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Gauld and the Six Delage Grand Prix Cars

February 21, 2017 By pete

Retromobile captured five out of the six 1927 Grand Prix Delages for display, an amazing feat.

Story by Graham Gauld
Color images by Hugues Vanhoolandt unless otherwise noted.

Every year tends to mark the anniversary of something significant in the automobile world and 2017 is important for one car in particular, the Delage 15S8. It was one of the most successful Grand Prix cars of all time and it was born ninety years ago this year.

It was fitting that Retromobile in Paris reserved a special area upstairs and in the smaller hall for a remarkable display that featured five of the six original cars built ninety years ago! It was a tremendous feat to gather them all together in one place for the first time thanks to a group of dedicated Delage enthusiasts including my old friend Christophe Pund.

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Seaman, Chiron and the Grand Prix Delage

February 21, 2017 By pete

Richard Seaman was perhaps the greatest British interwar driver. Giulio Ramponi gets a time check before a race, while Seaman sits in the Delage. Courtesy RM Auctions.

Story by Nicholas Lancaster

[While doing research for this article,originally published in VeloceToday in October of 2007, Mr. Lancaster began a search to find the current location of the ex-Ramponi/Seaman Delage. He found it in the hands of Mr. Abraham Kogan, who had consigned it to the RM Auction in London. It then passed into the hands of Peter Giddings. Our thanks to RM Auctions for providing the illustrations used in this article.Ed.]

Louis Delage had been active in Grand Prix racing since before the First World War with a series of first-rate designs that had achieved numerous successes, culminating in victory in the Indianapolis 500 in 1914. In the mid-1920’s Delage returned to front line motor sport with the introduction of the 1923 2 liter V12 engined Grand Prix car, designed by Charles Planchon, and refined by his protégé Albert Lory.

Whilst the V12 eventually came good, winning the Grand Prix of Spain in 1925, the design had suffered from numerous initial teething problems, and this cost Planchon his job. For 1926, a change of formula required the use of 1.5 liter engines and Lory — who had eventually developed the V12 into a winner — took a different approach with the new car, designing a jewel-like supercharged straight-eight engine capable of 170 bhp at 8000 rpm.

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Randy Cook, a Tribute

February 21, 2017 By pete

Author Randy Cook in 750 Monza (0518M) at Concorso Italiano.

One is remembered by his work

By Pete Vack

We are saddened by the loss of Bowtie Ferraris author and vintage racer Randy Cook, who passed away on February 16, 2017 after a being diagnosed with cancer.

When I first met Randy, he was carrying a huge, I mean huge, three ring binder bursting with facts and photos of Chevy-engined Ferraris.

He plopped it down in front of me and said, “Well, let’s get to work.” [Read more…] about Randy Cook, a Tribute

VeloceToday for February 14, 2017

February 14, 2017 By pete

Graham Gauld gets the goods at Retro, Fiat Jolly, 600 and Spider brochures, Peter Darnall on Tazio, the turtle and d’Annunzio, Wallace Wyss on a roll with his fourth book on Barn Finds. Much more on Retro coming up!

Tazio Nuvolari Meets Gabriele D’Annunzio

February 14, 2017 By pete

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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Gauld at Retro 2017 Take One

February 14, 2017 By pete

What’s special about this special Lancia?

Story and photos (except as noted) by Graham Gauld

This year Retromobile was bigger than ever with a surprise every ten yards. And that’s why most of what is contained in this early story is a mere fragment of the kind of stuff you can find if you look in all the nooks and crannies. I’ll be writing more about this year’s Retro so just stay tuned to VeloceToday.

I am always on the lookout for cars that remind me of times gone by when they were new and fresh and so it came as a surprise to find a very interesting stand supported by Fiat Group, concessionaires and associated car clubs as they had brought along a number cars that all had stories to tell.

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Fiat 600-1500 Dealer Brochures Part 2

February 14, 2017 By pete

VeloceToday for February 7, 2017

February 7, 2017 By pete

I want an Amilcar, maybe you’d like a Ferrari? Jonathan Sharp takes off with the Bluebirds at Beaulieu to weave a fascinating story of life, death and heredity; Toly goes from Brescia to Rome, and a stunning presentation of 50s Fiat brochures.

Donald Campbell’s Tragic Odyssey

February 7, 2017 By pete

Before his second run for the LSR in 1964, Donald Campbell thought he had had it. But then, “I suddenly looked up and there was my father reflected in the windscreen as clearly as you are sitting there now…”

Why a story about the LSR Bluebirds in VeloceToday, one that has no Italian or French connections? Jonathan Sharp is our writer and our connection, as he not only has several Alfas but has a superb story to tell about the short and heroic life of Donald Campbell, including an exclusive story about the Campbell’s wallet, retrieved from his XKE right after the fatal accident in 1967 and never been on public display. A great story is a great story, whatever the country. Ed.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Donald Campbell and the LSR

On Friday the 17th July 1964, after four years of struggle, Donald Campbell, CBE, finally broke John Cobb’s 1947 Land Speed record speed of 394.20 mph, driving his Bristol Proteus Gas Turbine powered Bluebird CN7. His friend Craig Breedlove had gone faster but his J47 Jet powered Spirit of America was considered by the governing body to be a tricycle, and more importantly, was not wheel driven so did not at the time meet the rules laid down. [Read more…] about Donald Campbell’s Tragic Odyssey

Fiat 1100-1900-500 Dealer Brochures Part 1

February 7, 2017 By pete

Arutunoff on the Mille Miglia Part 2

February 7, 2017 By pete

At the 1988 Mille Miglia with a 1951 Cooper MG.

Part 2 of the Excerpt from Steering with your Knees by Anatoly Arutunoff
Read Part 1

By Toly Arutunoff

We overnighted in Rome at the midpoint of the event, and my timing was such that while Karen was smart enough to grab a Coke and head straight for bed, I hit the lobby at the exact time another dining room was opened up to accept the overflow of competitors from the main room. Chicken, veal, pasta, pasta, antipasto, wine, beer — it was all there, fresh, and as much as you could choke down if you weren’t too tired to swallow. [Read more…] about Arutunoff on the Mille Miglia Part 2

VeloceToday for January 31, 2017

January 31, 2017 By pete

This week Jonathan Sharp shows us more cars from the National Museum, an update on the Fiat and Abarth Rally scene, a hilarious excerpt from Toly Arutunoff’s latest book, and from the archives, Arutunoff and the Appia Zagatos.