VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Andrea Curami

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Professor Andrea Curami, surrounded by some of his famous books.

From the archives: A Tribute by Dino Brunori

Last Thursday, June 24th 2010, the author of so many of the books we cherish, Andrea Curami died suddenly of a stroke. He was only 63 years old. Our condolences to his wife Maria Cristina, his daughter Marianna and a beloved nephew, Ginevra.

“Tschao Dino”, “Ciao Andrea”, was a typical beginning of conversations with my late friend Andrea Curami. His way of saying ‘ciao’ had a small inflection of ‘s’ in front of the word and always sounded, well, like Andrea. The first time we met was about fifteen years ago at the Mille Miglia scrutineering in Piazza Vittoria in Brescia. I had heard of the well-known historian but never met him. So it was that I was introduced to a tall man with white hair and a cigar in one hand. For some reason I immediately associated him with Yogi the Bear from the TV cartoon series. I wasn’t the only one. Later I discovered that ‘little bear’ was a nickname often used by his friends.
[Read more…] about Andrea Curami

European Grand Prix

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Here they come!!!

European Grand Prix
by Pete Vack (Erik is traveling)
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

The recent unscheduled flight of Mark Webber’s Red Bull highlighted at least two issues:

One, that the new regulations which were put in place for increased cockpit safety measures were certainly worthwhile; and two, Mark Webber has been involved in an increasing number of incidents.
[Read more…] about European Grand Prix

Making the Mummies Dance

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Fred Simeone in the Alfa Monza s/n 221112 which placed second in the 1933 Mille Miglia, is followed by Curator Kevin Kelly in the 8C 2900B MM Spyder s/n 412031 which won the Mille Miglia in 1938.

A hands on approach brings ancient Alfas to life at the Simeone Foundation

By Pete Vack
Photos by Harry Hurst

Thomas Hoving assumed the directorship of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967 and began a number of building projects and renovations. He brought new life to the aging Museum and was often said to be “making the mummies dance”, a phrase he used to title his best selling memoirs.
[Read more…] about Making the Mummies Dance

MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

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The fascinating history of the Alfa Romeo RLSS MUG 412. Upper left, letter from Tom Goodman; upper right, the Hull and Slater book; original registration from 1927; MUG 412 plate and the RLSS at the Simeone.

By Pete Vack

Fred Simeone became the owner of this rare Alfa Romeo RLSS, chassis number 69013, because he rarely forgets a mug. “I was at Goodwood in 2002 and noticed the Bonhams’ catalog had an RLSS for sale with a British license plate which read ‘MUG 412‘. It struck me as being very familiar, and I then remembered I had read about this car in the Alfa history by Peter Hull and Roy Slater some forty years earlier.” And sure enough on page 63 of the first edition, was a description of this particular Alfa and how it was built for a relative of actor Michael Rennie. Simeone didn’t need to know too much more to bid successfully on the RLSS. (Read Driving the RLSS) It wasn’t the first time the unusual tag was the object of attention.
[Read more…] about MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

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Merosi's Masterpiece, the RLSS. Photo by Harry Hurst.

By Nicholas Lancaster with thanks to the AROC of Great Britain

Part I covered the Merosi cars designed from the beginning of ALFA in 1910 to the introduction of the RL in 1921, which would be the mainstay of the company until production of the Jano-designed 6C 1500 was underway in 1927. Part II features the details of the RLS, RLSS and the RLTF cars.

For 1926 several improvements were made as the RLN became the RLT (for Touring) and the RLS became the RLSS (Super Sports) The latter had dry sump lubrication, while the RLT now also had an engine capacity of 2994cc (and in the UK became known as the 22/70); power improved to 61bhp at 3200rpm, while the RLSS now revved to 3600 and produced 83bhp providing a maximum speed of just over 80mph. [Read more…] about Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

Iso Rivolta 90 Reborn Again

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After almost 20 years, the Iso Rivolta Grifo 90 is back again. Photographed in front of Villa Erba in Cernobbio during the Villa d’Este Concours, Mako Shark (an Italian Company dealing with high-tech manufacturing) presented the latest version of the Iso Grifo 90.


By Alessandro Gerelli
Color photos by Alessandro Gerelli

The Iso Rivolta company was born in 1939 in Bresso, a small town just bordering Milan in the north of Italy, and was characterized by an amazing variety of production during its life. They made refrigerators, water heaters, motorbikes, small city cars, sport cars, and other sundries, most of which were manufactured after the end of WWII. The founder, Renzo Rivolta, was as interesting as the product line. He even built the factory in the park of his villa!
[Read more…] about Iso Rivolta 90 Reborn Again

VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

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By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst

Thanks to the kind offices of the Simeone Foundation, VeloceToday was recently given the opportunity to drive two rare pre-war Alfa Romeos. While driving the “Legendary” 2.3 Castagna was a dream come true, it was perhaps even more fortunate to have been able to sample an even rarer Alfa–a 1925 RLSS, “Merosi’s Masterpiece” as some have called the breed. Rare, did we say? How about 392 ever produced, of which perhaps a dozen are left, scattered across the globe. To see one is an event; to drive one is to experience motoring’s Shangri-La. Here is our report:

Being able to drive both the 8C 2300 and the RLSS meant that we were given the even rarer opportunity to drive the work of both Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. We’ll tell you which was more fun an bit down. [Read more…] about VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL Series Part I

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RLSS radiator featured two badges. Photo by Harry Hurst

By Nicholas Lancaster
With thanks to the AROC of Great Britain

Most enthusiasts will be familiar with the famous Alfa Romeo designs of Vittorio Jano including the P2 Grand Prix car, the eight cylinder 8c 2300 sports cars, and the glorious Tipo B Grand Prix single-seater — but perhaps fewer know that the legendary Alfa Romeo competition story began several years before Jano joined the Milan based company. The man responsible is now largely forgotten, but his place in the Alfa Romeo story, and his greatest creation deserve to be remembered.
[Read more…] about Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL Series Part I

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

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A portion of an outstanding Bugatti turnout includes David Duthu's T-35A (14) that was driven by Jim Strandberg; Matt Cobb's T-37A (37); Peter Mullin's Delage-Era, driven by David Duthu and Peter Mullin's T-35C. Credit: Michael T. Lynch

A Weekend of Wine, Food and Cars

By Michael T. Lynch

Steve Earle, through his company General Racing, has been the most influential organizer of American vintage races over the past 30-odd years. This year he expanded and renamed his long-running Wine Country Classic. The first edition of the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival was held June 5th & 6th at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway.
[Read more…] about Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

Canadian Grand Prix

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Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso

by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

In spite of my last article, McLaren tried to prove that it wasn’t just Red Bull’s ability to take their own cars out of contention that would lead to a desired result for the Woking based team, but that they could do it all on their own.  It was Hamilton’s race to lose, and between driving a clean race and having the team’s flawless pit stops, he made it look easy.  [Read more…] about Canadian Grand Prix

This Week, of Interest

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ACTIVITIES AT THE SIMEONE
NICE BUGATTI ART ON EBAY
BANDINI DOHC FOR SALE
ABARTH DOUBLE BUBBLE SELLS FOR $91,260
LANCIA MYSTERY CAR STILL THAT
ALFA SPRINT NORMALE GOES FOR $39,780

At the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Saturday, June 19th - Sunday, June 27th A special exhibit: Cent Anni, Alfa Romeo, Honoring this famous marque on its 100th anniversary.


[Read more…] about This Week, of Interest

Italian Historic Cup at Monza

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Abarth Osella PA1 owned and driven by Grant Tromans of Monte Carlo.

Story and photos by Roberto Motta

“58th Coppa Intereuropa Autostoriche”

On June 4-6th the “58th Coppa Intereuropa Autostoriche” was held at the historic circuit of Monza. The “Intereurope Cup” is the main Italian event for historic cars and this year had competition events for over 350 racing cars: From Tourism classes to Formula 1 and sports prototype, the Autostoriche featured the cars of the classes that participated in the classic “1000 km of Monza”. In addition, the weekend had parades, rallies, shows and a marketplace, all strictly reserved for cars that wrote the racing history.
[Read more…] about Italian Historic Cup at Monza

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