Early Austin Sevens

Further examples of standard-model early Austin Sevens used for racing, additional to those referred to last month under the heading “A Suggestion for Inexpensive Racing,” come to mind. For instance, we believe that at Le Mans in 1925 Capt. (now Col.) Arthur Waite drove a production sports two-seater which was virtually a “Chummy” with a small pointed tail in lieu of a rear seat and flaired wings, while E. C. Gordon England handled a fabric two-seater of the sort which became his production “Cup” model, named after the Biennial Cup Race — curiously, a few minutes before penning this we saw a well-preserved example motoring in the City.

Another outwardly-standard “Cup” model won the 750-c.c. class of the 1927 Essex M.C. Six Hours Rate, driven by J. P. Dingle, averaging 41.7 m.p.h. for over 250 miles in spite of a stop to change plugs. It gained the Essex Special Gold Medal for exceeding by 14 miles the stipulated minimum mileage. In the same race P. J. Calvert drove a “Brooklands” Austin, complete with the long, flowing combined wings and running boards like those of an Amilcar, and the spare wheel carried longitudinally in the tail. It averaged 47.2 m.p.h. for the first hour but was forced to retire when the spare wheel, which had to be carried throughout the race, broke loose and destroyed its mountings.