Dick Gibson

Richard "Dick" Gibson (16 April 1918 - 17 December 2010) was a British racing driver who competed in Formula One and achieved success in South African motorsport during the 1950s. Born in Bourne, England, Gibson started racing relatively late in life, beginning in club events in 1952. In 1953, he began competing with a Jaguar XK120, demonstrating his enthusiasm for motorsport despite his amateur status. Gibson moved to single-seaters in 1954 and contested numerous hillclimbs and Formula One events in England with a Cooper T23-Bristol, establishing himself in the British racing scene.

He participated in two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix during 1957-1958, debuting in 1957, though he scored no championship points. His Formula One entries came as a privateer competitor, facing the challenge of competing against better-funded factory teams with limited resources. Gibson also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races throughout the late 1950s, gaining experience against top international drivers. During the 1958 French Grand Prix weekend at Reims, he competed in the 2nd Coupe Internationale de Vitesse Formula Two race, finishing tenth in a field that included legendary drivers such as Stirling Moss, Jean Behra, Peter Collins, Jack Brabham, and a young Bruce McLaren, demonstrating his competitiveness against world-class competition.

As an amateur privateer, Gibson spent considerable time racing in South Africa, where he found his greatest success. He won the 1958 and 1959 South African Formula One championships, dominating the South African domestic racing scene for two consecutive years. These championships established Gibson as one of South Africa's leading drivers during the late 1950s, competing on circuits including Kyalami and East London. In 1960, Gibson finished seventh in the South African Grand Prix, a strong result in a World Championship event.

However, his racing career effectively ended during the False Bay 100 race at Cape Town later that year when he crashed heavily and broke his hip. The injury was severe enough to force his retirement from competitive motorsport. Following his retirement from racing, Gibson lived in Mesa, Arizona, and also spent several years in Spain before eventually settling. He maintained connections to the motorsport community throughout his long life, representing the generation of amateur racers who pursued their passion for the sport while managing other professional responsibilities.

Dick Gibson passed away on 17 December 2010 at the age of 92, having lived long enough to witness the dramatic evolution of Formula One from the dangerous, amateur-friendly sport of the 1950s to the highly professional, safety-conscious championship of the 21st century.