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17-12-20
The Dickinson's Holbrook garage when they first bought it.
"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 and 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 and the late 1960s under the Dickinson ownership.
Brenda and Peter, in late 1959, employed a F1 mechanic to run the workshop as Peter had a Lotus 15 and Brenda a Lotus 11. Brenda and 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 and 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.
Brenda racing at Silverstone in June 1961.
Peter and Brenda Dickinson.
15th July 1961 in the AMOC 6 Hour Relay at Silverstone.
More track action.
Even the best can get it wrong!
The Dickinson Mk1 featured a distinctive yellow nose.
The second Mk1 raced by Brenda at Copse Corner in April 1962 where she finished second.
Oulton Park, the new Mk1 was in British Racing Green with the lower panel unpainted.
Brenda in action.
Peter is third in this group of cars.
Peter Dickinson in Venture I.
Another shot of Peter in Venture I.
Venture II.
Brenda sitting in Venture II.
Brenda with fellow Lola drivers Peter Dickinson, Joe Payne and John Hislop.
Extract from an article on Women Racing Drivers in the September 1961 MotorSport.
ilverstone report from Autosport mentioning both Peter and Brenda with a picture of Brenda.
Some press clippings of Brenda's Racing.
The steering wheel from Brenda's Mk1.
In the 2000s Brenda met up with her Lola Venture I again.
Brenda with famous radio and TV presenter Eamon Andrews.
Newspaper article on Jon Hislop who had some outings in one of the Venture Mk1s.
Brenda's Institute of Advanced Motorists certificate.
Brenda's Miss Triumph Driver of the Year certificate signed by Mike Hawthorn.
Brenda in the Elva she raced after the Lola Mk1s.
A smiling Brenda in the paddock.
Brenda in her racing overalls.
Brenda today.
Brenda's FIA licence from 1960.
The variety of Brenda's competition history can be seen here with her 1969 International licences for Racing, Rallying and Speed events.
November 1953, Brenda with her Triumph TR2 RTV 222, one of the first six built.
Brenda and her Aston Martin DB2 drophead coupé.
LOLA HERITAGE SCRAPBOOK
17-12-20
Looking back at Mrs Brenda Dickinson, one of the first Lola drivers.
All pictures courtesy of Brenda Dickinson.
The Dickinson's Holbrook garage when they first bought it.
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 and 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 and the late 1960s under the Dickinson ownership.
Brenda and Peter, in late 1959, employed a F1 mechanic to run the workshop as Peter had a Lotus 15 and Brenda a Lotus 11. Brenda and 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 and 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.
Brenda racing at Silverstone in June 1961.
Peter and Brenda Dickinson.
15th July 1961 in the AMOC 6 Hour Relay at Silverstone.
More track action.
Even the best can get it wrong!
The Dickinson Mk1 featured a distinctive yellow nose.
The second Mk1 raced by Brenda at Copse Corner in April 1962 where she finished second.
Oulton Park, the new Mk1 was in British Racing Green with the lower panel unpainted.
Brenda in action.
Peter is third in this group of cars.
Peter Dickinson in Venture I.
Another shot of Peter in Venture I.
Venture II.
Brenda sitting in Venture II.
Brenda with fellow Lola drivers Peter Dickinson, Joe Payne and John Hislop.
Extract from an article on Women Racing Drivers in the September 1961 MotorSport.
ilverstone report from Autosport mentioning both Peter and Brenda with a picture of Brenda.
Some press clippings of Brenda's Racing.
The steering wheel from Brenda's Mk1.
In the 2000s Brenda met up with her Lola Venture I again.
Brenda with famous radio and TV presenter Eamon Andrews.
Newspaper article on Jon Hislop who had some outings in one of the Venture Mk1s.
Brenda's Institute of Advanced Motorists certificate.
Brenda's Miss Triumph Driver of the Year certificate signed by Mike Hawthorn.
Brenda in the Elva she raced after the Lola Mk1s.
A smiling Brenda in the paddock.
Brenda in her racing overalls.
Brenda today.
Brenda's FIA licence from 1960.
The variety of Brenda's competition history can be seen here with her 1969 International licences for Racing, Rallying and Speed events.
November 1953, Brenda with her Triumph TR2 RTV 222, one of the first six built.
Brenda and her Aston Martin DB2 drophead coupé.