Hugh Dibley

{{Short description|British aviator, racing driver, and racecar constructor}} {{Use British English|date=December 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Hugh Dibley | image =  | alt =  | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1937|04|29}} | birth_place = [[Hong Kong]] | death_date =  | death_place = | nationality =  | other_names = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}

'''Hugh Palliser Kingsley Dibley''' is a former commercial airline pilot and flight crew trainer who developed methods to conserve fuel and limit noise during aircraft operations. He was also a successful racing driver and race car builder.

==Early years== Dibley was born in [[Hong Kong]].<ref name="msm-jan2018"/> His parents were Engineer Rear-Admiral Albert Kingsley Dibley and Penelope Dibley (née Frend, a descendant of Admiral Sir [[Hugh Palliser]]).<ref name="annales"/> When Dibley was born his father was chief engineer at the Royal Navy's Hong Kong dockyard. The family returned to England in 1939 just before the war, moving frequently.<ref name="hr-bio"/> His father's final naval posting was to the Devonport dockyard.<ref name="annales"/>

Upon his retirement, Dibley's father pursued his interest in farming and in 1948 bought a [[smallholding]] in the district of [[Lee-on-the-Solent]], with a house just metres from the end of Runway 36 at the Air Fleet Arm's [[RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)]]. The sight of the planes taking off and landing there sparked Dibley's interest in aviation.<ref name="annales"/><ref name="msm-jan2018"/>

He attended school at Pinewood, and then at Marlborough College.<ref name="hr-bio"/>

==Military career== Dibley joined the [[Combined Cadet Force]], initially enlisting in the Royal Navy section. He later transferred to the Royal Air Force section to take the RAF pilot aptitude selection with the goal of obtaining a private pilot's licence (PPL). He completed his required 30 hours in a [[De Havilland Tiger Moth]] from the Royal Naval Flying Club, Gosport, and received his PPL shortly after turning seventeen.

Dibley began as a Naval Airman Second Class I, then was appointed a Midshipman (A) Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) after a two month long officer training course. This qualified him to start flying training in Piston Provosts at RAF Syerston near Grantham. Deep defence cuts that arrived in 1957 put an end to all Volunteer Reserve flight training, so Dibley completed his two years of National Service aboard [[HMS Ark Royal (R09)|HMS Ark Royal]].<ref name="annales"/>

==Aviation career== As his military service was ending, Dibley was advised both by the future Admiral Sir Frank Hopkins, who was his Captain aboard the Ark Royal, and by his maternal uncle Captain Peter Frend, RN, to pursue a career in civil aviation. He submitted an application to [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC), who recommended that he take a short course at Air Service Training, Hamble to upgrade his license to a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) and obtain his Instrument rating. His CPL was granted in September 1958, and he was subsequently hired by BOAC as part of the Pilots’ Initial Navigation (PIN) Scheme."<ref name="annales"/>

Early in his career he flew on the [[Douglas DC-7|Douglas DC-7C]], then went on to crew the [[Bristol Britannia#Series 310|Bristol Britannia 312]], the [[Bristol Britannia#Series 100|Bristol Britannia 102]], and the [[De Havilland Comet#Comet 4|De Havilland Comet 4]].<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/>

When the [[Boeing 707]] entered service at BOAC the flight crew was made up of two pilots and a navigator, but the [[British Airline Pilots' Association]] (BALPA) wanted crews of three pilots, so the decision was made to transfer all the PIN pilots to the 707 as pilot-navigators. Dibley did his pilot's course after one year, and qualified as First Officer. He started with routes in the North Atlantic, and later transferred to routes to Africa and the Far East.<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/>

In 1966 he joined the 707 Check Nav Office, where his duties included inspecting all navigators’ logs and charts for problems, performing annual checks to confirm their individual competence, and training new pilots to navigate in service.<ref name="annales"/>

{{blockquote|text=...like landing a block of flats from the second floor.|source=Hugh Dibley, on landing a Boeing 747.<ref name="bp-oct2020"/>}}

BOAC received its first [[Boeing 747]] in April 1970, but did not put the aircraft into service for almost a year. Due to concerns with the plane's new Inertial Navigation System (INS), Dibley was assigned to the first 747 course as a nav instructor in the event the INS failed and the third crew member was required to act as navigator.<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/> As the INS proved to be very reliable, Dibley then became a First Officer Assistant Instructor on the 747 flight simulator. He completed the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Flight Instrument Examiners Course, after which he conducted annual simulator checks on First Officers needing to renew their 747 Type and Instrument Ratings, and taught 747 transition courses and annual recurrent training to captains and First Officers.<ref name="annales"/>

The Civil Aviation Act of 1971 included the establishment of a British Airways Board with control over all activities of BOAC and [[British European Airways]] (BEA).<ref name="caa1971"/> The British Airways Board was officially formed on 1 April 1972, with oversight of both BOAC and BEA, although the two companies continued to operate as separate entities.<ref name="annales"/> In 1972 Dibley began working to find ways to improve the fuel efficiency of BOAC's Boeing 747 fleet.<ref name="annales"/>

BOAC and BEA were brought under the British Airways brand, which began flying on 1 April 1974.<ref name="ind-apr2024"/> The old names were replaced by British Airways Overseas Division (BAOD) and British Airways European Division (BAED) respectively, but these continued to operate separately.<ref name="annales"/>

Early in 1975, at age 37, Dibley became the first of BA's First Officers to be given direct command of the 747. Since he had already qualified as a Type Rating Examiner, the CAA permitted him to become a Training/Check Captain after logging two hundred hours of line flying. After that, as the most junior captain in the company, he become a Training Captain on both the 747 aircraft and simulator.<ref name="annales"/>

Also in 1975, BA decided to return two [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]s to service on routes to the [[Persian Gulf]] and through to [[India]].<ref name="annales"/> A dozen of these aircraft had been ordered by BEA. Dibley was asked to join the group of captains selected for the operation as Training Captain. Although it meant leaving the 747 Flight, it offered him the opportunity to be trained directly by the [[Lockheed Corporation]]. He was appointed Flight Technical Manager in 1977 and served in that role until April 1978.<ref name="annales"/>

In 1978 Dibley was appointed chairman of a newly formed Fuel Policy and Fuel Conservation Working Group.<ref name="annales"/>

British Airways had contracts to operate private aircraft for the Heads of States in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. They also obtained a contract for a private Saudi 707. In 1982 BA authorized its commercial divisions to choose their own aircraft and Dibley was among those asked to help re-launch the legacy 707 operation. From October 1982 to March 1983 BA 707s operated Middle East and African routes to Baghdad and Lilongwe, Malawi until a final around-the-world charter flight in May 1983, after which he returned to the 747 Flight, first as a management pilot, and then as Flight Manager Technical in 1987. He continued flying the Air Mauritius and VIP 707s in the Private Flight of [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan]] in Abu Dhabi.<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/><ref name="annales"/> These Flight Crew Contracts became known as ''Dibley’s Air Force''.<ref name="annales"/>

On 20 March 1984, while piloting the same 747 that was involved in the 1982 [[British Airways Flight 009|Jakarta incident]], Dibley was on approach to Perth, Australia when a starboard engine exploded while the aircraft was just {{convert|49|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} above the tarmac. Dibley notified the tower, then diverted over water to dump excess fuel, and landed the plane safely.<ref name="upi-mar1984"/>

On 22 May 1984 Dibley accompanied the CAA's Chief Test Pilot on a Certificate of Airworthiness Test Flight of the last British Airtours 707 prior to its sale. He was subsequently cleared to fly 707 C/A Test Flights, which he later performed for British Caledonian, Transcorp and Air Hong Kong.<ref name="annales"/>

In 1989 Dibley became the fleet's technical manager.<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/> That same year he was seconded to the Private Flight of Sheikh Zayed in Abu Dhabi to bring a specially fitted 747 into service. In 1990 he was appointed Acting Director Operations and Chief Pilot over a fleet of eight aircraft that also included some Airbus models.<ref name="annales"/>

Dibley retired from BA in 1992.<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/>

In April 1992 he joined Air Hong Kong as Technical Advisor. He became their Chief Pilot in 1993. Air Hong Kong was later bought by Cathay Pacific.<ref name="annales"/><ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/>

In May 1994, after completing the [[Airbus A340]] course, he joined Air Mauritius as Director Operations, just as that airline was taking delivery of their own A340s.<ref name="annales"/><ref name="aeroplane-jul2019"/>

After leaving Air Mauritius in August 1995 he joined Airbus Training in Toulouse as Flight Instructor. He stayed there seven years, instructing new airline crews on various aircraft, assisting in the design of flight simulator Instructor Stations, and working on flight crew procedures included in Flight Crew Operating Manuals.<ref name="annales"/>

Dibley retired from Airbus in 2002, but continued working as an instructor and consultant for Airbus Training UK and others.<ref name="annales"/>

Dibley is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), a Liveryman of [[Honourable Company of Air Pilots|GAPAN]], and an elected member of the French [[Académie de l'air et de l'espace]]. He is also Chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Toulouse Branch and a member of the RAeS Council.<ref name="ras-dec2016"/>

Since the mid-1970s he has presented papers on a variety of aviation related topics including fuel conservation, operational efficiency, noise reduction, safety training, and flight simulation, among others.<ref name="ras-dec2016"/> He was consulted on the disappearance of [[Malaysian Airlines Flight 370]].<ref name="time-mar2014"/><ref name="reuters-apr2014"/>

==Racing career== Dibley started his racing career in 1959 in an [[AC Aceca]]-Bristol coupé.<ref name="msm-jan2018"/> His first race was the Nottingham Sports Car Club Silverstone meeting.<ref name="hr-bio"/>

In 1961 Dibley began driving open wheeled cars in Formula Junior. He started in a Lola Mk3 fielded by Écurie Light Blue. Dibley was the driver of Mk3 chassis BRJ38 when it appeared in the [[1961 Lewis-Evans Trophy]]. This marked the first time a Lola appeared in a Formula 1 race.<ref name="lh-mk3"/> In 1962 Dibley stayed with Écurie Light Blue, but switched to the Lola Mk5.<ref name="lh-mk5"/> It was in a Mk5 that Dibley placed second in the 1962 [[Bahamas Speed Week|Nassau Speed Week]] Formula Junior Championship.<ref name="f2reg-nassau1962"/>

In 1964 Dibley switched to sports car racing with the purchase of [[Brabham BT8]] chassis SC-2-64, driven mainly under the Stirling Moss Auto Racing Team (SMART) banner.<ref name="orc-bt8"/> He posted five wins and set four lap records in the Brabham that year, as well as being awarded the first "Goodwood Ton".<ref name="hr-bio"/>

In 1965 Dibley switched to a [[Lola T70]] — a model he would continue to appear in right up until 1969. In 1965 the car was entered either by Dibley himself or as a SMART entry, but in 1966 he drove T70 Mk II SL71/19 as part of the "Racing Partnership" team headed by Tony Sargeant.<ref name="lh-sl71-19"/><ref name="msm-jun1988"/>

Dibley was scheduled to appear in the first ever [[Can-Am]] race to be held on 11 September 1966 at the [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant]] near the former town of [[Mont-Tremblant|Saint-Jovite]]. In practice his [[Lola T70]] backflipped into the air, cleared a fence and landed in the spectators' area. Dibley escaped the crash without injuries. Anyone whose car subsequently performed that manoeuvre was said to have "done a Dibley".<ref name="scg-aug2009"/><ref name="levybook"/>

In 1967 Dibley continued to drive T70s, now the Mk3 GT chassis SL73/105 being fielded by Michael Grace de'Udy.<ref name="8wforix-deudy"/>

From 1967 to 1969 Dibley raced a [[Chevrolet Camaro (first generation)|Chevrolet Camaro]] in the [[British Saloon Car Championship]].<ref name="msm-jan2018"/> The car was a Z-28 model originally sold by Gorries Downtown Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Toronto, Canada, and was one of Gorries' in-house ''Black Panther'' specials. Dibley bought it without an engine from Craig Fisher.<ref name="holmesbook"/>

In 1968 Dibley was doing promotional work for the upcoming [[BOAC 500]] race when he encountered the [[Howmet TX]] turbine-powered car. He was part of the crew on the flight that the car was shipped to the UK on, during which the car was accompanied by 36 tons of gold bullion.<ref name="msm-jan2018"/> The car was created by Ray Heppenstall using a chassis from Bob McKee's McKee engineering, and was powered by a pair of turbines on loan from [[Continental Aerospace Technologies|Continental Aviation & Engineering]].<ref name="msm-jan2018"/>

Dibley partnered with [[Dick Thompson (racing driver)|Dick Thompson]] in the car in the BOAC race at [[Brands Hatch]]. On that occasion Thompson put the car into the bank, ending their race. The car was repaired and appeared the next weekend at [[Oulton Park]]. The Howmet was lying third when Dibley pitted for fuel on lap 60, after which the engine could not be restarted because the wiring for the starter had burned out.<ref name="msm-jan2018"/>

In 1968 Dibley made his only appearance at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]. He was partnered with [[Bob Tullius]] in one of the two Howmets entered. His car went out with a failed wheel bearing.<ref name="msm-jan2018"/>

In 1969 Dibley made another appearance at Brands Hatch in a Lola T70, this time in chassis SL76/144, partnered with Trevor Taylor as part of Taylor's Team Elite. The car did not finish.<ref name="starkeybook"/>

Dibley had effectively wound up his racing career by 1973.<ref name="msm-jan2018"/> His final appearance in a sport car event was in the 1974 1000 Kilometres of Brands Hatch, where he finished third in a [[Mirage (race car)#GR7|Mirage GR7]].

===Day of the Champion (film)=== In 1965 actor [[Steve McQueen]] and director [[John Sturges]] began planning a movie set in the world of [[Formula One]] (F1) racing, based on the book ''The Cruel Sport'' by American journalist and author [[Robert Daley]].<ref name="rvc-jul2021"/> The movie, to be produced by the [[Warner Bros.]] studio, was titled ''Day of the Champion''. At nearly the same time [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) started work on another movie based on the same source material and starring [[James Garner]]. This movie was called ''[[Grand Prix (1966 film)|Grand Prix]]''.<ref name="dt-apr2019"/>

A Warner Bros. film crew went to the [[RAC Tourist Trophy]] race at [[Oulton Park]] in April 1966 to capture racing footage for the McQueen movie. On this occasion Dibley stood in for McQueen, being filmed driving his SMART Lola T70 on the track with the name of McQueen's character in the movie — "PEARCE" — displayed on the rear side of the car.<ref name="msm-feb2021"/><ref name="rvc-jul2021"/>

Anticipating that the MGM film would hit theaters before McQueen and Sturges could finish theirs, and likely already in the midst of planning the sale of his company, studio head [[Jack L. Warner]] cancelled work on ''Day of the Champion''.<ref name="msm-feb2021"/> ''Grand Prix'' was released in 1966.

==Palliser Racing Design Ltd.== Dibley's involvement in building racing cars originated with Len Wimhurst, a tool maker who had worked for Lola and Brabham.<ref name="boac1970"/> Dibley first met Wimhurst when he bought a Formula Junior Lola, then again when Wimhurst sorted out Dibley's Brabham BT8. Wimhurst was the workshop foreman at Brabham, but wanted to build his own racing cars, and sought Dibley's help to do it.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/><ref name="boac1970"/>

In 1966 Wimhurst proposed that the two produce and field a racing car of their own, with Wimhurst designing the car and Dibley providing the engine and gearbox, and driving the car in competition. Wimhurst built the first chassis in the backyard of his home in Catford, South London, completing it by December 1966.<ref name="wardbook"/><ref name="vl-may1993"/>

The car debuted in October 1967 at [[Castle Combe Circuit|Castle Combe]], where it retired with a blocked fuel line.<ref name="wardbook"/> The car was unnamed for its first few races, being entered at [[Mallory Park]] circuit as "TBN" — "To Be Notified".<ref name="vl-may1993"/>

At this point Bob Winkelmann got involved. Winkelmann was a former member of the Royal Navy and former BOAC traffic officer who had moved to the United States, eventually becoming owner of Robert Winkelmann Racing, a buyer and seller of racing cars. Dibley and Winkelmann had both driven in the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) in 1963 and 1964.<ref name="vl-may1993"/> After seeing Dibley's photos of the new car, Winkelmann convinced him that there was a market for it in the US.<ref name="boac1970"/><ref name="msm-mar1971"/> Winkelmann placed an order for three Formula B cars that were also built in Wimhurst's garage and delivered in 1968. Dibley and Winkelmann mutually agreed that the cars would be sold as Winkelmanns in the US.<ref name="vl-may1993"/><ref name="wardbook"/><ref name="boac1970"/>

In October 1968 Palliser Racing Design Limited was formed, taking Dibley's second given name for the company.<ref name="wardbook"/><ref name="boac1970"/><ref name="msm-mar1971"/> The company had three directors: Dibley, Wimhurst, and Winkelmann. As principal financier, Dibley became managing director.<ref name="vl-may1993"/> Production was moved to a location at North Street, Clapham, South London.<ref name="wardbook"/>

The car was eventually named the WDB1; "W" for Wimhurst, "D" for Dibley, "B" for Formula B, and "1" for Series 1.<ref name="wardbook"/> Other models would follow targeted at different racing classes but following the same naming convention, including WDF for Formula Ford, WDA for Formula A, WDV for Super Vee, and WD3 for Formula 3.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/>

In 1969 production totaled just under fifty cars, with over forty being WDF1s and the rest WDB2s. In 1970 most of the cars built went to the US again.

In mid-1970 Palliser acquired the rights to a Formula 5000 project that had been started by [[Frank Gardner (racing driver)|Frank Gardner]] and designer [[Len Bailey]].<ref name="msm-mar1971"/> The car, which had originally been named the Franklen, was renamed the Palliser WDA1.<ref name="orc-fpm"/><ref name="wardbook"/>

In 1970 the company's chief market remained the US, but plans were made to increase sales in Britain after the American orders had been filled.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/> That year another fifty Formula Ford models were built, as well as three Formula Bs and prototypes of both a Super Vee and Formula Atlantic cars.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/>

Around 1970, to help Dibley with the workload that came with managing the company, an office manager and a secretary were hired. Australian racing driver [[Vern Schuppan]] joined Palliser as both driver and general assistant.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/>

Palliser contracted out construction of their cars' space frames to Arch Motors in Huntingdon, who did similar work for other constructors.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/><ref name="msm-sep2013"/> Palliser also became a supplier of components for individuals and other companies building cars. They offered cast wheels, magnesium uprights, steering racks and many other parts, which were used in cars from [[March Engineering]], McNamara, Daren and others. The oil pumps produced by Palliser were a favourite of [[British Racing Motors]] (BRM), who used them in the BRM twin-cam and Formula Ford engines. Casting of the parts was handled by Kent Alloys.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/>

In 1971 the company expanded their workshop space, and sought to expand into other markets as sales in the US slowed.<ref name="wardbook"/> Workshop space was increased to a total of {{convert|5000|sqft|sqm|0|abbr=on}}, with the old space reserved for prototypes.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/>

In 1971 Palliser entered into an agreement to manufacture a 2.0 L Group 5 sports car for John Green's Daren company.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/><ref name="silodrome-mar2020"/> The car was named the Daren-Palliser Mk3.<ref name="wardbook"/> Palliser built four of the cars.<ref name="wsrp-daren"/>

Palliser built two cars specifically for [[hillclimbing]]: WDH1 and WDH2.<ref name="orc-wdh"/> The first car was expected to be a one-off.<ref name="msm-mar1971"/> Built for [[Mike MacDowel]], it used a WDB4 Formula Two chassis and was powered by a 1967 3.0 L Repco-Brabham T740 engine that was later enlarged to 4.2 L.<ref name="orc-wdh"/><ref name="wardbook"/> The second car was built for Jack Maurice. It differed from WDH1 in having a full-width nose. Power came from a lightweight 4.2 L V8 from [[General Motors]] that had been salvaged, along with the transmission, from [[Tony Marsh (racing driver)|Tony Marsh]]'s four wheel drive March Special that Maurice had bought from Johnty Williamson and wrecked in June.<ref name="orc-wdh"/>

Palliser Racing Design was offered for sale in the middle of February 1972. The majority of the stock was purchased by Cambridge Sports Cars, run by Ian Mawby.<ref name="wardbook"/> A liquidator of Palliser Racing Design Ltd. was appointed on 2 March 1972.<ref name="tlg-mar1972"/>

In total Palliser built approximately 150 cars.<ref name="wardbook"/>

Wimhurst built cars under his own name for the 1972 Formula Atlantic season, then revived the old name in 1974 for the new Formula Ford 2000 series in 1975 with a car called the Palliser P742.<ref name="wardbook"/>

Over the course of their operation Palliser cars won four championships.<ref name="fg-dec2018"/> They won the first Formula Atlantic Championship in England with Schuppan driving.<ref name="rcc-1969winkelmann"/> In 2019 driver Cameron Jackson won the Historic Formula Ford championship in a Winkelmann.<ref name="msn-sep2019"/>

==Personal life== On 27 February 1965 Dibley married Doris Jean Lockhart in [[Scarsdale, New York]]. Doris was the daughter of Chicago newspaper editor Jack H. Lockhart, and was working as a copy group head at the London office of American advertising agency Benton & Bowles at the time.<ref name="goldmanbook"/> The couple separated in 1967. Doris married [[Charles Saatchi]] in 1973. She died on 6 August 2025.<ref name="nyt-aug2025"/>

On 22 January 1971 Dibley married Marianne Lotta Kristina Ahlborn.<ref name="750rc-presentation"/> The couple had two children: fraternal twins Natasha C. and Nicholas Kingsley Palliser. In July 2010 Marianne suffered [[hydrocephalus]] and a [[stroke]] that left her paralysed. She died on 29 December 2014.<ref name="telegraph-obit1"/> Son Nicholas died of a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on 26 March 2020.<ref name="telegraph-obit2"/>

==Honours== Dibley was awarded the 1971/72 Alan Cobham prize, given to the most meritorious student pilot graduating from a college or school of civil or military aviation. This prize was renamed the Glover Trophy in 2016.<ref name="thcoap-winners"/>

For 1979/1980 he was awarded the Guild of Air Pilots Brackley Memorial Trophy "for pioneering work on high altitude descents and noise/fuel reduction methods."<ref name="thcoap-winners"/>

==Racing record==

===Complete British Saloon Car Championship results=== ([[:Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]]) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! Year ! Team ! Car ! Class ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}} ! Pts ! Class |- | [[1967 British Saloon Car Championship season|1967]] ! Hugh Dibley ! [[Chevrolet Camaro (first generation)|Chevrolet Camaro]] ! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}} | [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] | [[Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit|SNE]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] | [[Mallory Park|MAL]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Oulton Park|OUL]] Ret† | [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] | | ! 24th ! 6 ! 5th |- | [[1969 British Saloon Car Championship season|1969]] ! Hugh Dibley ! [[Chevrolet Camaro (first generation)|Chevrolet Camaro]] ! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}} | [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] | [[Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit|SNE]] | [[Thruxton Circuit|THR]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] | [[Crystal Palace circuit|CRY]] | [[Mallory Park|MAL]] | [[Croft Circuit|CRO]] | [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]] | [[Oulton Park|OUL]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] Ret^ | [[Brands Hatch|BRH]] ! NC ! 0 ! NC |- !colspan="19"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web |last1=de Jong |first1=Frank |title=British Saloon Car Championship |url=http://www.touringcarracing.net/Pages/BSCC.html |website=History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993 |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref>}}}} |} † Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

^ Race with 2 heats - Aggregate result.

===Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class Pos.|Class Position}} |- ! [[1964 12 Hours of Sebring|1964]] |align=left| {{flagicon|GB}} Stirling Moss Auto Racing Team |align=left| {{flagicon|GB}} R. G. Rossler |align=left| [[Lotus Elan]] |GT1.6 | |colspan=2|DNF |- ! [[1968 12 Hours of Sebring|1968]] |align=left| {{flagicon|GB}} Michael de'Udy |align=left| {{flagicon|GB}} Michael de'Udy |align=left| [[Lola T70]] |S5.0 | |colspan=2|DNF |}

=== Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;" |- bgcolor="#ABBBDD" ! Year ! Team ! Car ! Teammate ! Teammate ! Placement ! Cause of retirement |- | [[1968 24 Hours of Le Mans|1968]] | {{USA|#}} [[Howmet Castings]] | [[Howmet TX]] | {{UK|#}} [[Bob Tullius]] | | Disqualified | |}

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="msm-jan2018">{{cite magazine |last=Goodwin |first=Colin |date=January 2018 |title=Lunch with… Hugh Dibley |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-2018/80/lunch-hugh-dibley |magazine=Motor Sport |pages=80–86 |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="annales">{{cite book |last=Dibley |first=Hugh |date= 2014|title=ANNALES 2011 — 2014 {{!}} Tome 2 — Communications |section=40 Years Helping Crews to Navigate Vertically |url=https://academieairespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Annales-2011-2014_T2_WEB.pdf |location= |publisher=Académie de l’air et de l’espace |pages=346–360 |isbn=978-2 913331-60-0 }}</ref>

<ref name="hr-bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=3440 |title=Hugh Dibley |author= |date= |website=www.historicracing.com |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="aeroplane-jul2019">{{cite magazine |last=Dunnell |first=Ben |date=July 2019 |volume=47 |number=7 |title=Joining the Jet Set |url=https://www.key.aero/article/joining-jet-set |magazine=Aeroplane |pages=62–66 |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="bp-oct2020">{{cite news |author= |date=9 October 2020 |title=British Airways bids farewell to its last 747 jumbo |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1998999/british-airways-bids-farewell-to-its-last-747-jumbo |work=Bangkok Post |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="caa1971">{{cite act |type= |index= |date=1971 |article=PART III The British Airways Board |article-type= |legislature=British Parliament |title=Civil Aviation Act 1971 |page= |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/75/contents/enacted |language=}}</ref>

<ref name="ind-apr2024">{{cite news |last=Calder |first=Simon |date=1 April 2024 |title=British Airways turns 50 and keeps quiet about it — so what do experts think about the airline? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/british-airways-50-anniversary-ba-b2521499.html |work=[[The Independent]] |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="upi-mar1984">{{cite news |author= |date=20 March 1984 |title=A Boeing 747 that last year plunged 26,000 feet... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/20/A-Boeing-747-that-last-year-plunged-26000-feet/2179448606800/ |work=UPI Archive |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="ras-dec2016">{{cite press release |author= |title=Branch Lecture {{!}} Development of Aircraft Simulation — An Essential Part of Training & Aircraft Design |url=https://www.aerosociety.com/media/4283/heathrowflyer_20161208.pdf |location= |publisher=Royal Aeronautical Society |agency= |date=8 December 2016 |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="time-mar2014">{{cite web |url=https://time.com/26883/malaysian-air-force-slammed-for-failing-to-intercepted-mh370/ |title=Another Lesson from MH370: Nobody is Watching Malaysian Airspace |last=Campbell |first=Charlie |date=17 March 2014 |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

<ref name="reuters-apr2014">{{cite news |last1=Govindasamy |first1=Siva |last2=Koswanage |first2=Niluksi |date=11 April 2014 |title=EXCLUSIVE-Malaysia starts investigating confused initial response to missing jet |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-airplane-investigation-idUKL1N0MV0AZ20140411 |work=Reuters |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="lh-mk3">{{cite web |url=http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/2018/type_numbers/mk3/mk3.html |title=THE LOLA Mk3 |last=Swan |first=Gerald |date=2019 |website=Lola Heritage |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="lh-mk5">{{cite web |url=http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/2018/type_numbers/mk5/mk5.html |title=THE LOLA Mk5 – 5A |last=Swan |first=Gerald |date=2019 |website=Lola Heritage |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="f2reg-nassau1962">{{cite web |url=https://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/formula2/FJ62_W97.htm |title=Nassau Grand Prix 1962 |author= |date=8 March 2005 |website=F2 Register |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="orc-bt8">{{cite web |url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/brabham/bt8/ |title=Brabham BT8 car-by-car histories |last=Brown |first=Allen |date=19 September 2020 |website=OldRacingCars.com |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="lh-sl71-19">{{cite web |url=http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/2018/register/t70/Sergeant/tony_sargeant.html |title=Chassis Register — 1965 LOLA T70 MkII SL71/19 |last=Swan |first=Gerald |date=2019 |website=Lola Heritage |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="msm-jun1988">{{cite magazine |author=GJ |date=June 1988 |title=Part Two: The Goldrush |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1988/53/part-two-the-goldrush |magazine=Motor Sport |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="scg-aug2009">{{cite web |url=https://sportscardigest.com/can-am-racing/ |title=Can-Am Racing — History & Ultimate Guide |last=David |first=Dennis |date=8 August 2009 |website=Sports Car Digest |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="levybook">{{cite book |last=Levy |first=George |author-link= |date=31 October 2016 |title=Can-Am 50th Anniversary: Flat Out with North America's Greatest Race Series 1966-74 |url= |location= |publisher=Motorbooks |pages=29–33 |isbn=978-0760350218 }}</ref>

<ref name="8wforix-deudy">{{cite web |url=http://8w.forix.com/de%27udy.html |title=Springbok legend |last=Diepraam |first=Mattijs |date=29 February 2012 |website=8W Forix |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="holmesbook">{{cite book |last=Holmes |first=Steve |author-link= |date=15 June 2021 |title=Racing Camaros: An International Photographic History 1966–1984 |url= |location= |publisher=Veloce Publishing |page= |isbn=978-1787115125 }}</ref>

<ref name="starkeybook">{{cite book |last=Starkey |first=John |author-link= |date=1 July 2002 |title=Lola T70: The Racing History & Individual Chassis Record |url= |location= |publisher=Veloce |page= |isbn=978-1903706138 }}</ref>

<ref name="rvc-jul2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.racingvintagecars.com/steve-mcqueen-the-lost-movie-review-sensational-footage-of-f1-from-1965/ |title=Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie review — 'Sensational footage of F1 from 1965' |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=July 5, 2021 |website=Racing Vintage Cars |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="dt-apr2019">{{cite web |url=https://drivetribe.com/p/the-first-steve-mcqueen-race-movie-UQaFtdgUTmqU4pZRnw6voQ?iid=YryoqIe0TF6cPX25bp8Lng |title=The First Steve McQueen Race Movie |last=Talbot |first=Andy |date=22 April 2019 |website=DriveTribe |publisher= |access-date= |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028102019/https://drivetribe.com/p/the-first-steve-mcqueen-race-movie-UQaFtdgUTmqU4pZRnw6voQ?iid=YryoqIe0TF6cPX25bp8Lng |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="msm-feb2021">{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=February 2021 |title=Steve McQueen's lost F1 movie: Day of The Champion |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2021/72/steve-mcqueens-lost-f1-movie-day-of-the-champion |magazine=Motor Sport |pages=72–80 |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="boac1970">{{cite magazine |last=Nash |first=Trevor |date=12 April 1970 |title=He flies, races and builds fast cars |url= |magazine=BOAC 1000 Kilometres Official Programme |pages=38, 40 |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="msm-mar1971">{{cite magazine |last=Marriott |first=Andrew |date=March 1971 |title=They make racing cars—Palliser Racing Design Ltd |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1971/20/they-make-racing-cars-palliser-racing-design |magazine=Motor Sport |pages=20, 21 |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="wardbook">{{cite book |last=Ward |first=Ian |author-link= |date=1977 |title=The World of Automobiles: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Motor Car |volume=14 |chapter=Palliser — The Jet Pilot's Racing Cars |url=http://pallisercars.com/resources/The+Jet+Pilot$27s+Racing+Cars.pdf |location= |publisher=Purnell Reference Books |page= |isbn=9780839360094 }}</ref>

<ref name="vl-may1993">{{cite magazine |last=Winkelmann |first=Bob |date=May 1993 |title=Winkelmann on Winkelmann |url=http://www.pallisercars.com/2.html |magazine=Victory Lane |volume=8 |number=5 |page=38 |location= |publisher=Dan Davis |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="orc-fpm">{{cite web |url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/f5000/franklen/ |title=Franklen — Palliser — Mildren |last=Brown |first=Allen |date=24 November 2018 |website=OldRacingCars.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

<ref name="msm-sep2013">{{cite magazine |last=Nye |first=Doug |date=September 2013 |title=From the archives with Doug Nye {{!}} Racing mourns the loss of a genuine unsung hero |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-2013/149/archives-doug-nye-2 |magazine=Motor Sport |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="silodrome-mar2020">{{cite web |url=https://silodrome.com/daren-brm-mark-iii-race-car/ |title=For Sale: A Barn Fresh Daren-BRM Mark III Prototype Race Car – Targa Florio Veteran |last=Branch |first=Ben |date=20 March 2020 |website=Silodrome |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="wsrp-daren">{{cite web |url=http://www.wsrp.cz/chassis/chassis_daren.html |title=Daren chassis numbers |last=Krejci |first=Martin |date=19 May 2012 |website=World Sports Racing Prototypes |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="orc-wdh">{{cite web |url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/palliser/wdh/ |title=Palliser WDH car-by-car histories |last=Brown |first=Allen |date=13 October 2021 |website=OldRacingCars.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

<ref name="tlg-mar1972">{{cite news |author= |date=10 March 1972 |title=Appointment of Liquidators |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45619/page/3076/data.pdf |work=The London Gazette |page=3076 |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="fg-dec2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international/interview-boac-captain-who-had-great-success-racing-sportscars/130412.article |title=INTERVIEW: BOAC captain who had great success racing sportscars |author= |date=14 December 2018 |website=Flight Global |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="rcc-1969winkelmann">{{cite web |url=http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1533502920/1533502920ss.htm |title=1969 Winkelmann WDB2 Formula B |author= |date= |website=race-cars.com |publisher= |access-date= |archive-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115032615/http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1533502920/1533502920ss.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="msn-sep2019">{{cite news |author= |date=25 September 2019 |title=Jackson takes first title for Winkelmann |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/motorsport-news/20190925/282192242710247 |work=Motorsport News |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="goldmanbook">{{cite book |last=Goldman |first=Kevin |author-link= |date=1 January 1997 |title=Conflicting Accounts: The Creation and Crash of the Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Empire |url= |location= |publisher=Simon & Schuster |page= |isbn=978-0684815718 }}</ref>

<ref name="nyt-aug2025">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/arts/doris-lockhart-saatchi-dead.html |title=Doris Lockhart Saatchi, 88, Critic and Collector of Cutting-Edge Art, Dies |last=Nossiter |first=Adam |date=August 15, 2025 |accessdate=August 16, 2025 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="750rc-presentation">{{cite web |url=https://dibley.eu.com/Hugh%20Dibley%20Presentations/HD131106-750MotorClub-6nov13-updated22nov16.pptx |title=Hugh Dibley's Life as Racing Driver & Constructor |author= |date=6 Nov 2013 |website=750 Racing Club |publisher= |access-date= }}</ref>

<ref name="telegraph-obit1">{{cite news |last=Dibley |first=Hugh |date=13 January 2015 |title=DIBLEY — Deaths Announcements — Telegraph Announcements |url=https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/186156/dibley |work=The Telegraph |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="telegraph-obit2">{{cite news |last=Dibley |first=Hugh |date=5 October 2021 |title=DIBLEY — Deaths Announcements — Telegraph Announcements |url=https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/252594/dibley |work=The Telegraph |location= |access-date=}}</ref>

<ref name="thcoap-winners">{{cite web |url=https://www.airpilots.org/file/628cab92688d45c2083669fb99c059d2/t-and-a-winners-all-years-2020.pdf |title=Trophy and Award Winners |author= |date=2020 |website=www.airpilots.org |publisher=The Honourable Company of Air Pilots |access-date= |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506060002/https://www.airpilots.org/file/628cab92688d45c2083669fb99c059d2/t-and-a-winners-all-years-2020.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |editor-last=Georgano |editor-first=G.N. |last=Filsell |first=David |author-link= |date=1 March 1972 |title=The Encyclopedia of Motor Sport |pages=560, 561 |url= |location= |publisher=Studio |isbn=978-0670294053 }}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{cite web |url=https://dibley.eu.com/ |title=Hugh Dibley home |last=Dibley |first=Hugh |date=10 October 2021 |website=dibley.eu.com |publisher= |access-date= }} * {{cite web |url=https://vintageracecar.com/hugh-dibley/ |title=Hugh Dibley |last=Wright |first=John |date=1 October 2016 |website=Vintage Road & Racecar |publisher= |access-date= }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/Hugh-Dibley-GB.html |title=Hugh Dibley, United Kingdom |author= |date= |website=Racing Sports cars |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dibley, Hugh}} [[Category:People from British Hong Kong]] [[Category:British flight instructors]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1937 births]] [[Category:British founders of motor vehicle manufacturers]] [[Category:12 Hours of Reims drivers]] [[Category:English racing drivers]] [[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]] [[Category:People educated at Marlborough College]]