The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
This piece should have had the title “The Anantara Concorso Rome” which we were to cover for VeloceToday on April 25, but following the death of the Pope the event was rightly cancelled out of respect. Still, flights had been booked and accommodations reserved, so we were still going, if feeling a bit sad. Little did we know that we’d have a very pleasant surprise just north of Rome.
Freddies, as in Freddie March, located just in front of the Members Market at the event, the Members market being a food hall selling street food, all very Goodwood!
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
We begin with shots from the ever-interesting Paddock, then move on to what we call the ‘Centenarian’ events. The only other time you see 100-year-old plus cars racing is at VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) events and Hill Climbs so racing these is probably a British thing. In fact, while some events in Europe and the U.S. have pre-WWII cars on their grids, it is much more common in the U.K. and pre-WWI cars are almost impossible to see elsewhere.
Star of the weekend, Frank Stippler and the Ferrari 206 Dino.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
There was lovely weather on Saturday at the Goodwood circuit for the 82nd Members Meeting, (April 12-13). Sunday was not as nice but no rain so one cannot complain. Nor can one complain about the superb races held at the Goodwood venue, and I would urge everyone to try to attend at least one Goodwood event.
This year, I witnessed what was perhaps the best race I have ever seen at Goodwood. It was the Gurney Cup (a 45 minute two-driver race for Sports Prototypes of a type that raced between 1963 and 1966) which started early on the Saturday evening.
Owned by Dean Harley and featured as part of the ‘Restorer of the year’ display this once humble Fiat 128 CL now propelled by a Kawasaki Z12R Motorbike engine producing 178 bhp at 10,500 rpm.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
After the somewhat exotic excesses of Paris and Retromobile in February, in late March I caught the train to Birmingham (avoiding the shutdown of Heathrow), to the somewhat grey and soulless halls of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) for the Practical Classics Magazine Classic Car and Restoration Show.
See below for more information about this exhibit.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Prior to planning our trip to the Lake Como Concours last May, I read that Fiat had transformed the roof top of the old Lingotto site into a garden. We decided to travel from the UK to the concours events via Turin, staying at the Lingotto Hotel for a chance to view the art and garden displays.
A very popular exhibit on the ‘Le Man Classic’ stand, the Ferrari 312P chassis 0872.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Pilgrimage to Paris
This year my pals and I thought we would attend Retromobile much earlier in the week as we are all mostly retired. Whilst the first full day of the show is on Wednesday, we decided it would be nice to also attend the preview Tuesday evening, assuming that it would be nice and quiet.
Martin Otto Lambert Heukeshoven’s simply amazing ISO Grifo/Berliet lorry barn find model.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Pilgrimage to Paris continued
I hate the sound of a mobile phone alarm in the morning. But it allowed time for a quick breakfast and rather too many coffees, then off to the show, ready for the 10am opening. Ah lovely; Wednesday being a working day, the halls were not too crowded and the aisles much easier to navigate.
1933 Duesenberg Single Seater
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I have just bought a new camera! Not that there was anything wrong with my old one, it’s just that technology has moved on in the 10 plus years I have been using it, and when shooting indoors, unless the room is well lit, is was, to put in mildly, a bit of a pain in the butt. So a new camera, but it is early January, and I have nothing to point it at! But wait, how about The Brooklands Museum New Years Day Classic car gathering? Ideal!
On the XXVIII Coppa Toscana 2025 stand, a 1951 Ermini Tinarelli Sport, powered by an 1100cc twin cam motor producing 85 bhp.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
One might wonder why we break up these stories into four of five parts. First, download times are increased for the readers if we load up too many photos. Second, if we limit each article to 30-40 images, scroll time is reduced, enhancing the reading experience. So without further interruption, we return to and complete Jonathan Sharp’s superb coverage.
Another from the Divine a Motore display, Gina Lollobrigida’s 1952 Lancia Aurelia B52 with coachwork by Vignale. It is also believed that the car also appeared in the film ‘ La Provinciale.’
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
If you have managed to wade through the previous three reports from this years Bologna Auto e Moto d’Epoca show (well done) and were wondering ‘what, no Ferrari’s Lancia’s etc’ do not worry, there were plenty there. Here is my pick of the many gems on display. As I said before in part one, if you can make the show then you really must. It truly is an Italian car lovers paradise, and easy to get to as well. And if you can’t make it, we have given you the best we can do for those in absentia. Enjoy.
Not what I expected to see parked on a street in London in November, but it is not quite what it seems, Courtesy of Mercedes Benz W196 show car.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
There once was a time that I could hop down to the waterfront in Brighton and photograph the end of the London to Brighton Veteran Run. But for the past few years the event has become just part of a motoring extravaganza. It is now a key part of the five-day London car week, which kicks off on the Wednesday with the opening of the Royal Automobile Club’s Art of Motoring Exhibition at the Iconic Images Gallery just off of Pall Mall. The week also includes motoring lectures, two major car auctions, the St James’s Motoring Spectacular, the run itself, and the Veteran Car Club’s annual dinner at the Grand Hotel Brighton! [Read more…] about St James’s Motoring Spectacular
