Storez Porsche Zagato
Story and photos Graham Gauld
From time to time I get emails from people looking for photographs of special cars taken many years ago. A while back I had an odd request from the coachbuilders Zagato who wanted to know if I had any photos of one of their rare one-offs, the Zagato Porsche built for French driver Claude Storez.
It brought back memories of a warm day at the Reims circuit in September 1958. I was on my way back to Scotland from Modena but timed the trip so that I could meet up with the cars on the Tour de France that year. The Tour de France was organized by the Automobile Club of Nice and was one of the favorite events for racing drivers.
No fancy paddocks in those days even for the Ferraris. In the foreground Philippe Faure's 250GT LWB (0971GT), and the 250GT LWB ( 1035GT) of Alfonso Gomez Mena.
It was technically a rally, but all the special stages were actually races on a variety of racing circuits or hill climbs on some of the most famous climbs in France. English driver David Piper told me he prepared himself for racing in Europe by doing the Tour de France because it gave him the chance to get some practice on circuits like Reims, Le Mans and Rouen. Most enthusiasts know that the Ferrari 250GT TdF was named in honor of the Marquis de Portago’s win on the Tour de France with one of the early 250GT berlinettas. [Read more…] about Storez Porsche Zagato
Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2013
Lancia recreation was one of the stars of the Bonham's Auction.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The Four Days of the Goodwood Festival of Speed June 11-14 2013
The Goodwood Festival of Speed has become a four day affair. In addition, this year was the 20th Anniversary of the Festival of Speed and all of the stops were pulled to celebrate.
Thursday is the Moving Motor Show day, a new style of motor show where if you are lucky and your chosen manufacturer thinks you are a genuine customer, one is allowed to drive a test course around the Goodwood Estate including the hill climb course. The number of chosen is large and getting larger. [Read more…] about Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2013
SportErfolge: Porsches by Adriaensens
XXII Liège-Rome-Liège, August 1952: This 1500S Cabriolet was a Spanish entry by José M. de Caralt and L. Blesa, the latter being the private 'chauffeur' of de Caralt who also did most of the driving during this event. At the Rome control, turning point of the rally, this Spanish team collected only 670 penalty points which wasn't bad compared with, for instance, Fraikin/Gendebien who at this point already had 3676 penalty points! However, the Spanish Porsche ended in a ditch near the Comagoi control, luckily without injury to driver or navigator. Photo Copyright CorsaResearch
SportErfolge (Success in Sport)
By Tony Adriaensens
CorsaResearch Bvba
Antwerp, Belgium
corsa@corsaresearch.com
Review by Graham Gauld
Scroll down to see the incredible photos from the book, and “About the Author” after that!
I first came across Tony Adriaensens when I was in Hong Kong nearly twenty years ago and he sent me a copy of his first book on Alfa Romeos for review. Since then he has broadened his scope and done what a lot of us wished we had done. He has travelled far and wide obtaining some outstanding photo collections from amateur and semi-professional race photographers and then crafted them into superbly printed and presented books. [Read more…] about SportErfolge: Porsches by Adriaensens
Goodwood Festival: The Drivers
Jacky Ickx at Goodwood.
Goodwood is people too, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to talk to the legends up close and personal.
I had the pleasure escorting Jackie Stewart to the Mercedes-Benz W196; it could not be seen through the throngs of people, but I had seen it arrive. So being a gentleman I stepped in to help, wouldn’t you? [Read more…] about Goodwood Festival: The Drivers
Features This Week, July 11th, 2013
The winner of our last contest for “Amédée Gordini, a true racing legend” is Gary Canaparo of Sunol, California! Congratulations!
Le Mitiche a Bassano, June 21-23, 2013
The Riboldi/Sabbadini Fiat 508 Morettini which won first place honors.
Story and photos by Dino Brunori (Author of Enrico Nardi, A Fast Life)
This year the 19th edition of Le Mitiche Sport a Bassano sadly took place without the event founders, Danilo and Renato Calmonte, the brothers who invented the gathering of barchetta in Bassano. Both died last year just a few months apart, and we all missed their presence. But the seed they planted is now a strong tree and this year, 75 friends from all over the world –from Israel to Argentina, from USA to Emirates — came to Italy to make Bassano the capital of sports car enthusiasts for a very special three days in June. The Calmonte brothers can be very proud of what they’ve done. [Read more…] about Le Mitiche a Bassano, June 21-23, 2013
Frank Burrell and General LeMay Part 2
LeMay, center, with Frank Burrell on his left, looking over the Warner J2X. Courtesy Barry Burrell.
By Eric Davison
In Part 1 of the Frank Burrell story, Davison tells us how Burrell was Cadillac’s secret weapon, the guy behind the scenes, modifying and supplying Cadillac engines to race car mechanics and owners. And here the plot thickens, as Burrell meets another Allard enthusiast, one General Curtis LeMay and moves on to GM.
Yet another Allard owner and friend of Frank Burrell was General Curtis B. LeMay. LeMay was an Allard owner and he was directed to Burrell after he made inquiries to Cadillac about achieving more performance in his J2X.
Burrell receives his award after placing 8th overall at Sebring in 1950 with Fred Wacker. Burrell rarely raced, but did well when he did! Courtesy Barry Burrell.
While LeMay did not drive himself, he was known to get grease under his fingernails in preparation. During his ownership period, Fred Warner drove his car in several events.
Pikes Peak to Peugeot! In English and Italian
Loeb and Peugeot exceeded all expectations at Pikes Peak.
By Roberto Motta
Photo courtesy by Peugeot Sport and Red Bull Motorsport
Other articles on the subject:
Peugeot Heads for the Hill
History of Peugeot at Pikes Peak
On June 30th, Sébastien Loeb and the 208 T16 Peugeot “Pikes Peak” shattered the record for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with a staggering time of 8 minutes 13.878 seconds. Loeb, known by his fans as the “Cannibal”, devoured opponents along the 20 miles and 156 curves of the hill climb with an average speed of 145 kph. [Read more…] about Pikes Peak to Peugeot! In English and Italian
Dana Point Concours d’Elegance
The Right Stuff...Dana Point attracted the magnificent Ferrari Pinin Farina 212 Inter. It was the second Ferrari to be clothed by Pinin Farina.
By Wallace Wyss
Photographs by Ric Bartholomew
The 31st Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, held on June 23rd, was a success. A good part of that success is due to the selection of the right cars.
What does “right” mean? Well, for instance, I was able to see Ken and Dayle Roath’s 1952 Ferrari Pinin Farina 212 Inter Cabriolet in person. The car is interesting to me because I figure it was one of the first “Gran Touring” Ferraris ever imported to the U.S. There’s a famous picture of it with the New York skyline in back of it. [Read more…] about Dana Point Concours d’Elegance
Gordini Book Contest and Features This Week, 6-27, 2013
This is it!
IF you are a Premium Subscriber and would like a chance to win this book, you have until Sunday, June 30th, at 12 midnight EDT USA, to send me an email (vack@cox.net) with your name (mailing address optional). All entries will be put into a box and drawing will be made on Monday. The winner will receive a new copy of Amédée Gordini–a true racing legend provided by the publisher, Veloce Publishing. Shipping will be paid by VeloceToday.com.
The winner will be announced in the July 4th edition of VeloceToday.com. All decisions are final.
Coming next: Win a new copy of the book, Maserati Zagato by Walter Bäumer, provided courtesy of Dalton Watson Publishing! Again only Premium Subscribers are eligible to participate in the drawing.
Fulvias at Goodwood, Alfas at Brooklands, PF at Hurtwood
Three events, hundreds of cars, but this is very special.
Stories and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
When you consider the amount of classic car and race meetings that I am able to attend during the all-too-brief British summer season, to say that I am blessed would be an understatement. Events range from Goodwood and Silverstone to the small gatherings in fields and local club pub meets. They all have their own unique charm. It’s just a bit unfortunate sometimes that they all seem to follow one another, often with very short intervals in between; a bit like buses, you wait all winter long and then several events come along at once, as the three described here.
Lancia Di Lambda at Goodwood.
Fulvias at Goodwood
A message from one friend to another, asking “…are you going to the Fulvia 50th meeting at Goodwood on Saturday, May25th for the 50 years of the Fulvia?” I attended the Fulvia 25th Anniversary in my 1.3 Coupe. Can that really be 25 years ago?