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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Interview with a Race Queen

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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.

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Techno Classica Essen 2022

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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.

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French Cars at Techno Classica Essen

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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.

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Ferrari Pinin Farina Berlinetta, s/n 0322

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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.

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Hugues Vanhoolandt at Rétromobile 2022

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Rétromobile does not only consist of static displays. A distant ancestor of the car, the 1770 Fardier de Cugnot was conducting some demonstrations. This is of course a reconstruction of the steam-powered three-wheeled cart intended to replace horse-drawn vehicles and transporting heavy cannons. Needless to say that the walls shake when this vehicle is in motion.

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The world has changed quite a lot since the last edition of Rétromobile in 2020, but one thing has not changed; the inimitable atmosphere that emanates from this show, even if it was smaller, with less spectacular displays and less international dealers and their expensive cars.

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Hans Herrmann by Graham Gauld

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By Graham Gauld
From the VeloceToday Archives, September 2017

Bearing in mind the tremendous success of German drivers in Grand Prix racing before WW2, it is baffling that since the inception of the World Championship in 1950, it took 44 years before Germany could claim its first Formula 1 Champion, Michael Schumacher in 1994.

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Artcurial Auction by Hugues Vanhoolandt

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Sold at $702,080. See one that sold for $900. ***

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Two years after the last edition of Rétromobile, Artcurial Motorcars was also back in the business on March 18-19 2022 with some 170 cars going on sale, including a collection of Bandini cars, gathered over the years by Dino Bandini, the nephew of Ilario who founded the make in 1947.

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Retromobile by Jonathan Sharp

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Taking centre stage, and a crowd favourite, George Harrison’s McLaren F1 chassis 025.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Some may say that Retromobile 2022 was not a vintage year. Yes, it was a bit smaller, many of the big dealers were absent, there was less participation from the manufacturers, but it was still Retromobile ! You just had to dig a little bit deeper to find the gems.

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Retromobile Gordinis by Jonathan Sharp

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Photos by Jonathan Sharp

It’s nice to see that Retromobile is back (March 16-20). As usual, it is so big, so fascinating, and with so many cars of interest for VeloceToday readers, we offer three or more stories from the event.

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Twenty Shots From the Schlumpf Collection

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Photos by Jonathan Sharp

From the VeloceToday Archives, May 2018

In 2016, Jonathan Sharp made an intensive visit to the Schlumpf Museum, and returned with thousands of photos. This week we’ve selected just a few of our favorites taken from the several articles showing the treasures of the Schlumpf. [Read more…] about Twenty Shots From the Schlumpf Collection

Bob Wallace by Graham Gauld

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Bob Wallace photographed with an Alfa Romeo at the Moroso circuit, Florida.

Story and Photos by Graham Gauld

Race mechanics have something of a maverick streak about them which usually leads to an interesting and exciting life. Such was the case with Bob Wallace, a New Zealander who left his native country in 1960 and arrived in Modena looking for a job.

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