It is assumed that this was the very first leaflet produced to introduce Wrenn Formula ‘152’ to the public since it proclaimed that ‘G. & R. Wrenn Limited proudly announce Formula ‘152’ Motor Racing’ and this was after two years of intense research and testing. It describes, in the future tense, what Wrenn would be manufacturing and it also goes on to state that a ‘deflector ramp’ would be available later. This leaflet was 10⅜” x 8⅜” overall and folded in half with printing on both sides. It included an uncredited Black & White photograph of Grand Prix racing on the cover which featured two Ferraris and a Cooper. The leaflet was printed in Black on White paper with the back cover featuring four suggested layouts (FIG. 1–Basic Set Oval, FIG. 2–Alternative Basic Set Oval, FIG. 3–Figure 8 and FIG. 4–Grand Prix Circuit ). These were assembled from the initial pieces of Track that were available and they included the overall size of the layouts as featured later in the early C1-Catalogues. The cover featured the words ‘Sensational New Winner’ with a waved chequered flag and Wrenn’s address. Inside the leaflet both pages were filled with text describing the new Formula 152 system. A second version of this leaflet was produced with some minor internal changes but this one has the addition of a second printing colour, a bright Yellow to the front and rear covers. This must have made this version quite noticeable against the competition and well worth the added expense of this second printed colour. Finally a third version was printed but the outer front and rear cover did not change. Again there were some minor text and layout changes internally with more specific details of the initial Cars and the Set that were being produced. There were also half-tone illustrations included of these new Ferrari & Cooper Cars which were used later within the A10–’152′ Instruction Manual. See Newsletters No11 and No20 for details of this leaflet.

To accompany the ‘Sensational New Winner!’ leaflet a new separate leaflet was produced latterly. Initially this was titled ‘Racing Circuits’ which was quickly updated to being subsequently titled ‘Real Life Racing Circuits’. This free leaflet was first mentioned in the August 1961 Price List and was a single piece of White glossy paper, 15¾” x 8½”, printed on both sides and having two vertical folds making it 5¼” wide. It illustrated 16 different circuits that were titled A-Q which could be reproduced together with a list of the items of Wrenn Track sections that were required to assemble them. Some of these were basic layouts (A–Basic Set Oval, B–4” Figure Eight, D–8” Figure Eight, E–4 Lane Figure Eight and F, P & Q were different 2-Level Circuits). The other circuits that could be assembled were based on actual full size racing circuits and these included those for G–Avus, H-Brands Hatch, I–Goodwood, J–Silverstone, K–Monaco, L–Monza, M–Pau, N–Aintree & O–Rheims. No one apparently noticed that there never was a ‘C’ circuit over the two different print runs but since this was all in the same Black printing it is probably not really surprising!

There were three versions of the leaflet that have been seen with different background colours of Pale Yellow/Green, Pale Green and also Pale Blue. There are also small differences with the Black printing including a slightly different positioning of some of the texts. The first versions had the Yellow/Green printing just to the front cover only and the earliest version of this seen, just has the inner roundel logo on the cover whilst all later versions feature the full roundel logo with the outer ring. A definite Pale Green version of this has been seen with a date of December 1963 over-printed on the cover. Finally a Pale Blue version appeared with changes to the text, type and positions and this new colour was printed across the whole rear of the sheet, including the front, back and also onto the rear of an inside page. By the time of the 3rd version of the C1–Catalogue, most of these circuit plans had been incorporated into the Catalogue itself leaving the use of this separate leaflet redundant.

This paper leaflet actually has one side devoted to Wrenn 152 but the reverse side advertises Wrenn’s then current range of three gauges of flexible model railway track. It seems as though there have been two slightly different versions printed which also, in the examples found, coincide with the different coloured paper that they were printed on. The first difference appears on one line of text where Wrenn were advertising what ‘Forthcoming items for 1962′ were being planned. Both of them mention the new Vanwall and Maserati racing cars, Lap Counter and the Pit Kit, but what is assumed to be the later Pale Blue leaflet, also has the addition of the 1/52 scale Figures as well. Below this, is a recommendation also with minor differences. The earlier leaflet recommends to ‘ask the retailer for a ’FREE exciting catalogue’ whilst the later one just states ‘illustrated 152 catalogue’ but containing ‘plans of World-Famous Racing Circuits’. Since the November 1961 Price List does not even mention any of these ‘forthcoming’ items I think that this will probably date the Leaflets after this time between Christmastime 1961, at the earliest, and possibly on to mid 1962, at the latest, since these items all do feature ultimately in the later July 1962 Price List.

This was a single sheet of glossy paper printed on both sides, it was 10” x 8” overall and folded in half to leave the leaflet 5” wide, it was printed by Glenview Press in London. The cover featured a Black & White photograph of Grand Prix racing, credited as courtesy of Motor Sport, with a superimposed illustration of a hand reaching down to the leading car, which was a Ferrari. The front cover had a bright Lime Green printing with the words ‘Take this car…’ reversed out in White at the bottom. The first two cars in the photograph were over-printed in Red and the following two cars were over-printed in the Lime Green. The rear was printed the same solid Lime Green with the Wrenn Formula 152 badge, Wrenn’s address and the printer’s name in Black. Inside the leaflet the text describing the system and it’s features was printed in Black with four Red and Black line illustrations. It also mentions that an illustrated Catalogue was available and refers to all of the Buildings and Accessories as well as the Wrenn Formula ‘152 Drivers’ Club. See Newsletter No19 for additional details about the cover.

There was additionally a separate, single sheet printed on glossy paper coinciding with the issue of the August 1963 Price List, which featured new products and also highlighted ‘important new developments’ since the last new Catalogue had been printed. This was printed in Black on one side only, it was the same size as the Catalogue and included the new Set No 0 which had just been introduced, the Chicane Track and other Accessories. Also at this time the ‘Formula 152 Driver’s Club’ was being re-advertised. Another version of this leaflet has been seen, dated October 1963, again to coincide with the issue of the new Price List, however this leaflet is exactly the same as the earlier one apart from the new date.

This promotional leaflet specifically relates to the last promotion that Wrenn was advertising for Formula 152 in both the modelling press and selected motoring-related magazines, during the period October 1966 – January 1967. This leaflet was single-sided, printed in Black on White paper and featured a tear-off order form section at the bottom of the leaflet. In an accompanying letter to the trade, Wrenn were classing this as a ‘relaunch’ of Wrenn 152 and as in the advertisements, there were three Special Sets being made available at almost half price. They could be ordered from the local retailer or direct from the factory using the order form. Two of the Sets were interpretations of current racing circuits, Brands Hatch and Monza (Sets A & C), whilst the other (Set B) was one of the medium-sized layouts. This last one was featured with a photograph of the landscaped version that had previously been seen. All of these Sets were promoted to include a number of Accessory items, such as Buildings, Fencing and Figures, which were all to be supplied in a special presentation box. Unfortunately, as yet, there is no record of any of these special boxes. This leaflet may well have been the very last Wrenn Formula 152 leaflet produced, since no later dated literature or adverts have been seen

PECO produced a range of small folded leaflets to promote their new Model Roads and Racing magazine during 1963/64 and these were supplied to the trade for inclusion within slot car set boxes. They were each printed in a different colour and customised for each manufacturer, for a seemingly UK-only market. These included ones seen for VIP, Scalextric, Minic, SRM and one of these was produced ‘For the Wrenn ‘152’ enthusiast’. They all included a number of standard sections but with photos of landscaped layouts of the specific manufacturer and finally there was a tear-off section at the rear of the leaflet for the owner to give to their local newsagent to place their order for the monthly reservation or delivery of the new magazine. The standard sections started with an introduction titled ‘Now that you own a Racing Set…’, then ‘Planning your circuit’, ‘Building a baseboard and adding scenery’, ‘The other chap’s circuit’ and finally ‘Maintenance’. This latter section was targeted with one of two manufacturers of oil products, BP or Shell, and the Wrenn leaflet included BP which was the chosen manufacturer in their Oil Bottle within the sets.

When the Model Roads and Racing magazine latterly changed it’s name to Miniature Autoworld, PECO had a new series of these leaflets printed in order to advertise this. However only those for Scalextric, SRM and Minic have been seen to date.