Regarding Roger Garnett's "Summer Vacation"
published 11 OCT, I know the Riley mentioned
in his report. A good friend of mine
maintains the car and has penned the following
note regarding this vehicle.
To: Brit-Cars/Roger Garnett.
From: Bill Hoskins, EX-WORKS, LTD,
Chatsworth, CA.
Glad you enjoyed the Monterey Historics. In
ref to the Riley you saw--(the) car is owned
by Larry Hale, Beverly Hills, CA (Yes, it
really is 91210!), an active member of VARA
(Vintage Auto Racing Association). I Helped
out with the maintenance & campaigning chores.
Basically a British "Hot Rod" (Kids over here
built Model A's--kids over there built
Rileys), it was assembled sometime in the
early 50's by a bloke by the name of Joe
Beasley (sp?), using a 1929 Riley "Monaco"
(sedan) chassis, shortened to 100" wheelbase
with the rear half of the frame inverted
(underslung), a 1935 Riley "12/4" (1500cc)
engine & gearbox (not a preselector,
unfortunately), and home-made coachwork,
aluminum over wood (what else?). After an
apparently long (and one hopes, illustrious)
career in the UK, the car was sold over here
via Barry Gilles, the British Riley Maven,
about 9 years ago. The car changed hands 3 or
4 times, partially restored, before being
acquired by Mr. Hale. Bim Shook of Orange
county (CA) handled the mechanical changes
(converted to insert bearings & fitted with 4
Amal carburetors), and the forward portion of
the coachwork was most ably replaced (to
original specification) by Urs Gretner of Long
Beach (CA), panel beater par excellance.
The car's initial outing was at Monterey
'93--After some minor "teething problems"
(gearbox, mostly), the car is finally coming
right. I have a few things to do this winter,
and we should get a full season out of the
beasty next year. I have maintained many cars
over the years, but I must confess to a
weakness for "proper" vintage cars, from an
era when men and radiators were upright!!
God willing and the river don't rise, I might
even have my own personal piece of British
esoterica ready for next year--a 1963 Sunbeam
"IMP"! Since my business is vintage racing
restorations, I need a rolling advertisement
for the shop. This will be my 5th IMP, but
the first as a full-bore racer. Current
projects include a Series III Lotus Elan coupe
to 26R specs, 1951 Simca "HUITSPORT" to racing
specs, a Lola T140 F5000 car, and (pending) a
1963 Corvette roadster for vintage racing.
Also getting ready to commerce work on a
'Mystery" car--alleged to be late 50's/early
60's Jaguar Special, possibly Ex-Team Rhodesia
car: 2.4 liter engine, D-type head, Moss box,
Salisbury back axle, tube frame (put together,
apparently, by an ex-Maserati fabricator!)
very "bird-cage"-ish, cobbly coachwork--car
supposedly smuggled out of Rhodesia into South
Africa, thence to Singapore, apparently into
Canada from there, where we found it in
Vancouver!
If you make it to Monterey again next year.
look me up. If anyone is going to Palm
Springs, I'll be there with a red Austin-Healy
100-4 (#104)--Stop by and say hello.
Home before Dark! B.
(Bill Hoskins)
Respectfull Submitted to the List by Paul
Horkin, adoo8@lafn.org.
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