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From the Archives: Fifty Years of Slot Cars

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Strombecker's Lancia-Ferrari D50, before being set up for slot car tracks. The original receipt for this model was found in the box. It was sold on October 27th, 1960, at Bowen's Toyland in the Bedford Shopping Center in Bedford Massachusetts. The cost was $1.29.

Two brothers discuss a tradition of slot car racing that started in 1960

1959-1966 By Pete Vack
In December of 1957, Sports Cars Illustrated published an article about a Scalextric/Triang slot car set that author Bob Coogan had found at Polks Hobby Shop in New York City. Coogan called the table top track “The Ultimate Christmas Gift”. It was a great story, and clearly, a kid could get pretty juiced up on this new hobby. We’d have to wait for a while, but this was one young sports car nut that simply had to have a slot car track. There were no ifs, ands, or doubts about it. Remembering those days allows one to understand the tremendous anticipation of the latest version of the Ipad. [Read more…] about From the Archives: Fifty Years of Slot Cars

This Week, of Interest

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Roy Smith, right, with Lord Montagu.

On December 9th at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC Club) in Pall Mall, London, Roy Smith was awarded at the Guild of Motoring writers dinner the 2010 MERCEDES BENZ AWARD and THE MONTAGU TROPHY, presented personally by Lord Montagu for his two books Alpine & Renault- The Sports Prototypes. Roy also contributed to the R5 Turbo article published by VeloceToday last week.

Said the otherwise unflappable Smith, “Apparently it was a hotly contested award with nine nominations. I knew was nominated but I was up against much more experienced and eminent writers in the field of historic motoring.” The names on the Trophy read like a who’s who of British historic motoring writing for the last 30 odd years or so; the name of Roy Smith is now added the trophy held in perpetuity at the RAC Club.

https://velocetoday.com/products-page/french-books
“The runner up was Sir Stirling Moss who has done a book with Alan Henry, so we had a bit of banter, it being the only time I would ever take a ‘class win’ over Stirling Moss!!…”
Congratulations to Roy from VeloceToday!!

And, order at left!

Alfas Tour Istria, November 5-7th 2010

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By Daniel Tomicic and staff

Dateline Istria

At Volosko, part of the tourist city of Opatija, the Stewart SS takes a break.


It’s hard to imagine a more exotic, multilayered, castellated and picturesque area than a small part of Croatia called Istria, which is actually a peninsula on the Adriatic Sea. Croatia itself is in southeast Europe and once part of the Roman Empire and later fought over by the Turks, Germans and Italians. In the early 20th century there was a large segment of Italians living in Istria, among them being the Andretti family, who lived in the mountain top town of Motovun (then Montona). Always sparsely populated, even today there are few cars but great roads.

All of which make the ingredients for an interesting car tour. On November 5-7th, the Scuderia Zagreb tossed up a small six car tour of the area. Significantly the entrants were all Alfas and three of them part of Scuderia Portello of Milan. [Read more…] about Alfas Tour Istria, November 5-7th 2010

Fiat 850: One Man’s Passion

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From the side, Mighty Mouse is recognizable as a Fiat 850 Spider by the long nose.

By Brian Winer

Photos by Mitch Schwartzburg

It sometimes happens that a man falls in love with a car. Not just “falls in love,” no that’s not a strong enough phrase; let’s say “passionately” in love. Because how else could you explain someone buying a $300 Fiat 850 and pouring over $32,000 into it?

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This Week, of Interest

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Captured in Ann Arbor, a new Alfa Giulietta. Photo by Larry Crane.

The rear is chunky but distinctive. Photo by Larry Crane.

Larry Crane was in his old stomping grounds of Ann Arbor, Michigan recently, and what should he see but a brand new spanking Alfa Romeo Giulietta four door sedan, sitting in a local bank’s parking lot. Being the sharp kinda guy he is, he grabbed his digital camera and got off these shots.

So, is Alfa really coming to the U.S.? Well maybe. The presence of a test car seems to bode well for the possibility. Maybe we are something like half way there. Nice looking car though and distinctive. The Giulietta has been awarded the prestigious Euro NCAP five-star rating and an overall score of 87/100: an extraordinary result that makes it the safest compact ever. In Europe, the Giulietta is offered with three turbo gas engines, 1.4 liter with 120 hp, 1.4 with Multi Air and 170 hp, and a 1750 cc with 235 hp.

Mrs. Hansberry’s Fiat

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Mazda Ute towing the Fiat 1100 Riviera in the Western Plains of Victoria, Australia.

Story and photos by Ean McDowell

“1965 Fiat Sedan, unable to get spare parts, is unroadworthy, so cannot be sold. I would give it to anyone who is interested in restoring old bodies. Has done approximately 40,000 miles. White in colour and quite dusty as it has been sitting in a carport for several years; Mrs Lorna Hansberry, Landt Hostel.”

The faded notice was in frail handwriting taken down from a noticeboard long ago. It was said the car was given away four times but no-one ever collected it and sadly Mrs Hansberry passed away in late 2009. [Read more…] about Mrs. Hansberry’s Fiat

This Week, of Interest

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Gauging a classic–Alex Vazeos hopes VeloceToday readers can be of some help in finding a set of proper instruments for his Giaur similar to those at left. If you can help, please contact him at alexfreda@hol.gr or us at pete@velocetoday.com.

This week, four short shorts stories by a variety of authors; Tina Van Curen, Carl Goodwin, Montague Gammon III, and a frustrated model builder, whose name we’ll not mention.

Best of France and Italy, 2010

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1939 Citroen Light 15 owned by Chuck Forward.

Story by Bettina Van Curen, Photos by Don Hodgdon unless otherwise noted

November 7, 2010

On a chilly but sunny early Sunday morning in Van Nuys, CA a handful of volunteers distribute signs and set out cones as the first of the Alfa Romeos, Fiats and Citroens start to roll in. All is chaos as my husband Chuck has the maps and he is about ½ mile down the road doing something under the hood of his 1955 Citroen Traction Avant. [Read more…] about Best of France and Italy, 2010

Lonely Lancia

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Dr. Howard Moon in his Lancia B20, neither lost nor lonely. Pretty happy in fact. Photographer, time and place unknown. But a nice photo to illustrate Montague's story.

By Montague Gammon III

Hard on the brakes at well over the speed limit in the left lane of Route 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, I spun the wheel of my slightly tatty Plymouth Horizon and screeched into the break in the median strip.
[Read more…] about Lonely Lancia

The Boniface Picnic

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Lancia Appia Zagato third series. Photo by Carl Goodwin.

By Carl Goodwin

Once every fall, before the weather gets too cold, Dr. Ray Boniface stages a car show benefit for breast cancer research. It’s probably the most interesting show in the Cleveland area, with better cars and a nicer venue than the local British, Italian or German Car Shows.
[Read more…] about The Boniface Picnic

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