Doug Serrurier

Doug Serrurier (9 December 1920 - 4 June 2006): Louis Douglas Serrurier, known as Doug, was a South African racing driver, constructor, and motorsport innovator born in Germiston in the Transvaal. Serrurier's motorsport journey began remarkably early in 1936 at age 16, when he started racing motorcycles alongside his four brothers and sister, creating a family dynasty in speedway racing. He became one of five speedway racing brothers, forging a distinguished international grass track and speedway career. Serrurier raced in England for two seasons in 1949 and 1950, where his spectacular riding style made him a favorite with Liverpool's Stanley Stadium fans.

In 1956, Serrurier transitioned from motorcycles to car racing, starting with a Triumph TR2 before becoming involved in single-seaters. He began building his own racing cars under the LDS marque, with the initials standing for Louis Douglas Serrurier. These LDS specials became a mainstay of South African motor racing. Serrurier traveled to Europe and purchased a Cooper T51 from Alan Brown, followed by additional Coopers that became the basis for his first LDS cars.

The Mark 1 and Mark 2 LDS models were based on Cooper designs, while the Mark 3 was inspired by the Brabham BT11. In the late 1960s, Serrurier switched to modifying Brabham BT11s, much to the chagrin of Jack Brabham himself. Serrurier's Formula One World Championship career consisted of three entries at his home South African Grand Prix at East London in 1962, 1963, and 1965, all driving his own LDS specials. In 1962, he qualified thirteenth with his Alfa-powered car but retired with a holed radiator.

He returned for the 1963 Grand Prix with the same Alfa-powered car and finished eleventh. For his final attempt in 1965, he entered with his Climax-powered Mk2 but unfortunately failed to qualify. The LDS cars were primarily raced by Serrurier himself and fellow South African driver Sam Tingle, becoming fixtures of the South African racing scene throughout the 1960s. Doug Serrurier passed away on 4 June 2006, leaving behind a legacy as both a successful competitor and an innovative constructor who contributed significantly to South African motorsport through his engineering skills and competitive spirit across two different forms of racing.