November 2016}} He later sold the car back to ERA.

In 1948, Brooke began the season with the B-type, retiring from the Jersey F1 race in April,{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13934-1948-jersey-f1|title=JCC Jersey Road Race|website=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=25 December 2016}} but claiming third-place in the British Empire Trophy in May,{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13935-1948-british-empire-trophy|title=British Empire Trophy|website=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=25 December 2016}} followed by fourth place in the inaugural Zandvoort Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13939-1948-zandvoort-grand-prix|title=1948 Zandvoort Grand Prix|website=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=9 January 2016}} He then moved to a Maserati 4CLT, entered by Scuderia Ambrosiana and finished 11th in the Grand Prix d'Albi{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13941-1948-albi-grand-prix|title=1948 Albi Grand Prix Results Sun 29 Aug|website=Motor Sport magazine database|language=en|access-date=26 January 2017}} and 11th in the 1948 Italian Grand Prix under his own name,{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2721-1948-italian-grand-prix|title=1948 Italian Grand Prix|website=Motor Sport magazine database|language=en|access-date=28 January 2017}} but was forced to retire from the Monza Grand Prix{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2723-1948-monza-grand-prix|title=1948 Monza Grand Prix|website=Motor Sport magazine database|language=en|access-date=15 February 2017}} and the Penya Rhin Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/13945-1948-penya-rhin-grand-prix|title=1948 Penya Rhin Grand Prix Results Sun 31 Oct|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=31 March 2017|language=en}}

In 1949, Brooke finished seventh in the Grand Prix d'Albi with the Maserati,{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=ALBI49|title=Grand Prix d'Albi: Circuit d'Albi, 10 Jul 1949|last=Brown|first=Allen|website=www.oldracingcars.com|access-date=20 November 2016}} did not progress past the heats at the International Trophy and retired from the 1949 Italian Grand Prix.

Brooke retired from the 1950 San Remo Grand Prix after eight laps. He subsequently reduced his participation in circuit racing and began competing in rallying with a Triumph TR2. He also competed in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1955 when the Standard Motor Company entered several of their Eight and Ten models.{{Cite news|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1955/25/rumblings|title=Rumblings: The "Big Five" and the Monte Carlo Rally|date=March 1955|work=Motor Sport magazine archive|access-date=3 April 2017|page=25|language=en}}

Brooke made an appearance at the 1954 Goodwood F1 race with a Connaught A-type-Lea Francis. However, having set fastest time in qualifying, he failed to start the race.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/3576-1954-goodwood-f1|title=1954 Goodwood F1|website=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=2 March 2017}}

Brooke was awarded the George Medal during World War II for bravery during the Coventry Blitz. He was also joint-principal of Coventry-based Speed Engines Limited, set up in the mid 1950s to build a British F1 engine. The project was short-lived though and only one example was produced.{{cite web|last=Lawrence|first=Mike|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1986/38/if-story-what-might-have-been|title=If... A Story Of What Might Have Been|website=Motor Sport magazine archive|date=April 1986|page=38|access-date=3 April 2017}}

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Category:Recipients of the George Medal

Category:1910 births

Category:1967 deaths

Category:English racing drivers

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:People from Rusholme

Category:Mille Miglia drivers

Category:20th-century English sportsmen