This year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show was held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, U.K., from November 14-16. It is fast becoming one of the UK’s best classic car venues; VeloceToday has reported on it for three years running now. [Read more…] about NEC Classic Show, Birmingham, UK
Jonathan Sharp
Alfas and Ferraris at the Enzo Ferrari Museum
Last week Jonathan Sharp wrote a report on the Maserati 100th anniversary celebration at the Enzo Ferari Museum. But he didn’t forget about the Ferraris, engines, and Alfas also on display, many in the new engine room–plus a replica of Enzo Ferrari’s office. We saved that part of the story for this week.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp Clic on pics to enlarge
Nestling, as if being protected, in the curve of the new display hall is the original workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father Alfredo. A long and narrow building lit by many large arched shaped windows. The building was built during the latter half of the 19th century and would not have benefited from electric lighting hence the many windows. At the far end of the hall, roughly where the “Enzo” is now displayed, was, along with the machine tools that Alfredo used to shape metal, a stable which housed the horses used to draw the sulkies (2 wheeled trotting rig) and carts of the time. [Read more…] about Alfas and Ferraris at the Enzo Ferrari Museum
Goodwood Revival: Places and Faces
We combine the unique photographic talents of Hugues Vanhoolandt (who took the photo above, left) and Jonathan Sharp (who captured a laughing Brian Redman, above right) to bring our readers a taste of the faces and places seen at this year’s Goodwood Revival. Below, their photos are alternated. Click on the images to see them twice as large. .
Note 1 Have you ever seen the 1969 film The Battle of Britain ?. The aircraft featured flew in the film and wears the markings that she carried during the filming? The enemy aircraft used in the film came from the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish had initially changed their minds about letting the production company use the HE111 Bombers which had also been re-engined with Merlins. Hamish Mahaddie, who worked for the production company then, spoke to Rolls Royce, who the spoke to the Spanish ambassador in London informing him that if the Spanish refused the request for the aircraft then Rolls Royce would have to think long and hard about supplying spares for the Merlins. He111s at the time were their front line aircraft. The Spanish then agreed! (Jonathan Sharp)
Note 2 A two part race for Austin J40 pedal cars of a type that raced between 1949 and 1966. The racers started the race in the style of Le Mans. They then pedaled for 7 laps (just kidding). They then pedaled from just after the chicane to just in front of the old control building have passed through various chicanes made up of foam.
Austin pedal cars were made in the specially constructed Austin Junior Car Factory at Bargoed in South Wales, which opened on 5 July 1949. It was paid for by Government funds and was run on a not-for-profit basis and purely for the employment of disabled coal miners suffering from the lung disease, pneumoconiosis. They were re-trained and benefited from in-house medical care. (Jonathan Sharp)
Note 3 These are the Dads Army re-enactment group. Dads Army was a hugely successful BBC comedy series filmed in the 1970s. Dads Army was the nickname of the Home Guard, a force set up to defend England early in the war and was made up of those too old to join the regular army. The show is repeated to this day in fact I watched an episode on Saturday night on the BBC and it is still very funny and has not dated. (Jonathan Sharp)
Note 4 7377 Avro Lancaster Bombers were built between 1941 and early 1946, some 3500 were lost during operations. Only two remain in air worthy condition. These are the two. The RAFs Battle of Britain memorial flight’s (BBMF) example PA474 which was built a Broughton in Cheshire in 1945, and the Canadian War Plane Heritage’s Lancaster Mark X which was built at Victory Aircraft in Malton Canada. They are joined by three of the fighters of the BBMF. Hurricane MK11c PZ865. Known as the last of the many, of the 14533 built this was the last. The two Spitfire’s are TE311 a low back Mark LF XVIE and P7350. MKIIa which is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the World
Goodwood Revival 2014: Jonathan Sharp
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on the images to enlarge
“Off to Goodwood again this weekend, are you? Don’t you get bored seeing the same cars each year?” This is a question often asked of me. The stock answer is no BUT the correct answer should be, “They are not the same cars year after year.” Yes, you do see some old favorites but for every old favorite there is usually something else that you have never seen, or if you had seen it then it was probably a long while ago. [Read more…] about Goodwood Revival 2014: Jonathan Sharp
Goodwood Festival: The Cars
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
With the attendance figures over the three days of the Goodwood Festival of Speed touching 200 thousand people you do need to get there early to avoid the traffic and, from my point of view, to get the shots before the crowds descend on mass but it is worth the effort. I managed to make the Cartier lawn by 07.05am on Friday to grab some shots even before the team of car prepares had arrived. Just me and a field of stunning Maseratis. It’s worth delaying the second cup of coffee of the morning.
[Read more…] about Goodwood Festival: The Cars
Faces at the Festival
When you’re smilin’, the whole world smiles with you…
No need for an introduction. Just scroll down to view this amazing album of great drivers just plain enjoying themselves at Goodwood. Well, except for Kimi and Loeb, who never seem to smile. This is Jonathan Sharp at his best. [Ed.]
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
[Read more…] about Faces at the FestivalPrescott 2014: Almost Thoroughly French
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on photos to enlarge!
It is a shame that my Sat Nav does not use public houses as navigation points because being instructed to “turn left at the Bugatti Inn” sounds so much nicer than just “in 500 meters turn left.” My journey to Prescott was to cover the Bugatti Owne’rs Club’s La Vie en Bleu Festival which celebrates all things French. Last year the event welcomed the International Bugatti Rally. This year it was the turn of the International Amilcar Rally to enjoy the Bugatti Club’s hospitality. A very impressive line-up of cars enjoyed the shade of the trees in the paddock. The weather over the weekend was typical of an English spring, tipping it down on Saturday, warm dry and sunny on Sunday. The paddocks on Sunday did however resemble the aftermath of the Glastonbury Music Festival – mud everywhere. The event always attracts a good turn- out not just the entrants in the hill climb but also from the members of the various French car clubs who had been invited to attend. The runs on the hill were as usual very spirited with very few incidents to mar what was a very enjoyable event.
Brooklands Italian Car Day
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Judging by the three lines of cars, all of which were made in Italy, waiting to pass through the Campbell gate of the Brooklands Motor Circuit in Surrey, the Italian car community is alive and thriving. [Read more…] about Brooklands Italian Car Day
Sharp at the VSCC Silverstone
Whilst Graham Gauld was meeting and greeting at the VSCC Spring Start race meeting at Silverstone, Jonathan Sharp was there scooting around with his camera to bring you the following report:
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
My passion has always been for Italian cars but sometimes I like to go off script; so the idea of an ERA-only race to celebrate its 80th anniversary of the (which will be covered separately) plus various support races, plus a scattering of their period adversaries including a few Maserati’s and Bugattis, was simply too much to miss. [Read more…] about Sharp at the VSCC Silverstone
Tour Auto 2014 Begins in Paris
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on pic to enlarge
My alarm clock seems to be permanently set to 3.30 am, this being the start time of most of my recent trips abroad. This time it was set so as I could catch the Eurostar (so much more civilized than flying) to Paris to take a look at the cars entered in this year’s Tour Auto. [Read more…] about Tour Auto 2014 Begins in Paris