My usual email address is vack@cox.net. In addition, however, also address any emails to me at pete@velocetoday.com to ensure I am receiving your messages.
Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P4
After their victory in the January 1958 Buenos Aires 1000 KM, Phil Hill and Peter Collins scored again at Sebring, and they did so in the same Ferrari 250TR, chassis 0704. Did their massive AMOCO trophy end up in Maranello? In the background is Alec Ulmann’s wife Mary.
By Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
The top Sebring results were not unexpected, in spite of the strong opposition. Just like in Buenos Aires, Testa Rossas finished 1-2, with a Porsche in third place. But some of the other finishers in the top ten came as a huge surprise. [Read more…] about Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P4
Wilson Tops the Roadster
To top it off…
Story and photos by Paul Wilson
Photos courtesy the author
My Alfa 6C roadster still awaits its engine, but I found a few more jobs I could do on what’s here. The biggest one was the top. [Read more…] about Wilson Tops the Roadster
Silverstone Museum Part 2
The British Empire Trophy, awarded between 1932 and 1961, which Stirling Moss won in 1951, 56, 58 and 1961.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
At the Silverstone Museum, I really enjoyed looking at the cars and bikes on display, which I understand are changed on a regular basis. The race suits and helmets impressed, especially Nigel Mansell’s race suit with all of those personal sponsor patches, and I could just feel the history when looking at the hand painted logo on Barry Sheene’s helmet, and only smile at the cigarette hole in the chin protector. But it was the smaller items displayed in the many display cabinets that interested me most, the trophies, the signing on sheets, programs and dinner menus, such history.
VSCC at Brooklands, 2018
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the Archives, June 2018
The Brooklands museum complex is like a nostalgic oasis surrounded by modern glass fronted corporate head offices and a Tesco’s supermarket. However once you have entered into the site the years simply drop away. Whether it’s just the 1930s music playing over the PA system, or the restored buildings, one feels (if you use a bit of imagination) that you are back in the 1920s. The feeling of nostalgia increases 10-fold when the VSCC (Veteran Sports Car Club) have an event there. [Read more…] about VSCC at Brooklands, 2018
Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P3
Sebring 1958. Phil Hill in the early part of the race, maintaining a conservative pace with his Ferrari 250TR. Phil took the start and he and Peter Collins hovered between 4th and 5th overall during the first three hours.
By Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
With Stirling Moss taking an immediate lead from the start, second place was contested by Mike Hawthorn and Roy Salvadori. Salvadori soon managed to pass his fellow countryman in the opposite team, making it an Aston Martin 1-2 for the first three hours of the race. The model’s name DBR stood for David Brown Racing and the owner of the firm must have been pleased so far.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V5 Reviewed
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Size: 29 x 24,8 cm
Weight: 8,2 kg
Language: English – German
Authors: Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-086-3
Free shipping within Germany.
Order here
Review by Pete Vack, photos from the book
We have come to the end of a very enjoyable long and winding road, following the delightful lives of the Alfa Giulia TZ. In front of us are five volumes, each with approximately 300 pages and as many photos for a grand total of roughly 1500 pages and thousands of images, black and white, color, and documents which focus on only 117 very special Alfas built from 1963 to 1966.
This is a gift, as if someone up there said, hey, here is the detailed history of the car you loved best; you may not be able to afford the car itself, but this is the next thing to it. From development details to an owner’s manual, this has it all.
Sharp at the Silverstone Museum
Welcome to the Silverstone Museum
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
With a history stretching back not just to 1943 with the building of RAF Silverstone but way back to medieval times when the site was home to a monastery, it was likely that at some point the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit would open a museum. The project to create a museum and educational centre for British Motor Sport at the circuit began in 2012, with the museum opening its doors in 2019.
The Works of Willem Oosthoek
Interview by Pete Vack
From the Archives, February 2019
Most of us are avid readers, particularly of good, solid historical books which feature our favorite cars; the more detailed the better, with decent contemporary photos, chassis numbers, hardcore information that you can count on, preferably on nice stock and hardbound.
But few readers realize what goes into the making of such a book, and how difficult it is to find publishers. We decided to ask Maserati expert Willem Oosthoek how he did it and what kind of problems he encountered in writing his last three major works; in 2004, Birdcage to Supercage, in 2009, The Magnificent Front Engined Birdcages, and the three volume set, Sports Car Racing in the South,Texas to Florida, 1957-1962.
Sebring ’58: Dawn of the Red Heads P2
Pretty as they come, the 1.1-liter Stanguellini Bialbero of Carl Haas/Allan Ross/Chuck Dietrich awaits its turn for practice. [Bob Bellows photo]
By Willem Oosthoek All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
Those Lovely Italianate Aston Martins P2
Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn
In my duology of Aston Martin at venues other than Palm Springs, my viewfinder did not locate too many of them on my sojourns around Southern California back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. I saw my first Aston Martin in 1956 and only a few more in 1957 and 1958. Since 99.9% of my shots will be of the DB3S model I’ll just call them Astons. This chapter will concentrate on the myriad of other racecourses located in our beautiful Southern California. True, most of our courses, eight out of the thirteen I attended, were on runways or large parking lots. That’s what you can expect from mostly desert locations.
My first sighting, shooting with my folks’ Kodak Pony 135 camera loaded with Kodachrome, was of Bob Drake, the winner of the main event at Pomona on October 21, 1956. It wouldn’t be until some time in 1957 that I would graduate to my beloved Canon IVS2 35mm camera.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V3 and 4
Review by Pete Vack
The bulk of Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse’s five volume set consists of a register (competition history) of the TZ1 and TZ2 cars by chassis numbers. Volume 3 covers AR 750001 to 750145; Volume 4 from AR 750146 to 750106; Volume 5 covers the remaining eleven TZs, chassis AR 750107 to 750117 (in addition to tech information on the TZ).