VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Design Critique: Ferrari 599 Before the Aperta

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599 GTB: Cleaner and more beautiful than the Vette. Photo Ferrari Media.

By Wallace A. Wyss
A commentary on the Ferrari 599 GTB , introduced in 2007, and its subsequent versions.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
When Ferrari sought to design a new front-engined car to replace the 575M Maranello, they wanted to have one that would be a comfortable grand tourer, and yet incorporate what they call “cutting edge downforce “figures, i.e. stay glued to the ground. Hence the long hood, sloping downward into a built in front spoiler. [Read more…] about Design Critique: Ferrari 599 Before the Aperta

Design Critique: Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

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The new Aperta, meeting with mixed reviews. Photo Ferrari Media.

By Wallace A. Wyss

And now, the third iteration of the streetable 599, following the GTB, the halfway new “ Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione”,and the GTO, introduced last April, is the Aperta, or “open” 599.
[Read more…] about Design Critique: Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

Angelina’s Italian Car Show, Staten Island, October 17th

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Onofrio (Frank) Triarsi’s beautiful 1953 Ferrari 375 Mille Miglia stands outside Angelina’s.

Story and Photos by Robert J. Neary

For the second time in a month, a great selection of Italian cars assembled on the Island of Staten on a glorious sunny day. This time it was at the invitation of Angelina of Angelina’s Italian Restaurant at 399 Ellis Street, Staten Island, home of the best Italian food on the Island! [Read more…] about Angelina’s Italian Car Show, Staten Island, October 17th

Brazilian Grand Prix, November 7, 2010

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Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Chris Horner and Fernando Alonso

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Sebastian Vettel won an entertaining Brazilian Grand Prix and helped clinch the constructor’s championship for Red Bull Racing in a season that has seen the lead change more times than Lindsey Lohan has requested bail. Mark Webber’s second place finish was a clean, uneventful drive, but that is what helps win championships.
[Read more…] about Brazilian Grand Prix, November 7, 2010

Beauty As a Liability: The Ferrari Lusso

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lusso-11.jpg

By Wallace Alfred Wyss

I remember visiting a guy in Newport Beach about 20 years ago who was a Can-Am racer who had just bought a Ferrari 250GT Lusso. I felt sorry for him because , as far as Ferrari 250s go , that model was known at the time as strictly a boulevard car with no racing potential, and therefore little investment potential. [Read more…] about Beauty As a Liability: The Ferrari Lusso

Bentley Boy

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Growing up or growing old?

Story and photos by Erik Nielsen

I’m getting old, or at least that’s what my latest car says about me

If anyone has read even one of the hundreds of F1 reports that I have written for Velocetoday over the years, it tends to come out in my writing that I do have a certain penchant for the cars out of Maranello. [Read more…] about Bentley Boy

This Week, of Interest

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We are still in need of a few more comments about where our readers like to go for family vacations in the U.S. Please drop us a quick note if you can–all info will be kept private, of course. Send to pete@velocetoday.com Thanks!

Maranello, 12 October – Roberto Motta writes: We would like to dedicate this picture to the memory of Mexican driver Nicolas Zapata, who was the victim of a traffic accident on Saturday 9 October on the Mexico-Toluca highway in the region of Santa Fe. The image shows him racing in one of the recent rounds of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. With the loss of Zapata, the new Ferrari Historic Race loses its most fervent supporter, a racer for over ten years in the extraordinary series dedicated to the classic jewels from the home of the Prancing Horse. In November 2009 Zapata was crowned champion at the fourth and final race at the world finals in Valencia, behind the wheel of a legendary 1956 Ferrari 625 TR. Photo by Roberto Motta, insert Ferrari Media.

Mario Marchesini of Budrio and our “Italian eye” caught this transporter with Polish tags (many FIAT models are made in Poland). Mario thinks the much taped up Prototype might be a new four door Lancia Ypslion. Photograph copyright Mario Marchesini.

13th Trofeo Aido, Brescia, Italy

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Mario Tomasoni in the AMP ALFA MASERATI PRETE leads Oliviero Cargnoni’s HRG Le Mans,

Story by Charles Schoendorf
Photos by Dino Brunori

What do wine, salami and a hip looking reversible Italian vest have in common? Nothing, other than they were the goodies we took away from the Trofeo Aido the last Sunday of September. The vest is now my favorite garb.

Brescia is known for two great vintage car events—one is the Trofeo Aido. The other is the Mille Miglia. But the Trofeo, to its credit, is far less grueling and is run for a very noble cause, as a benefit for the organ donation and research organization in Italy known as AIDO. [Read more…] about 13th Trofeo Aido, Brescia, Italy

Ferrari Club of America National Meet Part 2

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Philip Fecher enjoyed his Best 250 GTE Award winning 1963 250 GTE 2+2 on the track on Saturday as well as displaying at the Concours.

Story and photos by Robert Neary

Part 1, published last week, described some of the show stoppers at this years’s Nationals. In Part 2 Robert Neary discusses some of the 250GTs and 330s that were featured.

The 2010 FCA Annual Meet also celebrated 50 years of the 250 GTE 2+2, Ferrari’s first true production four seater. Unfortunately, due to the weather, only two of these cars came out for the Concorso. Winner of the Best 250 GTE Award was Philip Fecher with his 1963 example (S/N: 4897GT). [Read more…] about Ferrari Club of America National Meet Part 2

Korean Grand Prix, Oct. 24, 2010

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Lewis Hamilton, Chris Dyer, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

It rained and then it got dark, not an auspicious beginning for Korea’s first world championship Formula One event. It looked dismal, the bleachers were only half filled, the rain didn’t let off and the red lights blinked throughout the event. Seven cars were involved in accidents and retired. Dismal and expensive. [Read more…] about Korean Grand Prix, Oct. 24, 2010

This Week, of Interest

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Best of France and Italy to be held November 7th 2010
Get out to Woodley Park, Van Nuys, California for a day with the best of French and Italian motoring machinery. This a non-judged show, from the rough restoration project to the serious concours offering. All are welcome, and our pricing structure is geared toward the collector with more than one vehicle. The intent of this gathering is to provide a meeting place for those marques that get little attention at the fancier concours. The registration fee is the same for both cars and swap meet vendors. A parking area is provided for trailers and tow vehicles. Food will be available or bring a picnic (no alcohol please).
Click here for a map and directions.
Contact us at info@franceanditaly.com or by voice, (626) 797-4221

And now for a question or two.
We know that most of our readers travel a great deal and that many attend automotive events all around the world.
But–where do you go for U.S. non car related vacations? What is your family’s favorite vacation destination? Will you be taking such a vacation in the next year? The reasons for such a question will be revealed in time, but if you send your comments to this post or to pete@velocetoday.com, privacy is assured. Send us a note if you can, it will be of great help!

Alfas on the Track Part II

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Alfas in England but where. Photo by Jeff Allison.

Jeff Allison continues his tribute to Alfa Romeo’s 100th anniversary
with images from races where Alfas competed in 1972 and 1974.

Part I

Words and Photos by Jeff Allison

Alfa hoped for success in endurance racing in 1972 with a new car. Prospects appeared bright as the team had some momentum from winning three manufacturers’ title races in 1971. However, it was not to be. In 1971, Alfa had practiced occasionally but never raced a new model called the 33TT3. A Telaio Tubolare (tubular chassis) replaced the previous aluminum monocoque. It reduced the frontal area for lower drag, and the gearbox was relocated and the driver moved forward for better balance. Alfa intended to introduce a more powerful flat-12 engine for the TT chassis, but it wasn’t ready to race in 1972. This left Alfa (read Autodelta) with a heavier chassis (steel tubes) and a now old, underpowered V-8 to race against Ferrari’s 312 P(B), which would become the dominant car in 1972.


The BOAC 1,000kms on April 16 followed Buenos Aires, Daytona and Sebring in the 1972 manufacturers’ championship, where Alfa placed third overall in each race. When the Alfa team arrived in their transporter full of 33TT3 cars and parts at the 2.65-mile Brands Hatch road racing course, the spirit around the Alfa camp was upbeat. Could they turn the tables and upset Ferrari’s 312 P(B)s, which had won the first three races?

The paddock at Brands Hatch was crowded with the 23 cars that qualified for the BOAC 1,000kms World Championship Sports Car Race. The Alfa paddock area was relatively quiet during the moments before the race as mechanics and spectators mill around the cars. According to the race report in Autosport, the 33TT3s had been lightened by removing the safety fuel tanks for this one race, and the engine was tweaked to around 440-hp. Despite three consecutive third places in the first three races, the 33TT3s were just .3 seconds faster than they had been at Brands a year earlier in 1971, and the 450-hp 312 P(B)s would go on to dominate the 1972 championship.

At the start, the three works Ferrari 312 P(B)s that qualified 1-2-3 have already gone out of the picture as has the fourth place on the grid 33TT3 (#8) of Peter Revson/Rolf Stommelen. Seen here are the Andrea de Adamich and Vic Elford (#6) and Nanni Galli and Helmut Marko (#7) 33TT3s surrounded by two- and three-liter rivals from Lola, Gulf-Mirage and Chevron.

American Peter Revson was driving for Alfa in the manufacturers’ championship for sports cars and for McLaren in F1 and the Can-Am in 1972.

Revson was partnered by German Rolf Stommelen, who had become a regular with Alfa Romeo in sports cars and raced with Team Eifelland Caravans in a March 721 in F1 in 1972.

Revson and Stommelen drove their Autodelta (works) 33TT3 (#8) to third overall and third in the Sports 3000 class. Starting fourth on the grid behind three works Ferrari 312 P(B)s, the pair finished one lap behind the second-place Ferrari and two laps behind the winning Ferrari of Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx. The photo shows Revson (#8) leading the Lola T280s, powered by three-liter Cosworth V-8s, of the Jo Bonner team—Chris Craft and Gerard Larrousse (#3) and Rene Wisell and Bonnier (#4).

Vic Elford (left) speaks with codriver Andrea de Adamich before the start. Elford was picked up by Alfa from the now defunct Martini & Rossi Porsche 917 team. De Adamich, a long-time Alfa sports car driver, also drove a Surtees TS9B-Cosworth Ford for the Ceramica Pagnossin team in F1 in 1972.

The 33TT3s just couldn’t match the speed of the Ferrari 312 P(B)s, and Elford and de Adamich drove the #6 33TT3 to a fourth overall and fourth in the Sports 3000 class. Qualifying eighth on the grid, they completed 231 laps to finish two laps behind the Revson and Stommelen 33TT3 (#8). The photo shows Englishman Elford at the wheel.

The third Autodelta 33TT3 (#7) in the BOAC 1,000kms was driven by Nanni Galli and Helmut Marko. Galli also raced F1 for the Martini Racing Team in a Tecno PA123 and Marko with the Marlboro BRM team in a BRM P153. They qualified ninth on the grid but suffered a loss of brake fluid in the last hour, slowing them to a sixth overall finish. The photo shows Galli exiting Druids Corner with the #34 Chevron B21-Ford of Brian Robinson and Francois Migault behind. At the conclusion of the 11-race series for the manufacturers’ title, Alfa Romeo had raced in only seven of the races with the highest finish of a second in the Targa Florio and no wins. Even so, they finished second, albeit a distant second, to Ferrari but ahead of Porsche, Lola, Chevron, Mirage and Matra for the manufacturers’ title.

Well known enthusiast and long-time California exotic car dealer Otto Zipper entered his T33/4 for Scooter Patrick at the Los Angeles Times 15th Annual Grand Prix on October 29, 1972 at the 2.54-mile Riverside International Raceway. Patrick maneuvers the car around the paddock in the photo.

Riverside was the ninth and final Canadian-American Challenge Cup Series race in 1972. The 4.0-liter V-8 powered Alfa was a standard FIA Group 6 car in all but its engine size, but it didn’t stand a chance against the unbelievable 5.0-liter Porsche 917-10K with its turbocharged flat-12 engine approaching 1,000-hp or the 9.0-liter (565-ci) 800-hp behemoth Denny Hulme had in his McLaren M20 only for Riverside. Patrick, who had driven to a seventh overall finish two weeks earlier at Laguna Seca, did well to qualify ahead of 13 of the more powerful Can-Am cars, including the Bryant Ti22, Lolas, McLarens and the 917PA/K. He finished ninth overall, completing 57 laps to the winner and newly crowned Can-Am champ George Follmer’s Porsche 917-10K (61 laps). In the photo, Patrick is shown alongside the larger, more powerful 8.3-liter McLaren M8FP (#55) of Chuck Parsons as they exit Turn 6 at Riverside.

The Interserie was Europe’s version of the Can-Am. At the Martini International Supersports event, the opening round of the 1974 Interserie Championship at Silverstone, England on May 12, 1974, Richard Pilkington was the entrant and driver of T33/3 (#84). It was reported by Autosport to be the 1971 BOAC 1,000-km winning car of Andrea de Adamich and Henri Pescarolo. Pilkington, the curator of the Totnes Motor Museum in England, was quite slow around the 2.932-mile Silverstone course, qualifying next to last on the grid of 27 qualifiers.

The Martini International Club Trophy event was a long-running event at Silverstone that began in 1961, won by well known drivers such as Chris Amon, Peter Gethin, Denny Hulme, Leo Kinnunen, Arturo Merzario and Michael Parkes. The T33/3 was in the Sport 500 class that was populated mainly with two-liter cars from Chevron and March and some three-liter cars. The photo shows the business end of Pilkington’s T33/3 with its three-liter V-8 engine.

In the 35-lap, 102.45-mile final, Pilkington finished 17th of 21 cars and five laps behind the winning Willi Kauhsen in a 4.5-liter Porsche 917-10K. It was the German Kauhsen who later brought money and sponsors to run Alfa’s racing team, and the cars, now powered by the flat-12 engine, won the manufacturers’ title in 1975 and 1977 for Alfa Romeo.

Jeff Allison is presently the editor of Prancing Horse, the quarterly magazine of the Ferrari Club of America. He’s previously served in editor positions with MG Abingdon Classics and Vintage Motorsport magazines, including editor of “Vintage Stuff” in Automobile magazine. Since 1976, he’s produced almost 400 articles in over 40 magazines and web sites relating to motorsport activities.

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