Ernest McMillen, racing and rally driver from golden age of sport

ERNEST McMillen, who has died at the age of 88, was most famously a racing and rally driver for over six decades, but in an extraordinary life he was also a farmer, insurance broker, hotelier and much more.

From the 1950s right past the millennium he was a constant presence in competition cars, a colourful and charismatic character who was the archetypal gentleman driver.

Ernest was an integral part of a golden era of Ulster drivers in the Fifties and Sixties, a contemporary of Monte Carlo winners Ronnie Adams and Paddy Hopkirk, often a team-mate as well as a rival.

He partnered Adams to sixth place in 1954 in what was a reconnaissance run ahead of his victory for Jaguar the following year, and he was part of the BMC Mini team when Hopkirk won in 1964, co-driving for legendary BBC commentator Raymond Baxter.

He began his career in the early Fifties, competing in major events like the Tourist Tro-

A painting of Ernest McMillen (right) leading Stirling Moss at Dundrod

phy races at Dundrod. One of his proudest possessions was a painting of his Austin Healey leading the Mercedes of Stirling

Moss into the Dundrod hairpin in 1955. On his wedding day he was carrying a letter asking him if he could stand in at short notice for an injured driver in the Coppa d’ Oro delle Dolomiti race in Italy. As he walked back down the aisle with wife Alma he told her: “I have good news darling, we are going to Italy for our honeymoon.” No mention that he was going there to race.

But rallying was his real passion and he competed all over the world, both for factory teams and as an independent, with notable success. When the first great adventure rally of the modern era, the London to Sydney Marathon in 1967, was announced, McMillen had to be part of it. After persuading the Belfast Telegraph to sponsor him, he teamed up with fellow Ulster driver John L’Amie to enter a Lotus Cortina. From London, all through Europe and Asia, across the Australian outback, they made it to Sydney in 29th. He competed on the Circuit of Ireland more times than any other driver and although he never won it, Ernest is recorded as having lost it on one occasion by one second.

He is survived by Conor, Rose, Patrick and their families.

SAMMY HAMILL