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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Jonathan Sharp

So Long Goodwood, Until We Meet Again

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1939 Parnell Challenger, Goodwood Trophy, entered and driven by Duncan Ricketts.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I hope you dear readers will forgive me for one final photographic visit to this years Goodwood Revival; after all it is going to be a long winter without a Goodwood fix.

I seem to have spent a fair amount of time in the Goodwood estate this year, starting with various Sunday morning free breakfast club meetings at the circuit, members’ only test days prior to the 81st members’ meeting in April, The Festival of Speed in July, a family club day in the August sun (sun was a rare occurrence this year) also at the house, and of course the amazing Revival in September, and amazing it was, even though I got soaked far too often. So here’s to next year starting with the 82nd Members’ Meeting in April. Roll on spring.

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Unveiling the Vanguard RA4

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Ian Jones about to unveil the Vanguard.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I thought that some of you might be interested in a small event that I was privileged to attend earlier this year.

I received an email that came from Emma at Gunhill studios: “You are invited to the Vintage Innovations launch of the freshly restored Vanguard RA4.”
The what?! Do they mean a Standard Vanguard saloon?
Straight onto the internet, oh not a saloon then!

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Hampton Court Concours d’Elegance 2024

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The Jaques Family’s 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Boat Tail Speed Model. This is chassis TN1564 and features coachwork from Martin Walter.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Stately Home number two on my three part ‘Grand Homes’ tour is Hampton Court Palace, a location I feel to rival that of Ville d‘Este and Pebble Beach. (See Stately Home number 1)
This event is a bit unusual in that the best in show winner at the concours is chosen by the owners themselves. Each owner is granted one vote to choose the car (other than their own of course) which they believe to be the finest motor car entered into the Concours. I also understand that each owner is also asked to select a vehicle from each decade that they consider to be the finest motor car entered in the event from that decade.

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And How! McQueen at Salon Privé

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Chase McQueen by Jonathan Sharp

Photos and story by Jonathan Sharp

Before the Salon Privé show opened to the public I was invited to see the launch of the new Renauld/Steve McQueen Le Mans® sunglasses, an event that included Steve McQueen’s grandson Chase. The photos and captions following the press release below are mine from the launch.

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Salon Privé, the Italians, August 28, 2024

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Ferraris of the 50s and 60s class, 1953 166 MM Spider by Vignale.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I joke that late August, early September is the time when I visit some of the great stately homes of England. Well, three actually. The first stately home of the trio, is actually a Palace.

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Salon Privé, the Non-Italians, August 28, 2024

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From the 120 Years of Rolls- Royce (Post war) 1965 Phantom V by Mulliner Park Ward, ex John Lennon.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Here are Jon’s favorites from his Non-Italian class this year at the Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace. And so goes the PR:

The 19th edition of Salon Privé, the UK’s leading luxury automotive and global Concours event, has been hailed a gargantuan success. On Saturday evening, the curtain fell on the most spectacular five days of new model debuts, stunning classic car rarities, a jaw-dropping Salon Privé Concours victor and the finest in world-class luxury lifestyle and entertainment.

Can’t argue with that!

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T57, Jollys, Gandini at Cartier Style, Goodwood

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Ferrari’s Jolly

Photos and intro by Jonathan Sharp, captions by Gary Axon

You never know what to expect when you enter the show field for the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours, held annually as part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This year on the library lawn near to the stable block visitors were greeted by, amongst many a fine automobile, the sight of a 1977 Volkswagen Polo, probably the best condition 1977 Polo you are ever likely to see but a Polo never the less. Why? Well if you have a class to celebrate the work of Marcello Gandini, and you want to show Gandini designs other than those for Lamborghini (which were of course also on display) then why not a Polo! with a Citroen BX and a Fiat X1/9 to boot. Another sight that I am sure you are unlikely to see on the lawn at Pebble Beach is a Renault Tractor displayed across the way from a Bugatti Type 57!, or a Meyers Manx Beach Buggy near the Felber Ferrari Beach car displayed close to a 40/50 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Only Goodwood would do that.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed: The Italians

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We’ll let you figure this one out…

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

If you look at social media you would think that the main talking point at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was the height of the straw bales lining the track. Yes, over the years they have got higher and wider; back in 1993 crowd safety was just a single line of straw bales and a bit of rope, but should something go wrong, and somebody gets hurt, then maybe no more Festival of Speed. And that would be tragic loss.

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Drivers at the Goodwood FOS 2024

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Tom Kristensen channels his inner Bernd Rosemeyer

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Due to my inability to be at two places at once (I will work on that) I was not able to photograph every driver, but the following are a selection of those that I did manage to catch. And something we note, happily, every year, in most cases, the drivers are smiling, joking, relaxed and in a great mood. Such is the magic that is the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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Villa Erba 2024 with Jonathan Sharp

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Arriving at the Villa Erba in style.


Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Note to self, if you attend the Villa d’Este/Villa Erba Concours again (which I probably will!) then take the ferry! It is 3.9 miles from the town of Como, where our hotel was located, to Cernobbia where the Villas are located. It should take about 16 minutes by car and about half an hour by bus. Sunday morning of Concours weekend has not a chance, took me 75 minutes on the bus.
[Read more…] about Villa Erba 2024 with Jonathan Sharp

More from Villa Erba

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From the ‘Faster: the arms race on the road’ class. Brian Ross’s 1957 Ferrari 335S, ex- Pierre Bardinon’s Mas du Clos collection.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The classes for this year encompassed the years 1914 (Rolls Royce) to 2024 (Concepts and prototypes). In addition to the various classes, visitors to the public day at Villa Erba on the Sunday could enjoy a separate display of motorsport milestones and several BMW Art cars in the main convention centre, and a fine display of Gandini designed cars as a tribute to the late great Master on the green outside.

So what was my favorite car? probably the Fiat Dino Aerodynamica, or maybe the Serenissima Agena, or maybe the Alfa 8C. There wasn’t a duff car in the place, and if you do visit, and your really should, remember take the ferry!

For a list of the classes, click on the website at the end of this article.

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Fuori Concorso, 2024

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Fuori Concorso founded 5 years ago by Guglielmo Miani and curated by Andrea Luzardi is not really a concorso along the lines of Hampton Court or Pebble Beach. There are no judges, no points are lost because your hose clips are wrong and your emergency window winder was upside down in the glove box, nobody wins and nobody loses. Rather the event is a celebration of car culture held in the green and pleasant surrounds of Villa Grumello and Villa Sucato on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. [Read more…] about Fuori Concorso, 2024

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