>From: "Baltimore Knife & Sword Co." <racecar@baltimoreknife.com>
>Reply-To: mgatwincam@yahoogroups.com
>To: <mgatwincam@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: Twin Cam - FW: Alloy Bodied Lea Francis Racer UPDATE and pictures.
>?Watkins Glen races?
>Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 23:27:25 -0400
>
>
>
> > Thanks to all at VIR who helped us along!!! Super event, super cars....
> >
> > Heres where we are now.
> >
> > This body was made for a Dr. Ryan by Joe Gertler of Raceway Garage,
> > Raceway Garage operated out of 2630 St Raymond Ave, Bronx NYC, USA from
> > 1938 -1973 (then in Long Island till 94'). Mr. Gertler lists the car as
>a
> > "Lea Francis we built for Dr. Ryan" on the back of his photos. Body has
>a
> > couple of Lea Francis style items that make it all seem right so
> > far.(headlight treatment,doors,flairs at the windscreen and such)
> >
> > Mr. Harry Newton has stated that "Doc Ryan was a neighbor of mine in
>those
> > years, he lived on Grant Avenue in Pelham Manor, NY. It could be said
>that
> > he lit the fire under my life-long addiction to sports cars. In 1949, he
> > owned an MG TC with a Lea Francis engine. He spent most of his spare
>time
> > working on the car in his driveway... little time driving it." and that
> > the car was purchased from Tommy Manville though it is not known if the
> > engine transplant was already done. Also that Dr. Ryan's MG TC (with
>the
> > LeaF engine) was driven in 55' or 56' by Oscar Kowaleski at the Brynfan
> > Tyddyn road races. Oscar refers to this car in the 1999 Fabulous
>Fifties
> > Xmas dinner at the Petersen Museum, Oscar Kowaleski was the guest
>speaker.
> > We know at some point this body was modified for a right hand sidepipe
>by
> > gas welding the aluminum and it appears to have been by the same hand as
> > the maker (Gertler). We assume this was for a V-8 as Dr. Ryan is listed
>as
> > a known 'hotrodder' and Gertler was know to take out the small and
>insert
> > Hemi Chyslers and the sort. Could explain where the TC's Lea Francis
> > engine came from!. Later on the body was crudely hacked and modified
>with
> > Galv. steel and electrical conduit to mod it for C/A class dragracing
> > where it ran under the name 'Rumplestilskin' in green metallic paint and
> > was hinged at the rear perhaps for a different chassis.
> > The Body appears to have been these colors- Off White, Pale blue and
>Green
> > Metallic. Arthur Iselin Jr. was listed to have driven a Lea Francis
>Type
> > Sport in light blue at Watkins Glen on Sept. 15th 1951(Seneca Cup) Any
> > pictures out there? I have a couple of LeaF pictures from WG of LeaF
>cars
> > but none that match the car #31 of Mr.Iselin. Also the Wakins Glen
> > pictures show a different style of wheel on the LeaF cars. I have
>matched
> > the wheels shown in the original pics from Gertlers to LeaF cars, and
> > early Morgans and Allard. (I assume more as well).
> > A Leaf Chassis and 2.5 liter engine/tranny was purchased in the last 20
>to
> > 30 years from a Gogomoblie dealer in the Nyack-westchester area of NY by
>a
> > Ed Wiliman which it is assumed he still owns. this was reported to me by
> > Wes Bergen of CT who had seen the chassis and attempted to buy it. If
> > anyone knows of a way to contact Mr Wiliman please let me know. I hear
>he
> > has had a special body made for the chassis in the last couple of years.
> > Mr Gertler Jr. has told me that John Fitch was known to his father and
>may
> > have been around the shop quite a bit( early supercharged Crosley
>maybe?).
> > Seems like every road I take leads to Mr.Fitch!. Can anyone put me in
> > touch? If not I plan to go to the Greenwich Concours and try to touch
> > base. Mr. Newton said that Mr. Fitch and he were Judges and best bet
> > would be to come up and meet them.
> > Here are the pics for those who havent seen them....
> > www.baltimoreknife.com/alloybody57.jpg
> > www.baltimoreknife.com/carweb/page6.html (follow links for more pics
>and
> > pics in paint(dragracer)
> > Any info or speculation is helpful!!! Hope to see you at Summit Point
> > next weekend!
> > thanks
> > kerry stagmer
> > Lea Francis Special
> > MGA T/C YD3-1173
> > 68' XK-E 1.5
> > Piles of other British stuff!!! (BIG piles)
> >
> >
> >
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