"The Red Knight" : (In keeping with a number of drivers of that era Gene, wearing his trademark red outfit, earned his living as a stunt driver, surviving numerous dare-devil stunts which were put on during the meetings for the fans' entertainment. He emigrated to Australia/New Zealand in the late 50s, continuing his stunt work down under, and died at his home in Tasmania in July 2007.) This was taken from an article by John S. Marsh in the Long Eaton F.1 Stox programme of 28 August 1976. Submitted by Judith Wilkins (Gene Mace's Cousin) Held between the heats and meeting final, the "Hell Fire Stakes" was a popular feature at Long Eaton meetings with its first running being at Meeting No. 5 on 18th September 1954. "The Red Knight" was driving a smart red 14.9 Ford number E42 which caught fire during the race. He climbed out of sun roof of the still moving car which motored on in large circles at the pits end of track back to infield again several times until it parked itself against the goalposts (they played football at the stadium in those days) where it continued to burn for the remainder of the race. (Think Health & Safety might have something to say about that these days!!). Gene escaped unscathed, and in the Grand Final rolled his "borrowed" car on the Pits Bend during the race. Body and chassis parted company leaving Gene sitting in the middle of the track in the upturned body. Meeting No 6 saw a new car which rolled again in the Hell Fire Stakes! Gene raced on regularly through 1954 and 1955. He was an artist and his cartoons punctuated the programmes of the day. His design for programme cover was used by Harold Bosworth promotions during the 1956/7/8 seasons. Gene didn't race in 1956 but appeared under number 333 midway through the 1957 season. He won a heat early in 1958 and promptly retired, never racing a Long Eaton again. He appeared at Tamworth in 1961 driving number 9.
REGISTERED NUMBERS
49br : 1954, 333 : 1955 to 1958, 9 : 1959 to 1961 Total number of years registered : 8
RACING RELATIONS
No Known Racing Relations
CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
None
MEMORIAL WINS
None
RACE FINISHES
Number of finals won : 0 Number of races won (inc. finals) : 1 Number of podium finishes (inc. race wins) : 7 Number of race finishes (inc. podium finishes) : 12 Number of meetings where a race finish has been recorded : 12
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