Brooklands Riley

Sir,

I rescued Victor Gillow’s Brooklands Riley, VC 8303, from madmen about to fit IFS on it in the mid 1950s.

He had lightened the short pushrods so much, that the tops were breaking up so a lot of metal was floating around inside!

I went to see him with the car as a visiting card and he recognised it immediately.

Vospers did a marvellous job on the crankshaft, rods and block to “Aircraft” tolerances and I had a lot of fun with the car.

Unfortunately, after I sold it, robbers removed the special deflector head, but not the road racing . gearbox.

This accounts for its rather sedate pact ‘at VSCC meetings these days in the hands of its present owner.

Chichester N. GADSBY