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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Dennis Gray Photo Gallery

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Jonathan Feiber – 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 in Group 3A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, Nikon 300mm f/13 at 1/250 second.

Intro by Brandes Elitch
All Photos copyright Dennis Gray

Read the Interview with Dennis Gray

In my last column, I interviewed noted photographer Dennis Gray in Modesto last month. Dennis discussed some of his techniques for race photography based on fifty plus years of work. Afterwards, we realized that we needed to show more of his output, hence this second column. The photos speak for themselves and do not require additional commentary. However, I thought I would say a few words about this subject in general to put things in perspective for our readers. [Read more…] about Dennis Gray Photo Gallery

Top Ten Prewar Sports Cars

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Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt unless otherwise noted

A few weeks ago, Brandes Elitch started a good deal of controversy with his list of Top Ten Sports Cars, which concentrated on post WWII makes. Sean Smith then countered with his own list and Elitch then came up with his idea of the Top Ten Pre War Sports Cars, below.

The Sports Car was born in France

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Top Ten Postwar Sportscars

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Opinion by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Recently a newsstand “car guy” publication published an article titled “Ten Best Sportscars.” Fully a third of their choices were certainly not sports cars in any sense: a four door BMW sedan, a Japanese mainstream family car (Acura), and a McLaren FI, which by its name confirms that it is first and foremost a race car. This article was so off the mark that I have been getting emails asking me to come up with my own Top Ten list, which follows. [Read more…] about Top Ten Postwar Sportscars

Martin Squires: Art and the Motorcycle

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From Martin Squires’s Banked Track Heroes project.

By Brandes Elitch
Art by Martin Squires

Assumptions are generally pretty tenuous as a rule, but it is perhaps a safe assumption that if you’re reading VeloceToday, you are interested in (and probably knowledgeable about) French and Italian cars. The total number of French and Italian vehicles that were sold in the U.S. for the last fifty years as percentage of total vehicle sales is miniscule, so this is a pretty arcane subject, but not as arcane as motorcycle collecting versus car collecting.

[Read more…] about Martin Squires: Art and the Motorcycle

Speed Read Car Design Review

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Car Design, the History, Principles, and Concepts Behind Modern Car Design
Author: Tony Lewin
Foreword by: Gerry McGovern
Format: Paperback / softback, 160 Pages
ISBN: 9780760358108
Publisher: Motorbooks
Series: Speed Read
Illustrations: 70 color photos
Size: 6.69 in x 8.86 in / 169.93 mm x 225.04 mm
Published: December 5, 2017
$19.99 / £12.99
Order here

Review and Sidebar by Brandes Elitch

Writing for VeloceToday over the years, I’ve covered car shows, events, exhibitions, and museums. Writing those columns, my goal has been to show the reader what it was like to be there, to paint a picture, hopefully adding just enough details to create a true image and put things in context, and explain why I thought them important (and exciting), but not too much as to overwhelm the reader with tedium. It helps that my columns are illustrated with photos, often by Hugues Vanhoolandt, which typically can say a lot more than words. [Read more…] about Speed Read Car Design Review

Reflections: Forty Years of the Monterey Car Week

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The Alfa 6C 1750 was produced in six series from 1929-33. In 1929 it won every major racing event, including the GP’s of Belgium, Spain, Tunis, Monza, as well as the Mille Miglia, the Brooklands Double Twelve, and the Ulster TT.

Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

I first time I attended what has become known as “The Monterey Historics” was back in 1979, when I moved to California from New York City. I have not missed a year since – 40 years is a long time for anything.

In the early years, my focus was primarily the Laguna Seca racetrack. These were the beginnings of historic racing, the genius of Steve Earle creating the blueprint for what was to come worldwide. I was amazed that I could walk anywhere in the pits, and go right up to the owner and talk about his car, exotic racecars I had never seen in person before, just read about in Road & Track. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. [Read more…] about Reflections: Forty Years of the Monterey Car Week

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 2019

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By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

I can safely say that the annual Pebble Beach Concours is the most famous and prestigious show of its type in the world. Someone said that being chosen to show your car here is akin to being nominated for an Oscar. In this column, I will try to explain why this is the case.

At the outset we should recognize that this is a charitable endeavor. Last year, the show raised $2.1 million dollars, all of which stays on the Peninsula. Over the last 30 years, it has raised over $27 million for over 80 local organizations. An admission ticket costs $450 the day of the show. [Read more…] about Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 2019

The Inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival 2019

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Story by Brandes Elitch

Lead photo by Steve Snyder. The Alfa 158D appeared at the Inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival.

I have never profiled our local track, just north of San Francisco, alternately known as Sears Point, Infinion Raceway, and now Sonoma Raceway. Today it is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. [Read more…] about The Inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival 2019

Abarth 750 GT, Abarth Scorpion

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By Brandes Elitch

From the Archives, September 7, 2011

During the Monterey Car Week, the most amazing cars are everywhere, on every street and in every driveway (the good citizens of Carmel-by-the-Cash-Register are happy to rent rooms in their homes for the visiting hordes).

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Brandes Elitch at Retromobile

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Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

“Investissez dans votre plaisir!” (Invest in your pleasure)

About 25 years ago I first attended Retromobile with my friend Chris Dickel. We went three times together, along with simultaneous trips to Genoa Autostory and Essen Techno Classica. It was a fantastic experience. [Read more…] about Brandes Elitch at Retromobile

Lancia D 24 and D 50R

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Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Steve Snyder

It would be difficult if not impossible to find a more compelling story than that of Peter Giddings. In his youth in England, he restored a BSA three-wheeler, then a Brooklands Riley 9, and then a chain drive Frazer Nash, which he rebuilt in his living room (I say “restored” because owning these cars in England in the sixties would require continuous attention just to keep them running). He started racing the Frazer Nash in 1959, and competed in virtually every race circuit and hillclimb in England, earning his full FIA International racing license in 1961. In 1985, he raced his Alfa Romeo Monza and his P3 Alfa Scuderia Ferrari Tipo B at the Monterey Historics, and was awarded the Phil Hill trophy. [Read more…] about Lancia D 24 and D 50R

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