Jim Russell

Herbert James Russell (28 May 1920 – 30 March 2019), better known as Jim Russell, was an English racing driver, garage owner and founder of the Jim Russell Racing Driver School. He died on 30 March 2019, shortly after undergoing an operation for a hip replacement.

Early life and garage Russell was born at his parents' fish and chip shop and lived most of his life in Downham Market, Norfolk. His first job was selling ice cream. After serving with the RAF during World War II, he became a garage owner. In late 2013 the first units were marketed on an exclusive, gated development called Russell Gardens.

Racing career Russell's driving career began at the age of 32, when a friend invited him to go to his local Snetterton race circuit. Starting with a 500 cc Cooper with a J.A.P. engine, Russell quickly progressed to a Manx Norton engine fettled by established motorcycle tuner Steve Lancefield. He then moved up to Formula Three and Formula Two.

Between 1953 and 1959 he won 64 Formula Three races, 11 Formula Two races and 6 sports car races. He won the British Formula Three Championship for three successive years from 1955 to 1957 in the company of established drivers Les Leston and newcomer John Surtees. The name brand 'Jim Russell' continues with franchised race driving schools.

Racing team With the success of the driver school, Russell entered promising drivers in Formula 3 races in a Jim Russell Racing Driver School sponsored car. This included Emerson Fittipaldi in a Lotus 59 who won nine F3 races in the MCD Lombard Championship to become the 1969 champion.