| John Rhodes Cobb | |
|---|---|
at Brooklands |
|
| Born | 2 December 1899 Esher, Surrey |
| Died | 29 September 1952 (aged 52) Loch Ness |
| Cause of death | crash during water speed record attempt |
| Resting place | Christ Church, Esher |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Speed record holder, fur broker |
| Employer | Anning, Chadwick and Kiver (director) |
John Rhodes Cobb (December 2, 1899 – September 29, 1952) was a British racing motorist. He made money as a director of fur brokers Anning, Chadwick and Kiver and could afford to specialise in large capacity motor-racing. He was born and lived in Esher, Surrey, near the Brooklands race track.
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He held the ultimate lap record at the track, driving the 24-litre Napier Railton at an average speed of 143.44 mph (230.84 km/h) achieved on 7 October 1935, regaining it from his friend Oliver Bertram.
Driving the piston-engined, wheel-driven Railton Special he broke the land speed record at Bonneville on August 23, 1939, achieving a mark of 367.91 mph (592.09 km/h). Without this being beaten he raised the record to 394.19 mph (634.39 km/h) in 1947.
During the Second World War he served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, and between 1943 and 1945 in the Air Transport Auxiliary. He reached the rank of group captain.
He died in 1952, attempting to break the world water speed record at Loch Ness in the jet speedboat Crusader at a speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h). There is a memorial to him erected nearby by the people of Glenurquhart. He is buried at Christ Church, Esher.
John Cobb married twice, first to Elizabeth Mitchell-Smith in 1947. After her death in 1948 he married Margaret Glass (1917-2007) in 1950.[1]
He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1947.
On 27 March 1953 he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct - John Rhodes Cobb (deceased), Racing Motorist. For services in attempting to break the world's water speed record, and in research into high speed on water, in the course of which he lost his life.[2]