Vintage auto racing cards from the pre-war era) were tobacco/confectionary insert cards issued mainly in the UK and Europe as single cards within broader multi-sport or “motor cars” issues (e.g., the 1925 Boguslavsky “Sports Records” with one motor racing card). These small, colorful lithographed cards (typically around 67×36 mm) featured drivers, cars, or records, with descriptive text on the back and promotions for the brand.
They were distributed as promotional inserts—one (or sometimes more) per package —to boost sales and encourage collecting. Buyers found them inside cigarette packets from brands like Turf, Players, Wills, or Ardath, sold at tobacconists; some sets were also redeemable via coupons for albums.
There weren’t many dedicated motor racing cards (compared to hugely popular topics like cricket, horse racing, or film stars) because auto racing was still a relatively new and niche sport in the early 20th century—cars were expensive/luxury items, events were limited, and tobacco companies prioritized mass-appeal subjects for wider sales. Coverage grew somewhat in the 1930s as motorsport gained popularity, but it remained sparse overall until post-war eras.
1925 Alexander Bugoslavsky “Sports Records”
1925 Alexander Bugoslavsky (Turf Cigarettes) “Sports Records”