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 TurnerRay Revell modified his oval track speedcar to run on road courses, most notably Mt Panorama, BathurstBrisbane Telegraph, Friday 29 September 1950, Page 19 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 LapsEvent 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 Fiat1942AprilSydney NSWSports Ground15World Speedcar Championship23Plymouth 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-21Brisbane QldExhibition Speedway12Feature RaceQ1 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-18Brisbane QldExhibition Speedway12Queensland Speedcar ChampionshipAustralia 1offenhauser 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 offenhauser1953 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), .
References
External links Andrew Moore, 'Revell, Raymond Stephen Henry (1911–1968)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/revell-raymond-stephen-henry-11510/text20533, published first in hardcopy 2002, accessed online 21 March 2016. Australian Newspaper Records on Ray Revell Ray Revell Australia http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Rayrevell.html Ray Revell - A model -Q1 http://justmidgets.homestead.com/RevellQ1.html Ray Revell - Offenhauser Aust. # 1 http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Revell-Offy.html Ray Revell Memorial http://www.speedway.net.au/archive_release.asp?NewsId=32826#.VvksEvl97IU AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES SUNDAY JUNE 17, 2007. N A S R NATIONAL OFFICE http://www.speedway.net.au/archive_release.asp?NewsId=23649#.Vu6Jm_l97IU Bill Lawler's Magnificent 25 Australian Speedcar/midget Drivers Of All Time http://www.midgetmadness.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11984 J. Medley, Bathurst: Cradle of Australian Motor Racing (Syd, 1997) Sports Car World, Oct 1959, p 30 The Remarkable Racing Revells!! Racing Car News, February 1980, p54-57 Australian Speedway News, no 59, 1974, p 18 Australian Speedcar Championship Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianSpeedcarChampionship/info/?tab=page_info Australian Speedcar Championship Australian Speedcar Championship Australian Speedway Hall of Fame http://www.speedwayaustralia.net.au/information/hall-of-fame/