Most classic car enthusiasts have their favourite racing motorists. I have a number, including the best of all time – Juan Manuel Fangio.
At a quite different level I have the greatest respect for another driver who’s father, Terry Delaney, was a keen racing driver during the pioneering days of motor racing, driving a de Dietrich and a Bugatti. His son, Tom, was not initially interested in motor racing. But when he was 19 his father, who was managing director of Lea-Francis, gave him a 1928 TT-winning supercharged Lea-Francis Hyper – which had been used by Kaye Don – and Tom’s love of motor racing was kindled.
Watched by his father, his first event was at Brooklands, where he finished third. A year later he was in his first international event – the Irish Grand Prix at Phoenix Park in Dublin. Tom surprised the racing fraternity by leading for more than 322km against a gaggle of MGs in the 1.5-litre race. Dirt eventually found its way into the carburettor then into the supercharger, putting an end to his race. Despite the disappointment, he stuck with the car. Tom later said, “It is a wonderful car and it has been very good to me and I have had so little to spend on upkeep. It just runs and runs, and I wouldn’t have had the money to upgrade anyhow.”
Another famous race was at Donington in 1932, when he beat the legendary Dick Seaman who became a works Mercedes Grand Prix driver.
When war broke out Tom sold the car, but was lucky to relocate it again after hostilities ceased, and he continued to race his Lea-Francis until the year he died.
On June 12, 2005, as club president, Tom Delaney drove a spirited race to a well deserved win at the Bentley Driver’s Club Race Day at Silverstone. Starting 11th on the grid. Tom maintained amazing progress to pass the entire field and finish first after seven laps.
Just over a year later he died at the age of 94 years, after competing in about 750 races – truly a remarkable man.

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