Web Forum for Singer Cars

Every now and then a new pic floats in. This one is in colour, sent to me by Earl Gandel manager of the Bridgehampton raceway at the time. It's at Bridgehampton of course, 1953, the race for the Sagaponack cup. A beautiful Osca sits beside Bill Vaughan's Singer Special

About three weeks ago, I spoke with Bill Kerrigan. Bill was a sort of free lance racer who seemed to run just about anything he could get his hands on in the early Fifties, rubbing shoulders with some of the best. He is quite proud of the fact that he beat John Von Neuman, noted Porsche driver and dealer, with an MG-TC he had bored out to 1500cc. He remains best of friends and maintains contact with Bill Pollack, noted Allard racer, Pebble Beach fixture and author of Red Wheels and White Sidewalls.

Bill drove the first SM 1500 to make a U.S. track appearance on October 21st, 1951 at Reno Nevada, winning the 1500 cc Stock Event, over a field of twelve entries, beating 3 MG TC’s and 8 MG TD’s at the First Annual Reno Road Race. The car was a loaner from Monroe Gretske, General Manager of Vaughan Singer Motors in Hollywood. Al Moss (Moss Motors) tells me that Gretske was so excited at the win that he ran out in the middle of the track to congratulate Kerrigan and was nearly hit by one of the remaining competitors.

Bill unfortunately suffered a mild stroke last week at his home in Florida.. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.

For those interested in the Post War racing scene, Tam McPartland has put up a number of photos from my collection (Singer and non Singer) at http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/PMK001Homepage.html, with reference to NASOC

FYI - this article appears in the January 09 issue of Classic and Sports Car. The car is still for sale for anyone who wants a true piece of Singer racing history.

Ralph sends this additional picture of his old racing roadster still waiting for a new home.

Chino is not a particularly familiar name in race venues, but I think it represents what road racing was all about in the early Fifties in California. Anybody was allowed to race anything. Anything from a Crosley to a Duesenberg could compete and the field was over-crowded with MG’s. Spectators had a ring side seat. Pre war owner friend Mike Jacobsen told me he recalls being at the race with his Dad sitting track side on a picnic blanket.

The Chino race was run on access roads at the Chino Airport and was intended to be the kick-off event for Sports Car Motor Week and was strictly a one-off affair. Many familiar names were evident including Ken Miles, George Barris, Chuck Manning, Bill Stroppe and many more. Singer had a number of entries including Dick Kraft, Jack Milne, Dick van Laanen, Maxine Elmer, Lammy Lamoreaux, Norm Beery and Bob McDannold.

Honk Magazine dubbed the race “the Nation’s Fastest Hayride” due to the number of mishaps that caused hay bales to be strewn all over the track. Singer wasn’t immune to the mayhem as illustrated by the photo below. The driver was either Jack Mile, Bob McDannold or Dick Kraft. I’m still trying to confirm which one, but I'm inclined to guess it was McDannold. (Now confirmed as Jack Milne)

I don't recall if this article was ever posted. Interesting back story by Mark Brinker, noted sports car historian, on Geoff Hacker's ex Ralph Bush Singer racer