Mick Walsh From the cockpit
‘Where else would a true Alfisto go for his honeymoon but Italy, with camping gear strapped to the back of the car’
One of the highlights of the Monterey historic races was the long-limbed figure of Peter Giddings, in wellworn Nomex and a black, open-face Bell helmet, gunning his glorious supercharged Alfa Romeo over the crest of the famous Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Tragically, Giddings lost his battle with cancer in the first week of this year and has now joined his hero, Nuvolari.
Giddings was an old-school racer, who trailered his cars himself behind an RV and never fitted roll-over bars. He was a popular character who will be much missed but, because he was always keen to share his wonderful cars with younger generations, his enthusiasm will live on.
For him, great competition cars were designed to be raced, to bring history alive and connect with the brilliant engineers and aces of the golden age; nothing lasted long in the collection if it wasn’t driven regularly. His honeymoon transport, a red 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 Spider, XP 1, was typical of his passion. Where else would a true Alfisto go for his honeymoon but Italy? The newlyweds swept through Europe to Lake Como, with camping gear strapped to the back of the car. As well as visiting the Alfa factory to meet Luigi Fusi, they competed in several rallies and camped in the open. His wife, Judy, became a popular part of his equipe in paddocks across the world.
Born in Eastbourne, Giddings never lost his English accent despite living and lecturing in America from the early ’70s. As part of a musical family, jazz was his first love and he played the double bass and trumpet with aplomb. His talent led to sessions with the Max Jaffa Orchestra and Freddy Randall & His Band, but although the financial rewards helped fund his motoring, he soon tired of the long nights and bad habits. He switched to a career in acoustics and advanced microphonics; the successful business with Eugene Beyer would support his racing.
Giddings grew up within cycling distance of Goodwood and soon became a regular, later working as a timekeeper with the famous Albert Victor ‘Ebby’ Ebblewhite. The day one of Giddings’ heroes, Stirling Moss, suffered his career-ending crash was never forgotten after grim-faced marshals rushed to his timing hut, where the biggest bolt-cutters were stored. He’d go on to own and race various ex-moss cars – competing with Moss in Maserati 250Fs in ’96 was a “pinch yourself” experience for him.
After graduating from his first car, a BSA three-wheeler, to his debut racer, the Frazer Nash Union Special, Giddings was soon hooked on vintage motorsport. The spartan machine was driven to events – it was his only transport – and in winter it was even taken into his home to rebuild. He moved on to Bugattis and later Alfas, while other highlights included the ex-dick Seaman GP Delage. Indeed, he competed in a fantastic range of cars, from Formula Junior Stanguellinis to guest-driving a Mercedes-benz W125 at the ’86 Monterey historics. And he was similarly trusting with his own machinery, as recalled by Murray Smith: “When he learned that my childhood hero was Prince Bira, Peter invited me to race his Maserati 8CM, 3011.”
In recent years, Giddings was one of the stars of Smith’s historic racing event at Lime Rock Park, and attendees still talk about the 2016 dice between the Lancia D50s driven by Giddings and ex-shelby team hotshoe John Morton.
After a lifelong passion for Alfas, Giddings’ final project was recreating the legendary Tipo 158 Alfetta, based around original spares and meticulously built by Jim Stokes’ talented team. Despite failing health, he flew from California to see the finished car at its Rétromobile debut in 2018. Sadly, he won’t fulfil his dream of racing it.
The paddock at American events will be a lesser place without Giddings’ relaxed team, but those who encountered the tall Englishman will never forget his ardent enthusiasm.