Cliff Allison

Not to be confused with NASCAR driver Clifford Allison, a part of the Alabama Gang.

Cliff Allison

Born	8 February 1932(1932-02-08)
Died	7 April 2005(2005-04-07) (aged 73)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	British
Active years	1958 - 1961
Teams	Lotus, Scuderia Centro Sud, Ferrari, UDT Laystall
Races	18 (16 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	1
Career points	11
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1958 Monaco Grand Prix
Last race	1961 Belgian Grand Prix

Silverstone Grand Prix, Formula 2 Race, July 1956. Cliff Allison, driver of Lotus Eleven car no.16 leaning on car. He finished 4th. Graham Hill, driver of Lotus Eleven no.18 standing on left. Senior mechanic John Crosthwaite holding cloth

Henry Clifford Allison (8 February 1932, Brough, Westmorland – 7 April 2005,^[1] Brough, (now) Cumbria) was a racing driver who participated in Formula One during seasons 1958 to 1961 for the Lotus, Scuderia Centro Sud, Ferrari and UDT Laystall teams.

Formula 3 and Sports Cars

Cliff Allison started his racing career in a Formula 3 Cooper 500 in 1953 before being spotted by Colin Chapman. Allison won the performance prize driving a 744cc Lotus in the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans.^[2] The Lotus of Allison and Colin Chapman placed 6th in the 1958 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race for sports cars.^[3] Allison came in 4th with his Lotus in the 1958 Grand Prix of Europe at Spa-Francorchamps, more than 4 minutes behind victor Tony Brooks.^[4]

Allison and Dan Gurney shared one of three team Ferrari cars that competed in the June 1959 1000 km Nürburgring race. 75 cars entered the 1000 kilometre race which was a world championship event for sports cars.^[5]

Allison was paired with Jean Behra in a Ferrari which finished 2nd in the 1959 12 Hours of Sebring.^[6] The drivers received $1,500 in prize money.^[7] Allison was credited with the fastest lap of the Sebring race in the #9 Ferrari. He was clocked at 3 minutes 21.6 seconds on the 97th lap of the 5.2 mile course.^[8]

In May 1960 Allison skidded off the road during practice for the Targa Florio in Palermo, Sicily. His Ferrari reached a speed of 100 miles per hour when a tyre burst, or so the driver believed. The car crashed into a scrub forest, destroying itself and most of what it touched. When the mishap occurred the Ferrari was nearing the end of a five mile straight by the sea. This was the only very fast stretch of road in the event. Allison escaped from the wreck without a scratch, but his face was ashen and his mouth hung open with an expression of fear.^[9]

Formula One Lotus (1958, 1960), Ferrari (1959 - 1960)

Allison was forced to make numerous pit stops during the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. His Lotus finished 6th, 12 laps behind race winner Maurice Trintignant.^[10]

Ferrari's stable of drivers for 1959 were Olivier Gendebien, Phil Hill, Brooks, Behra, Gurney, and Allison.^[11]

For the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix the Ferrari factory team fielded truncated versions of the cars they ran in future grand prix races. At Monte Carlo the Ferraris' long sleek snouts (air scoops) were cut away to allow more air into the cooling systems.^[12] Wolfgang von Trips lost control of his Porsche in a bend where the street was steeply inclined to Casino. Allison's Ferrari crashed into him as he spun. The Lotus of Bruce Halford came next into the blind curve and became part of the wreck. Allison and his Ferrari suffered the least damage while von Trips sustained a gashed face, and Halford had a cut to his arm. Neither of the three cars could continue.^[13]

He suffered a major crash behind the wheel of his Ferrari while practicing for the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, and it took him almost the rest of the year to recover from his injuries. Allison was hurt when his Ferrari slammed into a straw barrier. He was unconscious when he was taken to a hospital. Allison sustained a broken left arm, rib fractures, facial cuts, and a concussion. He was listed in serious condition.^[14]

The following year he suffered another crash at the wheel of his Lotus at the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix. He broke both his knees and fractured his pelvis when his car careened off the course and overturned in a field.^[15]

Post-Formula One career

This marked the end of his career in motor sport. He kept in touch with the sport through reunions and was always a popular visitor to the paddock.

Allison owned and managed Allison's Garage in Brough. The business had been started by his father and he returned to it after his racing career ended. Allisons also provided the village and school bus services, which Cliff Allison would drive.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	WDC	Points
1958	Team Lotus	Lotus 12	Climax L4	ARG	MON 6	NED 6	500	BEL 4	FRA Ret	GBR Ret			ITA 7	MOR 10	18th	3
		Lotus 16	Climax L4								GER 10
	Scuderia Centro Sud	Maserati 250F	Maserati L6									POR Ret
1959	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari Dino 156	Ferrari V6	MON Ret											17th	2
		Ferrari Dino 246	Ferrari V6		500	NED 9	FRA	GBR	GER Ret	POR	ITA 5	USA Ret
1960	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari Dino 246	Ferrari V6	ARG 2	MON DNQ	500	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	POR	ITA	USA		12th	6
1961	UDT-Laystall Racing Team	Lotus 18	Climax L4	MON 8	NED	BEL DNS	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	USA				NC	0

References

1. ^ "Cliff Allison". The Independent. 9 April 2005. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cliff-allison-530349.html. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
2. ^ Flockhart and Bueb Sweep Mark To Win 24-Hour Le Mans Auto Grind, New York Times, June 24, 1957, Page 40.
3. ^ Collins-Hill Ferrari Wins 12-Hour Race at Sebring, New York Times, March 23, 1958, Page S1.
4. ^ Brooks Vanwall Finishes First In Grand Prix Race In Belgium, New York Times, June 16, 1958, Page 30.
5. ^ 75 Cars To Start At Nürburgring, New York Times, June 7, 1959, Page S6.
6. ^ Ferraris Score In 12-Hour Race, New York Times, March 22, 1959, Page S1.
7. ^ Hill and Gendebien Split Sebring Prize of $3,000, New York Times, March 23, 1959, Page 40.
8. ^ It Was Allison, New York Times, April 1, 1959, Page 49.
9. ^ Crack-up Frightens Driver Out of Targa Florio in Sicily, New York Times, May 8, 1960, Page S6.
10. ^ Trintignant Drives Cooper Car to Victory in Monaco's Grand Prix, New York Times, May 19, 1958, Page 31.
11. ^ Ferrari To Pass Up Auto Races In Italy, New York Times, December 10, 1958, Page 59.
12. ^ Grand Prix Course In Monaco Is Too Slow, Drivers Complain, New York Times, May 10, 1959, Page S3.
13. ^ Brabham Wins Grand Prix de Monaco after Moss' Auto Drops Out, May 11, 1959, Page 36.
14. ^ British Driver Is Injured In Monte Carlo Crash, New York Times, May 28, 1960, Page 16.
15. ^ Sports Datelines, Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1961, Page A5.

External links

• Cliff Allison profile at The 500 Owners Association

Persondata
Name	Allison, Cliff
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 8, 1932
Place of birth
Date of death	April 7, 2005
Place of death