Click on photo to see more about Observations on Ferrari 1946-1966.
By Pete Vack
S. Scott Callan’s book
Graham Gauld Mini Autobiography Part 3
Claviers was to be Gauld’s next home.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
In 1994, Having made my decision to return to Europe, and the further decision to move to the South of France, I chose the tiny village of Claviers to be close enough to Italy and within easy driving distance to Milan, Turin and, of course, Modena.
Graham Gauld in Claviers
The 1932 Salmson GS (Grande Sport) that arrived in the village. (Jane Wallis-Hosken)
By Graham Gauld
From the Archives October 2020
I live in a small village in the south of France in the hills behind the beaches of Cannes and Frejus where very little happens. However, I am constantly reminded of the major role France played in the birth and development of automobile racing.
Graham Gauld Mini Autobiography Part 2
Graham explaining the driving test to Jackie Chan at Kowloon.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
Read Part 1
In the first episode of this yarn I left you with my reply to the company in Hong Kong regarding their wish to have someone edit a car magazine they planned for mainland China and going off to Silverstone for a historic race meet. On my return on a Sunday evening in 1993, there was a reply informing me that tickets from Edinburgh to Hong Kong via London would arrive the following day and could I fly on Wednesday. [Read more…] about Graham Gauld Mini Autobiography Part 2
Speedweeks 1959 Part 5
It took a while for the organizers to realize that Carroll Shelby was leading the race in his Maserati Tipo 61.
By Willem Oosthoek
Photos by Bob Bellows and Dave Nicholas (Willem Oosthoek Collection)
Links to all previous chapters below
So how did the Nassau Trophy exactly unfold in 1959? With such a diverse field and some drivers making faster getaways than others, it always takes a few laps before everything is sorted out, However, reading what the motorsport journalists in period, and some of the subsequent book authors, tell us about this feature race, a rather vague picture emerges.
Old Yeller II Down Under
By Ernie Nagamatsu
Photos by Sam Snape
The American “Backyard Special,” 1959 Old Yeller II Buick Special was shipped to Australia to face off against some of the rare and iconic Formula Cars from Down Under. The event was the Summer Festival at Sydney Motorsports Park held on December 3-4, 2022. It was an honor for the Old Yeller II to be placed in the most challenging grid of race-cars with exceptionally skilled drivers.
An English Hillclimb: Pure Joy
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the Archives, November 2016
On the Sunday following the Goodwood Revival rather than taking a rest or perhaps cutting the lawn, my pals and I took a trip just down the road from our respective homes to the Firle Hill Climb Revival, being run for the second year by the Bo Peep Drivers Club.
The first Firle Hill climb took place in 1949, run by the Bentley Drivers Club. The climb was 600 yards in length and quite steep, running up Bo Peep Lane to the top of the Sussex Downs.
Graham Gauld: Mini Autobiography Part 1
Graham Gauld with his partner Jane Wallis-Hosken at the Portimao historics in Portugal.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
It is hard to believe, but by the time you read this it will have been seven months since Jane and I turned in the key to the house, got a lift to the Nice airport and flew to London, leaving behind 27 years’ worth of memories of living in the South of France, in easy driving distance from Nice, Cannes, Monaco and Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Four weeks earlier I had celebrated the 70th anniversary of my first work as a motoring journalist at the age of 17.
Why am I telling you all this? Well Editor Pete Vack thought it would be a good idea to explain how it has been settling down in the country of one’s roots, after being away for close on thirty years. My life, so far, can be split into three parts so let’s start with the first part.
Speedweeks 1959 Part 4
By Willem Oosthoek
Photos by Bob Bellows, Benita Lane and J. Frank Harrison(Willem Oosthoek Collection)
And then the final day of racing began, with two events on schedule.
The start of the Memorial Trophy with, from the left, Bob Grossman [Ferrari California] and the AC Bristols of Jim Miller, Bob Keyes and J. Collins leading the field. Grossman would soon take command.
Never Sell Your Boss a Fiat
Photo by Mary Decker Vack
Editor’s note: In the mid 1980s, while working under Chris Herwig as an AT&T National Account Engineering Manager for GE and Dupont, I was also writing for several major car magazines, and my stories were accompanied by photos taken by my wife Mary. We also had a lot of cars, mostly Alfas, but more than a few Fiats. We in fact did sell a Fiat Spider to Chris, and there were a few problems, which led us to write this bit of mostly fictional humor for our monthly column in “Car Collector and Car Classics” magazine. Note that in the photo Chris is holding a rather large pipe wrench. He was a very good sport about it all. Chris recently celebrated his 75th birthday, which brought this article to light once again. Happy birthday, boss!
Museum Enzo Ferrari, Circa 2014
The Alfa Bimotore is on display in a quiet, beautiful, chapel-like setting.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the VeloceToday archives, November 2014
Nestling, as if being protected, in the curve of the new display hall is the original workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father Alfredo. A long and narrow building lit by many large arch shaped windows. The building was built during the latter half of the 19th century and would not have benefited from electric lighting, hence the many windows. At the far end of the hall, roughly where the “Enzo” is now displayed, was, along with the machine tools that Alfredo used to shape metal, a stable which housed the horses used to draw the sulkies (2 wheeled trotting rig) and carts of the time.
Nino’s P4 takes your breath away….
John and Debbie Nino with the 412 P at the Quail where Elitch first saw the car.
By Brandes Elitch
Photos courtesy John Nino
“When it does not exist, design it,” Henry Royce
At Monterey Car Week you would rightfully expect to be surprised and delighted by some of the things you will see, both on the show field and in the streets. After all, between the three major shows (Quail Lodge, Pebble Beach, and the Concorso Italiano), not to mention the Historics at the Laguna Seca racetrack, there will be over a thousand show cars on display, many of them quite fantastic. This year was no exception, an embarrassment of riches, so to speak. It can be quite overwhelming. You have to pace yourself, and from time to time just have a sit down and catch your breath, because some of these experiences can take your breath away. [Read more…] about Nino’s P4 takes your breath away….