Taso Mathieson
Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie ('Taso') Mathieson (25 July 1908, Glasgow – 12 October 1991, Vichy),[1][2] stylised as T.A.S.O. Mathieson and sometimes referred to as Donald Mathieson, was a British racing driver and author of automotive history books.
T.A.S.O. Mathieson | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie Mathieson 25 July 1908 Glasgow, Scotland |
Died | 12 October 1991 83) Vichy, France | (aged
Spouse | |
24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
Years | 1938 – 1939, 1949 - 1950 |
Teams | Norbert Jean Mahé Luigi Chinetti Mrs. R.P. Hichens H.J. Aldington |
Best finish | 9th (1950) |
Class wins | 1 (1950) |
Racing career and personal life
'Taso' was the son of Thomas Ogilvie Mathieson. His family owned the Scottish hand tool manufacturing company Alexander Mathieson & Sons.
'Taso' Mathieson started racing in 1930, when he entered a race at Brooklands restricted to Lagondas.[3] He established his first victory during an Easter Bank-Holiday BARC Open Meeting on 28 March 1932, driving a supercharged Officine Meccaniche. Over the next two years, he won three races in his Bugatti and broke the lap record for 2-litre cars at Snaefell Mountain Course on the Isle of Man, with an average speed of 72.15 mph (116.11 km/h).[2]
![](../I/Bugatti_Type_57_Atalante_1936.jpg.webp)
Because of health problems, Mathieson was unable to enter any races from 1934 to 1937, so his Bugatti was driven a few times by Chris Staniland. In 1938 and 1939 he entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but both times retired before the finish.[2][4]
Mathieson was one of the first, if not the first, Briton to race again in Continental Europe after World War II, racing an ex-Henry Birkin 3-litre Maserati in 1946.[2] On 30 May, he raced in the Coupe de la Résistance and retired with an oil leak.[5] He entered the Grand Prix des Frontières on 9 June, but instead raced at the René le Bègue Cup held on the same day, finishing fifth.[6][7] On 16 June, he attended the Belgian Grand Prix in Brussels, but did not start.[8] He placed sixth in the Roussillon Grand Prix on 30 June,[9] and on 28 July he raced in the Nantes Grand Prix, retiring with engine troubles.[10]
Mathieson entered an ERA E-Type with Leslie Johnson as driver, for 1949 Richmond Trophy,[11] Jersey Road Race[12] and British Empire Trophy, as well as the 1950 British Grand Prix.[13] Some sources attribute these as official ERA entries because Johnson had purchased the car manufacturer three years before.[14] Mathieson bought a 2-litre Frazer Nash Le Mans in which he scored a class victory in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Richard "Dickie" Stoop.
He continued racing until 1955, mostly entering Grands Prix in France. When he was injured in a traffic or racing accident, he was forced to retire.[15] After 25 years of racing, Mathieson concentrated on his writing and his collection of photographs, together with his wife Mila Parély, a French actress he had married in 1947. He wrote various authoritative books, including Grand Prix Racing 1906-1914, and wrote several articles in the French magazine Le Fanauto in 1979 and 1980.
Racing results
Year | Date | Race | Entrant | Car | Teammate(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933 | 14 July | 1933 Mannin Moar | T. Mathieson | Bugatti Type 35C | none | DNF |
7 October | Donington Park Trophy | |||||
21 October | Mountain Championship | |||||
1938 | 22 May | Antwerp Grand Prix | Bugatti Type 57 | |||
5 June | Grand Prix des Frontières | TASO Mathieson | none | 3rd | ||
19 June–20 | 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans | DNA | ||||
19–20 June | 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans | Norbert Mahé | Talbot-Lago T150C | Freddy Clifford | DNF (17th) | |
10 July | 24 Hours of Spa | Talbot-Lago T150C | DNA | |||
3 September | RAC Tourist Trophy | TASO Mathieson | Bugatti Type 57 | none | 20th | |
1939 | 28 May | Grand Prix des Frontières | T. Mathieson | Maserati | none | DNA |
18 June–19 | 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans | Luigi Chinetti | Talbot-Lago T26 | Luigi Chinetti | DNF (24th) | |
TASO Mathieson | Talbot 150SS Figoni | Philippe de Massa Norbert Mahé |
DNS * | |||
1946 | 30 May | Resistance Cup | Maserati 8C | DNF | ||
9 June | 1946 René le Bègue Cup | 5th | ||||
16 June | Brussels Grand Prix | TASO Mathieson | Talbot-Lago | none | DNS | |
30 June | Roussillon Grand Prix | Maserati 8C | 6th | |||
1947 | 13 July | National Gransden (Formula Libre) | John Wyer | HRG | none | DNA |
1949 | 26 June | 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans | Mrs. R.P. Hichens | Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports | Pierre Maréchal | DNF (22nd) † |
1950 | 25 June | 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans | H.J. Aldington | Frazer Nash Mille Miglia | Richard Stoop | Overall 9th Class 1st |
1951 | 17 June | Circuito do Porto | Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica | 9th | ||
12 August | Circuito di Senigallia | 5th | ||||
9 September | Targa Florio | TASO Mathieson | Jacques Pollet | DNF | ||
1952 | 29 June | Ferrari 195 S ![]() |
Overall 6th Class 1st | |||
1953 | 7 June | 12 Hours of Hyères | Maserati A6GCS | |||
20 June | Roubaix Grand Prix | 6th | ||||
28 June | Circuit de Bressuire | 3rd | ||||
25 July | Caen Grand Prix | Scuderia della Guestella | none | 4th | ||
Sources:[1][2][5][6][7][8][9][10][16][17][18] |
- Mathieson was the team owner, not a driver.
† Pierre Maréchal was killed in an accident.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 | ![]() |
![]() |
Talbot T150C | 5.0 | 159 | DNF (Fire)[2] | |
1939 | ![]() |
![]() |
Talbot T26 | 5.0 | 154 | DNF (Contact) | |
1949 | ![]() (private entrant) |
![]() |
Aston Martin DB2 | S2.0 | 192 | DNF (Accident) | |
1950 | ![]() (private entrant) |
![]() |
Frazer Nash Milla Miglia | S2.0 | 235 | 9th | 1st |
Complete Targa Florio results
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | ![]() |
![]() |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica | S+1.1 | 4 | DNF (Engine) | |
1952 | ??? | ??? | Ferrari 195 S Barchetta | S+2.0 | 8 | 6th | 1st |
Bibliography
- Mathieson, T.A.S.O. (1963). A Pictorial Survey of Racing Cars Between the Years 1919 and 1939. Tarporley, GB: Motor Racing Publications, Ltd.
- Mathieson, T.A.S.O. (1965). Grand Prix Racing 1906-1914: A History of the Grand Prix De L'automobile Club De France. Stockholm, SE: Connaisseur Automobile A.B.
External links
- T.A.S.O. Mathieson at racingsportscars.com.
References
- "THE GOLDEN ERA OF GP RACING 1934-40 - DRIVERS (M)". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "TASO Mathieson". historicracing.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "Bonhams". bonhams.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- Boddy, Bill (January 1992). "TASO Mathieson". Motor Sport. p. 55. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "Coupe de la Résistance • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "XV Grand Prix des Frontières • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "Coupe René le Bègue • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "GP Belgium - Sports 4500 cc or 2250 cc s/c 1946 - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "I Grand Prix du Roussillon • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "1946 24 Heures du Mans - ChicaneF1.com". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "Richmond Trophy • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "III Jersey Road Race • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "TASO Mathieson and ERA - TNF's Archive - The Autosport Forums". forums.autosport.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "All Formula One Info - ERA (English Racing Automobiles Ltd.)". allf1.info. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "Décès de la comédienne française Mila Parély". La Presse (in French). 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "T.A.S O. Mathieson (GB) - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "World Sports Racing Prototypes". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "TNF Guide to former premises: Gransden Lodge circuit". The Autosport Forums. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2016.