Austin-Healey Enthusiasts Rallying at Kah-Nee-Ta

2 July 1998

Austin-Healey Enthusiasts Rallying at Kah-Nee-Ta

    WARM SPRINGS, Ore.--July 1, 1998--Nearly 100 classic British sports cars will be rallying at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, July 13-17.
    Owners of Austin-Healeys, Austin-Healey Sprites and Jensen-Healeys from several US states and Canada are gathering for the annual West Coast Meet, hosted by the Austin-Healey Club of Oregon.
    This year's meet honors the 100th year since the birth of Donald Healey, the marque's creator. Healey died in 1988. Three members of the Healey family, including Donald's son John, will be special guests at the meet.
    Among the meet's activities are concours judging, popular choice show, and a car rallye. The public is welcome to look at the cars. The best time for viewing will be 4-7 pm on Tuesday, July 14 during the popular choice show.
    Following the meet, about 30 Austin-Healeys will be driven to the Geoffrey Healey Memorial in southern Oregon. Geoffrey, one of Donald's sons, was chief engineer for Healey Motor Company. The memorial in Schroeder Park near Grants Pass was funded by the Austin-Healey clubs and individual donations after Geoffrey's death in 1994. A noon-time barbecue is scheduled at the memorial for Saturday, July 18.
    The most popular Healey cars were the Austin Healey 100, 100-6 and 3000 models of which more than 51,000 were manufactured from 1952 through 1967. Austin-Healeys enjoyed great success in sports car racing. A stock 1953 Austin-Healey won all US stock car records from one to 24 hours at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, averaging 104 miles per hour over 24 hours.
    Austin-Healey Clubs in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia take turns hosting the annual West Coast Meet. The last time the meet was held in Oregon was 1989.