Black. William Belfrage

[Leigh Trevail]

William Belfrage Black (1907 - 1977)

The name William ‘Bill’ Belfrage Black regularly crops up in reports of 1950’s club racing but very little is known about him, hopefully these few details will help rectify that situation. Born on the 14th April 1907; Bill Black was a dairy farmer from Milnathort near Kinross in Scotland, he traded as the Holton Diary.

It is not thought that he raced before the war; but if anyone knows otherwise I would be pleased to hear from them. The earliest mention that I am aware of is the Monte Carlo Rally of 1949, he also took part in 1950 and 1951, starting at Glasgow each time. This would have made him almost 42 years old when he took up the sport.

1949 Monte Carlo Rally .. No.59 .. Rover 12 convertible (SY 6852) .. Co Driver Ian Blake
1950 Monte Carlo Rally .. No. 89 .. Allard convertible (KLP 820) .. Co Driver Gordon Gillies (108th of 135 finishers)
1951 Monte Carlo Rally .. No. 262 .. Sunbeam Talbot saloon .. (HUE 509) .. Co Drivers R.S .Hanson and R Clark.

During 1951 W.B.B. was spending more time in England racing his Jaguar XK 120 (HWS 636). at circuits such as Boreham, Silverstone, Fersfield and Snetterton. Also in 1951 he entered the Jaguar in the both the Scottish and the R.A.C. Rallys, by 1952 he had moved to Warren Park, Little Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex.

For the 1952 season he purchased a Formula 2 Connaught, (chassis A4) this he drove himself or sometimes it was piloted by Fotheringham-Parker, the Jaguar was also raced throughout the year. In August W.B.B acted as co driver for Norwich car dealer Stanley Boshier in his Jaguar XK 120 (RVX 900) for the first Goodwood 9 Hour Race. Entered as number 11 they finish a credible 12th Overall and 3rd in class. In December W.B.B. rallied a Renualt 4CV (FCL 127) again courtesy of Stan Boshier

In 1953 W.B.B purchased and raced a Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica (PUB 2). This was originally registered WHX 225 which is the number it now carries. This car was sometimes raced by Boshier’s salesman Tony Hind.

A Kieft (NDA 172) with a 1100cc Coventry Climax was acquired for the 1954 24 Hour Le-Mans. This he drove with Alan Rippon but retired after 10 hours with rear axle problems. Whether or not he competed much after that is unclear. In or around 1957 W.B.B. moved even further south to Esher in Surrey, William Belfrage Black died on the 14th Feb 1977. If anyone could add to these few lines I would be most pleased to read it.

[Leigh Trevail]

I stand corrected regarding the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally. The car was not a Rover but a Sunbeam Talbot 10. It finished the rally in 165th place which was next to last, but they did finish!