Maserati T151

The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 6

November 17, 2020 By pete

Le Mans, June 1963. Aston Martin’s project cars during practice, headed by the DP 215 of Phil Hill/Lucien Bianchi. Bill Kimberly is seen next to his #7 DB4GT, internally known as DP 214. (Ed Matsuishi)

By Willem Oosthoek

After a disappointing finish with the Cunningham Jaguar E-type at Sebring in March 1963, Bill Kimberly picked up his corporate job in London again and did not expect to do much racing for the rest of the season, with -perhaps- Le Mans and the Cunningham team being the exception. An unexpected call changed things completely, thanks to one of Bill’s occasional boarders in the London apartment. [Read more…] about The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 6

The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 5

November 10, 2020 By pete

Le Mans, June 1962. The Kimberly/Thompson Tipo 151, chassis 006, being pushed to its start position. On the left Maserati suspension designer Gianpaolo Dallara and chief mechanic Guerrino Bertocchi, on the right Cunningham team manager John Baus. (Flip Schulke)

By Willem Oosthoek

The 1962 season would turn out to be a low point in term of the number of race appearances for Bill Kimberly. Occupied with his corporate job at Kimberly-Clark in London, and with his Ferrari 500TR sold, he appeared trackside only twice. But they were memorable rides, both again with the Briggs Cunningham team.

Although Briggs showed up in force at Sebring in March, Bill was unable to make it. But in Europe competition would be easier to arrange based on his vacation days. Across the English Channel, Le Mans was only a short distance away. [Read more…] about The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 5

A Visit to the Maserati Factory, 1963

October 28, 2014 By pete

And what have we here? The Maserati factory circa 1963 was full of surprises.

This week we feature the first of four visits to the Maserati factory. Next week, Graham Gauld recalls the works in the years 1957, 1958 and 1960, while this week, VeloceToday reader David Hewitt ads his impressions of his time in Europe in 1963, and a visit to Maserati.

While trying to identify the cars in Hewitt’s photos, we stumbled across two rare and interesting cars once owned by John Simone, head of Maserati-France. But before we get that, David’s photos of the Nurburgring are equally fascinating and all in color!

Photos courtesy David Hewitt unless otherwise noted.

Text by Pete Vack and David Hewitt

David Hewitt’s father was an Air Force pilot stationed in Europe from 1960 to 1964. Hewitt was only 15 when his family lived in France for the first year and Germany for the remaining years. Hewitt recalls those years: [Read more…] about A Visit to the Maserati Factory, 1963