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RENOWNED MOTOR CYCLE AND RACING CAR DRIVER 1920’s TO 1950’s |
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AWARDED THE BRITISH RACING DRIVERS CLUB “GOLD STAR” IN 1931 |
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Inscription Reads: AWARD OF MERIT 1931 Road Racing Norman Black
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Norman Black was awarded the British Racing Drivers Club "Gold Star" in 1931
This award was first awarded in 1929 and is still highly sort after today. [Lord Essendon and George Eyston were also awarded the Gold Star that year.] Past Winners include: Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart.
Above Photo: Norman Black. [Full name Arthur Norman Black 1894-1973] Source: Anthony E. N. [Tony] Black
Norman Black was a first cousin to Tom Campbell Black a Pioneer Aviator and joint winner of the London to Melbourne MacRobertson Air Race in 1934, flying a DH88 Comet “Grosvenor House”
Norman's father was John Wycliffe Black b.1862 d.1951 son of Robert Black b.1821 d.1905 and Sarah Ann nee Wallis, he was the brother of Hugh Milner Black who married Alice J. McCullough, daughter of Thomas McCullough of Warrnambool, Australia [my Great Uncle] their son was Tom Campbell Black. These two cousins led very fast and adventurous young lives and achieved fame that lives on today in recorded Car Racing and Aviation history.
Highlights of Norman Black's Life: Briefly attended Taunton School. Left at approximately 13 years of age to work in his Father's Boot Factory in Leicestershire. Initially a stretcher bearer in the First World War, he subsequently became a Motor Cycle Dispatch Rider. After the War he competed in eight Motor Cycle TT's and in many 6-day Trials, Speed Trials, Hill Climbs and won many cups & trophies on motor cycles in the period 1920-31. In 1931 started in car competitions and races: During 1931: Awarded British Racing Drivers Club Gold Star for best all-round performance of any driver. RAC Tourist Trophy Winner. Irish International Grand Prix at Phoenix Park Winner. Mont des Mules Hill Climb Winner. Monte Carlo Rally Winner Barclays Bank Cup. Tourist Trophy Race [TT] Ards. Winner During 1932: Mont des Mules Hill Climb. Winner. Shelsey Walsh - MAC TT Cup. Winner Brooklands 500 Mile Race. Lucas Award Monte Carlo Rally French Le Mans 24 hour Endurance During 1933: Minimum racing due to business commitments. Monte Carlo Rally French Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance During 1934: English Rally, Bournemouth. 3rd Place Scottish Rally. 3rd Place 24 Hour Race at Le Mans. Winner Light Car Class Mannin Beg Race, Isle of Man. MG Magnette, Winner. [Ref. Photo at right and below] Monte Carlo Rally French Le Mans 24 hour Endurance During 1935: Mainly concentrated on running Sprozens Ltd. (car dealership owned by Norman Black) in Berkley Square London. Awarded the Brooklands 120M.P.H. Badge for travelling the Brooklands track at 120 M.P.H., driving an Alfa Romeo. [Refer photo below.] British Empire Trophy Race “Finishing Car” Monte Carlo Rally French Le Mans 24 hour Endurance Mannin Beg Race, Isle of Mans [Ref. Photo below] During 1936: Last BRDC 500 driving a K3. Winner of the 1100cc class. British Empire Trophy Race “Finishing Car” Monte Carlo Rally French Le Mans 24 hour Endurance During 1937: French Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance Race. During 1938: Welsh Rally RAC Rally Scottish Rally During WW2: He worked as a Factories Inspector. Post War: Works driver for Riley’s and Standard Triumph. Close associate of Donald Healey sports car designer. During 1947: To be researched During 1948: 12 Heures de Paris at Montlhery During 1949: Alpine Rally Monte Carlo Rally During 1950: Monte Carlo Rally [Source: Anthony E. N. [Tony] Black.]
Norman Black competed in the Tourist Trophy Race in Ards, Northern Ireland. He won the trophy in 1931. The Tourist Trophy (TT) Races took place on the Ards Comber Dundonald circuit from 1928 to 1936. The country's most outstanding sporting event of the period, it regularly attracted crowds in excess of a quarter of a million people. Spectators were reminded of the handicapping system which was by means of credit laps or ballast, the 1100cc cars for example starting with three laps to their credit. A large notice board kept the crowd up to date with the race leaders and the first driver to complete 30 laps of the circuit was the winner. Car bonnets were painted different colours to denote the cars' class. At the first race in 1928, 44 cars lined up for the 12 noon start. Admission to the stand was 25 shillings for numbered and reserved seats and 15 shillings for unnumbered ones. The inaugural race in 1928 was won by Dublin born, Kaye Don, in a race littered with a mixture of private and semi-works teams. Don's time of 5hrs 58mins. and 13 sec. saw him finish with an average lap time of 64.06mph, some 13 seconds ahead of Leon Cushmann who ran out of petrol as he crossed the line! September 5th 1936 saw the first ever female entrants but sadly a tragic end to the TT races. In wet conditions, Jack Chambers lost control of his Riley and crashed into the crowd, killing eight spectators. The race did continue with most of the spectators unaware of what had happened but this tragedy brought an end to nine years of glorious racing over the Ards road circuit.
TT Race Results 1928-1936: Year First Second Third Miles Winner's speed (mph) 1928 K Don (Lea-Francis) L Cushmann (Alvis) H Mason (Austro-Daimler) 410 64.06 1929 R Carracciola (Mercedes) G Campari (Alfa-Romeo) A Frazer-Nash (Austin) 410 72.82 1930 Tazio Nuvolari (Alfa-Romeo) G Campari (Alfa-Romeo) A Varzi (Alfa-Romeo) 410 70.88 1931 Norman Black (MG) M Borzacchini (Alfa-Romeo) S Crabtree (MG) 410 67.90 1932 C R Whitcroft (Riley) G E T Eyston (Riley) E R Hall (MG) 410 74.23 1933 Tazio Nuvolari (MG) H C Hamilton T E Rose-Richards (Alfa-Romeo) 478 78.65 1934 C J P Dodson (MG) E R Hall (Bentley) T S Fotheringham (Aston Martin) 478 74.65 1935* F W Dixon (Riley) E R Hall (Bentley) Earl Howe (Bugatti) 478 76.90 1936 F W Dixon and C J P Dodson (Riley) E R Hall (Bentley) A P F Fane (Frazer-Nash BMW) 410 78.01
Norman Black raced in the French Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance Race. Records show he entered in the following years: 1932 MG Midget C, No. 32 1933 MG Midget J3, No. 38 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, No. 48 1935 Singer 9 Replica, No. 50 1936 Race cancelled 1937 Singer 9 Le Mans, No. 51 |
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Above photos: L To R 1/ A young Norman Black 2/ Norman Black standing by number 18 at Mannin Beg 1935. [Click picture for link to FoTTofinders] 3/ Norman Black driving 1931. 4/ Norman Black driving before/after TT Race at Ards, 1931, winner. 5/ Example of the B.A.R.C.Brooklands 120 MPH Badge, awarded to Norman Black in 1935. [Click picture for link to badge history] 6/ Norman Black winner Mannin Beg Race 1934. 7/ Cartoon of Norman Black drawn by Sallon of the Daily Mirror and published by Shell-Max and BP in 1956. |
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SITEMASTER/RESEARCHER: BRUCE McCULLOUGH, NEW ZEALAND.
SITE LAST UPDATED: 22nd. SEPTEMBER 2006.
MANY THANKS TO ANTHONY EDWARD NORMAN BLACK, ENGLAND, SON OF ARTHUR NORMAN BLACK, FOR HIS HELP AND CONTRIBUTION OF FAMILY INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
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BRDC SITE LINK |
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SITE LINK |
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SITE LINK |
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Norman Black receives the chequered flag. Mannin Beg Race 1934. |
