Selwyn Francis Edge, invariably known simply as 'SF', was a highly
significant pioneer of motoring in Britain. When, in 1902, he drove a
Napier to victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup, a mighty event on public
roads between Paris in France and Innsbruck in Austria, he initiated
serious British endeavour in motor racing.
He was deeply involved in the birth of Brooklands, setting a 24-hour
solo driving record there when the circuit opened in 1907. As a towering
industry figure most closely associated with Napier and AC Cars, he
played an important role in the growth of car manufacture in Britain. In
the words of 'Bentley Boy' S.C.H. 'Sammy' Davis, 'His keen grey eyes,
the bushy eyebrows and the hawk-like face... made him a notable figure
in any assembly.'
- Dedicated cyclist: SF's early interest in cycles led to racing
achievement on two wheels and three, including setting records for
round trips between London and Brighton, and taking
- Introducing the motor car to Britain: from his first driving
experience, in 1897 with a De Dion-Bouton, SF quickly became an
influential advocate of all things automotive in a country that
initially lagged far behind France.
- Motor racing pioneer: after early competitions on motor tricycles, SF
became a regular competitor in the heroic long-distance races of
mainland Europe, famously winning the 1902 Gordon Bennett Cup in a
Napier and becoming a national celebrity.
- Growth of Napier: with SF as a guiding force, this long-established
engineering company evolved into the manufacturer of some of the
finest cars of the Edwardian era.
- Brooklands: upon the circuit's opening in 1907, SF drove a Napier solo
for 24 hours at an average speed of just over 65mph, establishing a
record that stood for 18 years.
- AC Cars: after the First World War, SF helped to develop AC Cars into
an important manufacturer of sporting cars, with more attempts at
speed records along the way.
This biography uncovers the life of an extraordinary man whose
achievements deserve to be far more widely recognised.
