VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

A Car Life, by Larry Crane

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casa-crane
Bob Lutz (aviator shades) and his Riley MPH.

A gathering of two hundred forty fascinating people,
who all arrived in interesting cars…

David E. Davis Jr. invited me to join him on the staff of Automobile magazine in Ann Arbor. It was an opportunity to work with my publishing hero. Tracy and I had owned our house in Costa Mesa for about a year when the phone call came. We flew to Michigan the next weekend, accepted his offer and put our California home up for sale the following week.
[Read more…] about A Car Life, by Larry Crane

Australian Grand Prix

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aus gp

Brawn 1-2 in Season Opener

by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy & copyright Ferrari Media

For those that follow the sport for longer than a single season, you soon become cynical to the rules changes that are introduced in the name of either saving money or allowing for closer racing. [Read more…] about Australian Grand Prix

Ferrari Days 2009 Monza

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ferrari days
1958 250GT Berlinetta owned by Matthias Ficht faces the rain.

Story and Photos by Roberto Motta

Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge

Monza, 29th March 2009 – The first Ferrari Racing Days of the 2009 season circuit hosted a very intense program for the season’s first round of the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge, Trofeo Pirelli, and the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge Europe.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Days 2009 Monza

Crane To Be Guest MC at La Dolce Vita

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Where’s “A Car Life?” We let Larry slide this week as he’s up to his elbows in deadlines. Besides, we have this Press Release about his future appearance, live, at La Dolce Vita. Larry will return here next week. [Ed.]

AUBURN, WASHINGTON. (April 24, 2009) – La Dolce Vita Automobili at Black Horse announced today that automotive aficionado Larry Crane will join the event as guest Master of Ceremonies. Co Founder Kerry McMullen notes, “Larry Crane has incredible car knowledge related to technical specifications and provenance and he’s a great storyteller. He’s highly respected as both an automotive historian and journalist and we’re thrilled to have him emcee our Monterey Car Week event at Black Horse.”

[Read more…] about Crane To Be Guest MC at La Dolce Vita

A Car (Wife) by Larry Crane

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Tracy Crane (nee Stuart) and her 1600cc Alfa Sprint coming down through Laguna Seca’s famous Corkscrew, running away from a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.

Tracy Stuart quit college to take an advertised position as librarian’s assistant at Road & Track magazine. Legend has it that the first words she spoke to her new boss, Otis Meyer, on her first day in the library were: “Who’s single?”

Otis later remembered thinking, “Crane’s in trouble.”

[Read more…] about A Car (Wife) by Larry Crane

Marin-Sonoma Concours, May 17th 2009

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GTO
Tom Price’s Ferrari 250 GTO is seen at Laguna Seca. It will be on the lawn at the first Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance on May 17. This car won the Dakar 12 Hours in 1962 and also had GT class wins at Spa, the Nurburgring, Reims, Montlhery and the Mount Ventoux hillclimb.

Marin Sonoma Concours Ignores Gloom and Doom

By Michael T. Lynch

If automotive enthusiasm is a leading indicator, then the stock market may be due for a turnaround. Marin County California collector Charlie Goodman will launch the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance on May 17. Goodman is not only undeterred by the present financial situation, but he is celebrating the 1929 crash by allowing free entry to cars of that model year, which will be grouped in a special display. We hope this isn’t tempting fate.
[Read more…] about Marin-Sonoma Concours, May 17th 2009

Amazing Amelia

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The Motor Trend Award For The Editor’s Choice–1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic David and Ginny Sydorick, Beverly Hills, CA. Note wheelcovers by Lmarr Disk LTD.

It just keeps on getting better and better..

By Robert Landman
Photos by Robert Landman

March 14-15th 2009 Amelia Island, Florida

Saturday

The weather is like the economy, grey and depressing, but the gloom soon lifts as we see that everyone present is happy to see friends whom they haven’t since last years’ Amelia Concours or Pebble Beach. Events like Amelia are as much about friends as they are about cars.
[Read more…] about Amazing Amelia

Secrets of Driving in Italy

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By Brandes Elitch with Excerpts by Joe Pelanconi
Photos by John Sexton

Owning an Italian car in America almost inevitably gives rise to an inexplicable longing to visit Italy, and that means, of course, driving there. I have done this a few times, the last one being a visit for the Lancia Centenary. Yes, it is different over there, as I found out when I tried to follow someone else for a two hour drive without having written directions or a European cell phone. This is not advisable in Italy.
[Read more…] about Secrets of Driving in Italy

The Hidden Faces of Venice

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All photos copyright by Mario Marchesini

A semi-professional photographer, Mario Marchesini studied under the great Italian racing photographers, learning his craft at Monza in the 1970s. Today, very busy as a full time orthodontist, Marchesini still contributes images to a number of automobile magazines.

Years ago, we asked Mario to send us some images of Italy for a feature we called “Eye on Italy”. Some subjects had to do with cars, others just Mario’s Italy in general, including the Carnevale di Venezia, certainly the farthest thing from the automobile scene but nonetheless striking. For those who would like to share Mario’s Venice 2009 with him, we publish some of his best, a break from our normal four-wheel subjects.
[Read more…] about The Hidden Faces of Venice

A Car Life, by Larry Crane

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The Crane B20 near the top of the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy in an attempt to duplicate a photo in the 1955 Lancia calendar.

“Of all the cars you’ve owned, which would you like to have back?” Always a popular question from friends who have most of their life’s income carefully invested rather than using it for an endless string of automotive experiences and adventures.
[Read more…] about A Car Life, by Larry Crane

Italia’s Triumph

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Italia
L. Tyrone Stoner’s Italia, number 195, one of three Italias owned by the Author. Photo courtesy of Collectible Automobile magazine.

The Triumph Italia is one of the best looking Anglo-Italian creations ever, and they are extremely rare. If you’d like to see them in person, the 50th Anniversary celebration will be held at the Shelton Vineyard, Dobson, North Carolina, April 17-19. Contact L. Tyrone Stoner at tstoner@mac.com. Below, three time owner Stoner tells all about this fascinating beauty. For Italia Literature, click here.

Triumph Italia/Italia 2000 GT

By L. Tyrone Stoner
All photos courtesy Tyrone Stoner

What “Wacky” Arnott and Bertone did for Bristol and MG, and what Zagato would do for Aston Martin, Italian entrepreneur Salvatore Ruffino figured he could do for the Triumph TR3; modernize and Italianize.
[Read more…] about Italia’s Triumph

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