VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

2023 Goodwood Revival September 8-10

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Side by side in the pits straight the 1938 Alfa Romeo 158 ‘Alfetta’ of Peter Greenfield and the 1948 Talbot-Lago Type 26C of Luc Brandts, respectively 8th and 17th in this race won by the 1937 Alta of Ian Baxter.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Although the Goodwood Revival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it still attracts many spectators and the show still lives up to expectations. The summer weather on the first two days added to the pleasure of taking part in this celebration of motorsport from the 1920s to the 1960s. The rain on Sunday afternoon made the RAC TT Celebration Race even more epic than usual, also unfortunately with some damaged cars. The slightest deviation in trajectory does not forgive at Goodwood, a circuit that remains in the old style, with few clearances or fences, and that is what makes the charm of this event. Alongside the races, the numerous parades and activities of all kinds satisfied visitors, even those who had little interest in motorsport. We will focus on a few major races, all still hotly contested at Goodwood.

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Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court: The Italians

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Best of Show Award

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

September seems to have become Stately Home month, Blenheim Palace for Salon Prive, Hampton Court Palace for the Concours of Elegance,* and then the Goodwood for the Revival, though you could argue that the Revival is held on the estate rather than at the house.

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The Cars of Émile Claveau Part 2

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The first Émile Claveau prototype, the 7 CV Sport, contrasts dramatically with its neighbors in the 1926 Paris Salon.

By Karl Ludvigsen

Read Part 1

From 1924 Claveau began thinking through the design of an auto from first principles, guided as he was by the Discours of Descartes. On 5 September 1925 he lodged a patent on a suspension system that he pictured as applying to two vehicles, both open models and both teardrop-shaped in plan view. At that time French makers Cottin & Desgouttes and Sizaire-Naudin were leaders in deploying transverse leaf springs as a means of giving independent suspension.

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Gauld: Sleuthing around Silverstone

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The prettiest Maserati, the 1936 4CM as driven by Goffredo Zehender in period.

Story and photos by Graham Gauld

As is my wont I embarked on a five-hour drive from my new home in isolated Cornwall to Silverstone for the Classic. Last year I could leave the house in the south of France, drive an hour to Nice airport, wait an hour, fly to Luton airport, rent a car and drive to Silverstone in less time than my drive from Cornwall!

As usual my idea was to prowl the paddock, chat to people and come up with one or two interesting snippets for VeloceToday.

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Elitch and Friends on the Green

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1959 Maserati 3500 GT Bertone coupe, owned by Jim Utaski, Skillman, NJ. I have never seen this before, even in a picture, another one-of-a kind example, quite striking.

Intro by Grant Black, Brisbane Australia

Walking along a narrow road by Carmel Bay, leading to the famous Pebble Beach golf course, two shadowy figures exchanged ‘Good Mornings’ in the misty pre-dawn light. This was my serendipitous meeting with your VeloceToday reporter, Brandes Elitch. [Read more…] about Elitch and Friends on the Green

Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace

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My favorite entry.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Salon Prive events in the UK can be a bit confusing. The Bagley brothers, Andrew and David, now organize two events annually, both under the name of Salon Prive. The most recent of the two is the

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The Cars of Émile Claveau Part 1

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With the launch of his 7 CV Sport in late 1926, Émile Claveau showed that the future could be fun if you were driving the right car.

One of the French Republic’s most talented engineers produced wave after wave of advanced automobiles. Yet both hands would probably suffice to count all the cars he built. Émile Claveau deserves recognition for his undaunted creativity.

By Karl Ludvigsen

French pioneers, among them Panhard et Levassor, de Dion and Renault, made France the early leader in the production of motors and the promotion of motoring. Soon the French were building bigger and faster cars to compete in road races from city to city. They established the first club for motorists, led the founding of the first international association of motoring clubs and organised the first Grand Prix race in 1906.

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Pegaso and Figoni at Pebble Beach, 2023

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Delahaye 135 competition coupe is featured in Richard Adatto’s excellent new book, Figoni on Delahaye. This is the first Figoni aerodynamic coupe, from 1936. It appeared at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours. Brandes Elitch has much more below.

Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

This was the 72nd year of the Pebble Beach Concours. Yes, this is the ultimate Concours in the world. This is due to the enormous amount of time, energy and planning, that goes into making it happen, and the I would say incomparable pool of knowledge and talent of the organizers, entrants, judges, volunteers, sponsors, and employees of the Pebble Beach Company. The planning starts at least a year or two before the actual show, and it takes that much time to assemble the cast. Yes, there are other shows in the US and Europe with these characteristics, but none to this level or degree. That is the difference. [Read more…] about Pegaso and Figoni at Pebble Beach, 2023

Here comes “Ferrari.” Are you ready?

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By Pete Vack

Hollywood strikes again. Your friends will ask, was it really like this? You will be amused. Or you will not be amused. But it is coming. Deal with it.

Remember when Ford vs Ferrari came out? In those pre-pandemic days, seems like all of your friends and relatives went to see it in the theaters. Then they called or sent you a message or even visited you and asked you, you being the expert on all things foreign and Ferrari, a bunch of questions. Did you know Shelby, what was he like, or was he like Matt Damon, did Miles and Shelby really have a fight, was it really a close finish at Le Mans, why did Ferrari lose etcetera, etcetera.

Hollywood got it close to right and it was a great film. But Ferrari, the movie which will be in theaters around Christmas, is darker, with more conjecture, and like the book on which it is based, may be less accurate than one might wish. And more truthful and less comfortable. And will it hurt Ferrari’s image? [Read more…] about Here comes “Ferrari.” Are you ready?

The Magnificent Museum of Alain Cerf

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Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
From the Archives, 2017

Karl Ludvigsen and the Editor owe a debt of thanks to Alain Cerf and his remarkable museum in Tampa Bay for helping with the Claveau articles. We were a little concerned about the effects of Hurricane Idalia on the Museum but they are back, and open for business. And certainly worth a trip! Ed.

Usually I am a sucker for any car museum therefore I can’t imagine how I missed the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. But, I did. Inexcusable on my part.

But, a few months ago my friend Dale Powers asked if I wanted to go to Pinellas Park, about 35 miles north of my home in Anna Maria, Florida. He was looking for a home for his DB Le Mans and there was a French car museum in Pinellas Park that we might both enjoy

Off we went and, indeed there is The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum located in Pinellas Park and, yes, it is primarily French cars. And, yes, the pretty little DB eventually found a new home and is now on display amid some pretty wonderful and beautifully restored cars.

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Concorso Italiano 2023

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Special Coachworks winner, 1947 Cisitalia 202 Sport, Alex Pilibos

Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

This is the 37th Concorso Italiano. But I was there at the beginning.

Back around 1984, my friend Joe Duray found a 1962 Maserati 3500 GT coupe for sale in a lock-up in Vallejo. He asked me if he should get it. The price was $6,500. It was a very clean and unmolested original car, but it did not run well and had no brakes. Of course, I told him he must get it, and he did. I went with him on the inspection to make sure he did not back out. [Read more…] about Concorso Italiano 2023

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 2023

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Roger Barlow’s Simca. Click on photo for more on this car.

Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

“There is nothing more worthless than last year’s racecar.” Steve Earle, circa 1974

In this, the 49th year of racing at Laguna Seca, there were more than 400 race cars in 14 classes. It marks the return of Formula 5000 cars for the first time since 2018. We should note that the track has made significant (and expensive) improvements including a new track surface, which must be very good news to the drivers! It seems that the track is now firing on all cylinders, a very good thing indeed.

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