Goldie - The Amazing story of Alfred 'Goldie Gardner, the world's most successful speed-record driver.

By John Mayhead Book Review by Ken Davies

Just like a story taken straight from the bushel of ripping Yarns adventure tales, Goldie charts the fascinating life of Alfred Thomas ‘Goldie’ Garner OBE, MC, arguably, the world’s most successful speed-record driver and national hero who was born into the middle-class family of a hard-working colonial broker, but without the financial advantage of a silver spoon.

Written by leading classic car writer John Mayhead, one of the UK’s most prominent classic car writers, with foreword by Charles March, Duke of Richmond & Gordon, whose grandfather was a close racing buddy of Goldie’s, the book charts the distinguished military and motor sporting careers of an archetype yet sometimes reluctant British hero, lieutenant colonel Alfred Thomas ‘Goldie’ Gardner.

Born May 1890, after being fortified by the harshness of an Edwardian public-school education, Goldie took up with the Ceylon Mounted Rifles before enlisting in the Great War and surviving the muddy trenches of the Somme, only to be badly wounded in the leg during 1917 and walking with a stick for the rest of his life. Despite his disability, Goldie enthusiastically embarked on a motor sport career, first on the daunting banked Brooklands circuit then the scary road circuits of Ireland before specializing in speed record breaking mostly using his famous, EX 135 bespoke record breaker fitted with a variety of engine variations to suit the record and class at which he was aiming.

John Mayhead’s well researched 270-page, hardback biography follows the amiable, pipe-smoking, 6’-2” British driver through his distinguished military service in two world wars, followed by his successful motor racing and speed record breaking vocation in civvy street. Counting Sir Malcolm Campbell, Earl Howe and the driving force behind MG, engineer Cecil Kimber among his personal friends. But Goldie also won the close friendship of many film stars and captains of industry of that era including John Thorley and Lord Nuffield, then head of the Morris Motors empire.

Brave, determined, and eschewing the traditional glamorous racing driver image of the era, Goldie’s slim 6’ 2” appearance belied his calling and looked more akin to a pipe-smoking geography teacher than international record breaker. Nonetheless, he had a keen eye for the ladies, which all added to the mystique of Goldie’s fascinating biopic.

Picture the scene; the newly opened and billiard table smooth German autobahn near Dessau, prior to the outbreak of WW2. Our 49-year-old WW1 hero climbs into his green streamlined racing car after handing his walking stick to his faithful mechanic. Watching are the glamorous drivers of the Nazi state-sponsored Silver Arrows racing team, bemused as Goldie dons an old-fashioned leather racing helmet and goggles. Then, a few minutes later and to the astonishment of the German elite, the green car proudly bearing the union jack emblem of the BRDC, flashes past at over 200mph to set a litany of new international records!

Containing a comprehensive glossary and generously illustrated with many previously unseen images, the tome is arranged in 21 chapters making this thoroughly compelling book easy and enjoyable reading. First released by National Motor Museum Publishing 2023: ISBN 978-1-7396297-3-1 Goldie is available from a variety of on-line outlets for circa £15.00 + P&P.