advertThrilling motor racing at Wigram, Saturday next March 31
Advertisement for the 100-mile Wigram race for 500 pounds, the Lady Wigram Trophy and the Auto Parts Trophy on Saturday 31 March 1951: practice 10.30 a.m., fastest lap trials 12.30 p.m., trophy race 2.30 p.m. Presented by the Motor Racing Club, with Australians T. N. Sulman, John Nind, K. V. Tubman and New Zealanders George Smith, Les Moore and Hec Green.
photoRacing car built in city
A city-built racing car for the Wigram race, built except for engine and supercharger by Hec Green and Jack Brewer: the R.A. Vanguard, to be driven by Green.
Photos
- A city-built racing car, which will compete in the 100-mile Wigram race on Saturday. The car, with the exception of the engine and supercharger, was built by Messrs Hec Green and Jack Brewer. Known as an R.A. Vanguard, the car will be driven by Green.
featureNovel racing car built by two men
Hec Green and Jack Brewer built the R.A. Vanguard, a rear-engined, supercharged car modelled on the pre-war German Auto Unions, with the engine behind the cockpit, a close-ratio four-speed gearbox, independent rear suspension, a 20-gallon fuel tank in front of the driver, and a tubular steel chassis with components suspended below. It took eighteen months of thought and five months of work, weighs about 10cwt and is calculated to reach 135 mph. Green's veteran Wolseley Special will be driven by Brewer.
Facts
- The R.A. Vanguard was designed like pre-war Auto Unions with a supercharged rear engine, running on an alcohol-petrol mixture once warm, and was expected to reach 135 mph.