Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) 1934Riley Lynx

Yesterday I had the privelege to take this beautiful old girl for a trip out to stretch her legs after an engine rebuild (4 cylinder 1100cc)





She's a 1934 Riley Lynx 4 door saloon.

I've been asked by the owner to accompany him down to Bicester for the 69th Riley Register International Coventry Rally in June
The owner is a little unsteady on his legs (needs two sticks to walk) so I'll be chauffeur / cleaner / general dogsbody whilst he catches up with his fellow Riley owners.

I've talked him into trailering it down to Bicester as its a bit of a trek from here in Lancashire

It was an "interesting"drive for me, never having driven any pre-war car and especially having a pre-selector gearbox with what amounts to an "automatic" clutch.
The old girl ran sweetly (and so quietly), she really was a pleasure to drive

What a privilege indeed to drive such a wonderful machine, Rileys of that era were ever a favourite of mine... Hope your Bicester trips planning goes well....

One lucky boy - what a thing of beauty in the right colour too for me.

I am a bit pissed off though as it has an extra tread rubber each side compared to my Indigo

I learnt to drive " on" a Seven with the body removed on the main (relative term) runway at Seething airfield.

I would have been probably eight and the engineers and wonderful owners of the planes that the group had, realised very quickly that being of enquiring mind I needed something to have fun in and enjoy petrol burning, I was blissfully of this plan until they took me along to this totally stripped of bare chassis with all the running gear functioning and the seat under the steering wheel so I could reach the pedals. Jimmy Hoseason (google him) was the sponsor of this and sat on a lump of wood beside me and taught me how to drive this bit of total joy, these men were very special with their kindness.

Three speed crash box as I recall it, so quite a bit for Uncle Jimmy to teach me, he was the most patient and kindest man. The back story to this is that a Wren caught him after demob from Coltishall in the Samson and Hercules ballroom in Norwich, she gave birth to me and pissed of when I was 18 months and my sister was a year older leaving us in the Bus Station in Norwich unannounced with what we were wearing at the bus stop area she knew my father would be within 10 minutes us fled the scene and was last heard of heading for London. An auspicious start but Father coped with the help of some solid friend who were at the Flying Groups he taught at., so these lovely people realised Father would need some help with me if he could carry on instructing and of course they were all lovely human beings that cared and I owe them a lot. (Sorry about that not what you want to hear on a Sunday morning) I always the last 10 minute flight with Father in the Tiger with cushions to fill me out so the harness secured me enough for him to give me a few aerobatics, nobody at school believed me but my knowledge was sufficient to tide over till the next Sunday.

Father was the unpaid CFI here, Little Snoring and I think it was Felthorpe although I have no recollection of going there.

Before in Poland, and during the war in clipped VI's and IX's in action and his speciality was stripped out Spits during Photo Recon (as did others) behind perceived enemy lines, a lot of this was based out of Treviso (near Gambalunga & Alis) as the German withdrawal from Europe was underway. His whole life was spent enjoying flying anything at all, a bit like us on here and our Morgan's it an obsession - well those that have stayed the distance on here and appreciate what Simon does

In his Log Book he would be flying a couple of sorties with his mates in 303 Squadron (Polish) equipped with rockets plus standard fit Canon and machine guns the brief being to hit anything military that was running away, trains being a favourite the boiler causing a spectacular show and loss of life.... The afternoon sortie was PR to assess what needed to be done next day from the air and on the ground.

A feast on every trip for these boys that had suffered such pain at the hands of Hitler and his supporters so revenge was a deadly result for the trains and armoured columns on the move they enjoyed this so much and he has an entry in his log book rejoicing that I'm more than happy to send anyone by PM but it would be highly inappropriate to put on here with our lovely German contributors that I hope don't find rude so far.

Sax that is a fantastic experience and I had no intention of dropping my guts on here but sometimes it catches you unawares - off for a shower now but I'll piss on the image of my birth mother in the toilet first - me cynical

Anyway getting back to the Riley stunning car and colour .Enjoy the ride and making an owner happy

This is pretty much the car I have sold my 4/4 to buy, although that looks like a 9hp and I prefer the 12/4. Preselector no issue for me, my Daimler has the same system with a fluid flywheel, it's lovely to drive. Riley made very high quality cars, and they look good as well.

My mother, probably about 18 years old at the time, went out with a Polish pilot a few times in London towards the end of the war.

I will post something regarding the end of the war in Italy in another thread.

Ian
How lucky are you. And that looks a cracking man cave/garage!

Ian, thanks for sharing, she looks lovely

Nice car and lovely color

Stefan

What a wonderful car! I always liked the pre-war Rileys exceptionally well. The Riley Imp in particular is one of my dream cars, unfortunately unattainable.

https://ashridgeautomobiles.co.uk/sales/1934-riley-imp-2/