READER'S LETTERS, May 1994

display_0957d51541

Aston memories

Sir,

The photograph on pages 354/5 in April’s edition, showing Innes Ireland driving a DB4 GT, brought back some memories.

In the early 1960s, we owned the car depicted 17 TVX together with its sister car, 18 TVX. Both were special lightweight versions, and if my memory is correct they came to us from John Ogier. Out of the two, 17 TVX was the quicker. I remember being driven in it at an indicated 175 mph, with Boley Pittard at the wheel.

Older readers may remember Boley, a brilliant if somewhat erratic driver. My business partner, Bobby Day, found him racing on the beach in Jersey. Boley came from Salk, but John brought him back and he drove for us for two years, with much success, in a John Willmentprepa red Ford and then an Alfa Romeo GTZ under the Walker Day Racing banner. Tragically, Boley was killed at Monza whilst driving for someone else (although our second driver Tony Hegbourne also perished, whilst racing for us at Spa sometimes we forget how dangerous the sport used to be). We sold 17 TVX to Nick Cussons (of Imperial Leather soap fame) and I believe that 18 TVX went to a dentist in Surrey. It would be interest ing to know their whereabouts; I imagine that today they are worth a small fortune Guy R Bailey,

Group Managing Director, Alan Day Motor Group, London NW3.