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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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2023 Freddie March Spirit of Aviation

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The 2023 Freddie March Spirit of Aviation (as differentiated from the Freddie March Memorial Race for automobiles) was again held as part of the Goodwood Revival on September 13th. For VeloceToday, this is not a time sensitive event, and allows us to publish this unusual article at any time. And time just flies by…

Whilst it would be very easy for a UK-based aviation event to fill a whole airfield with warbirds of the fighter and bomber variety, it is the mix of aircraft found at Goodwood that makes the Freddie March event so special. [Read more…] about 2023 Freddie March Spirit of Aviation

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Yes, we’ll get to covering all the Italians etc, at the Birmingham show below, but I really have to relate this tale first. I think I first saw a photograph of ‘The Beast” as it is called back in the 1970s in my weekly comic/magazine Speed and Power but I had not seen it in the flesh until I visited this year’s Classic Car show at Birmingham’s NEC, (10-12 November)now called the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show. If you are reading this in the UK then you may remember the court case concerning the car back in the 1980s but first a bit of history. The info below was mostly taken from an article from

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St. James Concours to Brighton

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Entrant 123, 1902 2 cylinder 10hp Georges Richard Tonneau.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Read Part 2

To people of a certain age the London to Brighton Veteran Car run is still known as ‘the old croc’s race’ (that will be me then!) but for the one thing, it is definitely not a race but a run to celebrate the passing of the “Locomotives on the Highway Act” which came into force at midnight on the 14th November 1896, which raised the speed limit for light Locomotives (horseless carriages) from 4 mph to 14 mph (but lowered to 12 mph before the act came into force), and abolished the requirement for the Locomotive to be proceeded by a man on foot.

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Fiat at the Auto e Moto d’Epoca

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You did not need to look far to see the very rare. This is a 1954 Fiat 1100 TV with coachwork designed by Giovanni Michelotti and constructed by Carrozzeria Canta. Carrozzeria Canta was formed in 1949 and mainly bodied Fiat 1100 and 1400 chassis. In 1954 the company introduced two models but soon the Studebaker lawyers came calling forcing the company to change their designs for 1955.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The following is probably best described as a Fiat fest. I imagine that these days should you choose to purchase a new Fiat, you probably have thousands of options with regards to colour/trim combinations, extra chrome, maybe carbon fibre, a sunroof perhaps. But how great it must have been in the 1950s and 60s to decide that I want to buy a new Fiat, but I want it to be truly different to the next door neighbors’.

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Lancia at the Auto Moto d’Epoca

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Auto Moto d’Epoca La passione per I motorie e a Bologna, so said the full page advert in ‘il Resto del Carlino, the local newspaper; I could not agree more. Having now visited again after too many years, with the new location I am better placed to organize my next visit, probably next year. This year, because I was last minute about everything, I was left with less hotel choices and whilst I picked a hotel with Fiere (exhibitions) in its name it was still a taxi ride to the event.

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Alfas and Abarths at Auto e Motor d’Epoca

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

So said the media packet, “You are cordially invited to the unveiling of the new Alfa Romeo 33 at 2:30 on Thursday” or words to that effect. So at 2:30 I joined the crowd, all with their camera phones ready, to watch the unveiling, and to my surprise it was on time! After a few speeches (in Italian of course) the red cover was pulled back and yes it is very nice. But

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Auto e Moto d’Epoca at Bologna 2023

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A personal favorite, 1963 Osca 1600 SP (Sperimentale)

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

It was all very last minute as I had not intended to go, but as this year was the 40th running of the Auto e Moto d’Epoca classic car show, (October 26-29)and the first year for the event at its new location in Bologna, I decided grab a less-than-cheap flight out to Bologna, arriving on the afternoon of first day of the show. [Read more…] about Auto e Moto d’Epoca at Bologna 2023

Trackside at the Revival

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Dear readers, if you will allow me just one more outing before we say goodbye to racing at Goodwood for the 2023. The follow are just some random shots taken by me from the chicane and assembly area track exit. No driver’s names, no race positions, just some photographs of old racing cars doing what they do best…..racing. Goodbye Goodwood, see you again in 2024.

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In the Paddock at Goodwood

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Vintage Goodwood!

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Goodwood Revival is renowned for its attention to detail, and the ability to get up close and personal to the cars and drivers across the site. However, between the track fence and race track, obviously, and the tow road and assembly area are places which are considered to be less safe for the general public and are only accessible to the teams and accredited members of the press.

I hope the following photos give you a small taste of what goes on in those two areas and if, in some of the shots, it looks like chaos, let me tell you that it is all beautifully choreographed thanks to the skill and dedication of the hard-working marshalls. Oh and just a thought with regards to attention to detail, each year the Driver’s Club is built around a theme. Last year it was the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, this year it was a jungle theme even down to the weather which was tropical to say the least. [Read more…] about In the Paddock at Goodwood

Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court: French and others

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Entered by the Musee des 24 Heures du Mans, 1925 Lorraine-Dietrich B3/6 Sport Torpedo.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp

We continue with a selection of French and others that appeared this year at Hampton Court on September 1-3. Hampton Court is another British movable feast, and the proper name is the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. As Graham Gauld pointed out back in 2014, note the British use of the word ‘of’ rather than the French ‘de.’ Of course the event is not always held at Hampton Court, located on the side of the river Thames just under 12 miles southwest of the center of London. According to the official website, “The Concours of Elegance began at Windsor Castle in 2012, before moving to St James’s Palace in 2013, Hampton Court Palace in 2014, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (Her Majesty The Queen’s official residence in Scotland) in 2015 before returning to Windsor Castle in 2016 and Hampton Court Palace in 2017.”

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Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace

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My favorite entry.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Salon Prive events in the UK can be a bit confusing. The Bagley brothers, Andrew and David, now organize two events annually, both under the name of Salon Prive. The most recent of the two is the

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