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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Jonathan Sharp

Mario Andretti at Goodwood

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While VeloceToday and Jim Sitz have been concentrating on remembering Phil Hill’s Championship year, we should not be neglecting America’s other Formula 1 World Champion, Mario Andretti.* (Read Who’s the Greatest, Andretti or Hill.) Andretti is renowned as perhaps the most versatile racer of all time, he was named “Driver of the Century” by the Associated Press in 2000, and is one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula 1, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. Luckily, Jonathan Sharp ran into Andretti at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 8-11. Take it from here, Jon!

Story and photos Jonathan Sharp

I have been ever so luck over the years to be able to grab shots of many a great driver, both ancient and modern; dear old Sir Stirling and Il Grande John Surtees, Sir Jackie and Derek Bell. But when I read in the press releases that Mario Andretti was to be honoured at this year’s Festival I did feel a certain buzz of excitement and anticipation.

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Detailing the Alfa 8C 2300

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I had no intention of visiting the Stonor Supercar Sunday event on July 4th until I reread the press release a few days before the event. Note to self, next time read the whole press release when you get it; note to the writer of press releases, best put the important bit (in my mind anyway) earlier in the release.

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London Classic Car Show, 2021

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Letting loose in the Delage.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After missing 2020 for the usual reason, the London Classic Car show was back for 2021 and took place June 25 – 27. Not at the London Excel exhibition center as before, but in West London at Syon Park, and out in the open! [Read more…] about London Classic Car Show, 2021

It’s Showtime! Sharp at the London Concours

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This was my second favourite car at the show. In the Kustom Class was this 1953 Austin A40 Somerset.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

At last! A car show to go to, my first since Salon Prive last September. So it’s up to the City of London, to the 5 acre green oasis that is the Honorable Artillery Company and the venue for the fifth edition of the London Concours held June 8-10, 2021. [Read more…] about It’s Showtime! Sharp at the London Concours

Can’t Get Enough of the London Concours

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E Types on parade, starting with 77RW, the first production two seater, as famously driven by Norman Dewis overnight to Geneva to serve as one of the press demonstrators.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Due largely to download time, we’ve split the report of the London Concours into two posts. Part 2 begins with the celebration of the E Type Jaguar.

These are the winners of this year’s event: [Read more…] about Can’t Get Enough of the London Concours

Race Cars at the British Motor Museum

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The British Motor Museum, located in the rolling Warwickshire countryside (not to be confused with the National Motor Museum in Hampshire), opened in 1993 and tells the story of the British Motor Industry. The museum was established by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust to house its collection of almost 300 vehicles and its vast motoring archive, which had outgrown the two original locations in Studley in Warwickshire, and Syon Park in London. The Trust’s mission is to keep the memory of the British Motor Industry alive, and to tell its story to all. [Read more…] about Race Cars at the British Motor Museum

National Museum Part 3

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Actor, wit, car nut and raconteur Peter Ustinov once owned this 1928 Supercharged Mercedes 36/220 S Type. One of only 146 examples built of this very successful Ferdinand Porsche-designed vehicle which has recently been restored by the Museum. This model was one of the first to appear after the amalgamation of Daimler and Benz in 1926.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

From the VeloceToday Archives, 2017

This is the third part of Jonathan Sharp’s visit to the National Museum at Beaulieu. There is just so much at the Museum to see; we have just scratched the surface and there is much more waiting for the museum visitor.

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National Motor Museum Part 1

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Come on in, we are going to show you the neatest Museum in all of the UK.

Come on in, we are going to show you the neatest Museum in all of the British Isles.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

It’s funny; I have driven, and flown hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles to visit various car museums, shows and race meetings around the world, and yet I had not visited the National Motor Museum (also known as the Beaulieu) less than two hours west of my home on England South Coast, for nearly 20 years.

The

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The National Motor Museum Part 2

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This 1903 single cylinder De Dion Bouton is still a regular entrant in the annual London to Brighton Veteran car run. The car was purchased by the Montagu family from a tenant on their estate in 1913 and was one of the five original cars that launched the Montagu Motor Museum in 1952 when the cars were displayed in the entrance hall of the family home.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

From the Archive, January 2017

In Part 1 we mentioned that we would discuss the founder of the National Motor Museum, Lord Montagu. Here then, Jonathan Sharp does so as a prefix to Part 2 of the National Museum articles which will cover cars from A-L. Part 3 will show cars from M-Z and motorcycles. Part 4 will deal with the Land Speed Record Cars at the Museum. Ed.

Let’s get the elephant in the corner out of the room. In 1953 Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, together with two other gentlemen, was convicted of the then crime of a homosexual act with two other consenting adults, who turned Queen’s evidence. Lord Montagu served 8 months in prison. Such was the public’s disquiet as what was perceived to be the unfair victimization of a public figure and the criminality of sexual acts between consenting adults, that a public inquiry was finally set up which ultimately led to the law on homosexuality being reformed. Ok that’s out of the way.

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Stop, Look, but don’t Listen…

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36 photos by Jonathan Sharp

Stop: Forget rivet counts and restoration details.
Stop: Enlarge each photo by clicking on it to double the size. Slow it down.
Stop: Enjoy the ambiance for there is nothing else quite like it in the world.
Stop: Look at the faces, feel the tension, imagine the noise, thrill with the excitement.
For this is Goodwood at its most glorious, and how great it would be there to see and hear and feel what Jonathan Sharp did on that wonderful September day in 2019.

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Hampton Court Concours, 2020

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I kept expecting to receive an email stating that the Hampton Concours had to be cancelled due to current circumstances, but it never came. So the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court was on, hot on the heels of the London Concours, and I was very happy. I was truly amazed that, with all the travel restrictions and quarantine regulations around the world, that the event’s steering committee was able to come up with such an interesting entry. [Read more…] about Hampton Court Concours, 2020

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