Letters from Around the World

Jack Gordon on OSCAs

Dear Pete,

Nice story on Zagato/Bertone. see article I have a 1961 sprint 1300 w/veloce engine + axle in my garage but it is badly in need of restoration. Alfa bodies didn't use to rust so badly before they started using that cheap Russian steel w/lots of impurities in it. Copper is particularly bad for providing initiation sites in the grain structure.

Enclosing a photo (Bob Lorch credit, november 1962 at upper Marlboro) of my 1962 Le Mans car, the 1.6 liter GTS w/2 distributors & 2 humongous webers (the torque curve came in at about 6000 rpm). Unfortunately, the engine had too much power and we couldn't keep bearings in the bottom end.

I specified that the car should be delivered to us w/an oil cooler installed, but have you ever tried to get an Italian to do something that he doesn't want to do? The car was sold after the race to this fellow from Blue Bell, PA, who was Chairman of the Board of Howe Sound Metallurgical, but I can't remember his name. The 2-liter sports racer on the right was also his. (A phenomenally potent engine but it was handicapped by a solid axle.)

They were supposed to build 500 units of the 1600 GT and they were supposed to have independent rear w/upper lower wishbones like the old 1959 Fiat v8 sedan, but the car in the picture was set up specifically for Le Mans (no bumps here) and had a solid axle, therefore was not legal for production category in SCCA, can you believe.

The 1600gt was a rather large car, certainly compared to the Abarth coupes made at the same time, had a lot of interior room but this limited the top speed, the 1220 Lotus Elites were faster than I was.

Yours,
Jack Gordon

Seielstad on 0600MDTR

Dear Pete,

In a recent Veloce Today article see article (thought I had archived it) about 0600 it was stated that Allen Markelson raced 0600 in the 1960 Cuban GP.

No, he did not. Markelson raced his own 500 TRC 0668 on #23 and was DNF lap 17. Tom Burnside has a nice photo of it in the race.

The Camoradi team entered three T 61 Maserati for Moss, Shelby and Gurney. When the drivers arrived in Cuba, Camoradi had only one T61 for Moss. Shelby was assigned #16, the 500 TR 0600, and Gurney was given #15, a 200 SI reputedly ex Reventlow.

Camoradi also entered/was managing #4 Corvette Jim Jeffords, #33 Porsche RSK Gregory (owned by Dr. David Lane), #40 250 TR Roger Ward, and #24 Porsche RSK.

During Friday practice Moss gulled Shelby out of his ride (0600) "to learn the circuit" and promptly blew the engine. To the best of my knowledge 0600 never raced again. An even more unhappy Shelby was shunted to #24, an "ancient Porsche."

Shelby's RSK lost a throttle butterfly moments after the start of the race and he was DNF. Gurney's Maserati packed up and he was standing around the pits when Ward brought 0722 in with fading brakes. Gurney took it back out eventually finishing 13th. Jeffords won the GT race. Moss, of course, won the 1960 Cuban GP.

Sincerely,
David N. Seielstad

Taking the Good with the Bad

Dear Editor,

Just wanted to pass on more comments re: Erick Nielsen's GP reports. I love them. The Spanish GP report in which he appropriately described McLaren as "Darth Vader's team" gave me a nice laugh. see article I've usually read a few race reports by the time I read Nielsen's writeup, but I look forward to them each time, as they always have a fresh perspective. In every sense of the word fresh.

Cheers,
Rich Ambroson

We knew there was some reason to keep Erik.

One good Search deserves another

Dear Pete Vack

Searching on the Internet I find your interesting site with some beautiful cars and lots of information about Italian cars - however, with no information about the car I am looking for.

Enclosed you will find a picture of my Grandfather in his 18/30 SCAT - probably a 1917 model - in Bergen, Norway.

I am very interested in any information about the model on the picture particularly, and SCAT in general. If I ever find a car like this for sale I will seriously consider purchasing it.

Please return to me if you can be of any assistance.

Best Regards
Atle Gandrudbakken, Norway

If anyone can help, send responses to contact@velocetoday.com

From Serbia, come answers

Dear Pete,

In the article, "Testing Your Knowledge", see article I identified some cars. 1. Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Touring 2. Auto Avio Costruzione 815 6. Bugatti Brescia 7. 1948 Fiat 1100S Pinin Farina 8. Bugatti 9. Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider I am expecting answers for cars (etceterinis?) on the rest of photos.

Best regards,
Aleksandar Vidojkovic Knjazevac, Serbia and Montenegro

Jolly Green Giant

Ciao PETE,

Here is the information you requested in regards to my Lancia Super Jolly. Yes, it is for sale, unfortunately.
1.- YEAR: built on Sept. 16th, 1969 (I have original invoice !)
- Model: NOE-ARCA (ARCA is a camper-factory located in Pomezia /Rome)
2. Probably is the only one known
3. SUPERJOLLY is correct name (like Esatau, Beta etc..)
4. Powered by Flavia motor 1800cc (CV 95)
5. FRONT DRIVE (motore+ trazione anterior)
6. Interior: wood with n. 30 original plastic-knobs with disigned a vintage cars(all different)!
7. I have this car since Jan 2001 and I drove it for 5.000 KM during rally for my Peugeot Bebè 1913 or other vintage wooden boats (1964 - Moretti WALMARA).
8. Never restored, only owned by love.
9. Weight 3200 Kgs
4 speeds
Performance: max speed 130 Km/h but it is a suicide! Ready to run 100/110 Km/h
10. It is Lancia SuperJolly only for chassis: it was built by ARCA (already in action) model "NOE-ARCA"
11. My other Lancia is a 2000, 1971, nothing special but IT IS THE CHASSIS NO. 001 (the first of 14.900 built)

Ciao, Gianni Codiferra

Again, if you are interested in this unusual Lancia, send us a note at contact@velocetoday.com.