Archives for October 2013
Francois Chevalier by Graham Gauld
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
If you should ever be in Monte Carlo, keep a look-out for an almost life-sized bronze statue to “Williams”, or William Grover-Williams to give him his correct name, the winner of the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929. It is an expressive, rough-hewn work that usually stands right in the middle of St. Devote, the first corner of the Grand Prix circuit. Naturally, the statue is craned out of the way for the race but it is then craned back again after the grand prix as a permanent reminder of the first winner. The man who crafted this superb piece of work never had a single art lesson in his life but admits that he enjoyed drawing cars when he was young. He is Francois Chevalier, a 60 year-old ex-racing driver and former manager of the Paul Ricard circuit in the South of France. [Read more…] about Francois Chevalier by Graham Gauld
Vanhoolandt at the Zoute Grand Prix Concours and Rally
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
October 12-13, 2013
In only four years, the Zoute Grand Prix, Knokke-le-Zoute has become a traditional date on the Belgian calendar of classic car rallies and concours.
Scheduled just before winter sets in, it is a last occasion for enthusiasts to run their beloved classics on a two-day rally on the back roads of Knokke, in the region near the medieval city of Bruges, or to show their treasures at the Concours d’elegance, held at the Royal Zoute Golf Club.
[Read more…] about Vanhoolandt at the Zoute Grand Prix Concours and Rally
John Fitch and the Bridgehampton Oldsmobile
Original story By Eric Davison
Photography by: Albert Fisher, Eberhard Luethke, and Noel Werrett for the March 1966 edition of Car and Driver. Photos reproduced with the permission of Hearts Men’s Group.
It has been over a year since John Fitch died and I don’t suppose that all the great John Fitch stories will ever be told. He was a force of nature and while he always seemed to be the consummate gentleman, he was a fierce competitor, and while rules were rules, sometimes the application of common sense gave him an edge.
In 1965, during his first stint as editor of Car and Driver, the late David E. Davis, Jr. conspired with his associate and good friend Brock Yates to do some wonderfully crazy things to make the magazine interesting, fun, and relevant. It would be hard for us old timers to forget the hypothetical match-up they created between a Pontiac GTO and a Ferrari GTO.Naturally the story outraged Ferrari purists and tickled mightily the Pontiac fans. But it sure sold magazines and it sure did get talked about.
One of the other big ideas that they cooked up was a showdown between what were then called “super cars.” Invitations were sent to all the makers of such vehicles. The Pontiac GTO, Olds 442, Buick Skylark GS, Chevy Chevelle SS396, Mercury Comet Cyclone GT, and Ford Fairlane GTA; all these makers decided to participate. Wiser heads at Chrysler declined and warned that the folks at C&D were opening a real can of worms; basically an all-out track war. They were prescient.
Bev Spencer: A Legacy Comes to Life
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy Roy Spencer and can be obtained via Kickstarter.com
A successful Kickstarter campaign will unleash new photos from the 1950s
As many of you know, Bev Spencer was a Ferrari dealer in San Francisco during the 1960s, did a fair amount of racing and wheeling dealing, and owned and raced a GTO. Lesser known is that along the way, Spencer hired a professional photographer to record his racing activities. And therein is the story of a son, a dream, and now a Kickstarter campaign. [Read more…] about Bev Spencer: A Legacy Comes to Life
Our Features This Week, October 10, 2012
Cunningham Book Review
Cunningham
The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy
By Richard Harman
ISBN 978-1-85443-260-5
Dalton Watson Fine Books
303mm by 220mm 2 Volumes
Total 844 pages hardbound
1500 B&W and color images
$350 USD for Standard
$1200 for Leather bound edition
Click here to order from publisher
Review by Pete Vack
All photos used courtesy of Dalton Watson for purpose of review
Before me there are two massive volumes totaling 844 pages, with over 1500 rarely-seen color and black and white photos. It is a classic body of work that can’t be easily categorized, classified, analyzed, compartmentalized, or even at times, comprehended. Unlike many books today, it covers not just one serial number or marque, but multiple cars, events, and drivers; the length, breadth, depth, and detail that define this opus are a credit to both the subject matter and the author.
It would seem that such a huge work is necessary to reflect the life and times of Briggs S. Cunningham II, and it is entitled, Cunningham: The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy (aka CPCL). Hold that thought for now. [Read more…] about Cunningham Book Review
Mike Hawthorn by McCluggage Part 3
Story by Denise McCluggage
Photos and captions by Graham Gauld
On top of the Le Mans crash of 1955 that killed eight score or more and for which many Germans, mostly in the press, blamed Mike Hawthorn as a key instrument, he was having his darkest season in Grand Prix racing. He collected not a point toward the championship. Nothing. He was driving for Tony Vandervell and the Vanwalls were still suffering from birth pangs. Vanwall, like Mike, still had three full years to go to its world championship. [Read more…] about Mike Hawthorn by McCluggage Part 3
This is Kop Hill
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on photos to see large color images!
We are probably all familiar with the Prescott and Shelsley Walsh hill climbs, venues which have been running events right up to today. But what is Kop Hill? It is actually one of the oldest hill climb venues in England and was one of several hill climb locations in the Chiltern Hills during the early years of the past century.
First run in 1910, the hill climb became a major event on the motor sport calendar. It attracted many of the star names during its heyday, such as Captain Malcolm Campbell who drove his 12hp Talbot “Blue Bird” , Raymond Mays (in a Bugatti), Henry Segrave in his 2 liter GP Sunbeam, and Count Zborowski in an 8 cylinder Ballot. It was Zborowski who clocked the fastest time for motor cars in 1922 driving an aero-engined Ballot with a time of 26.8 seconds. However, the bikes were faster, with a 22.8 second time being the record set by Freddy Dixon on his 736cc Douglas, an average speed of 81 mph. Unlike Prescott, the climb is fairly straight but does have a 1 in 5 gradient.
The golden days ended abruptly on the 28th March, 1925, following a minor accident in which a spectator was injured. As this was a result of virtually uncontrollable crowds, the RAC (Royal Automobile Club, the sanctioning body) banned all forms of motor sport on public roads in the U.K.
In 1999, the local town council, in association with the Bean Car Club (a British club open to all cars made before 1941) held a commemorative run up the once famous hill. Ten years later in 2009, under the leadership of Tony Davies, the first revival meeting was held. Five years on and the event goes from strength to strength and does seem to have the ability to attract the cars that you do not normally see at other events.
As the hill is a closed public road, the runs are not timed, but this does not seem to slow the competitors down. The return to the start involves the cars having to descend the hill via a route that takes in a run through the middle of the nearby village. The entry list fpr the two-day event numbers around 400 cars and bikes and includes everything from a 750cc Austin 7 to the 24 liter Napier Railton.
During the afternoon runs on Sunday the skies above the climb where filled with the sights and sounds of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flights with Hurricanes and Spitfires. All money raised goes to local charities.
For further information about the history of the event I would recommend taking a look at the event’s website which contains many period articles about the heyday of the climb. www.kophillclimb.org.uk
Pistons and Prop Show, U.K.
By Roy P. Smith
The new Pistons & Props show recently held in the UK at Northamptonshire’s Sywell Aerodrome on the 28 and 29 of September, 2013, is the latest in the current theme in the UK to have Festivals of Speed; and when you have speed you have aircraft as well as cars. [Read more…] about Pistons and Prop Show, U.K.
All of our Features From January 9th to September 30 2013
*Winner of the Maserati 300S book is Marvin Collins. Congratulations!
*This month’s drawing will be for the Magnificent Front-Engined Birdcages by Oosthoek and Bollée.
*Get your name in NOW to vack@cox.net. Premium Subscribers only!
This week, instead of presenting 6 articles, here are 186 articles published in the first three quarters of 2013. Thanks to all of our talented contributors who made these articles possible.
So, take a leisurely (and LONG) scroll down through these Feature articles below. Click on the ones you like and they will take you to the article desired. Articles are in first to last order beginning with January 9th of this year.