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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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The History of the March-Alfa Romeo Indy Cars

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May 19th, 1990. the March-Alfa Romeo 90CA-003 during qualifying driven by Roberto Guerrero. Photo courtesy IMS Photo.

By Roberto Motta

The History of the Indy 500 March-Alfa Romeos

By Roberto Motta

Twenty years ago this month, Alfa Romeo made its last appearance at the Indianapolis 500 with a promising effort put forth by the Patrick Team of Chip Ganassi. In this exclusive report, Roberto Motta tracks the history of the March-Alfa Romeos and describes the recent restoration of the car driven by Roberto Guerrero at Indy.

The Indy 500 race has always captured the attention of millions fans and the interest of the European car manufacturers including Alfa Romeo. Rex Mays entered the 1937 event with the Type 8C (see Alfa’s Pre War Titans) and a Type 308 ended a successful and long run with an 8th place in 1948. But there would be no more Alfas at the Brickyard for another forty two years. [Read more…] about The History of the March-Alfa Romeo Indy Cars

VeloceToday Drives the 8C 2300 Alfa Mille Miglia Castagna

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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.

Please make note that on June 19, the Foundation will present “Alfa Romeo turns 100” and bring out eight Alfas ranging in date from 1927 to 1975, including five rare 8C models.

By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst

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 Etceterinis) 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 ex’s, but our favorite is Charles Addams, who is also the editor’s favorite cartoonist. (Next week we’ll tell you more about Addams and his family of cars.) 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. (For more details on this Alfa, see “Reflections on a Castagna Alfa”). So, without further wordiness, let’s get it on. [Read more…] about VeloceToday Drives the 8C 2300 Alfa Mille Miglia Castagna

Reflections on the Alfa 8C 2300 Castagna

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The Alfa 2300 Castagna, created in a period when the “pursuit of balance and elegance both in substance and shape expressed itself in sheer majesty.” Photo by Harry Hurst.

By Pete Vack

The four of us paused to stare at the lines of the 8C 2300 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Castagna Spyder, now on display at the Simeone Foundation. Had one the time, it’s something that could be done all day long with pleasure. Everyone agreed it was perfectly proportioned; the short wheelbase accentuated the long hood line and swooping fenders, and huge black wire wheels stood out against the red finish. “The Alfa makes it easy to appreciate pre-war cars”, said Harry Hurst, the Simeone PR director and author of Sebring 1970. “There is not a bad line anywhere.” [Read more…] about Reflections on the Alfa 8C 2300 Castagna

Participating in the Concorso d’ Eleganza Villa D’Este

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Exclusive interview with Entrant Oliver Collins by Pete Vack

That's our car! Oliver Collins' Alfa in front of the gardens at Villa d'Este as seen from the hotel. A scene like this makes it all worthwhile. Photo by Lucine Collins.


Some guys just dream, other guys dream and do. Oliver Collins, of Toronto, Canada is one of the latter. But better yet, he not only lives his dream but comes back and is glad to tell the world (via VeloceToday) what and how he did it and how you too, might be able to be a contestant in Europe’s most famous and most prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este. There’s great advice herein so save this under same.
[Read more…] about Participating in the Concorso d’ Eleganza Villa D’Este

Etceterini Wins Hearts and Minds at Villa d’Este

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Etceterinis have truly arrived. Alex Vazeo’s Giaur pulls up next to the Alfa 6C2500SS of Oliver Collins and a Maserati Spyder entered by Mr. Ferretti, owner of the famous Ferretti yachts. Below, Alex tells VeloceToday about his experience in Cernobbio.


[Read more…] about Etceterini Wins Hearts and Minds at Villa d’Este

The Count’s Revenge

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Art by Wallace A. Wyss

Mr. Wyss wrote this for us some time ago but it still passes muster even with the revelations of the new book “Rebel Rebel”. And a nice way to introduce one to the subject of the incredible Ferrari Breadvan. Ed.

By Wallace Alfred Wyss

Yes, there are Ferrari racers with a sense of humor. The Ferrari 250GT ‘Breadvan’ is a result of one such owner’s sense of humor. It was based on a 1961 competition 250 GT SWB modified by Ing. Giotto Bizzarrini.
[Read more…] about The Count’s Revenge

Hull, Slater and the Best Damn Alfa Book Ever Written

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Peter Hull in his RLSS; the Brooklands track; VeloceToday contributor Nicholas Lancaster's book on Brooklands, from where the map illustration was taken.

By Pete Vack

In the beginning, when Peter Hull was only four years old, it is said that his father took him and his older brother Douglas to Brooklands. That’s a fairly young beginning, four years old, and the following recollections as published in “Alfa Romeo, A History” may in fact have been those of his older brother:
[Read more…] about Hull, Slater and the Best Damn Alfa Book Ever Written

Alfas Take Phillip Island by Storm

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Alfa Romeo 159 was the star of the Phillip Island Classic. Photo and story by Vince Johnson.

Melbourne Australia, 19 – 21 March 2010.

To celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Phillip Island Classic, the Victorian Historic Racing Register fittingly chose Alfa Romeo as the featured marque for the event. Held annually at the sweeping 4.4 km circuit south of Melbourne, the international stature of this meeting is well established. Its reputation is such that the Alfa Romeo factory, in its centenary year, sent one of its irreplaceable Alfettas, chassis #159.111, engine #159.221. [Read more…] about Alfas Take Phillip Island by Storm

The Intermeccanica Formula Junior: The Rest of the Story

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The Intermeccanica Formula Junior, Sam's place, June 2004.

By Pete Vack

As we have seen, after describing the car to a tee, author Andrew McCredie left us all hanging about wondering whatever happened to the one off Frank Reisner F Jr, from its last race in Canada to the present time, a gap of some 47 years. What happened to the car was Sam. Here is the story the book omitted.

Guys are incredibly insensitive sometimes, cruelly defining even friends not by who he or she is, but by what cars they own, as if the vehicle was more important than the owner. Contact begins with not “Hey Sam, how have you been,” but with “Hey Sam, you still have the Intermeccanica?” We are as guilty of this sin as anyone, and we all do it from time to time, I would guess. [Read more…] about The Intermeccanica Formula Junior: The Rest of the Story

What Size Hope for F1 2010?

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Button's high sign. Another good year for the Brit? Courtesy Planet F1.

After the boring “Dustbowl” of Bahrain, the thrilling “Fireworks” of Australia. There’s big Hope for 2010.

By Philippe Defechereux

We’re now really off to the races.

The pre-season was highly exciting, with all those new teams, and the many driver switches –Jenson Button to McLaren and Alsonso to Ferrari being the top examples and, of course, the return of “Der Kaiser” (Schumi) after a three-year absence, but this time with Mercedes-Benz.
[Read more…] about What Size Hope for F1 2010?

Amelia Etceterini Class a Smashing Success

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Jim Jenne's Stanguellini heads up an impressive line up of entrants.

By Cliff Reuter

The 2010 etceterini meet has come and gone and I must say that it far exceeded my expectations!

Three years ago when I first thought of such an event, the goal was to gather the best etceterini cars in America for a show but most importantly I wanted to get the etceterini ‘isti’ together. [Read more…] about Amelia Etceterini Class a Smashing Success

Abarth Guy

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An Abarth High in the Low Countries

Fiat Abarth 124 Rally cars in the Abarth Works Museum.

No one in the low countries quite compares to Guy Moerenhout, a enthusiast and garage owner with a distinct taste for things Abarth. In fact, there is probably no one in Europe with an Abarth inventory of parts, knowledge and cars under one roof, with 3500 square meters of space located in Belgium.

The official address is Guy Moerenhout Racing, Industriestraat 1-2500, Lier Belgium, between Antwerp and Brussels. We might add that there is a threefold purpose to Guy’s place–to sell cars, parts, as a garage and now, Guy is the proud owner of the “Abarth Works Museum” under the same huge roof in Lier. And if you are anywhere in the area, be sure to drop by–you will be amazed! [Read more…] about Abarth Guy

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