Taso Mathieson

Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvy ('Taso') Mathieson (25 July 1908, Glasgow – 12 October 1991, Vichy)[1][2][3] was a British racing driver. Between 1930 and 1955, he entered more than 30 races, including multiple times the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Racing career and personal life

'Taso' Mathieson started racing in 1930, when he entered a race at Brooklands restricted to Lagondas.[4] 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).[3]

A 1936 Bugatti Type 57 like Mathieson used in 1938

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.[3][5]

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.[6][7] He later 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 Stoop. Mathieson also entered his English Racing Automobiles (ERA) for the 1950 British Grand Prix, so that Leslie Johnson could drive it. However, others say ERA was the entrant, because Johnson had purchased the car manufacturer three years before.[8] 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.[9] 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
YearDateRaceEntrantCarTeammate(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:

[2] [3] [6] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

  • Mathieson was the team owner, not a driver.

† Pierre Maréchal was killed in an accident.

References
  1. He was the son of Thomas Ogilvie Mathieson (see Alexander Mathieson & Sons).
  2. "THE GOLDEN ERA OF GP RACING 1934-40 - DRIVERS (M)". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. "TASO Mathieson". historicracing.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. "Bonhams". bonhams.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  5. http://archive.motorsportmagazine.com/article/january-1992/55/674c1a67-3dfc-44f3-b2ce-49283274d294/taso-mathieson
  6. "Data Search Results". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  7. "TASO Mathieson". www.historicracing.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  8. "All Formula One Info - ERA (English Racing Automobiles Ltd.)". allf1.info. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  9. "Décès de la comédienne française Mila Parély". La Presse. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  10. "T.A.S O. Mathieson (GB) - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  11. STATS F1. "Taso MATHIESON - Involvement Non World Championship • STATS F1". statsf1.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. "T.A.S.O. Mathieson". race-database.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  13. "World Sports Racing Prototypes". wsrp.cz. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  14. "TNF Guide to former premises: Gransden Lodge circuit". The Autosport Forums. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  15. "Bois de Boulogne". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
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