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Rare, (missed) opportunity to see a 1959 Riley 2.6

Rare, (missed) opportunity to see a 1959 Riley 2.6

I learned today from Gary Harvey of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, that he and his father, Phil, plan to participate in the Saturday portion of our Vermont meeting. I am more than familiar with their perfectly preserved 1959 Riley 2.6, one of only three Riley 2.6s in North America. I had the pleasure of riding in it through the fall beauty of Northwestern Connecticut on the drive that Tim Gladding planned for participants in the 2005 meeting of Riley owners at Lime Rock. That’s the back of Gary Harvey at the wheel as the 2.6 passes through the West Cornwall covered bridge, photographed by yours truly. Below the car emerges, photographed by my wife, Judy. It was that ride that prompted me to plan a tour this year that includes all five covered bridges in Addison County, Vermont. Gary and Phil should arrive after we have traversed two of them in the morning, but they will have another pair to cross with us once we have lunched at Eric Killorin’s in Weybridge. Gary and Phil will not be the only New Hampshire Riley owners driving to join us Saturday morning. From their blueberry farm in Troy, Fenella and Anthony Levick will be bringing their fine 1937 Adelphi 12/4, which won the most original prize last year at our AGM meet at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

Phil once kept his 2.6 at his home in Wisconsin, but it moved with him to be near Gary. Three years ago they entered it in a local meet:

“John

“On June 8, 2008 we entered our Riley 2.6 (the one in which you and Mrs. Riley toured with Gary and I at Lime Rock) at a British car rally sponsor by Brit Bits ( a local British car club) and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord, New Hampshire. The last count that I saw had about 45 British cars entered. They covered a wide range of marques. Our Riley was the only one in the show and, as usual, attracted much attention. Most car collectors had never seen one before and spent a great deal of time looking it over very carefully and expressing great admiration. When the awards were made our Riley won “Best in Show” competing with many outstanding cars that had been beautifully restored. Of course we were delighted.

“Phil Harvey”

Unfortunately, the heavens opened as they do in New England. The ensuing deluge prevented the Harveys, father and son, from bringing their beautiful Riley 2.6 from New Hampshire to join our group in Vermont. But we’ll always have Lime Rock.

Any of these photos, at the top or in the gallery, can be enlarged by clicking a cursor on it.

What is the purpose of this club?

What is the purpose of this club?

Notice the fine carriage-work, even if you cannot see all of it. Ample upholstery. Clean design. It was 1953 and the Riley drophead was in Las Vegas to pose with Miss Monroe, who was there to portray Pola Debevoise in “How to Marry a Millionaire.” Riley Motor Club USA was in its first year. The car did its best to appear as alluring as the actresss, but Hollywood is fickle. They had a Singer in the wings as a backup. As the studios had Kim Novak to threaten Monroe with if she kept coming late to the set.

Early this year I received a call from a Studebaker buff in Phoenix called Morrie Shaw. He’d had a set of four wood interior window trims for a Riley saloon for more than thirty years. Their owner had left them to be refinished and had not returned. Morrie had long given up hope that he would. So he contacted the club in the person of yours truly. Morrie was headed to Bakersfield for a prewar auto swap meet, but we couldn’t work out a drop off place for them. So he shipped them to me.

In the meantime I’d been put in touch with Maurice LeBlanc, of Redwood City, California, who became a new member. He has a fine cream Riley RMB with an off-brand engine and drive-train. That change was made long before Mo bought the car, and he is not about to undo it.

I had spent a long time with aging club rosters trying to find a car from Phoenix that was the source of the window trim, but we had none on the books that matched. Until Mo mentioned that his car, before it blew its engine, had been from Phoenix. I asked him about his window trim. He said his was awful temporary pot metal.

Yes, thanks to the Riley Motor Club Of North America, car and window trim, after being apart more than three decades, have been reunited. It’s a small Riley world out there, and the glue that holds it together on each continent are its Riley clubs, ours included.

Enlarge Marilyn and the windshield of her RMD by clicking your cursor on them, giving an improved view of even the Cadillac in the background.

From the well-preserved files in Eric Killorin’s garage

Place your cursor on the headline above. It will turn blue. Click on it to widen these photos.

When I received the corpus of our almost moribund club in a cardboard box in a park in the San Fernando Valley at a small meeting of members in 2005, I knew almost nothing of our history. I learned a bit from Varlie Gordon before he died, and a lot more from Bill Lewis. Bill told me the club had originally been organized to attempt to pressure the Nuffield Organization to better support the Riley cars they had sold. Not enough spare parts were available. Until recently, I had no verification of the age of our club. But during my pre-conclave visit with Mickey Shemin to Vermont, I got confirmation of what Bill told me. In perparing for our members lunch, to be held Saturday, October 1, at the residence of Eric Killorin, I found in the files kept within Eric’s ample garage workshop area a copy of a letter dated May 3, 1953 from our club’s first president, Carl J. von Kampen to Karl C. Killorin, Eric’s father, from whom Eric inherited both his Riley and his 1924 Duesenberg. The letter from Carl in Los Angeles to Karl in Andover, Massachusetts, stated that our organization, which began its life as Riley Motor Club USA, was founded a little more than a year shy of six decades ago.

“I am glad to know that you have other Riley members to Riley with,” wrote von Kampen. “We are getting members here from a lot of places within the good U.S.A. Our club was started last October, 1952, and we meet every two weeks and plan things to do. Had a picnic breakfast last Sunday and in two weeks we go to Palm Springs Road Race. Then a trip to Wild Flowers in the desert.”

So we turn fifty nine years old next month. Also in the files we found a one cent post card postmarked July 27, 1951, to Karl Killorin:

“Mr. Killorin, Found the name and address of the man who has the 1950 Riley 5-pass. convertible – Linus C. Pauling, Jr., 132 Glen Road, Wellesley, Phone WE 5-3702. Good luck, Josiah Macy, Jr.” The return address was “Group Networks Laboratory…M.I.T.”

That very same car was acquired several years ago from Carole Lind, widow of the late owner Fred Lind, of Wellesley, by my namesake doppleganger member, John Henry Riley, of Mobridge, South Dakota, and only recently restored to running condition and fitted with a new top. John Henry was surprised when I told him that a winner of both the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and for Peace had owned his car.

Also Eric produced a letter from Henry F. Marley of Marley Motors, 1776 Post Road, Hillgrove, “HIGH GRADE USED CARS,” in Warwick, Rhode Island, offering two cars, a roadster and a saloon for sale used. Asking price for either was $2350.

“The Riley Saloon has a two-tone color combination, with black fenders and roof and a deep ivory paint on the body and genuine beige leather upholstery. This is a handsome looking automobile. The mileage on this car is 9345, with the original tires still looking new. The interior and exterior condition is spotless and one can easily mistake this saloon for a new car.”

Karl passed on the roadster and bought the saloon, which is shown in color, with bright yellow today where it once was ivory, in the black and white photos, including Eric in 1978.

Intrepid Don Milligan’s notes on New England highways

Intrepid Don Milligan's notes on New England highways

I have not seen Bobbie and Don Milligan since 2005 in Connecticut at Lime Rock at the first Riley event Kay and Doug Campbell put on at the request of Victor Riley himself. From my archive of Riley photos you will see the Milligans in a Lime Rock field next to their 1933 Riley Earl of March Special. I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing their RM Roadster, which is set to travel to Middlebury, Shelburne and Burlington. It was Don who first called the club’s attention to the wonders of the Shelburne Museum. He grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, as did our Saturday host Eric Killorin.

Don’s roadster was the lone Riley at Lime Rock this year. Here’s Don’s note to me about driving, particularly driving a Riley, through Irene-ravaged New England, with his predictions about access to our event:

“Well, the Vermont tourism folks are advertising everyday on the radio that they are still alive and well in VT.

“On Tuesday 9/6/11 my wife and I returned from Cambridge, NY with the RMC. We carefully avoided travel thru VT, but did some cross country thru central Massachusetts. One of the roads paralleled a river and we had an opportunity to review a mild version of what must have happened in VT. Impressive ! ! !

“Saturday 9/10/11 my buddy from NY traveled across route 9 (west @ Bennington to east across southern VT) into NH. This road goes thru Wilmington,VT which took a serious hit. Road was passable all the way. Temporary bridges, one lane where half of the road was washed away and some dirt roads, but all serviceable. Work progresses at a pretty good pace. Downtown Wilmington was every bit as expected, but the roads thru were useable. I expect that any “main” thoroughfare into Middlebury will be OK by the time we get there. If we have rain for our tour, we might expect a muddy field. Those who feel that their “baby” might get “dirty” will have ulcers. So be it, any Vermonter worth his salt can get around. Tourists are on their own. Damn Yankees will take a hit and get to work fixing things.

“Round trip Andover to Lime Rock Park, CT, north to Cambridge, NY and return to Andover was 668 miles. Rained all the way home, but just light rain. Top down all the way. RM behaved as it should. Lime Rock Park, vintage racing and all sorts of foreign and domestic machinery had but one Riley – ours. Keep in mind, that ours is a very scruffy Riley. However, we were amazed by how many people, Lime Rock folks and spectators, who went out of their way and actually thanked us for bringing the car. The vast majority feel it should be left unrestored. Guess it’s the in thing now.

“Sunday at LRP is a quiet day with no racing. There’s a church across the road from the park. They have a concours and club day for all sorts of marques. When we drove in to find a parking space, the folks checking cars in put the arm on us to enter their concours. They worked pretty hard on us as I had no intention on getting involved with their damn concours machinery with our poor old Riley that was loaded with luggage pending our journey to upstate NY. They prevailed and entered us in the {“Virgin Vehicles” Just as we found it, or non-restored originals} class. That’s what is says on the trophy. Got second place there. Had a hard time finding a place to put the damn thing in the car with all the luggage. It was a very unusual weekend with all the interest in the Riley. Also had “special” parking on Friday and Saturday of the event along with many other “special interest” machinery.

“All good fun ! ! !”

See you in Vermont, Don.

For a better look at the Milligans and their March Special, click on the image. It will enlarge.

Missing the Nelsons again; & in search of piston advice

Missing the Nelsons again;  & in search of piston advice

I’ve not had the pleasure as yet of meeting Ken Nelson in person. He was set to attend our event in Indianapolis in 2008, but had to cancel at the last minute because of a sibling’s health situation. Our last minute planning of this year’s AMG cost us the attendance of many good members who had pre-planned other important things. Ken, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was kind enough to explain, and ask in advance for some RM engine advice:

“Well, I know it’s a lame excuse, but I will have to once again miss the annual Riley meet… We have a family reunion planned a year in advance for that same weekend assuming things are uncomplicated with some surgeries. The meet looks fantastic, and Kathy would even be excited to go if we could make it (pretty good endorsement for a non-car person).

“But I thought I’d update you on the Riley events in my life. First, I have the engine on my ’54 RME half apart in the car. Crank and cams are in place and look great, but pistons and rods are out to be redone. I rebuilt this engine about 25 years and 16,000 miles ago, and at that time it was not possible to buy replacement rings for the . 030″ oversize pistons it had been bored out for. So I went to Hastings, MI, to the ring manufacturing company and they got me a Rube Goldberg set of rings from some of this and some of that. Well, it didn’t work. The compression rings had to have spacers added, and they clearly flexed in the lands enough to cause breakage of the rings and lands. See the photos below. So I went back to my original shade tree mechanic (see pic) to see if I could entice him to rebuild the short block again. He agreed! What’s more, he found a set of NOS unused .030″ oversize Hepolite pistons, rings, and pins on the internet for me. Go figure! It only cost me double what any decent set of racing pistons for a Chevy would cost.

“However, I noticed with the MGB shell conversion for the big end bearings (that was done 25 years ago also) that there is a small area near the cut out locking tabs where the bearings had worn down to the copper. I wondered if the then newly made locking cut-outs weren’t made deeply enough? My machinist suggested it might just be variability in the thickness of the shell bearings at the edges, but I wonder why it only occurred at the tabs? So he’s trying to look into that while he makes me some new small-end bushings. I have checked the piston bores in the block and the journals on the rod crankpins, and they seem to be right on the money without significant scoring. So, after honing the cylinders with the engine in the car, I hope to be able to assemble the short block soon with new rod bearings and my new pistons and rings. Then I’ll take a better look at the head to see if I need any valve work or not, and hope to soon have an A-1 running Riley RME 1 1/2 litre engine again. I do plan to remove the hot spot tubes in the head and block before I assemble it to avoid leakage. My car has the twin 1 1/4 SU carb factory setup so the hot spot doesn’t do anything anyway.

“I’m open to any words of wisdom or sage advice from any of you, so feel free to write /email. I’ll be thinking of you all at the meet. And, once again, I’m hoping to make it to next years meet. Keep me on your mailing list.”


For a better look at Ken, above, click on his image and it will enlarge. Likewise, for an enlarged view of any photo in this gallery, click on it and it will grow.

More from Ken Nelson, his engine and the history of midwest meets

More from Ken Nelson, his engine and the history of midwest meets

Regarding my engine rebuild, yes, please do include my email address in the newsletter (kenneth.nelson1@comcast.net). I welcome all comments and thoughts about the rebuild process. I have done about eight or nine engine rebuilds over the past 45 years, but spread out as they are it is often a “relearning” process. I have concluded, however, that these are sturdy cast iron engines which likely can stand their fair share of abuse or”‘lickin, and still come out tickin”. When I investigated my connecting rod conversion done in England (by I believe John Byron or one of the gurus there), it became very apparent the work was well done and functional, but hardly fine-tuned precision machining. Here are three pictures of one of the rod big ends after the Babbit bearings had been line bored out to accept MGB shells. The first is how the rod looked after shell conversion in England; the second picture is the rod cap with the shell after running 16,000 miles in my engine; the third picture is the same rod with a new replacement shell which seems to still fit well, and which I will be reinstalling in the engine. I don’t think this is the type of machining and parts we’d see in a Formula One race car, but it seems to work satisfactorily in a Riley 1 1/2 litre!

I did have the small end bushings redone at a machine shop in Grand Rapids, and here’s a picture of the rods and my honing of the cylinders prior to reassembly, which I hope to do soon. I also realize these bores aren’t perfect, but with unused NOS Hepolite .030″ oversize pistons, rings, and pins to install I think the engine will run adequately. As I mentioned earlier, I just did not want to embark on pulling the engine from the car and redoing cams and main bearings since all is well with them. I welcome all thoughts and suggestions.

Finally, I should also add a bit to the club’s history by relating that it was I, supported by Don Caldwell from Knoxville, who instigated and organized the yearly Midwest Riley meets which eventually ended up being held at Indianapolis for a number of years. I put on about 18 yearly meets before slowing down. I wasn’t quite as ambitious as you have been, however, and did not attempt a national meet. But I was able to get anywhere from about four to seven or so cars with a perhaps ten to twelve or so members together at various times by arranging a meet in association with another generic British Car show yearly. Originally this was arranged for Chicago with Don and I, and I held this also at Louisville, and Cincinnati, before settling on Indianapolis. I have a few stories about those meets, and I’ll see if I can dig some out to send you later if you wish. The most ambitious member then was Steve Tate who drove his drophead several thousand miles from Yakima, WA and back to attend one Indianapolis gathering. Sandy Turner was one of the Indianapolis members who owns his one-family drophead and was very enthusiastic and helpful in getting members to attend, along with Don Caldwell. Mike and Carol Long from Nashville, along with Carl Dorr from Frogmore (later renamed St. Helena), South Carolina were attendees from our southern states. Don Forrest had a beautifully restored red RMC he drove to our meet, along with another owner from Canton, Ohio, with an RMC transplanted with a Ford V8 power plant. Don Forrest’s car was sold and Carl Dorr’s car I believe ended up in Allan Campbell’s ownership. Don Caldwell bought a beautiful Riley Kestrel 6-light from Steve Tate, which he later sold to Mike Long after Don bought a beautiful 1935 PA Airline MG Coupe. Bob Grinsell from Michigan occasionally showed up and has restored at least 2 very nice RMs I’m told. So we have a bit of history for Riley’s in the Midwest, but most of the USA Rileys I’m sure ended up on the East or West coasts. Sandy Turner thought there might have been a Riley dealership somewhere in or around Indianapolis, but I have no knowledge of that. Perhaps someone else has details of where dealerships were located here, and how long they existed?

So now it’s off to the garage and some more skinned knuckles. Hope to meet you at least by next year!

Thanks, Ken. We had a similar experience at Indianapolis in 2008. Four fine Rileys in the field. Don Caldwell drove his RME to Indianapolis for the last time before selling it. Grinsell did one find RM and has long been at work on a Kestrel. Steve Tate later drove his roadster all the way from Yakima to Lime Rock and almost all the way home. There were many Nuffield dealerships in the Midwest. I met a man who worked for one while I was attending the meet I organized at Indianapolis.


For a better look at Ken’s engine block or any photo in the gallery below, click on it and it will enlarge.

This fall you could be in the picture

This fall you could be in the picture

Mickey Shemin and John Riley traveled in late June to select a base hotel and plan our Annual General Meeting, scheduled for the weekend of September 30-October 2. Attending club members arrive on Friday, September 30 and will gather for drinks in the patio and dinner in the Founders Room at our base hotel, The Middlebury Inn. Saturday we visit four of the five covered bridges of Addison County, breaking for lunch and tech session at the home and workshop in Weybridge of longtime member Eric Killorin, his wife Betsy, and their sons. Eric has a fine Riley RMB and a 1924 Duesenberg, both inherited from his father, Karl, an early club member. Saturday night we will conduct our Annual General Meeting and dine at the Basin Harbor Club in nearby Vergennes. Sunday we will stop off at the fifth and final covered bridge in the county on our way to the great barn at Shelburne Farms. At noon our cars will half surround the carousel that adjoins the circus building at the Shelburne Museum while we tour its world famous collection, and Sunday night conclude our three day meet with an awards dinner aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen while cruising Lake Champlain.

Four inns have reserved rooms for us. It would be best if members with Riley cars in attendance book the Middlebury Inn, as a majority of rooms held for us adjoin the parking lot. Owners would have immediate access to their cars from front doors of their rooms. The inns are:

The Middlebury Inn, 14 Court Square, Middlebury, VT 05753. (800) 842-4666. Erin O’Shaughnessy, senior sales & marketing manager.

The Inn on the Green, 71 South Pleasant Street, Middlebury, VT 05733 (888) 244-7512. Brenda Grove, innkeeper.

Middlebury Courtyard by Marriott, 309 Court Street, Middlebury, VT 05733. (800) 388-7775. Robin Vaughan, sales manager. Rooms remain available.

Waybury Inn, 457 East Main Street, East Middlebury, VT 05740. (802) 388-4015. Tracey Getty, Innkeeper. Farthest away, but the model for the inn in the last Newhart television series.

Last Minute Additions: As our event approaches, a majority of the inns listed above are booked, although we recommend you check them for last minute cancellations. Hurricane Irene forced cancellation of a lot of long-held reservations in Vermont. According to the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce, the following B & Bs may have rooms available. All have websites you can check for details. We have not negotiated any special rate with these late recommendations. They are:

Greystone Motel, Box 1395, Route 7 South, Middlebury, VT 05733, greystonemotel@comcast.net, (802) 388-4935.

Emilio Guest House, 394 East Main Street, East Middlebury, VT 05740, (802) 388-2156.

Clara Zeno House, 31 Court Street, Middlebury, VT 05733, (802) 759-2103, office, (802) 989-0008, cell, closest to Middlebury Inn.

Kane’s Suite, 28 High Street, Middlebury, VT 05753, (802) 388-1162, fmkane@myfairpoint.net, Maureen Kane, innkeeper.

Our weekend is near the peak of fall colors, so rooms at the above inns are in demand. If calling the top four inns in this story, don’t forget to mention that you are a member of The Riley Motor Club Of North America. Please book as soon as you can. After our dinner cruise Sunday night we have an hour’s return drive from Burnlington to Middlebury. Those leaving early Monday from Burlington might consider spending Sunday night in an inn or motel in that city.

Attendees at last autumn’s Riley Motor Club Of North America Annual General Meeting at Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Many have re-enlisted for this fall’s AGM at Middlebury Inn, Middlebury, Vermont. For a closer view of the group, click on the photo.

Older drophead owners keep on coming

Older drophead owners keep on coming

That’s Sandy Turner’s green drophead just over his shoulder. Sandy, kneeling, holds his hat in his hand. From his wheelchair, John Minatel, 96, smiles at the camera too. Earlier that day two weeks ago Sandy picked up John and took him to the Indiana British Car Union’s annual meet at Indianapolis, a tradition they share. Three years ago a few of us were with them when Riley was marque of the year. John had sold his drophead a few years earlier, shortly before he was widowed. Sandy banged his up a bit trailering it back to Indiana from our AGM meet last year at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. He hammered out the damage and finished with a bit of bondo. The car has been his since it was his father’s, purchased new in Oakland, California. Last year I had the honor of driving it from Boiling Springs to Gettysburg.

For years it was a midwest tradition for Riley owners to bring their cars to this Indianapolis meet. Don Caldwell came from Knoxville in his Kestrel or his RMA or his RME; the last Riley Don drove to Indy was in 2008, his yellow and black RME, but he’s sold all of them in recent years and kept only his MG Airline Special. Ken Nelson came from Grand Rapids in his 1954 RME; lately he’s had engine problems. John’s not as spry as he once was, as when he landed at Normandy for example, but he still appreciates a good look at a drophead, even one he knows as well as Sandy’s. The model and marque at this year’s meet, not held next to the raceway as in the past but at Lions Park north of the city, was the Jaguar XKE. More than a dozen were among the more than 150 cars shown.

At last year’s AGM Sandy was our first recipient of the Varlie Gordon-Bill Lewis Award for service to the club.

For a better look click on the photo.

Riley RMB (no longer) requires TLC in Lincoln, Nebraska

Riley RMB (no longer) requires TLC in Lincoln, Nebraska

For a long time there were three postwar Riley cars in Lincoln, Nebraska. Gus Peach’s RMF. Professor Ronald J. Bonstetter’s longtime meticulous RMB restoration project (at http://www.flatwater.org/images/gallery/bonn/riley/index.html). And the spiffy green and black 1951 RMB that since 1994 was the property of Professor (now emeritus) Roger Cognard of the English Department at Nebraska Weslyan, a Shakespearian scholar. It had been in Lincoln its entire running life. Samuel S. Simpson, III, owned it until his death in 1974, thereupon it passed to Samuel IV. At some point in the 70s subsequent owner Allen Greiss upgraded the steering wheel, replaced the vinyl hardtop, and added a set of cheesy fake ugly chromed exhaust manifolds. Dr. Cognard always meant to have them removed, but had not done so. The interior was in what British Riley fanciers prefer, perfect tattiness. Subsequent owers included a George Carpenter and the downtown jeweler Ted Thomas, who was a member of this club. Dr. Cognard was firm on price. Ten grand, no less.

This fine car was purchased by a British car enthusiast from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who planned to join our club. It will soon be transported from Dr. Cognard’s residence to that of its new owner.

Click on the photo and it will enlarge

By the time it got to Phoenix

By the time it got to Phoenix

This Riley RMB had New Mexico plates on it and it was for sale at a swap meet in Fremont, Nebraska. Its owner had wanted to install an American truck engine in it. Brian Goldsmith bought it, got it running, but decided he was in over his head and sold it to Ron Bonnstetter, then a professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Ron’s website detailing a meticulous restoration of the car is listed above, in the article about the proposed sale of Dr. Roger Cognard’s RM saloon. This year Ron took a buyout at Nebraska and he and Nicolette have relocated to Phoenix, where he has joined a family business. He continues as webmaster of his Lincoln car club. One can do that from out of town. Work on this car, with its proper Riley engine, continues. More later.

For a better view of Ron’s restoration, click on its image.