Exhibition on racing legend Ken

The glittering career of legendary racing driver Ken Wharton will celebrated at an exhibition in the Black Country. The show will feature everything from pictures of the driver to racing cars, postcards from his travels and application forms for races.

The show, being run this Saturday, is the culmination of the hard work of one man, Bearwood resident Robin Hanny. The 63-year-old remembers seeing the Smethwick driver race as a small child on a day trip with his uncle and father to Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire during the early 50s.

He has spent more than a year researching the driver who was not only a motor racer, but also ran a garage and motor-sales business in Smethwick, where he is warmly remembered.

Early in his career Ken built and drove sprint and trials cars, winning in the RAC Trials Championships. He was also a rally driver and won the Tulip Rally three times and raced in Formula 3 and Formula 1.

During his career he drove Ford, BRM, Jaguar, Maserati, Vanwall, Alfa Romeo cars.

He was tragically killed in 1957 after his Ferrari Monza crashed on the Ardmore circuit, New Zealand. Robin, who is a member of Smethwick Heritage member has collected facts, photographs, film clips and memories of Ken's racing years. He said: "When I started my research I was told by that it would be difficult, but I was overwhelmed with the response.

"I wrote to the motoring pages of a national newspaper asking if anyone could help.

"The letter went in on the Saturday and by Sunday night I had 30 answerphone messages and 30 emails. The response was phenomenal.

"In addition to all the photographs and information I have collected we have an album of all the postcards he sent from abroad

The exhibition will be held at the Dorothy Parkes Centre, Smethwick Old Church, Uplands Road, Smethwick at 10.30am-4pm.