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{{Short description|British racing driver (1917–2004)}}
{{short description|British racing driver (1917–2004)}}
{{For|the musician|K. K. Downing}}
{{For|the musician|K. K. Downing}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
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{{Infobox F1 driver|
{{Infobox F1 driver|
name = Ken Downing |
name = Ken Downing |
caption = Downing in 1952 |
caption = |
nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British |
nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British |
birth_date = {{birth date|1917|12|5|df=y}} |
birth_date = {{birth date|1917|12|5|df=y}} |
birth_place = [[Chesterton, Staffordshire|Chesterton]], Staffordshire, England |
birth_place = [[Chesterton, Staffordshire]], England |
death_date = {{death date and age|2004|5|3|1917|12|5|df=y}} |
death_date = {{death date and age|2004|5|3|1917|12|5|df=y}} |
death_place = [[Monte Carlo]], Monaco |
death_place = [[Monte Carlo]], Monaco |
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Team(s) = [[Connaught Engineering|Connaught]] {{small|(including non-works)}} |
Team(s) = [[Connaught Engineering|Connaught]] {{small|(including non-works)}} |
Races = 2 |
Races = 2 |
Championships = |
Championships = 0 |
Wins = |
Wins = 0 |
Podiums = |
Podiums = 0 |
Points = |
Points = 0 |
Poles = |
Poles = 0 |
Fastest laps = |
Fastest laps = 0 |
First race = [[1952 British Grand Prix]] |
First race = [[1952 British Grand Prix]] |
First win = |
First win = |
Last win = |
Last win = |
Last race = [[1952 Dutch Grand Prix]] |
Last race = [[1952 Dutch Grand Prix]] |
|image=Ken_Downing_cropped.jpg|child=Anne Downing|image_size=175px|birth_name=Kenneth Henry Downing|Residence=|engines=}}
|image=File:Ken Downing cropped.jpg|image_size=175px}}
'''Kenneth Henry Downing''' (5 December 1917 – 3 May 2004) was an English [[racing driver]]. From a wealthy family, he began racing in the late 1940s, competing in his first event the Eastbourne Rally in a Healey. Initially racing a Brooke Special, he switched to a [[Connaught Engineering|Connaught]] in 1951, winning 17 races throughout the year.<ref name="KD Stats">{{cite web|title=Statistics: Ken Downing|url=http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver.asp?driver_id=11711|work=Grand Prix Archive|publisher=Crash Media Group|accessdate=30 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117122742/http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver.asp?driver_id=11711|archive-date=17 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="KD profile">{{cite web |title=Ken Downing profile |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-dowken.html |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1}}</ref>
'''Kenneth Henry Downing''' (5 December 1917 – 3 May 2004) was a British [[racing driver]] and businessman. He raced for [[Connaught Engineering]] in the [[1952 Formula One season]], notably qualifying for the [[British Grand Prix]] and [[Dutch Grand Prix]].


Downing switched to single seaters in 1952, racing a [[Connaught A Type|Connaught A-Type]], and won the [[1952 Madgwick Cup|Madgwick Cup]] at Goodwood and second place at the [[Grand Prix des Frontières]] at Chimay, where he lost the lead at the end of the race several metres before the finish line.<ref name="KD ESPN">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Ken Downing profile |url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/driver/593.html |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=ESPNF1.com |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> He finished ninth in the {{F1 GP|1952|British}} at Silverstone, but had run fourth in the race before spinning while avoiding a backmarker.<ref name="KD profile" /> He competed in the {{f1 gp|1952|Dutch}} later that year, but retired from an oil-pressure problem.<ref name="KD ESPN" /> He switched to an [[Aston Martin DB3]] for 1953, but decided to retire from racing soon after.<ref name="KD Stats" />
Born in [[Staffordshire]], Downing began racing in the years following the [[Second World War]] and competed as a privateer in a variety of sports car and rally races before [[Formula One]]. While only entering two Grands Prix in 1952, during his career from 1948 to 1953 he won over 20 races and was considered among the greatest British drivers of the era. Downing emigrated to South Africa in 1955 where he began a business mining sea [[diamond]]s at the mouth of the [[Orange River]], later acquired by [[De Beers]]. Upon retirement he resided in [[Monaco]].


Downing emigrated to [[South Africa]] in 1955, and later lived in [[Monaco]] where he died in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Richard|title=Where are they now: Ken Downing|url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Ken_Downing|work=Old Racing Cars|accessdate=30 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Jeremy |title=Kenneth Henry Downing |url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/view/racing/driver.aspx?driverID=122&dtaID=77 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=conceptcarz.com |language=en}}</ref> His daughter Anne married [[Patrick McNally]], whose company [[Allsport Management]] controlled the corporate hospitality and advertising for [[Formula One]].<ref name="KD profile" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-26 |title=Ken Downing {{!}} The “forgotten” drivers of F1 |url=https://www.f1forgottendrivers.com/drivers/ken-downing/ |access-date= |website=www.f1forgottendrivers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Background and family ==
Downing was born into a prominent wealthy family involved in material manufacturing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=From Connaughts to Sea Diamonds – Ken Downing – F1 GPDC |url=https://www.f1grandprixdriversclub.com/connaughts-sea-diamonds-ken-downing/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.f1grandprixdriversclub.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeremy |first=McMullen |title=Kenneth Henry Downing |url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/view/racing/driver.aspx?driverID=122&dtaID=77 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=conceptcarz.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brick and Tile Works In Apedale & Chesterton |url=https://www.apedale.co.uk/history/brick-roof-tile-works-in-apedale-chesterton/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The Apedale Heritage Centre |language=en-US}}</ref> He was the son and heir of George Henry Downing, [[Justice of the peace|JP]], [[High Sheriff of Staffordshire]] of Clayton Lodge, [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 1380 {{!}} Issue 34261, 3 March 1936 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34261/page/1380 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> His sister, Eleanor Downing was the mother of Ian and David Skailes, also racing drivers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Information about Ian (Mo) Skailes from historicracing.com |url=https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=2147 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.historicracing.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1942, Downing married Elizabeth Keane with whom he had three children.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Church in Wales: Diocese of St. Asaph |first=National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth) |title=Wales, St. Asaph marriage bonds |year=2012 |pages=24}}</ref> His eldest daughter, Anne married [[Patrick McNally]], whose company Allsport Management controlled the corporate hospitality and circuit advertising for [[Formula One]].<ref name="KD profile">{{cite web |title=Ken Downing profile |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-dowken.html |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1}}</ref>

== Second World War ==
Downing enlisted in the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British expeditionary force]] (BEF) at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1940, his regiment was sent to France before the infamous [[Dunkirk evacuation]].<ref name=":0" />
{{Quote|text=“We were heading for the coast when a Panzer division literally surrounded us. One day we were having breakfast beside the road when the Germans came down the parallel road and we had to drop everything and run for it. I was in fatigues and even left my trousers behind, which was a blow as I had had my tailor sew a lot of £5 notes in the belt lining for weekends in Paris; I lost the lot. We had no way of getting north to Dunkirk so we eventually reached Cherbourg and I managed to get on the last ship back to England”|author=Ken Downing|source=|title=''From Connaughts to Sea Diamonds''|style=}}

== Racing career ==
Downing competed in his first event, the 1948 Eastbourne Rally, in a [[Healey (automobile)|Healey]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last= |title=Ken Downing biography |url=https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=1514 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.historicracing.com |language=en}}</ref> He competed in numerous other [[Sports car racing|sports car races]] in the years following the Second World War and became a regular on the British national scene.<ref name="KD profile" /> Initially racing a Brooke Special, he switched to a Connaught in 1951,<ref name="KD profile" /> winning 17 races throughout the year.<ref name="KD Stats">{{cite web |title=Statistics: Ken Downing |url=http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver.asp?driver_id=11711 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117122742/http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver.asp?driver_id=11711 |archive-date=17 January 2013 |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=Grand Prix Archive |publisher=Crash Media Group |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Ken Downing (GB) - All Results - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Ken-Downing-GB.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url= |title=The Motor |date=1954 |publisher=Temple Press Limited |volume=106 |pages=272-273 |language=en}}</ref>

Downing switched to single seaters in 1952, racing a [[Connaught Engineering|Connaught]] A-Type, and won the [[1952 Madgwick Cup]] at [[Goodwood Circuit|Goodwood circuit]].<ref name="KD ESPN">{{cite web|last=Williamson|first=Martin|title=Ken Downing profile|url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/driver/593.html|work=ESPNF1.com|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=30 May 2012}}</ref> He finished second place at the [[Grand Prix des Frontières]] at [[Chimay|Chimay, Belgium]], where he lost the lead at the end of the race several metres before the finish line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas F1 Magazine: Team Connaught: Remembrance of Things Fast (Part 1) |url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/can/preview/okeefe.html |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=atlasf1.autosport.com}}</ref>

He finished ninth in his first Formula One World Championship event at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] for the [[British Grand Prix]], but had run fourth in the race ahead of [[Alberto Ascari]] before spinning while avoiding a backmarker.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Richard |title=Where are they now: Ken Downing |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Ken_Downing |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=Old Racing Cars}}</ref> He had qualified second on the grid and was the highest placed British driver.<ref name="KD profile" /><ref name=":4" /> Downing then competed in the {{f1 gp|1952|Dutch}} at [[Circuit Zandvoort|Zandvoort]] later that year, and was among the favourites for the podium,<ref>{{Cite book |url= |title=Motor |date=1953 |publisher=Specialist & Professional Press |volume=104 |pages=32 |language=en}}</ref> but was forced to retire from an oil-pressure problem.<ref name="KD ESPN" />

At the end of the 1952 season, Downing sold all of his cars, having invested an extensive advertisement in ''[[Autosport]]'' magazine, and switched to an [[Aston Martin DB3]]. This proved to be a costly mistake, the DB3 model being far inferior to the newly developed [[Aston Martin DB3S]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-15 |title=VIN: the Ken Downing Aston Martin DB3 chassis 8 |url=https://supercarnostalgia.com/blog/aston-martin-db3-chassis-8 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=Supercar Nostalgia |language=en-US}}</ref> Nonetheless, he contested the [[Silverstone International Trophy|Silverstone International]] several times and finished in third place at [[Thruxton Circuit|Thruxton]] in May.<ref name=":3" />

In mid-1953, Downing retired from racing in order to focus on managing the family business. Indeed, throughout his racing career he had been chairman of G.H. Downing Ltd. Thus, his potential was always limited.<ref name=":0" />

== Later life ==
Following the death of his mother, Downing and his family moved to [[Constantia, Cape Town]]. In 1955, he established a company mining sea diamonds near the border of [[Namibia]]. Downing constructed a dredger to [[Dredging|dredge]] diamonds at the mouth of the [[Orange River|Orange river]] that had been washed down from the [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] diamond mines. The business was successful and along with the mining rights, was eventually sold to [[De Beers]], an international mining corporation which had been established by [[Cecil Rhodes]] in 1888. Downing had also formed the idea of mining guano on an island near [[Madagascar]], but this was delayed.<ref name=":0" />

Downing was involved in numerous other business ventures, in transport and garages for instance, and he was member of [[Lloyd's of London]] insurance market. He died on 3 May 2004, aged 86, at his residence in the [[Fairmont Monte Carlo|Loews Hotel, Monaco]].<ref name=":0" />


==Complete Formula One World Championship results==
==Complete Formula One World Championship results==
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== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==

* ''[https://www.f1grandprixdriversclub.com/connaughts-sea-diamonds-ken-downing/ From Connaughts to Sea Diamonds – Ken Downing]'', F1 Grand Prix Drivers Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downing, Ken}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downing, Ken}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Connaught Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Connaught Formula One drivers]]
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[[Category:British racing drivers]]
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[[Category:British Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:20th-century British businesspeople]]
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[[Category:People from Chesterton, Staffordshire]]
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[[Category:English emigrants to South Africa]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Monaco]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Monaco]]
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[[Category:English emigrants to South Africa]]
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[[Category:English racing drivers]]
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[[Category:English Formula One drivers]]
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[[Category:People from Chesterton, Staffordshire]]

Latest revision as of 21:41, 30 December 2023

For the musician, see K. K. Downing.

Ken Downing
Born(1917-12-05)5 December 1917
Chesterton, Staffordshire, England
Died3 May 2004(2004-05-03) (aged 86)
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years1952
TeamsConnaught (including non-works)
Entries2
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1952 British Grand Prix
Last entry1952 Dutch Grand Prix

Kenneth Henry Downing (5 December 1917 – 3 May 2004) was an English racing driver. From a wealthy family, he began racing in the late 1940s, competing in his first event the Eastbourne Rally in a Healey. Initially racing a Brooke Special, he switched to a Connaught in 1951, winning 17 races throughout the year.[1][2]

Downing switched to single seaters in 1952, racing a Connaught A-Type, and won the Madgwick Cup at Goodwood and second place at the Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay, where he lost the lead at the end of the race several metres before the finish line.[3] He finished ninth in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but had run fourth in the race before spinning while avoiding a backmarker.[2] He competed in the Dutch Grand Prix later that year, but retired from an oil-pressure problem.[3] He switched to an Aston Martin DB3 for 1953, but decided to retire from racing soon after.[1]

Downing emigrated to South Africa in 1955, and later lived in Monaco where he died in 2004.[4][5] His daughter Anne married Patrick McNally, whose company Allsport Management controlled the corporate hospitality and advertising for Formula One.[2][6]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Points
1952 Connaught Engineering Connaught Type A Lea-Francis SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
9 		GER NED ITA NC 0
Kenneth Downing SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED
Ret 		ITA
Source:[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Statistics: Ken Downing". Grand Prix Archive. Crash Media Group. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Ken Downing profile". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Ken Downing profile". ESPNF1.com. ESPN. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  4. ^ Jenkins, Richard. "Where are they now: Ken Downing". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. ^ McMullen, Jeremy. "Kenneth Henry Downing". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Ken Downing | The "forgotten" drivers of F1". www.f1forgottendrivers.com. 26 September 2019.
  7. ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 124. ISBN 0851127029.
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