Joe Fry

Joseph Gibson Fry (26 October 1915, Chipping Sodbury – 29 July 1950, Blandford Motor Racing Circuit) was a British racing driver and distant member of the Fry's Chocolate family. He became the primary driver for the highly successful Shelsley Special "Freikaiserwagen", created by his cousin David Fry and Hugh Dunsterville, with help from Dick Caesar. The original car was built in Bristol in 1936 and featured an Anzani engine which was replaced in 1937 by a Blackburne engine.[1] Joe set a number of hill records during the late 1930s including an unofficial outright record at Prescott when he climbed in 47.62 seconds in the 1,100 c.c. Freikaiserwagen, on 27 August 1938.[2] At the outbreak of World War Two he held both the blown and unblown 1,100 c.c. records at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in 41.52 and 42.58 seconds respectively.[3]

For other people named Joseph Fry, see Joseph Fry (disambiguation).

Joe Fry
Born(1915-10-26)26 October 1915
Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, England
Died29 July 1950(1950-07-29) (aged 34)
Blandford Motor Racing Circuit, Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years1950
Teamsnon-works Maserati
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 British Grand Prix
Last entry1950 British Grand Prix

Fry finished second in class, for racing cars up to 1,100 c.c., in the Freikaiserwagen at the Brighton Speed Trials in 1947.[4] He drove the car to a class victory at Brighton the following year recording a faster time.[5] He won the class again at Brighton in 1949 reducing his time yet again.[6]

At Blandford hillclimb on 28 May 1949: "J.G. Fry made f.t.d. in the 650 lb., twin Marshall-blown V-twin Freikaiserwagen." His winning time was 31.13 seconds.[7]

At Bouley Bay Hill Climb, Jersey, on 21 July 1949, Fry finished first in class but overall a runner-up to Sydney Allard, at which point Fry led the British Hill Climb Championship.[8] At the final round at Prescott he was just one point behind Sydney Allard, but he had mechanical problems and slumped to fourth overall behind Allard, Poore and Moss in the final standings.[9]

Fry was killed at the wheel of the Freikaiserwagen at the 1950 Blandford hillclimb, less than two months after driving a Maserati 4CL in the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Raymond Mays said: "The death of Joe Fry, from injuries received while practicing for a Blandford hill-climb, was a great blow to me and to British motor sport in general."[10]

A memorial race, the Joe Fry Trophy, was held between 1952 and 1954 at Castle Combe Circuit.

Bibliography

The book of the complete history of "Freikaiserwagen" is called "Freik – The Private Life of the Freikaiserwagen" by Rob and Hugh Dunsterville published in 2008 and reprinted in 2009.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points
1950 Joe Fry Maserati 4CL Maserati Straight-4 GBR
10*		 MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0
* Indicates shared drive with Brian Shawe-Taylor

References
  1. Motor Sport, July 1940, Pages 124–125.
  2. Motor Sport, May 1946, Page 92.
  3. Motor Sport, February 1940, Page 22.
  4. Motor Sport, October 1947, Page 290. The car is pictured at Brighton on the cover of Motor Sport, December 1947.
  5. Motor Sport, October 1948, Page 319.
  6. Motor Sport, October 1949, Page 396.
  7. Motor Sport, June 1949, Page 224.
  8. Motor Sport, August 1949, Page 333.
  9. Motor Sport, October 1949, Page 407.
  10. Split Seconds: My Racing Years, by Raymond Mays "ghosted" by Dennis May, G.T. Foulis & Co. Ltd. 1952, Page 293.
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