1931 Riley Nine Brooklands
- Engine
- Riley Works racing inline configuration, same specification as Irish Grand Prix entries of 1930-1931
A Riley Nine racing chassis (no. 8046), built to the lightweight aluminium-bodied Brooklands specification and developed at Thompson and Taylor to the brief of Parry Thomas and Reid Railton, this car was equipped with a Works racing engine of Irish Grand Prix specification. Sold new to British racing driver Whitney Straight in 1931, it passed through several documented owners including Denis Jenkinson, who raced and modified it in the 1940s. Extensively researched and restored to its Straight-era configuration by a later owner, it has competed at the Le Mans Classic, Le Mans Legend, and the 2009 Monterey Historics.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$240,800
- 1931 →Acquisition unknownWhitney Straightpartial documentation
Well-known British racing driver who campaigned the car at Brooklands and Shelsley Walsh; his personal logo was still visible on the scuttle when the car changed hands years later.
- → 1938Acquisition unknownGuy Griffithspartial documentation
London-based dealer who sold the car to the next recorded owner in 1938, reportedly in unchanged condition from the Straight era.
- 1938 →Private saleDiana Carpenterpartial documentation
Purchased from London dealer Guy Griffiths; a letter from her acquaintance Julian E. Fall confirms the car was unaltered from its Straight configuration at the time of acquisition.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryThompson and Taylorpartial documentation
Chassis developed at the request of the Riley factory for Brooklands competition, incorporating engineering work by Parry Thomas and Reid Railton before being returned to the Riley Works for final assembly.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBrian Steadmanpartial documentation
Had the car driven in competition during the 1940s by Denis Jenkinson, who also made structural modifications including boxing and drilling the chassis and fitting new fenders.
- Date unknownPrivate saleEric Davidge-Pittspartial documentation
Acquired the car from Steadman; subsequent ownership through 1965 is recorded in a UK registration document.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownGreg Johnsonfull documentation
Conducted a three-year restoration to return the car to its original Straight-era specification, including reversing Jenkinson's chassis modifications and having the bodywork recreated by Wilkinson's. Holds an FIA Passport in his name and accumulated three pallets of spare parts.
Competition
- 20092009 Monterey Historics
Entered at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the historic racing weekend.
- —BrooklandsDriver: Whitney Straight
Car was entered at multiple Brooklands meetings during Straight's ownership in the early 1930s.
- —Shelsley WalshDriver: Whitney Straight
Competed at Shelsley Walsh hillclimb during the same period of Straight's ownership.
- —Unspecified 1940s competition eventsDriver: Denis Jenkinson
Jenkinson drove the car in competition for owner Brian Steadman; he described his experiences in a July 1943 Autocar article.
- —Le Mans Classic
Participated post-restoration under Greg Johnson's ownership.
- —Le Mans Legend
Also attended this event alongside the Le Mans Classic appearance.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
Denis Jenkinson modified the chassis by boxing and drilling it for reduced weight, and fitted new front fenders; the central body tub was left in place.
Work carried out during Jenkinson's time with the car in the 1940s while competing for owner Brian Steadman.
- —RestorationWilkinson's
Following three years of research, the car was returned to its original Straight-era specification: the chassis was de-boxed and its drilled holes filled, the original tail section and period-replacement engine and gearbox were retained, and the remaining bodywork was recreated to the original design. Smiths water temperature and oil pressure gauges were added to the dashboard.
Restoration commissioned by Greg Johnson; bodywork reconstruction carried out by the British coachbuilding firm Wilkinson's.
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