VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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This Week, of Interest

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Larry Crane
Larry Crane gave me a call the other day. He is well and doing good work and keeping busy. We talked a lot of many things, and the next day I received a package full of copies of his old magazine, “Vintage Racer”. We’ll be using some of the material from that vintage magazine in the near future. In the meantime, all of Larry’s columns entitled “A Car Life” can be found on the pages of VeloceToday…click here.
Thanks Larry, and stay well and busy.

Subscriptions
Among the many things needed doing when we overhauled VeloceToday recently was to clean up a 10 year old subscription list. We may have deleted one or two that bounced but were still active. Send an email to pete@velocetoday.com if you aren’t receiving your normal weekly dose of VeloceToday. Or, if you just want to subscribe or have a friend who wants to subscribe, send an email.

Visit the Archives
We have now completed the archive access capabilities. For the old VT articles, click the “Search Archives” button in the top bar. For archives from the past two years, use the find, monthly, or by catagory functions at the top of the right column.

Below, we help find information about those elusive Etceterinins, listing both books and Internet sources, two more entries for Amelia, and Lynch on the Desert Classic Concours.

Etceterini Books

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Books
What is surprising is that there are so many books about Etceterinis. While most books on the subject are in Italian, but today, with Google Translator, just type in the text you wish to read and it will translate, instantly and accurately enough for general purposes. Increasingly, more are being printed in both English and Italian, or one can find English text copies about.

We list here only the books we-being Cliff Reuter, Stu Schaller and myself– have on our shelves. There are many others to be found and we hope you will let us know what they are and a bit about them. We have limited the choices to those books which directly address the subject; books on coachbuilders or special bodied Fiats will be covered at another time.

“La Sport e I suoi artigiani 1937-1965” is the one absolutely essential book for anyone who is interested in Etceterinis. Published in 2002, it is the bible, an encyclopedia of virtually every single small displacement Italian car built for the Italian national classes in the post war era. It is complete, fascinating, full of photos, in alphabetical order, well indexed, but all in Italian. You can read a review of the book from 2002, here.
[Read more…] about Etceterini Books

Etceterini Internet Sources

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Websites and Links

There is a growing amount of information on the Net, and we are just scratching the surface here. Say or type the favored word into Google or Bing and they will appear.

Below are some of our favorites along with some good things found in our very own pages, compiled from our archives. But no where is there more information in one spot than at Etecterini.com. Almost singlehandedly Cliff Reuter has turned his site into a veritable Wikipedia for Ecteterinis. You’ll spend hours just cruising through the vast amounts of material Cliff has accumulated and organized and don’t miss the SCCA results and programs: Etceterini.com.
[Read more…] about Etceterini Internet Sources

This Week, of Interest

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This week we feature the Moretti Branca Formula Junior, one of the first rear engine Juniors built, raced in Europe and then in the U.S. by Augie Pabst, used as a restaurant sign and finally ending up remarkably intact, in the hands of VeloceToday correspondent, Australian Ean McDowell.

It fits in nicely with our work on the Amelia Etceterini contest and entries. Every week we receive more great photos of the entrants, and what a great class they are. From iconic cycle fendered siluros to tiny but thrillingly artistic barchettas to streamlined sports racers, they are all assembling here for your perusal. And vote.

Finally, what may be the last report on the Ferrari Historic Series, which has been “suspended” in Europe. In North America only one date in September appears on the Ferrari NA web site (and that under the 430 Challenge). None of the traditional dates are scheduled. These are not good times in Italy, and we have heard several rumors about Fiat’s plans for the future which include the possible elimination of the Alfa Romeo brand and closing of the famous Museum. We hope they are rumors only, and we’ll keep you posted on future developments.

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Origins

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By Ean McDowell

Australian Ean McDowell is no stranger to the pages of VeloceToday, and one of his most interesting articles is Night Drive in an ASA. Ean knows that while the climate, road conditions, availability of restoration services, events, and the general social environment make Australia an ideal country for car enthusiasts, the opportunity to purchase special cars is not as great as in USA or Europe. That has not stopped him amassing a private collection that includes cars imported from UK, USA, Spain, France, and Mexico. Whether a high revving V12 or a rusty Fiat 1100, Ean has a love for all Italian cars. In this article he describes the amazing history of a Moretti Formula Junior that will be restored and used in events “down under”. Ean has a Stanguellini FJ and compares the Moretti design and innovation to the 1959 championship winning Stanguellini.

“Like you, I bought my most interesting cars unseen, and instantly!!!!” These words came as warm reassurance from Duncan Rabagliati, a very well known motoring historian and Formula Junior expert, in response to the slight apprehension that, without an inspection, I had just bought a 50 year old racing car in need of total restoration. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Origins

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Tech Description

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Moretti Branca under construction as Buscate. One of several original photos supplied by Mr. Branca in 2009

By Ean McDowell

In Part I, Ean McDowell interviewed Aquilino Branca who told him how he had created Championship winning 750cc race cars in the mid 1950s and how, in 1958, a new rear engine Formula Junior car was created. In Part 2, McDowell describes the mechanical aspects of the three Moretti Branca Formula cars.

In the initial discussions leading up to the birth of Formula Junior there was consensus only on the fundamental principle that it should provide low cost racing. There was no agreement at first on how this would be achieved. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Tech Description

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: The Races

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Madero at Monaco in what is almost certainly chassis 2.18 judging by the rear suspension, color scheme, head rest, and the position of the panel fixing bolts.

By Ean McDowell

In Part 1, Ean McDowell interviewed Aquilino Branca who told him how he had created Championship winning 750cc race cars in the mid 1950s and how, in 1958, a new rear engine Formula Junior car was created. In Part 2, McDowell describes the mechanical aspects of the three Moretti Branca Formula cars. Part 3 concludes with the racing history of the owner‘s Moretti Branca.

The earliest appearance of a Moretti Formula Junior appears to have been on 29th June 1958 at Monza. Stanguellinis dominated but were challenged by the lone Moretti (probably the front engined car) driven by Aquilino Branca which placed sixth. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: The Races

Four More for Amelia

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Are F Jrs. Etceterinis? Only the Italian ones!

We continue to feature the cars entered in the Etceterini class at this year’s Amelia. We will combine them all into one article on March 3rd to present them all at one time for voting purposes. The winner will receive a copy of “Nardi, A fast life”, donated by author Dino Brunori. Below are four more excellent Etceterinis.
[Read more…] about Four More for Amelia

Cavallino Classic Historics

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Todd Morici, BB/LM 512. Juha Lievonen/photosbyjuha.com

Photos by Juha Lievonen/photosbyjuha.com

Todd Morici and Peter Giddings were the first two drivers to be named “Grand Masters” in the Ferrari Historic Challenge, reflecting their multiple wins and championships. At the 2010 Cavallino Classic the pair proved they’ve lost none of their skills, as each was an overall winner in the event’s Historic Races. [Read more…] about Cavallino Classic Historics

This Week, of Interest

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Up and Running…
We are back online with a new everything! Over the next few weeks we’ll be doing some fine tuning to the site. If you have any suggestions or comments, let us know.

This week …we have new Etceterini entrants for Amelia featured, and Alessandro Gerelli reports on Retro from three different angles.

Dino Brunori to present Nardi biography to Etceterini Winner

Nardi book to be awarded at Amelia and you choose the winner!

Author Dino Brunori has kindly donated a copy of his book, “Enrico Nardi, A fast life”, as an award for the most popular Etceterini entered at Amelia Island Concours in March.

Each of the entrants will be featured in VeloceToday prior to the event. (We have already featured four). There are no criteria. Vote just once for whatever Etceterini tickles your fancy. All entrants will be featured in one article on March 3rd to present them for our voters.

Votes will be sent via email to pete@velocetoday.com. Closing date for voting is March 9th. On Wednesday March 10 we will announce the winner and the book will be awarded at Amelia by Cliff Reuter.

More Amelia Etceterini Entries

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Bill King in the 1100cc Bandini Siluro.

Here are the details of two more of the Amelia entrants in the Etceterini class. We will feature the remaining six in the next few editions of VeloceToday. Previously, we featured the Reuter Bandini and the Stanguellini.

By Cliff Reuter

1947 Bandini Fiat 1100 Siluro

This is the second Bandini made and it features a 65 bhp Fiat 1100 engine and weighs in at 1,100 pounds. Bandini himself raced it at the 1948 Giro dell’Umbria, Pescara, Ferrara, Senigallia, and the 1949 Mille Miglia. [Read more…] about More Amelia Etceterini Entries

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