Hot-Rod history

Sir,

I was delighted to read From Our Archives in the July issue, featuring my late father’s hot-rod. Following a drive across America in a Brooklands Riley, he worked at International Motors of Los Angeles (the specialist European car dealer in Southern California) where he became actively involved in the local hot-rod scene, achieving successes in various events, both sprinting and hill-climbing. He had a speeding ticket from a judge with a sense of humour: “Any speed of 80mph for anything except an airplane is $50!”

Returning to England, he was urged by his American friends to take MOTOR SPORT’s WB for a run to show the potential of the latest Californian hot-rods hence the article. He drove the car in events until the early ’60s, when it was laid up, being far from the ideal family runabout.

You may be interested to know that the car proudly remains in the family, and I enclose a picture of the car taken recently.

I am yours etc,

Stephen Payne, Old Portsmouth, Hants