George Reginald Hartwell was born in 1911 in Portsmouth and began racing at Brooklands, prior to the War. George was was one of the pioneers of the 500cc class in the immediate post-war period. His first 500, the Monaco was built by Monaco Motors in Watford and completed ready for the later part of 1947. George finished second to John Cooper at the Brighton Speed Trials on the 1st September and attended the Towcester meeting on the 25th October (See From Acorns to Oak Trees by Keith Gough).

George takes the esses at Shelsley in June 1948

He campaigned the Monaco through 1948, finishing third at Luton Hoo in March, third again at Stanmer Park in June, second at Boscombe in August then winning the class at the Brighton Speed Trials in September and Weston in October.

For 1950 and '51 he switched to Cooper cars for 1950 and '51.

In 1952 he entered a Cooper-Bristol for another local garage owner, André Loens while building up a chain of Rootes dealerships in the Bournemouth area. The firm specialised in modifying and tuning Rootes cars such as Sunbeam Alpines and Hillman Imps. George died in 1975 but his dealerships are still in existence, now managed by his sons.

Our thanks to Alessandro Silva for his help with this page.