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1820 Settlers' Handicap at Grand Central in
April 1957. This event followed two weeks
after he first defeated the Coopers at Eerste
Rivier.
Bill was absolutely determined to dispel any
rumours of handicap favouritism. He drove
an inspired race - probably his best - and won
both on handicap and scratch, setting the
fastest lap at 2m 11s, versus the best Cooper-
Climax at 2m 13s and the Jaguar's 2m 17s!
Louth, who finished second on handicap
and third on scratch, told Bill after the race,
"You should come over to England with your
car; you'd thrash them all... "
During the Seventh van Riebeeck Trophy at
Eerste Rivier in 1955, when the two Ferraris
625s competed [Peter Whitehead and Tony
Gaze], Jennings was timed through one of
the bends at 17.0 seconds, the Reed-Citroen
Spl next best at 17.5 and the Tony Gaze
Ferrari at 18.0 seconds.
Far from enjoying walkovers, Jennings
recalled some of his toughest races.
At Gunners Circle Boyden's Scuderia Lupini
Cooper-Bristol was faster. and he really had
to go hard. "This was the only time I really took a big risk," when he overtook Boyden and
the fast Rod Turner Austin-Healey at once on the outside of the 160km/h Fire Station Curve
to ensure the win.
A terrific dice with Stan Reed's Citroen Spl at Eerste Rivier was also memorable. Tex
Kingon and the ex-Nuvolari Maserati were also fast at Gunners Circle. Of his rivals Bill
reckoned, "Some of the better drivers were Frank Brodie, Don Philp, Ian Fraser-Jones and
Hilton Gray; while not quite as good, but on a par with each other, were Harry Peirce and
Les Miller." By 1957 there was no local car to come near the Jennings-Riley, and after
dominating the season, Bill decided to retire and sold the car to John Love.
Love was thrilled with the Jennings-Riley Special, "It was the first car in which I could
actually race." His previous mounts had been unreliable, but John campaigned the Riley
Special successfully during 1958, although the car was up against newer, larger-engined
Coopers and the Fraser-Jones Porsche Spyder. Love eventually sold the Special and went to
England to buy a Jaguar D-Type.
Jennings competed in 29 major races, gaining 5 handicap and 14 scratch wins with 5 fastest
laps and just two retirements for a phenomenal 93% finishing record. Love raced 16 times,
with 1 handicap and two scratch wins, recording just three retirements.
The Jennings-Riley Special must surely be South Africa's best of the breed. 1t was certainly
the most successful. Balanced handling, supple suspension, low centre of gravity, a strong
engine, good aerodynamics, superb preparation and reliability, and an outstanding designer-
driver-developer made the package.
Pat O'Brien
The engine, showing that four-branch exhaust