17-12-20
Looking back at Mrs Brenda Dickinson, one of the first Lola drivers.
The Dickinson's Holbrook garage when they first bought it.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Below Robert Ashton tells the story of Lola Mk1 driver Brenda Dickinson.
"The lady concerned is 86 years of age and lives in Lincolnshire. She still drives! Her name is Mrs Brenda Slater, she was formerly Mrs Brenda Dickinson and prior to that her maiden name was Brenda Rowlands.
Brenda married a Peter Dickinson in 1958, Peter at the time had an Austin Healey sports car & shortly after marriage they purchased together a small filling station on Belper Road Holbrook in Derbyshire. They developed the business in the late 50s and renamed it Venture Garage which operated between 1959 & the late 1960s under the Dickinson ownership.
Brenda & Peter, in late 1959, employed a F1 mechanic to run the workshop as Peter had a Lotus 15 and Brenda a Lotus 11. Brenda & Peter purchased a Mk1 Lola chassis number BY-3 which was one of the aluminium bodied cars fitted with a 1098cc Coventry Climax engine from Alan Rees in 1961 at a cost of around £1000. Brenda purchased it through the Venture Garage, she then entered the Lola with herself as the driver from 1960.
This MK1 was sold by Peter & Brenda to Tony Hegbourne in 1961. Later in the 2000s Brenda met up with Lola again in the form of a visit to see the iconic 600 DKJ, the first Mk1 built.
In 1962 they purchased two further Lola's with fibreglass bodies.
It us unknown what became of them from that point. No information exists after 1965.
In July 1964 Brenda joined the British Women Racing Drivers Club (BRDC).
In late 1964 Brenda began to race an Elva with a Coventry climax engine as the Lola's had been sold but apparently carried on competing in 1964 in the UK.
Brenda has a full set of films with coverage of races from 1960 onwards featuring both Lola models."
The garage after it had been developed.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda racing at Silverstone in June 1961.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Peter and Brenda Dickinson.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
15th July 1961 in the AMOC 6 Hour Relay at Silverstone.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
More track action.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Even the best can get it wrong!
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
The Dickinson Mk1 featured a distinctive yellow nose.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
The second Mk1 raced by Brenda at Copse Corner in April 1962 where she finished second.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Oulton Park, the new Mk1 was in British Racing Green with the lower panel unpainted.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda in action.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Peter is third in this group of cars.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Peter Dickinson in Venture I.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Another shot of Peter on Venture I.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Venture II.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda sitting in Venture II.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda with fellow Lola drivers Peter Dickinson, Joe Payne and John Hislop.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Extract from an article on Women Racing Drivers in the September 1961 MotorSport.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Silverstone report from Autosport mentioning both Peter and Brenda and a picture of Brenda.
Some press clippings of Brenda's Racing.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
The steering wheel from Brenda's Mk1.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
In the 2000s Brenda met up with her Lola Venture I again.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda with famous radio and TV presenter Eamon Andrews.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Newspaper article on Jon Hislop who had some outings in one of the Venture Mk1s.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda's Institute of Advanced Motorists certificate.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda's Miss Triumph Driver of the Year certificate signed by Mike Hawthorn.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda in the Elva she raced after the Lola Mk1s.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
A smiling Brenda in the paddock.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda in her racing overalls.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda today.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda's FIA licence from 1960.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
The variety of Brenda's competition history can be seen here with her 1969 International licences for Racing, Rallying and Speed events.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
November 1953, Brenda with her Triumph TR2 RTV 222, one of the first six built.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
Brenda and her Aston Martin DB2 drophead coupé.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
