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Jonathan Sharp

Italian Car Day at Brooklands, 2015

May 5, 2015 By pete

This is billed as a 1905 Fiat with an Isotta Fraschini 250 hp engine. Apparently Fiat drew plans to create record car in 1905 but aborted the effort. The drawings were picked up by Mike Vardy who recreated the monster using a Gar Wood supplied I-F aero engine.

Probably the most appropriate Fiat for Brooklands Italian Car Day. This is billed as a 1905 Fiat with an Isotta Fraschini 250 hp engine. Apparently Fiat drew plans to create record car in 1905 but aborted the effort. The drawings were picked up by Mike Vardy who recreated the monster using a Gar Wood supplied I-F aero engine.

Story and 40 Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Having just returned from the annual Italian Car Day at Brooklands in Surrey (May 2-3 2015) I think they will need to come up with a new cliché to fit the event. It’s still the right crowd but as to crowding, I do not think I have seen the old place so full…Italian cars everywhere. Lamborghini’s under Concordes, Fiat 500s around the Vickers Vanguard, Alfas not just in their main display area but also spilling out along the old banking as well.

Probably the most appropriate Fiat for Brooklands Italian Car Day. Note the chain drive which is an unusual reverse drive set up. Whichever direction, one does not wish to have the chain break at speed, which  is limited to 120 mph though no doubt would go faster with a brave man.

Note the chain drive which is an unusual reverse drive set up. Whichever direction, one does not wish to have the chain break at speed, which is limited to 120 mph though no doubt would go faster with a brave man.

I think I have mentioned before but this event is not just about the exotics, of which there are plenty. It’s the stuff you just do not see any more. Immaculate Mk1 Fiat Pandas rub shoulders with 850 Coupes. Fulvias behind a line of Fiat X19s. New Giuliettas next to the original models. Abarths old and new. I felt like a kid in a sweet shop, these were the cars I wanted to own back in the 1980s but could not afford them then, and with certain cars still can’t.

Brooklands is also about aircraft, so you will see some photos of significant WWII aircraft interspersed with the Fiats; we hope you don’t mind. In fact, we’ll begin with a Loch Ness Legend…

Vickers 290 Wellington MK1A N2980 R. 11,461 Vickers Wellingtons were built, 2515 of which were constructed at Brooklands.  Only two Wellingtons remain and this is the only Brooklands-built example. First flown on the 16th November 1939 by Vickers chief test Pilot Matt Summers the aircraft was then issued to 149 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. The aircraft took part in the infamous Heligoland Bight raid on the 18th December 1939. 22 Wellingtons took part, 11 returned. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 she developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced ditched into Loch Ness. All of the crew managed to escape but alas the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy.  In 1976 a group of American divers searching for the Loch Ness Monster found her and she was finally returned to the surface on the 21st September 1985. After 45 years under the water she had remained in a remarkable state of preservation-even the tail lights worked when connected to a new battery.

Vickers 290 Wellington MK1A N2980 R. 11,461 Vickers Wellingtons were built, 2515 of which were constructed at Brooklands. Only two Wellingtons remain and this is the only Brooklands-built example. First flown on the 16th November 1939 by Vickers chief test Pilot Mutt Summers the aircraft was then issued to 149 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. The aircraft took part in the infamous Heligoland Bight raid on the 18th December 1939. 22 Wellingtons took part, 11 returned. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 she developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced ditched into Loch Ness. All of the crew managed to escape but alas the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy. In 1976 a group of American divers searching for the Loch Ness Monster found her and she was finally returned to the surface on the 21st September 1985. After 45 years under the water she had remained in a remarkable state of preservation-even the tail lights worked when connected to a new battery.

The annual Italian car day at Brooklands just seems to make people smile!

The annual Italian car day at Brooklands just seems to make people smile!

[Read more…] about Italian Car Day at Brooklands, 2015

Tagged With: Alfa at brooklands, Brooklands Italians, Ferrari at brooklands, Fiat at brooklands, Italian car day brooklands, Jonathan Sharp

Amelia Roadside Attractions

March 31, 2015 By pete

Bill Warner catches a ride with Sir Stirling in the 300SLR.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Dear Pete,

Up like a lark for a crack of dawn start this morning. The general consensus among other photographers who have covered the event before was to get there before first light, so I did. Not sure why though! Had a problem finding the car park; I knew where it was as I had parked in it yesterday but could not see the entrance to it due to the flashing red and blue lights from all the local Police patrol cars all crowded around the entrance to the Ritz Carlton controlling the traffic, of which, at that hour, I was the sum total of it.

Then walking across the damp grass of the greens it would have been but the work of a moment to fall into the lake having been dazzled by the spotlights set up to light the way. It was good fun however to watch the buildup and to see the cars arriving. Most of my fellow photographers seemed to spend the time enjoying the free breakfast. Perhaps that is why they suggested getting there early.

I was not sure what cars to expect. I had made an effort since picking up the program on Friday to not look at the entry list so I was rather pleasantly surprised as the field filled up. Variety was very evident throughout the field with special classes this year for Stutz, the Porsche 914, Classic Hot Rods, Orphan Concept Cars and probably the strangest yet most fun class of all, Cars of the Cowboys!

'And I learned this from old man Farina..'

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Tagged With: Amelia, Amelia 2015, amelia concours awards, amelia island concours, amelia island concours d’elegance, Jonathan Sharp, Porsche 914/8, Porsche Le Mans

Four Guys at Retro: Sharp on Art

February 12, 2015 By pete

From the Baillon barn find, a Facel Vega interior.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on pics to enlarge

It was whilst sitting in the comfort of a Eurostar train returning from the fortieth edition of what is arguably the best classic car show in the world that my pal and I got to reminiscing about our first trip to Retromobile around about 34 years ago.

In those days, circa 1981, we could not afford to take time off from work; we decided we would leave home on the Saturday evening to attend the show on the Sunday. No Eurostar or channel tunnel in those days, no Internet, and no great plan as to how we were going to actually get there. 6 pm arrives and we piled into my pal’s company Nissan Sunny and departed for Dover for the ferry. We parked the car on the top floor of the multi story car park, (I cannot remember why it was the top floor), and found out the time of the next ferry. We must have waited some time as the ferry crossing only took an hour and we arrived in France at about 2am. The next train to Paris did leave until 4am. It was not a high speed train unlike nowadays but a normal suburban train with bolt upright seats covered in vinyl and it seemed to stop at every station. I also think we had to change trains as I do recall being stuck on a cold dark French railway station in the middle of nowhere for an hour or so.

Anyway we finally pull into Gard Du Nord in Paris and work out how to use the Metro. As none of us spoke anything more than schoolboy French, this was quite a feat. The Metro is crowded and my pal nearly lost his wallet to a pick pocket but we finally arrive at the show. We must have been impressed with what we saw but all I can now recall is that I bought a model kit of the Ferrari Pinin which I must get round to building one day. At the shows end it was time to take the same journey in reverse. By the time we arrive in England my Nissan Sunny-driving pal is having to be kept awake by the combined efforts of the rest of us. I recall putting the key in my front door at 6am. Then it was back to work for 9am Monday morning.

This year it’s an easy one hour drive to Ebbslfleet station and then a comfortable train seat for a few hours to Paris. A great show, an excellent dinner and a comfortable hotel for the night. Another morning at the show, lovely lunch. Then the same journey in reverse but this time it does have the added excitement of a bomb scare and controlled explosion at Gare Du Nord. Much improved, however, and easier on much older enthusiast.

I hope you will enjoy my look at the Art of Retro.

No comment necessary.

Grand Prix models

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Tagged With: art at retromobile, Jonathan Sharp, paris retromobile, poster art, retro paris, Retromobile 2015

NEC Classic Show, Birmingham, UK

December 2, 2014 By pete

Bugatti T51

Bugatti T51. Mechanical artistry is evident in this Bugatti T51 engine courtesy of Ivan Dutton

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

Tagged With: Birmingham auto show, Jonathan Sharp, NCE classic show 2014, NEC classic

Alfas and Ferraris at the Enzo Ferrari Museum

November 11, 2014 By pete

The Alfa Bimotore is on display in a quiet, beautiful, chapel-like setting.

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

Tagged With: enzo ferrari museum, ferrari museum, Italian car museums, Jonathan Sharp, Modena Ferrari museum

Goodwood Revival: Places and Faces

September 23, 2014 By pete

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. .

Vanhoolandt: Maserati girls

Sharp: Derek Bell

Vanhoolandt: Hispano HA1112 Buchon (See Note 1 for more info)

Sharp: Spitfire

Vanhoolandt: Sgt. Pepper's Regulars

Sharp: Settrington Grand Prix (See Note 2)

Vanhoolandt: British bowlers

Sharp: Rowan Atkinson, Mr. Bean and others.

Vanhoolandt: Hooper and co.

Sharp: KGB Racing

Vanhoolandt: Picnic

Sharp: Webber and Jackie

Vanhoolandt: No picnic

Sharp: Dickie Attwood

Vanhoolandt: Dad's Army Re enactment (See Note 3)

Sharp: Monza at Goodwoood

Vanhoolandt: Just a good shot

Sharp: Crumpet chasing Moss

Vanhoolandt: Why do they wave? (St Trininan's girls)

Sharp: Mark Blundell, Danny Sullivan

Vanhoolandt: De Haviland DH82a Tiger Moth

Sharp: Mass and ?

Vanhoolandt: Everyone must have a bobby

Sharp: Soper and J. Oliver

Vanhoolandt: Didn't forget the girls

Sharp: Avro Lancaster Bombers (See note 4)

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

Tagged With: goodwood, Goodwood background, goodwood revival, Goodwood revival 2014, hugues vanhoolandt, Jonathan Sharp, style at goodwood

Goodwood Revival 2014: Jonathan Sharp

September 23, 2014 By pete

Josef Otto Rettenmaier overcooks his exit from the chicane in his 1935 Maserati V8RI.

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

Tagged With: Goodwood 2014, goodwood racing, goodwood revival, Jonathan Sharp

Goodwood Festival: The Cars

July 15, 2014 By pete

Cigarette, anyone?



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

Tagged With: goodwood, Goodwood Festival 2014, goodwood racing, Jonathan Sharp

Faces at the Festival

July 8, 2014 By pete

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

Dario Franchitti, who drove the ex-Hakkinen Mercedes C Class DTM car.

[Read more…] about Faces at the Festival

Tagged With: drivers at goodwood, Goodwood 2014, Goodwood Festival 2014, Grand Prix driver portraits, Jonathan Sharp

Prescott 2014: Almost Thoroughly French

June 10, 2014 By pete

1928 Amilcar CGS

The 1928 Amilcar CGS Riley of Terry McGrath climbs towards the esses.

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.

This is an Amilcar Tandem, of which perhaps two were built in 1923 to race in the Cyclecar Grand Prix.

Marius Mestivier at the helm of a 1100cc Amilcar Tandem. Courtesy 'Amilcar' by Fournier.

The driver had the gearshift between his legs and the mechanic the driver.

It is good to see that old fashioned camaraderie is still very much the watchword of a Prescott event as is evident here. Car 36 is the 1928 Bugatti T35B of Steve Curtis, car 37 Derek Howard Orchard's 1931 T51

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Tagged With: Amilcar, bugatti, Bugatti Owner's Club, International Amilcar Rally, Jonathan Sharp, La Vie en Bleu Festival, prescott, prescott hillclimb, Salmson

Brooklands Italian Car Day

May 13, 2014 By pete

The Pininfarina lines of a Fiat Dino Spyder contrast nicely with the starkness of the Brooklands memorial erected to commemorate the home of motor racing 1907 - 1939.

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

Tagged With: Alfa Romeo, brooklands Italian car day, cisitalia, Ferrari, Fiat, Jonathan Sharp

Sharp at the VSCC Silverstone

April 29, 2014 By pete

Lancia D50 recreation of Helmut Gassmann.

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

Tagged With: Cars of the VSCC, Delage Special, ERA, GP Aston Martin, Jonathan Sharp, Mark Gillies, McDowell Ford, Tech Mec, Vscc opener, vscc silverstone

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