Eric Thompson (racing driver)
A British racing driver who traded the podium for rare books, finding equal thrill in the Mille Miglia and the hunt for a first edition.
1919–2015 (age 96)·British racing driver·Birthday: November 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Eric Thompson's life was a study in compelling contrasts. Behind the wheel of an Aston Martin or a Connaught, he was a formidable presence in postwar sports car racing, demonstrating remarkable skill and cool-headed endurance. His finest hour came at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he co-drove to a stunning third-place finish. Yet the world of high-speed competition was just one chapter. Parallel to his racing career, he cultivated a deep passion for literature, becoming a respected antiquarian book dealer in London. After retiring from professional driving, he didn't settle for quiet retirement; he built a successful second act as an insurance broker for Lloyd's of London. Thompson embodied the spirit of the true amateur—pursuing diverse passions with expertise and grace, leaving a legacy defined by both velocity and verse.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eric was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2015Died at 96
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Secured a podium finish (3rd place) at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving an Aston Martin DB2.
- Competed in the 1952 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, participating in Formula One's World Championship era.
- Founded and ran Eric D. Thompson (Rare Books) Ltd., a respected business in the London book trade.
- Served as a committee member of the British Racing Drivers' Club for over two decades.
Did You Know?
He served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War II.
Thompson was a close friend of fellow driver and book enthusiast Innes Ireland.
He authored 'The Leather Boys,' a novel about motorcycle culture, under the pseudonym Gillian Freeman.
His book business specialized in modern first editions, particularly of 20th-century authors.
“The car is an extension of your mind; you must be smooth, never fight it.”
