The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story by Simon Moore
I got married in 1976 and spent the next two years living and working in Holland. I even wrote a story about the ex-Prince Bernard 8C2900B in a Dutch magazine for editor Wim Oude Weernink. Soon after returning to London, I managed to acquire the rolling chassis of an 8C2900A Alfa Romeo that was lying in a field in Washington state.
Driving Gidding’s Alfa chassis 2311243 in 1966.
In the past, we have had brief interviews with the prolific Simon Moore, so we hesitated to ask him more about himself. He came forth, telling us a great many things we were not aware of, and included personal photos. What Moore could we ask…?
Story by Simon Moore
Growing up in London in the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were very few foreign-made cars on the roads, although one occasionally saw a British-built sports car like the MG TC. I have photographs of my father and grandfather’s car before the war (MG and Lagonda saloons) but after the war we had small Austin or Standard saloons. Three of my mother’s sisters married people in the motor trade so cars were always being discussed in the family. But it was only when my mother bought me a book to read (Ken Purdy’s Kings of the Road) that I learned about the great pre-war cars like Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Duesenberg, Mercer and, of course, Alfa Romeo.
From the Archives, January 2018
Text by Peter Darnall and Museum Curator Lorenzo Montagner
Museum photos by Gian Maria Pontiroli
Museum Curator Lorenzo Montagner has previously written a short biography of Tazio Nuvolari which appears after the below article, in which Mr. Montagner and Peter Darnall take us inside the fascinating museum that houses Nuvolari’s treasures.
Museo Tazio Nuvolari is located in Mantua, Italy, a few miles from Castel d’Ario, where Nuvolari was born on November 16, 1892. The Nuvolari Museum is housed in an historic fifteenth century building, which served originally as the Church of the Carmelino. One visitor to the museum commented that the unique setting seemed to enhance the sense of intimacy; in his words, the museum was “much more than a collection of trophies.” [Read more…] about Nuvolari Speciale
By Peter Darnall
Any of the racing Alfa Romeos from the decade of the 1930s will fetch a king’s ransom in today’s collector market. Put a Tipo C on the block and the opening bids would normally be associated with high-end real estate properties. When the rarest of them all, a 1935 8C-35 with matching engine and chassis number 50013, was offered by Bonhams in 2013, the winning bid was the highest price ever paid for a single seat racer! [Read more…] about Flying With Pegasus: The continuing story of Alfa Romeo #50013
By Judy Giddings
Photos courtesy Judy Giddings unless otherwise noted
Last week in VeloceToday, A Celebration of Life Judy Giddings recalled her honeymoon with Peter and an Alfa 6C1500 and there life moving, buying and selling houses and estates. This week she remembers a few of the many memorable classic car events they attended together.
1984 Grand Bahama Vintage Speed Week
We took our Talbot Lago to the Bahamas vintage race which comprised of three races, two warm-up sessions, and seven cocktail parties! It was fun! [Read more…] about 50 Years with Peter Giddings Part 2
By Judy Giddings
Photos courtesy Judy Giddings
On April 11, 2019 a Celebration of Life was held for Peter Giddings at the Sonoma Raceway, where a very nice booklet was distributed to the many attendees. It was lovingly put together by Judy Giddings, a series of stories about her “50 years with Peter Giddings,” showing a personal side of Peter few have known. She sent VeloceToday a copy and we edited it for our readers. We also thank the Giddings’ website manager Mike Sims for his help with the photos. Part 1 of 2.
An exciting beginning
My 50 years with Peter Giddings all started at a typical late 1960s London party. However, there was never anything typical about Peter. He was tall, handsome, and suave – also very intelligent, confident, knowledgeable on so many subjects, and most important of all, a good sense of humor. Peter picked me up for our first date in his blower Bentley, complete with a blanket to keep out the cold and dampness of the London winter evening.
By Pete Vack
Montage above by Peter Darnall
From the VeloceToday Archives, January 2017
One might wonder why we are so interested in the Alfa 8C35 cars. An old saying goes that history is written by the survivors; and indeed, this is the case for the 8C35. But in addition to being survivors, the various and sundry 8C35s running today are examples of the only Grand Prix car to give the combined Silver Arrows a real run for the money. [Read more…] about Alfa Romeo 8C35 Grand Prix Cars: For the Record
Peter Darnall: Remembering Peter Giddings
I first met Peter Giddings in the paddock of a California track then known as Sears Point. My directions to Peter’s spot in the paddock were unique: “look for a Great Dane with a vintage Alfa Romeo.” That track has been renamed several times; it’s Sonoma Raceway today. The Giddings entourage, however, always featured a Great Dane and rare vintage racing machinery.
Recently, in the paddock of Thunderhill Raceway, an elegant Great Dane named Havoc was competing with an extremely rare Lancia D24 for the spectators’ attention. Peter’s enthusiastic wife Judy, always a blur of activity, alternated between attending to the Lancia and treating Havoc to his morning constitutional. Peter stood nearby patiently answering questions about the Lancia and posing for pictures.
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Steve Snyder
It would be difficult if not impossible to find a more compelling story than that of Peter Giddings. In his youth in England, he restored a BSA three-wheeler, then a Brooklands Riley 9, and then a chain drive Frazer Nash, which he rebuilt in his living room (I say “restored” because owning these cars in England in the sixties would require continuous attention just to keep them running). He started racing the Frazer Nash in 1959, and competed in virtually every race circuit and hillclimb in England, earning his full FIA International racing license in 1961. In 1985, he raced his Alfa Romeo Monza and his P3 Alfa Scuderia Ferrari Tipo B at the Monterey Historics, and was awarded the Phil Hill trophy. [Read more…] about Lancia D 24 and D 50R
By Peter Giddings
All photos courtesy Peter Giddings unless marked otherwise
Archives, November 2016
Jonathan Sharp wrote up a very nice piece for us about the Firle Hillclimb Revival, with plenty of enticing photos of car guys and girls just having fun with their classics. It certainly hit a note with our readers. Then Peter Giddings emailed us about his experiences driving a Frazer Nash ‘Chain Gang’ at the original Firle Hillclimb in 1963. We begged for more and here is his story:
I could not believe my eyes when I saw your “Firle Hillclimb Revival”, the setting for several of my early attempts at competitive speed hill climbing.” A report from Autosport, July 19, 1963 reads in part, “Last May P. H. Giddings had rocketed up in 28.69 secs. in a 1928 Frazer Nash fitted with a 1926 A.C. engine, and on Sunday this incredible device did 28.66 secs. to take third place in the most hotly contested class of the day. How this chain-driven car can be coaxed up Firle so quickly only Mr. Giddings knows!”
Story by Pete Vack
From the Archives, March 28, 2012
Lead image: Peter Giddings drives his first Talbot Lago, #110007, ex-Chiron. Courtesy Peter Giddings.
Hindsight is a good remedy for perceived mediocrity. Looking back on the 20-odd year run of the French Talbot Lago, it is easy to see that the cars of Anthony “Tony” Lago (born in Venice in 1893) were not only were winners on the concours circuit, but significant winners on the Grand Prix tracks in the post war era. After five major Grand Prix wins, nine lesser ones and victory at Le Mans in 1950, Cyril Posthumus would write, “Lago, in his retirement years could look back on a remarkable chapter of accomplishment.”
By Peter Darnall
Our thanks to Matteo Rinaldi at the Museo Nuvolari
The AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus), which was the governing body controlling Grand Prix racing, issued an innovative ruling which would define racing events beginning with the 1934 season. Known as the 750-kilogram rule, the weight of a race car was limited to 750 kg, less tires, liquids, and driver. Intended to restrict the ever-increasing speed and power of Grand Prix machines, the ruling had quite the opposite effect: German interests, closely followed by Italian efforts produced the fastest and most powerful racing cars the world had ever seen.