The British Racing Motors (unofficial) information centre.

- The E.R.A. cars -

The ERA - Raymond Mays was born on 1st August 1899. He was a successful racing driver and hillclimb champion.

English Racing Automobiles (ERA) was run during the 1930s from workshops built on the orchard adjoining the family home Eastgate House, Bourne. After the Second World War the BRM took the place of ERA and went on to win the 1962 World Championship.

The ERA Club
"The ERA Club was formed in 1936 by a group of enthusiasts who wished to support English Racing Automobiles (ERA), Britain's latest racing marque. Up until World War Two the Club was very active and most of the contemporary ERA owners and drivers were members.
After the War the Club was not active again until the mid-1950s when a new generation was establishing the cars as the leading marque in historic racing. Since then the Club has had a more or less continuous existence. It exists as a forum for owners, drivers and anyone who is interested in, and enthusiastic about, ERA."

(Photograph - Bonhams Sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 11th July 2008 - © www.classicdriver.com)

ERA R1A 1.5litre The prototype ERA was completed in May 1934 with a 1,500cc. supercharged engine.By the end of 1934 Raymond Mays had achieved race and hill climb wins and Standing Start mile and kilometre records.

In 1935 season Humphrey Cook was the main driver as Mays moved on to R3A & R4B. Richard Seaman took R1A to a second place finish at Donington Park whilst waiting for his own car (R1B) to be completed.  Later in 1935 Tim Rose-Richards took R1A to third at the Nurburgring to back up the first major European success for ERA. Mays won the event in R3A.

In 1936 R1A was raced by Mrs Kay Petre (retired) and the Hon. Brian Lewis (15th in the Vanderbilt Cup, USA).

Within 1935 to 1937 the car passed through several owners - A. Valette - J Trevoux - back to the Works and then F S Cotton.

For 1937 the car passed to Fugen Bjornstadt. The Norwegian took the car to several good results including a good win at the Turin circuit.

In 1938 the car passed to W.E. Humphries but was not raced again until after World War Two having moved on to H W Motors and then C Hawkes.

In 1947 new owner Reg Parnell took R1A to two wins on ice circuits in Sweden.

R1A was then raced under the ownership of D A Hampshire (1948 to 1952), W R Flockhart & A W Birrell (1952) and A W Birrell (1952 to 1956).

The first ERA used a  “Rising Sun” emblem designed by F. Gordon Crosby (the famous motoring artist). Later cars featured the three ring badge for the letters E, R and A. designed by a friend of Raymond Mays, Squadron Leader “Pingo” Lester.

The bonnet profile of R1A was lowered to give better streamlining during its post war career.

Tony Merrick rebuilt the car over the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s to original condition.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1956 owner - W F Moss
1956 owner - E Smith
1958 owner - E Hammersley
1959 owner - A G Murray
1982 owner - D Margulies
1983 owner - J Wildbolz
1993 owner - P M Rae
1998 owner - E D Butler
2008 owner - private owner (Dorset, U.K.)

(Photograph - Oulton Park, 1982 - © Alan Cox) ..................... More Photos

ERA R2A 1.1litre The second car built was the light green R2A fitted with a 1,100cc. supercharged engine.

Humphrey Cook won first time out in a Brooklands handicap.

Cook used the car to set Standing Start World Records for both mile and kilometre at Brooklands.

Cook raced the car in 1934 and, up to his retirement from racing in September 1935.

The car was also raced in Europe with a 1,500cc engine.

For 1936 the works team sold the car to Nicky Embiricos. The Greek took the now grey painted R2A to third at Monaco.

Embiricos had the car improved for 1937. Lowered suspension and radiator and Tecnauto independent suspension were fitted by Giulio Ramponi. Emhiricos crashed in the modified car’s first race and retired from racing.

A.C. Pollock then raced R2A up to the outbreak of the World War Two during which ownership passed to R M W Arbuthnot .

After the war R2A had further bodywork modifications, ending up with a very un-ERA type radiator cowling. George Abecassis raced the car, including ice racing in Sweden.

R2A was then owned by C K Mortimer (1948) - R Parnell (1948) - G R Nixon (1948 to 1950) - G R Hartwell (1950) - J V Green & E M Martin (1950 to 1952) and W Goodwin (1952 to 1956)

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1956 owner - E Lloyd-Jones
1957 owner - G J Chapman
1963 owner - J B B Swann
1971 owner - M J Glass
1978 owner - B A (Brian) Classic
1997 owner - R Smith
2007 owner - Mrs M B Smith
2014 owner - P P Dowling

Brian Classic as owner/driver raced the car rebuilt to its 1937 specification with a 1.5litre engine. (At some time the car was repainted in dark green).

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R3A 2.0litre R3A was the works 2litre built 1934. Raymond Mays used the light green car until it was sold at the end of 1935. Mays used R3A to set the Outright World Standing Start kilometre record as well as success in circuit racing and hill climbs.

1935 Mays won the Shelsley Walsh hill climb. R3A and Mays scored the team’s first major international win at Germany’s majestic Nurburgring using a 1,500cc. Voiturette engine.

Other works drivers were Tim Rose-Richards and E. Von Delius.

1936 owned for a time by L G Fontes[2].
1936 new owners Norman Black & Tom Wisdom used the car in 1,500cc. format.

1937 C E C (Charlie) Martin successfully campaigned the car across Europe including a fine win in the Voiturette event supporting the German Grand Prix at Avus.

1938 saw R3A sold by garage owner J H Bartlett to Roy Hesketh, who took the car to his native South Africa.

1939 Hesketh was placed fourth in both the South African GP and the Grosvenor GP.

1939-1945 The Second World War.

1948-1952 After buying the car in 1944 Basil Beall raced in South Africa in 1948-1952 and continued to own the car until his death in 1957.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1957 owner - G Henderson
1965 owner - P R Massey
1967 owner - H F Moffatt & N M Arnold-Forster
1988 owner - C A Mann
1990 owner - T Takahashi
1998 owner - R T Skipworth
2003 owner - R Smith
2007 owner - Mrs M B Smith
2014 owner - R T Skipworth

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R4A 1.1litre R4A was built in 1935 as the first ERA customer car and run by the team for Pat Fairfield. The white painted R4A was fitted with a 1,100cc. supercharged engine.

Fairfield had wins in the Mannin Beg on the Isle of Man, the Nuffield Trophy at Donington Park and the Dieppe Grand Prix Voiturette race.

In early 1936 Fairfield ran the car independently including a third place in his adopted South Africa. Back in England a 1,500cc. engine was fitted. Results included second in the British Empire Trophy at Donington Park. Later in 1936 R4A returned to works support and Fairfield scored a second at the Picardy Grand Prix.

In 1937 R4A was used by Fairfield as a works driver. three wins in South Africa and a third at Donington Park.

The 1938 R4A reverted to a 1,100cc. engine and was sold to N G (Norman) Wilson who raced in his native South African and elsewhere.

Wilson lost his life serving in the South African Air Force during the Second World War.

Reg Parnell took over R4A and after the war Bob and Joan Gerard gave the car a successful career in sprints and hill climbs back in the UK.

The car went overseas again to Rhodesia and South Africa for J MacPhee, J Shield and J de Villiers with the car eventually being fitted with a Chevrolete engine.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1961 owner - B Sargeant
1963 owner - F P Brewer
1966 owner - Sir John Venables-Llewelyn
1996 owner - P A Mann & J Wildbolz
1998 owner - J Wildbolz
2008 owner - J-R Grellet
2012 owner - N J Topliss

Into the 1990s owner/driver Sir John Venables-Llewelyn raced R4A in 2litre form in darker blue and with a sloping radiator.

(Photograph - Spa, May 1992 - © Alan Cox) ..................... More Photos

ERA R1B 1.5litre R1B was built in 1935 as the first of the second generation of ERAs. The numbering of the cars reverted to start at “1” with “B” to indicate the improved design. (So the first batch ran R1A to R4A and the next batch ran from R1B onward.) 

R J B (Richard or Dick) Seaman was the first owner of the black car and had impressed the works team so much that they offered to take over the running of the car for him. Seaman was not happy with works team’s preparation and midway through the year had the car prepared by the respected mechanic, Giulio Ramponi. R1B won at Pescara, Italy (Coppa Acerbo), Berne, Switzerland (Prix de Berne) and Brno, Czechoslovakia (Masaryk Grand Prix). After a year of good results with ERA, Seaman ran a Delage 1.5 in 1936 and was a Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix driver by 1937.

After Seamans’s 1935 season R1B passed to G.F. Manby-Colgrave. The amateur driver raced the car sometimes having “Buddy” Featherstonhaugh as co-driver.

Following the musical theme of Jazz musician Featherstonhaugh, the next driver was bandleader and post war television star W E (Billy) Cotton. Cotton owned R1B from1937 through World War Two and on to 1947. Arthur Dobson and Cotton’s mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson also drove the car.

The next owners were T C Harrison (1947 to 1951) and C J Hamilton (1951 to 1955).

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1955 owner - D R Good
1957 owner - M L Brewer
1959 owner - A L Cottam
1964 owner - C P Marsh
1986 owner - Mrs S Marsh
1998 owner - N Springer
2000 owner - W V Vaccaro
2007 owner - M J Gans

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R2B "Romulus" 1.5litre R2B of 1935 was bought by the White Mouse team of Prince Chula for his cousin Prince Bira’s 21st. birthday. The royal pair from Siam (Thailand) ran the team as highly professional amateur team boss and driver.  The car was painted light “Bira” blue. R2B achieved good results throughout 1935 with no retirements and two good second places at its first outing at Dieppe, France and the Berne Grand Prix, Switzerland.

In 1936 the White Mouse team added R5B to their stable so R2B became  “Romulus” and R5B “Remus” after the Roman Twins. “Romulus” took Bira to good results on demanding circuits and against strong opposition - A fine win at Monaco - A second on the Isle of Man - A third at the Nurburgring  - A win at the Picardy Grand Prix, France – and also a win at Brooklands ahead of team founder Mays in the works ERA!

In 1937 R2B was becoming left behind in mainland Europe by more modern machinery but was still a front-runner in a successful campaign within the British Isles.

In 1938 the White Mouse team took on a third ERA, R12B/C, which relegated R2B to lesser British events. The car not only showed impressive reliability but also won half of its races that year.

For 1939 R2B added yellow wheels and chassis frame to its light “Bira” blue bodywork to match the newly specified national racing colours of Siam. The car replaced a damaged R12C to score a third in Albi, France followed by hibernation during the Second World War.

The car returned to racing for thr 1946 Nations Grand Prix in Switzerland and 1948 French Grand Prix.

“Romulus” was then kept by the Chula family and Bira moved on to more modern machinery.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1963 owner - Princess Chula
1971 owner - M R Narissa Chakrabongse
2007 owner - G F Whitten

The car is considered by many to be the ultimate ERA due to is one owner – one driver top class racing pedigree followed by a sympathetic restoration by Bill Morris and a return to racing.

ERA R3B 1.5litre R3B was a light green 1936 works car for the use of works driver Marcel Lehoux. The French Algerian used R3B for a number of events in mainland Europe, including a good second at Monaco

R3B was entered for Lehoux for a Formula Libre race at Deauville, France, the cars normal 1,500cc. engine being replaced by a 2litre Zoller supercharged unit.

Sadly the third place R3B was hit by Farina as he was lapping Lehoux. In the ensuing crash R3B rolled and caught fire resulting in Lehoux receiving fatal injuries.

As R3B was too badly damaged for a rebuild, it was canalised for spares. Although various parts may still be in use on other cars, this is the only ERA to have ceased to exist.

(Photograph - Monaco, 2000 - © Alan Cox) ..................... More Photos

ERA R4B/C/D 2.0litre R4B was built as a 1935 works car painted light green and using a 2litre engine (although both 1.1 and 1.5 engines were also used on occasions). R4B was mostly used by Raymond Mays and mostly in sprints and hill climbs. The main exception of 1935 could not have been more different - the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring where Mays and German co-driver, E Von Delius retired.

For 1936 R4B and the other works cars changed to an all black paint scheme.

For 1937 R4B was modified to C Type specification with additional changes to the steering to cater for Mays’s weakened left arm. The much experimented with car was fast but somewhat unreliable. As well as several hill climb successes Mays won the Picardy Grand Prix, France.

1938 saw R4B/C modified with a new lightened chassis bringing it up to D Type spec. The year of wins or retirement included another Picardy Grand Prix win.

Early in 1939 Arthur Johnson used R4D taking a win at Brooklands. Later in the year Mays bought R4D from the works. As an “independent” the car continued to be fast but also somewhat unreliable.

After WW2 the car was taken to the RAC hill climb Championship in both 1947 and 1948 by Mays.

In the1950s Mays mad moved on to the BRM project and R4D was sold on to W R (Ron) Flockhart (1952 to 1954)

The next owner was F C K (Ken) Wharton, who won the 1954 RAC hill climb Championship using R4D and a tiny rear engined post-war Cooper-JAP.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1957 owner - A T Norton
1959 owner - J Berry
1962 owner - F P Brewer
1970 owner - E N Corner
1974 owner - N F Moores
1980 owner - A P Bamford
1984 owner - A J S Mayman
1993 owner - V Mallya
1998 owner - M J Steele
2000 owner - M Hulbert

When rebuilt in March 1938 as R4D around a new chassis frame, the old R4C frame was re-used in R8C

When painted blue with white chassis was known as  “the Brewer car”.

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R5B "Remus"1.5litre R5B was made in 1.5litre form in 1936 for owner Prince Chula and driver Prince Bira and painted their team colours of light blue with yellow wheels. The White Mouse team had already got ERA R2B in their stable so named R2B “Romulus” and R5B “Remus” after the Roman Twins. “B. Bira” won the Albi Grand Prix in what was otherwise an un-successful year in terms of the high standards expected by the “White Mouse” team.

1937 saw R5B unused, except as a donor vehicle for the teams other ERAs.

Later in 1937 the car was sold to A P R (Tony) Rolt who raced R5B widely.

1939 – The car was modified by Freddie Dixon and took Rolt to victory in the British Empire Trophy at Donington Park. Later in the year St. John Horsfall went into partnership with Rolt and became the regular driver.

After WW2 R5B was quickly back in action as Rolt and Horsfall took part in the Cockfosters Rally Demonstration Run of 14th July 1945.

New owner I F (Ian) Connell raced the car in 1946.

Later in 1946 the car was bought by P H (Peter) Bell for John Bolster to race.
1947 – Jersey piston broke, Chimay piston broke, Ulster trophy race – gearbox failed, Shelsley Walsh – 10^th.
1948 – George Boyle rebuilt car and fitter Wilson gearbox. British GP 6^th. Two-stage supercharging was tried using two Murray Jamison blowers but a valve dropped in Jersey.
1949 - Silverstone - Bolster skidded on oil at Stowe, hit straw bale, overturned twice, was thrown out and had R5B roll over him.

1951 saw the car raced by new owners J D Hamilton & P Fotheringham-Parker.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1951 owner - H Sullivan
1952 owner - V Thomas
1954 owner - K Flint
1955 owner - J W Broad
1956 owner - W F Moss
1959 owner - Hon. Patrick Lindsay
1986 owner - A L Lindsay
2010 owner - C K McCabe

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R6B 1.5litre R6B was built 1936 as a green 1.5litre for the famous “Bentley Boy” Doctor J.D. Benjafield, who only raced the car twice.

Later in 1936 Douglas L. Briault bought and raced R6B for the rest of the year. Briault’s best result was a third in the JCC 200 at Donington Park with co-driver Kenneth Evans.

During 1937 and 1938 R6B was owned and raced by I F (Ian) Connell. After a time ice racing in Sweden the car performed within the British Isles.

1939 saw R6B owned by Mrs. Hall-Smith and raced by Robin Hanson to a win at both Donington Park and Brooklands.

The last pre-war race for R6B was in 1.1litre form driven by Reg Parnell.

Other drivers - William Everitt, the Earl Howe, Peter Monkhouse & Johnnie Wakefield.

After WW2 the new owner, F R (Bob) Gerard, fitted the car with a sloping radiator.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1954 owner - Lord Ebury
1958 owner - S I (Sid) Day
1968 owner - S I (Sid) Day & J S Sutton
1977 owner - S I (Sid) Day, M Scott & J P S Warne
1980 owner - J C Brierley
1987 owner - J R (Jeffrey) Pattinson
2002 owner - I (Ian) Landy
2013 owner - C K McCabe

In the late 1980s/early1990s - raced by auction house executive Jeffrey Pattinson with the bodywork returned to a more original style and painted dark blue.

(Photograph - Silverstone, 24th April 2010) ..................... More Photos

ERA R7B 1.5litre R7B was made in 1936 with a 1.5litre engine with a white paint scheme and a chrome plated radiator for A C (Arthur) Dobson. Cyril Paul drove its first three races, until Dobson took over.

1937 saw success and the start of a string of ERA versus ERA battles with “B.Bira”. Charles Brackenbury raced R7B at Donington Park once (whilst Dobson was otherwise engaged).

1938 – The highlight of another good year was a third place in the Modena Grand Prix, Italy and sixth in the Donington Grand Prix behind the might of Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz.

1939 had the new ERA E-type taking Dobson’s main interest with R7B being less widely used.

1946 - 1948 After WW2 H L (Leslie) Brooke raced R7B widely.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1948 owner - K N (Ken) Hutchison
1950 owner - Unknown
1954 owner - R Linley
1956 owner - F Lockhart?
1957 owner - J A Bond
1960 owner - D H (Dudley) Gahagan
2002 owner - P Mullins
2014 owner - Ms S & Ms F Wilton

1960 – 1990s Dudley Gahagan raced R7B in red painted 2litre form in historic events.

1999 - Red bodywork with black chassis.

(Photograph - Oulton Park, 1982 - © Alan Cox) ..................... More Photos

ERA R8B\C 1.5litre R8B was made in 1936 as a 1.5litre for the Earl Howe in his personal colours of blue bodywork with silver chassis and wheels. Although owned by Howe, the works team prepared the car.

1937 saw R8B prepared by Earl Howe’s own team of mechanics. The year started with good results in South Africa. Back in the UK there was an accident at Brooklands that did serious damage to both R8B and Howe. Happily the pairing returned to competition with a respectable seventh in the Donington Grand Prix against much superior opposition.

1938 started with Howe and R8B winning at Cape Town during a winter season in South Africa. Piero Taruffi also drove R8B to a good second place during the in South African trip.

Back in the UK the car was rebuilt to “C” specification and had a wide-ranging career up to the outbreak of WW2.

Post-war R8B/C was owned by Reg Parnell (1946 to 1947) and later sold to T C (Cuth) Harrison (1947 to 1951).

1948- 1951 Harrison drastically modified R8B/C using a D-type chassis and very different bodywork (somewhat like the ERA E-type).

The modified car was also raced by former mechanic B N (Brian) Shawe-Taylor (1951 to 1952) - who had a bad crash in the car, causing the driver's retirement form racing.

A G (Graham) Whitehead used the car for 1952 to 1955

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1955 owner - R D P Wilkinson
1960 owner - B E Brown
1977 owner - B (Bruce) Spollon
2013 owner - G M Spollon

R8B was rebuilt as R8C using the discarded frame of R4C.

Bruce Spollon returned the car to its pre-war form and fitted a 2litre engine, entering the car in historic racing events from the late 1970s.

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R9B 1.5litre R9B was made in 1936 with cream paintwork and a 1.5litre engine for Birmingham stockbroker D H (Dennis) Scribbans. This first season provided a number of good finishes in minor events for the inexperienced amateur driver. Also during the year the car was used by Charlie Martin to win the Nuffield Trophy at Donington Park.

1937 did not provide Scribbans and R9B with any great success

1938 to 1948 - R9B was owned by R.E. Ansell, another Birmingham amateur, for minor events within Britain. The outstanding event of these years was an entry into what was probably the last major event before the outbreak of WW2 and the car’s only European race. In the Swiss Grand Prix, Berne, Switzerland R9B was 13^th overall and sixth in class (voiturette).

Post-war R.E.Ansell entered races and hill climbs as before.

Cousin Geoffrey E.Ansell (1948 to 1950) also drove R9B including a major crash in the 1948 British Grand Prix. Another “big one” occurred in a Jersey hill climb when driven by George Bainbridge.

B N (Brian) Shawe­-Taylor later raced R9B (1950 to 1951) until his retirement following a serious crash whilst driving R8B/C.

The next owner E J A Wilkinson (1951 to 1954) raced the car in the north and south of Ireland.

J D Lewis (1954 to 1955) returned the car to England.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1955 owner - T T Carson
1957 owner - A J Jeddere-Fisher
1958 owner - P Waller
1976 owner - P A (Peter) Mann
1994 owner - J Wildbolz
1998 owner - P A (Peter) Mann
2004 owner - R (Rainer) Ott
2014 owner - H Bachmann

1976-1994 & 1998-2004 R9B was owned by Peter Mann and raced in white bodywork with dark red wheels. Drivers have included, Peter Mann himself, brother Chris Mann (1978 Richard Seaman Trophy winner), Peter Waller (1966 Richard Seaman Trophy winner) and John Ure (2002 Patrick Lindsay Memorial & Hawthorn Trophy winner).

(Photograph - Silverstone, 24th April 2010) ..................... More Photos

ERA R10B 1.5litre R10B was made in 1936 as a 1.5litre in black for P N (Peter) Whitehead. Whitehead and his regular driving partner, Peter Walker, drove the car singly and as co-drivers. The best result of the year being a third in the important Donington Park Grand Prix for the pair.

In 1937 R10B was raced in Britain, France and Italy. Again both Whitehead and Walker drove.

1938 Whitehead drove the car and had a long but productive trip to win the Australian Grand Prix.
----- Details of the Australian tour and the frustrating attempt on the Australian outright speed record can be found in Mark Bisset's PRIMOTIPO blog.

1939 started with Whitehead and R10B having a disappointing South African winter season. Back in Britain Whitehead scored a number of top three finishes. Peter Walker also returned to race R10B before the Second World War called a halt to racing.

Post-war Whitehead and Walker were back in business with R10B until they moved on to greater things.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1952 owner - R D P Wilkinson
1957 owner - J A (Jack) Williamson
1976 owner - J E Finn
1980 owner - N B Mason (Pink Floyd musician Nick Mason)
2005 owner - P P (Paddins) Dowling

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R11B 1.5litre “Humphrey”

R11B a 1.5litre dark green 1936 car was bought by the experienced amateur driver R E (Reggie) Tongue. Tongue named the car “Humphrey” after ERA founder Humphrey Cook.Tongue had wins in hill climbs in Germany, Switzerland and Shelsley Walsh, England. A big circuit win came in the Cork 200, Ireland.

1937 saw Tongue race R11B widely around Europe including a good third in the Albi Grand Prix, France.

1938 – The Hon. Peter Aitken bought R11B to race in British events.

1938-39 A South African winter season gave Aitken a second place in Cape Town.

1939 R11B was used successfully by Aitken around Britain.

Post-war the car was owned by R M Cowell & G M Watson (1946 to 1947) and E G Pool (1947 to 1948).

In 1948 Reg Parnell bought R11B and sold it to Peter Bell for his driver, John Bolster. The car was greatly modified during this period, including the use of a 2litre engine, a Murray twin supercharger and having the pre-selector gearbox replaced by a standard box.

1949 saw R11B involved in a fatal accident to its driver St. John Horsfall during the Silverstone Daily Express Trophy meeting.

1951 Ken Wharton won his first RAC hill climb Championship driving Peter Bell's R11B (with the help of a Cooper-JAP).

1955 took R11B to the RAC hill climb Championship driven by Ken Wharton (with the help of Ken’s Cooper-JAP). Modifications for the cars hill climb and sprint life included a smaller 10-gallon fuel tank, the removal of the 5-gallon dry sump oil tank, a smaller radiator and setting the engine three inches farther back.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1956 owner - J W Broad
1957 owner - R F Bloxam
1957 owner - B R Eastick
1958 owner - A J Jeddere-Fisher, P M A Hull & D H C (Douglas) Hull
1962 owner - M H (Martin) Morris
2006 owner - D R O (David) Morris

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA R12B "Hanuman / Hanuman II" 2.0litre
(see also R12C "Hanuman" below)

R12B was a 1936 works car with a 2litre engine and in the works black colour scheme. Raymond Mays successfully hill climbed R12B at Shelsley Walsh and raced at Brooklands.

1937 The works rebuilt R12B to C-type specification with a 1.5litre engine and a long-range fuel tank. Pat Fairfield was to be the main works driver of R12B/C for the year. After a win with R12B/C at Crystal Palace and Donington Park Fairfield was killed in the Le Mans 24-hour sportscar race. R12B/C was successfully used by other drivers during the rest of the year. The Albi Grand Prix was won by Humphrey Cook/ Raymond Mays.  The Berne Grand Prix, Switzerland and the JCC 200 mile race were won Arthur Dobson. The Brooklands Siam Trophy was won by Raymond Mays.

1938 The works sold R12B/C to Prince Chula for “B.Bira” to drive. R12B/C was painted with a light blue body and yellow chassis and wheels of the “White Mouse” stable and made the national racing colours of Siam (Thailand). In the tradition of “White Mouse” cars, following R2B “Romulus” and R5B “Remus” R12C was named “Hanuman”. “B.Bira” used R12C to gain wins at Brooklands, Donington Park and Cork, Ireland.

1939 saw “B.Bira” raced R12B/C to win the Nuffield Trophy at Donington Park. Somewhat less successfully Bira crashed R12B/C at in practice for the Coupe de la Commission Sportive at Rheims, France. Bira suffered only minor injuries but the car was badly damaged. NOW THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET A BIT TRICKY !  As happens with many well raced cars repair and modification keeps cars on the track but complicates their history. R12B had been modified to C-type spec. and was now repaired with the only available chassis frame (a B-type, probably from R8B left over from its rebuild up to C-type spec.) so that the cars code letter reverted to “R12B” and its name was moved on to  “Hanuman II”. The spare parts from sorting out the mess were set aside – see R12C "Hanuman", below, for what happened to them.

1939-1945 The Second World War.

1946 “B.Bira” won the Ulster Trophy at Ballyclare, Northern Ireland.

1949 to 1951 - under the new ownership of D A (David) Hampshire & David Murray races included a fourth place finish in the British GP at Silverstone.

1951 to 1954 - the car was raced by F Ashmore and new owner J A Somervail .

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1954 owner - D G Owen
1956 owner - K Flint
1957 to ? owner - S A Tingle - Shipped to Rhodesia
? to 1962 owner - A Gillespie
1962 owner - W R G (Bill) Morris & D N (David) Kergon
1974 owner - W R G (Bill) Morris
1999 owner - D H (David) Wenman
2007 owner - King Bhumibol of Thailand

(Photograph - Silverstone, 24th April 2010) ..................... More Photos

ERA R12C "Hanuman"
(see also R12B "Hanuman / Hanuman II" above)

1982 - Respected car restorer and ERA expert W.R.G. “Bill” Morris rebuilt the wreckage left over from the R12B/C “Hanuman” crash and rebuild (see R12B "Hanuman / Hanuman II", above). The project used the original mangled chassis frame from R12B/C, other R12B/C parts and other period parts with any gaps filled by remanufactured parts.

The result was “R12C – Hanuman” a C-type ERA as if the 1939 Rheims accident had not happened.  As at the time Bill Morris owned both “R12B – Hanuman II” and “R12C – Hanuman” the question of whether one or the other or both or neither was “genuine” was a matter he would have had to fight out with himself !

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1982 owner - DW R G (Bill) Morris
2007 owner - T A D (Terry) Crabb

ERA R13B - in a dangerous sport superstition is not to be ignored, so the next car after number 12, was number 14.

(Photograph - Cornbury Park near Charlbury, Oxfordshire in 2004
© Trevor Tidball, 2004 )..................... More Photos

ERA R14B 1.5litre R14B was built in 1938 originally with a 1.5litre C-type Zoller supercharged engine and in pale blue colours for J P (Johnnie) Wakefield . Although no longer the most modern cars available, provided good results at home winning the JCC the 200 and being third in Siam Trophy race both at Brooklands and earning an excellent third in the Berne Grand Prix, Switzerland.

1939 saw R14B set aside when Wakefield moved on to more advanced cars.

Wakefield died serving in the Fleet Air Arm during World War Two.

1941 to 1945 - Reg Parnell owned the car for the rest of the war.

In 1945 F R (Bob) Gerard bought R14B after the war and gave the car a lowering the bonnet and a round radiator grille.

1948 Bob Gerard was third in the British Grand Prix, Silverstone.

1949 Bob Gerard was second in the British Grand Prix, Silverstone.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1955 owner - J T Stuart
1957 owner - C K W (Keith) Schellenberg & N V L Barclay
1957 owner - N V L Barclay
1958 owner - D H (Donald) Day

(Photograph - Silverstone, 24th April 2010) ..................... More Photos

ERA "AJM1" 1.5litre Anthony J. Merrick prepared and raced R1A until its then owner sold the car.  Being without a car the resourceful Merrick shuffled his stock of genuine ERA parts and came up with AJM1. The 1980s brand new 1930s car is said to be an 80% original ERA B-type car using a 1.5litre engine and light green early works colour scheme.

Owned from 1989 by Anthony Mayman, his cousin Chris Mayman was the driver of AJM1 while Anthony himself drove his other ERA, R4D.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1986 owner - A J (Anthony) Merrick
1989 owner - A J S (Anthony) Mayman
1994 owner - P A Mann
1998 owner - J M Hulbert & J P (Julian) Bronson
2001owner - R Ott
2004 owner - P A Mann
2008 owner - B P (Ben) Fidler

(Photograph - Donington Park, 12 September 2004) ..................... More Photos

ERA E type GP1 1.5litre 1938 chassis number GP1 appeared in 1.5litre form but otherwise was a big step forward from the earlier “sit up and beg” ERAs. Unfortunately German and Italian constructors had moved forward further and faster.  Raymond Mays used the car in its first race at Brooklands but then left the works team to race R4D as an independent.

Humphrey Cook moved the team from Mays’s Bourne base to workshops at Donington Park and continued with development of the E-type.

GP1 suffered with unreliability and a crash at Albi, France with Arthur Dobson at the wheel.

After the Second World War GP1 returned to the circuits with various owners.
1946 to 1947 - P N (Peter) Whitehead.
1947 to 1948 - Reg Parnell
1948 to ? - back to P N (Peter) Whitehead.
? to 1955 - back to works ownership.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

1955 owner - Ken Flint
1958 owner - Jim Berry
1959 owner - G J (Gordon) Chapman
1995 owner - Duncan Ricketts

(Photograph - Donington Grand Prix Collection 25 October 2001) ..................... More Photos

ERA E type GP2 1.5litre The second GP2 was bought and raced by H. L. Brooke (1946 to 1947) but later sold it back to the works team.

1948 Leslie Johnson drove GP2 to fifth in the British Empire Trophy Race, Isle of Man. GP2 non-started at Zandvoort after a practice accident. GP2 retired from the British Grand Prix due to a broken driveshaft. GP2 retired from the Montlhéry Coupe de Salon due to a split fuel tank.

1949 Johnson gained a third and fifth at the Easter Goodwood meeting. The Jersey Road Race ended in retirement due to a bearing failure. Record attempts at Montlhéry, France failed due fuel tanks splitting again.

1950 Johnson took GP2 to the British & European Grand Prix, Silverstone being the first ever Formula One championship race. GP2 retired with supercharger problems.

Post “period” history (note that the ownership history can be checked via The ERA Club.)

195? owner - R P King
1955 owner - Ken Flint
1958 owner - J Nicholson
1965 owner - S Lee
1966 owner - G J (Gordon) Chapman
1995 owner - Ms L & Ms N Chapman

The car has been a long term resident at the Donington Grand Prix Collection.

ERA F type 500cc. was a formula three project that never left the drawing board.

Photo via FORIX

ERA G type 2.0litre The G type was designed as a Formula Two car using a 2litre 6cylinder Bristol engine.

1952 The G type was driven by Stirling Moss who was emerging onto the international stage.

The G type project was sold to Bristol Aircraft Company who used it to develop the Bristol 450 sportscar (which finished 1/2/3 in class at the 1954 Le Mans 24-hour race).

ERA Mini (M type) 1275cc Turbocharged Engineering Research Applications (who had taken over the ERA name) developed a very special car based on the Austin Rover Mini in 1990.

The BMC ‘A’ series 1275cc. engine used a Garrett turbocharger with maximum boost pressure of 8 psi. Maximum speed of 115mph. was achieved from 94bhp @ 6,130rpm.

The cars were refitted to a very high standard and given distinctive bodywork modifications.

The ERA Mini Turbo quickly gained cult status in Japan.

English Racing Automobiles HSS

In 2003 the name ERA returned to competition with a brand new car. Jim Dudley's Tiger Sportscars (who now own the ERA name) launched a single seat racing car. This was later followed by the two seater.

(Photograph - © Tiger Racing Ltd. )

ERA HSS - Single Seater - Historic single seat

The car is a spaceframe rear engined model in the style of an early 1960s single seater using a Ford Zetec 1800cc engine.

(Photograph - © Tiger Racing Ltd. )

ERA30 - ERA - English Racing Automobiles
"The Pedigree
The ERA 30 takes its design inspiration from the Lotus 23 although the car has
been designed to be slightly larger with wider tyres and bigger brakes. In fact, the front end is more like the Lotus 30 than a 23.
For those who do not remember the Lotus 23, it dominated the racing scene in the early sixties beginning with Jim Clark’s win in April 1963 in the British
Empire Trophy at Oulton Park circuit.
The ERA30 is so named because it is only 30 inches from the ground to the top of the screen. With its bullet like aerodynamics, this ERA cuts the air effortlessly. With only a standard 1800cc Zetec with twin 45 side draught carburettors and Weber Alpha management, it gives outstanding acceleration, top speed and handling. Other engines can be fitted." - from http://www.tigerracing.com/era-30.php

References

[1] -- page 262 - David Weguelin - THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH RACING AUTOMOBILES LIMITED - and the continuing story of the cars 1933-1980 - White Mouse Editions Ltd. with New Cavendish Books, 1980. ISBN - 0 904568 24 5

[2] -- The ERA Club

V2.1 - 18 May 2015 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)

© David Hodgkinson 2000-2015. All rights reserved.