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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

hugues van hoolandt

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

Montlhéry Centennial Festival Part 1

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Here is a reconstruction of the record-breaking Voisin which, in 1927, ran for 28 hours at an average speed of 113 mph.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Inaugurated exactly one hundred years ago, in October 1924, the Linas-Montlhéry autodrome was recently the scene of the Centenary Festival. Built in just six months, it was immediately the scene of numerous attempts at speed and endurance records of all kinds.

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LMGT3 and LMP2 at Le Mans, 2024

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Winner of the 6 Hours of Spa last May, the #91 Porsche entered by the Manthey team repeated its victory thanks to a complementary crew made up of Richard Lietz (18 participations), the promising 19-year-old Dutchman Morris Schurring and the amateur Australian Yasser Shahin, the latter two debutants at Le Mans. For Lietz, this is his fifth class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, all with Porsche.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

LMGT3

The LMGT3 category was making its debut at Le Mans, replacing the LMGTEs which had become too expensive. As in the Hypercar class, nine manufacturers were represented with Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lexus, Corvette and Porsche, for a total of 23 cars.

It should be noted that there are no professional crews in LMGT3. The philosophy of this category corresponds more to the Pro-Am system, with one or two amateurs associated with a professional driver.

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Techno Classica with Hugues Vanhoolandt

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Good news… the Ballot brand is reborn! Here is the new Ballot called Grand Prix with… electric motor!

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The traditional Techno Classica show in Essen, Germany, of which this was the 34th edition, marks, as every year, the end of the winter period of shows before the resumption of historic races and elegance competitions. This year was no exception to the rule but we could see that certain spaces were empty and that certain merchants present last year were absent this time. Could this be a sign that the classic car market is looking for a second wind?

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Retromobile on the French Side

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This Bugatti Type 35C is one of four cars entered by Bugatti in the 1927 Targa Florio. Its two-liter 8-cylinder, supercharged by a compressor, delivers 150 hp and allows it to reach a top speed of 225 km/h. During her rich career, she held the record for the Mont Ventoux hill climb for 4 years from 1928.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

At Retromobile, it is often the Italian stars such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia or Lamborghini that generally occupy the most spectacular stands, which are those of major British dealers such as Fiskens, Girardo or Kidston. French cars are often less in the spotlight even if Bugattis or certain Delahayes can also reach unreasonable prices. But it is sometimes on small stands of brand clubs that less emblematic but perhaps more authentic cars are found. Let’s see here what Rétromobile offered us, on the French side. [Read more…] about Retromobile on the French Side

Mille Miglia 2023

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Sweet Mille Miglia …

Photos and captions by Vincent Yernaux
Introduction by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The 1000 Miglia 2023 was the 41st historical re-enactment of the “most beautiful race in the world, ” as once said Enzo Ferrari.
Once again, and for the third year running, it took place in the middle of the month of June, when the weather and hours of daylight offers the best possible conditions for the participants and spectators.

For the first time, the race took place over five days instead of the usual four with a start in Brescia and stages in the towns of Cervia-Milano Marittima, on the Adriatic coast, Roma, Parma, for the first time Milano and arrival in Brescia.

For the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force, the route of the 1000 Miglia passed through different military airbases during each leg.
In terms of numbers, 417 crews took the start and the brands most represented were Alfa Romeo (53 entrants), Fiat (44), Lancia (28), Mercedes (26) and Porsche (24) while there were 16 starting Ferraris but several of them quickly gave up.

But let’see all this through the images. (Scroll down for Ferrari) [Read more…] about Mille Miglia 2023

Vanhoolandt at the Spa Classic, 2023

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When it comes to GTs, Ferrari has been a key player during this period, first with the F430 GTC, here a 2008 example.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Spa Classic was organized for the first time in 2011 by Patrick Peter and his team, on the model of the Le Mans Classic. The eleventh edition of Spa Classic was held this year, only interrupted for two years due to the Covid pandemic. The success with the public was undeniable.

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Techno Essen 2023

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The German Fiat club exhibited this 1957 Fiat 1200 Granluce Wonderful, first shown by Vignale at the Turin Motor Show. It should be noted that it presents a Targa roof, seven years before Porsche invented it. Three to five cars of this type were built.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The 33rd edition of the Techno-Classica motor show, held in Essen, Germany, was once again the focal point of the international classic car scene with more than 1,100 exhibitors.
If the manufacturers’ stands are less grandiose than before, the quality of the vehicles exhibited by the many dealers and brand clubs allows the visitor to get his money’s worth. It also seems that some prices charged in the past have returned to more reasonable values, although there are many exceptions of course.

Finally, it seems that the German public is always fond of little Italians, which allows you to see rarities in this show that you don’t see anywhere else except perhaps in Italy itself. This is what I invite you to discover now. [Read more…] about Techno Essen 2023

Le Mans Cars at Retromobile

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Where the legend began. It is with a Chenard & Walcker Sport 3 Litre of this type that André Lagache and René Léonard won the first edition of the French classic in 1923. Its four cylinder 3 Litre engine developed 95 bhp and allowed to reach 145 km per hour.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

For the first time since 2020, the Parisian show is back at full strength, again spread over three halls. With more than 1,700 vehicles on display, Retromobile continues the tradition that began in 1976. No less than 125,000 people visited the show making it the second highest attendance since its inception. As this year the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary, many exhibitors brought classic racing cars that took part in the famous race.

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Exceptional French Cars at Retro

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Again, where the legend began… in 1873, Amédée Bollée built the first vehicle with mechanical and steam traction capable of carrying twelve passengers. In October 1875, Bollée completed the Le Mans-Paris journey in 18 hours but received 75 fines from the police!

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

We continue with our Retro coverage and highlight some of the many interesting and significant French classics.

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Hugues Vanhoolandt at Chantilly 2022, Part 1

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This is a 1925-6 Itala V12 and the focus of a short photo feature. Scroll down to read more about this fantastic Grand Prix car.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

One week ago, (September 24-25) the Domain of Chantilly welcomed for the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours for the sixth time. Starting on Saturday with a short rally for the cars entered on Sunday’s Concours, the event saw on Sunday 20,000 visitors converging to the Chantilly Estate, a wonderful setting for classic and concept cars, north of Paris.

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Vanhoolandt at Spa: Ferrari Wins!

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The Mercedes leads but it will be Ferrari’s day.


Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

July 29-August 1: The 73rd running of the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, the biggest endurance race for GT cars, was won by Ferrari in a dramatic fashion. It was Ferrari’s first win there since 2004. The race was part of both the 2021 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and the 2021 Intercontinental GT Challenge. 58 cars representing nine manufacturers tackled the famous Belgian track for a race that has always been full of surprises.

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