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Phil Hill by Willem Oosthoek Part 2

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Riverside, October 1958. During the inaugural Times Grand Prix Phil Hill was at the wheel of this Ferrari 412MI, equipped with the 4.1-liter V12 from the Ferrari used in the June 1958 500 Miglia di Monza, between Indianapolis and Formula One drivers. The factory claimed 450 BHP, but then Italian horses were always a bit smaller. Having qualified in the middle of the front row, Phil fought a close battle for the lead with Chuck Daigh in one of the Scarabs, until the Ferrari had to retire due to vapor lock. Note the crude windshield. (photo: Bob Tronolone)

Captions by Willem Oosthoek

It is still Phil Hill’s Championship year, albeit 60 years ago. We began with a look at Phil’s career in California, compliments of Jim Sitz, and then came Maserati historian Willem Oosthoek, who offered to allow us to use some of the photos from his collection. “After Jim Sitz’s wonderful columns on his personal interaction with Phil Hill, I recalled that I have a fair number of photos of Phil in sport racers as well.” In this case, Oosthoek did not take the photos but has the rights and or permissions to use them.

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Pegaso Parade

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Photos and story by Hugues Vanhoolandt
From the VeloceToday Archives, November 2018

As you know, Pegasos are very rare sports cars that were manufactured in Spain between 1951 and 1956. The main goal of the company was to build trucks, vans and buses for which there was a need in the context of Spain’s economic recovery after the difficult times of the Spanish civil war and WWII.

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An Aston Martin on the Mille Miglia

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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

The 104th Targa Florio

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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.

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Goodwood Members Meeting, 2021

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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

Frank Studstrup: In his own words

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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

Juan Fangio and Suixtil

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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.

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Driving Chas Addams’ 8C2300 Alfa

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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

Brooklands Italian Car Day

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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.

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A Later Look at the Career of Phil Hill

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Sebring, March 1958. Winners Phil Hill and co-driver Peter Collins with a truly impressive piece of silverware. One wonders where it is today. (photo: Bob Jackson)

Story by Willem Oosthoek

After

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Sliding into the Archives

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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

The Cars of Charles Addams Part 2

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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

Read Part 1

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

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