The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I arrived home from Turin, unpacked, and downloaded the photos from Villa Erba, then off again, this time to the green oasis in the City of London that is ‘The Honourable Artillery Company’ for the eighth running of the London Concours, a three day event held mid-week. Why midweek? The city of London, or the square mile as it is often called, is like a ghost town on the weekends and one needs an audience for a concours.
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider. A rare right hand drive example, subject to a full nut and bolt rebuild by DTR Sportscars in 2017 and still in lovely condition. £89,995
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, famous as the home of the annual Chelsea Flower Show, Salon Prive London is now in its third year and is the only concours in the world where all the entrants are for sale. Known as a Concours de Vente, over 50 cars of various ages were on display, and should you be lucky enough to be in the market, for you to buy.
The British Empire Trophy, awarded between 1932 and 1961, which Stirling Moss won in 1951, 56, 58 and 1961.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
At the Silverstone Museum, I really enjoyed looking at the cars and bikes on display, which I understand are changed on a regular basis. The race suits and helmets impressed, especially Nigel Mansell’s race suit with all of those personal sponsor patches, and I could just feel the history when looking at the hand painted logo on Barry Sheene’s helmet, and only smile at the cigarette hole in the chin protector. But it was the smaller items displayed in the many display cabinets that interested me most, the trophies, the signing on sheets, programs and dinner menus, such history.
Welcome to the Silverstone Museum
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
With a history stretching back not just to 1943 with the building of RAF Silverstone but way back to medieval times when the site was home to a monastery, it was likely that at some point the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit would open a museum. The project to create a museum and educational centre for British Motor Sport at the circuit began in 2012, with the museum opening its doors in 2019.
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
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
Entrant 123, 1902 2 cylinder 10hp Georges Richard Tonneau.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
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.
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’.
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.
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
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
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.