G'day
We should not forget that DMH was also an early radio pioneer and was one of
the first to broadcast from an aeroplane.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at
autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of HealeyRick
Sent: Sunday, 3 July 2011 10:53 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net; spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Happy Birthday, DMH
Donald Mitchell Healey, noted British
rally driver, automobile engineer, and speed record holder, was born on
July 3, 1898 in Perranporth, North Cornwall, England. Following an
apprenticeship at Sopwith Aviation, he volunteered for the Royal Flying
Corps and earned his "wings" in 1916. After WWI, he returned home to
study motorcars and engineering. He opened a garage, where his interest
grew in rally competition. From the mid-'20s through the early '50s, Healey
was a European rally driver of great distinction, his best finish being
first in 1931, in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Immediately after WWII, Healey began to
build his own cars; in 1946, his Elliot was the finest production saloon
to cover 100 miles an hour. Other cars were the Silverstone and the
Nash-Healey, which finished third overall at Le Mans in 1952.
Best-known were the Austin-Healeys, sports cars introduced in October
1952. Various models, including Sprites, were produced until a total ran
of nearly 200,000 of which most were exported to America.
In 1953 and 1954, Healey set American and
international records with his cars at the Bonneville Salt Flats; and
he recorded 203.11 in an Austin-Healey 100-6 Streamliner to join the
exclusive 200 MPH Club in 1956.
In 1972, with Healey as chairman of Jensen Motors, the Jensen-Healey was
introduced. For his "services to export," Healey was made a Commander of the
Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973.
Donald M. Healey died in Perranporth on January 15, 1988, but his
automobiles are still being raced, driven, collected, and enjoyed today.
Rick
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