Often overlooked in favour of his son Stuart, Lewis Lewis-Evans or "Pop", as he was more commonly known, was also a great motoring enthusiast and respected racer in his own right. Lewis was born in Plumstead in 1899. He served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War1 and by 1930 was living in Luton. He may have worked for Vauxhall Motors whose agency he was later to hold. He established his motor business in Welling, Kent, in the 1930s (living over the ‘shop’ until the mid 1950s) and was actively involved with the Air Defence Cadet Corps (later Air Training Corps) at the outbreak of war. A knowledgeable motor engineer he was also a keen motorist with an interest in cars of all ages, a favourite being his 1896 Benz in which he completed the London-Brighton Run on many occasions.

At the top of Paddock Hill Bend, Brands Hatch in 1953, then taken anti-clockwise. Photo courtesy of John Furlong.

In 1951 together with his son Stuart, he started motor racing in a shared Cooper Mk IV and the following year they had a Mk V each. As Stuart’s career blossomed it is easy to overlook Lewis' achievements, over the next six years raced at more than 50 successive Brands Hatch meetings and elsewhere with great verve and occasional distinction. As a committee member of the Half Litre Car Club he contributed to the running of the sport and this continued after he retired from racing at the ripe old age of 59. Infectiously enthusiastic, a bit of a showman (among other things he acquired the Lordship of a Manor), his memory is preserved by the Mk V Cooper which for several years sat on the roof  of the Donington Collection but is now under cover, restored in Lewis-Evans colours of green and cream and bearing his coat of arms.

"Pop" in his 1896 Benz on the London to Brighton Run, 1953 with Stuart alongside. Photo courtesy of John Furlong.

"Pop" in action at Brands Hatch in 1954. Photo by Ian Frost