Mike Hawthorn’s 1934 Riley Ulster Imp

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With numerous high-speed cars at his disposal, a talent for driving them and a devil-may-care persona, Mike Hawthorn was well set-up to get the most out of his short life. He was lucky to have a supportive father in Leslie Hawthorn, whose 21st birthday gift to Mike of a 1934 Riley Ulster Imp really kick-started the Hawthorn legend.

With assorted lightweight magnesium-alloy components, enlarged inlet valves, twin SU carburetters and an 8.25 to one compression ratio, competition acclaim was the Ulster Imp’s due right from the beginning, but one in particular would achieve its own renown.

KV 9475 began an eventful life with an admirable entry in the 1934 Le Mans. Rileys finished second, third, fifth, sixth and 13th that year, with this particular car placing 12th after spinning and working its way up from 44th. It subsequently passed through a series of privateers before entering the hands of Hawthorn Sr in 1949.

Mike received the Imp in the October of that year and, with his father’s encouragement and tuition, entered one of his first competitions in the car at the 1950 Brighton Speed Trials. Speed trials led to circuit racing and, by 1952, the Riley was for sale as Hawthorn was moving onwards and upwards in motor racing.

The rest, of course, is history but it was this Riley that was responsible, above all else, for one of the most charismatic careers in motor sport. Mick Walsh relates its story in the December issue of The Automobile – copies are still available from the website.

Words by Zack Stiling

Photographs by Hamish Gunn

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