Who’s the greatest Scottish racing driver of all time? Sir Jackie Stewart? Jim Clark? Colin McRae? Good cases could be made for all three, and more besides, but there’s one man whose name is rarely found in such company. It arguably should be, though, despite a lack of laurels and trophies to prove it. The recent death of Sir Stirling Moss, and the rightful outpouring of adulation which it invoked, brought to mind a contemporary of the motoring legend – a racer who similarly missed out on the glory his talent deserved, albeit for very different reasons.

William Archibald Scott Brown was born in Paisley on May 13th 1927 to his father of the same name, an Alvis works driver, and his mother Jeay, who herself had raced multiple times, including twice at Brooklands. Motorsport, it would seem, was in his blood, but that wasn’t the only thing which had been passed on to young Archie in the womb. A case of Rubella during pregnancy resulted in him being born with severely disfigured legs and a semi-developed right arm.

A total of 22 operations and months of rehabilitation eventually left Scott Brown able to walk, and his own indefatigable spirit took care of the rest. Despite only growing to a height of 5ft – his fully-developed torso belying his stunted legs – a preternatural sense of balance saw him fence for his school, as well as play football, tennis, golf, and billiards, before representing St Andrews University at cricket. As a March 1986 retrospective in MotorSport put it, “Archie was deformed, he was not handicapped or disabled.”

That combination of balance and bravery saw him take naturally to racing. At the age of seven, Archie’s father had presented him with a pedal car modified with a 125cc engine and three-speed transmission to aid his mobility, and he had gone on to pass his driving test the day after his 17th birthday. At 24 years old, he began entering his first competitive events.

While competing at Oulton Park in the Spring of 1954 a rival reported Scott Brown to the stewards and, despite his obvious talent, he was declared “unfit to drive owing to a disability.” It was a devastating blow, but one that he would be determined to bounce back from. A charming man, almost universally liked and admired in the racing community, supporters of Archie soon came to his defence. Protestations on his behalf from Autosport editor Gregor Grant, famed ‘Bentley Boy’ J.D Benjafield and president of the BRDC Earl Howe ensured that following a campaign drawn out over many weeks, his racing licence was reinstated.

He wasted no time in picking up where he left off. At the wheel of the 2.0-litre works Lister he claimed 13 wins in 1955, as well as two second places and two thirds. Rivals he saw off in the process included Peter Collins and Le Mans-winners Roy Salvadori and Duncan Hamilton, with a cathartic win back at Oulton Park in the British Empire Trophy proving to be a highlight of the run.

The rest of Scott Brown’s career followed much the same pattern as its early days. Prodigious talent and a thrilling driving style, characterised by that impeccable balance and a great deal of sideways action – an approach which led Juan Manuel Fangio to label him a “phenomenal pilot” and the “king of drift” – was often reigned in only by the limitations which others placed upon him. Despite going toe to toe at the front of the grid with the likes of Stirling Moss and Eugenio Castellotti at Goodwood and Silverstone, he was denied entry to many races abroad, particularly in Italy, and struggled to gain the recognition and acceptance he clearly deserved.

Nonetheless, the pioneering driver claimed a total of 71 race victories throughout his career. Many more might have followed, too, with seats in F1 teams and at major manufacturers beckoning, had it not been for an accident at Spa on May 18th 1958. While engaged in a fierce battle for the lead with rival Masten Gregory, both cars encountered a localised rain shower, which had left the track slick. Scott Brown’s car collided with a road sign – which fellow racer Paul Frere had previously asked to be removed – causing it to roll, spill its fuel and ignite its magnesium chassis. As he was dragged from the car he was heard to say, “I made a right bloody mess of that, didn’t l?”

The injuries which Scott Brown sustained would prove to be fatal, and he died the following day with his father by his side. In the end, Archie’s short life and diminutive stature were far surpassed by his immeasurable spirit and enormous talent. A giant of post-war racing, his name should be known far more widely than it is today, not just for his racing exploits, but for his good-natured determination, remarkable courage, and refusal to be told that he wasn’t capable of achieving his dream.