Les Leston (1920–2012)

Les Leston was born in 1920 named Alfred Lazarus Fingleston. He worked in the motor accessory business and was an accomplished drummer in the Clay Pigeons jazz band that included Belgian racer Johnny Claes. Leston’s racing career began in the late 1940s driving a Jaguar SS100, but he soon turned to 500-cc racing, making his debut in a Mk I Keift at Goodwood in 1950. The following year he finished 10th in the 500-cc championship driving a JBS. In 1951 he was elected as a member of the British Racing Drivers Club. Becoming more proficient aboard his Leston Special, prepared by Ray Martin, in 1952 he became a regular visitor to the top step of the podium and finished runner-up to Don Parker in the National F3 Championship.

The highlight of that year, and a truly memorable moment of his career, was Leston’s win at the Luxembourg GP over drivers like Peter Collins and Stirling Moss. That victory earned him the accolade of being the first recipient of the BRDC’s Richard Seaman Trophy. Some 40 years later he would present the same trophy to the 1992 F1 World Champion, Nigel Mansell. Cooper acknowledged Leston’s talent by offering him a “works” drive for 1954. The move paid dividends for both as Les became British F3 champion, beating Parker at the final race of the year on Boxing Day at Brands Hatch.