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Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge Round Two – Photo Gallery

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:36 +0000

Two months after the season’s first race, held at Monza, the French Circuit du Val De Vienne was the stage for the second round in the European series of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge on June 6th, 2009. The Championship’s second race for Ferrari and Maserati historical cars was part of the “Sport et

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Le Mans Racers Featured at Salon Prive

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:06 +0000

Salon Privé announced a new Le Mans category that will form an outstanding attraction for visitors when the event takes place at London’s Hurlingham Club on July 21-24, 2009.

“Le Mans holds a very special place in motorsport history and the cars that have starred there over the years are some of the finest purpose-built racing machines ever created”, says David Bagley of Salon Privé.

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Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe to Headline Monterey Sale

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:00:24 +0000

Mecum Auction announced that the FIA Championship-winning 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe will headline their new Monterey Auction on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa.

Last offered for sale on May 15, 2009 at Mecum’s Spring Classic Auction where the top bid of $6,800,000 did not meet the reserve, the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe has reportedly reached a post-auction bid of $7.5 million.

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Ferrari Barchettas and Testa Rossas at Pebble Concours

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:00:35 +0000

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held Sunday, August 16th, 2009, will host some of the rarest, most illustrious Ferraris ever built, including ten 1949 166 MM Touring Barchettas and the world’s four remaining Ferrari TR 59 race cars.

For many automotive historians, the sleek, compact styling of the 1949 166 MM Touring Barchettas helped to define the Ferrari brand, creating its legend and mystique and drawing legions of fans worldwide. Just 25 of these cars were built and the Concours will reunite 10 of them.

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Morgan Featured at Bentley Anniversary Race

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:30 +0000

No fewer than twenty 4-cylinder Morgans have been invited to compete for the Morgan Techniques Trophy at the spectacular two-day Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone on August 8th and 9th.

Morgans of all shapes and sizes will also be seen out in force in the Power Torque Morgan Challenge race, which promises a 30-plus grid of Morgans from the 1960s to date, and in competition against other classic names such as AC, MG and Jaguar in multi-marque races over the weekend.

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Ronde du Ventoux Optic 2000 Hill Climb – Photo Gallery

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:14 +0000

Engines once again revved on the slopes of the Provence Giant Mont Ventoux on June 5-7 during the Ronde du Ventoux Optic 2ooo, retrospective of the famous hill climb born in 1902, and organized this time by Peter Auto and the ASAC Vauclusien.

The Ronde du Ventoux is a 50 km, or so loop that will be achieved several times both on Saturday and on Sunday. Governed by the rally regulations, this loop will include the ‘Mont Ventoux’ special stage which start will be given from the Saint Estève turn. The finish will be at the ‘Col des Tempêtes’ pass at the top of the hill, about 10 miles further.

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Fiat 8V Supersonic Entered in Meadow Brook Concours

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:02 +0000

The Ghia-styled 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic, one of only eight aluminum-bodied examples equipped with a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter overhead-valve 70-degree V8 Fiat engine, is among the exciting entries in the Sports Car class at the 30th anniversary Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance on August 2, 2009 in Rochester Michigan.

The 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic, celebrated by the press at its 1953 Paris Motor Show debut, came to market later that same year for a handsome sum of $3,100. The limited-production Supersonic was purchased by Detroit manufacturers of the day interested in studying its spectacular design and engineering.

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Field Set at Monterey Historic Automobile Races

Sports Car Digest — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:00:42 +0000

The field for the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races is complete, with 450 entrants for the 36th running of one of vintage motorsport’s most revered racing traditions, set for August 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. Nearly 1/3rd of the field are Porsche cars, helping to celebrate Porsche as this year’s featured marque.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 917, and fittingly, four 917Ks will take to the track.

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Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed – Book Review

Sports Car Digest — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:09 +0000

Book Review, Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed

In the first full biography of Mark Donohue, author Michael Argetsinger tells the story of racing’s ultimate driver-engineer, one who set the standard for generations to come. He also explains how Donohue’s life and career were shaped by his friends, family, and fellow drivers, as well as by the rapid changes in technology and competition that swept through racing during his time.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed Auction Results – Bonhams

Sports Car Digest — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:34 +0000

Bonhams held their annual Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia auction on Friday, July 3rd at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. With the roar of cars on the Goodwood hill climb in the background, the auction produced a sales rate of nearly 80% and total sales of £2.45 million.

Star of the sale was the 1922 Sunbeam 2-litre Strasbourg Grand Prix Works Racing Car that sold for a record auction price of £463,500, exceeding the pre-sale estimate of £300,000. Another record sale was the 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S that realized £359,000 – the highest price attained for this particular model at auction.

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Porsche Returns to Pebble Concours after 53 Years

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:00:06 +0000

Every car competing in the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 boasts a distinct story, a lineage that confers personality and history. But just one of the nearly 200 elegant autos at this year’s show is making a return Pebble Beach engagement after a 53-year absence: the 1956 Porsche 356 1500 GS Carrera coupe owned by Dr. and Mrs. Roger Craig.

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Delahaye and Duesenberg Headline Auburn Sale

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:20 +0000

Worldwide Auctioneers announced that a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible by coachbuilder Figoni & Falaschi will headline the consignments for its second The Auburn Auction on September 5th, 2009.

Lauded by Club Delahaye archivists as, “one of the most elegant creations of Joseph Figoni and one of the most important Delahaye cars, correct in all aspects,” this rare and beautiful automobile has won numerous Best of Show Concours Awards and is a 100 point CCCA Premier Award Winner.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed Results and Photo Gallery

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:00:24 +0000

The 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed was held July 3-5 in the scenic parkland surrounding the Goodwood House Estate in England. The Festival of Speed is far more than just a hill climb, as it can rightly claim to be the world’s largest and most diverse celebration of the history of motorsport and car culture.

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Barn Find Jag in Los Angeles

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:24 +0000

Barn Find Jag in Los Angeles

By Wallace Wyss

Photos by Bob Petricca and Francis de Pouqueville

Bob Petricca, of West Hills, CA, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, has been in the exotic car business for 40 years and has heard every “barn story” there is.

You woulda thunk he’d be skeptical of each new story, as so many leads evaporate—Jag XK120s turn out to be Austin Healey Sprites, that sort of thing.

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Silver Arrow Mercedes W 154 Coming to Lime Rock

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:04 +0000

One of the world’s great racing cars, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz W 154 Silver Arrow, will be specially featured at Lime Rock Park’s Vintage Festival September 4-7, 2009.

A stellar attraction of the legendary period from 1934 to 1939, the W 154 represents the apogee of the supercharger era of Mercedes-Benz’s racing vehicles. Rudolf Carraciola drove a Silver Arrow to the Grand Prix world title in 1938. The car dominated again in 1939, piloted by Hermann Lang.

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Ault Park Concours d’Elegance Winners and Photo Gallery

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:28 +0000

The 2009 Ault Park Concours d’Elegance was held on Sunday, June 14, 2009 in Cincinnati’s historic Ault Park.

The 32nd annual Ault Park Concours displayed 233 vehicles and nearly 5,000 people attended the event. This year’s Concours featured “Excellence in German Design & Engineering,” plus special displays of land-speed record cars, the 100th anniversary of Morgan automobiles and historic Indian motorcycles, in addition to a multitude of other classes of automobiles. All net proceeds benefited the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.

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Grand Prix Talbot-Lago T26C Added to Quail – Bonhams

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:45 +0000

Bonhams will offer the ex-Jacques Swaters, Ecurie Belgique 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C for sale without reserve at their annual Quail Lodge auction on August 14th in Carmel Valley, California. It is estimated to sell for $1.0 to $1.3 million.

The bespoke French race car, chassis number 11006, was delivered new to Georges Grignard who campaigned it for two years – even winning the 1950 Grand Prix de Paris – and then, after buying another Talbot-Lago, sold it to Roger Laurent, Jacques Swaters and Charles de Tornaco – three amateur Belgian drivers who dreamed of an all-Belgian racing team.

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Packard Concept Cars at Fairfield County Concours

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:40 +0000

The Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance will host the world’s first display of an example of each Packard Concept Car ever built on September 13, 2009.

New Jersey collector Ralph Marano has agreed to display his entire collection at this important classic car event at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT. The “missing link”, the last ever Packard Concept Car, the 1956 Packard Predictor is coming from the National Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana.

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Rolls-Royce and Bentley Auction Results – Bonhams

Sports Car Digest — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:19 +0000

Bonhams held its 2009 Rolls-Royce and Bentley Cars sale at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club Annual Rally at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire on Saturday, June 13th.

Top seller on the day was lot 219 a 1912 Rolls-Royce, 40/50hp Silver Ghost, Roi-de-Belges Tourer

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1972 Daytona 6-Hour – Peter Revson & Alfa Romeo

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:13 +0000

Recollections of the 1972 Daytona 6-Hour Continental - Peter Revson & Alfa Romeo

By Louis Galanos

Within the racing community in 1972 Peter Revson was a household name.

The previous year he became the first American

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2009 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance Poster – Peter Hearsey

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:24 +0000

Peter Hearsey of the Automotive Fine Arts Society has been selected to create the official poster artwork for the 2009 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex. The 12th annual drive will take place August 13, 2009, and trace portions of historic 17-Mile Drive and other thrilling coastal roadways.

Hearsey’s painting honors the talents of legendary coachbuilder Zagato by featuring a 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2 Competition FIA GT Berlinetta. It will be on display during the AFAS art exhibit at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16, 2009, on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

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2009 Le Mans Legends Results

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:43 +0000

Le Mans cars from 1949 to 1965 provided spectacular entertainment for the crowds, as Ferraris and Jaguars, Porsches and Astons and the rest of the colorful 61-strong grid fought fiercely for race honors in the 2009 Le Mans Legend, the historic support race which takes place a few hours before the start of the modern Le Mans 24 Hours.

Back in 1965, the 24-hour race was a glittering triumph for Ferrari, with the marque placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall…and while it wasn’t quite an all-Ferrari podium for the 2009 Le Mans Legend, the Prancing Horse did manage to take 1st and 3rd places.

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Icons of Speed & Style Auction – RM Auctions

Sports Car Digest — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:41 +0000

The sale of an unprecedented private collection of historic American racing cars, vintage hot rods and custom show cars will be presented by RM Auctions. This one-day auction event, billed as Icons of Speed & Style is set for September 26, 2009, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Approximately 80 vehicles and several lots of period hot rod and ‘kustom kulture’ memorabilia will be offered “without reserve.”

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Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione – Car Profile

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:00:25 +0000

The Ferrari 365 GTB 4 “Daytona” was neither intended nor designed for competition use, but like all Ferraris it had the basic attributes: a powerful and reliable engine, competent chassis with predictable handling and refined aerodynamics. Its speed, power and aerodynamics commended it to the great endurance

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2009 Grand Prix de Pau Historique

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:00:10 +0000

The ninth Grand Prix de Pau Historique was held May 22-24 on the historic street circuit in southwestern France. The famous town circuit welcomed on this occasion a hundred classic competition cars, come to compete on the splendid historical layout.

Besides the extremely pleasant weather, the 2009 race saw the arrival of Peter Auto, organizer of the Tour Auto and the Le Mans Classic, having answered with enthusiasm to the offer made by the ASAC Basco Béarnais to take over the organization of their Grand Prix Historique.

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La Dolce Vita Establishes Automotive Design Scholarship

Sports Car Digest — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:09 +0000

La Dolce Vita Automobili at Black Horse announced the establishment of the La Dolce Vita Automobili Scholarship in an effort to support young adults who have chosen a career path in automotive design.

The La Dolce Vita Automobili Scholarship will be managed by the Collectors Foundation who will oversee the disbursement of funds and advise on individuals and programs in need of funding.

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Le Mans Corvette and Ferrari 166MM Added to Monterey

Sports Car Digest — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:00:56 +0000

RM Auctions announced the consignment of a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 ‘Scuderia Filipinetti’ Le Mans Race Car and a 1953 Ferrari 166MM Spider Scaglietti to its Sports & Classics of Monterey event, August 13th to 15th in California.

The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 ‘Scuderia Filipinetti’ Le Mans Race Car – chassis number 194378-S-410300 – holds a unique place in Corvette history.

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Richard Seaman – Driver Profile

Sports Car Digest — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:38 +0000

The era of the classic Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows in the period 1934 – 1939 is linked to the racing driver John Richard Beattie Seaman. The Englishman drove his first race in a Silver Arrow in the Tripoli Grand Prix on 9 May 1937. He drove his last race on 25 June 1939: he crashed in the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa and died from his severe injuries a few hours later.

John Richard Beattie Seaman (1913 – 1939) – Driver Profile

When Richard Seaman drove his Mercedes-Benz W 154 3-litre formula racing car to victory at the 1938 German Grand Prix, he sealed his reputation as the most successful British racing driver of his day.

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Fitch-Whitmore Le Mans Special – Car Profile

Sports Car Digest — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:00:56 +0000

As a young American abroad, Indianapolis native John Fitch attended the last race held at Brooklands before WWII. After serving as a USAF fighter pilot during the war, Fitch became a sports cars advocate in the U.S. By 1949, he was racing his own MG TC. The next year, Fitch and illustrator Coby Whitmore teamed up to take the latter’s new Jaguar XK-120 racing. (Whitmore, incidentally, famously pioneered the “New School” style of commercial illustration that would predominate1950s advertising art.)

Fitch sensed Whitmore’s XK-120 could perform significantly better than its factory configuration permitted. He set out to convert it to a “special” that would handle better, weigh less and have more power.

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Siata Factory Racer Added to Quail Sale – Bonhams

Sports Car Digest — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:52 +0000

Bonhams announced they will offer the ex-works 1952 Siata 208 CS Berlinetta at their annual Quail Lodge auction on August 14th in Carmel Valley, California.

This rare Italian racer, with gorgeous coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina in Torino, is powered by a Siata-modified Fiat 8V, 2 liter, alloy engine with dual twin downdraft Weber carbs, and a 3-point suspended alloy differential, driven through a 4-speed box and is regarded as one of the most brilliant designs ever created by the marque.

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