Motorist

John Cobb (motorist)

John Rhodes Cobb (December 2, 1899 – September 29, 1952) was a British racing motorist. He made money as a director of fur brokers Anning, Chadwick and Kiver and could afford to specialise in large capacity motor-racing. He was born and lived in Esher, Surrey, near the Brooklands race track.

Racing career

He held the ultimate lap record at the track driving the 24 litre Napier Railton at an average speed of achieved on 7 October 1935, regaining it from his friend Oliver Bertram.

Driving the piston engined, wheel driven Railton Special he broke the Land Speed Record at Bonneville on August 23 1939 at a speed of . Without this being beaten he raised the record to in 1947. The record was unbeaten until 1963 when it was narrowly surpassed by Craig Breedlove in the jet powered Spirit of America.

During World War II he served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and between 1943 and 1945 in the Air Transport Auxiliary. He reached the rank of Group Captain.

He died attempting to improve the water speed record at Loch Ness in the jet speedboat Crusader at a speed in excess of . There is a memorial to him erected by the people of Glenurquhart. He is buried at Christ Church, Esher.

Personal life

John Cobb married twice, first to Elizabeth Mitchell-Smith in 1947. After her death in 1948 he married Vera Victoria Henderson (1917-2007) in 1950.

Awards

He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1947.

On 27 March 1953 he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct - John Rhodes Cobb (deceased), Racing Motorist. For services in attempting to break the world's water speed record, and in research into high speed on water, in the course of which he lost his life.