VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

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otto linton oscaAbove: Otto Linton in the rare 2000S OSCA serial number 2006.

Special Notice:Otto Linton will be the guest speaker at a VSCCA Luncheon, December 4th, in Somers NY. Contact frankrighetti33@aol.com for details.

“I raced an MG in 1948 at Watkins Glen,” says driver Otto Linton. “It was a J4, the only one in the United States and it’s now back in the UK. “ As described in the book The Story of the MG Sports Car, the 1933 J4 was “too fast for most drivers.” The car had essentially the same body that would cover MG frames until 1955, except no doors. Mechanically, it had a 4-cylinder OHC engine of 750cc displacement, supercharged, with one large SU carburetor and a four speed transmission with a remote shift lever and lock-out reverse. It was built in 1933 in a special production of only 9 cars, at the same time as the more famous K3 Magnette with the same design engine but of 6 cylinder configuration – 30 of these were built and only sold to customer competition drivers.

MG-J4

Linton's MG J4 in 1945.

Like many other drivers in that first race of the new sports car era – Bill Milliken, race organizer Cam Argetsinger, Denver Cornett and George Weaver, Otto posted a DNF in the event, with Haig Ksayian going on to take the win in the MG class. “I just had that one race in ’48,” says Otto, “plus a couple of hill climbs in 1949.” [Read more…] about Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

Rally Great Britain 2011 in English and Italian

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By Roberto Motta

Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Co. and BMW AG

Sebastien Loeb won his eighth consecutive World Rally Championship but failed to win the last even to the season. On the last day of the rally, in the lead and on his way to PS 19, he was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle; no one was hurt but the damage to the Citroen’s radiator effectively ended his rally. The last rally of the year, held in Wales, was full of surprises.
[Read more…] about Rally Great Britain 2011 in English and Italian

Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 6: 1952

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Following the 1951 event Dad began once again to look at the classified section of the Motor. He always went first to the ‘S’ section in the hope that he might spot another SS100.

It was during one of those wistful searches that he came cross the magic name: Squire.
[Read more…] about Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 6: 1952

Musings at the Mullin

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Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

As we have all learned, Eric Davison has been around cars for a very long time, from his Watkins Glen days with his father to haunting car and art museums with his wife. So when we found he was going to the Mullin, we asked him to bring back a report on something off the beaten path. Said Davison of the assignment after he returned, “It sounds so very easy but when you are in the Mullin Museum and basically overwhelmed by the magnificence of the cars and of the building’s French decor and the general ambience, the task becomes more complicated.” So did he succeed and bring back a few surprises? We think so—
[Read more…] about Musings at the Mullin

Indian Grand Prix 2011: Bully for Formula One

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Jenson Button, Adrian Newey, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack

Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Bully for India and Formula One

One of our more illustrious Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, was a member of the Bull Moose Party and was given to using the word “Bully” in a positive manner, as in meaning “good”, “great” or “excellent”. Roosevelt also coined the term “Bully Pulpit”, which has an additional meaning here—the “Bully Pulpit” being the ability of the President to use his ‘pulpit’ in an influential manner. And a pulpit is what we have here, what you are reading; a podium, a platform, an opportunity to speak our mind and to have thousands hear it or read it.
[Read more…] about Indian Grand Prix 2011: Bully for Formula One

Watkins Glen Memoirs Part 5: 1951

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Within a few weeks Dad was contacted by the person who had left the note on our SS100. He was serious about wanting the car. While Dad had not contemplated selling, he was bitterly disappointed by the fact that he did not get to race at the Glen. He named a price, one that covered the purchase price, the paint job and a small profit. The car was sold and one Saturday a mechanic showed up and with Dad’s help, replaced the rod bearing and drove off.

Fortunately I had convinced Dad to do a painting of the car and I was the recipient of a magnificent rendition of DWU 834, a lasting memento of the car and of his talents.

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The Frick Vignales

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Frick Cad Vignale

Photo of one of the three known Frick Vignale Cadillacs by Axelrod.

Recently Al Axelrod reported on the Morgan Adams Concours in Denver and spotted a car that piqued our interest, since we had no prior knowledge of such an Italian American hybrid. We asked him to pursue it and he did. His report caused further investigation the results of which we reveal in an addendum from Staff, immediately following Al’s report.

Story and color images by Al Axelrod

In the early fifties, a hot rodder entrepreneur by the name of Bill Frick established Bill Frick Motors and found a ready market for an estimated 200 Fordillacs. As it sounds, a Fordillac was a 1949 Ford with the newly introduced 331ci Cadillac V8, shoehorned into the Ford. Along with Phil Walters (aka Ted Tappet), a very highly regarded race car driver in midgets and sportscars, they managed a successful engine conversion garage in New York Things were looking up for the team when Briggs Cunningham, who often employed both Frick and Walters, decided to open a car building facility in Florida and took the pair with him.

Seemingly well proportioned from the front, the convertible is the most attractive of the three Frick Vignales.

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One Man’s Pantera

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A Man and his Car Series: Al Axelrod going on 33 Years with one Pantera.

By Wallace Wyss

They say after many years of marriage a couple tends to look alike.

So far, after a 34-year “marriage” to his Pantera, Al Axelrod hasn’t yet taken on a silver patina (except for a wee bit of gray around the temples…) like his Pantera, but it could happen.

Why so long with one car?

“It meets my needs as far as an exotic,” says Axelrod, who for 24 years ran his own shop adjacent to Beverly Hills servicing special interest and exotic cars.

Axelrod now lives in Centennial, Colorado, where, even though he’s in his mid 70’s, he still looks forward to each ski season, especially at Copper Mountain and Vail, let alone A-Basin and Winter Park.

But when there’s no snow on the ground, for entertainment, he drives his 1972 Pantera. (or maybe his ‘32 Ford street rod stake truck) “I bought the Pantera with 26k miles on it, fried engine and all, back in 1976,” he recalls after maintaining it for the original owner who purchased it at a Lincoln-Mercury dealer in Hollywood and refused to take it back there for “warrantee” work.

Hey, if you're 75 and you're still skiing, then you can handle a rip-roarin' sports car like a Pantera.

“I had looked at several and knew not to get the very early ones which had cooling problems and some detail issues needing upgrading. By the time mine (mid 72) was made they had sorted all that out.”

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