Collectors\' Motor Cars and Automobilia

MOTOR CARS | 109

Into 1949 it was campaigned for the second time in the Le Mans

24-Hour race and again in the Spa 24-Hours, but as John Wyer put it

“...the old car was beginning to feel its age and failed on both occasions”.

Under his direction at Monaco Motors, ‘FGY409’ was progressively

lightened to extend its competitive life. This culminated in the

lightweight body currently fitted, most probably in preparation for the

1950 season, which bears a striking similarity to its fellow ‘Red Dragon’

• the cycle-winged Spider Corsa-bodied Folland Ferrari, but the owner
  then decided to retire from racing. The car is still accompanied by its
  original fuel tank (which still bears traces of Hertzberger Dutch Racing
  Orange paint) while the cycle-type mudguards appear to be those
  used by Folland in the 1940s. According to notes on file he spent circa
  ‰1,500 on the car with Monaco Motors from 194 to 1950 ¶ a very
  considerable sum at the time.

This Lot’s impressive documentation file includes a 194 John Wyer

report on the car’s engine performance plus type-written notes to a Mr

Pugh (presumably Folland’s ‘man’) detailing work due on ‘Red Dragon’

for 1949. The file also contains subsequent owner Peter Stewart’s

notebook covering his racing with the car during 1951-52; highly

detailed, recording lap times, thoughts and all work done. It mentions

that his best lap at Goodwood in 1952 was 1min 5secs compared to

works Aston Martin driver Jack Fairman’s 1.55 - ‘Jolly Jack’ actually

winning in this then-Peter Stewart-entered car at Goodwood on March

22 that year.

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‘Red Dragon’ on the grid, Goodwood
March 1952. © Revs Archive

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Jack Fairman on his way to victory, Goodwood
March 1952. © Revs Archive

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‘Red Dragon’ still proving hugely competitive,
by now in historic racing, Geoff Bishop, VSCC
Silverstone 199.  Guy Griffiths

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