I am thrilled to share these pictures of this strong and formidable creature with my fellow Gumbo enthusiasts after I had the opportunity to visit the UK history “Brooklands” museum a few days ago.

In 1933, Reid Railton created the aero-engined race car known as the Napier-Railton, which Thomson & Taylor built on a request from John Cobb. Cobb primarily drove it at the Brooklands racetrack, where it set the all-time lap record in 1935 at 143.44 mph (230.84 km/h). This is permanent because the circuit was never used as a racing track again after being converted for military usage during World War II.

Between 1933 and 1937 the Napier-Railton broke 47 World speed records at Brooklands, MontlhÉry and Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The car is powered by the high compression version (6.1:1) (Royal Air Force specification) of the naturally aspirated Napier Lion, a V12 of 23.944 litres (1,461 cu in) capacity, producing 580 brake horse power at 2585 revolutions per minute.

The 12 cylinders are in three banks of four (broad-arrow configuration), hence the triple exhaust system, and the engine has standard aerospace features such as dual ignition (magneto type) . The non syncromesh crash gearbox (aptly named for the horrible noises caused by a mis-shift) has 3 ratios. The fuel tank, located in the boat-tail behind the driver, has a capacity of 65 gallons and fuel consumption was approximately 5 mpg. Although capable of 168 mph (270 km/h) the car has rear wheel braking only.

The Napier Railton was purchased by Brooklands Museum circa 1997 with the support of the UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors. It is maintained in fully working order and normally on display in one of the museum’s 1930s motoring sheds.

The huge strength of the components reflects the very rough high-speed banked race circuits that the car encountered in the 1930’s.