VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Frank Studstrup: In his own words

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The author of Bugatti in Denmark, driving his type 40 at Prescott in 2019.

By Frank Studstrup

I was born in 1950 and often came along to the family’s bus garage and workshop in the 1950-60s. I must have been kind of taken by the whole atmosphere of all the workshop machinery and maintenance work on the yellow buses. Recalling from my early childhood, some of the buses were Danish built ‘Triangel’, the oldest dating back to 1931 and in the early 1950s set aside to be broken up. [Read more…] about Frank Studstrup: In his own words

Juan Fangio and Suixtil

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At Modena in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio, shows Maserati chief engineer Giulio Alfieri, in jacket shirt and tie, and Swiss journalist Hans Tanner, back to camera, his bandaged wrist. Fangio would bring attention to a line of racing suits from an Argentinean-based company named Suixtil.

Story and photos by Graham Gauld unless otherwise noted

From the VeloceToday Archives May 2017

European motor racing in the years immediately following World War II tended to be a strictly European affair; that is until the arrival of the great Juan Manuel Fangio in 1948. Unlike Europe, where there was a war to contend with, young Fangio learned his motor racing craft in the wild and dangerous racing in Argentina in the 1930s and 1940s.

He proved to be not only a tough competitor but also a winner. Who better to be an ambassador for the Salomon Rudman’s Argentinean-based Suixtil company’s entry into the area of motor racing? Rudman’s enthusiasm for motor racing saw him produce clothing, which would not only be stylish but also comfortable. He took advice from his motor racing friends like Fangio as to design and functionality.

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Driving Chas Addams’ 8C2300 Alfa

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Charles Addams in his 8C 2300 at Bridgehampton, courtesy Simeone Foundation.

By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst

In April of 2012, as part of the series of Demonstration Days at the Simeone Foundation VeloceToday was provided an opportunity to drive two very special Alfa Romeos, an 8C 2300 and an RLSS. A special thanks to Fred Simeone, Harry Hurst and Curator Kevin Kelly. From the VeloceToday archives.

Serial number 2211072, the Alfa Romeo 8C2300 MM Spyder on display at the Simeone Foundation in Philadelphia, is the only 8C 2300 Spyder to be bodied by Castagna. According to Simon Moore, it likely started life as a factory racecar before being sold to privateers. Raced in the 1935 Mille Miglia by Catullo Lami and Pasquale Ermini, (who would later build his own racecars) it was forced to retire. Exported to the UK it led a happy and active life for many years with a number of enthusiastic owners. It has a few famous owners, but our favorite is Charles Addams, who is also our favorite cartoonist. Furthermore, aside from an engine rebuild in the UK, this 8C 2300 is apparently original and unrestored. All of which make this a very, very special Alfa 8C 2300. [Read more…] about Driving Chas Addams’ 8C2300 Alfa

Brooklands Italian Car Day

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

A huge thank you to our friends at Auto Italia magazine for making the Brooklands Italian Car Day happen, and for the loan of a hi viz tabard (high level photo pass) to allow me to take shots during the lunch time demo sessions on the Mercedes Benz World test track.

As the Editor pointed out last week, there are three or events that attract rare Italian cars; Concorso Italiano in the US, Milano AutoClassica in Italy, the even larger Auto Moto d Epoca in Padua, and the Brooklands Italian Car Day in the UK. I have covered the UK event now for many years, and it is always a joy.

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A Later Look at the Career of Phil Hill

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Sebring, March 1958. Winners Phil Hill and co-driver Peter Collins with a truly impressive piece of silverware. One wonders where it is today. (photo: Bob Jackson)

Story by Willem Oosthoek

After

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Sliding into the Archives

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The below image of Paul Wilson’s Alfa 6C 2500 is the first in a slideshow; the directions are to look at the photo, and do one of two things: either click on the arrow at the center of the photo to go to the article itself, or, click on the arrow that appears on the right and left side of the photo. This will bring you to the next story, if right, or previous story, if left arrow is selected. Hence, a slide show, scrolling left and right instead of up and down.

This slide show of fourteen stories clearly demonstrates the excellence, depth and range of stories that appear every week in VeloceToday, authored by top writers and photographers from the U.S., UK, Belgium, Australia, France and Italy. [Read more…] about Sliding into the Archives

The Cars of Charles Addams Part 2

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Addams at Bridgehampton in the mid 1960s with New York socialite and good friend Odette Benjamin in the passenger seat. Photo courtesy of Guasti collection.

By Pete Vack

Read Part 1

Charles Addams was about to embark upon the most lucrative years of his career as a cartoonist. By 1964 his income had almost tripled and the “Addams Family” was just making its debut on nation-wide TV. Like never before, Addams, an otherwise “normal boy” from New Jersey, would be able to enjoy both his cars and his freedom. [Read more…] about The Cars of Charles Addams Part 2

Charles Addams Biography, Reviewed

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Review by Pete Vack

Charles Addams: A Cartoonist’s Life By Linda H. Davis
Turner Publishing Company, Nashville TN First published 2006
ISBN 9781684426898
Pages: 408
Paperback, 10-19-2021
Purchase here

A charmed life, a charming man

Properly executed, a biography covers the entire spectrum of the subject’s work, interests and relationships, allows little to the imagination, leaves no questions in the mind of the reader, and above all, gives the reader feeling that, living or dead, saint or sinner, the subject is as familiar as one’s best friend. [Read more…] about Charles Addams Biography, Reviewed

Zoute Grand Prix, 2021

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Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

What started in 2010 as a classic car rally with friends, the Zoute Grand Prixin Belgium has grown steadily since then to become a must-see event on the calendar which also involves the neighboring towns of Bruges and Ostend this year.

Weekend activities at Zoute include an exhibition of the latest production numbers from dream car makers like Ferrari, Maserati and McLaren, the GT Tour for exclusive GT cars under 20 years of age, and an auction organized by Bonhams.

But the most important event of the weekend is the Concours d’Elegance which takes place at the Zoute Golf Club. That is what we are going to focus on today.

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Milan AutoClassica, 2021

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Ferrari 750 Monza 1955 #0552

October 1-3 2021

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli, text by staff

There are at least three events at which to view a wide range of Italian cars:
Concorso Italiano in California, Brooklands Italian Car Day in the UK, and Milano AutoClassica, in Italy. Every year each one has an outstanding entry and rare Italian cars. But for rarity – not particularly exclusivity, but rarity- the Milano AutoClassica gets our vote.

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The Cars of Charles Addams Part 1

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Addams and the 8C 2300 Alfa Romeo Castagna in front of his Westhampton Beach home in shortly before trading it for Ken Purdy’s Bugatti. Photo copyright and courtesy of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation.

By Pete Vack

From the Archives, 2010

Classic Addams: From a high perch of their haunted Victorian mansion, a chilly Morticia looks on as Lurch and Gomez prepare to pour a cauldron of boiling oil onto an unsuspecting and cheery group of Christmas carolers three stories below.

Perhaps no cartoon better illustrated the wit, charm, style and macabre humor of Charles Addams than this New Yorker art from 1946 known as “Boiling Oil.” It is Addams at his best; the detail, the creepy mansion, the scary but lovable characters, the anticipation of a gruesome act which never actually transpires. His Addams Family™ cartoons inspired two TV series, two feature length movies and made him and the Addams Family™ household names. And the story lives on; Addams Family 2 opens this month in theaters near you. [Read more…] about The Cars of Charles Addams Part 1

Vanhoolandt at the Spa 6 Hours Classic

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It seems that the track is not wide enough …

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Spa Six Hours is an annual race meeting held at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit. This year, on September 24-26, the race meeting was held again after a one-year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Although it was not yet back to normality as some of the grids were not as full as before, the spectacle was there with contested races and the typical Ardennes rain on Sunday that put the drivers to their limits.

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