We know that Joseland (the Alvis service manager) drove Racing Car No.1 to Brooklands for the 1923 JCC race.  It is also well documented that Harvey’s car (No.2) was nearly destroyed by an engine fire earlier in the week of the big race, so one could speculate that No.1 was hastily rigged as a replacement (not reserve) car should it be needed.  The smaller inboard tank was replaced by the bolster tank, and one might assume that a different CWP was used to give a higher top speed at the expense of some acceleration.  Knock-on wheels were fitted, and a white circle added for a racing number that would have been required at Brooklands.  In the event, the men at Coventry had No. 2 ready in time and No. 1 wasn’t needed, so the third Alvis entry reverted to the works demonstration driver J.A. Brown.  The addition of the bolster tank would have increased the endurance to that needed for the 200 mile event, and for this reason I believe that these photos show the car shortly before it’s departure for the race.  

Having achieved this historic victory, Alvis needed to keep the publicity machine running.  Displaying the winning cars in Henlys’ London showroom or towing them around Coventry would soon pale with the motoring public, so No.1 was transferred to Tommy Simister to race as a privateer.

The Rudge wheels were exchanged for normal ones, but the bolster remained, as it has since.

It was the discovery of the cut out mountings in the original ash frame members that for me drove this line of enquiry (although Robert was aware of this before), and ultimately led to the decision to replace the bolster with something that is at once closer to the original, but also (in my opinion) much more in keeping with the car’s past.

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