VeloceToday Celebrates Three Year Anniversary
Launched at the Monterey Concorso Italiano in 2001, VeloceToday is now celebrating
its third year providing a weekly source of information and articles about
Italian cars.
For 156 weeks, and approximately 312 articles from around the world,
VeloceToday has consistently hit a Wednesday deadline with articles one
won't find anywhere else--or before anyone else, at the very least. VeloceToday
provides space for the smallest Fiat to the most expensive Ferraris--and everything
Italian inbetween.
But It is important for our subscribers to understand that VeloceToday is not supported by any advertising dollars.
In fact, it is always in the red. No one gets any salary, and almost all
contributions are gratis.
VeloceToday often relies on the contributions of our subscribers--people like
Jim Jenne, who chronicled the amazing story of the Stanguellini Sports Racers.
We welcome all such contributions and will assist in writing and shaping the
story if necessary. So keep sending your ideas and stories!
VeloceToday contributor Ed McDonough enjoying life in the Lancia D50 recreation. credit: photoagencyRene
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Our staff is small, but we must thank Erik and Karen Nielsen,
and Lorenzo Marchesini for the tremendous amount of help and hope they
have provided. Karen, now living in Shanghai, China, is with us every Wednesday night, and helps with layout, stories, and mailout. She is
indespensible. Her new husband Erik continues to write provocative and all too
truthful F1 reports, and hasn't missed a race yet. Lorenzo, an Italian
by birth, who now lives in Fairfax Station, Virginia, not only increases our contact with his native country, but contributes many stories and story ideas, while brother Mario contributes photos from Italy And don't forget, the
Marchisinis drove from coast to coast and back last year to attend
the Monterey events--in a 1972 Lancia 2000!
We also wish to thank our long term supporters and regular contributors.
Alessandro Gerelli, who lives in Milan, has filled your monitors with wonderful images from historic events all over Europe. Henk Brouwer, from Holland, fills in with events from the lowlands. Michael Lynch, between his appearances as an expert historian on SpeedChannel programs, reports
with depth from the West Coast, and David Seielstad, one of the best historians
we've ever met, keeps us straight. Also from the west coast, William Edgar
writes with great passion and insight about early racing activities on the west coast, as well as vintage race personalities. Ed McDonough, now the European editor of Vintage Racecar magazine, still emails us with his
wonderful driving impressions of classic racecars.
Without the efforts and support of all of the above, VeloceToday simply
would not and could not exist. Thank you all very much!
Burt Levy to be at Monterey
Recently, while doing research for two articles for Automobile Quarterly,
the Editor was reminded of the tremendous amount of research done by Burt
Levy for his novelized trilogy of early American sportscar racing. Just because
Burt's books are fiction does not mean they are not based on fact. Burt has
given automotive fiction a certain legitimacy, as well as given enthusiasts
many enjoyable hours of reading. Long may he keep writing.
To read a review of Burt's books, (see The Buddy Palumbo Chronicles). If you are attending the Monterey Mega Weekend this year, try to drop by to meet and talk to Burt while there--and pick up a copy of one of his novels.
"The Last Open Road", the first of Burt's books, will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary, and to commemorate the event, he is offering 100 numbered, leatherbound special editions.
Burt will be hawking and signing books with Classic Impressions at the Automobilia Monterey show at the Embassy Suites Tuesday, August 10th and Wednesday, August 11th at Concorso Italiano with Classic Impressions on Friday, August 13th, at the Monterey Historic Races with Classic Impressions (on Vendor Island) on Saturday, August 14th at the R&M Auction at the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey Friday and Saturday evenings, August 13th and 14th.
His website is (www.lastopenroad.com)
Fioravanti Speaks
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Leonardo Fioravanti designed the 308GTB, and includes one in his personal collection.
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From the pages of the August issue of Classic and Sports Car magazine,
we note with interest a short interview with Leonardo Fioravanti, who
was responsible for the design of the Ferrari 308GTB, the Daytona and Dino, and the Berlinetta Boxer.
His personal collection consists of a Fiat 1600S coupe, and OSCA 1600 Fissore, a 308GTB, a Lancia Flavia HF, and an Alfa Giulia Spider Veloce-- All very tasteful designs.
When asked about
retro styling, he remarked that "the Beetle is horrible, and the Mini is a joke.
I love the past but designers should dream of the future."
On today's Ferraris: "Modern Ferraris look vulgar."
What turned him on as a youth: "When I was 11 years old I saw a Nash
Ambassador on the way to school. A car with all the wheels covered was
fantastic, and from that moment I wanted to be a car stylist."
