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Allen R. Kuhn

Behind the PBS SOCAL Story: My Extra 5 Minutes of Fame

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I brought the very same Canon IVS 2 35 mm camera that took so many B&W and even a dozen in color, to the interview for the program, “Lost L.A.” The first episode is called “The Fast and The Forgotten.” The five minute episode concentrating on me is called “The Forgotten Racetrack.”

By Allen R. Kuhn
Photographs courtesy of Matt Bass, Director of Photography PBS

Behind the PBS SOCAL Story: My 15 Minutes of Fame and some Additional Footage from the Original Interview

In November of 2024, I was working on a project for VeloceToday, I heard “Ride of the Valkyries” playing on our phone. Another spam call, I thought. I looked over, and the name Tom Young showed up; by gosh, a real phone call! He was calling to see if I would help PBS SOCAL put together a half-hour show for a program called “Lost L.A.” This would be the opening season episode called “The Fast and the Forgotten.” [Read more…] about Behind the PBS SOCAL Story: My Extra 5 Minutes of Fame

PBS, Kuhn and Paramount Ranch: Showtime!

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On January 6th, catch Allen on PBS SoCal. Photo courtesy PBS.

By Allen R. Kuhn

I was interviewed for a show on the PBS SoCal station for a show called Lost LA. I spoke about my experience photographing races at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica mountains in the 1950s.

The episode I’m in is going to air this week. It’s Season 8 of Lost LA, Episode 1 and called “The Fast and Forgotten.” You can watch it on LA PBS station KOCE this Tuesday, January 6, at 7:30 PM if you’re local, search for it on your local PBS station website, or watch the full episode directly on Youtube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEgE7qBT1kw&list=PLWu5ajp6Zk8c22IbTTF49HITJLuOM8HMv

Here is a description of the episode. [Read more…] about PBS, Kuhn and Paramount Ranch: Showtime!

Put on a Happy Face

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When the artwork is more interesting than the chassis number.

By Pete Vack, photos by Jim Sitz and Allen R. Kuhn

VeloceToday originally ran this photo in September 2023, and in an effort to find the chassis number and owner of the 550 Spyder Richie Ginther drove one fine day at Santa Barbara, and perhaps the meaning of the Happy Face on the front, we asked our readers to help.

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When Allen Met Graham

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Carroll Shelby in John Edgar’s Ferrari 410S leads Dan Gurney in Frank Arciero’s Ferrari 375 Plus at Palm Springs on April 13, 1958. One of the many photos I shared with the Ferrari Archivist.

Story and Photos by Allen R. Kuhn
From the VeloceToday archives, March, 2022

I would like to start this series of short stories – they are not Galleries as before – by telling a true story about Graham Gauld, and how he saved our skin when we were in Italy/France in 2006 for our seven-week tour of the Continent. The story really began in Maranello, so bear with me….

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And How! VeloceToday’s Most Valuable Assets

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In addition to our comments section below each article, VeloceToday often gets very nice compliments, sent via email or included in a note with a subscription check. These comments rarely get published, but are meant as recognition of the work done by our contributors, who create the content that makes VeloceToday what it is. Magazines are nothing without good content, and therefore contributors are our greatest and most valuable assets.

They are historians, authors, editors, photographers, columnists, journalists, judges, drivers, restorers, artisans, collectors and constructors. They hail from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy. Here are the names of thirty-three whose contributions made the year 2024 one to remember.

Jeff Allison, Gary Axon, Giles Chapman, Bob Cullinan, Rodney Diggens, Joseph Duray, Brandes Elitch, Graham Gauld, Greg Glassner, Bob Harrington, Joe Hurwich, Stefan Ivanov, Vince Johnson, Jackie Jouret, Allen R. Kuhn, Dale LaFollette, James Lanoway, Frederic Levaux, Bernard Linck, Roberto Motta, Herb Miska, Chris Nugent, Willem Oosthoek, Paul Sable, Charley Seavey, Jonathan Sharp, Jim Sitz, Roy Smith, Sean Smith, Pete Vack, Hugues Vanhoolandt, Paul Wilson, Robert Young

Back by Popular Demand

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My first and almost forgotten Maserati shot is of Jimmy Bryan in the Henry Maag entered 300S at Willow Springs on March 4, 1956. Bryan also was a pilot in the Indy 500. To keep everyone happy, it’ s/n 3058.

Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn

As I start my one-digit waltz once more upon my keyboard, the letters begin to flow. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes not. We’ll do the best we can.
“Back by popular demand” might be a bit of a stretch. There were three guys from Sheboygan who said they wanted to see more Maserati pictures. I started thinking that this would be a most salient time to cull the archives once again, with purpose. The archives didn’t let me down.

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Kuhn’s Maserati P2, 1960-1963

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I feel a need to start this dissertation with a true icon of the sport. He is, of course, Carroll Hall Shelby. We were both at the Examiner GP Riverside on April 3, 1960 where Shelby won driving this Maserati Birdcage Tipo 61 RHD s/n 2458, entered by Camoradi U.S.A.

Photography and Story by Allen R. Kuhn

My Humble Contribution to the Legacy of Maserati from 1957 thru 1963

Almost everything I read about Shelby states that he was a great car designer. I find it hard to accept the fact that he was a car designer. My feelings are he was great at getting the right people on his team to get things done, and knowing what was available to make it happen. Nothing wrong with that.

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Allen R. Kuhn: Maserati 150S, 200S, 450S

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Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn

It’s time to dust off the old negs, with a camel hair brush, I might add. The ones that seem to want attention are from my Maserati archives. That’s good because they were some of my favorites. What drew me to them was their beautiful lines and stunning sounds. Another thing that drew them to me happened in 2007 at the Automobilia Monterey event during the August Car Week.

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Making Tracks: My Love Affair with the California Circuits of the ’50s

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Once again, I bring pixels to the screen with the hope that these images or text will tweak some memories from your bygone youth and bring a smile to your face. “I was there” is a favorite one I like to hear. Any idea of which track this is? I’ll give you a hint, it’s at Turn 5. The parties behind the wheels are: #69 Dan Gurney Ferrari 375 Plus, #59 Bob Oker Aston Martin, and #21 Hal Dolden Sparks-Bonney Special. Dan won and Bob was second. But, where?

Story and photographs by Allen R. Kuhn

In the next few months I will chronicle some of the 13 race tracks where I photographed the world of sports car racing in Southern California from 1955 to 1965. In this issue, I am featuring the wonderful world of the Paramount Ranch Race Track itself, my favorite shooting gallery. I will try and capture some of the topography of the landscape there in the following images. [Read more…] about Making Tracks: My Love Affair with the California Circuits of the ’50s

Richie Ginther Tribute Part 1

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Sometimes size does matter, as at Santa Barbara on June 1, 1958, when Richie Ginther got behind the wheel of John von Neumann’s ungodly beautiful #211 Ferrari 250 TR capturing 3rd OA, but 1st in DM. Ginther was bested that day by Lance Reventlow in his Scarab Chevy in 1st, and Max Balchowsky in the Buick Ol’ Yeller in 2nd. Both were class BM, where size does matter.

This is the first of two articles about Richie Ginther, a great driver who never quite got the press he deserved. Below is Allen Kuhn’s portrait of the driver, and we’ll follow that up with personal recollections from Jim Sitz, who knew Ginther very well. These are fleeting bios; for a really good look at Richie, we urge you to get a copy of Richard Jenkins’ “Richie Ginther, Motor Racing’s Free Thinker”. Both Kuhn and Sitz also contributed to Jenkins’ book. Ed.

A Pictorial Essay By Allen R. Kuhn

My pictorial essay for this week actually began as I searched my negatives for a particular car. I found out that the auction house RM Sotheby’s is offering the John Edgar Ferrari 410S s/n 0598 at the Monterey Car Week this month. Was there a story for VeloceToday.com here? [Read more…] about Richie Ginther Tribute Part 1

Interview with a Race Queen

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The Editor and the photographer apologize for this photo, which was the result of the sun being at the wrong end of the lens. However, it is well balanced and says a lot. Read on.


Marilyn Fox Halder, as interviewed by Allen R. Kuhn
Photos by Allen R. Kuhn unless otherwise noted.

Marilyn Fox loved dancing growing up, and was very attractive. She would follow a career making commercials and become a professional dancer finding work at the Sahara in Las Vegas. This led her to appear at the Millionaire’s Club in Los Angeles, CA. While there, she was introduced to Peter and Harry Rothschild, who owned Powerine Oil Company. They wanted to get the contract to supply fuel for the race tracks in Southern California and asked Marilyn if she would be interested in becoming a promoter of their products at races and other activities. With her natural beauty and love of automobiles, she thought it might be a fun thing to do and get paid.

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