Alvis Racing Car No. 1

Footnote:

 

Throughout the whole rebuild, by a curious combination of architectural serendipity and climatic conditions, the weather-vane above my workshop would reflect the late afternoon and early evening sun through the window onto the re-awakening shape of No.1 in an eerie yet comforting copper-hued glow.  This vane, depicting Robert Wicksteed driving HP6161 had been fashioned, by him, some four-and-a-half decades earlier, and on more than one occasion I have felt his hand guiding me.  With photographs on the garage wall from Harvey’s first excursion, the preparation for the JCC race, Jack winning at Brooklands at the end of the roaring twenties, and Robert at Prescott; I stand quietly, with my hand on HP’s radiator, surrounded by ghosts.