Larry Reed was a Rootes Dealership on the West Coast during the 50's and 60's. Larry was very active in the competition areana and sponsored many successful drivers. In California Sports Car* Larry was highlighted in the, "Meet your Sports Car Dealer" feature of the magazine:

 

"This month's sports car dealer is Larry Reed, President of Larry Reed Sports Cars. This fine company is one of the oldest established dealers in Southern California. Larry opened his original location at Centinela and La Cinenega Blvd. in Westchester in 1953. He was the first dealer to carry the complete Rootes line of cars. He expanded to a second location at Hawthorne at 190th Street in Torance.

In 1950 Larry started his career with sports car racing an MG in the Palm Springs Road Races, finishing first in class. He raced until 1954 when he retired. From that point he started sponsoring cars; the first one being a TR-2 driven by Wally Kekeiffer (you pronounce it... we can't) and more recently his green #50 Sunbeam Alpine driven by Ken Miles. This car has had tremendous success in every race it was in and probably the most outstanding cars in its class in the United States. At the recent Los Angeles Times Grand Prix race in Octorber Larry sponsored the Jack Brabham Sunbeam Alpine as well as Ken Miles.

From a personal aspect Larry met his wife in the most probable way possible... of course... at a sports car race. She was driving in the Ladies race at the March Field races in November of 1954. Audrey and Larry married in August of 1955 and since then have been blessed with two children - Lowel, aged 6 and Susan, aged 3."

 

So, now we know who sponsored Jack Brabham's car during the LA Times GP. Jack drove a few other Alpines. If you come across an image of Jack Brabaham please forward it and I'll post it.

*Thanks to Ken Freese for providing much of the information on this page

Below is a Quicktime movie of Alpines in action with

Ken Miles #50, Lew Spencer #45, Ted Block #3,

Ray Pickering #89, Willie West #63

 

Please note: This film was provided courtesy of "Tam's Old Race Car Site", which is one of the best
websites featuring California racing in early 60's.

You can visit Tam's homepage at http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net

Please click images for enlargements
	Ken Miles and Jerry Titus. Image from Sports Car Graphics.
	Ken Miles at Pamona
	Ken Miles at Laguna Seca with Jerry Titus close behind
	Ken Miles chasing Jerry Titus at Riverside. It appears that Ted Block (3#) is signaling the two for a pass.
	Larry Reed and Ken Miles. I wonder where that van is...neat support vehicle. The car would be a better find...
	Lew Spencer at Riverside.
	A pack of Sunbeams on the West Coast. Ray Pickering, Ted Block, and Lew Spencer at Del Mar in 1962. (SCG, Aug, 1962)

Pages from California Sports Car, Jan. 1963 click on image to enlarge
	An Advertisment for Larry's dealership. Ted Block's Alpine, #3, is very distinctive.
	The Featured Dealer in California Sports Car Magazine. Check out the Brabham image.

 

 

LA Times GP - October, 1963

 

Results of the top 7 out of 46 entrants from the 1963 LA Times GP. At this enduro Sunbeam stacked the deck with

a number of Alpines driven by some major names. Unfortunately, minor mechanical problems

stopped Jack Brabham and Bruce Mclaren. Ken Miles made was the top Alpine in 6th place.