John Campbell-Jones

Michael John Churchill Campbell-Jones (21 January 1930 - 24 March 2020) was a British amateur racing driver who competed in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix in 1962-1963, finishing last in both races, while enjoying a more successful career in sports car racing and national Formula One events. Born in Leatherhead, Surrey, on 21 January 1930, Campbell-Jones was a successful car dealer whose business provided the financial resources to pursue his motorsport hobby. His racing activities reflected the gentleman amateur tradition that characterized much of British motorsport during the 1950s and early 1960s. Campbell-Jones began serious racing in 1958 with a Lotus XI sports car, immediately demonstrating competence by winning the Chichester Cup in his debut season.

In 1959, he achieved a class victory at the prestigious Nürburgring 1000km race, one of Europe's most demanding endurance events, establishing his credentials in sports car competition. His success in the Lotus XI demonstrated both natural talent and the mechanical sympathy required for long-distance racing. Campbell-Jones achieved considerable success in sports car racing throughout 1958-1959 before purchasing a Formula 2 Cooper to compete in single-seater racing both in Britain and internationally. The transition from sports cars to single-seaters represented a significant step up in complexity and demands, though Campbell-Jones adapted successfully to the higher-speed discipline.

In 1961, while competing at Modena in Italy, Campbell-Jones suffered a serious accident that left him injured, forcing a period of recovery and rehabilitation. Despite the setback, his determination to continue racing remained undiminished, and he returned to competition as soon as medically cleared. Campbell-Jones made his Formula One World Championship debut at the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, one of motorsport's fastest and most dangerous circuits. He drove an Emeryson, a British privateer constructor building customer racing cars for amateur drivers.

However, disaster struck during practice when Campbell-Jones' gearbox failed. Rather than miss his Formula One debut, the team borrowed a Lotus 18-Climax, allowing Campbell-Jones to qualify for the race. On race day, Campbell-Jones completed the full distance but finished 11th and last of the classified finishers, more than four laps behind race winner Jim Clark's Lotus. While statistically disappointing, merely finishing his debut World Championship race at Spa—where mechanical failures and accidents regularly decimated fields—represented a creditable achievement.

During 1963, Campbell-Jones drove Tim Parnell's Lotus 24 and Lola Mk4-Climax in various national Formula One races, gaining additional single-seater experience. His second and final World Championship appearance came at the 1963 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he drove the Lola Mk4-Climax. Once again, Campbell-Jones qualified and completed the race, finishing last of the classified runners—a result that accurately reflected his amateur status competing against professional factory drivers with superior equipment. Over his two World Championship starts, Campbell-Jones never scored points and finished last in both races, though both times he avoided retirement and took the checkered flag—an achievement that eluded many more celebrated drivers at dangerous 1960s circuits.

Beyond his World Championship appearances, Campbell-Jones competed in numerous national Formula One races throughout 1963, where the reduced competition level allowed him to demonstrate his abilities more effectively. In his final competitive race at Oulton Park, Campbell-Jones drove a BRP (British Racing Partnership) car, becoming the last person to race a BRP competitively—a unique footnote in British motorsport history. Campbell-Jones retired from racing in 1966 at age 36, having competed for eight years across sports cars and single-seaters. His retirement reflected a pragmatic decision to focus on his business interests rather than continue amateur racing as the sport professionalized and the costs escalated.

Beyond racing, Campbell-Jones owned a successful car dealership, a restaurant, and maintained property interests, demonstrating business acumen that provided financial security throughout his life. These diverse business activities reflected the gentleman amateur tradition—racing as a passionate hobby supported by successful business ventures rather than racing for professional income. John Campbell-Jones passed away on 24 March 2020 at age 90, having lived a long life enriched by his motorsport activities and business successes. Though his two Formula One starts resulted in last-place finishes and no championship points, Campbell-Jones represented the final generation of British gentleman amateurs who could compete in World Championship Grands Prix purely for the love of racing, a tradition that died as Formula One became increasingly professional and commercial during the 1960s.