A pair of Riley RM 2.5s scrapping mid-field during a touring car race at the October 1955 Gnoo Blas meeting in New South Wales.
Sydneysider Keith Jones leads. I’ll take any pertinent information you have about the meeting folks…
Credits…
Peter Leyden for the Sydney Morning Herald, Mark Thomas
Finito…
The 2.5s were called “RM”. The “Pathfinder” came later.
Thanks Peter, Chaps,
I wouldn’t know a Riley if I tripped over one…
Mark
Rileys were beautiful cars. The RM had two versions, a four and a six. The name continued until the Riley Elf, a version of the 1100 series. As I recall, the RM 4 used twin camshadts in the block to actuate the valves. These were inclind so as to provide hemispherical head chambers.
Actually the 2 1/2 litre cars model description was for the early cars RMB and later cars, 1952(?) were upgraded and designated RMF. The almost identical 1 1/2 litre cars, with shorter wheelbase were designated RMA with the later (1954?) upgraded cars designated RME.
Graeme Pinkney
Re Rileys at Orange; brief comment on and results of the race attached as borrowed from AMS Nov1955. Report comprised three pages with all results and four photos I can send if youre interested . Cheers, Graham Edney
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PS; They’re not Pathfinders of course but RMs.
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In my copy of Chequered History – A History of Gnoo Blas Orange 1953 – 1961 by Denis Gregory.
Page 74 discusses the 5 lap scratch & handicap race which had a field of 22 starters. Jack Myers’ Holden had to give away 10 seconds to John Aldis’ Bristol 404 while Barry Gurdon had his fingers crossed that the chain drive on his Austin A50’s supercharger would hold together. Myers’ Holden was in the lead from the start and held out the Aldis’ Bristol and Dick Shaw’s Holden for a solid win. Gurdon won the handicap section in his A50 from Frank Dent in an A30 with the A55 of Aldis third. Myers and Aldis were both clocked at 108.4 mph through the flying quarter mile while Myers winning time was 14 minutes 56 seconds which was a race average of 77 mph.
Pages 76 and 77 informs us that in the 14 lap Gnoo Blas Championship for Sedan Cars. Jack Myerstook the lead from the start and went further ahead with each lap. John Aldis pushed his Bristol and went through the flying quarter mile at 109 mph on one lap but couldn’t catch Myers and ultimately finished second. Dick Shaw once again finished third.
Laker and Passmore thrilled the crowd in their Mk1 Zephyrs racing nose to tail for 12 laps. On the second last lap Passmore slipstreamed past Laker who overdid things and hit the “safety” fence at Mutton’s allowing Laker to beat him home.
Barry Gurdon from Bathurst boiled his A50 and caused the engine to seize.
Now for the news you’ve been waiting for.
The two Riley’s of Jones and Hetherington both blew up.
AND NOW BACK TO THE RACE
Frank Dent won the handicap section in his A30 from John Shroeder’s Renault followed by the Aldis Bristol.
For lap after lap Dent had been on the tail of Orange driver Doug Weily in his bigger Sunbeam Talbot but cheekily got past just before Weily spun on Windsock and caused two flag marshals to jump the “safety” fence as the Sunbeam headed straight for them.
Myers’ winning time was 41 minutes 31 seconds with a race average speed identical to that of the earlier five lapper (77 mph). On one lap he was timed at just under 80 mph.
On page 78 there’s a photo of the Doug Weily Sunbeam Talbot #55.
Thanks Wayne,
Most comprehensive reader response ever!
Mark