Greg, Pete Lovely is still around and was racing his Ferrari TR for several
years until he sold it several years ago. He also used to bring his Lotus
formula car to the race track loaded on the back of a VW transporter. It was
a kick to watch him load it on the flatbed VW, he would jack up the front of
the VW and had long ramps and pull the Louts up on it. The VW had
extensions on the back a couple of feet long to hold the car.
Carlos is still running the Alfa shop with Leno. They seem to be doing okay
though I haven't stopped in their lately. I usually see him around at the
machine shop. Great that you know these guys and I think its great we have
them here in Tacoma.
Charly Mitchel
TR6 #44
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg "Lunker" Hilyer" <Lunkercars@earthlink.net>
To: "fot Triumph" <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:15 PM
Subject: [Fot] Pete Lovely's Pooper
> On Mar 13, 2010, at 8:43 AM, Bill Babcock wrote:
>> a red one built by Pete Lovely and currently owned by Denny Akers
>
> WOW!! I used to sell Pete Lovely cars from the auto auction for his VW
> dealership in Ballard Wa. [I think. .. Ballard... an area of north
> Seattle]. Remember seeing a retired Porsche powered racer in the back
> shop area. Never knew what it was until today. Definitely the Pooper. I
> have to assume Denny Akers is of Akers Auto Acres also from the Seattle
> area. Used to sell him cars too - from the salvage pool.
> As much as I've thought I knew about racing in those years, I missed out
> on some gems. Peter Gregg, Hurley Haywood, Mark Donahue, Peter Revson,
> et.al.,... those were the guys I had my teenage eyes on. But missed a lot
> I could have learned in that time. Pete Lovely was a VW dealer/customer.
> Same for Monte Shelton. But he had everything from Lincoln/Mercury to
> Ferrari and Aston - Best story I can think of from him is a friend who
> bought his wife a new RR Corniche convert from Monty's guys. Deal was
> Monty Shelton Motorcars would install a hitch [to tow a Ventnor V12
> speedboat] and they would honor the warranty. [If anyone wants a short
> dissertation on the early version of the RR TH400 trans. fiasco, let me
> know].
> Anyway, both Pete Lovely and Monte Shelton were customers . Actually
> great, - no b.s. - easy customers. Though I do remember Pete's very
> Swedish sense of humor - He had a great ludafisk joke. Point is, I knew
> both of these guys on a first name basis in the late '70's/early '80's
> and knew nothing about who they were in any racing context. ,
> Not certain but I think Pete is many years gone but Monty might still be
> around. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm sure neither would remember
> me, but I sure remember them - regardless of who they "were".
> Also brings back memories of Carlos from Alfa of Tacoma - former Ferrari
> F1 mechanic. Anyone know if he's still around? That saint put up with me
> poking around his shop as a bored teenager and managed to teach me a bit
> in the process.
>
> Sure does explain that little red Sports Racer though. Now that I think
> about it, I'm pretty sure I have pics of it at SIR maybe as far back as
> '69.
>
> Greg "Lunker" Hilyer
> TR4 #314
> Albuquerque NM
>
>
> P.S. Tomorrow is Pi Day - 3/14
> 3.14 --- Pi, my Plum Pi's namesake number and Albert Einstein's birthday.
>
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