In Memoriam

This page exists to honor and commemorate individuals who eagerly volunteered their wisdom, their expertise, their knowledge, their passion, and their time, who are now no longer with us. By formally and continuously recognizing their profound achievements in life, both professionally and personally, we pay homage to these exceptional, upstanding human beings and friends; their legacy endures as they continue to be sorely missed.

Biographies will be left as they were; as-is.

Rest In Peace, Amos - To our beloved friend.

Amos Kunkle, Jr

I am a retired Certified Public Accountant who recently sold my accounting practice. I am an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Susquehanna University. Prior to having my own accounting practice in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, I worked at Price Waterhouse and Bethlehem Steel Corporation. I am a member of the Delaware Valley Jaguar Club and an associate member of JAG, Jaguar Auto Group. For a number of years I was the DVJC treasurer and advertising solicitor for, The Jaguar’s Purr. I have always enjoyed sports cars. Our first sports car was a Triumph, TR4A followed by a new 1972 TR6 which my wife EJ still owns. My first Jaguar was a 1970 Series 2 XKE followed by several more XKE’s, a XK120 and, a Mk2. I have driven my XKE’s to Championship Challenges in Phoenix, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Sturbridge. Presently I own a 1966 XKE coupe, a 2016 F Type and my daily driver which is a 2015 Land Rover Evoque. I also own an Austin Healey 100 and an Austin Healey 3000.

Rest In Peace, David - To our dearly valued friend.

David Reilly

I passed my driving test on my 16th birthday and persuaded my parents to let me buy a 1948 MG-TC. The organization that ran sports car races in the Pacific Northwest licensed drivers at 18. I applied for a racing license on my 18th birthday and drove the TC in my first race the next month. My Father and I also hillclimbed a 1954 Porsche 1500 coupe.
After graduating college I raced a Lotus 11 on the west coast and then went to Europe and drove a Lotus 23B at Brands Hatch, Goodwood and Mallory Park before bringing it back to the USA and campaigning it in the SCCA for two years. In 1966 my British wife, Patricia, and I ordered a Jaguar 3.8 'S' for delivery at Browns Lane, drove it for a month and brought it back to the US. In 1970, we put the 'S' into very careful hibernation and moved to England where we got immersed in pre-War Austin 7s! Our fleet was a 1931 Tourer which was my daily driver (one year driving it 10,000 miles), a Swallow Saloon for restoration, and an Ulster replica for vintage racing. In the 1980s, back in the USA, family took our time so the 'S' was garaged with our 1962 Lotus Elite Super 95. Both driven only on special occasions.In the '90s, we were 'empty nesters' and became very active in JANE (Jaguar Association of New England) and JTC (Jaguar Touring Club) driving the 'S' to meetings, in club events, slaloms, tours and concours from Boston to Washington DC. Our 'S'-type was the JCNA National Champion for Driven small saloons twice, in 1993 and 1995.

Jaguar invited our 'S' to attend the US launch of the 1998 V8 range of XJ saloons where Stirling Moss drove it on a press demonstration, with me in the passenger seat. The car was also on the Jaguar 1998 calendar. In 1999, Jaguar Cars borrowed our ‘S’-type for functions at Jaguar headquarters for the launch of the 'new' S-TYPE.
We co-founded the International Jaguar 'S'-type Register in 1999 and have researched and written over 150 'S'-type newsletters. My articles have also been published in Sportscar, Road & Track, Jaguar Journal and Jaguar (Australia) magazines. I Iook forward to researching, archiving and writing for the Coventry Foundation.

Rest In Peace, Bob - Our dear friend and racing legend.

Bob Tullius

Bob Tullius made his mark early in the 1960s by establishing one of the most formidable race teams, Group 44 Inc. A native of Rochester, New Your, Tullius based his company in Winchester, Virginia, where he and his team of race car experts prepared and raced cars for Standard-Triumph, his primary client. Tullius personal race car was a Triumph TR4. In 1969, following the formation of British Leyland Motors, Group 44 Inc. began racing MGs as well as Triumphs, and in 1974 it was one of two Jaguar® Factory-backed teams to begin racing the Series III V12 E-type. With Tullius driving, the E-type won the SCCA B Production Championship in 1975. Tullius’ racing career spanned more than three decades and included wins at the Daytona three-hour race and at Lime Rock, Atlanta, Mosport and Pocono. In 1977 and 1978, he won back-to-back Drivers Championships in the Trans-Am series, as well as the Manufacturers Championship in 1978 while racing for Jaguar® in an XJ-S. Following on the heels of this success, Group 44 Inc. developed and campaigned an XJR-5 ground-effects prototype in IMSA Camel GT competition. An original concept, this mid-engine prototype carried a 500-horsepower Jaguar® V12 and was capable of speeds up to 225 mph. Jaguar® and Tullius had a long and successful racing relationship that came to an end in 1987. Group 44 Inc. continued to campaign race cars for other manufacturers, including Audi and Pontiac. In 1990, Tullius turned his attention to other interests. The responsibility of running Group 44 Inc. was placed in the hands of several key employees. The company was dissolved in the mid-90s. Tullius is an avid and active World War II airplane enthusiast. Along with his collection of World War II Air Force trainers, he also acquired a North American P51 Mustang. For several years, the race car driver-turned pilot participated in several Warbird Air Shows. Tullius was also active in the EAA’s (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagles program in which a group of pilots teach flight disciplines to underprivileged children. Residing in Florida, Tullius enjoys his vintage car and airplane collection, but is reducing it. He donated his P51 to the Royal Air Force Museum in England several years ago.