Remembering Chris Gruys

[Steven43]

I am sad to announce the passing of CAT member Chris Gruys. Chris died at home on April 15, 2021 of heart failure. He was 74. Chris, a CAT member for over 40-years, owned some of the most amazing vintage race Tigers anyone could imagine. Over the past four decades, he raced vintage Tigers at California racetracks including Riverside, Laguna Seca, and Sears Point. He also took his Tigers overseas to race at Le Mans, France, and Spa, Belgium. In addition, Chris let others campaign his Tigers over the years. He was very proud of how the Monster Tiger performed at Goodwood during the last decade. Chris was one-of-a-kind. We will likely never see another man spend as much time, energy and money bringing vintage race car Tigers to the track.

Condolences go out to his wife Holly, and the rest of his family. Here are photos just some of the Tigers Chris owned over the years.

Steven Alcala

 

[hottigr]

Sorry to hear this- he had some significant Tigers over the years...

 

[0neoffive]

Too young !

 

[michael-king]

Sad to hear a fellow CAT members passing.

Some wondeful sunbeam history there.
Id love to ask questions about some of the details in the photos, but not the focus of this thread.

Best wishes to his family.

 

[65sunbeam]

I met him at Goodwood in 2012 where he had the Monster Tiger and what a thrill to see it running on the track with the field of cars in hot pursuit! Condolences to his family.

 

[spmdr]

Chris was a man of many hobbies, Cars were a big part. And CARS he had!

From Rolls Royce to Ferrari and Lamborghini LM002,

and race cars from the Flip top Cobra and Cheetah, to a 917/30 Porsche!

Chris had a Collection of Collections!

From a P-51 Mustang to an un-built Frank Lloyd Wright House plan.

And through it all, Sunbeam Tigers!


Chris could tell some pretty tall tales.

One story Chris told was that the engines Wally Cartwright built were

good for 9000 RPM!

Paint me skeptical, and I suggested as much to Chris.


As some of you know, I helped Chris get the Monster going back in 2003.

The engine in the car was an engine that was built by Dave Dralle for the 162 Tiger

years before.

It was a 5 bolt 289 Hipo with a Ford Indy Steel crank, Boss 302 rods and some medium weight forged pistons.

I refreshed the engine and Chris was testing it at Sears Point.

He had an in-car video camera going for his first test session.

He said I HAD to see the video!

He came out of turn 11 in second gear and ran it up to 7000 RPM

and then miss shifted Back to FIRST Gear!

...Not hard to do when you are in a Right hand drive car and not very use to it...

I figure he pulled the engine up to as high as 9200 RPM !!

He recovered, grabbed 3rd gear and continued his session with no issues.


Chris reminded me what he said about Wally and 9000 RPM...


Chris DID what some consider the Impossible!

 

[cobrakidz]

Sad to hear - met him many years ago - left us way to young.