My usual email address is vack@cox.net. In addition, however, also address any emails to me at pete@velocetoday.com to ensure I am receiving your messages.
Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility P1
By James Lanoway
An Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, considered by many the most beautiful automobile of all time, pulls into the parking lot of a low, brown brick building against an Alpen lakeside backdrop in the late 1960s. Wearing Italian plates, its scintillating sound cuts out, and its “scissors” doors tilt open upwards and forward to reveal a large German Shepard sitting in the passenger seat. Soon, a draw will be held inside the building to see who will get to try out this automotive sensation on the neighbouring test track, leaving the lucky winner with memories to last well into the winter of life. [Read more…] about Alfa’s Exclusive Swiss Facility P1
Phillip Island Classic, 7-10 March 2024
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
Now well into its fourth decade, the Victorian Historic Racing Register’s Phillip Island Classic saw drivers and teams out in force, enjoying four very warm days on southern Australia’s sweeping 5km circuit. The track, resurfaced last year in time for the national Superbike Championships a month ago, and using 60% recycled asphalt, promised new lap records against the possibility of increased tyre wear.
[Read more…] about Phillip Island Classic, 7-10 March 2024
Techno Classica with Hugues Vanhoolandt
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The traditional Techno Classica show in Essen, Germany, of which this was the 34th edition, marks, as every year, the end of the winter period of shows before the resumption of historic races and elegance competitions. This year was no exception to the rule but we could see that certain spaces were empty and that certain merchants present last year were absent this time. Could this be a sign that the classic car market is looking for a second wind? [Read more…] about Techno Classica with Hugues Vanhoolandt
Models at the Fiat Centro Storico
Text by Aldo Zana
Photos by Fiat Centro Storico and Acerbi family
From the Archives, December 2018
Once upon a time no one even remotely thought about preserving a sample of the cars produced by a factory. Fiat complied with this dominant attitude until the late Thirties, when some managers were stricken by illumination: if we have not saved the originals, why not build scale models?
Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P4
By Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
The top Sebring results were not unexpected, in spite of the strong opposition. Just like in Buenos Aires, Testa Rossas finished 1-2, with a Porsche in third place. But some of the other finishers in the top ten came as a huge surprise.
Wilson Tops the Roadster
Story and photos by Paul Wilson
Photos courtesy the author
My Alfa 6C roadster still awaits its engine, but I found a few more jobs I could do on what’s here. The biggest one was the top.
Silverstone Museum Part 2
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
At the Silverstone Museum, I really enjoyed looking at the cars and bikes on display, which I understand are changed on a regular basis. The race suits and helmets impressed, especially Nigel Mansell’s race suit with all of those personal sponsor patches, and I could just feel the history when looking at the hand painted logo on Barry Sheene’s helmet, and only smile at the cigarette hole in the chin protector. But it was the smaller items displayed in the many display cabinets that interested me most, the trophies, the signing on sheets, programs and dinner menus, such history.
VSCC at Brooklands, 2018
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the Archives, June 2018
The Brooklands museum complex is like a nostalgic oasis surrounded by modern glass fronted corporate head offices and a Tesco’s supermarket. However once you have entered into the site the years simply drop away. Whether it’s just the 1930s music playing over the PA system, or the restored buildings, one feels (if you use a bit of imagination) that you are back in the 1920s. The feeling of nostalgia increases 10-fold when the VSCC (Veteran Sports Car Club) have an event there. [Read more…] about VSCC at Brooklands, 2018
Sebring ’58 Dawn of the Red Heads P3
By Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
With Stirling Moss taking an immediate lead from the start, second place was contested by Mike Hawthorn and Roy Salvadori. Salvadori soon managed to pass his fellow countryman in the opposite team, making it an Aston Martin 1-2 for the first three hours of the race. The model’s name DBR stood for David Brown Racing and the owner of the firm must have been pleased so far.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V5 Reviewed
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Size: 29 x 24,8 cm
Weight: 8,2 kg
Language: English – German
Authors: Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-086-3
Free shipping within Germany.
Order here
Review by Pete Vack, photos from the book
We have come to the end of a very enjoyable long and winding road, following the delightful lives of the Alfa Giulia TZ. In front of us are five volumes, each with approximately 300 pages and as many photos for a grand total of roughly 1500 pages and thousands of images, black and white, color, and documents which focus on only 117 very special Alfas built from 1963 to 1966.
This is a gift, as if someone up there said, hey, here is the detailed history of the car you loved best; you may not be able to afford the car itself, but this is the next thing to it. From development details to an owner’s manual, this has it all.
Sharp at the Silverstone Museum
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
With a history stretching back not just to 1943 with the building of RAF Silverstone but way back to medieval times when the site was home to a monastery, it was likely that at some point the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit would open a museum. The project to create a museum and educational centre for British Motor Sport at the circuit began in 2012, with the museum opening its doors in 2019.