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Michael Lynch honors Steve Earle (2009)

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In the Americas, the only place you can see sights like this is at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Juan Manual Fangio and Sir Jackie Stewart warm up an Alfa 159 and P3 respectively, before a demonstration run in 1985 that included Phil Hill in an Alfa P2. Credit: General Racing

Exclusive story by Michael T. Lynch

From the VeloceToday Archives, 2009

Last Sunday evening, an era in American motor racing ended. At the traditional prize giving ceremony at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Steven J. Earle, by far the most influential person in U.S. vintage racing, announced that the 36-year old Rolex Monterey Historics, which he founded in 1974, was ending.

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Farewell, Michael Lynch

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Above, Michael and Vicki Lynch, Pebble Beach, 2016.

By Pete Vack, Editor

Michael T. Lynch was a born writer. He wrote for Road & Track, Cavallino, Vintage Motorsport, and many more international automotive journals. He was respected around the world and always in demand. That he liked what we were doing with VeloceToday.com and that he was willing to contribute meant a great deal to me (and our readers). His approval tended to justify our existence; his continued support over the years meant that we were on the right path. [Read more…] about Farewell, Michael Lynch

Michael T. Lynch: Goodbye Dan Gurney

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Jonathan Sharp photo, Goodwood 2012

By Michael T. Lynch

Dan Gurney (April 13, 1931 – January 14, 2018) has left us, and we have lost one of the most charismatic American race drivers of any era. As the son of an opera singer on Long Island, he got the racing bug early, watching the midgets at Freeport Stadium. His hero of the day was midget driver Ted Tappet, whose real name was Phil Walters. Walters would go on to be the first great American postwar road racer, putting America on the international racing map with Briggs Cunningham’s cars. [Read more…] about Michael T. Lynch: Goodbye Dan Gurney

Lynch Picks the Best of Monterey

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At the risk of having my mailbox overflow with hate mail from Bugatti fans, the pinnacle of prewar sports cars is the Alfa 8C2900B. Luigi Chinetti, who owned one, said they were much more delicate mechanically than the 8C 2300s which he considered bullet proof, but that can be forgiven when you consider how they look. This is Bob Lee’s example in the Designs by Carrozzeria Touring Class. When new, the metal filets and straked spats were not on this car, but were used on some 8Cs. The top spears and running board trim are as original.

At the risk of having my mailbox overflow with hate mail from Bugatti fans, the pinnacle of prewar sports cars is the Alfa 8C2900B. Luigi Chinetti, who owned one, said they were much more delicate mechanically than the 8C 2300s which he considered bullet proof, but that can be forgiven when you consider how they look. This is Bob Lee’s example in the Designs by Carrozzeria Touring Class. When new, the metal filets and straked spats were not on this car, but were used on some 8Cs. The top spears and running board trim are as original.

Story and Photos by Michael T. Lynch

A few of our favorite things….

The aging historian and Vicki have talked for years about cutting back during Holy Week, and to some extent we did. I looked back at an old day timer and saw that we once did 37 events during the week. Back when we did the two weekends of vintage racing and everything in between, we started dropping things. We never did any of the dawn patrols at either the Pebble Tour or Pebble itself, although we have been there for the beginning of the Tour one year when we had a ride in it and it was great. [Read more…] about Lynch Picks the Best of Monterey

Stanford/REVS Receives Road & Track Archives

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John Morton sits in the Collier Collection’s Porsche 356B Abarth Carrera GTL with his head and torso wired. Various parts of the car are electronically monitored as well, all in the name of research by the Revs Program at Stanford. The sending unit for the telemetry can be seen above the rear window. The event is the 2011 Porsche Rennsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Impressive Progress at the Revs Program at Stanford University

By Michael T. Lynch

Last week we spoke of the issue of disposing of one’s automotive ephemera, or at least the portion that has been unused for some time. The solution offered was Steve Fields Automobilia, which provides a service to do so through eBay.

This week we will discuss the question of donations of serious collections. I get at least two calls a week on this subject. The horror stories I have heard include going back to the donee later and finding that most of the donation has vanished or seeing the donated material ten years later in the same boxes in which it was delivered. While there are repositories that properly sort and index what they get, budgets, volunteer help and other issues do not usually provide a process that takes the gift from the box to a medium that can be distance accessed by researchers, let along the public. There is now such an institution. [Read more…] about Stanford/REVS Receives Road & Track Archives

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

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A portion of an outstanding Bugatti turnout includes David Duthu's T-35A (14) that was driven by Jim Strandberg; Matt Cobb's T-37A (37); Peter Mullin's Delage-Era, driven by David Duthu and Peter Mullin's T-35C. Credit: Michael T. Lynch

A Weekend of Wine, Food and Cars

By Michael T. Lynch

Steve Earle, through his company General Racing, has been the most influential organizer of American vintage races over the past 30-odd years. This year he expanded and renamed his long-running Wine Country Classic. The first edition of the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival was held June 5th & 6th at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway.
[Read more…] about Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

Second Quail Motorcycle Gathering a Success

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Stewart Ingram brought two Maserati motocycles. This is his 125 GT Super two-stroke.

 

Story and photos by Michael T. Lynch
Scroll down for Photo Gallery  

The Second Edition of The Quail Motorcycle Gathering took place in bright sunshine at the Quail Lodge Golf Club on the day before Mothers Day, but the festivities began earlier. Kenny Roberts led a group of golfers in a game on Friday. That same day, 40-odd bikes took part in the Quail Motorcycle Tour, escorted by motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol. Ducati showed strong confidence in the organizers when they provided Quail Lodge President, Lawson Little, with a new 1200 Multistrada for the ride. [Read more…] about Second Quail Motorcycle Gathering a Success

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