The Fox 'kleinauto'

Sir,

Following the query of Mr Morgan-Giles about the Fox `kleinauto’ (Jun 1990), I checked through my records but could only find two references to its participation in racing.

On July 1st/2nd, 1922 the Fox was entered in the 40 lap (60 km) race for 5 PS cars at the Opel testing track at Russelsheim. The 4 PS Fox, driven by Ewald, was outclassed, quickly fell behind and finished fifth and last. A HAG, making its racing debut like the Fox, was six laps down on the winning Wanderer, but well ahead of Ewald. Incidentally a certain Caracciola won a race in a Fafnir.

Later that same month, the first Eifelrennen was held in the vicinity of the mountain health resort of Nideggen. This German version of the Targa Florio was over five laps of a hilly 32.2 km circuit, totalling `1300 kuryen‘ . The Fox, driven this time by George Morrison, was third in the 5 PS class. Morrison took four minutes over three hours to finish; the class winner being a Wanderer, as at the Opelbahnrennen.

Thereafter I can find no mention, not even for the 1923 Kleinautorennen at the AVUS when virtually every kleinauto in Germany was, at least, entered.

Of course, the name ‘Fox’ lives on in motor racing — à la Reynard.

John Humphries,

Auto Racing Archives Research, Stafford