About Raymond Mays
Thomas Raymond Mays (August 1, 1899 – January 6, 1980) was an auto racing driver from Bourne, Lincolnshire, England.
Mays was one of the principal people behind the development of each of the motor racing stables of English Racing Automobiles (ERA) and British Racing Motors (BRM). The workshops of each firm in turn were established behind his house in Bourne.
He was one of ERA's most notable drivers, particularly in hill-climb events and with the black ERA known as R4D. However, he also made his mark on the track in such events as the German Grand Prix (the legendary victory of Tazio Nuvolari), sharing his ERA with Ernst von Delius. The ribbon which came with the wreath which was part of the prize for this event is to be seen at the Raymond Mays room in Bourne Heritage Centre.
Mays won the British Hill Climb Championship in its first two years, 1947 and 1948 but was well known in the early 20s with a pair of Brescia Bugattis, known as 'Cordon Bleu' and 'Cordon Rouge'. He was encouraged to develop his cars with superchargers through Amherst Villiers and this association continued with a Vauxhall and then the famous White Riley, that eventually became the starting point for ERAs.
