Alfred Lazarus Fingleston, better known as Les Leston, or in full Leslie Leston, was a British racing driver, born in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire.
13 Facts About Les Leston
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2.
Les Leston served in WW2 as a mid-upper gunner in an Avro Lancaster.
3.
Les Leston was the younger brother of the entomologist Dennis Leston.
4.
Les Leston started racing in a Jaguar SS100 before acquiring a 500cc Cooper and his own Leston Special.
5.
Les Leston won the Luxembourg Grand Prix in 1952, and became a Cooper works driver in 1954 winning the British Formula Three championship in the same year.
6.
Les Leston participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 2 September 1956, but scored no championship points.
7.
Les Leston was entered to 1962 Le Mans by Colin Chapman to co-drive with Tony Shelly in a Lotus 23, but the race organizer, ACO, denied the entry in the famous Lotus Le Mans debacle.
8.
Les Leston was most famous for driving the famous DADIO - a Lotus Elite.
9.
Les Leston would become British GT Champion in this car and have many victories.
10.
Les Leston Accessories merchandised aftermarket parts for cars, such as steering wheels and gear levers.
11.
The steering wheels were made in Walsall and like with most things in the aftermarket motoring accessories field Les Leston was the first to offer such items - hence he gained the tag as the godfather of the motoring aftermarket.
12.
Graham Hill appeared regularly in Leston's adverts in such overalls, sporting the Leston made Graham Hill rally master jacket.
13.
Les Leston's lifestyle involved owning a large cruiser that he would take out to sea at weekends and a jazz radio show.