Ken Miles Car Salesman remembrance...

[JD]

Near me is an Island in Lake Erie, South Bass Island, that is were Admiral Perry defeated the British in 1812.  In the 50's they ran small-bore car races in the streets. They now hold vintage car races at the airport, a buddy of mine raced there this past week and did well.

At any rate, there is a book out on the races held in the '50's and in it an interview of a "reporter" that drove from California to Ohio to cover the races one year - yes really!  And he bought the car (a Nardi Fiat 600 - again really!) from a salesman at North Hollywood Motors - KEN MILES!  Here is the portion regarding the "test drive" given by Miles...

I'm sure none of you will be surprised ;-)

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I wonder if they meant Von Neuman's Competition Motors in NoHo. It was the sports car go to place in the 50/60s

the Ken Miles-driven, John Von Neumann-owned Porsche-Cooper was the most successful Cooper on the U.S. West Coast. Even though its career was short, Miles achieved the ultimate grand slam. He won both an under-1,500-cc and over-1,500-cc main event in one day.

https://www.paulrwilliamsproject.org/gallery/1960s-retail/

https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=2868

[557]

FYI It’s Angeles(not Angels) Crest Highway ….Super fun road to drive a Shelby on…

[honker]

JD, another great thread on little know facts !

This is from the Art Evans "Ken Miles" book.

Mike

also from the Evan's book, MotoRacing Dec. 30th. 1955

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Cal Club magazine 1956  https://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/SC/1956.11.pdf

https://calisphere.org/item/583f19aeaacf5330572cfab50713359f/

CS MG ride
https://books.google.com/books?id=pLvdrvxsaXwC&pg=PA215&lpg=PA215&dq=clem+atwater+sports+cars&source=bl&ots=67SdogANUj&sig=ACfU3U3kQnJFosCfW2RuibPUfHWV2golbg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihy-nXuJ_zAhVLqp4KHVseAQwQ6AF6BAgZEAM#v=onepage&q=clem%20atwater%20sports%20cars&f=false

good article page 57
https://books.google.com/books?id=VZ2fDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA189&lpg=PA189&dq=clem+atwater+sports+cars&source=bl&ots=cJG96obG8s&sig=ACfU3U1pw4QMMYUD2XRRMBhhpNAzmosbSQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihy-nXuJ_zAhVLqp4KHVseAQwQ6AF6BAgYEAM#v=onepage&q=clem%20atwater%20sports%20cars&f=true