Scottish racer, Bill Dobson, who passed away on October 13, 2008, was one of the first drivers to join David Murray’s Ecurie Ecosse team, along with fellow privateers Ian Stewart and Sir James Scott Douglas. Motor sport enthusiast Murray, a chartered accountant by trade, had persuaded Dobson to sell his BMW 328 that he raced locally after the war years and purchase a Jaguar XK120. Resplendent in their Flag Metallic Blue cars, the team were successful on their debut outing at the Charterhall circuit, Scotland. Dobson took the flag with Stewart in 2nd place. That initial success was the springboard for future triumphs for the team for the remainder of the 1950s, and helped secure team sponsorship from Esso.
Bill Dobson also drove David Murray’s ex-Scuderia Ambrosiana/Peter Whitehead Ferrari 166 Formula 2 car and won races with it both at Charterhall and Castle Combe. Unfortunately, 1952 was to be the last season he would race. He was under tremendous pressure from his father to quit racing and to work full time for the family contracting business. His premature retirement was motor racing’s loss. At Scottish Motor Racings 50th Anniversary celebrations, Knockhill, 2006, Bill was reunited with, and demonstrated, one of the original Ecurie Ecosse XK120 Jaguars originally raced by Sir James Scott Douglas. He was delighted to be back behind the wheel after such a long absence.
By Mike Jiggle
