[Healeys] Fwd: Re: Steve McQueen's Healey

[m.brouillette at comcast.net]

I believe some guy named Carroll Shelby also raced for them at one time...


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Alan Seigrist" <healey.nut at gmail.com>
> Hey Joe -
> 
> You forgot all about the very first true celebrity Healey fan... Mel
> Torme!   Badabodabadababadoo!!
> 
> And also Jackie Cooper.
> 
> Alan
> 
> On Dec 20, 2007 4:43 PM, <sebring at illawarra.hotkey.net.au> wrote:
> 
> >  Donald Healey was an wise man with wide experience in the fields of
> > engineering,manufacturing,promotion and all cultivated to service his
> > personal
> > desire to compete.
> >
> > Promotion was one of his best talents. Ask yourself how a small
> > British 'garagista' (Enzo Ferrari's description of the English motor
> > racing
> > fraternity) was so successful as a pimple on the side of BMC and its
> > subsquent
> > derivitatives. It came to an end when BMC proposed to attach the Healey to
> > the
> > in production but not yet released MGB GT. I am told his response was
> > something
> > to the effect of "no bloody way!"
> > Donald was held in high regard within motor racing because of his driving
> > results and achievements with cars entered into erly post war endurance
> > racing.
> >
> > He was quick to use celebrity identities as drivers of his reliable cars.
> > eg.
> > McQueen,Stirling Moss,Bruce McLaren and US drivers most likely drivers
> > familiar
> > to the the East Coast distribution network and therefore likely to be
> > influencial to potential buyers of British sports cars and so influence
> > buyers
> > to Healeys. I suggest the US East Coast distributors paid or part paid for
> > drivers,garaging,local transport and mechanics. There seems that part of
> > the
> > racing/promotion system had a pre-arranged sale of the works car to
> > recover
> > costs. Usually there were two car entries with a proven known quantity
> > British
> > driving team. It is well known that Healeys did not always pick the
> > fastest
> > driver but the ones disciplined enough to go the distance with good
> > average
> > speed.
> > Joe.