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Tazio Nuvolari’s Unusual Mascot

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From the Archives, February 2017

By Peter Darnall
Our thanks to Matteo Rinaldi at the Museo Nuvolari

The AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus), which was the governing body controlling Grand Prix racing, issued an innovative ruling which would define racing events beginning with the 1934 season. Known as the 750-kilogram rule, the weight of a race car was limited to 750 kg, less tires, liquids, and driver. Intended to restrict the ever-increasing speed and power of Grand Prix machines, the ruling had quite the opposite effect: German interests, closely followed by Italian efforts produced the fastest and most powerful racing cars the world had ever seen.

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The Harrison Birdcages

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By Willem Oosthoek

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The Harrison team brought all three Maseratis to the next event, the Road America 500 miler in September. Each car was practiced and the 450S was fast but considered too much of a handful in a long-distance race. With the new red Birdcage offering even better handling than the Streamliner, it became Jeffords’ preferred car.

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Nick Mason’s Car Collection

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

“I have just been watching one of the BBC programs from the Chelsea flower show that we recorded last May,” says my wife. “What’s the name of the rock star chap that has a lot of cars?”
“Do you mean Nick Mason?” I replied.
“Yes, that’s him, and did you know that according to the program, he and his wife, Annette open their garden for charity each year, and they display some of the cars in the garden as well?”
“Oh, that would be worth a visit, I wonder when it opens,” says I.

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Lime Rock Historic Festival Honored Collector

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Story and photos by Sean Smith

Italian car collector Michael Schwartz has been named this year’ Honored Collector, a feature of the The Lime Rock Historics, which will be held Thursday, Aug. 29 – Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Last year’s Honored Collector was Peter Mullin, who brought several rare Bugattis to Lime Rock. [Read more…] about Lime Rock Historic Festival Honored Collector

The Harrison Maseratis

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By Willem Oosthoek

As we have seen in Part 1 of “A Coke and a smile”, Frank Harrison loved his three Maserati 450Ss, but the new Birdcage was faster. So what does one do? Find out in Part 2 and 3.*

After the Dothan, Alabama, event in October 1959 both Frank Harrison and his driver, Jim Hall, realized that the era of the Maserati 450S as a top feature contender had come to an end.

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Ballot Discussion Part 2

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By Pete Vack

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A significant portion of the new book, Ballot, is comprised of chapters by Karl Ludvigsen. In “The Technology of the Ballot Grand Prix Engines,” and probably for the first time in text, he provides a history of the early development of the racing straight eight engines (while acknowledging the importance of William M. Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Eights). [Read more…] about Ballot Discussion Part 2

Ballot Book Review

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Review by Pete Vack
Photos from the book with permissions, and by Jonathan Sharp

Ballot: A Review, a Discussion, an Enigma

With the publication of Ballot by Daniel Cabart and Gautam Sen, this obscure French marque is now honored with a classic, beautifully luxurious, extraordinarily illustrated, well-documented two-volume set that casts a great deal of light on Ernest Ballot, his company, and his cars. [Read more…] about Ballot Book Review

Griffith Borgeson, Automotive Historian

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From the Archives, November 2015

Story and photos by Graham Gauld

[Lead photo: In 1995 the author persuaded Griff Borgeson to come to the Ferrari Club of France private test day at the Mas du Clos circuit.]

I think if you do not have someone to look up to and respect, there is no incentive to improve. When it came to motoring journalism there were a handful of people I respected, and one of the first to become a hero was American writer and historian Griffith Borgeson.

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Rassemblement du Siècle

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Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Citroën is turning 100 this year and, to celebrate this unique occasion, the French manufacturer organized a huge gathering, called the ‘Rassemblement du Siècle’ (or Gathering of the Century), at La Ferté-Vidame, which is situated 125 kilometers west of Paris. The event was held from July 19 to July 21, 2019.

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