1-193-135 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

Raymond Mays with a Vauxhall Villiers TT, (1929?). In 1929 Mays acquired an old 1922 TT Vauxhall which was converted to supercharging by Amherst Villiers and renamed the 'Villiers Supercharge'. He won the 1929 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in the car. Mays was a racing driver of the pre-war period, and played an important role in the creation of the ERA (English Racing Automobiles Ltd) and BRM (British Racing Motors) cars. He started racing in 1921 with a Hillman, specialising in hillclimbs and sprint events. He also raced Bugattis, ACs and Vauxhalls. In 1937 ERA and Mays dominated the Voiturette season. In 1939 Mays raced his ERA as an independent. After the war Mays continued to compete but gradually became engaged in promoting BRM. He retired from racing after the 1949 International Trophy.