Les Ryder lived at 13, “The Coach House” on the corner of Gunnery Terrace and Cross Road in Leamington Spa. His workshop was a garage lean-to next to the house in Cross Raod.
A Jaguar ‘backroom boy’, Les Ryder’s name will not be familiar to many, but in Britain’s Midlands area he was a legend for decades as an engine tuning expert, both during and after he retired from Jaguar’s engineering department. His particular art was cylinder heads, and over the years he gas-flowed and modified to his own secret templates hundreds – probably thousands – of cylinder heads, including those of many important racing motorcycles, speedway bikes, and cars ranging from those powered by the BMC A and B series engines through to Jaguar C- and D-types.

Les had worked for Harry Westlake, Coventry Climax and also for Bill Nicholson at 170 Watling Street East, Towcester, Northamptonshire as his specialist Cylinder Head man.
He was also a great influence on Dave Vizard the BMC engine guru.

Les had other interests too, notably the Jaguar Apprentices’ Motor Club and the Desert Rats Association – he served in the British Army for five years in WW2, never seeing home during that period which included the battle of El Alamein in North Africa, and the Italian campaign. His devoted wife Christine, who endured the war years separated from her husband, died some years ago.
Les leaves behind a son and a daughter.

Mar ’05
The funeral will be at Cannon Hill Crematorium, Canley, on Monday, March 21 2005, at which many people from the motorcycle and motor industry, and from Jaguar and various organisations, are expected to be present.

Les Ryder 1916-2005