The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
The author next to the 1798cc Ford Escort RS 1600 MkI, which had just won the 1972 East Africa Safari Rally. BOAC 1000KM, Brands Hatch, England, April 16, 1972-dick-lees
Story and photos by Jeff Allison unless otherwise noted
Read Part 1
Part 2 continues “Head Shots” taken by Jeff Allison at races in the U. S., England and Monaco.
The author getting fancy with a self-portrait using the mirror of an open-wheel vintage racer at the Daily Express International Trophy at Silverstone, England on April 7, 1974.
Story and photos by Jeff Allison
I recently finished a project to put my “head shots” of drivers in one place and thought maybe the readers of VeloceToday might enjoy seeing some. I began photographing races in 1959 with my last “real” race, i.e., not vintage, in 1997. I didn’t take many “head shots” in my early years as I thought it was an affront to the drivers. However, as time went on, I loosened up (a telephoto lens helped) and began to photograph drivers as well as cars. Most were photos of opportunity while wandering the paddock and pits when I wasn’t out on the track.
Here are some of my favorites…
A young Pedro Rodriguez sits nervously in the Kjell Qvale #166 Genie MK VIII wondering what the chica joven voluptuosa de pelo grande quiere.*?
Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn
October 13, 1963, Riverside Races. When I first met Lori Campbell I thought, now here is someone I would like to photograph. With the upcoming Riverside races that would be a great place to showcase Lori, who was a budding actress and model with a small uncredited, role in the John Wayne classic, McClintock. I would have her pose as, “Miss California Sports Car Magazines,” with some of our American and a few European drivers. It made a great story then, as it does now. And there was a kicker which occurred when a few of these photos were shown at Goodwood some 43 years later. Do read on.
Jack Deren with driver Oscar Koveleski in the McLaren.
By John R. Wright
JW: Tell us of Oscar and your involvement in the CanAm years.
Deren: I was Oscar’s chief mechanic for the team from 1969 to 1971, when he decided he could no longer afford the time and expense of the CanAm season. Because Oscar knew Teddy Mayer – they both lived in the same area – he bought a 1969 McLaren M6B, right off the floor at the London Race Car Show. It was Oscar’s first CanAm car after the Cooper.
Jack Deren with Penske in the center.
By John R. Wright
Photos from the Jack Deren collection
Jack Deren has packed more restorations, race prepared cars and time at race tracks all over the country than anyone I can think of off the top of my head. Over the years I have been going to the vintage weekend at the Glen I have talked with Jack off and on but he’s always been too busy to sit down for long. However, on a Glen vintage weekend in September of 2022, I sat down with Jack at breakfast. Our breakfast turned into lunch, and while he talked I took notes. What an interesting racing career he’s had with ups and downs but mostly interesting times. [Read more…] about Jack Deren, from Hot Rods to Can Am P1
The Editor and the photographer apologize for this photo, which was the result of the sun being at the wrong end of the lens. However, it is well balanced and says a lot. Read on.
Marilyn Fox Halder, as interviewed by Allen R. Kuhn
Photos by Allen R. Kuhn unless otherwise noted.
Marilyn Fox loved dancing growing up, and was very attractive. She would follow a career making commercials and become a professional dancer finding work at the Sahara in Las Vegas. This led her to appear at the Millionaire’s Club in Los Angeles, CA. While there, she was introduced to Peter and Harry Rothschild, who owned Powerine Oil Company. They wanted to get the contract to supply fuel for the race tracks in Southern California and asked Marilyn if she would be interested in becoming a promoter of their products at races and other activities. With her natural beauty and love of automobiles, she thought it might be a fun thing to do and get paid.
Roger Penske was a main attraction.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
At any of the Goodwood motoring events, the game of ‘Spot the Driver’ would be a lot easier if you had eyes in the back of your head as they pop up everywhere, even this year. Travel restrictions and quarantine regulations made me think that famous drivers would be thin on the ground but that was not the case.