VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

A Car Life, by Larry Crane

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crane heroes
International champions spellbound by their hero, Rene Dreyfus (in blue sportscoat), at the 1976 Long Beach Vintage Grand Prix.

Heroes

Joel Finn had been my host for nearly a week. We were assembling the pieces for his soon to be produced history of Ferrari’s 250 Testa Rossa. As I prepared my luggage for a next-day departure, he suggested I leave a little earlier the next morning to have time to stop in Manhattan for lunch at Le Chanteclair Restaurant and Bar on 18 East 49th, the legend-filled necessary stop for every one in the world of motor sport. [Read more…] about A Car Life, by Larry Crane

La Dolce Vita at Monterey on the Fairways

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crane lambo

New Monterey Car Week Event Returns Italian Cars and Culture to the Fairways at Black Horse Golf Course

We are proud to announce our sponsorship of La Dolce Vita-Automobili at Black Horse. This event will be held Friday, August 14, 2009 during this year’s Monterey Car Week. Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course has been completely upgraded and the fairways will be lined with Italian cars and vendors who offer wonderful art and Automobilia as well as other products and services of interest to car enthusiasts.
[Read more…] about La Dolce Vita at Monterey on the Fairways

A Ferrari 430 at CAT

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training
David Alstadter with his F430 Spider at Spa Francorchamps, home of the Belgian GP.

Combining art and science in high performance driver training–in a Ferrari 430 Spider

By David Alstadter

David Alstadter has been there and done that. Not long ago he raced and restored cars. Not just any cars, but Porsches, Ferraris and BMWs. No slouch, Alstadter won both the Los Angeles and San Diego regional SCCA class championships. So it was with some surprise that we found Alstadter so impressed with a recent driving training course in Great Britain. The fact that his normal mode of transportation is a Ferrari 430 Spider added to the interest quotient. Alstadter wanted to drive his Ferrari to the great circuits of Europe and participate in track events, hence the need to update his skills. There are no disclaimers here, just sheer enthusiasm. (Ed.)

Think you can drive really well? So do I… or I did… or I do now. With my experience, what could I learn or gain from driver training? A lot!
[Read more…] about A Ferrari 430 at CAT

Desert Classic Concours Palm Springs

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Best of Show was chosen from the class winners by a panel of designers. The winner was Scott and Courtney Gauthier’s Alfa Sprint Zagato Coda Tronca. Less than two hundred were made, but only about 30 had this Kamm-tail configuration. Credit: Gregg Felsen

The Desert Classic Concours Continues to Impress

By Michael T. Lynch

The second edition of the Palm Springs Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance took place under clear skies with temperatures in the low 80s on March 1st. Organizers Paul and Holly Merrigan took a note from the Obama playbook and had a stimulus package of their own, expanding last year’s schedule dramatically.
[Read more…] about Desert Classic Concours Palm Springs

A Car Life, By Larry Crane

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crane lambo
This week Crane recalls driving the 1980’s version of the Alfa 2.9, the Countach. Both were the ultimate in shock and awe of their eras.

COUNTACH!!
The story is often told that as the Lamborghini prototype was completed at Sant’Agata Bolognese, a workman stood back and exclaimed, “Countach!”— which, in Piedmontese means, “Geez, that’s neat!” only much more so. The design team looked at each other and immediately agreed that this one car wearing the famous badge would not be named after a fighting bull.
[Read more…] about A Car Life, By Larry Crane

Simon Moore: Motoring’s Sherlock Holmes

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simon moore
Simon Moore participating in the 1987 Mille Miglia with his 8C2900A Alfa Romeo.

Although consisting of only two books, the body of work achieved by Simon Moore is both enormous and highly significant. Moore is the author of “The Immortal 2.9” and the three volume set, “The Legendary 2.3.” Both books will stand for years as the last word on the subject. Last month, Parkside Publications released the second edition of the “Immortal 2.9” book. (read review).
[Read more…] about Simon Moore: Motoring’s Sherlock Holmes

Riverside, the City of Speed’s Playground

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riverside
Riverside’s first feature event, September 22, 1957. Eventual winner Richie Ginther, in John Edgar’s Ferrari 410S leads Bob Drake in Frank Arciero’s Ferrari 375 Plus early in the race.
Credit: Ken Parker, MTL Archive.

By Michael T. Lynch

When road racing enjoyed a revival after World War II, Watkins Glen, New York held the first race in the fall of 1948. The next year, Bridgehampton, New York; Linden, New Jersey; Concord, California and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida joined Watkins Glen with races for the imported cars that were arriving on U.S. shores. [Read more…] about Riverside, the City of Speed’s Playground

A Car Life, by Larry Crane

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crane bugatti
Legend has it that Mrs. Bugatti would pass through the race shop periodically and hold her pack of Gaulois cigarettes next to the latest group of team cars to verify they had not drifted too far from the official racing color.

Bugatti Type 51 in Gaulois Bleue

Bugatti’s famous snarl grows quickly. The tiny clutch pedal snaps up and we are underway. Every metal component that is in motion makes noise and it is all in the cockpit with you. There is no firewall and the gearbox is pressed against my left leg. It doesn’t take long before there is heat everywhere. The rev counter has inexplicably failed and we are running on sound. [Read more…] about A Car Life, by Larry Crane

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