Topic: AL100 Riley Pathfinder from BMC Montlhéry speed runs

[Allan L]

I don't think this has been offered before, and it's pretty easy for most experts/pros. but let's see what our current quite knowlegeable Rookies make of it.
For a point make, model and approximate year.
For another point can you tell us what this example was used for (apart from as a road car that is)?

[Lorenzo721]

Riley Pathfinder, c.1955?

[Allan L]

That's what it is, so a point for you, Lorenzo721.
Now for the second question which will be a longer process, I'm sure

[Lorenzo721]

This particular Pathfinder has a racing history.

I do not have thorough details but it has been part of the works Riley rally team during the second half of the Fifties. Lyndon Sims drove it during the 1956 Monte Carlo rally, in particular. It has been raced on tracks, too: it has been driven at least by Bert Rogers during the 1955 Daily Express International Trophy, which has probably taken place at some point before this picture has been taken because it hasn't lost yet its chromed trim around the position lights.

[Allan L]

That's a pretty good summary of part of the car's history - strangely another competitor in that International Trophy race whose earlier Riley did make it to the finish was the longer-term owner/driver whose name I was looking for. Here's Bert Rogers before the engine broke!

As you say the first photo was taken later - in 1962 when I owned the car.
I was also looking for a previous bit of history and here's a (huge) clue!

[tobytwirl]

is the clue the radiator emblem?

[Allan L]

is the clue the radiator emblem?

Not if the mascot is what I think it is!

[Allan L]

I seem to have forgotten this one so I'll move it up for Expert attention.
There's still a point on offer if you can tell me what that photo with a group of people was about, or if you can name a well-known (at the time) driver who raced it.

[Bill Murray]

Hi Allan:

This one has been sitting for a while.

I think I can fill in all the blanks but the most important one perhaps.

1955 Riley Pathfinder driven by Bob Porter with passengers R. Jeffs, Ms. M porter, and Ms S Porter at Montlhery race track (SP?)
France that covered 103.3 miles in one hour.

I have looked everywhere I could think of and could not find an exact date although you have mentioned a possible time span.

Best I can do.

Bill

[Allan L]

Yes Bill, that's what I was looking for so there's a point for you.
BMC took a selection of its faster cars, tuned to varying degrees, to Montlhéry in 1955 with the aim of putting more than 100 miles into an hour's running. As you say the Riley Pathfinder did its hour four-up but so far as I know the others carried their drivers only - but the extra passenger weight makes little difference on a track like Montlhéry apart from initial acceleration.
Bill Boddy's book on Montlhéry tells us:
Riley Pathfinder (Bob Porter) 108.03 mph
Austin-Healey 100 (Ron Flockhart) 104.32 mph
MGA (Stage II tune) (John Gott) 112.36 mph
Austin A90 Westminster (John Gott) 101.99
MGA (Ken Wharton) 102.54 mph
Wolseley 6/90 (John Gott) 101.20 mph.

Oh and the car's owner/driver in UK saloon car racing was Harold Grace who had previously raced an RM series Riley and subsequently a Riley 1.5.

[Bill Murray]

Thank You for the opportunity and the point, Allan.

May I ask,though if the speed is 108.3 or 103.3 which was quoted several times.  Typo??

Bill

[Allan L]

May I ask,though if the speed is 108.3 or 103.3 which was quoted several times.  Typo??

My memory isn't what it was but  I think that when I bought the car (in 1962) I was told something that was neither of those!
I looked in Bill Boddy's Montlhéry book as it was easiest to find and I'll try to find something about it in Motor Sport tomorrow (it's a bit late here now!).

As I said, I've looked at Motor Sport of December 1955 in which Bill Boddy had a long article on "100 in the hour" in which the Bod was a bit critical about the level of tuning that BMC used. He lists a lot of 100 in the hour speeds as well as the BMC set and the Riley is stated as 108.03 (and the others also are as per my post above).