Christian Harm’s 1961 Ghia L 6.4 Coupe.
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
We continue with the cars of Hampton Court.
Jonathan Sharp photo
Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace 2025
Welcome to judging at Salon Prive.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Blooming typical! After what feels like weeks and weeks of no rain the forecast for the 27th August said rain, but when I pulled back the curtains at 5.30am the sun was shining in Brighton, as it still was 4 hours later when I arrived at Blenheim Palace for this year’s Salon Prive.
In the Paddock and on the Track: Goodwood
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
The Festival of Speed (this year July 10-13) creates many photo opportunities, and so we are very glad that Jonathan Sharp is able to allow us to enjoy it, without the heat, travel, and crowds. This year the presentation of 75 years of Formula 1 is an event probably not duplicated anywhere else in the world. But at Goodwood, we take such feats for granted.
Pardon the Red Sea
Royal Automobile Club Concours
Winner of the Spirit of the Show award, Keith Harrison’s 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita. Built on the second day of the lightweight ‘Alleggerita’ production and supplied to Swedish racer Joachim Bonnier. This works prepared example, in Jo Bonnier’s hand, finished 3rd in class and 15th overall in that year’s Mille Miglia, and later in the year, again in the hands of Bonnier, finished first in class at the Nurburgring 1000km. One of only 58 known Alleggerita survivors.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
There is a new kid on the block when it comes to Concours of Elegance in the UK. Wednesday July the 9th was the date for the inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours of Elegance. Held at the club’s country estate Woodcote Park located on the Epsom Downs in Surrey, just up the road from the Epsom Downs Race course. So bright and early on a boiling hot day I took the short trip up from the coast, followed the signs to the car park located on the golf course and took the short walk down to the show ground.
Heveningham Hanna Aviation Trophy
1939 Hawker Hurricane Mk 1, P2902 served with 245 Fighter Squadron initially on the east coast of Scotland patrolling local shipping routes but was soon ordered south to provide air cover for the little ships and naval craft involved in operation Dynamo… the evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. On the 31st May 1940 19-year-old Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan was attacked by two bf109s sustaining major damage to the airframe, believing that a Hurricane could out dive a bf109 the by now seriously injured McGlashan put in the aircraft into a steep dive outrunning his attacker, pulling up just 10 feet above the beach. McGlashan then managed to land the stricken plane on the beach and walked away to join the troops awaiting evacuation. P2902 eventually was swallowed by the sand were it would remain until being exhumed in 1988. It would then be a further 29 years before P2902 took to the air again following a painstaking restoration by Hawker Restorations.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Those who visited the Heveningham Hall Country show on June 28-29 and purchased the additional ticket to view the Concours cars on the terraced lawn were also entitled to view the entrants for the Hanna Aviation Trophy, a concours for aeroplanes, which is run alongside the main event. It was but a short walk up the hill to a little copse of trees, around which were displayed a mouth-watering display of vintage aircraft. The Hanna Aviation Trophy is named in honour of the late Ray and Mark Hanna, Two of the greatest Warbird display pilots to grace the skies and the silver screen. [Read more…] about Heveningham Hanna Aviation Trophy
Drivers at the Festival of Speed
Mario Andretti
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Jonathan Sharp, and on occasion, Hugues Vanhoolandt, have been snapping happy faces at Goodwood for many, many years. One of our favorite years for faces was 2014, and we presented both the FOS and Revival drivers in our gallery.
More than 10 years later, the drivers are still smiling. Says Sharp, “I enjoy spending time in the assembly area as you can really feel the atmosphere, the drivers definitely enjoy it, and the mechanics are under far less pressure than they would be at a race meeting so do not seem to mind us getting in their way.
Trackside a the Festival of Speed
1938 Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Some thoughts on this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 10-13). Very very hot. It is said that over the four days of the event over 200,000 attended and yet it did not seem as crowded as in previous years. Easy to get into (but then I arrive very early each morning), and not so bad getting out again (but I do leave very very late). Plenty to see, especially if you like F1, as this year’s event focused on celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first official points scoring F1 Grand Prix.
Fuori the Bountiful
Alfa 159
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
This was the fourth edition of the Fuori Concorso, held on the glittering shores of Lake Como on May 24. The theme chosen by the event creator Guglielmo Miani and his chief curator Andrea Luzardi was ‘Velocissimo’ a celebration of Italian motor racing. Spread across the gardens of Villa Grumello and Villa Sucato the event was certainly a sight for sore eyes. Beautiful cars, a gorgeous backdrop and beautiful weather… what more could an Italian car fan wish for. Part 1 below informs the readers via captions, Part 2, Fuori the Beautiful, is a non captioned gallery of our favorites.
Fuori the Beautiful
Italian Air Force Museum Part 3
The Fiat G46 whether in single or two-seater form, was an all-metal aeroplane with good flying characteristics that first flew on the 25th June 1947. Argentina immediately ordered 12 examples before buying a further 36 airframes. Similar in concept to the G55 but powered by the much less powerful 225hp de Havilland Gipsy Queen engine produced under license by Alfa Romeo as the AR.115 ter, the G46 is considered to be Fiat’s first major achievement since the war. The example on display was first operated out of the Flying Department of the General Staff before being passed onto the Aero Club of Ferrara.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Facts from Museum placards, website and internet; occasional typos or incorrect spelling may occur!
Skema Hangar
We now present this third and final part of the Italian Air Force Museum. We now enter the Skema Hangar which covers the period from the end of World War II until approximately 2012. The Skema hangar is the fourth and largest of the hangars, designed by aeronautical engineers and constructed from steel reinforced concrete by the Skema Company.
Italian Air Force Museum, Part 2
Following the outbreak of the war the company did produce a further 8 catapult examples, the prototype of which was tested by Lieutenant Giulio Reiner who took off from the seaplane carrier RN (Royal Ship) Giuseppe Miraglia on the 9th May 1942. Catapult RE2000s were then embarked on the battleships Vittorio Veneto, Littorio and Roma and also equipped the 1st Naval Forces Squadron. This example is the prototype flown by Warrant Officer Luigi Guerrieri who was forced to ditch due to engine failure off Porto Venere (La Spezia) on the 16th April 1943. Recovered from the seabed on the 4th December 2013 the remains have only undergone cleaning and consolidation work.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Facts from Museum placards, website and internet; occasional typos or incorrect spelling may occur!
Having toured the Troster and Velo Hangars we now enter the Badoni Hangar, which covers the period from the 1930s until the late 1940s. The 60 meter by 60 meter metal hangar was constructed in 1930 by the Badoni Company to provide maintenance space and shelter for the large seaplanes then operating out of the base.
The Treasures of the Italian Air Force Museum
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
For an enthusiast of old aeroplanes, the view from the excellent, and rather well priced, cafe at the Italian Air Force Museum can’t be beat. You can look out over the tranquil waters of Lake Bracciano and wonder what it must have looked like back in the 1920s, when it was buzzing with seaplane activity, as Vigna di Valle was a seaplane base for the Regia Aeronautica.
Or you could look into the museum and admire what I consider to be the crown jewels of the collection, namely the bright red racing seaplanes that once competed for the coveted Schneider Trophy in the 1920s and 30s.
Last week it was the turn of the Lancias of the Lancia Club Italia to steal the limelight, this week it is the turn of the first two of five hangers. Just hang in there with us…