John & Ruedi:
Thank you for your replies, Ruedi concerning Rex Mays. Mays was a very successful and popular American driver from the 1930's until his death in 1949.
He was AAA National Champion in 1940 and 1941. Mays in 1937 participated in the Vanderbilt Cup, driving Alfa 8C-35/50012, Bowes Sealfast Special, at Roosevelt Raceway, Long island, NY. This was an attempt by one of the Vanderbilts to introduce Grand Prix style driving to the US. In 1936 the race was won by none other then Tazio Nuvolari in a Alfa Romeo 12C-36, in fact I believe the engine was only running on 11 cylinders. 1937, this is where Mays and Bill "Hollywood" White come in to the picture. The car apparently was a spare car brought over by the Scuderia and sold to White. "Bill White Race Cars/Bowes Seal Fast Special/Rex Mays/8C-35/50012" According to Brock Yates, White Wined and Dined Scuderia mechanic Attilio Marinoni who "Spilled the Beans" and gave White's Mechanics secrets on how to tune the Alfa Engine. Mays finished 3rd in the 1937 race only defeated by 1st Bernd Rosemeyer, Auto Union and 2nd Rudi Caracciola in a Mercedes. Nuvolari placed a distant 5th, Mays impressed the Scuderia so much that it is believed he was invited to Italy and a possible driving position, he declined, wonder how he would have made out 20 years before Phil Hill. Here is some more info on the Car:
The Bill White Alfa Romeo 8C-35, serial number purportedly 50012, was apparently an unraced spare car at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup, subsequently purchased by Bill White and rebodied for Rex Mays to drive in 1937 (ret Indy, 3rd Vanderbilt) and 1938 (ret Indy), then Babe Stapp in 1939 (5th Indy), Harry McQuinn in 1940 (11th Indy) and 1941 (7th Indy, with relief by Kelly Petillo), Duke Nalon in 1941 (ret Milwaukee & Syracuse - yes, dirt tracks!), Jimmie Wilburn in 1946 (ret Indy), Cy Marshall in 1947 (8th Indy) and Art Scovell the same year (10th/ret? Milwaukee, ret Langhorne). This car was modified and rebodied to some extent over the years! I have also attached some photos I have of Mays and the Alfa. # 14 Single Seater is 1937 Vanderbilt and the other 2 are from the Indy 500. Also a Very Good website:
Alfa Romeo Bulletin Board & Forums
All the Best
Bob K