BRM Signed By Raymond Mays

Author: Raymond Mays & Peter Roberts
Price: £95
Publisher: Cassell, London, UK
Publication Date: 1962
Edition: First edition
Format: Original cloth gilt with dustwrapper
Condition: Very good in very good dustwrapper
Pages: 240

Description:

The first edition inscribed in November 1962 to ‘Geoffrey, All good wishes, Raymond Mays’. A very good, tight, clean copy in very good, slightly creased, nicked and rubbed dustwrapper. Scarce signed by one of the team’s founders, Raymond Mays.

BRM: A Short Description

BRM, which stands for British Racing Motors, is a historic and iconic British Formula One racing team and constructor. The team was founded in 1945 by Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon, with the backing of a consortium of British industrialists, under the vision of creating a world-beating British Grand Prix car. BRM played a significant role in the early years of Formula One and achieved considerable success in the 1950s and 1960s.

Early Years and Formation

BRM was formed with the ambitious goal of building a British car capable of competing with the dominant Italian and German teams of the time. The early years of BRM were marked by high expectations but also significant challenges. The team’s first car, the BRM V16, was a highly complex machine with a supercharged 1.5-liter V16 engine. While the car was technically advanced and had immense power, it was also notoriously difficult to drive and suffered from reliability issues, leading to limited success in its initial outings.

1950s: Struggles and Improvements

Throughout the 1950s, BRM continued to develop and compete, gradually overcoming the teething problems that plagued its early efforts. The team remained committed to the goal of establishing itself as a serious contender in Grand Prix racing. During this period, BRM faced tough competition from established teams like Ferrari and Maserati but managed to achieve some respectable results as the decade progressed.

1960s: Rise to Prominence

The 1960s marked the peak of BRM’s success in Formula One. The team made significant strides in car design and performance, leading to its most successful period.

• 1962 Formula One World Championship: BRM achieved its greatest triumph in 1962 when driver Graham Hill won the Formula One World Championship driving the BRM P57. This victory was a historic achievement, as it marked the first and only time that a BRM driver won the World Championship. The team also won the Constructors’ Championship that year, solidifying its place in Formula One history.
• Graham Hill: Hill was one of the most famous and successful drivers of the era, and his association with BRM was crucial to the team’s success. His driving skill and consistency were instrumental in securing the team’s championship victory in 1962.

1970s: Decline and Legacy

After its peak in the early 1960s, BRM’s performance began to decline in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. The team struggled with financial difficulties, and despite continued efforts to remain competitive, BRM was unable to recapture the success of its earlier years. The team faced increasing competition from newer, better-funded teams, and by the mid-1970s, BRM’s fortunes had waned significantly.

The team officially withdrew from Formula One at the end of the 1977 season, marking the end of an era. However, BRM’s legacy as one of the pioneering British teams in Formula One remains intact, with its 1962 championship win being a highlight in British motorsport history.

Legacy and Influence

BRM’s influence on Formula One and British motorsport is significant. The team played a key role in the development of British engineering talent and helped establish the United Kingdom as a major hub for Formula One teams and technology. The BRM cars are remembered for their innovation, particularly the ambitious V16 project, and for their contribution to the sport’s history.

In recent years, there have been efforts to revive the BRM name, with classic cars being restored and showcased at historic racing events, keeping the spirit of BRM alive for new generations of motorsport enthusiasts.

Overall, BRM is celebrated as a pioneering team that, despite its challenges, made a lasting impact on the world of Formula One racing.

Raymond Mays: A Short Biography

Raymond Mays (1899–1980) was a highly influential figure in British motorsport, known for his contributions as a racing driver, engineer, and entrepreneur. Mays played a key role in the development of several notable British racing cars and was a driving force behind the establishment of British Racing Motors (BRM), a team that aimed to create a world-beating British Formula One car.

Early Life and Racing Career

Raymond Mays was born on August 1, 1899, in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England. His interest in motor racing began at a young age, and he quickly became involved in the sport, both as a driver and as an engineer. Mays was known for his skill behind the wheel and achieved success in various forms of motorsport throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

In the 1920s, Mays gained prominence driving for the Vauxhall and Bugatti teams, where he competed in hill climbs and other forms of motorsport. His performances in hill climbs, in particular, were impressive, and he won numerous events, establishing himself as one of Britain’s leading drivers.

ERA (English Racing Automobiles)

In 1933, Mays, along with designer Peter Berthon and financier Humphrey Cook, founded English Racing Automobiles (ERA). The aim of ERA was to create a competitive British racing car to challenge the dominance of continental European manufacturers. Mays was not only a key figure in the formation of ERA but also served as the team’s primary driver.

ERA quickly became successful, producing a series of highly competitive single-seater racing cars. These cars, driven by Mays and other talented drivers, dominated the European voiturette (the precursor to Formula Two) racing scene during the 1930s. The ERA cars were known for their reliability, speed, and engineering excellence, and they played a significant role in raising the profile of British motorsport on the international stage.

Founding of BRM (British Racing Motors)

After World War II, Mays set his sights on an even more ambitious project: creating a British Formula One car capable of winning the World Championship. This vision led to the founding of British Racing Motors (BRM) in 1945, with Peter Berthon once again playing a key role in the engineering side of the venture.

BRM was conceived as a national project, with funding and support from a consortium of British industrialists and companies. The first BRM car, the BRM V16, was an incredibly ambitious design, featuring a supercharged 1.5-liter V16 engine. While the car was technologically advanced and had enormous power, it was also extremely complex and suffered from reliability issues. Despite these challenges, the BRM V16 became an iconic car, known for its distinctive sound and engineering innovation.

Later Years and Legacy

Mays continued to be involved in motorsport throughout the 1950s and 1960s, although his role became more focused on management and engineering rather than driving. He remained a central figure in BRM, overseeing the team’s efforts to compete at the highest levels of Formula One.

BRM’s greatest success came in 1962 when the team, under Mays’ guidance, won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with driver Graham Hill at the wheel of the BRM P57. This achievement was a culmination of years of effort and established BRM as one of the leading teams in Formula One.

Mays retired from active involvement in motorsport in the 1970s, but his legacy continued to influence the sport. He passed away on January 6, 1980, but is remembered as one of the pioneers of British motorsport. His contributions to ERA and BRM helped lay the foundation for the success of British teams and drivers in the post-war era, and his vision of British engineering excellence in motorsport is still celebrated today. In recognition of his achievements, Mays was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) and remains a revered figure in the history of British motor racing.

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