The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Joe Hurwich
Color images by a variety of photographers. Thank you all!
It started in the summer of 2020. I found a car online that I thought would be great for the Mille Miglia – a 1931 Aston Martin. There were a couple of problems though. The car was in England and Covid 19 was rampant. I negotiated a bit, and we struck a deal, subject to an inspection. [Read more…] about An Aston Martin on the Mille Miglia
1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
Story and photos by Gianni Petta
About twenty days after the Coppa Floriopoli, more beautiful historic cars returned to Sicily to compete in the 104th Targa Florio, held on October 14-17, 2021. As has been the custom for years now, the event started from the streets and avenues of the University of Palermo.
There was a long list of entries with over 200 crews, plus 90 prancing horses for the Ferrari Tribute from all European nations and all around the world. This year the route unfolded on the roads of Western Sicily, between the provinces of Palermo and Trapani.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
It had been postponed twice, but one month after the superb Goodwood Revival meeting it was time to go again to the Goodwood Motor Circuit for the 78th Members Meeting. So how does the Members Meeting compare with the Revival? You could call it ‘Revival Light’; the racing is as great as at the Revival and the entry list is equally first class, but a bit more varied, as entry requirements do not restrict cars to the circuit’s original race period of 1948 to 1966. As the event is only open to members of the Goodwood clubs, crowds are not a problem and the politeness found at the Revival still prevailed. [Read more…] about Goodwood Members Meeting, 2021
The author of Bugatti in Denmark, driving his type 40 at Prescott in 2019.
By Frank Studstrup
I was born in 1950 and often came along to the family’s bus garage and workshop in the 1950-60s. I must have been kind of taken by the whole atmosphere of all the workshop machinery and maintenance work on the yellow buses. Recalling from my early childhood, some of the buses were Danish built ‘Triangel’, the oldest dating back to 1931 and in the early 1950s set aside to be broken up. [Read more…] about Frank Studstrup: In his own words
At Modena in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio, shows Maserati chief engineer Giulio Alfieri, in jacket shirt and tie, and Swiss journalist Hans Tanner, back to camera, his bandaged wrist. Fangio would bring attention to a line of racing suits from an Argentinean-based company named Suixtil.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld unless otherwise noted
From the VeloceToday Archives May 2017
European motor racing in the years immediately following World War II tended to be a strictly European affair; that is until the arrival of the great Juan Manuel Fangio in 1948. Unlike Europe, where there was a war to contend with, young Fangio learned his motor racing craft in the wild and dangerous racing in Argentina in the 1930s and 1940s.
He proved to be not only a tough competitor but also a winner. Who better to be an ambassador for the Salomon Rudman’s Argentinean-based Suixtil company’s entry into the area of motor racing? Rudman’s enthusiasm for motor racing saw him produce clothing, which would not only be stylish but also comfortable. He took advice from his motor racing friends like Fangio as to design and functionality.
Charles Addams in his 8C 2300 at Bridgehampton, courtesy Simeone Foundation.
By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst
In April of 2012, as part of the series of Demonstration Days at the Simeone Foundation VeloceToday was provided an opportunity to drive two very special Alfa Romeos, an 8C 2300 and an RLSS. A special thanks to Fred Simeone, Harry Hurst and Curator Kevin Kelly. From the VeloceToday archives.
Serial number 2211072, the Alfa Romeo 8C2300 MM Spyder on display at the Simeone Foundation in Philadelphia, is the only 8C 2300 Spyder to be bodied by Castagna. According to Simon Moore, it likely started life as a factory racecar before being sold to privateers. Raced in the 1935 Mille Miglia by Catullo Lami and Pasquale Ermini, (who would later build his own racecars) it was forced to retire. Exported to the UK it led a happy and active life for many years with a number of enthusiastic owners. It has a few famous owners, but our favorite is Charles Addams, who is also our favorite cartoonist. Furthermore, aside from an engine rebuild in the UK, this 8C 2300 is apparently original and unrestored. All of which make this a very, very special Alfa 8C 2300. [Read more…] about Driving Chas Addams’ 8C2300 Alfa
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
A huge thank you to our friends at Auto Italia magazine for making the Brooklands Italian Car Day happen, and for the loan of a hi viz tabard (high level photo pass) to allow me to take shots during the lunch time demo sessions on the Mercedes Benz World test track.
As the Editor pointed out last week, there are three or events that attract rare Italian cars; Concorso Italiano in the US, Milano AutoClassica in Italy, the even larger Auto Moto d Epoca in Padua, and the Brooklands Italian Car Day in the UK. I have covered the UK event now for many years, and it is always a joy.
The below image of Paul Wilson’s Alfa 6C 2500 is the first in a slideshow; the directions are to look at the photo, and do one of two things: either click on the arrow at the center of the photo to go to the article itself, or, click on the arrow that appears on the right and left side of the photo. This will bring you to the next story, if right, or previous story, if left arrow is selected. Hence, a slide show, scrolling left and right instead of up and down.
This slide show of fourteen stories clearly demonstrates the excellence, depth and range of stories that appear every week in VeloceToday, authored by top writers and photographers from the U.S., UK, Belgium, Australia, France and Italy. [Read more…] about Sliding into the Archives
Addams at Bridgehampton in the mid 1960s with New York socialite and good friend Odette Benjamin in the passenger seat. Photo courtesy of Guasti collection.
By Pete Vack
Charles Addams was about to embark upon the most lucrative years of his career as a cartoonist. By 1964 his income had almost tripled and the “Addams Family” was just making its debut on nation-wide TV. Like never before, Addams, an otherwise “normal boy” from New Jersey, would be able to enjoy both his cars and his freedom. [Read more…] about The Cars of Charles Addams Part 2
Review by Pete Vack
Charles Addams: A Cartoonist’s Life By Linda H. Davis
Turner Publishing Company, Nashville TN First published 2006
ISBN 9781684426898
Pages: 408
Paperback, 10-19-2021
Purchase here
A charmed life, a charming man
Properly executed, a biography covers the entire spectrum of the subject’s work, interests and relationships, allows little to the imagination, leaves no questions in the mind of the reader, and above all, gives the reader feeling that, living or dead, saint or sinner, the subject is as familiar as one’s best friend. [Read more…] about Charles Addams Biography, Reviewed
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
What started in 2010 as a classic car rally with friends, the Zoute Grand Prixin Belgium has grown steadily since then to become a must-see event on the calendar which also involves the neighboring towns of Bruges and Ostend this year.
Weekend activities at Zoute include an exhibition of the latest production numbers from dream car makers like Ferrari, Maserati and McLaren, the GT Tour for exclusive GT cars under 20 years of age, and an auction organized by Bonhams.
But the most important event of the weekend is the Concours d’Elegance which takes place at the Zoute Golf Club. That is what we are going to focus on today.
