Taken at Watkins Glen in 1951, this Harold Lance photo evokes the Pre-War period with the Talbot Lago and behind it, a Cord 810.
By Pete Vack
Chronicling the
Dr. Moon’s Precarious Bridgeheads: Only the Rich Need Apply
Stunning Mercedes Benz SS Tourer at MOMA in the fall of 1951, one of eight cars featured in the exhibition. Photo by Jerry Lehrer
The below article was part of an unfinished manuscript about the foreign car invasion, written by the late Howard Moon. This is part one of a series. Our apologies for the photos, which are of pre war cars taken in an early post war environment. Editor
By Dr. Howard Moon
Imported cars in the 1930s saw the last years of the carriage trade yielding to the beginnings of the sports car movement and the revival of road racing in America. That world largely was for a privileged minority, unapologetically Eurocentric and elitist. Cosmopolitan magnates from Detroit like Edsel Ford would make an annual pilgrimage to New York to catch the latest developments in luxury coachwork design. The last coachwork Salon at the Commodore Hotel occurred in November 1931 with 50 cars, half the complement of the 1930 show.
Uhle’s 8C Maserati
From the VeloceToday Archives, November 2017
Story by Pete Vack
It was not unlikely that Henry W. Uhle II should have decided to own a Grand Prix Maserati. He was, after all, an engineer and a yacht designer whose career spanned 48 years. From 1945 until retiring in 1987, he was a project engineer for Sparkman & Stephens Inc., New York City and before that, from 1941 until 1945, he was a naval architect for various shipyards. Born in 1920, Henry was also one of the breed of postwar U. S. foreign car enthusiasts and had the kind of mentality that could appreciate what the Maserati brothers were doing in Italy.
Eight Cylinders for the Type 40 Bugatti
Type 40 Chassis No. 40432 in 1948 after the installation of 8-cylinder Bugatti engine, at Glen Ewin Hillclimb, South Australia. Photo: Bob King collection
By Frank Studstrup
In the summer of 1926 Ettore Bugatti presented his new type 40, which replaced the old ‘Brescia’ sports car. In the mid-1920s, with the type 35 racing car of 1924, Bugatti was setting new standards for his effective and refined automobile designs, both in regard of engines, chassis and bodywork.
The type 40 incorporated many of the unique design features presented in the Bugatti racing cars, but of course offered in a less expensive and more versatile package aimed at customers for both daily and sporty driving.
Tales from Le Circuit, St. Jovite, Mt. Tremblant
Planning the new racetrack near Quebec are, from left to right: Norm Namerow, John Fitch, Unknown, Jim Horne BP Canada, Sales, and Marketing, unknown, Ross de St.Croix.
By John R. Wright and Ross de St. Croix, 1967 Canadian Sports Car Champion
Le Circuit Mont Tremblant, also known at one time as St. Jovite is a 4.26 km (2.65 mile) race circuit about 13 km (8.1 miles) south of the village of Mont Tremblant in the province of Quebec, Canada. Pete Lyons in his book CanAm called it “…the swoopy, 2.65-mile mini-Nurburgring…”
79th Goodwood Member’s Meeting, 2022
1956 Renault 4CV entered by Frederic Fatien, driven by Pierre-Brice Mena, Sopwith Cup for saloon cars of a type that raced up until 1956.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Did you know, the rear lights of a Porsche 956 are the same as those fitted to a late 1970s Eriba Puck Caravan? No, neither did I, Thanks Gary Axon and Goodwood Radio for that wonderful piece of trivia.
Why am I mentioning Porsche 956s? Well the recent 79th Goodwood Members Meeting included a track demonstration of 956/962s, twenty of them. Also demonstrated/displayed were approximately 20 F1 cars from the V10 era, lead on the track by Bruno Senna in his uncle’s 1990 McLaren Honda MP4/5B, a wonderful sight and an amazing sound. In addition to the demos the program also included 13 races covering a period from prior to WW2 right up until Group 1 saloons from the 1980s.
Why Mess With History? Sandy Leith’s Type 37
In 1935 George Rand installed a Ford Model B engine into this Bugatti T37. 82 years later it is still there. Sean Smith photo.
From the VeloceToday Archives, July, 2017
Story by Sean Smith
Color images taken at Lime Rock by Sean Smith
Historic photos courtesy Sandy Leith
If anyone was born to the VSCCA it is the current President, Sandy Leith—his father Bill Leith was a founding member. At a very young age Sandy was in the paddock watching his father race his Type 35B Bugatti against others in the fledgling club. Formed in 1958, the Vintage Sports Car Club of America was seen as a kinder, gentler version of the growing Sports Car Club of America. It was a place where their pre-war cars could shine. Then as now it was a place for racing, rallying and good old fashion socializing, but the prime focus was racing. “Isn’t this what all parents do on the weekend… zoom around in old race cars?” Sandy thought so! Classic cars, especially Bugattis, were ingrained in Sandy’s soul. At 17, there would be no snarling muscle car or modern sports car for him.
Interview with a Race Queen
The Editor and the photographer apologize for this photo, which was the result of the sun being at the wrong end of the lens. However, it is well balanced and says a lot. Read on.
Marilyn Fox Halder, as interviewed by Allen R. Kuhn
Photos by Allen R. Kuhn unless otherwise noted.
Marilyn Fox loved dancing growing up, and was very attractive. She would follow a career making commercials and become a professional dancer finding work at the Sahara in Las Vegas. This led her to appear at the Millionaire’s Club in Los Angeles, CA. While there, she was introduced to Peter and Harry Rothschild, who owned Powerine Oil Company. They wanted to get the contract to supply fuel for the race tracks in Southern California and asked Marilyn if she would be interested in becoming a promoter of their products at races and other activities. With her natural beauty and love of automobiles, she thought it might be a fun thing to do and get paid.
Techno Classica Essen 2022
When entered by the Automobilclub of Argentina between 1949 and 1954, this Maserati 4 CLT, chassis number 1600, was piloted by the best Argentinian drivers of the time: Fangio, Gonzalez, Campos, Marimon or Menditeguy.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Three years have passed since the last edition of the Techno Classica motor show in Essen, one of the main cities of the Ruhr area. Of course, the effects of the pandemic were felt during this year’s fair.
Not attending were the imposing stands of the German manufacturers, for the most part only represented by their owners’ clubs.
Some German car dealers were also missing as this pandemic period has shown that it was possible to sell cars without having to display them on an expensive stand.
Remembering Vic Elford
Vic Elford by Jesse Alexander.
By Roy Smith
Vic Elford. What can one say, maybe his nickname “Quick Vic” sums it all up. But it was not just his speed, he was a man with a lively personality, and talented beyond measure when behind the wheel.
French Cars at Techno Classica Essen
In 1950, French rally driver Jean Trevoux commissioned this Delahaye 175 to Carrozzeria Motto. Fitted with an ex-Le Mans racing engine, Trevoux with co-driver Roger Crovetto went on to win the 1951 Monte-Carlo rally. Later that year, the car was entered at the Carrera Panamericana driven by Louis Chiron.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
French Cars at Essen will follow this brief letter:
April 7, 2008
Dear Mr. Vack,
Established in Belgium, I am a long time reader of Veloce Today and occasionally a photographer of Italian classics. I enjoyed the pictures of Techno Classica Essen that I visited myself last Saturday. It would be a great pleasure for me if I could help you in identifying some cars.
The Cisitalia is a 1947 202 SMM s/n 005 SMM with a 1.4 litre Gordini engine.
The Maserati coupé is a A6 1500 with a Pinin-Farina body. The s/n is 068.
The “Etceterini” is an Ermini based on a Fiat 1100 with a Motto body. The
s/n is 1301.You will find attached some of my pictures of other Italian cars of great interest (see below). I really hope it can help.
Best regards,
Hugues Vanhoolandt
And that, dear readers, was almost exactly 14 years ago and it appeared in the pages of VeloceToday in an article titled “Much Less Guessin’ at Essen”. Hugues Vanhoolandt is still here, and there, at Essen, reporting with his complete and alway accurate captions under perfect photography. Below, more French treasures that appeared at this year’s Essen. Thank you, Hugues for all you have done.
Ferrari Pinin Farina Berlinetta, s/n 0322
What is a nice car like you doing in a ditch like this?
Story by Pete Vack
Photos by Glen Glendenning Courtesy Dave Rex
As we have seen, Dick Irish made good use of the hairy, scary yet beautiful beast that is Ferrari 340/375 Comp Berlinetta, s/n 0322.
He entered four events in 1954, and finished well against the toughest competition money could buy; at the Glen he was fourth overall, behind the Cunningham of Phil Walters, the Ferrari of Jim Kimberly and the Cunningham of Sherwood Johnston. Even owner Marty Christensen did well with it in the two events he entered.