And How! McQueen at Salon Privé
Photos and story by Jonathan Sharp
Before the Salon Privé show opened to the public I was invited to see the launch of the new Renauld/Steve McQueen Le Mans® sunglasses, an event that included Steve McQueen’s grandson Chase. The photos and captions following the press release below are mine from the launch. [Read more…] about And How! McQueen at Salon Privé
Salon Privé, the Italians, August 28, 2024
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I joke that late August, early September is the time when I visit some of the great stately homes of England. Well, three actually. The first stately home of the trio, is actually a Palace. [Read more…] about Salon Privé, the Italians, August 28, 2024
Salon Privé, the Non-Italians, August 28, 2024
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Here are Jon’s favorites from his Non-Italian class this year at the Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace. And so goes the PR:
The 19th edition of Salon Privé, the UK’s leading luxury automotive and global Concours event, has been hailed a gargantuan success. On Saturday evening, the curtain fell on the most spectacular five days of new model debuts, stunning classic car rarities, a jaw-dropping Salon Privé Concours victor and the finest in world-class luxury lifestyle and entertainment.
Can’t argue with that! [Read more…] about Salon Privé, the Non-Italians, August 28, 2024
San Marino Car Show, August 25, 2024
Story and photos by Joe Duray
What Makes the San Marino Car Show Special?
Hopefully as a car enthusiast, you have many local car gatherings to attend. Southern California is particularly blessed with a plethora of such events. These can range from being held in a carnival to an informal setting (or anywhere in between) that contain a mixture of various time periods, design styles and manufacturers. Some events range from simply one-make to ‘bring-what-you-got gatherings.
The annual San Marino Car Show is special, as it is a bit of a mixture of the best of all above. It is well organized and impeccably managed. [Read more…] about San Marino Car Show, August 25, 2024
Donald Healey Goes Hollywood and More
By Pete Vack and Jim Sitz
In their new book Nash-Healey, A Grand Alliance, authors John Nikas and Hervé Chevalier bring to light Donald Healey’s 5,000-mile ten-day cross-country journey through America in 1948, driving a new Healey Westland in every conceivable weather situation all the way to Los Angeles.
Healey and son Geoffrey were amazed at the enthusiasm and knew that he could succeed in selling his cars in the U.S. According to Nikas, “In his retirement in during the 1980s, he would ponder what might have happened had he built sports car in the United States rather than England.” He returned to the UK with many contacts and ideas, but left the appropriately named Westland in California. Jim Sitz picked up the trail from there. [Read more…] about Donald Healey Goes Hollywood and More
F1 Exhibition, London
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
As it says below, F1 comes to London but only as an exhibition, not as a race. Anyway I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the press launch a few days before the exhibition opened so was able to take in the show without the crowds which will no doubt come in droves. During the press event both Damon Hill and Tim Harvey were present to explain more about the ethos of the exhibition and why it came to London as part three of what will probably be a world tour.
Concorso Italiano, 2024
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
Concorso Italiano was held on August 17th, 2024, the day before Pebble Beach. It is now a decades-old tradition and a mainstay of the Monterey Car Week. But this is how it began.
In 1984 my friend Joe Duray saw an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle for a 1962 Maserati 3500 GT coupe, located in a lockup in Vallejo. Joe was the only person to respond to the ad, and he got the car, which he has since fully restored. Around that time a gentleman named Francis Mandarano set up a business in Seattle called Maserati Information Exchange.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2024
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Lon Price unless otherwise noted
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, was started by Gordon McCall way back in 2003. I have said before in these columns, and it bears repeating, there are two people responsible for creating this wonderful week in August in Monterey: Gordon, for this show and for the Jet Center show, and Steve Earle, for creating the Monterey Historic Automobile Race since 1974, as a way for his friends to exercise their old racecars at Laguna Seca. Every car enthusiast who comes to Monterey in August owes a debt of gratitude to these two men whose genius (and luck) created this ecosystem. Gordon is still in charge of entrant selection for this show. [Read more…] about The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2024
Building BAT Better Part 6
By Paul Wilson
The doors and body sides of my BAT were the last major areas to be built, and not an appealing job–lots of mechanical puzzles and fitting, no real design decisions. So all work and no play.
Well, almost. I did have some fun considering the addition of 300SL-like louvered vents behind the front wheels. They look great on the Mercedes, and would nicely fit that panel behind my car’s front wheels. Both BAT 7 and the 300SL appeared in 1954, so they’re just right for the period.
Pebble Beach Maserati 2024
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
This year, at the Pebble Beach Concours d ‘Elegance held on August 18, Maserati was a featured class. Just imagine for a moment that you have somehow found yourself on the Selection Committee, and you are tasked with choosing which Maseratis will be accepted and on the field on show day. Historically, the ratio of applicants to cars actually accepted is somewhere around 10:1. You can get better odds at Vegas.
Itala in the Alps: The Envelope, Please
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Subject: Veloce Today – Over the Alps Itala mystery (2020 article)
Dear Mr Vack
I came across the piece today that was published on your site back in July 2020, entitled “Itala over the Alps: A 115 Year-old Mystery”and was wondering if you ever solved the mystery? If you have, then I should love to learn more. If not, I think I may have (part, at least, of) the answer.
I look forward to hearing from you.
James Thorne
Company Secretary
Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd
https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/