DRIVERS (D)
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Even with lots of work still do be done this list have reached a state
where it must be considered one of the most complete and accurate ever assembled on
the subject. This has only been possible due to the tremendous help from people
all over the world, each of them experts of their local drivers and events.
Short biographies of drivers with BLUE background, will come up in due time.
If you have any information about any driver with GREEN background, please
contact me!
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Mario Dafarra (I) |
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From Vigevano province of Pavia. Active without particular success in motor racing in 1929/1931 at the wheel of a Lancia Lambda in 1929 of a 6C-1750 Alfa Romeo in
1929/30 and finally of a T35B Bugatti in 1930/31.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1929: DNA Alessandria GP /
4 Camaiore Cup
1930: 7 Alessandria GP /
4 (rep) Monza GP
1931: DNF (heat) Monza GP
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Antonio (Antonino) "Nino" D'Agata (I) |
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* 2 Apr 1905
† 11 Nov 1989 |
Catania
Catania |
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Well known motor car dealer in Catania. He rarely raced in Italy north of Reggio Calabria, on the opposite shore of the Messina Strait from Sicily. He debuted with an
Ansaldo in 1926, then drove a Bugatti in 1926/28 and an OM in 1930/31. Then he had two outings in Maseratis: Ruggeri’s tipo 26 at Caserta in 1930 and an unknown tipo
26B at Rome in 1932. The 1933/34 seasons with the Maserati 26M formerly of Cerami were the top of his career as quality of the races is concerned, but with scarce results.
whereas his second overall place at the famous Christmas sports car race at Asmara, Eritrea, in 1938 driving an Alfa Romeo 8C-2900 is his best ever result in an
important race. In between he drove a Fiat Ardita and Lancia Aprilia. In 1939, before his return from East Africa where he had opened a branch of his commercial
activity, D’Agata in the Alfa Romeo was beaten by Luigi Panerai in a Maserati in the Sports cars class in the Addis Abeba hill climb. Postwar he occasionally took up
racing again in selected races such as Giro di Sicilia (1948/49) and Mille Miglia (1948).
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1926: DNF Coppa Etna (1500cc)
1928: 6 Coppa Messina /
DNF Coppa Etna
1932: DNF (heat) Rome GP
1934: DNF Targa Florio
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d'Ippolito - SEE: d'Ippolito
Jean-Claude Léon Dahetze d'Ahetze (Dahetze) (F) |
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* 29 Dec 1899
† 24 Oct 1977 |
Paris
Boulogne-Billancourt |
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Jean-Claude d'Ahetze was a French fashion designer. Full name was Dahetze but he changed the spelling of his surname to d’Ahetze.
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| (Info supplied by Reinhard Windeler) |
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1928: 9 Marne GP /
5 (heat) Grand Prix Bugatti /
DNC European GP
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d'Ajetti - SEE: Ajetti
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Remo D'Alessio (I) |
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From Rome. Active in motor racing only in 1933 at the wheel of an 8C-2300 Alfa Romeo Spider Touring serial 2111033.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1933: 5 Targa Florio
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Giovanni Dall'Olio Contri (I) |
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From Brescia. Builder of the C.D. voiturette car.
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1925: DNF Garda Circuit (1500cc)
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Guillaume Henri "Guy" Daniel-Lamuzière (F) |
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* 1 Jan 1877
† 23 Jan 1971 |
Saint Pierre Chérignat, Creuse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Saint Pierre Chérignat, Creuse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1930: 5 Dieppe (Voiturette) /
DNF French GP /
DNA San Sebastian GP
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"Daniel" (Daniel Ernest Porthault) (F) |
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* 1 Nov 1911
† 22 Feb 1976 |
Panthéon, Paris
Emancé, Yvelines, Île-de-France |
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Raced in France with his own Delahaye 135 sportscar.
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| (Info supplied by Jean-Charles Colombier) |
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1937: 4 Frontières GP
1938: DNA Pau GP
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Mario Danieli (I) |
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* 14 Apr 1879
† 22 Oct 1955 |
Fagagna, Udine
Buttrio, Udine |
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Mario Danieli was a graduate engineer and a steel industrialist in partnership with his brother Timo also a racing driver. They were the founders in 1914 of the Acciaierie Angelini in Brescia,
one of the first steelworks in Italy to use the electric arc furnace for steel production. The company was relocated in 1929 to the province of Udine where it still exists today, changing from
steel production to the construction of machinery and plants for the steel industry, as well as the design and supply of turnkey plants. Very strong sports car drivers in long-haul races the
Danieli brothers contributed to the international reputation of the OM cars also made in Brescia. The placings achieved by them, who were amateurs but included in the works team, in international
races are outstanding with Mario obtaining five class wins with Timo and Renato Balestrero as codrivers . They raced in the International Cup of the Alps, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the San Sebastian
Touring Car GP, the 24 Hours of Spa and the Mille Miglia.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva & Reinhard Windeler) |
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1922: 19 Mugello Circuit
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d'Arnoux - SEE: Arnoux
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Edgard Marie da Silva Ramos (F/BR) |
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* 8 May 1890
† 18 Sep 1945 |
Paris 16e
Paris 16e |
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Father to F1 driver Hermando "Nano" da Silva Ramos (Gordini 1955-56).
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| (Info supplied by André Reine) |
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1928: 6 (heat) Grand Prix Bugatti
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Oldemar da Silva Ramos (BR) |
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* ~1910
† ? |
Macae?, Rio de Janeiro
? |
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Da Silva Romos drove important cars in the period just before and after World War II. He lived in Rio de Janeiro and distinguished himself at the wheel of an 8C-2300
Alfa Romeo at the races at Gavea in 1939 and 1940. In 1941, sponsored by Cafe? Paulista, he drove the ex-Arzani 8C-35 Alfa Romeo, finishing second in the Buenos Aires
Grand Prix and winning at Santa Fe? (Argentina) the following year. He reappeared in 1946 winning the first two races in Brazil, at the Boa Vista Park and at
Interlagos, driving the tipo B Alfa Romeo monoposto, serial 50010, which he soon sold, after which he occasionally drove various Maserati voiturettes. Da Silva Ramos
was the technical director of a group of repair workshops in Rio, and was also an assiduos horse racing enthusiast.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1939: DNF Circuito de Gávea
1940: DNF Circuito de Gávea
1941: 7 Rio de Janeiro GP /
2 Buenos Aires GP
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d'Avanzo - SEE: Avanzo
Sydney Charles Houghton "Sammy" Davis (GB) |
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* 9 Jan 1887
† 9 Jan 1981
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South Kensington, London
Guildford, Surrey |
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1927: DNF* British GP
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de Alzaga - SEE: Alsaga
de Avellar - SEE: Avellar
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Domenico De Bernardinis (I) |
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Not in the official list of licensed Italian racing drivers.
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1924: DNA Coppa Acerbo (1500cc)
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de Bejarry - SEE: Bejarry
de Belleroche - SEE: Belleroche
de Berck or De Berk- SEE: Berc
de Bondeli - SEE: Bondeli
de Brémond - SEE: Brémond
de Buck - SEE: Buck
de Burnay - SEE: Burnay
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Decapitani (I) |
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Not in the official list of licensed Italian racing drivers.
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1935: DNA Cosenza GP
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de Ceilleux - SEE: Ceilleux
de Chanaz - SEE: Chanaz
de Coucy - SEE: de Coucy
de Cystria - SEE: de Cystria
de Faucamberge - SEE: Faucamberge
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Ferruccio De Franceschi (I) |
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Not in the official list of licensed Italian racing drivers.
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1927: DNA Pozzo Circuit
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de Fumel - SEE: Fumel
de Gavardie - SEE: Gavardie
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Massimo Degiovannini / De Giovannini (I) |
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Lancia head tester from Torino. Winner of the 1925 Circuito di Alessandria with Alloatti's Bugatti T22.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1925: 1 Alessandria GP (1500cc)
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Ludovico De Gobbis (I) |
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Amateur Diatto driver (1925).
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1925: DNA Coppa Perugina (2000cc)
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de Gourmont - SEE: Gourmont
de Graffenried - SEE: Graffenried
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Gino De Grandis (I) |
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From Rome. Raced only once and was disqualified for dangerous driving.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1925: DNF Rome GP (3000cc)
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de Grassin - SEE: Grassin
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Carl Deilmann (D) |
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* 22 Apr 1894
† 12 Jan 1985
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Dortmund
? |
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Carl's father with the same name had founded a mining company in 1888 that became a major specialist in mining technique.
Carl took part in the First World War as a cavalryman and pilot in Jagdstaffel 2 and Jagdgeschwader 1 ("von Richthofen's Circus")
After the war he studied mining and political science and then joined his father's company as managing director, taking over the
company at his father's death in 1936. He made a name for himself internationally as a recognized expert in modern mining methods
and the company has built mining facilities all over the world.
He did some racing as a privateer with a NAG C4b in 1925 and an Austro Daimler ADM III in 1926-28.
He finished first at the 1927 Hohensyburgrennen 1927 (Sports cars 2-3L) and second behind Stuck in 1928.
In the 1929 1929 Hohensyburg Rundstrecken Prüfung he won a gold medal with his Austro Daimler. Again a gold medal at the Nürburgring ADAC
Langstreckenfahrt (8 hours) in 1929.
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| (Info supplied by Michael Müller & Reinhard Windeler) |
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1925: 5 Taunus GP
1926: DNF German GP
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Delangle - SEE: "Hellé-Nice"
de la Riva - SEE: Oliveras de la Riva
Georges Delaroche (F) |
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* 12 Jan 1902
† 9 Nov 1968
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Le Mans
Le Mans |
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Lived in Dieppe.
| | (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1928: 7 Marne GP
1930: DNF Dieppe (2000cc) /
DNF French GP
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de las Casas - SEE: "Raph"
Principe Rodolfo del Drago (I) |
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* 21 Jun 1900
† 6 Nov 1946
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Roma (Rome)
Zürich, Switzerland |
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Hailed from an old Roman family. His titles were Principe di Antuni, Marchese di Riofreddo etc. Raced intermittently from 1921 to 1931 with Diatto Bugatti Amilcar
and Lancia Dilambda but his better known car was a Mercedes-Benz SSK Sport/2s ex works team.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1924: DNF Coppa Acerbo (1100cc)
1926: DNA Coppa Peruginaa (1500cc)
1930: DNF Coppa Acerbo
1931: DNA/DNS Rome GP /
DNA Coppa Acerbo
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d'Elern - SEE: Elern
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Charles Delfosse né Ducornet (F) |
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* 22 Dec 1894
† 29 Jul 1993
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Hordain, Nord
Maizy, Aisne |
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Builder of the Delfosse cars from 1921 to 1927 at Cambrai and later at Valenciennes in Northern France.
Website (external link)
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| (Info supplied by Franck Méneret) |
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1926: DNA Marne GP (1500cc)
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Ernst von Delius (D) |
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* 29 Mar 1912
† 26 Jul 1937
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Pleassa, Elbe-Elster, Brandenburg
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen |
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Ernst von Delius was born 29. March 1912 in Plessa at the Elster River, north of Dresden, in Saxony,. His father gave him a 125cc motorcycle, which he used driving to school. When 19, after finishing school, his father
gifted him a 750 BMW sports car which Delius entered at the August 1932 Avusrennen, finishing sixth in his class. The following year he raced with the modified 750 BMW at several events. mainly at hill climbs, with great
success. In 1933 Delius drove for the BMW works team with a 1200 touring car at the 2000 km-Deutschland-Tour, winning a gold medal. Still with BMW in 1934, he again won the gold medal at the 2000-km-tour and the
Alpine-Cup at the International Alpine Tour. At the 1934 Eifelrennen Delius drove one of the three 1500 Zoller 2-stroke cars and retired after half the race with a broken fuel line. For BMW he drove one of their
new two-L sports cars at the 1935 Eifelrennen, winning his class in new record time.
In the fall of 1935 Delius was hired for 1936 as junior driver in the Auto Union works team. At the Monaco Grand Prix in April, as reserve driver he crashed during practice on received light head injuries hospital.
He made hios race debut for the team at Penya Rhin finishing fourth. His best GP result of the year was second place at Coppa Acerbo and at the Schauinsland hill climb he finished second only two seconds slower than Rosemeyer.
In January 1937 he won the Grosvenor GP handicap race as he had a better handicap than Rosemeyer.
At the Avusrennen he came second, only two seconds behind Lang's Mercedes.
But after an accident during pre-test one week before the Eifelrennen, when a bird had flown into Delius goggles, his driving condition was not the same. He said time and again that he wanted to stop auto racing.
At the German Grand Prix Delius crashed with Seaman's Mercedes near Antoniusbuche.
He was rushed to the Adenau hospital and when his condition worsened on the evening, he was transported to the Bonn hospital where he died during the transport or in the morning. His grave is at
Waldfriedhof, Berlin-Dahlem only a few meters from Rosemeyer's grave.
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1933: 10 AVUS (Voiturette) /
? Eifel (Cyclecar)
1934: DNF AVUS (Voiturette) /
DNF Eifel (Voiturette)
1935: DNF Eifel (Voiturette) /
DNF* German GP
1936: DNS Monaco GP /
4 Penya Rhin GP /
9 Eifel GP /
5* Hungarian GP /
6 German GP /
2 Coppa Acerbo /
5* Swiss GP /
3 Italian GP
1937: DNF South African GP (handicap) /
1 Grosvenor GP (handicap) /
3 Tripoli GP /
2 AVUS GP /
10 Eifel GP /
4 Vanderbilt Cup /
DNF German GP
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Luigi Corrado "Gino" Della Chà (I) |
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* ?
† 5 Sep 1952
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?
Torino |
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Industrialist from Torino (Turin). Drove a Lancia Lambda and an Alfa Romeo RLS between 1924 and 1926.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1925: 10 Alessandria GP /
DNA Savio Circuit /
DNA Coppa Montenero
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Count Luigi Della Chiesa (I) |
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* 15 Aug 1902
† 6 Apr 1960
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Vercelli, Piemonte
Torino |
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Held a law degree and was a low court judge in Torino. His enthusiasm combined with his family's influence put him at the centre of Turin's motor racing scene from the early 1930s
until his death from a heart attack in 1960. He had widely raced, but with moderate success, in various 6C Alfa Romeos, up to an 8C-2300 in 1934, when, later that year, he founded
the Scuderia Subalpina team after an aborted attempt the year before. At the end of 1934 the enthusiastic Count Della Chiesa devised a way to relieve the Maserati company of the
responsibility of running a works team in international racing. He set up, with his associates Giorgio Giusti and Giorgio Ambrosini, an organisation acting as the sporting
representative of the marque. Maserati would give this new organisation priority in the preparation of the cars, and Maserati staff were seconded to the Scuderia workshop in via Susa 38bis in Turin.
This was a costly, and unsuccessful endeavour and, after its early demise, Della Chiesa was less often seen competing in races. Post war, Della Chiesa founded a racing drivers' club, the
Racing Club 19, named after the number an exclusive association of the best drivers from Turin. Della Chiesa was its president until his death. He was also a high-rank dignitary in the
local Automobile Club and in other associations connected with motoring. A heart condition limited his racing post-war, but he was replaced by his wife, Countess Paola née Bargetto, who
became one of the best Italian lady drivers of the 1950s.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1934: DNF Coppa Ciano
1935: DNF Eifel (Voiturette)
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della Porta - SEE: Porta
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Carlo Alberto Dell'Orto (I) |
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From Como took part to five Mille Miglias 1929/30 and 1932/34 codriving Alfa Romeos and to one Grand Prix at Nice in 1934 where he soon gave the wheel of his Scuderia Siena Alfa Monza to Raymond Sommer.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1934: DNF* Nice GP
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André "Delmo" Delom (F) |
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From Nice. Used the pseudonym "Delmo". Also listed as Louis Delmo (possibly but unlikely a brother).
He was supervising the stowing of his car on the ship for the trip to the Algerian GP, when he slipped and fell seven meters to the bottom of the hold,
badly injuring himself.
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1934: DNF (heat) Bordino GP /
DNF Picardie GP /
DNF Penya Rhin GP /
DNF Vichy GP /
DNF Albi GP /
DNF Nice GP /
DNF Comminges GP
DNA Alger GP
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Deloron ( ) |
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Raced a 2 litre Bugatti (T35 or T35A) in 1926.
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1926: 7 Marne GP
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Lorenzo "Lolle" Delpino (I) |
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* 4 Sep 1899
† ? |
Genova (Genoa)
? |
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Was a well-known public figure in the city of Genoa, where he owned a large and long-standing Fiat dealership, a Service Station, and other businesses, amongst which
was a crane hire company. He raced only sporadically, but appears to have been a competent driver.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1929: DNA Alessandria GP
1934: 8 (heat) Bordino GP
1937: 4 Genua GP
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René Henri Abel Dély (F) |
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* 10 Aug 1888
† 29 May 1935 |
Saint-Martin-Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais
Boulogne-sur-Mer |
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|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1926: DNS Boulogne GP
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"de Marcellus" - SEE: "Marcellus"
"de Maris" - SEE: "Maris"
"de Marguenat" - SEE: "Marguenat"
de Marotte - SEE: Marotte
Oreste de Martis (I) |
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From Rome. Active amateur driver in a small Fiat, purchased the ex-Maggi Maserati T26R chassis/engine 28 in 1930, racing at the Coppa Acerbo with it. This was probably too big a jump, since he
sold the car immediately afterwards and disappeared from the race scene.
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| (With thanks to Nathan Beehl) |
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1930: DNA Coppa Ciano /
DNF Coppa Acerbo
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de Maureix - SEE: Maureix
Lucien Désiré Léon Demazel (F) |
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* 17 Apr 1894
† 18 Apr 1980 |
Paris 10e
Fabas, Ariège |
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Early French aviator (license #884, 25 May 1912). Builder of airplanes at Issy-les-Moulineux.
Long-time Bordeaux resident. Raced Salmson cars for the Bodeaux Salmson concessionaire.
Died in a retirement home at Sabarat, Ariège 1980.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1932: DNF Comminges GP (Voiturette)
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Antonio "Nello" De Meo (I) |
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From Catania. Drove a Bugatti only in his hometown circuit in 1928 but reappeared twenty years later with the same car in the Giro di Sicilia.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1928: DNS? Coppa Messina /
11 Coppa Etna
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Patrick Lane Densham (GB) |
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* 30 Mar 1895
† 21 Jun 1984 |
Croydon, Surrey
Chelsea, London |
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Densham was born in Croydon, Surrey 1895, son of a tea merchant He served with the HAC and other artillery units in the 1st World War.
Lived in London and married Victoria Yates in 1920, was divorced in 1924 but re-married her in 1944. Listed as a motor business amn he
lived in South Kensington in the 1930s. Took part in the 2nd World War as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Lived at Edith Growe, Chelsea, after the war where he died in 1984.
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| (Info supplied by Adam Ferrington and Graham Clayton) |
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1926: DNF JCC 200
1927: DNF JCC 200
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de Meslon - SEE: Meslon
de Montbressieux - SEE: "Raph"
de Oliveira - SEE: Oliveira
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Raffaele "Ralph" DePalma (I/USA) |
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* 18 Dec 1883
† 31 May 1956 |
Biccari, Apulia, Italy,
South Passadena, California |
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1921: 1921: 2 French GP /
DNF Italian GP
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Peter DePaolo (USA) |
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* 6 Apr 1898
† 26 Nov 1980
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laguna Hills, California |
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Nephew to Ralph de Palma, Peter de Paolo began racing in 1922. In 1924 he became Dusenberg works driver.
He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1925 and was Indycar Champion in 1925 and again in 1927.
In 1930 he retired from racing but 1934 he was lured back by Harry Miller to race the four wheel
drive Miller in the Tripoli GP and Avus GP.
He then signed to drive Maseratis for Ecurie Braillard but in the first race at Penya Rhin
his racing career ended in a bad crash and a fractured skull.
He returned to USA to work for different automobile related companies.
|
| (Info supplied by Adam Ferrington) |
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1925: 5* Italian GP
1934: 8 Tripoli GP /
DNF AVUS GP /
DNF Penya Rhin GP
DNS French GP
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de Peignon - SEE: Peignon
de Praez - SEE: Praez
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Ignazio De Prosperis (I) |
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Rome car dealer. General sale agent of the Prince voiturette made in Torino from 1921 to 1923 and factory driver.
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| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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1921: DNF Garda Circuit (1500cc)
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Mme. Marie Caroline Renée Depret née Bohomoletz (F) |
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* 3 Jun 1899
† ? |
Paris
? |
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Sports car driver.
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1929: 1 Burgundy GP (sports)
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Jacques "Giacomo" De Rham (CH) |
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* 18 Mar 1909
† 3 Nov 1986 |
Villar-sur-Rolland, Lausanne
Doganella, Grosseto |
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Swiss national living in Italy who raced with an Italian racing driver licence. Team Manager of Scuderia Subalpina in 1935. Founder of the Scuderia Maremmana in 1936. He raced the Maseratis and
Alfa Romeos of his team in 1936/37. Pioneer of karting in Italy in the early 1960s.
|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
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| | | |
1936: DNF Milan GP /
DNF Swiss GP /
DNF Lucca GP /
DNS Italian GP /
DNF Modena GP
1937: DNA Napels GP /
DNF* Milan GP
|
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de Rothschild - SEE: "Philippe"
de Rovin - SEE: Rovin
de Saugé - SEE: Saugé
de Ségovia - SEE: Ségovia
de Sota - SEE: Sota
de Souza - SEE: Souza
Marchese Diego de Sterlich Aliprandi (I) |
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* 13 Aug 1898
† 30 Aug 1976 |
Castellammare Adriatico, Teramo
Teramo, Abruzzo |
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Diego de Sterlich Aliprandi, Marchese di Cermignano, Barone di Nocciano etc. He was the immensely rich sole heir of a fortune in land in Central Italy. His possessions had the size
of a province. It is unclear how he managed to lose everything and die as a pauper. Diego de Sterlich is a key figure in the founding and in the early history of the Maserati firm.
He was a good friend of Alfieri's, whom he had met at Diatto in about 1923. In 1926 he mortgaged an estimate of 300 hectars of land (741 acres) to finance the Maserati Brothers,
with ten Diatto chassis in addition as a present and kept helping them up until the beginning of 1930. In that period he purchased from the Officine at least four racing cars
paying almost the double of their regular price. He was also one of the founding shareholders of the company that built and ran the new Autodromo di Monza that proved to be a very
bad investment for him and other motoring personalities. The expenses for his motor racing and the help given to the Maserati firm are usually singled out as the main cause for his
financial losses but it is clear that this cannot be enough. In fact profligacy appears to have been the most important facet of his unbalanced personality. He was a compulsive
giver - not only to the poor and on the other hand he squandered his money typically in gambling, horses and women. De Sterlich raced Bugattis, Diattos and Maseratis and it seems
that his motor racing was maybe the only thing that he took seriously.
He was certainly a fast amateur driver in a period of the Italian motor racing enormously rich in talent, but his results and also his behaviour in races are uneven. His nickname
of "King of the Mountains" was deserved as he won almost all the classical Italian hill climbs but was not even remotely as successful in circuit racing as he was not keen about
fighting for a position.
|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
|---|
| | | |
1923: DNA Coppa Montenero (2000cc) /
DNC Garda Circuit
1924: DNA Coppa Acerbo (2000cc) /
DNF Garda Circuit
1925: DNA Rome GP (2000cc) /
DNS Coppa Perugina (2000cc) /
DNA Mugello Circuit (2000cc) /
DNA Coppa Acerbo /
4 Coppa Montenero /
DNA San Sebastian GP
1926: DNF Targa Florio /
DNA Coppa Vinci /
DNF Coppa Perugina
1927: 2c/6 Coppa Perugina (1500cc) /
3c/9 Rome GP (1500cc) /
DNF Bologna Circuit /
DNF Coppa Acerbo /
DNF Coppa Montenero (2000cc)
1928: DNC Targa Florio /
13 Coppa Messina /
DNF Coppa Etna /
DNF Rome GP /
DNF Coppa Acerbo
1929: DNA Antibes GP (Voiturette) /
DNF Monaco GP /
DNA Alessandria GP /
DNA Rome GP (2000cc) /
13 Mugello Circuit (2000cc) /
DNA San Sebastian GP
1930: DNA Coppa Acerbo
|
|---|
|
de Stigliano - SEE: Colonna di Stigliano
Destrez - SEE: d'Estrez de Sauge
de Sztriha - SEE: Sztriha
de Teffé - SEE: Teffé
de Texidor - SEE: Texidor
de Tudert - SEE: Tudert
Cyrille Du-Chene Devere (GB) |
|
* 4 Jan 1881
† 30 Sep 1964 |
Vilvorde, Brabant flamand, Belgium
Paris 16e |
|---|
|
Wrong name? Could be Cyril de Vere (Williams), whose father, a magician, used the stage names 'Charles de Vere' and 'Charles Devere'.
|
| (Info supplied by André Reine & Dave Webb) |
|---|
| | | |
1929: DNF Burgundy GP
|
|---|
|
de Villapadierna - SEE: Villapadierna
de Vizcaya - SEE: Vizcaya
d'Havrincourt - SEE: Havrincourt
|
Di Castro (I) |
|
Not in the official list of licensed Italian racing drivers.
|
| | | |
1932: DNA Targa Florio
|
|---|
|
|
Louis Didier (F) |
|
Died in September 1925 in a road accident near Valence.
|
| | | |
1925: 1 Provence GP (1100cc)
|
|---|
|
Friedrich Dilthey (D) |
|
* 16 Mar 1906
† 16 May 1964. |
Rheydt, Mönchengladbach
Rheydt, Mönchengladbach |
|---|
|
Raced small capacity cars from the early 1930s well into the the 1950s.
|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
|---|
| | | |
1931: DNF Eifel GP
1932: DNF Eifel GP (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
|
Dini ( ) |
|
Not in the official list of licensed Italian racing drivers.
|
| | | |
1930: DNA Monza (1100cc)
|
|---|
|
Guido d'Ippolito (I) |
|
* 14 Sep 1892
† 8 Oct 1933. |
Nicastro, Galabria
Grumo Appula, Bari |
|---|
|
Very strong open road racer from Calabria with an impressivet palmarés. He debuted with a Ceirano in 1926 then drove an OM in 1927 two 6C-1500 Alfa Romeo in 1927/28
and a 6C-1750 Alfa Romeo kept by Scuderia Ferrari up until 1932 when he moved up to drive an 8C-2300 Alfa Romeo always under the Scuderia Ferrari banner. Racing with
Severi at the 1933 Principessa de Piemonte road race Severi crashed the car when trying to avoid a horse carriage. At the moment d'Ippolito was the passenger. He
hit his head against the carrage and died immediately while Severi escaped unhurt.
|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
|---|
| | | |
1930: 9 Targa Florio
1931: 5 Targa Florio /
7 Coppa Ciano
1932: 3* Mille Miglia (sports car) /
DNF Targa Florio /
3 Coppa Messina (sports car) /
2* Spa 10h (sports car) /
2 Circuito di Avellino (sports car) /
8 Coppa Ciano
|
|---|
|
di Villamarina - SEE: Pes di Villamarina
di Villarosa - SEE: Notarbartolo
Karel "Tunal" Divišek (CS) |
|
* 6 Aug 1902
† 24 Oct 1956 |
Brno
Brno |
|---|
|
Universal sportsman, athlete (running, boxing), pilot and racing driver. He was a pioneer of diving (probably the first Czech diver) and speleology research. He was owner of a driving school in Brno where he used
Z cars (Zbrojovka Brno, an arms factory with car production 1925 - 1936) and gradually started participate in car races with Z specials, but sometimes also with a Bugatti. He alos bought a small aeroplane
taking part in air races.
After WWII his driving school was nationalized and he worked instead as custodian in the cave system of Punkva river (north of Brno), which he had helped to discover.
|
| (Info supplied by Jiri Mewald) |
|---|
| | | |
1930: 3*/DNS Czech (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
Prince Dimitri Aleksandrovich Djordjadze/Jorjadze (RU) |
|
* 26 oct 1898
† 26 Och 1985 |
Signagi, Georgia, Russia
Monaco |
|---|
|
Georgian nobleman, hotel executive and race car driver. Winner of the 1931 Spa 24h sports car race.
|
| | | |
1928: 2 Saint Raphaël /
DNA Antibes GP
1931: DNA Comminges GP
|
|---|
|
Hector George Edmund Dobbs, Lieutenant R.N. (GB) |
|
* 13 May 1905
† 3 May 1968 |
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Southampton, Hampshire |
|---|
|
Royal Navy officer. Dobbs was originally a racing motor cyclist of some note. He won the Amateur TT race on the Isle of Man in 1925. After leaving the Royal Navy,
Dobbs developed his Riley racers at premises - Hedge End Motors. He started racing his Riley powered cars in 1933 at Brooklands. His first major international race was the 1935 Donington GP and in
the following year he entered his Riley in the Junior Car Club 250 mile International Trophy race at Brooklands where he finished 3rd behind Bira and Mays in their ERAs. He also finished in 4th place
behind 3 ERAs in the 1936 Nuffield Trophy race at Donington Park. He took a Riley sportscar to Montlhery for the 1936 Grand Prix de l'ACF but was unplaced. In 1937 he was invited to drive with "Bira"
in Prince Chula's 3.5 litre Delahaye in the Donington Park International 12-hour sportscar race - his last race and his biggest win.
|
| (Info supplied by Anthony J Taylor / Adam Ferrington) |
|---|
| | | |
1933: DNS Empire Trophy
1935: NC* Donington GP
1936: DNF* Donington GP
1937: 1* Donington 12 Hours (sports car)
|
|---|
|
Louis Dollfus (F) |
|
* 10 May 1901
† 6 Apr 1977 |
Paris 16e
Rocles, Allier |
|---|
|
|
| (Info supplied by André Reine) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: 11 Marne GP (1500cc)
|
|---|
|
Karl Ernest Donajowski "Kaye Don" (GB) |
|
* 10 Apr 1892
† 29 Aug 1981 |
Dublin, Ireland.
Chobham Surrey |
|---|
|
Kaye Don started as a motorcycle driver in 1912. Afther having spent WWI at the Royal Flyng Corps, flying i.a. RE8's as artillery observer,
he returned to motor cycle racing in 1919 but turned to car racing in 1921, taking several international records at Brooklands with an A.C.
Won the President's Gold Cup in 1923. In 1925-26 he was victorious with a Wolseley Viper at Brooklands.
Won the Founder's Cup and the Gold Star in 1927 with a 2 litre Sunbeam. Next year he won the Gold Star anew with a 4 litre Sunbeam "Tiger"
and was also the winner of the 1928 Tourist Trophy and President's Gold Cup with a Lea-Francis.
In 1928 he had three ex-works Sunbeams to his disposal known as "Cub", "Tiger" and "Tigress".
and sat many class records on Brooklands with the cars during 1928 to 1930. 1931 he had a new Bugatti 4.9L know as Tiger 2.
After Sir Henry Segrave's death Don took over the motorboat "Miss England II" breaking two water speed records.
Disappeared from racing as he served a 4? month jail sentence 1934 after crashing on the Isle of Man while testing his M.G. on a public road before
the race, killing his passenger Francis Tayler. Was back once more to race in Donington 1936. Died in Chobham, Surrey 1981. Buried at Jericho, Oxford.
|
| (Info supplied by Rudiger de Jonghe & Adam Ferrington) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: DNF JCC 200
1931: DNA French GP
1932: DNA French GP
1933: DNA AVUS GP /
2 Empire Trophy /
DNF Mannin Beg (Voiturette) /
4 Mannin Moar
1934: DNS Mannin Beg (Voturette)
1936: 15* Donington GP
|
|---|
|
Peter Langloh Donkin (GB) |
|
* 19 Jun 1913
† 12 Jun 2000 |
Invercargill, New Zealand
Orange, Australia |
|---|
|
Finished 11th with an Aston Martin at the 1935 Le Mans 24h race.
|
| | | |
1934: DNF Mannin Beg (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
dos Santos - SEE: Santos
Drago - SEE: del Drago
"Dribus" - SEE: André Boillot
André Dubonnet (F) |
|
* 28 Jun 1897
† 20 Jan 1980 |
Paris
Maule, Yvelines |
|---|
|
Son of the founder of the Dubonnet apéritif firm.
Dubonnet was a industrialist, fighter pilot, athlete, racing driver and inventor. He was a fighting pilot during World War I ending up with six aerial victories.
His independent suspension was used on the Alfa Romeo P3 from 1935 onwards and he also sold the invention to General Motors.
He took part in the 1928 Olympic Games at St. Moritz as captain for the French #2 five-man (sic!) bobsleigh team, finishing 15th.
Winner of the 1928 Grand Prix Bugatti he was awarded a Bugatti T35C (#4865).
|
| | | |
1921: 4 French GP
1922: 1 Autumn GP
1924: 6 Targa Florio
1926: 1 Targa Florio (2000cc) /
3* British GP
1927: 6 Targa Florio /
DNA ACF Free For All /
8 Sporting Commission Cup /
2 San Sebastian GP /
DNF* Spanish GP /
DNS French GP
1928: 1 Grand Prix Bugatti
1929: DNA French GP
|
|---|
|
du Brusle - SEE: Brusle
|
Gustave Henri Joseph Anicet Ducouret (F) |
|
* 17 Apr 1897
† |
Bussiére-Dunoise, Creuse
Paris 19e |
|---|
|
|
| (Info supplied by André Reine) |
|---|
| | | |
1932: 5 La Baule GP
1933: 11 La Baule GP
|
|---|
|
Louis Antonin Alfred Ducreux (F) |
|
* 29 Aug 1892
† ? |
Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône
? |
|---|
|
Brother of Gaetaan Ducreux.
|
| (Info supplied by André Reine) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: DNA Italian GP (1100cc)
|
|---|
|
|
Gaetaan Louis Marcel Marie Emile Ducreux (F) |
|
* 3 Mar 1891
† ? |
Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône
? |
|---|
|
Brother of Alfred Ducreux.
|
| (Info supplied by André Reine) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: DNS Provence GP
|
|---|
|
|
Raymond Myles Beecham Duke Woolley (GB) |
|
* 18 Aug 1916
† 10 Oct 1991 |
Withington, Manchester
Chichester, West Sussex |
|---|
|
Duke-Woolley was born in Manchester in 1916 and educated at Marlborough College. He entered RAF College in 1935, and joined 23 Squadron (Hawker Demon) in 1936.
The squadron changed to Bristol Blenheim in December 1938 and did convoy patrolling early in the war before becoming a night fighter unit.
Duke-Woolley moved to 253rd squadron (Hurricane) at Kenley in Septenber 1940 leading the squadron from late September to November.
In May 1941 he formed and took command of the 124 Squadron (Spitfire I, IIb, Vb) at Castletown until June 1942 when he became wing leader. He then held various higher
commands until retired from the RAF on 30th January 1961 as a Group Captain. He was credited with seven air combat victories.
He then worked for a life insurance company until his retirement. He was Yeoman Usher of Black Rod in the House of Lords from 1973 to 1979.
Duke-Woolley died in 1991.
|
| (Info supplied by Adam Ferrington and Graham Clayton) |
|---|
| | | |
1938: ? (4* 1100cc) JCC 200 (Voiturette + GP)
|
|---|
|
George Edward Duller (GB) |
|
* 26 Jan 1891
† 6 Aug 1962 |
Plaistow, London
Epsom, Surrey |
|---|
|
Well known jockey. One of the "Bentley Boys", 2nd at JCC 200 miles Race 1924, and winner of the 1927 Montlhery 24h.
Raced from 1930 to 1934 with Derby & Duesenberg at Brooklands. Died at Epsom, Surrey in 1962. (Not to be confused with his younger brother R.L. "Jack" Duller).
|
| (Info supplied by Rudiger de Jonghe and John Edwardes) |
|---|
| | | |
1925: 3 Provence GP (1500cc) /
1 Ouverture GP
1926: DNF Boulogne GP (1100cc)
1927: DNF JCC 200
1933: DNA Mountain
|
|---|
|
Robert Lennard "Jack" Duller (GB) |
|
* 14 Feb 1904
† 11 Feb 1978 |
Aveley, Essex
Bovey Tracey, Devon |
|---|
|
Younger brother to George Duller. Partner in the London firm of Street & Duller who serviced Alfa-Romeo cars before WW2.
|
| (Info supplied by Rudiger de Jonghe and John Edwardes) |
|---|
| | | |
1937: DNF* Campbell Trophy
|
|---|
|
Jack Lawson Dunfee (GB) |
|
* 9 Oct 1901
† 13 Sep 1975 |
Putney. London
Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire |
|---|
|
Older brother to Clive Dunfee, who had a fatal accident at the Brooklands 500 mile race in 1932 with a Bentley.
|
| (Info supplied by Jean-Charles Colombier) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: DNF JCC 200 (1100cc)
1931: DNF* French GP
1932: DNF Empire Trophy
|
|---|
|
|
Charles Gerald Hugh Dunham (GB) |
|
* 19 Jan 1895
† 18 Feb 1962 |
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire |
|---|
|
|
| (Info supplied by Adam Ferrington) |
|---|
| | | |
1933: DNF Empire Trophy
|
|---|
|
du Pouget - SEE: Pouget
John Du Puy (USA) |
|
* 22 Mar 1914
† 1993/94? |
New York
? |
|---|
|
John Du Puy was an rich American who did some races before the war. Listed as 5 feet 10 inches with blue eyes, brown hair and fair complexion.
His father had been President of the Pennsylvania Rubber Co, his grandfather President of Crucible Steel of Pittsburgh.
Du Puy and de Graffenried formed a team driving two Maserati voiturettes, a 6CM and a 4CM.
1940 US draft has him listed as as student of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.
After the war John rarely drove a car (i.e. lost his license). In the 1950s he lived with his wife in Lausanne Palace in Switzerland, then to USA in 1962.
US Public Records Index had him listed in Reno, Nevada.
|
| (Info supplied by Romain Heckemanns & Richard Armstrong) |
|---|
| | | |
1937: DNA Frontières (Voiturette) /
DNF Isle of Man (Voiturette) /
DNF Picardie (Voiturette) /
9/DNF (heats) Albi (Voiturette) /
DNA Coppa Acerbo (Voiturette) /
9 (heat) Swiss GP (Voiturette) /
DNS Czech GP (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
"Leon Duray" (George Gardner Stewart) (USA) |
|
* 30 Apr 1894
† 12 May 1956 |
Cleveland, Ohio
San Bernardino, California |
|---|
|
Born as George Stewart in Cleveland, Ohio in 1894, he later legally changed his name to Leon Duray in tribute to French Grand Prix river Arthur Duray.
|
| | | |
1929: DNF (heat) Monza GP (Voiturette)
1932: DNF (heat) Monza GP
|
|---|
|
|
Reinhold Dürkopp (D) |
|
* 8 Jun 1894
† 29 Jun 1977 |
?
Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
|---|
|
Car dealer. Chairman of the Herforder Garde-vereins, a kind of veteran organisation for the former Imperial guard.
|
| (Info supplied by Hugo Boecker) |
|---|
| | | |
1926: DNA German GP (2000cc)
|
|---|
|
Piero (Ettore) Dusio (I) |
|
* 13 Oct 1899
† 7 Nov 1975 |
Scurzolengo, Asti, Piemonte
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
|---|
|
Started as a soccer player and played for Juventus until a knee injury ended his career. Started as a fabric salesman.
At 27 he was owner of the biggest oilcloth manufacturing factory in Italy.
Dusio was a vital and likable man for whom success had come
easily. Shrewd and firm, it had not been difficult for him to stay at
the top of commerce and industry, once he had made it there. Commerce
above all, as his subsequent history will show. Dusio's great love was
motor cars. He had been a good amateur driver in the thirties with a
third at the Mille Miglia and a victory at the international Stelvio
hill-climb in 1938. Grand Prix driver racing an Maserati 8CM.
In 1938 he had founded a highly competitive -
racing team called "Scuderia Torino" with Maserati Maserati 6CM voiturettes. Dusio
liked to have his cars modified to his particular specifications.
Dusio's cars acquired in this way independent Tecnauto front-suspension
and SIATA radiators. Dusio, though, wanted to see his ideas realised
from scratch and had started to work on a Fiat 1100 special in 1939. He
had made even more money in real-estate dealings at the beginning of the
war and some of it was invested in Cisitalia, founded 1943.
Note: The second name Ettore disappered very early from Dusio's documents.
|
| | | |
1935: DNF Monaco GP /
DNS Tunis GP /
6 Bergamo GP /
4 Biella GP /
DNS French GP /
6 Turin GP /
DNF Coppa Acerbo /
4 Lucca GP
1936: 8 Milan GP /
6 Italian GP /
7 Modena GP
1937: 5 Turin GP (Voiturette) /
19 Tripoli GP /
5 Tripoli (Voiturette) /
DNA AVUS (Voiturette) /
6 Florence GP (Voiturette) /
DNF Milan GP /
2 San Remo (Voiturette) /
DNF Lucca (Voiturette) /
DNA Campione D'Italia (Voiturette)
1938: DNF/3* Napels (Voiturette) /
DNA Coppa Ciano (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
|
Paul Dutoit (GB?) |
|
Started racing at Brooklands in 1921 and continued through the 1920s. He also became Henry Segrave's riding mechanic.
|
| | | |
1926: DNF JCC 200 (1100cc)
|
|---|
|
Gaston Charles Duval (F) |
|
* 23 Jul 1896
† 15 Dec 1970 |
Neully-sur-Seins, Haut de Seine
Nanterre, Haut de Seine |
|---|
|
|
| (Info supplied by Alessandro Silva) |
|---|
| | | |
1932: DNA Dieppe GP (2000cc)
|
|---|
|
|
Patrick Morris/Maurice "Pat" Dwyer (GB) |
|
* 18 Aug 1903
† 23 Nov 1979 |
Footstown, Co. Meath, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland |
|---|
|
In later life he spelt his name Maurice rather than Morris, as shown on his birth certificate.
Died in hospital 1979.
|
| (Info supplied by Adam Ferrington) |
|---|
| | | |
1936: DNA Isle of Man (Voiturette)
|
|---|
|
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© 2025 Leif Snellman - Last updated: 14.03.2025
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