Pat Moss
Encyclopedia
Pat Moss, after her marriage Pat Moss-Carlsson, (27 December 1934 – 14 October 2008) was one of the most successful female auto rally
drivers of all time, scoring 3 outright wins and 7 Podium Finishes in international rallies. She was crowned European Ladies' Rally Champion five times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964-65). She was also the younger sister of Formula One
Grand Prix
star Stirling Moss
and, from 1963 until her death, the wife and driving partner of Swedish
rally driver Erik Carlsson
.
She is the author of a memoir The Story So Far (1967) and, with her husband, co-author of The Art and Technique of Driving (1965).
, Surrey
, England
, to British
race car driver
Alfred Moss and Aileen (née Craufurd). She grew up in Bray, Berkshire
and was taught to drive, aged 11, by her brother Stirling; however, she started her sporting career on horseback, becoming well known as a successful show-jumper
and member of the British showjumping team
. In 1953, aged 18, she started driving in club rallies after being introduced to the sport by boyfriend Ken Gregory, Stirling's manager. In 1954, Pat bought a Triumph TR2
and started rallying more seriously. She asked Standard-Triumph
to cover her expenses to drive her TR2 on the 1955 RAC Rally
, but they declined.
A more astute MG Cars offered Pat expenses and a works MG TF 1500. Thus, began a relationship that would last seven years—netting three championships and benefiting the British Motor Corporation
with valuable publicity. As a BMC
Works Team driver, Pat had her breakthrough in 1958, when she drove her Morris Minor
to 4th Place on the RAC
. She later achieved another 4th Place at Belgium
's Liège
-Rome
-Liège
Rally in an Austin-Healey 100/6
and won the first of her five European Ladies' Rally Championships.
In 1960, Moss took an impressive over-all victory at the Liège-Rome-Liège in an Austin-Healey 3000
and went on to finish 2nd at the Coupe des Alpes. In 1961, she finished 2nd at the RAC
. In 1962, she was 3rd at the East African Safari Rally in a Saab 96
and, at the RAC, with the Austin-Healey. Her biggest achievement, however, was winning the Netherlands
Tulip Rally
in a Mini Cooper. Although Moss considered the Mini "twitchy, and pretty unruly on the limit", the Tulip Rally
was the first of many international rally wins for the Mini Cooper.
In 1963, Moss joined Ford of Britain
and managed a 6th place at the Acropolis Rally in her Lotus
-tuned Ford Cortina
. On 3 March 1963, she married fellow rally driver Erik Carlsson
. Ford
tried to sign Erik Carlsson; but instead, in 1964, Pat Moss switched to the Saab
factory team to partner her husband, nicknamed Mr. Saab for his long-time association with the company. Together, they competed in 11 international rallies. Her most notable results were 3rd at the Acropolis Rally and 4ths at the Liège-Sofia
-Liège and the RAC
. At the Monte Carlo Rally
, she came in 5th in 1964 and 3d in 1965.
In 1968, Moss joined Lancia
to drive the new Fulvia
. She didn't like the car's strong understeer
; but she drove it to 14th Place at the Monte Carlo Rally
and 2nd place at the Rallye Sanremo
, losing only to Pauli Toivonen
in a Porsche 911
. Her other notable results of the season included winning the Sestriere
Rally and finishing 8th at the Acropolis and 7th at the Tour de Corse
. At the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally
, Moss drove her Fulvia to 6th Place.
In December 1969, Moss and Carlsson had a daughter, Susan Moss-Carlsson. By that time, Moss was becoming less active in rallying; but she did join Renault Alpine and drive her Alpine A110
to 10th Place at the Monte Carlo Rally
(1972) before finally retiring (1974).
On 14 October 2008, "Top Female Rally Driver" Pat Moss-Carlsson died of cancer, aged 73, at home in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
. She is survived by her husband and driving partner, Erik Carlsson, and her daughter, Susan Rawding, a successful showjumper.
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
drivers of all time, scoring 3 outright wins and 7 Podium Finishes in international rallies. She was crowned European Ladies' Rally Champion five times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964-65). She was also the younger sister of Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
star Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
and, from 1963 until her death, the wife and driving partner of Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
rally driver Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
.
She is the author of a memoir The Story So Far (1967) and, with her husband, co-author of The Art and Technique of Driving (1965).
Biography
Patricia Ann Moss was born in Thames DittonThames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
race car driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
Alfred Moss and Aileen (née Craufurd). She grew up in Bray, Berkshire
Bray, Berkshire
Bray, sometimes known as Bray on Thames, is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It stands on the banks of the River Thames, just south-east of Maidenhead. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song The Vicar of Bray...
and was taught to drive, aged 11, by her brother Stirling; however, she started her sporting career on horseback, becoming well known as a successful show-jumper
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
and member of the British showjumping team
British Showjumping Association
The British Showjumping Association or BSJA is the Great Britain governing body for the equestrian sport of showjumping. It provides the competitors for Team GBR in international competition and sets the rules under which affiliated competitions are held. It is one of the 16 organisations which...
. In 1953, aged 18, she started driving in club rallies after being introduced to the sport by boyfriend Ken Gregory, Stirling's manager. In 1954, Pat bought a Triumph TR2
Triumph TR2
The Triumph TR2 is a sports car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in the United Kingdom between 1953 and 1955, during which time 8,636 cars were produced....
and started rallying more seriously. She asked Standard-Triumph
Standard Motor Company
The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay . The Standard name was last used in Britain in 1963, and in India in 1987.-1903–1914:...
to cover her expenses to drive her TR2 on the 1955 RAC Rally
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
, but they declined.
A more astute MG Cars offered Pat expenses and a works MG TF 1500. Thus, began a relationship that would last seven years—netting three championships and benefiting the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
with valuable publicity. As a BMC
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
Works Team driver, Pat had her breakthrough in 1958, when she drove her Morris Minor
Morris Minor
The Morris Minor was a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1971...
to 4th Place on the RAC
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
. She later achieved another 4th Place at Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
-Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
-Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
Rally in an Austin-Healey 100/6
Austin-Healey 100
The Austin-Healey 100 is a sports car built from 1953 until 1959. There were two models, the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100, built 1953-1956, and the six-cylinder Austin-Healey 100-6, built 1956-1959....
and won the first of her five European Ladies' Rally Championships.
In 1960, Moss took an impressive over-all victory at the Liège-Rome-Liège in an Austin-Healey 3000
Austin-Healey 3000
The Austin-Healey 3000 is a British sports car built from 1959 to 1967, and is the best known of the "big" Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors, and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC Abingdon works....
and went on to finish 2nd at the Coupe des Alpes. In 1961, she finished 2nd at the RAC
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
. In 1962, she was 3rd at the East African Safari Rally in a Saab 96
Saab 96
For the modern car, see Saab 9-6The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. It was introduced in 1960 and was produced until January 1980, a run of 20 years. Like the 93 it replaced, the 96 was a development from the old Saab 92 chassis and, on account of its improvements and modernisation, it...
and, at the RAC, with the Austin-Healey. Her biggest achievement, however, was winning the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Tulip Rally
Tulip Rally
The Tulip Rally , first held in 1949, is the oldest Dutch rally competition.The teams are divided into three classes: Tour, Sport and Expert. The Expert Class is for the navigators which in the past 2–6 years in the Top-20 of the Sport class have ended, or the previous years in the Top-20 of the...
in a Mini Cooper. Although Moss considered the Mini "twitchy, and pretty unruly on the limit", the Tulip Rally
Tulip Rally
The Tulip Rally , first held in 1949, is the oldest Dutch rally competition.The teams are divided into three classes: Tour, Sport and Expert. The Expert Class is for the navigators which in the past 2–6 years in the Top-20 of the Sport class have ended, or the previous years in the Top-20 of the...
was the first of many international rally wins for the Mini Cooper.
In 1963, Moss joined Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
and managed a 6th place at the Acropolis Rally in her Lotus
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
-tuned Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
. On 3 March 1963, she married fellow rally driver Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
. Ford
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
tried to sign Erik Carlsson; but instead, in 1964, Pat Moss switched to the Saab
Saab Automobile
Saab Automobile AB, better known as Saab , is a Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Swedish Automobile NV, formerly Spyker Cars NV. It is the exclusive automobile Royal Warrant holder as appointed by the King of Sweden...
factory team to partner her husband, nicknamed Mr. Saab for his long-time association with the company. Together, they competed in 11 international rallies. Her most notable results were 3rd at the Acropolis Rally and 4ths at the Liège-Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
-Liège and the RAC
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
. At the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
, she came in 5th in 1964 and 3d in 1965.
In 1968, Moss joined Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
to drive the new Fulvia
Lancia Fulvia
The Lancia Fulvia is an Italian car introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 by Lancia. It was produced by that company through 1976. Fulvias are notable for their role in automobile racing history, including winning the International Rally Championship in 1972...
. She didn't like the car's strong understeer
Understeer
Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Simply put, oversteer is what occurs when a car turns by more than the amount commanded by the driver...
; but she drove it to 14th Place at the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
and 2nd place at the Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally...
, losing only to Pauli Toivonen
Pauli Toivonen
Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally car driver. He drove for Citroën, Lancia and Porsche and had many successes to his credit...
in a Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
. Her other notable results of the season included winning the Sestriere
Sestriere
Sestriere is an alpine village in Italy, a comune of the Province of Turin. It is from the French border. Its name derives from Latin: ad petram sistrariam, that is at sixty Roman miles from Turin....
Rally and finishing 8th at the Acropolis and 7th at the Tour de Corse
Tour de Corse
The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features...
. At the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
, Moss drove her Fulvia to 6th Place.
In December 1969, Moss and Carlsson had a daughter, Susan Moss-Carlsson. By that time, Moss was becoming less active in rallying; but she did join Renault Alpine and drive her Alpine A110
Alpine A110
The Alpine A110, also known as the "Berlinette", was a sports car produced by the French manufacturer Alpine from 1961 to 1977. The A110 was powered by various Renault engines....
to 10th Place at the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
(1972) before finally retiring (1974).
On 14 October 2008, "Top Female Rally Driver" Pat Moss-Carlsson died of cancer, aged 73, at home in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. She is survived by her husband and driving partner, Erik Carlsson, and her daughter, Susan Rawding, a successful showjumper.
External links
- Obituary at Times Online
- Obituary at AutosportAutosportAutosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
- Obituary at OctaneOctaneOctane is a hydrocarbon and an alkane with the chemical formula C8H18, and the condensed structural formula CH36CH3. Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the amount and location of branching in the carbon chain...