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Maserati at Montlhéry

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By Pete Vack and Kurt Hasler

All photos copyright Stephan Traber

September 9th, 1934: Benoit Falchetto, perhaps a better driver than many realized, came home first in the Grand Prix de L’UMF held on the famous banked circuit of Montlhéry, fifteen miles outside of Paris. He was driving Maserati 8CM 3015, the subject of our recent book review. On Apri 20-22, Maserati 3015 in the hands of owner Kurt Hasler, returned again to the famous French banked circuit to participate in the Montlhéry Vintage Revival.
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At Long Last, GORDINI, by Roy Smith

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J.P. Wimille in 4GC T11 at Monaco in 1948. Credit LAT Photographic.


Amédée Gordini – a true racing legend
288 pages, 470 photos black and white and color, 8.25 x 10 inches
$89.95 plus shipping Order from Veloce Publishing, UK

Review by Pete Vack

Here at Last
The term ‘long-awaited’ is surely an understatement when applied to Roy Smith’s latest book. Not that it’s Roy’s fault, mind you, for without his effort there would probably be no book about Gordini at all, save Christian Huet’s remarkable and still handy Gordini Un Sorcier Une Equipe, published a generation ago in 1984. Fortunately the long wait was worth it; if you are the least bit interested in Grand Prix racing, Italian cars, French cars or just beautiful cars, Smith’s fantastic book should be part of your library. [Read more…] about At Long Last, GORDINI, by Roy Smith

California Mille Kickoff

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This car is the make and model that started it all. In 1982 Martin Swig and Road & Track photographer John Lamm took a similar Alfa 1900 SSZ, without a Zagato signature double bubble roof, to the first Mille Miglia retrospettiva. They were the only Americans entered. That experience led to the creation of the California Mille. This example was brought by Bruce and Cathy Milner.

A Bittersweet Gathering

Story and photos by Michael T. Lynch

The sky was clear on Nob Hill in San Francisco and the temperature was in the mid sixties. An exceptional group of collector cars from all over the world were backing into their spaces on the street between the Pacific Union Club and the Fairmont Hotel. It was the traditional kick-off luncheon for the California Mille. For many of us it was an emotional time because it was the first edition of the event run without its founder Martin Swig, who left us in 2012. Many joked about the weather, saying that where Martin was now gave him a more direct line to control that.
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Concept Cars and Aerodynamics, 1917-1940

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Kelsch Coupé Aerodynamique on the chassis of a 2 liter Bugatti Type 30.

After the Armistice of 1918 that ended WWI, a number of men who had made a name designing or building aircraft switched their attention to creating automobiles. Some, such as Gabriel Voisin and the brothers Henri and Maurice Farman in France, did so because they needed other products for their factories and/or new challenges for their talents. After he was discharged from the Royal Navy, British inventor and designer Charles Dennistoun Burney sought new activities, following a brilliant wartime career. For the Germans it was pure necessity, as the Treaty of Versailles implied the closure of the German aviation industry and prohibited the Germans to develop airplanes or airships, even for civilian purposes.

Rumpler’s Teardrops
Edmund Rumpler, was an Austrian automotive engineer who was well-known in post-war Germany as the manufacturer of the successful ‘Taube’ (Pigeon), a German warplane based on an original design by Igo Etrich. Rumpler also had experience in automobile design and manufacturing, having worked for Nesselsdorf (later to become Tatra), Daimler and Adler.

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VSCC Opener at Silverstone 2013

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The Paul Grant T37 Bugatti.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Pete, I’ve just returned from the VSCC Spring Start Event at Silverstone – this was the first time they had run the event over two days.

The weather was typically British, sun stroke on Saturday, frostbite on Sunday. For what is very much an event in the style of a club meeting the entry list was most impressive; seven ERAs, lots of Bugattis, Rileys, Fraser Nash, Alfas, Bentleys, even some Maseratis and a Ferrari. In fact everything from 750cc Austin 7 Specials all the way to Chris Williams and his 24 liter Napier Bentley! [Read more…] about VSCC Opener at Silverstone 2013

Back by Popular Demand

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We have ordered a new batch of Watkins Glen CDs by Harold Lance. Become a Premium Subscriber and get your copy FREE! (And that includes Shipping and Handling).

Selected Maserati 8CMs

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Maserati 8CM

Maserati 8CM 3013 at Monaco.

Story by Pete Vack
Photos of Selected 8CM Maseratis by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Ernesto, Bindo and Ettore were only half of a remarkable set of six sons born to Rudolfo and Carolina Maserati in Voghera, a small town outside of Piacenza. A seventh son, named Alfieri, was also born but died shortly after birth. The remaining six were all gifted, intelligent and industrious.

Mario Maserati was born in 1890, but unlike his brothers, was never interested in automobiles, and eventually became a painter. Carlo, born in 1881, was fascinated by the new internal combustion engine, and set the stage for his younger brothers. As a young man, Carlo worked for both Fiat and Isotta Fraschini. Carlo died when only thirty, but his interest in things mechanical had passed on to Alfieri, (who was given the same name as the baby who had died earlier). Bindo was born in 1883, Ettore came along in 1894 and Ernesto in 1898.

Maserati supported their racing by producing spark plugs and contact points.

Alfieri, Ernesto and Ettore established the Societa Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati in 1914, and although the initial intent was to prepare Isotta Fraschinis for racing, the timing dictated that they make spark plugs for the war effort. After the hostilities, the brothers returned to the modification of Isottas, which eventually led to the manufacture of a car of their own design and construction. By 1926, the first Maserati, the Tipo 26, was ready for the track. Alfieri, the mainstay and inspiration, died in 1932, and Bindo stepped in to assist his brothers in running the business.

Pre War Racing Cars
The Tipo 26 was followed by a series of cars with a variety of cylinders and displacements. The 8C 1100, 1500, 2500, and 3000 were similar cars with different displacements. The 4CM (4 cylinders, Monoposto), was built in small numbers with 1100, 1500, and 2500 cc. The Tipo V4 was a four liter 16 cylinder and the Tipo V-5 was a supercharged V-16, of 5 liters. A six cylinder engine, (6CM) was used in 1934. Four V-8 cars were built for the 1935 season.
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Aerodynamics and Concept Cars: 1888 to 1914

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1911 Grégoire with a coachwork by Alin and Liautard, especially designed to reduce the dust cloud created by the aerodynamic turbulences at the rear of a fast driven motor vehicle.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

The selection of outstanding aerodynamic designs up to 1930 that I will present to you is by nature, very arbitrary. During those years there were many other very original automotive creations as well.

However, the concepts I have chosen, have at least two things in common:

1. All of them incorporated new ideas that have influenced future automobile designers.
2. Most of them must have disappointed their designers/creators, as not a single one did everything they expected or became a commercial success. The only exception is Jenatzy’s electric record beater, because with that car he realized his dream to go faster than 100 km/h. But he did call his machine ‘Jamais Contente (Never Satisfied).

Jenatzy's electric powered 'Jamais Contente' was very advanced and streamlined. But the heavy Fulmen batteries were housed in a large square box under the chassis, the car measured 1,40 m. above street level. However, Camile Jenztzy’s large torso and head towering over the streamlined body and the rather unsophisticated undercarriage (chassis) must have spoiled its low drag.

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Techno Classica Essen 2013

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1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super was used to transport special visitors of the factory in Arese, like the President of the Italian Republic in 1966.

Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt

[Hugues Vanhoolandt first introduced himself to us five years ago during the 2008 Essen show. Since then, this wondeful photographer has taken photos for VeloceToday all over the world. And once again, we are proud to present his work and views from Essen. Editor.]
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