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Frank Lance, Lonestar Master Mechanic Part 4

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Daytona, February 1962. Two Chaparrals lining up for the start. Jim Hall would race the white #66, while Dick Rathmann of Indianapolis fame was assigned to run Harry Heuer’s blue #0. [photo by Art Huttinger]

Story by Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

With both his successful Maseratis sold during 1961, Jim Hall would race the new season with three other cars: the Troutman-Barnes Chaparral and a pair of 2.5-liter Climax-engined Lotuses, formerly Formula One cars, now racing as InterContinental Formula entries [ICF] in several USAC events.

At Daytona in February, for the inaugural 3-hour Continental race, the first two Chapparals built lined up next to each other for the Le Mans start. Hall did well by finishing 3rd overall behind winner Dan Gurney [Arciero Lotus 19/Climax] and Phil Hill/Ricardo Rodriguez [NART Ferrari Dino 246S], but Rathmann’s ride was outstanding. In spite of a delayed start, losing almost two laps due to engine flooding, and a time penalty for a bungled fuel stop, Dick broke the track record a number of times to finish 6th overall. According to the Daytona program, their Chevy V8s measured 5,227 cc [around 329 cu in] but that would change.

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Epoqu’Auto at Lyon Part 1

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A 1950 Talbot T15 Baby coach by Pourtout powered by the 4 cylinder 2.7-litre of 127 bhp.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

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Organized for the 44th time, the Epoqu’Auto show in Lyon has experienced uninterrupted growth in recent years to reach a surface area of 80,000 m2 and 850 exhibitors. As every year, different themes are offered to the 95,000 visitors: Peugeot, Talbot, Cadillac but also the rally exhibition and the auction. What also gives this provincial show its charm are the numerous brand clubs presenting vehicles rarely seen elsewhere, in contrast to Retromobile in Paris where there are many more car dealers, which makes Paris a more commercial show.

Now let’s see what was shown in terms of Talbot and Peugeot.

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French and Italian at Epoqu’Auto, Lyon

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This is a Georges Irat cabriolet type MM with a 4-cylinder 954cc Ruby engine. Around 600 examples with Ruby engines were produced between 1935 and 1939 and 130 with Citroën engines in 1939.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

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We continue with more French and Italian makes at the Epoqu’Auto, Lyon.

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St. James Concours to Brighton

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Entrant 123, 1902 2 cylinder 10hp Georges Richard Tonneau.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

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To people of a certain age the London to Brighton Veteran Car run is still known as ‘the old croc’s race’ (that will be me then!) but for the one thing, it is definitely not a race but a run to celebrate the passing of the “Locomotives on the Highway Act” which came into force at midnight on the 14th November 1896, which raised the speed limit for light Locomotives (horseless carriages) from 4 mph to 14 mph (but lowered to 12 mph before the act came into force), and abolished the requirement for the Locomotive to be proceeded by a man on foot.

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London to Brighton Run: At the Finish

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Entry 364, 1904 4 cylinder 32hp Simplex Mercedes.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

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Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and living in Brighton means I can cover the finish and do not need to get up before the birds to make the 7am start. This year I decided to photograph some of the entrants on the outskirts of Brighton so positioned myself initially by the major junction of the A23 London road and A27 Worthing road. I thought my timing was perfect as I had just parked the car when two entrants came passed but then nothing for the next half an hour! By about midday the stream of entrants was pretty steady so before moving onto the sea front I took some more shots between the roundabout and the Black Lion Pub (if you know the area then you will know where I mean).

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Fiat at the Auto e Moto d’Epoca

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You did not need to look far to see the very rare. This is a 1954 Fiat 1100 TV with coachwork designed by Giovanni Michelotti and constructed by Carrozzeria Canta. Carrozzeria Canta was formed in 1949 and mainly bodied Fiat 1100 and 1400 chassis. In 1954 the company introduced two models but soon the Studebaker lawyers came calling forcing the company to change their designs for 1955.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The following is probably best described as a Fiat fest. I imagine that these days should you choose to purchase a new Fiat, you probably have thousands of options with regards to colour/trim combinations, extra chrome, maybe carbon fibre, a sunroof perhaps. But how great it must have been in the 1950s and 60s to decide that I want to buy a new Fiat, but I want it to be truly different to the next door neighbors’.

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Frank Lance, Lonestar Master Mechanic, Part 3

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Mansfield, March 1961. Based on Jim Hall’s grimy face, a photo taken just after the race. From the left: Frank Lance, Jim, body man Foy Barrett and part-time mechanic Billy Billings, next to Jim’s feature winning Maserati 570S. Harry Heuer’s Meister Brauser Scarab is in the background.

As told by Frank Lance to Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

The 1961 season started well for Jim Hall. During the Polar Prix at Green Valley in February he raced a Porsche RSK to a feature win, beating preliminary winner Delmo Johnson in his Jaguar XK-SS [chassis 701].

Frank: “That was the former Penske RSK. Jim had a new Porsche RS-60 that he raced at Green Valley in August 1960, beating Delmo’s XK-SS for first overall. Roger wanted an RS-60 because Bob Holbert was beating him with his own RS-60. So, Roger made a deal with Jim to swap cars, although not engines. I had to remove the engine from the RS-60 and reinstall it in the tired RSK that Penske sent us. We took it to Green Valley in the new year and again won overall in a race against my old friend, the XK-SS Jaguar, now with Chevy power.

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Lancia at the Auto Moto d’Epoca

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Auto Moto d’Epoca La passione per I motorie e a Bologna, so said the full page advert in ‘il Resto del Carlino, the local newspaper; I could not agree more. Having now visited again after too many years, with the new location I am better placed to organize my next visit, probably next year. This year, because I was last minute about everything, I was left with less hotel choices and whilst I picked a hotel with Fiere (exhibitions) in its name it was still a taxi ride to the event.

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6C 2500 Alfa Coupe and Roadster updates

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6C 2500 coupe photo by Mark Bennett

As you probably know (or at least we hope you do) Paul Wilson will be formally introducing his Alfa 6C 2500 coupe at the Larz Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts on November 30 – only 9 days away! He will not only present the car itself but provide a very interesting show about how the design developed and the techniques of construction. Click here for more information on Paul’s presentation at Larz Museum. This week we asked Paul tell us about the latest status on both the coupe and roadster. In addition, we have some photos taken by Paul’s friend, Mark Bennett. So take it away, Paul….

Story by Paul Wilson [Read more…] about 6C 2500 Alfa Coupe and Roadster updates

Frank Lance, Lonestar Master Mechanic Part 2

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Dallas, October 1960. Frank Lance and Bob Schroeder working on Jim Hall’s second Birdcage Maserati, chassis 2463, before the Times Grand Prix at Riverside.

As told by Frank Lance to Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

Read Part 1

After their adventures In Nassau, Frank and Red Byron stopped at Sebring to watch the first U.S. Grand Prix, won by Bruce McLaren in a works Cooper/Climax. It had been a busy 1959 year, and not only confined to competition cars.

Frank: “In the latter part of 1959 we also restored a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing coupe that Jim had taken as a trade-in. Red and I did an in-car rebuild of the engine as well as installing a made-to-order air conditioning. This may have been the only 300SL to be air conditioned. Foy Barrett did a total body job with a candy apple red paint job. Red and I took it for a shake-down run going through Plano at 142 mph, with Red driving. Jim kept that car until several years ago and sold it for a nice sum.”

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Alfas and Abarths at Auto e Motor d’Epoca

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

So said the media packet, “You are cordially invited to the unveiling of the new Alfa Romeo 33 at 2:30 on Thursday” or words to that effect. So at 2:30 I joined the crowd, all with their camera phones ready, to watch the unveiling, and to my surprise it was on time! After a few speeches (in Italian of course) the red cover was pulled back and yes it is very nice. But

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Jackie Stewart’s First F1 Drive

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Stewart and the author, the Rand Grand Prix poster.

Story by Robert Young

Some time back I was in a lonely corner of the Goodwood paddock admiring a race car when I sensed someone close by.
I looked up and instinctively said “Hello” to which a dapper fellow wearing a tartan cap replied “Hello”.

Stunned for something to say I stuttered “I saw your first ever Formula One race.”

Sir Jackie Stewart smiled and recalled “…it was the 1964 Rand Grand Prix in South Africa and I drove the Lotus.” He proceeded to tell me a little about the event.

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