Heath’s frequent overseas trips with the HW-Altas to races in France, Belgium and Sweden gave him the idea for a travelling team that could earn its keep from a busy programme of races on the Continent. For 1950 he laid down three Alta-powered cars that could be adapted to race in both Formula 2 and sports car events, living from race to race on the start money from the previous weekend, and making up in determination and spirit for what they lacked in equipment and funds. To raise extra cash, a fourth car was built for a private customer.

That season, on the tightest of budgets, the three HWMs took part in an incredible 20 international events in 27 weeks, across France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Britain. Heath and Abecassis commuted back and forth to each race, because they had their garage business to run. The three cars stayed on the Continent, travelling from race to race in two old vans driven by three permanently exhausted mechanics, who also had to prepare, and repair, the racers. Chief of the three, at a salary of £10 for a seven-day week on the road, was an irascible and obsessive Pole called Alfons Koveleski. As Alf Francis, he went on to become perhaps motor racing’s best-known mechanic.