![]() ![]() He also took part in five Grands Prix, and broke several world speed records for production cars. He specialised in European sports car endurance events, competing in five Le Mans 24-hour races, two Spa 24-hour races and four Mille Miglias. Further, as a child his heart and kidneys were damaged by nephritis and acromegaly, and deteriorating health in adulthood imposed its own constraints on his racing. Business interests remained his primary focus. Although a prodigiously gifted driver who early in his career won the admiration of senior competitors such as Raymond Sommer and Louis Chiron, he never made a full commitment to racing. When competition resumed after World War II he progressed from rallies to hill climbs, sports car racing and single-seaters. ![]() The employees responded to his enlightened, philanthropic management with a loyalty and dedication which, allied to Johnson's astute business brain, helped create the successful furniture manufacturing business that funded his entry into motor sport. Johnson, left with a mother and younger brother to support even though he was still in his teens, took charge of the firm. His father, a cabinet maker, died soon after starting his own business. Leslie Johnson was born in Walthamstow, at that time one of London's poorest districts, and he spent his early years there. Leslie George Johnson (22 March 1912 – 8 June 1959) was a British racing driver who competed in rallies, hill climbs, sports car races and Grand Prix races. ![]()
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