The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Review by Pete Vack
Aldo Zana’s latest book has a fitting title, “The Races of Life”, and uses photographs to examines the period from 1965 to 1970 – a time of change, turmoil and above all danger in both sports prototypes and F1 racing. “Races have not been simply competitions, ” writes Alberto Scuro, President Automotoclub Storico Italiano. “They have always been, and forever remain, the races of life.”
Stewart and the author, the Rand Grand Prix poster.
Story by Robert Young
Some time back I was in a lonely corner of the Goodwood paddock admiring a race car when I sensed someone close by.
I looked up and instinctively said “Hello” to which a dapper fellow wearing a tartan cap replied “Hello”.
Stunned for something to say I stuttered “I saw your first ever Formula One race.”
Sir Jackie Stewart smiled and recalled “…it was the 1964 Rand Grand Prix in South Africa and I drove the Lotus.” He proceeded to tell me a little about the event.
Part 2
By Harry Hurst
Photos courtesy John Mecom collection
Read Part 1
At one point you were the Lola distributor for North America. How did that come about and how did it end?
The beginning was when I bought what I thought was the first Lola GT – the one I saw at the London Racing Car. We became the distributor and went to the races with spare parts and support. We probably sold more than 20 T-70s. We spent a lot of money representing Lola. We were very sincere about it. And from time to time we made sure Eric could go on to the next day of production. But Carl came along with a better deal and Eric took it. I, unfortunately, did everything by handshake. Our friendship was over after that happened.
Nigel Mansell and Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
One of the privileges granted to accredited and fully insured (see last week’s article) photographers at the Festival of Speed is to be able to access the assembly areas in which the entrants in each group/class are gathered before being sent down to the hill start line. It is in the assembly area that I get my best chance of pointing my camera at some famous drivers and riders old and new.
Jackie at the wheel about to roll out on the grid for his first race in the car which he won by a country mile in the F3 Cooper. He would be reunited with this car last weekend at the Jackie Stewart Classic.
Story and Photos by Graham and Larch Gauld
Last weekend, June 18-19,2022, was a memorable one for me for two reasons.
The first was that I attended the Sir Jackie Stewart Classic held at Thirlestane Castle, around 27 miles due south of Edinburgh, and the second because it was exactly seventy years and four days since I had covered my first motor race as a journalist at the old WWII airfield at Charterhall about 20 miles away!
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
It has been said before, with so much to see and do, it would be easy to spend a very full day at the Goodwood Revival and not see a race. But that would be a shame and you would miss some excellent racing; with first class grids and proper races, this is not a beauty parade. And it’s a time machine in which you can choose the time and place you wish to be transported. Here are the races:
Sir Jackie Stewart and Lady Susie Moss
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Goodwood, 17-19 September
‘The Goodwood Revival, a magical step back in time’ is a very apt description, but back in the 50s and 60s surely people were not this polite, or this friendly? The politeness arrives the minute you walk through the main gate, no cancel that, it starts the minute you drive into the car parks. Everyone greets you with a smile and that is usual followed with a ‘Good morning, Sir/Madam.’ Even the people controlling the pedestrian crossing seem to be blowing their whistles in a friendly manner.
There is no doubt about it, the workers, the spectators and the drivers were was just glad to be back at Goodwood; you only have to look at the faces to see that. Monday mornings return us to the real world of 2021; it is going to come as a bit of a shock.
I think I will stay here for a while longer. [Read more…] about Goodwood Revival 2021, Part 1
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I never had a chance to visit the Steering Wheel Club in London, or the Tip Top Bar in Monte Carlo, but I just wonder if maybe a little bit of the after-hours atmosphere found in those two old racing driver haunts is also present in the assembly area of the Festival of Speed, without the booze and grumpy waiter of course.
Recalling the early days: British Grand Prix support race 1964, Jackie Stewart at the wheel of the Ecurie Ecosse Tojeiro-Ford gets some last minute advice from Jim Clark with eventual race winner Hugh Dibley at left. At Holyrood House, 2015, Jackie Stewart was the guest of honor.
Story and Photos by Graham Gauld
A visit back to my hometown of Edinburgh always brings back a series of memories from the days when David Murray first started the successful Ecurie Ecosse team, to the early racing days of Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Dario Franchitti. [Read more…] about Graham Gauld, Edinburgh and Nostalgia
Paul Stewart drove one of the Mercedes. But here, his gear in repose.
Twenty four frames from the camera of Hugues Vanhoolandt.
The five Auto-Unions in the Swiss GP replica pits.
A line up of pre-war Mercedes and Auto Unions like this hasn't happened before and may not again, so enjoy.
Jean Alesi, happy to drive one of the GTOs.
Twenty images from the camera of Jonathan Sharp.
Moss has a few words with Surtees.
Merzario enjoying the crowds and the Rolls-Royce.
Ken Brack set to drive the Mickey Thompson special.
Gurney and Lord March.