Derek Rutherford

Derek Rutherford, who was part of the successful Lagonda team at Le Mans before the war, has died aged 88. From an early age he competed in hillclimbs and races on cars and ‘bikes, and in the ’20s was riding mechanic for Maserati in the Ulster TT. At Lagonda he was in charge of testing, and had encyclopaedic knowledge of the marque and the people involved, including W Bentley and Sir Malcolm Camp-bell.

After the war he travelled the world for Bryce, the fuel-injection company, and in retirement was well-known in his Bentley as a competitor and marshall at vintage events.