Tommy Wisdom

Thomas Henry ("Tommy") Wisdom (16 Feb 1906, Brighton – 12 Nov 1972, Birmingham ^[1]) was a British motoring correspondent for the Daily Herald and a racing driver. In his 33 year racing career, he entered 52 races, including 12 times the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 11 times the Mille Miglia. He raced for famous companies like Singer, Jaguar, and Aston Martin and on some occasions was joined by drivers like Jack Fairman, Leslie Johnson, and Graham Whitehead. Besides sports car racing, Wisdom was a well-known name in rallying, too, having started the Monte Carlo rally 23 times. ^[2]^[3] Tommy's wife Elsie and daughter Ann Wisdom were racing drivers, too. ^[4]^[5]

Sports car racing results

No.	Date	Race	Entrant	Car	Teammate(s)	Result
1	22 Aug 1931	RAC Tourist Trophy	"L.A. Cushman"	Invicta S	"J. Chilton" Donald Healey Dudley Froy	19th
2	20 Aug 1932	RAC Tourist Trophy	Elsie Wisdom	Riley Brooklands 9	Sammy Newsome	DNF
3	16 Sep 1933	500 Miles of Brooklands	Alan Hess	MG L Type	Alan Hess	DNF
4	17 Jun 1934	1934 24 Hours of Le Mans	Singer Motors	Singer Nine Le Mans	John Donald Barnes	18th
5	22 Sep 1934	500 Miles of Brooklands	Capt. G.E.T. Eyston	MG K3	Bill Everitt	4th
6	16 Jun 1935	1935 24 Hours of Le Mans	Singer Motors	Singer Nine Le Mans	John Donald Barnes	DNF
7	7 Sep 1935	RAC Tourist Trophy	Peter Donkin	Aston Martin Ulster	Peter Donkin	DNS
8	21 Sep 1935	500 Miles of Brooklands	"Evans"	MG R-Type	"A.L. Phipps"	NC
9	28 Jun 1936	Grand Prix de l'ACF	D.M.K. Marendaz	Marendaz Special	Earl Howe	25th
10	5 Sep 1936	RAC Tourist Trophy	Arthur Dobson	Riley TT Sprite	Arthur Dobson	DNS
11	19 Sep 1936	500 Miles of Brooklands	"Dixon"	Riley 6	"G. Daybell"	6th
12	4 Apr 1937	Mille Miglia		MG SA	Elsie Wisdom	DNF
13	24 Jul 1937	12 Hours of Donington	Team Autosports	Singer Nine Le Mans	Frank Stanley Barnes Alf Langley	DNA
14	4 Sep 1937	RAC Tourist Trophy	Singer Motors	Singer Nine Le Mans	none	DNF
15	19 Jun 1938	1938 24 Hours of Le Mans	Team Autosports	Singer Nine Le Mans	John Donald Barnes	DNF
16	3 Sep 1938	RAC Tourist Trophy	Frank Stanley Barnes	Singer	none	26th
17	18 Jun 1939	1939 24 Hours of Le Mans	Archie Scott Brown	Singer Nine Le Mans	Archie Scott	DNF
18	11 Jul 1948	Spa 24 Hours		Healey	Nick Haines	8th
19	12 Sep 1948	24 Hours of Paris		Healey	Norman Black	DNF
20	24 Apr 1949	Mille Miglia		Healey 2400 Westland	Geoffrey Healey	10th (1st in class)
21	26 Jun 1949	1949 24 Hours of Le Mans	"H.S.F. Hay"	Bentley 4 1/4 Paulin	"H.S.F. Hay" "Mrs. Hay"	6th
22	10 Jul 1949	Spa 24 Hours	Jowett	Jowett Javelin	Anthony Hulme	9th
23	20 Aug 1949	Silverstone International	Donald Healey	Healey Silverstone	none	17th
24	3 Jan 1950	Palm Beach		Healey Silverstone	"C. Swenson"	22nd
25	2 Apr 1950	Targa Florio		Healey Silverstone	Anthony Hulme	15th
26	23 Apr 1950	Mille Miglia	Jaguar Cars	Jaguar XK120	Anthony Hulme	DNF
27	18 Jun 1950	Circuito do Porto		Jaguar XK120		3rd
28	25 Jun 1950	1950 24 Hours of Le Mans	Jowett	Jowett Jupiter	Tommy Wise	16th (1st in class)
29	26 Aug 1950	Silverstone International	Tom Wisdom	Jaguar XK120	none	7th
30	16 Sep 1950	RAC Tourist Trophy	Jowett	Jowett Jupiter	none	DNF
31	29 Apr 1951	Mille Miglia	Tommy Wisdom	Aston Martin DB2	Anthony Hulme	11th
32	5 May 1951	International Production Car Race	T.H. Wisdom	Jaguar XK120	none	9th
33	17 Jun 1951	1951 Portuguese Grand Prix		Jaguar XK120		DNF
34	23 Jun 1951	1951 24 Hours of Le Mans	Jowett	Jowett Jupiter	Tommy Wise	DNF
35	15 Sep 1951	RAC Tourist Trophy	Jaguar Cars	Jaguar C-Type	Stirling Moss	DNS
36	15 Sep 1951	RAC Tourist Trophy	Jowett Cars	Jowett Jupiter	none	NC
37	4 May 1952	Mille Miglia	Aston Martin	Aston Martin DB2	"F. Lown"	12th (1st in class)
38	2 Jun 1952	1952 Monaco Grand Prix	Tommy Wisdom	Jaguar C-Type	none	6th
39	15 Jun 1952	1952 24 Hours of Le Mans	Healey	Nash-Healey	Leslie Johnson Graham Whitehead	3rd (1st in class)
40	26 Apr 1953	Mille Miglia	Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.	Aston Martin DB2	Dave Halliwell Peter Bolton	DNF
41	14 May 1953	Targa Florio	Jaguar Cars	Jaguar C-Type	none	17th
42	14 Jun 1953	1953 24 Hours of Le Mans	Bristol Aeroplane Co.	Bristol 450	Jack Fairman Maurice Wilson Graham Whitehead	DNF
43	7 Mar 1954	12 Hours of Sebring	Donald Healey Ltd.	Austin-Healey 100	Lance Macklin George Huntoon Thomas Johnson	DNS
44	2 May 1954	Mille Miglia	Donald Healey	Austin-Healey 100	Mortimer Morris-Goodall	DNF
45	13 Jun 1954	1954 24 Hours of Le Mans	Bristol Aeroplane Co.	Bristol 450	Jack Fairman	8th
46	4 Jul 1954	12 Hours of Reims	Bristol Aeroplane Co.	Bristol 450	Jack Fairman	12th
47	1 May 1955	Mille Miglia	Aston Martin	Aston Martin DB2	Peter Bolton	DNF
48	12 Jun 1955	1955 24 Hours of Le Mans	Bristol Aeroplane Co.	Bristol 450	Jack Fairman Tommy Line	9th
49	29 Apr 1956	Mille Miglia		Austin-Healey 100S	Walter Monaco	77th
50	12 May 1957	Mille Miglia		Austin-Healey 100S	Cecil Winby	37th
51	24 May 1959	Targa Florio	Tommy Wisdom	Austin-Healey Sprite	Bernard Cahier	18th
52	26 Apr 1964	Targa Florio	"D.H. Motorcobra"	Austin-Healey Sprite	Paddy Hopkirk	DNF

References

Racing Sports Cars
Harnessing Horsepower: The Pat Moss Carlsson story, S. Turner, Veloce Publishing, 2011, p.29
Fast Ladies - Female Racing Drivers 1888-1970, J-F. Bouzanquet, Veloce Publishing, 2009, p.84

[1] ttp://www.driverdb.com/drivers/tom-wisdom/

[2] ttp://www.hpc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=90

[3] ttp://www.healey.nl/rallysport/

[4] ttp://speedqueens.blogspot.nl/2010/07/elsie-wisdom.html

[5] ttp://www.goodwood.co.uk/members-meeting/news-and-coverage/articles/cocktails,-cakes-and-a-racing-heroine-called-bill-.aspx

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