Welcome to Riley Plays Cars
For most of my life I've been known as Greg or Scotty cause I'm officially Gregory Scott Riley. Recently I was asked how my interest in cars developed. First and foremost was my dad Lt. Col. Perry Riley Sr. who most everyone called "Riley."
My Dad and I used to sit out front of the Mobil Station in at the end of swanky Thomas Road and play "name that car." At first, I only get the makes right, but by the time my Dad passed in 1973 I could name the year, make, and model for almost anything on the road. Particularly luxury and muscle cars as that was what mostly came into the outpost of the wing ed-horse for full-service gas, wash, and lube.
During the 1960's and 1970's my Uncle Claude was a Mopar master tech. In fact, his son (my older cousin Dale) gave me my first dog-eared issue of Hot Rod magazine. Their driveway was an endless rotation of Mopar's best. My male cousin's drove Barracuda, Road Runners and Coronets their sister drove a 4-door V8 Dart.
After my Dad passed, my older sister took a particular interest in connecting me with the car community. I have had several mentors over the years, and each taught me something invaluable about the universe of interesting cars. Early on there were muscle cars and sports cars, and later antiques and classics and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of Corvairs.
Why Corvairs? In the mid-1970’s they were sporty, interesting, and most importantly dirt cheap! Since then, I’ve owned countless Corvairs and worked on an endless parade of others.
Over the last several decades I've bought, sold, restored, toured, raced, appraised, tested, and yes occasionally wrecked or otherwise trashed some amazing cars, written three books, a couple of award-winning blogs, automotive photographer, radio presenter and producer of my own show, magazine writer, engine builder…you get the point.
Over the last three years my real life has had some dramatic changes. At 60 years old I again became a new father for the sixth and seventh time. Yes, we did it the old-fashioned way…adoption. What a rollercoaster ride that has been. When I finally had a moment to breathe years passed and I realized it was time for something new.
Everyone at the Mobil station called my father Riley, now I'm Riley too. At the most basic level what I do is play cars, so now introducing RileyPlaysCars.com. Most weekends I'm in my garage working, and a few times a year I get to go play with the Texas Auto Writers Association and drive the latest cars and trucks, and I have lots of friends with waaay interesting wheels. Jump in as we share the ride on my automotive misadventures.
