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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

formula junior

The Intermeccanica Formula Junior: The Rest of the Story

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The Intermeccanica Formula Junior, Sam's place, June 2004.

By Pete Vack

As we have seen, after describing the car to a tee, author Andrew McCredie left us all hanging about wondering whatever happened to the one off Frank Reisner F Jr, from its last race in Canada to the present time, a gap of some 47 years. What happened to the car was Sam. Here is the story the book omitted.

Guys are incredibly insensitive sometimes, cruelly defining even friends not by who he or she is, but by what cars they own, as if the vehicle was more important than the owner. Contact begins with not “Hey Sam, how have you been,” but with “Hey Sam, you still have the Intermeccanica?” We are as guilty of this sin as anyone, and we all do it from time to time, I would guess. [Read more…] about The Intermeccanica Formula Junior: The Rest of the Story

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Origins

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By Ean McDowell

Australian Ean McDowell is no stranger to the pages of VeloceToday, and one of his most interesting articles is Night Drive in an ASA. Ean knows that while the climate, road conditions, availability of restoration services, events, and the general social environment make Australia an ideal country for car enthusiasts, the opportunity to purchase special cars is not as great as in USA or Europe. That has not stopped him amassing a private collection that includes cars imported from UK, USA, Spain, France, and Mexico. Whether a high revving V12 or a rusty Fiat 1100, Ean has a love for all Italian cars. In this article he describes the amazing history of a Moretti Formula Junior that will be restored and used in events “down under”. Ean has a Stanguellini FJ and compares the Moretti design and innovation to the 1959 championship winning Stanguellini.

“Like you, I bought my most interesting cars unseen, and instantly!!!!” These words came as warm reassurance from Duncan Rabagliati, a very well known motoring historian and Formula Junior expert, in response to the slight apprehension that, without an inspection, I had just bought a 50 year old racing car in need of total restoration. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Origins

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Tech Description

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Moretti Branca under construction as Buscate. One of several original photos supplied by Mr. Branca in 2009

By Ean McDowell

In Part I, Ean McDowell interviewed Aquilino Branca who told him how he had created Championship winning 750cc race cars in the mid 1950s and how, in 1958, a new rear engine Formula Junior car was created. In Part 2, McDowell describes the mechanical aspects of the three Moretti Branca Formula cars.

In the initial discussions leading up to the birth of Formula Junior there was consensus only on the fundamental principle that it should provide low cost racing. There was no agreement at first on how this would be achieved. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: Tech Description

The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: The Races

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Madero at Monaco in what is almost certainly chassis 2.18 judging by the rear suspension, color scheme, head rest, and the position of the panel fixing bolts.

By Ean McDowell

In Part 1, Ean McDowell interviewed Aquilino Branca who told him how he had created Championship winning 750cc race cars in the mid 1950s and how, in 1958, a new rear engine Formula Junior car was created. In Part 2, McDowell describes the mechanical aspects of the three Moretti Branca Formula cars. Part 3 concludes with the racing history of the owner‘s Moretti Branca.

The earliest appearance of a Moretti Formula Junior appears to have been on 29th June 1958 at Monza. Stanguellinis dominated but were challenged by the lone Moretti (probably the front engined car) driven by Aquilino Branca which placed sixth. [Read more…] about The Salvation of a Moretti Branca: The Races

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