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Jonathan Sharp

Royal Automobile Club Concours 2026

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From a private collection, 1937 Lancia Aprilia

This is part 2 of the recent Royal Automobile Club Concours. But let me pause for a moment to reflect upon the achievements of our truly intrepid British correspondent, Jonathan Sharp. I need not use words: just think about the following events Sharp has covered for us just since January. All were multiple features; Retro itself had four parts. I have included links to the articles just in case you don’t believe what you are seeing. Our sincere thanks to Jonathan and his wife Josie for the remarkable turn of events! –Ed. [Read more…] about Royal Automobile Club Concours 2026

2026 Royal Automobile Club Concours

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Margaret Hocking’s 1964 Abarth Simca 2000 Corsa, extensively campaigned in period at various Italian Hill climbs, and also contested the 1967 Targa Florio in the hands of Alfonso Vella and Alfonso Merendino, retiring after six laps.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

July seems to be the month for Concours events staged at the stately homes of England. This time it was supposed to be but a short drive up to Surrey to the country estate of the Royal Automobile Club on July 8 for the second edition of their Concours. But due to an accident on the southbound carriageway of the M23, the journey took twice as long, and these delays seem to be a theme starting here.

The RAC country estate, Woodcote Park, is up on the Surrey Downs just over the road from the Epsom horse racing track and it was yet another blooming hot day. Fantastic setting though, with parking on the golf course and then a short walk downhill to the main house passing a line of Supercars along the way.

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Heveningham Concours, 2026

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Nick Mason is a strong supporter of this event as evidenced by his 1962 Ferrari GTO chassis 3757GT gracing the terraces.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Just back from the Heveningham Hall Concours, (July 4-5) lovely show but boy was it hot. Decided to travel to the event the day before and stay in a hotel so I could be at the gates bright and early. What should have been a two hour journey ended up taking over 4 hours; Friday afternoon in the South of England and the roads cannot cope. Anyway, arrived at the hotel at about 7pm with the outside temperature gauge on the Giulietta showing 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 F) and I thought, no that cannot be right, then I opened the car door…phew it was right… it was like opening an oven door.

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Wilton House Part 2

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1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 ‘Testa Fissa’ meaning fixed head in this instance refers to the engine in that the block and cylinder head are all of a piece. Purchased new by British racing driver Sir Ronald Stewart and then raced at Brooklands by Land Speed Record holder Captain George Eyston, who it is believed designed the Leadbetter Coachworks-built aerodynamic body. Sold abroad, the bodywork became separated from the chassis but survived, allowing it to be reunited with the original chassis many years later.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I thought, as it features quite heavily in the background of some of the photos, that I should perhaps give you a bit of history about Wilton House itself before we delve into what’s in the driveway and on the grass.

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Wilton House Concours 2026

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Wilton House

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I have to say that I was feeling just a bit jaded as it has been so very busy this season, but I decided that I really should attend the first running of the ‘Concours des Legendes’ being held in the grounds of Wilton House just outside Salisbury Wiltshire, the ancestral home for more than 400 years of the Earl of Pembroke, and boy was I glad I did.

As the Earl says in his welcome message in the event daily newspaper “The concept behind this event has been a vision of mine for over a decade. I’ve always felt that the greatest cars deserve more than to be admired simply for their aesthetic. They deserve to have their stories told.”

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And How!

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Betty Skelton, much more than a pretty face. Photo by Glen Glendenning

We received many correct answers on this one…And we thank all who responded. Seems that a lot of people remember Betty Skelton, and the first two readers to respond were John Dinkel and Bill Warner. Warner also recalled that her married name was Don Frankman.

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Brooklands Italian Car Day P1

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1,300 mph against say 50 mph, only at Brooklands could you get a Fiat Gamine and Concorde in the same shot.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I certainly cannot be accused of being elitist, having only just returned from Rome and the amazing and exotic Anantara Concorso, it was time for a trip up to Brooklands in Surrey on May 2nd for their annual Italian Car day with Auto Italia magazine. Such a contrast to Rome but just as fantastic. The event attracts lots of exotics so plenty of shouty Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but it is the more everyday stuff which you used to see all the time but now rarely do that piqued my interest. Well, perhaps one or two exotics sneaked into my selection.

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Giro d’ Anantara…catching up with the rest…

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Now that is my kind of coffee shop. Maserati Tipo 26 located in the coffee shop at the Anantara Palazzo Naiada Hotel, the base hotel for the whole event.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

This is a continuation of the start of the Giro d’ Anantara on April 17th. I was so blown away by the cars I saw outside the Anantara hotel I had not realized that there was another selection waiting for the start of the tour across the square, I am so glad that somebody told me as it would have been a shame to have missed them. So I hurriedly photographed as many cars as I could as they snaked their way through the streets. This was a rare event in Rome, and apparently no one minded being a little late for work.

We will report on the actual Anantara Concorso Roma next week. [Read more…] about Giro d’ Anantara…catching up with the rest…

Sloane Street Concours, London

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Just to prove the event was in London, the rear end of the R33 and a London Double Decker Bus, also known as the Boris bus, so named after Boris Johnson, the then Mayor of London.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I was unable to make the London edition of Salon Prive, but as luck would have it the organizers decided to do a small preview under the title of ‘The Sloane Street Concours’ on April 11th. For those not familiar with London shopping streets, Sloane Street and the surrounding environs is home to some very upmarket shops, as you will see from looking at the background. Great if you like shopping (yuk) and have a Gold card.

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