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The Books of Willem Oosthoek

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Interview by Pete Vack
Portions of this interview were originally published here in 2004.

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. [Read more…] about The Books of Willem Oosthoek

And How! On the 312P and Serenissima

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We received a number of nice comments last week along with a few images relevant to the articles on the Ferrari 312P and the Serenissima F1 by Roberto Motta, and thought it might be a good idea to add a few of them to an And How! feature…

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The 2CV at its 70th

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

A press release from the organizers of this year’s Retromobile recently jogged my memory. Last year, we had Citroën shots from last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed which were not used in VeloceToday. It was the 70th anniversary of the Citroën 2CV, and to celebrate, one of the classes at the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours was dedicated to that Gallic charmer. [Read more…] about The 2CV at its 70th

Ferrari 312 P V12

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Story by Roberto Motta
Photos Centro Documentazione Storica Ferrari e Archivio Automobile Club Milano

The 312 P powered by the V12 engine is a beautiful but unfortunate car, and never won a victory during its brief racing career. However, it is one of the most aesthetically satisfying cars ever made in the Ferrari workshops, and is the last prototype made before the agreement the agreement between the ‘prancing horse’ brand and FIAT.

The story begins when, after boycotting sports car racing in 1968 season to protest a rule change that banned their 4-litre 330 P4, Ferrari built a 3000cc prototype for the 1969 season, based on the existing F1 Ferrari 312 with a 60 degree V12. It was presented to the press on December 14th 1968 at the Fini Hotel in Modena. During the meeting, Enzo Ferrari announced his intention to participate in the 1969 Manufacturers World Championship with the car, called the 312 P for prototype.

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Serenissima McLaren F1

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From the archives, December 12th, 2007

Story and photography by Roberto Motta

In the early 1960s, Scuderia Serenissima, founded by the Venetian Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata, was very active in motor racing, entering major events with Porsches, a Lotus-Cooper, Maseratis, and Ferraris driven by Nino Vaccarella, Graham Hill, Umberto Maglioli, Joakim Bonnier, Jo Siffert, Lodovico Scarfiotti and Giancarlo Baghetti.

Scuderia Serenissima entered Formula 1 events in 1961 with a Cooper-Maserati driven by Maurice Trintignant. For the French GP, the team used a De Tomaso chassis powered by an OSCA engine, which was shared by Giorgio Scarlatti and Nino Vaccarella. However, the De Tomaso OSCAs were not competitive.

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Design Critique: Serenissima Le Mans

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By Wallace Wyss
Photos Courtesy Artcurial Auctions

It seems, at first glance, a superfluous effort to do a design critique of a design that is over 50 years old, of a car that was never in production.

I used to think that about Robert Cumforford’s design analysis of one-off cars. But then I had a re-think. I realized that sometimes a design critique helps us elucidate why we like the car; or highlights trends at the time that we, perhaps raised in different eras, didn’t appreciate.

So here’s my take on this long “lost” car which, turns out, wasn’t really lost at all, just well-hidden in deep storage by an owner who, having been a key figure in real racing, wasn’t tempted to bring it out for vintage racing. (Count Volpi was even quoted at one time saying in effect that even if you owned one of these cars now, it could never be the same as owning it then; as if you can’t repeat history…) [Read more…] about Design Critique: Serenissima Le Mans

Mille Miglia Etceterinis: Fiat 500A Mor & Sca

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By Dino Brunori

This is the second of a series about Etceterinis on the Mille Miglia

A mystery (solved?)In 2016, during the Milan Autoclassica fair, the Pandolfini auction house auctioned an original MM sportcar based on the Fiat 500A, better known as the Topolino. Such a sportcars were common in the early editions of the race after WW2, with a lot of small artisans making different models. There was not a great deal of information on this peculiar car, apart that it entered the 1950 MM with the crew Boccardi – Schreiber and it did not finish the race. The car was known as the Fiat 500A Mor & Sca, had a Siata head, but who built it was a mystery. An original picture taken on the start line showed the car registered in Brescia, and the two pilots were from Brescia as well. [Read more…] about Mille Miglia Etceterinis: Fiat 500A Mor & Sca

And How! Alfa Valve Shim Box

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After asking Marshall Buck about what do with an old Pocher Alfa model, we figured he, or his staff at AutoMobilia, might be able to help us with other odds and ends which have been hanging about the VeloceToday office for decades. So I sent a few images to Marshall of a particularly nice piece- an Alfa valve shim box. I have no idea when I acquired this or from where, or even the year it was made. Marshall in turn sent the request to John C. Lutsch from www.aeromobilia.com, and here is his answer: [Read more…] about And How! Alfa Valve Shim Box

Graham Gauld to Speak at AISA Conference

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Jim Clark by Graham Gauld

VeloceToday correspondent Graham Gauld has been invited to speak at the Italian National Motor Museum de Gianni Agnelli in Turin on the early life of Jim Clark, scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2019. Famed Italian journalist Gianni Cancillieri will also talk of his own experiences with Jim followed by questions and answers. The conference is held by the AISA – Italian Association for the History of the Automobile and is free and open to all. [Read more…] about Graham Gauld to Speak at AISA Conference

Farewell, Michael Lynch

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Above, Michael and Vicki Lynch, Pebble Beach, 2016.

By Pete Vack, Editor

Michael T. Lynch was a born writer. He wrote for Road & Track, Cavallino, Vintage Motorsport, and many more international automotive journals. He was respected around the world and always in demand. That he liked what we were doing with VeloceToday.com and that he was willing to contribute meant a great deal to me (and our readers). His approval tended to justify our existence; his continued support over the years meant that we were on the right path. [Read more…] about Farewell, Michael Lynch

Peter Giddings: An Appreciation

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Peter Darnall: Remembering Peter Giddings

I first met Peter Giddings in the paddock of a California track then known as Sears Point. My directions to Peter’s spot in the paddock were unique: “look for a Great Dane with a vintage Alfa Romeo.” That track has been renamed several times; it’s Sonoma Raceway today. The Giddings entourage, however, always featured a Great Dane and rare vintage racing machinery.

Recently, in the paddock of Thunderhill Raceway, an elegant Great Dane named Havoc was competing with an extremely rare Lancia D24 for the spectators’ attention. Peter’s enthusiastic wife Judy, always a blur of activity, alternated between attending to the Lancia and treating Havoc to his morning constitutional. Peter stood nearby patiently answering questions about the Lancia and posing for pictures.

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Adelaide Motorsport Festival Part 2

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Story by Vince Johnson
Photos by Vince Johnson and John Lemm
Read Adelaide Part 1

Adelaide Motorsport Festival 28 Nov – 2 Dec 2018— Saturday morning saw the Rally cars head up to Mt Lofty, highest point in the hills behind the city, for the first of the final day’s 10 stages. Back in town the Victoria Park Sprint circuit was alive all day. While each of the fifteen sprint categories was on the 1.5km lap chasing class wins for fastest time, the next group was ready and waiting at track entry.

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