The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is considered by many as the most exclusive and elegant classic car event in the world. [Read more…] about Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2019
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
This year the Techno-Classica classic car show held in Essen, Germany, April 13-14, celebrated its 30th birthday. With the Parisian Rétromobile show, it remains at the top of the European classic car shows in terms of the number and the quality of cars presented (more than 2,700 this year) and the number of visitors (190,000 over four days). [Read more…] about Techno Classica at Essen, 2019
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
Captions and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’ has become one of the major events of the Monterey week. In our lead photo above, The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie knows how to welcome its visitors and he also take this opportunity to exhibit the best pieces of his collection like this Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the 1958 Le Mans winner with Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien.
Below, a gathering of our favorite images from this year’s event.
Story and photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Nissan was the featured make at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and this is the first time that a Japanese automaker has been so honored.
More than 550 race cars were entered in the 15 groups, ranging from a 1911 National in Group 1A to a 1995 Nissan 240 SX in Group 7B.
The Formula 5000 group was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the series. This drew participants from around the world including 14 from New Zealand. [Read more…] about 2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
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
Photo Gallery by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Up early and stay late; every year Hugues Vanhoolandt does this during the Pebble Beach Concours to find a way to avoid the constant congestion of people who quite naturally get in the way of a good photo. Can’t blame the crowds, after all, they want to see the cars up close as well! His long hours and hard work resulted in the photos below. [Ed.] [Read more…] about Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Photos
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
July 26-29
This year’s Blancpain GT 24 hours at Spa was won by Tom Blomqvist, Christian Krognes, Philipp Eng in the Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3. Alexander Sims, Jens Klingmann, Nicky Catsburg, Rowe Racing, BMW M6 GT3 took second and Kelvin van der Linde, Sheldon van der Linde, Jeffrey Schmidt, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS finished third. But the race has a long, 70 year tradition of 24 hour motor racing that was featured at this year’s event.
The Spa 24 Hour race, which has now become the greatest endurance race for GT cars, was born in 1924, one year after the birth of the Le Mans 24 Hours. During a period from 1924 to 1953, the same type of cars were entered in both Le Mans and Spa, and wins were shared among manufacturers like Chenard et Walcker, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin and even Ferrari. [Read more…] about Spa Francorchamps 24 Hour Blancpain GT
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Every two years, Peter Auto, organizer of the Paris Rétromobile Show, of the Tour Auto, of Spa Classic and many other events, invites all the Le Mans lovers to the famous Sarthe circuit for a celebration of the history of the Le Mans 24 hours. [Read more…] about Le Mans Classic, July 6-8 by Vanhoolandt
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Enzo Ferrari once reportedly called the reenactment of the Mille Miglia “the travelling museum that is unique in the world.” And it is remarkable that since the event was reconstituted in 1977, it is still going strong after 35 editions. This year, some 450 cars of 73 different manufacturers were due to cross 7 regions of Italy and over 200 locations of art and culture, from Brescia to Rome and back.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The Cité de l’Automobile National Museum-Schlumpf Collection is a fascinating institution. But have you ever wondered if the Schlumpf is allowed to sell any of their cars? Do they purchase new additions for the collection? If so, what are their standards? What cars are chosen for restoration? What are the criteria for restoration? Do they restore cars for others? What cars are in the reserve collection? Now, Hugues Vanhoolandt interviews Richard Keller, chief curator of the collection, who answers those questions while giving Vanhoolandt an exclusive look into the 200-car reserve collection. Ed.
In 1977, the Schlumpf collection consisted of almost 500 cars stocked in a woolen mill (which is today the museum) and some 80 others that were garaged on the Schlumpf’s private property. After the death of Fritz Schlumpf, these 80 cars were in the ownership of his widow, Arlette, until her passing in 2008 when most were then purchased by U.S. collector Peter Mullin. [Read more…] about The Schlumpf Reserve and Restoration
