If you've driven a Vauxhall 30-98 before, you'll have no problem," says Tony Lees as I mount his 1913, 11,776cc Hispano-Suiza aero-engined Vauxhall Viper for a few laps of Mallory Park.
Well, I have driven 30-98s, but that's like saying I'm familiar with Indian cuisine because I've had a few kormas, before tucking into my first vindaloo. Nothing prepares you for the sensory onslaught of an 111-year-old car with twice its original cylinder count, and (conservatively) three and a half times more power than when its chassis rolled out of the factory. More so the 720lb ft torque peak, which arrives so early that your journey to top gear is a blur of double-declutched changes, after which this Edwardian leviathan is poised for 100mph-plus down Mallory's straights. It all sounds slightly unhinged.
The aura of automotive insanity is tripled as the Vauxhall is joined by two sparring partners from the Edwardian racing scene: a 1911 KRIT 100hp Aero, its 9.2-litre engine also pinched from a fighter plane; and a 1911 SCAT Type C with a 9.3-litre motor that's the only one here designed for the car it still powers. If you've attended Goodwood's Members' Meeting in recent times, you will have seen each of them in the SF Edge Trophy, their drivers perched impossibly high above mammoth steering wheels, wrangling these ancient monuments through Woodcote and Lavant at unfeasibly high speeds while barely breaking 2000rpm.
All three perfectly epitomise the immediate pre- and post-WW1 fascination with outright speed among a burgeoning collective of racers and thrill-seekers. The first decade of the 20th century had been experimental for fledgling car businesses, but, once the basic template for a motor car had been set, the need for speed begat an entire motorsport industry. In Britain, Brooklands became the showcase for such endeavour, while in Europe events such as the Targa Florio tested giant-engined racers to their limits and beyond on public roads.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
