Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility Part 2
By James Lanoway
As his grandfather owned an Alfa Romeo sales outlet and his father owned an Alfa service outlet, it was natural for Peter Zahnd to grow up surrounded by the fruits of Portello’s production. His grandfather’s dealership, Garage Metropol Ernest Zahnd on Bahnhofstrasse in the heart of Zurich, sold at first 6C 2300s, then 6C 2500 Touring Villa d’Este’s, and later the “modern” 1900 models. Peter’s father took over this family business and evolved it into an Alfa Romeo service center, Garage Hans Zahnd, keeping the same location. Since Peter’s busy father did not have the time to train his son, he sent Peter to a nearby Alfa Romeo dealership, Garage Werner Brüngger, to gain experience. Peter takes up the story: [Read more…] about Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility Part 2
Jeff Allison at Sebring
Jeff Allison sent VeloceToday.com a 2024 calendar featuring photographs he took at the Sebring 12-Hours from 1959-1963. He produced the calendar because Pete Lyons no longer offered his Can-Am calendars, and he needed to fill the space previously occupied by Pete’s calendars for years. Looked like fun so we asked for more. He complied, and we are simply amazed at the quality of the photos taken by Allison at a very young age with very primitive equipment. We are happy to present a much larger selection of Allison’s Sebring photos sans calendar. Ed.
Story and photos by Jeff Allison
Growing up in Orlando, Florida into the early 1960s, I went to SCCA regional and national races in Florida at Bartow, Cocoa-Titusville, Daytona, Dunnellon, Geneva, Pensacola and Sebring while in high school and college. I lived ninety miles from Sebring where international teams, cars and drivers gathered every March for the 12 Hours of Sebring – an endurance race held on a former US Army Air Force WW II B-17 bomber training base outside Sebring, Florida. The 5.2-mile road racing course was defined by rubber pylons and bales of straw on the rough concrete and asphalt runways, taxiways and access roads. That’s me loitering in front of legendary Corvette driver Delmo Johnson’s encampment in the crowded paddock. [Read more…] about Jeff Allison at Sebring
Revival Light: Goodwood Members Meeting
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Can it really be ten years since the Goodwood team reinstated the Members Meeting? It seems like a only a couple of years since the 72nd Members Meeting, but here I am, bright and early on Saturday the 13th April, just about to take my first walk around the paddocks packed full of automotive delights at the 81st Members Meeting. [Read more…] about Revival Light: Goodwood Members Meeting
Goodwood Members Meeting, an Insider’s View
By Ernie Nagamatsu
Photos by John Taylor unless otherwise noted.
Last month we received an email from Ernie Nagamatsu, telling us he was on his way to Goodwood for the exclusive invite only Members Meeting. He was honored “… we are overwhelmed and humbled to our knees again, as I am a simple truck farmer that packed tomatoes and drove red International TD 9s and tractors in summers.”
Ernie failed to add that before he retired, he was one of the top dentists in L.A. and his achievements are legend. But even though he has raced Old Yeller II at events at Goodwood since 2000, it was still special when he and his wife Elaine received a private invitation for a special dinner with the Duke of Richmond.
After the event, Ernie sent along some photos taken by John Taylor and we are happy to publish his story of Old Yeller II at the Members Meeting 2024. And as you will read, for Ernie and Elaine, Goodwood is much more than another race. Ed.
Goodwood Members Meeting Races April 13-14, 2024. After the Old Yeller II was invited to the September 2023 Goodwood Revival Meeting Tribute to Carroll Shelby, an invitation followed to the leave the Old Yeller II in England and participate in the April 2024 Goodwood Members Meeting. We arrived into Heathrow and for us, it was a “Rassemblement” of our U.K. support crew and team, as Mike Lillywhite, who picked us up, had assisted us in our first Goodwood twenty four years ago! Sean McClurg, who has been our prior U.K. crew/Race Shop, joined us in the classic “esprit de corps” feeling, and also Erik van der Schaaf of the Netherlands, a ‘Pro’ Photographer who assisted us at the 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed event. [Read more…] about Goodwood Members Meeting, an Insider’s View
Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility P1
By James Lanoway
An Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, considered by many the most beautiful automobile of all time, pulls into the parking lot of a low, brown brick building against an Alpen lakeside backdrop in the late 1960s. Wearing Italian plates, its scintillating sound cuts out, and its “scissors” doors tilt open upwards and forward to reveal a large German Shepard sitting in the passenger seat. Soon, a draw will be held inside the building to see who will get to try out this automotive sensation on the neighbouring test track, leaving the lucky winner with memories to last well into the winter of life.
Phillip Island Classic, 7-10 March 2024
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
Now well into its fourth decade, the Victorian Historic Racing Register’s Phillip Island Classic saw drivers and teams out in force, enjoying four very warm days on southern Australia’s sweeping 5km circuit. The track, resurfaced last year in time for the national Superbike Championships a month ago, and using 60% recycled asphalt, promised new lap records against the possibility of increased tyre wear.
Techno Classica with Hugues Vanhoolandt
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The traditional Techno Classica show in Essen, Germany, of which this was the 34th edition, marks, as every year, the end of the winter period of shows before the resumption of historic races and elegance competitions. This year was no exception to the rule but we could see that certain spaces were empty and that certain merchants present last year were absent this time. Could this be a sign that the classic car market is looking for a second wind?
Models at the Fiat Centro Storico
Text by Aldo Zana
Photos by Fiat Centro Storico and Acerbi family
From the Archives, December 2018
Once upon a time no one even remotely thought about preserving a sample of the cars produced by a factory. Fiat complied with this dominant attitude until the late Thirties, when some managers were stricken by illumination: if we have not saved the originals, why not build scale models?
Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P4
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.
Wilson Tops the Roadster
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.
Silverstone Museum Part 2
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.