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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Mike Sparken: Private Entrant Part I

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Mike Sparken, winning at Oulton Park in the rain with his trusty 750 Monza.

In the 1950s, if you had talent and the necessary finances, you could become a successful racing driver as a private entrant. This is the story of one of them, a French-born racing driver by the name of Mike Sparken. We were working on this article when on September 21, Sparken died at his home in the South of France at the age of eighty two. Our sincere condolences to his family; we wish he could have lived to read the following story.

By Graham Gauld

Mike Sparken, or Michael Poberejsky, to cite his proper name, was born in Paris in 1930 to a wealthy Russian family that had left Russia for Paris at the time of the 1917 Revolution.

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Goodwood Gallery: Vanhoolandt

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Paul Stewart drove one of the Mercedes. But here, his gear in repose.

Twenty four frames from the camera of Hugues Vanhoolandt.

Auto union GP

The five Auto-Unions in the Swiss GP replica pits.

A line up of pre-war Mercedes and Auto Unions like this hasn't happened before and may not again, so enjoy.

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Goodwood Gallery: Jonathan Sharp

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Jean Alesi

Jean Alesi, happy to drive one of the GTOs.

Twenty images from the camera of Jonathan Sharp.

moss-and-surtees

Moss has a few words with Surtees.

Merzario enjoying the crowds and the Rolls-Royce.

Ken Brack set to drive the Mickey Thompson special.

Gurney and Lord March.

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Coppa d’oro delle Dolomiti, 2012

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This year's winner is Canè and Galliani with a Lancia Aprilia.

Story and Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

A very rainy edition of the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti in Cortina d’Ampezzo witnessed the victory of Canè Galliani in both the events, the Coppa and the “Alte Sfere Heritage by Bark” of Sunday morning.

As for other international events, the cars in the entry list are becoming more and more “young”: this year no Ferraris, only two Maseratis, no Oscas, one Bugatti, very few etceterinis, few Alfas, but many Jaguar, Triumph, Austin, Porsche.
See the website, Coppadorodelledolomiti for more details.

Maserati A6GCS (Boglioli/Pezzia).

Maserati A6GCS (Boglioli/Pezzia).

Maserati A6GCS (Bellue/Peter).

Maserati A6GCS (Laurent Bellue/Come).

[Read more…] about Coppa d’oro delle Dolomiti, 2012

Grand Prix of Singapore

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Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Time Enough
If there is one thing we will remember about Singapore 2012, it will not be the great drive by Massa, not the winning excellence of Vettel, not the intelligent drive by Alonso for third, nor the sudden race-changing retirements of both Hamilton and Maldonado, nor that the race was foreshortened by the clock. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Singapore

Our Features This Week, September 19th, 2012

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Ever envied Indiana Jones? Ciick on the Ethiopian Adventure and visit the Ark of the Covenant; attend Goodwood with Jonathan Sharp, Palos Verdes with Wally Wyss and wrap up the Tours epic with a surprise. As usual, click on the icons to go directly to each article. Note that the Rally Wales report below does not have an icon. Loeb didn’t win but who did?

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Rally Wales, Great Britain, In English and Italian

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By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team

Jari Matti Latvala was able to stop the continuous series of victories by Citroën and Championship leader Sebastien Loeb. This time Latvala did not err and, after having gained command of the Wales Rally GB in Power Stage (PS) 3, he maintained first to the finish ahead of Loeb and his DS3 WRC.
[Read more…] about Rally Wales, Great Britain, In English and Italian

Goodwood Revival Diary: Jonathan Sharp

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Fifteen years in the making, this year's Goodwood is best yet.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Brian Redman looking chipper.

September 13, 2012
Just got in from the Goodwood cricket match which is always held on the Thursday afternoon of Revival week. The cricket pitch is in front of Goodwood house. At 6 pm, once the cricket match had finished, we were treated to a flying display by a Supermarine Spitfire MK9, MH434. This year the display was flown by Steve Jones who was one of the Red Bull air race pilots. The Spitfire belongs to the Old Flying Machine Company. You may have heard of the late great Ray Hanna…MH434 was his regular mount. In fact it was he who flew down the start line below the roof of the grandstand to open the very first Revival meeting. Whilst watching the cricket I spotted the Fighter Collection’s newly restored Republic P47 Thunderbolt coming in to land at the aerodrome in the middle of the circuit.
I cannot wait for tomorrow.

Outside the cricket pavilion, John Surtees in white hat.

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1923 French Grand Prix: Epilogue

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Did the daring new designs by Voisin and Bugatti advance the art of race car engineering? Read Gijsbert-Paul Berk’s surprising analysis. (Above, Alfas at Lyon, 1924.)

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

When the dust had finally settled down and the excitement of the race was ebbing away, many of the French spectators went home somewhat disillusioned. The expected duel between the Bugatti and Voisin cars never happened. It was obvious from the beginning that the six-cylinder sleeve valves of the Voisin “Laboratoires” were no match for the more powerful eight cylinders of the Bugatti Tanks. The new V12 Delage had retired within a few laps from the start, and after a valiant struggle the two Tours-based Rolland-Pilains were also forced to retire with mechanical problems.

No, it had not been a glorious day for the French manufacturers. In spite of the fact that a Bugatti and a Voisin had finished in third and fifth place, the foreigners in their Fiats and Sunbeams had dominated this Grand Prix de France from the first lap onward.

And even more importantly, did the outcome of this battle between conventional Grand Prix cars and the revolutionary and daring new designs from Bugatti and Voisin have much of an influence on the future of Grand Prix racing?

The sad truth is that from an engineering point of view, it set the clock back.

The 1924 contenders: Improved engines, horsecart chassis, minimal streamlining.

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Pre-War Lancias Wanted to Pursue Ark of the Covenant

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If you have ever thought about doing an “Indiana Jones” and have a pre-war Lancia, (or any other classic) now’s the time to get in touch with Bart Kleyn for next year’s Via Flaminia Coloniale Ethiopian Rally. Bart has recced out the route and below are some of the places he’s got scheduled.

And as everyone by now knows, Ethiopia was once a hotbed of neat Italian cars…some still surface here and there. According to Kleyn, “In the five years that the Italians did colonize Ethiopia they left a deep impression. Most of the road system we know in this vast country was constructed during that period, just before the war. With the Italians came not only the roads but also the cars. In that period regular races where held with Alfa’s, OM , Fiat, Maserati and Lancia.”
[Read more…] about Pre-War Lancias Wanted to Pursue Ark of the Covenant

Palos Verdes Concours September 16th, 2012

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Find all the Palos Verdes Concours winners at end of article.

By Wallace Wyss
Pictures by Richard Bartholomew and Wallace Wyss

Palos Verdes is a peninsula that sticks out into the ocean between LA harbor and Redondo Beach in Southern California. It can be a spectacular place, especially when the weather is acting up on the way there, as it was September 16th when the Palos Verdes show kicked off. It was dewy, cloudy, sunny, and variations of all of these every five minutes, but was very photogenic. Fortunately once we got there it all turned out to be the best weather imaginable–82 deg. or so with clouds hanging on the top of the hills. I bet those who didn’t go because they saw bad weather outside their window regretted it later. [Read more…] about Palos Verdes Concours September 16th, 2012

Our Features (8) This Week, September 12, 2012

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This week, more Denise; Holbert and the Marquis; events from Australia to Colorado to the U.K. and Italy. Be sure to check out the exclusive photos from the Italian Grand Prix by Roberto Motta. Alos, let us know how VeloceToday reads on your iPad, Nook, or other device.
As usual, click on the eight icons to go directly to each article.

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