The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
We continue with the Fuori Concorso coverage. Above, the free ice cream courtesy of Porsche was especially welcome, and the mint flavor complete with real mint leaves was divine. Now back to the cars. As before, no guarantees on identifications, but let us know if we have gone astray for the record.
Fiat 2300 Ghia, behind which is BAC 1/11 G-ASYD. Throughout its 29-year flying career SYD was used as a test aircraft for various variants and for testing technical equipment including ‘Fly by Light Control Technology.’ Donated to the museum by British Aerospace Airbus Ltd and landing at Brooklands (her 5004th landing) on the 14th July 1994.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
“Just follow the F40!” Not something I have said before but when my pal asked me which junction we needed to exit the motorway, it sounded so much better than “this one.” The F40 had just passed us, by the way, and it was obvious that we were both heading to the same event. So where were we going on this bright spring morning (4th May)?
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
A service of Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey is a very rare and special occasion, and not something you would expect to be conducted for a racing driver. Such is the respect held for Sir Stirling Moss, who was recently honored with a service at the Abbey, delayed after his death in 2020 by the pandemic. I found out about this unique happening from a friend, who in an email wrote, ‘Quick, there is going to be a service of Thanksgiving to Sir Stirling Moss at 11am on the 8th May, and it is going to be in Westminster Abbey! Go onto the web site now and see if you can book tickets.”
Shadow Prototype
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Earlier this year when the post card from Goodwood landed on the mat inviting me to attend the 81st Members Meeting, on the front was written “Can-Am.” I knew right then I was going to be attending. I have always had a soft spot for monster McLarens, Marchs and Lolas with bodywork big enough to land a helicopter, but this year it was the seven Shadow Can Am cars of the James Bartel collection that really grabbed my attention; mini sized front wheels, twin rear wheels, spoiler mounted radiators, and aerodynamic devices like the wing fences of an old MIG 15 fighter jet! Fantastic stuff, and all the Shadows took to the circuit instead of just static displays. In fact the daily Can Am demo included 19 various examples of V8 Thunder, plus two 12 cylinder Porsches for good measure. Truly made my day.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the Archives, June 2018
The Brooklands museum complex is like a nostalgic oasis surrounded by modern glass fronted corporate head offices and a Tesco’s supermarket. However once you have entered into the site the years simply drop away. Whether it’s just the 1930s music playing over the PA system, or the restored buildings, one feels (if you use a bit of imagination) that you are back in the 1920s. The feeling of nostalgia increases 10-fold when the VSCC (Veteran Sports Car Club) have an event there. [Read more…] about VSCC at Brooklands, 2018
B20s for sale.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I only popped into the RM/Sotheby’s London auction just to have a quick look around and perhaps grab a coffee. It was never in my remit to take any photographs of the auction; my visit to London was just to cover the St James’s concours adjacent to the auction but you know what us photographers are like!
Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
This week And How gives us a glimpse of Ol’ Yeller II at Goodwood on parade while E.T. Nagamatsu, ever the ambassador, meets the women who did such a wonderful job singing the classic tunes of the war years. Then Hugues Vanhoolandt captures some of the ambiance that surrounds the Goodwood Revival, and Jonathan Sharp focuses on a special OSCA shown at the Hampton Concours.
Bugattis enjoy a rare moment of sun. David Hand’s 1925 T39 sits next to the 1924 Brescia T13 of Charles Knill-Jones.
By Jonathan Sharp
From the VeloceToday Archives, 2012
The Cotswolds: bucolic golden-hued thatched cottages, rolling farm land, wheat fields swaying in a warm summer breeze, antique shops, old English country inns selling fine English ales. All this and more, for it is also the home of the Bugatti Owners Club of Great Britain and the famous Prescott Hill climb.
Hurricane
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
If you have been with us for the past few years and have read my ramblings you are probably already aware of my love for old cars and historic racing. Well I have also inherited my father’s love of old aeroplanes, so the Goodwood Revival each year is a double whammy for me. Not just fantastic and rare old racing cars, but fantastic and rare old aeroplanes courtesy of the annual Freddy March Spirit of Aviation Concours for Aeroplanes built before 1966 held as part of the Revival meeting. [Read more…] about Classic Aircraft at Goodwood
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
If only I had been able to record this! The key speaker at the London Concours for me had to be Lord Alexander Hesketh, the founder of Hesketh Racing. Lord Hesketh appeared at the show as part of the launch of the book Superbears, The story of Hesketh Racing. The new book can be ordered at
Peter Collins on his winning way in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 1958. Photo: Grand Prix Library/Graham Gauld
Peter Collins Celebration begins June 10 in Worcester, UK
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the death of British racing driver Peter Collins in an accident during the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
Collins was at the peak of his racing career and was a member of the Scuderia Ferrari team alongside his great friend Mike Hawthorn who was to go on to become Britain’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix World Champion. He was killed just two weeks after his famous victory in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone that year. [Read more…] about And How!
The Alfa Bimotore is on display in a quiet, beautiful, chapel-like setting.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the VeloceToday archives, November 2014
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 arch 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.