A.T. Goldie Gardner

Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Thomas Goldie Gardner (31 May 1890 – 25 August 1958) was an English racing car driver who was the most prolific speed-record driver ever. He achieved nearly 150 national and international speed records, and at one point held six of the ten speed record category titles. According to the FIA, three of his records still stand today. Gardner was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1938 and was a recipient of the BRDC Gold Star. In 1939, he was the first person to exceed 200 mph in a light car.

Early life Alfred Thomas Goldie Gardner was born in Woodford Green, Essex, on 31 May 1890. 'Goldie' was his mother's family name and retained in the Scottish tradition, but he was known by this name as a child and later by close friends. and Uppingham School where he excelled at sports. After working briefly at Lloyd's of London and service in the Honourable Artillery Company, in 1910 he took a contract as a colonial broker in Ceylon, where he also served in the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. Upon completion of his Ceylon contract he gained a new appointment in Katha, Burma, but it was cut short by a bad attack of typhoid fever with malaria and he was sent back to England on six months' sick leave.

First world war During his convalescence in 1914, the First World War started. He enlisted in September of that year and was granted a commission in the Royal Field Artillery as a second lieutenant, and was quickly placed in command of B Battery, 72nd Brigade RFA. In August 1917, he suffered severe injuries to his right hip and leg in an aircraft accident. Despite a long period of recovery, he never regained full use of his leg and walked with a stick for the rest of his life. He was discharged from the army in 1921 as medically unfit for further service.

Motorsport In 1924 he purchased a Gordon England special Austin Seven and despite his disability began racing regularly at Brooklands Motor Circuit. After racing in various different cars, in 1931 he purchased one of the first MG C-Type Midgets, starting an association MG Cars that lasted until his death. and he raced various of these marks with considerable success. He suffered a crash during the 1932 RAC Tourist Trophy race at Ards in Northern Ireland that further worsened the disability to his already damaged leg. By 1934 he was fit enough to continue track racing and in the 500 mile race at Brooklands with co-driver Dr.J.D.Benjafield he achieved third place as well as winning the 1,100cc class.

After accompanying Sir Malcolm Campbell's expedition to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1935 as team manager for Campbell's World Land speed record attempt, he returned to England and concentrated on speed racing records. Initially using an offset single-seat MG K3 (K3007) he set the 1100cc outer lap record at Brooklands in 1936 before travelling to Frankfurt in Germany and Montlhery in France in 1937 where he set a host of 1100cc (Class G) international records.

Bonneville Salt Flats, 1951 and 1952

In 1951 and 1952, with renewed support from the MG Car Company, Gardner took EX135 to Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, setting a total of 43 short- and long-distance speed records. During the 1952 attempt, wet salt caused him to skid and he struck a wooden marker post which struck him on the head.

In 1940 he married Una Eagle-Clarke (1914–2008). They had one daughter Rosalind,

Awards and honours 1915: Mentioned in Despatches 1917: Military Cross 1938: Segrave Trophy 1938, 1947, 1949: British Racing Drivers' Club Gold Star