Vauxhall: Britain's First Sports Car Celebrates Centenary At Historic Track

LUTON, UNITED KINGDOM – July 14, 2010: This weekend will see the largest gathering of pre-WW1 Vauxhalls in living memory, as all but three of the surviving ‘Prince Henry’ Vauxhalls – widely acknowledged as Britain’s first sports car – gather at the historic Shelsey Walsh hillclimb track.

The Vauxhall C10, to give it its formal name, was the brainchild of Vauxhall’s chief engineer, Laurence Pomeroy, and was given its nickname after three such vehicles were entered in the gruelling, 1250-mile 1910 Prince Henry Trial, held in Germany. The cars’ durability and speed created a legend, which the fledgling Vauxhall company was quick to exploit with a production model based on the racers.

Appropriately, this weekend’s centenary celebrations will be held at Shelsey Walsh, arguably the world’s oldest hillclimb track, where Vauxhall enjoyed so much success in its early years. Eight Prince Henrys will be present, including the oldest surviving model – a 3.0-litre owned by Vauxhall for the last 64 years – and a 1913 4.0-litre model, which has remained in the same family from new.

Allan Winn. Director of Brooklands Museum in Surrey is due to make a presentation to Vauxhall owners and drivers at Shelsey prior to this weekend’s event: “The Prince Henry remains Britain’s first proper sports car,” he said. “With its low, rakish lines and powerful engine it was the car of choice for amateur racers pre-WW1. It was also one of the fastest cars in its day: even early models could hit 70mph, and in 1910 a C10 took the 21hp class honours over a measured half-mile at Brooklands. This weekend will be a unique opportunity to see these wonderful cars together in one location.”

In addition to the Prince Henrys, Shelsey will host a selection of 12 Vauxhall 30-98s, one of the most celebrated cars of its time and a direct descendant of the Prince Henry. The 30-98 was another Pomeroy masterpiece and one that, in its final form, became Britain’s fastest production car with a top speed of 100mph. E-Type 30-98 owners of note include Nick Reilly, Vauxhall/Opel’s President & Chairman, whose car has just been the subject of a full restoration.

Pictures from this weekend’s centenary event will be available at media.vauxhall.co.uk from Monday, July 19.