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The Italian Odyssey of John Surtees Part 2

March 14, 2017 By pete

John at speed passing the front of Goodwood house. Jonathan Sharp photo.

By Pete Vack
Photos by Jonathan Sharp and Hugues Vanhoolandt

On October 25, 1964, as he won the Formula One World Championship driving for Ferrari, John Surtees achieved what no man before or since has accomplished, becoming a world champion on both two wheels and four. Catching up with the indestructible 67-year-old champion at the Amelia Island Concours in 2001, we were granted an exclusive interview with the Champion and learned firsthand the perils and pleasures encountered while racing for both MV Agusta and Ferrari. This interviewed originally appeared in Forza magazine in 2001, and we reproduce the full text below for the first time in VeloceToday. This is Part 2.

By the end of the year, Ferrari was knocking at the door of John Surtees. Bravely, he turned Mr. Ferrari down, politely, of course, and probably the only driver aside from Stirling Moss to do so. He was working on a new Lola and found sponsorship with Bowmaker for the 1962 season, and knew he wanted to go to Ferrari feeling 100% sure of himself and his abilities. In late 1962, he was again approached by Ferrari. Surtees recalled this time, relating it to his motorcycle years. “In terms of satisfaction, the motorcycle career was better, because I made less mistakes off the track. I knew all the people. With car racing, I didn’t know a soul, had never really seen a race car. I found out the hard way who you could trust and who you couldn’t.” [Read more…] about The Italian Odyssey of John Surtees Part 2

London Classic Car Show 2017

March 14, 2017 By pete

This 1953 Alloy bodied 212 by Vignale was supplied new to Franco Cornacchia who had ordered the car in racing spec with sliding perspex side windows and no bumpers. Cornacchia was a Ferrari agent and also the proprietor of Scuderia Guastalla. In Franco’s hands the car won the 1953 Coppa Intereuropa at Monza. In 1954 the car was converted to 225 spec and continued to be raced until 1956.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

London Docklands was once the place where hundreds of ships carrying thousands of tons of cargo and goods from all around the globe would be unloaded at the piers.

Now it is home to the Millennium Dome, or the O2 arena as it is now called; Canary Wharf houses the merchant bankers and the ExCel Exhibition Center is a major contemporary exhibition hall with an address of the Royal Victoria Dock and where the London Classic Car Show was held on February 23-26.

The London show was actually two shows in one. The London Classic Car show features the grand avenue car parade. Across the corridor was the inaugural Historic Motorsport International show. One ticket gained access to both. [Read more…] about London Classic Car Show 2017

1958 Lancia Dealer Folio: Trucks

March 14, 2017 By pete

This is the second half of the 1958 Lancia folio, which features an unusual side of Lancia. And as we related last week, note the dealer’s stamp – Falvey Motor Sales Company – which despite, or because of its location near Detroit, was a favorite hangout of the 50s sporty car set and located on the famous drag strip of Woodward Avenue. Eric Davison recounted the story of Falvey for VeloceToday in “Requiem for a Salesman”. This bit of Lanciana came from Robert F. Pauley, an engineer for Chrysler who also hung out at Falvey’s and wrote many great articles for VeloceToday such as “Giovanni Savonuzzi’s Detroit Odyssey” Pauley found this booklet in 1958 at Falvey’s when Lancia was at the top of their game.

VeloceToday for March 7, 2017

March 7, 2017 By pete

In one of his finest short stories, Graham Gauld tells us about the strange fate of Jean Behra; Roberto Motta writes on the Portello Awards at the Alfa Museum; a rare Lancia dealer folio that connects VeloceToday correspondents; a new book about Rudolph Uhlenhaut reveals the man and his career. All here, for you.

Jean Behra and the Fatal Insult

March 7, 2017 By pete

Jean Behra celebrates after winning the Modena Grand Prix 1957 – his penultimate Grand Prix for Maserati.

Story and photos by Graham Gauld

Had he lived, the great French driver Jean Behra would have been 96 last month (February). I say, “had he lived” because Behra was a hard, tough racing driver who had started out racing on motorcycles and had survived a number of accidents. He repeated this in his car racing career until that sad day when he was due to race his own Formula car, the Behra Porsche, for the first time in a World Championship Grand Prix.

Behra told me, ‘You are a stupid man!’ and slapped me on the face.

It was not to be, for a few hours earlier he chose to compete in a sports car race on the same high-speed banked Avus track in Germany in a Porsche RSK. He slithered on the banking in the wet and hit a pole at the top of the banking and was killed outright. [Read more…] about Jean Behra and the Fatal Insult

La Scuderia del Portello Awards

March 7, 2017 By pete

Old and new Giulias during the presentation of the Peking-Paris raid.

Story by Roberto Motta
Photos by Roberto Motta and Scuderia del Portello

On February 25, as it does every year since 1993, the Scuderia del Portello opened the new season with the “Alfa Romeo Award of Champions” for the drivers who have excelled in competitions and official events of the past season, driving both historical and modern Alfa Romeo cars.

The event was held at the historic Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and also celebrated 35 years of the Scuderia del Portello. Present during the ceremony were President of the Lombardy Region, Roberto Maroni; the President of the Lombardy Regional Committee CONI Oreste Perri; President ACI Milano, Ivan Capelli, and the director general Arexpo Marco Carabelli. Representing FCA was Roberta Zerbi (Business Center Italian Alfa Romeo and Jeep Country Manager). [Read more…] about La Scuderia del Portello Awards

VeloceToday for February 28, 2017

February 28, 2017 By pete

VeloceToday sent four correspondents to Retromobile. Last week we presented the reports of Hugues Vanhoolandt and Graham Gauld; this week Jonathan Sharp photographs his favorites, whatever the country; for your convenience, all three of Alessandro Gerelli’s auction reports feature only French and Italian cars.

Jonathan Sharp’s Retromobile 2017

February 28, 2017 By pete

This rear taillight from a Facel Vega is oh-so-stylish. What could be more Retro?

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

This year the Editor asked me to just submit everything that peaked my interest at Retro. Fat chance, for to truly be able to show you all the cars that peaked my interest would take several editions of VeloceToday.

I’ve been to Retro many times now, and still the language barrier for me was sometimes an issue but the cars on display were superb, as was the food; there are not many shows were one can enjoy oysters and a glass of champagne from a vendors stall.

The Editor and I wish to apologize for the huge number of photos below…something on the order of 43 but we lose count. And that is just a fraction which resided in my camera data card when I returned home. However, we broke up the subject matter thusly:

Art, Etcetera
French cars
British/German/Spanish
Italian

And looking back, even though myself, Graham Gauld, Hugues Vanhoolandt and Alessandro Gerelli all attended Retro and turned in reports to VeloceToday, there are few if any images of exactly the same car.

That gives one an idea of how immense and diverse Retromobile is. And it gets bigger every year.

Finally, if there are factual errors, the information for the most part is taken from the individual placards. In several cases we eliminated photos due to questionable statements. Spelling errors, if any (heavens forbid)can be blamed on us.

Art Etcetera

I was very taken by this tin plate Bugatti model as it just seemed to capture the times and subject so well.

Paul Smith’s vibrant art work needs a large wall on which to display it.

Alfa Romeo Alfetta model: If you crouch down to look closely at the models on sale at the show you could almost swear they were real cars.

This five-piece painting of a Ferrari P4 almost had my pal reaching for his credit card.

Alas, these Macaroon cookies on the Bugatti club of France stand were just for display.

I really enjoy looking at the wide choice of classic posters on sale each year. Unfortunately a lack of wall space and funds means I can only look.

Simply gorgeous Maserati T151 model.

A pair of pistons from a Matra MS9 V12 engine. The same dealer also had a Lamborgini F1 engine for sale.

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Retro Auctions: RM Sotheby’s, February 8

February 28, 2017 By pete

Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 1934, estimate 3.8-5 million euro, sold 3.9 million euro.

Photos and captions by Alessandro Gerelli

The first Retro related auction was the RM Sotheby’s held at the Place Vauban on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. The 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3, chassis 50006, sold for €3,920,000 and was the highest sale price of the day. Thirteen Porsches from one collection sold well and was a major feature of the RM auction. Below, Gerelli presents the Italian and French cars: an Alfa Montreal, and a Lancia B20 GT coupe and a Giulietta Spider that sold for 476000 euros, plus much more.

Exchange rate, 2-28-2017: 1 US Dollar=.94 Euro

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Retro Auctions: Bonhams, February 9

February 28, 2017 By pete

Simca 1000 coupè Bertone 1967, estimate 10-15000 euro, sold at 11500 euro.

Photos and captions by Alessandro Gerelli

The Bonhams Retromobile event took place at the Grand Palais on Thursday, February 9. Many of the Italian/French items did not sell, but this is not an indication of the overall sales percentage.

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Retro Auctions: Artcurial, February 10

February 28, 2017 By pete

Ferrari Dino 206P Speciale 1966, estimate 4-8 million euro, sold at 4390400 euro.

Photos and captions by Alessandro Gerelli

This year Alessandro Gerelli covered all three auctions held at or around Retromobile. The Artcurial Auction below was held last, on Friday on the same complex as Retromobile. This auction resulted in the highest price paid for a car during the auctions at Retro – the unique Dino 206 P berlinetta speciale of 1965 by Pininfarina sold for about 4.4 million euros against an estimate from 4 to 8 million euros and no reserve!

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VeloceToday for February 21, 2017

February 21, 2017 By pete

Hugues Vanhoolandt brings you his version of Retromobile, a tribute to “Bowtie Ferrari” author Randy Cook (1946-2017), Graham Gauld tells us about the six Grand Prix Delages at Retro, the history of the Seaman Delage from our archives.