David Piper
David Ruff Piper ( born December 2, 1930 in Edgware ) is a retired British racing driver.
David Piper drove in the 1960s as a privateer a variety of sports car racing for Ferrari. Even today, he takes part in historical races and drive especially his Ferrari 250LM and a Ferrari 330P4 there.
His career began in 1954 with a Piper 750 cc MG, which was owned by Dennis Poore before. He had the first appearances at hillclimb. In 1955 the first success. Piper won, this time with a Lotus MK VI, the Leinster Tropy in Ireland. As a co-pilot Dan Margulies, there were 1956 ninth overall in the Targa Florio. As a vehicle, a Jaguar D-Type was used. Between 1956 and 1958 toured Piper with a Lotus Eleven through Europe and made everywhere stop there, where there was just a race.
End he 1950s he tried with limited success in single-seater racing car. He drove some Formula 2 race and gave a Lotus 16 at Aintree 1959 Grand Prix of Great Britain made his debut in Formula 1 in 1960, he started at the British Grand Prix, this time at Silverstone again. After a loss in 1959 Piper reached the twelfth grade his only placement in a World Championship race.
From the 1960s Piper drove almost only sports car race. His privately fielded race cars have always had a light green paint, the favorite color of Piper. In 1962 he bought his first Ferrari 250 GTO. With this top-quality GT car, the car had the chassis number 3767, Piper won many races in the GT class. 1964 has been replaced by GTO LM. At the end of the year, Piper had a serious accident at Snetterton, but he survived unharmed.
From 1965 Piper pilot plant was the British importer Maranello Concessionaires Ferrari and drove their Ferrari at all major sports car race in the world. Again and again he was also awarded to the Scuderia, when there prevailed driver shortage. So he drove the plant - 312P 1969 in spa and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Only rarely Piper was the Italian brand unfaithful. As in 1969 refused to Porsche works driver the ride with the new and dangerous Porsche 917 at the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring jumped a Piper with Frank Gardner. The pair piloted the 4.5 - liter car to seventh place overall. In 1971, Piper himself a Porsche 917 and won with Richard Attwood as the second driver for the fifth time the 9- hour race at Kyalami.
Piper's career ended by an oversight. He was one of the pilots who piloted the racing cars in the movie Le Mans by Steve McQueen for the racing scenes. Through a brief lack of concentration Piper had a nasty accident. In the hospital at Le Mans came to a broken leg with an infection that forced doctors to amputate his right leg above the knee.
Piper is one of the great Ferrari enthusiasts. He still owns a Ferrari 250LM ( chassis number 8165 ) and in his small workshop in Surrey three Ferrari 330P4 have been completely rebuilt as replicas.