Clifford Earp

Who was Clifford Earp?

Walter Thomas Clifford Earp was a pioneer racing motorist.

He was born in 1879, in Lambeth, Surrey, England. His parents were Arthur Clifford Earp, a sculptor, and Emily Wood. He attended Ardingly College, Sussex. His surname was often spelled Clifford-Earp. He had a brother, also Arthur Clifford Earp, born 1 January 1883, who was also a racing motorist, and on occasion acted as his riding mechanic. He was a protégé of S.F. Edge and sometimes faced adversity, being considered a 'trade' professional in an age of amateurs.

During the eliminating trials for the Gordon Bennett Cup at Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1904 Clifford Earp, with brother Arthur acting as riding mechanic, crashed into a stone wall on the promenade, both being hospitalised.

In July 1905 Earp on a Napier finished eighth in The Gordon Bennett Cup on the Auvergne circuit in France.

In July 1905 Earp, on a 90-h.p. Napier, completed the flying-start Kilometre in 23 seconds at the inaugural Brighton Speed Trials.

On 27 January 1906 he broke the world record for 100 miles distance in a race for the Minneapolis Automobile Club trophy at Ormond-Daytona Beach, Florida on a 90-h.p.