VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Practical Classics Magazine Classic Car and Restoration Show, Needs Work

By

Starting them young, A Morris Marina ( 3dr 1.8 GT I have you know!) receives a little bit of light fettling.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Unlike normal shows, the Practical Classics Magazine Classic Car and Restoration Show does what it says on the tin, namely celebrate the art of restoration. Of the 160 clubs in attendance 110 of them had stands in which live restoration work took place. The show also promoted the joy of classic car ownership in ‘Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership spring final’ display, the winner being a 1985 Vauxhall Nova saloon belonging to Roy Claque. The magazine’s ‘Restorer of the Year award’ went to Bob Medrum for his restoration of his Vauxhall Viva HB Estate with a twist. The ‘Footman James Barn Find’ competition award went to Tom Wikes for his 1933 Jaguar SS2. The show also boasted an auction (of course) and a live stage with guest speakers including former Wheeler Dealer Ant Anstead, Dominic Chinea from the BBC’s Repair Shop, Simon Gregson from Coronation Street, and Salvage Hunters Classic Cars Paul Cowland.

Here are a few of the cars that were in need of a bit of work…

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Practical Classics Magazine Classic Car and Restoration Show, Runners

By

Owned by Dean Harley and featured as part of the ‘Restorer of the year’ display this once humble Fiat 128 CL now propelled by a Kawasaki Z12R Motorbike engine producing 178 bhp at 10,500 rpm.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After the somewhat exotic excesses of Paris and Retromobile in February, in late March I caught the train to Birmingham (avoiding the shutdown of Heathrow), to the somewhat grey and soulless halls of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) for the Practical Classics Magazine Classic Car and Restoration Show.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Brandes Elitch on AutoExtremist Rants

By

Elitch pays tribute to Peter de Lorenzo

Column by Brandes Elitch

As an automobile enthusiast, even if you are living outside of the US, you are likely very concerned about the viability of the auto business today. Not just because you are interested in automobile design, but because this business is such a big part of our Gross Domestic Product, and that of our two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. It is likely that what is going on now in Washington will affect you personally at some point.

Fortunately, there is a clear voice in the wilderness of our news coverage, a writer named Peter de Lorenzo, aka PMD. He has had a 22-year career in automotive marketing and advertising, and he grew up in Detroit during what he calls the “glory days” of the American auto industry (the sixties). He says that the greatest days for Detroit were in the fifties, sixties, and early seventies. That is when, at least in my view, the most desirable and collectible American cars were made.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Jeff Allison: Head Shots Part 1

By

The author getting fancy with a self-portrait using the mirror of an open-wheel vintage racer at the Daily Express International Trophy at Silverstone, England on April 7, 1974.

Story and photos by Jeff Allison

I recently finished a project to put my “head shots” of drivers in one place and thought maybe the readers of VeloceToday might enjoy seeing some. I began photographing races in 1959 with my last “real” race, i.e., not vintage, in 1997. I didn’t take many “head shots” in my early years as I thought it was an affront to the drivers. However, as time went on, I loosened up (a telephoto lens helped) and began to photograph drivers as well as cars. Most were photos of opportunity while wandering the paddock and pits when I wasn’t out on the track.

Here are some of my favorites…

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Katarina Kyvalova Video Interview

By

Story and images by Bob Cullinan

The car is massive: A seven-litre 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK. And the resume of the diminutive driver is nearly as impressive. We met up with vintage racer Katarina Kyvalova at The ICE (International Concours of Excellence) St. Moritz to talk about her career, her favorite events, and where she wants to go from here.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Bob Hanna, Canadian Racer, Part 2

By

In the Paddock at Harewood Acres with the Canada Class Autosport Special taken in the spring of 1956, probably by Jack Wheeler. Harewood Acres opened in the spring of 1956. BEMC signed a leasing agreement with farmer Russell Hare (hence the name of the track: Harewood). In those days, you could give farmer Hare $5 and you could run all day on the track. Hanna Collection

Story by John R. Wright

Read Part 1

JW: Let’s talk about your own career in racing, Bob. You started racing at almost the very beginning of the sport at the old air force track at Edenvale, just south of Georgian Bay.
Bob Hanna: That’s correct. I raced Jack Wheeler’s MGTD at Edenvale and here’s how lax crowd control was in those days. Carol, my wife, was there with our baby standing on the edge of the circuit while I was out there racing. Jack’s wife got a new Morris Minor and I bought her old Morris Minor with a sidevalve engine. I ported and polished the head, put two SU carburetors on it and balanced it. I raced it at the Carp racetrack in eastern Ontario, driving it to and from the track as was the fashion those days. It then became Carol’s daily driver.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Sydney Harbor Concours d’Elegance

By

Warren Brown’s 1925 Bean Fourteen fresh from its London to Melbourne adventure poses in front of the spectacular Sydney Harbour.

Story and photos by Chris Martin

Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbor, Australia, was the site of a convict prison in the 19th century and later a naval shipyard and repair facility which was decommissioned in 1992. Now in its seventh year, the Sydney Harbor Concours d’Elegance took place on the island for the second time from February 28 to March 2.

The Concours had a stunning display of classics old and new displayed in the giant historic sheds surrounded by some very heavy, now redundant, machinery that used to service the warships’ engines. There was a selection of new Bentleys, Lamborghinis and McLarens to tempt those rich enough, but a tastefully curated selection of classics were the real stars of the show.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu Update

By

Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu’s MacDonald Corvette. Art by Ed Tillock

According to the Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR), on the occasion of the 36th Phillip Island Classic in Australia, “On Sunday afternoon (March 9) we were reminded that motorsport is dangerous. What was otherwise a brilliant meeting was marred by a serious accident. Sadly, the crash involved the popular Ernie Nagamatsu in his beautiful Dave MacDonald Corvette which was badly damaged. Ernie remains in hospital at the time of writing.” [Read more…] about Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu Update

Slip Sliding at St. Moritz: Spectacular Autos at The ICE

By

Story and photos by Bob Cullinan

Automobiles are designed to move people and possessions from one place to another, and occasionally compete in races. But every now and then, an event comes along that changes the perception and possibilities of what you can…and should…do in a car. You’ll never look at snow and ice the same way after seeing the priceless classics drive and drift across Lake St. Moritz at The ICE.

1934 Bugatti Type 57 “Tank”

[Read more…] about Slip Sliding at St. Moritz: Spectacular Autos at The ICE

Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival Part 1

By

Tyrrell P34 Cosworth, Tony Quinn, Wakefield Street exit

Story and photos by Vince Johnson
8-9 March 2025

March is festival month in South Australia across the state with performing and visual arts, music, dance, magic, acrobatics and more in full swing. And at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in the parklands east of the city you would have seen and heard all of these, with wheels on.

Since 2014, a 1.6km section of the original circuit of the 1985-95 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix has joined in the festivities. On Friday afternoon many city workers stayed in town to watch the police-escorted ‘Peak Hour of Power’ as it left Victoria Park in the parklands east of the city. With the Formula 1 cars leading, they made their way through the central business district to Gouger Street’s cafe strip. Cars, drivers and teams filled the street display, the restaurants and cafes were overflowing and the public had their weekend appetite whetted with the close-up spectacle.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival Part 2

By

Lamborghini Revuelto, Peter Crombie-Brown, McLaren 750S, Chris Muelengraaf, Wakefield Street


Story and photos by Vince Johnson

Everything from Formula 1 to a Toyota minibus was on the street circuit for the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival earlier this month. Le Mans racers, real (and not so real) Lamborghinis, Ferraris young and older, a Maserati and the second-built Brabham BT62 shared track time with heritage Alfas and Lolas.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Bugatti Type 57 G Le Mans “Tank”

By

Above, a picture of the Bugatti T57 G Tank, just before the start of the 1937 24 hours of Le Mans with J.P. Wimille. The use of Elektron alloy in the body would not be discovered for another 76 years. Photo courtesy Bugatti Trust

By Alan Yankolonis

From the VeloceToday archives, June 2020

In addition to winning two French Sports Car Grand Prix and setting land speed records in 1936 which stood for 29 years, the Simeone Foundation’s Bugatti T57 G Tank was the first Bugatti to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Initially the car was built for the 1936 French Sports Car Grand Prix that was established and later to set speed records in 1936. Of three, perhaps four built, this is the only Bugatti Tank known to survive.*

In 2013, Audi was introducing the new limited-edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, and Audi USA approached Dr. Fredrick Simeone to obtain color samples from the 1936 Bugatti T57G, and to discuss the possibility of displaying that car at the Quail Lodge during the 2013 Pebble Beach Concourse in Monterey, California. The idea was to paint the show car in the same color scheme as the 1937 Le Mans winner. Their request to Dr. Simeone was to conduct color matching tests on the Le Mans winner and explore the opportunity to have the museum car displayed side by side with the new Vitesse at the Quail Lodge. After much discussion an agreement was made to copy the color of the Le Mans winner, and make arrangements to have the museum car transported to California for display alongside the Vitesse.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe
MENU