Eileen Ellison

Who was Eileen Ellison?

Eileen Ellison was an English Grand Prix racer.

Born in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, she was a daughter of Sidney and Theresa Ellison. She had a sister, Diana, and a brother, Tony.

Due to her brother's interest in motorsport, Eileen became interested in racing in the late 1920s. She befriended a racing driver of the day, Thomas Pitt Cholmondeley-Tapper, and Eileen soon began racing herself. She was frequently noted as the entrant when Cholmondeley-Tapper raced, chiefly because it was her car used; Tony Ellison invariably being the mechanic.

Her main racing achievement came in 1932 when she won the Duchess of York's race for women drivers at Brooklands. The competitors included Elsie Wisdom, Fay Taylour and Kay Petre. Eileen Ellison won from Kay Petre, who was arguably the most famous female racing driver of her day.

With her brother and Cholmondeley Tapper, Eileen Ellison travelled throughout Europe to racing venues. Cholmondeley-Tapper wrote a book entitled Amateur Racing Driver about his exploits but Eileen Ellison is only briefly mentioned in the book.

World War 2 drew a halt to motorsport in Europe but by this time, Eileen Ellison had found another interest in life - her new husband. Eileen married Squadron Leader Brian Lane in 1940. The marriage was brief, as he was killed in action in 1942.