Captain Ramsay was first brought to my notice in 2014 when I received an email from Jaguar Researcher (and subsequent author of a report on the competition history) Michael A. Scott. Initially we looked for information and photographs of Captain Ramsay's Jaguar E-Type FHC which he was known to have raced at Charterhall soon after purchase in 1961. It did not take long to find that Classic Motor Cars (CMC) based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire were restoring the E-Type with five photographs of the ongoing work showing on their website.
Briefly the car was Chassis No. 3 right hand drive FHC (860003). Exterior colour: Opalescent dark blue. Being assembled and built to original specification including period racing modifications carried out by Jaguar Competitions department. Registration number XSG 3 / HSS 575
Whilst assisting in the research purely by coincidence we came across retired Major-General Ramsay with his BVAC entrered Ferrari 365GT2+2 at the Thirlestane Castle 2014 BVAC Exraveganza. I was naturally saddened to be told in the New Year that he had passed away on 31st December 2017.
His racing career began at Charterhall in 1957 at the age of 20, noted in the later programmes as living at the town of Coldstream however the family home is at nearby Bughtrig, Leitholm. In 2014 it was revealed that a memorial museum dedicated to his father Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay who was commander of the evacuation of Dunkirk and the naval commander of D-Day was being planned for the garden of Bughtrig House.
With such a fulfilled life and military career it's not surprising to read of the friendship with the Duke of Kent who visited Charles Ramsay and came to watch him at Charterhall on 27th April 1958 and again on 28th September 1958.
With such a fulfilled life and military career it's not surprising to read of the friendship with the Duke of Kent who visited Charles Ramsay and came to watch him at Charterhall on 27th April 1958 and again on 28th September 1958.
Shortly after E-Type 860003 came to Scotland, HRH Duke of Kent bought FHC E-Type 860007. His younger brother Prince Michael of Kent also had an Opalescent Dark Green FHC which he sold in 1966, later to be reunited with the Jaguar in 2010 and again at Goodwood in 2011 LINK
RACING HISTORY
30th June 1957 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
29th September 1957 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
27th April 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
6th July 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK150 3442cc
28th September 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK150 3442cc
24th September 1961 Charterhall Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 2nd to Jackie Stewart in an Aston Martin DB4
26th May 1962 Snetterton Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 3rd to an E-Type and D-Type
30th June 1962 Oulton Park Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 2nd in Event 2, 1st in Event 7
Thanks to Eric Bryce two photographs of the E-Type #24 from September 1961 were given to Michael Scott. This day's event was historically important as it was the first time that a Jaguar E-Type had raced in Scotland. Border Reivers had entered Ron Flockhart #33 at Charterhall at the STV meeting of 17th June but it failed to appear. As far as I am aware Charles Ramsay did not race cars again after 1962 however he also enjoyed shooting, played polo, hunted in Scotland and owned a series of winning racehorses. Looking back he remembered the great excitement when his father came home on wartime visits and flew in to Charterhall. LINK to The Berwickshire News on "A man of courage and total integrity"
30th June 1957 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
29th September 1957 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
27th April 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK120 3442cc
6th July 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK150 3442cc
28th September 1958 Charterhall Jaguar XK150 3442cc
24th September 1961 Charterhall Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 2nd to Jackie Stewart in an Aston Martin DB4
26th May 1962 Snetterton Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 3rd to an E-Type and D-Type
30th June 1962 Oulton Park Jaguar E-Type 3781cc 2nd in Event 2, 1st in Event 7
Thanks to Eric Bryce two photographs of the E-Type #24 from September 1961 were given to Michael Scott. This day's event was historically important as it was the first time that a Jaguar E-Type had raced in Scotland. Border Reivers had entered Ron Flockhart #33 at Charterhall at the STV meeting of 17th June but it failed to appear. As far as I am aware Charles Ramsay did not race cars again after 1962 however he also enjoyed shooting, played polo, hunted in Scotland and owned a series of winning racehorses. Looking back he remembered the great excitement when his father came home on wartime visits and flew in to Charterhall. LINK to The Berwickshire News on "A man of courage and total integrity"
Major General Charles Alexander Ramsay, CB, OBE, soldier: (1936-2017) at Thirlestane Castle in 2014. As you can see from the photograph he displayed a sense of proud satisfaction with his car and the fact that his Edinburgh number plate related to ex-Scots Greys.
I feel he would have been proud too to have watched his E-type today practicing for the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy at the 2022 Goodwood Revival. The E-type was registered HSS 575 bearing #333 and driven by Jon and Jack Minshaw.
I feel he would have been proud too to have watched his E-type today practicing for the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy at the 2022 Goodwood Revival. The E-type was registered HSS 575 bearing #333 and driven by Jon and Jack Minshaw.