Freddie Dixon's Riley Specials.

as Old as the Industry, as modern as the Hour
Full History of Freddie Dixon's Riley Specials. | Specifications. | Freddie Dixon. | Competition Successes

Brief History of Freddie Dixon & his Cars

Freddie Dixon started racing cars at the age of 38, after a long and succesful career on Motorbikes. He started with a tuned Riley Brooklands, but soon progressed to 6-cylinder cars that he had built himself. He had many successes, and some failures!
Out of the 3 cars that he started with, 2 are still running, the 3rd was scrapped by Dixon after a horrific crash in 1934. The 2 remaining cars are still raced, and often seen attending events around the country.

Dixons most notable rally successes were: Winning the Brooklands 500-mile race in 1934 & 36; coming 2nd at 3 seperate events in 1935; and many high places on the Isle of Man race, amongst many others.
He was so succesful that he normally led the official Riley Works teams, even in 1933 when they were running 6-cylinder cars against his 4-cylinder Brooklands!

Image Library of Dixon's Cars

Click images for larger view (if available)

Dixons Riley Brooklands

This was the first Car that Dixon used, in the 1932/3 seasons.

Dixons Brooklands

Front view.

Dixons Brooklands

Another view.

1934 Mannin Beg.

Dixon following Hon. Brian Lewis (Alfa Romeo) at the Onchan Hairpin

1934 Mannin Beg.

Dixon at Bray Corner, approaching from Stoney Hill too fast. He skidded his car completely round, and is seen pointing up the stoney

1934 Mannin Beg.

Map of the race

1934 Mannin Beg.

Headline

1934 Mannin Beg.

Dixon's Car

Brooklands 500-mile

Dixon at the race in his Red Mongrel in 1934.

Dixon racing.

in the 1936 International Trophy.

One of the 2 remaining 6-cylinder specials

The other remaining 6-cylinder special

Gillies Racing

his Dixon Riley at Donnington in 1989.

Gillies Racing Again

Julian Majzub

racing his Dixon Riley.

The Cockpit

of one of Dixons Cars, showing the special Steering wheel he used.

The Wheel

showing Dixon's own cable Actuation modification on the brakes.

The Engine

in 1934.

This info is based on an article in Supercar Classics, Feb. 1989, by the Gillies family, and other information, mainly from Mark Ballard.
Photos from Mark Ballard and Alan Dixon.