# Ray Revell

Raymond Stephen Henry Revell (9 March 1911 – 18 November 1968) is recognized as one of Australia's most respected speedcar (midget) drivers. He was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Speedway Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame in 2016.
Between 1936 and 1964, Revell amassed over 116 career feature race victories, including 5 World Championships/ Derby events (1942, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1956) and 7 Australian Championships (1946, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957).
Ray Revell raced in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the United States of America. Revell won his first race in America driving for film star Lana Turner
Ray Revell modified his oval track speedcar to run on road courses, most notably Mt Panorama, Bathurst and Strath Pine Airstrip in Queensland. Revell's 'Rocket Car', with rockets attached to the rear of his A Model Speedcar Q18, was renowned for drawing crowds to speedway.
Revell was known for being the first Australian to race an Offenhauser in Australia. Revell purchased the car from millionaire businessman and philanthropist Howard Keck and shipped the car to Australia for the 1949–50 season.
In the post War years, Revell was often matched against international drivers in a series of short races. These races featured Americans Perry Grimm and Cal Niday, Englishman Bill Reynolds, New Zealander Reece Discombe and American/New Zealander Frank "Satan" Brewer.
Revell regularly captained the Australian Speedcar Team in races against the US and New Zealand. Revell also conducted "Match Races" in his midget against speedway motor bike star Andy Menzies.
Revell was best known for his Speedcar racing, but he also participated in promoting Stock Cars racing and was the winner of the first Stock Car race in Australia
Speedcar Historian Bill Lawler wrote that Revell was "the undisputed winningest driver at both the Sydney Showground (54 wins) and the Sydney Sports Ground (28 wins). Revell also mastered the tight ¼ mile Brisbane Exhibition Ground Speedway and is in 5th place in all-time winners there."
A street in the suburb of Gordon in the Australian Capital Territory bears his name.

## New South Wales & Queensland Speedcar/Midget Feature Race Victories

| Date | State | Venue | Laps | Event | Car # | Engine |
| 1941 |
| Jul-20 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 8 | | 23 | Fiat |
| Oct-04 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 8 | | 23 | Fiat |
| Dec-06 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | 23 | Fiat |
| 1942 | | | | | | |
| April | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 15 | World Speedcar Championship | 23 | Plymouth |
| 1946 |
| Mar-15 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Q18 | |
| Mar-22 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Q18 | |
| Apr-05 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Queensland Speedcar Championship | Q18 | |
| Sep-07 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet | Q1 | |
| Sep-14 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 12 | Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Sep-28 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Silver Sash Race | Q1 | |
| Oct-05 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet (Rolling Start) & Scratch Race (Clutch Start) | Q1 | |
| Oct-12 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet (Rolling Start) & Scratch Race (Clutch Start) | Q1 | |
| Oct-19 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Q1 | |
| Nov-01 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet Scratch Race | Q1 | |
| Nov-09 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| Nov-16 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| Nov-30 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet Scratch Race | Q1 | |
| Dec-07 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Dev-21 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 12 | Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Dec-28 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Australian Speedcar Championship | Q1 | |
| Dec-28 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | (2 races) | Q1 | |
| 1947 |
| Jan-04 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| Feb-01 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | New South Wales Speedcar Championship | Q1 | |
| Feb-08 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 8 | Speedcar Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Feb-22 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Q1 | |
| May-05 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Speedcar Feature Scratch Race | Q1 | |
| May-10 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | 2.5 Mile Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Oct-18 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 21 | Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Nov-01 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | New South Wales Speedcar Championship | Q1 | |
| Nov-29 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| 1948 |
| Jan-17 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Feature Race | Q1 | |
| Apr-10 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 20 | World Speedcar Championship | Q1 | Ford |
| Nov-27 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| Dec-27 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| 1949 |
| Jan-15 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Q1 | |
| Mar-05 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | dead-heated with John Maxwell | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-18 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 12 | Queensland Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-02 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 20 | Australian Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-07 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-08 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-14 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-22 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-29 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-04 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-05 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | New South Wales Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-03 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-16 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1950 |
| Jan-02 | Windsor NSW | Windsor Speedway | 9 | | 7 | offenhauser |
| Feb-11 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-25 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | New South Wales Speedcar Championship | 6 | offenhauser |
| Apr-01 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 30 | World Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-15 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | Australian Speedcar Championship | 7 | offenhauser |
| Nov-17 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | 7 | offenhauser |
| Nov-18 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | 7 | offenhauser |
| Nov-25 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | New South Wales Speedcar Championship | 7 | offenhauser |
| Dec-09 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | 7 | offenhauser |
| 1951 |
| Apr-07 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 15 | Sydney Cup | 6 | offenhauser |
| Apr-14 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 15 | Australian Speedcar Championship | 6 | offenhauser |
| 1952 |
| Feb-02 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | 7 | offenhauser |
| Mar-01 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-08 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-05 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-19 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 20 | Australian Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-27 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 30 | World Speedcar Derby | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| May-03 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | Golden Helmet | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-03 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 8 | Season Opener | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-10 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 8 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-24 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 12 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-07 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 8 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-22 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-29 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-06 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-13 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-20 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-26 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1953 |
| Jan-09 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-07 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Speedcar Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-28 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Speedcar Feature Race (Police Derby) | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-07 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | Australian Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-14 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-20 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-09 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-23 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | Speedcar Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-30 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-06 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-14 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-28 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-19 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | Golden Helmet | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-26 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1954 |
| Jan-01 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Jan-30 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-06 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-19 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-26 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | Golden Helmet | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-06 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-19 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Apr-09 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 18 | Speedcar Handicap Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Oct-29 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 10 | Speedcar Feature Race | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-05 | Sydney NSW | Sports Ground | 15 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Dec-18 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1955 |
| Oct-08 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | 65 | Holden |
| Nov-26 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 9 | | 65 | Holden |
| 1956 |
| May-26 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 30 | World Speedcar Derby | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Jun-16 | Queensland | Rockhampton | 6 | Rocky Speedcar Title | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-10 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | Sydney Cup | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-17 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Nov-24 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1957 |
| Jan-19 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 20 | Australian Speedcar Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-02 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-09 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Feb-16 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-14 | Queensland | Toowoomba Speedway | 10 | Darling Downs Championship | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-16 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Mar-30 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 10 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| May-04 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 12 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Jun-15 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 20 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| Jun-22 | Brisbane Qld | Exhibition Speedway | 30 | Brisbane Cup | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1958 |
| No Wins |
| 1959 |
| No Wins |
| 1960 |
| Feb-06 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 15 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |
| 1961 |
| No Wins |
| 1962 |
| Dec-08 | Sydney NSW | Showground | 25 | | Australia 1 | offenhauser |

## Legacy

Ray's son Howard was a successful Speedcar driver who became known as the Marathon Man because of his success in 100 lap races.
Grandson Craig also competed in Speedcars without achieving any feature race wins, but has had victory as a car owner.
Grandson Glenn won the 1994 NSW Speedcar Championship (44 years after Ray won the same title for the 3rd time in 1950), .