The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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).
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
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
From the Archives, October 14, 2009
One of the most striking cars I’ve ever seen is a 1957 Alfa 1900 Primavera coupe with a Boano body. This car is so rare that I have never even seen a picture of one. [Read more…] about Alfa Romeo 1900 Primavera
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
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Putting on any big event is too big a job for one person, but one person has to have the vision and the contacts, and yes, the reach and forcefulness, to make it come alive. With the Pebble Beach Concours, it was Lorin Tryon and Jules Heumann, both gone now, but Chief Judge Chris Bock has been there for a long time and has a steady hand on the throttle. [Read more…] about The Quail Motorsports Gathering 2018
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Let me start by saying right out that the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was so utterly surprising and overwhelming that I suspect I cannot convey in mere words the totality of the experience. I doubt if so many fabulous automobiles have ever been assembled in one spot, anywhere, at one time, and with logical and consistent themes as well.
Now I realize that these are strong words, so let me provide a bit of perspective. I started attending the events at Monterey back in 1979, and I have never missed a year since, although the events have changed from year to year. I attended the Pebble Beach show for about 25 years, and I have some great memories, such as helping John Bond push his Railton to the field when it would not start. But eventually, I got tired of the traffic and the crowds and the impossibility of finding parking, and finally I just decided to go home Saturday night after the AFAS reception. [Read more…] about Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance 2018
