Ernest Eldridge

Ernest Arthur Douglas Eldridge (18 July 1897 – 27 October 1935) was a British racing driver who broke the world land speed record in 1924.

Eldridge joined[3] the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem, possibly as an ambulance driver.

[4] He learned to fly in a Sopwith Grasshopper at Brooklands and finally received his pilot's licence (Number 7944) on 21 August 1923 at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware.

[5] In 1922 Eldridge startled the Brooklands crowd by appearing with a 240 horsepower (180 kW) Maybach aero engine in his 1907 Isotta Fraschini chassis, which had been stretched to accommodate the giant power plant.

This 20-litre racer had a tiny two-seater body made by Jarvis of Wimbledon and caused something of a sensation, even when monstrosities were not uncommon in motor racing circles.

"[7] In 1925 he sold Mephistopheles to Le Champion and decided to enter the world of Grand Prix motor racing with cars of his own design, the Eldridge Specials.

Based on Amilcar chassis with Anzani engines, these cars were entered at many races for the 1925 and 1926 seasons including the Brooklands 200, The San Sebastian, the L'ACF and the Italian GPs.

Whilst attempting speed records over the Christmas Holidays the front axle disintegrated, the car somersaulted, and Ernest was left with serious head injuries and the loss of an eye.

Eldridge told Cecil Kimber of MG that the car would have to be supercharged, if it were to have any chance of heading off a rival 100 mph attempt by Malcolm Campbell in a blown Austin Seven.

It was whilst returning from a trip to Bonneville to supervise the record attempts that Eldridge contracted the pneumonia that he subsequently died from in Kensington.