steering wheels were made in Walsall and like with most things in the aftermarket motoring accessories field Les Leston was the first to offer such items - hence he gained the tag as the godfather of the motoring aftermarket. It was after receiving burns in the crash in Caen (where he leapt from the car at 90 mph) that he pioneered the marketing of flameproof overalls. At the time many racing drivers wore short sleeved shirts - Leston's fame and connection to all the great Formula One drivers meant that very soon a lot of them were wearing Les Leston overalls. Graham Hill appeared regularly in Leston's adverts in such overalls, also sporting the Leston made Graham Hill rally master jacket. In the late 1960s Leston became a Formula One pit reporter for the BBC, until he was replaced by Barrie Gill. In the 1990s Leston lived in Hong Kong, where he was married twice and expanded his merchandising business sourcing-in from China the giveaways, etc., that were rewards for incentives such as submitting cereal-box tops. His lifestyle involved owning a large cruiser that he would take out to sea at weekends and a jazz radio show. He frequented the bar of the Foreign Correspondents' Club, and for leisure he rode a BMW 1,200 cc motor bike. Racing record Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Complete British Saloon Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) † Events with 2 races staged for the different classes. Car over 1000cc - Not eligible for points. References Les Leston profile at The 500 Owners Association English racing drivers English Formula One drivers 1920 births 2012 deaths People from Bulwell Sportspeople from Nottinghamshire 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers British Formula Three Championship drivers British Touring Car Championship drivers Connaught Formula One drivers Cooper Formula One drivers BRM Formula One drivers World Sportscar Championship drivers Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Air Force airmen