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Re: Re[2]: Black Tiger

To: nicholsj@oakwood.org
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Black Tiger
From: Tom Hehman <thehman@leo.vsla.edu>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 97 12:58:11 EDT
Dear Andy,

> Boy, all this talk about Black Tigers brings back a flood of memories. 
> Does anyone out there remember a series of books written in the mid to late 
> '50's to early '60's by a fellow named Patrick O'Connor called the "Black 
> Tiger" series?  I am 36 years old and when I was in junior high, I was 
> already sports car crazy.  I found a copy of a book in the school library 
> called "The Black Tiger at LeMans," published in 1958.  Believe it or not, 
> that one book started me on a journey into classic sports cars and racing 
> that I am still on today!  

I don't remember this series of books but I'm not surprised
thata book or two could change your life!

>      
> The summer after I graduated from high school in 1978, I became bitten by 
> the "snake" or Cobra.  Having figured out rather quickly that Cobras were 
> already out of my price range, I got discouraged.  

I had a similar experience when they were new - as a freshman
in college I shared a parking lot with a brand new, dark blue,
skinny whitewall, wire wheel 289 that I will never forget.  I
also remember a Shell Oil ad in Life magazine from 1964 showing
a guy and his girl tooling down the highway in a burgundy
Cobra, wearing ear-to-ear grins. 

I was well aware of Tigers, since I saved the original Road &
Track issues with road tests of the MkI and Mk II Tigers.

I kept the Tiger flame alive by seeing a black Tiger in totally
original and well-cared for condition in the small Virginia
town where I lived from 1990-93.

When I moved in 1993 I found myself about an hour away from
Chris Williams, of B&C Auto Restoration, a Tiger and Mustang
sepcialist.  One thing led to another and now I own a Carnival
Red Mark I that is my nice weather commuter and weekend car.

My wife and I now blast along the twisty back roads of Bedford
County with our own grins firmly in place.  I guess the Cobra
still is an ultimate car, but with all the replicas running
around I think the Tiger is more exclusive.  I don't envy any
other car owner at this point.

Dreams really can come true. 

Will someone pick up the ball and run with it now?
>      
> By the way, in case anyone is interested, the books that I mentioned 
> previously are a series of five books entitled, "The Black Tiger," "The 
> Mexican Road Race," "The Black Tiger at LeMans," "The Black Tiger at 
> Bonneville," and "The Black Tiger at Indianapolis."  The only one I don't 
> have is "The Black Tiger at Bonneville" so if anyone has a copy they would 
> like to get rid of to help me complete my set, I would be most grateful. 
> They are really kids books but the way the stories are told is very real. 
> As a matter of fact, in the hard bound version of "The Black Tiger at 
> LeMans," the author, Patrick O'Connor, gives credit to his good friend "Ken 
> Miles" for helping with the authenticity of the story.

Have you tried "Amazon.com"?  It is a hugh online book store
for new and old titles.  Good luck!

Tom
>      
> Happy reading,
> Andy Walker
> B382001600
> 
> 


-- 
Tom Hehman, Director                            540-586-8744
Bedford Public Library System                   540-586-8875(FAX)
321 N. Bridge St.                               thehman@leo.vsla.edu
Bedford, Virginia 24523                     

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