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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Graham Gauld: By The Way

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Dino-206

This Dino 206S was seen again at the Algarve Historic Festival in Portugal. Here it is in 1965 at the Cesana-Torinese hill climb, its first outing as a hill climb car. Driver Ludovico Scarfiotti has his back to the camera and team manager Eugenio Dragoni.

Four from Portugal, by Graham Gauld

I have been humbled by the response to the first column and only hope I can keep you entertained for a few more months. I think one of the problems is that each chance meeting or race meeting provides an opportunity to dig out even more stories to flesh out information we have on some of the odder pieces of motor sport history. They might otherwise disappear when boring old farts like me arrive at the eventual pit stop hopefully in the sky.

This opportunity to flesh out more information was underlined for me a couple of weeks ago at the final big International European historic meeting, the Algarve Historic Festival in Portugal.
[Read more…] about Graham Gauld: By The Way

1957 Ferrari Transporter in 1/18 Scale

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Ferrari transporter

Ferrari's means of getting to the track in the 1960s.

Story and photos by Marshall Buck

I’m not sure exactly what it is, but there is something hypnotically attractive about vintage racing car transporters. I’m talking about the kind from the 1930s through the 1960s. Just like the rare competition cars they carry, old race transporters draw crowds anywhere they park. Especially the vintage European kind, of which there have been so very many types, configurations, and manufacturers of. Numerous magazine articles have been written, and even a couple of books have been published on them.

Ferrari Transporter

Big pencil, even bigger model!

Old race transporters appear to be one of the next phases of collector vehicles within the Vintage race car community. They are the “in” thing, and they are very cool. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if someday in the future, you find a special showing of these at one of the premier concours. Stranger things have happened.

Imposing rear view, and gives just a hint of extensive and complete underside detail.

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The Most Successful Series in the 10 years of VeloceToday

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Eric Davison’s stirring memoirs of his family and the early years at Watkins Glen evoked many great comments from young and old alike. The series is over, but PDFs of each chapter and the CD of the Davison/Lance photos are still available for Premium Subscribers.

If you are NOT a member, subscribe to our Premium Service now at receive a Free Watkins Glen CD while supplies last! Click below for details.

Boniface Picnic Benefits St. Elizabeth Health Center

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By Carl Goodwin
Photos by Chuck Hazle

The Annual Ray Boniface Picnic is more than a car show. It’s a way to make free breast cancer exams available to women in eastern Ohio who could not otherwise afford one. The Picnic raises money for and schedules two yearly programs providing free mammograms for women in the Warren and Youngstown area of Ohio.
[Read more…] about Boniface Picnic Benefits St. Elizabeth Health Center

McDonough Drives a Delahaye 135M Skiff

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delahaye skiff

By Ed McDonough

Photos by Mike Jiggle

It isn’t really fair to call this car a Guillore Delahaye. It might be more accurate to say that a Guillore ferry has been transformed into a racy Delahaye ‘skiff’, for indeed that is the interesting history of this 1938 135M.

As mentioned in our introductory piece, pre-war Delahayes had bodies designed and built by a very wide range of European coachbuilders, and that range covered the spectrum from fairly simple to wildly extravagant. The Guillore cars were generally at the former end of that spectrum characteristic of the Delahaye output in the immediate pre-war and post-war periods.

Delahaye-Roadster-

At 1300 kilograms, the Guillore skiff flies...if you can say that about a boat-shaped device. My only criticism is that as I was lucky enough to be driving, I couldn’t see it go by!

Who was Guillore?

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Best of France and Italy 2011

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One of our favorite shows is the “Best of France and Italy”, held every year on the grounds of Woodley Park in the L.A. area. It is low key, a true enthusiasts gathering, and brings out a great variety of unusual French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian and Czechoslovakian cars. Don Hodgdon was there for us.[Ed.]

Story and photos by Don Hodgdon

Rain was falling when I woke up Sunday morning, but it passed through quickly and I left Santa Barbara under sunny skies. I had thought twice about heading down to Woodley Park, having my doubts that anyone would show up. While the numbers were down from past years, considering the rain there was a good group of cars. Alfas and Fiats, along with a healthy group of Citroens made up the bulk of the show, and I think there were almost as many Tatras (3) as there were Ferraris.
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Exclusive Discount for our Premium Members

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If you are a Premium Subscriber, or have just signed up, you are eligible for a 20% discount off the price of $49.00 for the new book, “Watkins Glen, The Street Years, 1948-1952”, PLUS free domestic shipping. And it’s easy. Just send me an email at pete@velocetoday.com letting me know if you would like your copy. Read Review.

If you are NOT a member, subscribe to our Premium Service now and ALSO receive a Free Watkins Glen CD while supplies last! Click below for details.

Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 7: Epilogue

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In 1956 Dad sold the Squire but not before I was able to use it to pursue the lovely Mary, the first girl that I dated that he really dug and deemed Squire-worthy. He would say.”If you are going to see Mary, take the Squire!” What a deal that was! Mary and I have been married for nearly 56 years leading me to believe that it wasn’t all Squire that swung the deal. Dad was the best man at my wedding as he was at my brother’s.

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Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

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otto linton oscaAbove: Otto Linton in the rare 2000S OSCA serial number 2006.

Special Notice:Otto Linton will be the guest speaker at a VSCCA Luncheon, December 4th, in Somers NY. Contact frankrighetti33@aol.com for details.

“I raced an MG in 1948 at Watkins Glen,” says driver Otto Linton. “It was a J4, the only one in the United States and it’s now back in the UK. “ As described in the book The Story of the MG Sports Car, the 1933 J4 was “too fast for most drivers.” The car had essentially the same body that would cover MG frames until 1955, except no doors. Mechanically, it had a 4-cylinder OHC engine of 750cc displacement, supercharged, with one large SU carburetor and a four speed transmission with a remote shift lever and lock-out reverse. It was built in 1933 in a special production of only 9 cars, at the same time as the more famous K3 Magnette with the same design engine but of 6 cylinder configuration – 30 of these were built and only sold to customer competition drivers.

MG-J4

Linton's MG J4 in 1945.

Like many other drivers in that first race of the new sports car era – Bill Milliken, race organizer Cam Argetsinger, Denver Cornett and George Weaver, Otto posted a DNF in the event, with Haig Ksayian going on to take the win in the MG class. “I just had that one race in ’48,” says Otto, “plus a couple of hill climbs in 1949.” [Read more…] about Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 6: 1952

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Following the 1951 event Dad began once again to look at the classified section of the Motor. He always went first to the ‘S’ section in the hope that he might spot another SS100.

It was during one of those wistful searches that he came cross the magic name: Squire.
[Read more…] about Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 6: 1952

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