British Car Week - Awareness Week
Classic Cars

Celebrate British Car Week!

OK, so I am a day or two late, but … let’s get on with it.  This is British Car Week!! Get out there and drive those cars and let the world know we are still on the road. I will just quote from Scott Helms here to tell you about British Car Week. Scott has the “official” British Car Week site, and is the keeper of this flame, so here goes … The idea came about during the early spring of 1997 after reading an article written by Road & Track columnist, Peter Egan (Side Glances), in the March, 1997 issue of Road & Track Magazine, titled “Seldom seen cars.” Peter writes in his article about his trip to the Dentist’s office, which spawned a conversation about cars. While sitting in the Dentist chair with his mouth full of […]

Nurburgring 24H-1245
Bentley

Bentley Best of British at Nürburgring

Bentley Motorsport has out-performed its second-year target for the Nürburgring 24 Hours by finishing well inside the top-ten with a seventh place result by the #38 Continental GT3 of European partner team Bentley Team Abt. The yellow #38 Deutsche Post-liveried Continental GT3 was the highest finishing British entry in the gruelling 24-hour endurance race, and beat all but two manufacturers, including many German marques that consider the 25 km track their home. Drivers Guy Smith (GB), Fabien Hamprecht (DE), Christian Menzel (DE) and Chris Brück (DE) completed 131 laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife to cross the line ahead of more than 150 cars. “Success at the Nürburgring 24 hours requires at least a three-year plan and we’re pleased that at the end of year two we’re ahead of our target,”commented Bentely’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush. “We set out to […]

Veloce Classic Automotive Titles
Library

Veloce Releases More Classic Automotive Books

Available again in print after a long absence, Veloce Publishing is re-releasing a number of go-to titles for the classic British car enthusiast. These titles include How to Paint Classic Cars, Classic British Car Electrical Systems, and Triumph TR2, 3, 3A, 4 & 4A – Enthusiast’s Restoration Manual. Veloce specialises in fine automotive books of all types, ranging from practical do-it-yourself guides to leatherbound limited editions. Their philosophy is that “every one of our books will be of the highest quality in terms of content and presentation, as well as being of true value to the purchaser.” How to Paint Classic Cars Available again after a long absence! Taking you step-by-step through each stage of the painting process, from planning, preparation, and safety, to final painting and finishing, this book will give you the skills and the confidence you need for […]

Sir Stirling Moss Confirmed for Flywheel
Highlights

Sir Stirling Moss Confirmed for Flywheel

‘Mr Motor Racing’, Sir Stirling Moss OBE, has confirmed his attendance at Flywheel 2016. The British legend, who won 212 of the 527 races he entered between 1948 and 1962, attends with his wife Susie and will be signing autographs for festival-goers throughout the weekend, as well as being reunited with a number of his race-winning cars. Stirling said: “Susie and I are thrilled to be making our first visit to Flywheel. It should be an action-packed weekend, full of fun for all the family. We look forward to seeing you there!” Historic aircraft and competition cars, classic road cars and military machines will converge on Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire for the weekend of July 2nd and 3rd 2016, when Flywheel returns to the UK’s best-preserved Second World War bomber station. Joining Stirling at Flywheel will be the Lotus 18 […]

Lotus Esprit
Lotus

CCA Auctions Highwing Rare Esprit during 40th Anniversary of Lotus Esprit

A 1992 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE ‘High Wing’, one of just two original factory press cars, will be auctioned at Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) June Sale on Saturday 18th June, at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa. In the year that Lotus celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Esprit, this car is the perfect opportunity to acquire an important example of the iconic model. This rare ‘High Wing’ variant, which appeared on the front covers of motoring magazines in the early 1990s and at various motor shows at the time of the model’s launch, will be offered for sale with an estimate of between £22,000 and £26,000.

Jaguar Design A Story of Style - Header
Library

Jaguar Design: A Story of Style – Review

I have mentioned this book a few times before, but I owe it to you to give a more informative review. Jaguar Design: A Story of Style, is as stunning book both in presentation and in content.  As billed by publisher Porter Press, this is, essentially, the story of three men — Jaguar company founder and owner Sir William Lyons, aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer and current Design Director Ian Callum — and how they shaped the cars that made Jaguar famous. The line that really struck me, and it actually occurs in Ian Callum’s introduction, is in answer to the question, “Should not form follow function?” To this Callum replied, “Yes, of course, but one of the functions of a Jaguar is to be beautiful.” In a nutshell, that hits at the core of what makes a Jaguar a Jaguar, and what […]

MG Works with Schools to Shape Workforce
Highlights

MG Works with Schools to Shape Workforce via STEM

‘Engineers of the future’ got a hands-on experience with MG Motor’s upcoming SUV, the MG GS, at a local careers fair and STEM exhibition. Last year, colleagues from MG’s technical centre volunteered to work as ambassadors to close the skills gap that is currently affecting the UK engineering industry. As part of this role, they took along MG’s GS augmented reality kit, to a career fair at Woodrush High School, which generated great interest from students and led to conversations about the work going on at the historic Longbridge site. At the end of last year, the technical centre was approached by an organisation called STEMNET based at the University of Worcester. STEMNET aims to bring the application of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects to life by creating opportunities to inspire young people all over the UK in […]

The 38 Continental GT3
Racing and Competition

Bentley Set to Return to Green Hell

Bentley Motorsport will return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend in a bid to conquer ‘the green hell’ with its Continental GT3, as the proving ground for road and race cars alike once again plays host to the world’s toughest endurance race, Nürburgring 24 Hours. The two-car campaign will be run by Bentley’s Crewe-based works outfit – including senior personnel John Wickham, David Argent and Christian Loriaux – in conjunction with its new European partner team, Bentley Team ABT Sportsline.

VotW - The Skyline Soiree with the New England MG T Register
Highlights

VotW – The Skyline Soiree with the New England MG T Register

Our Video of the Week (VotW) this time go round comes from Steve Wincze of the Connecticut MG Club and the upcoming British by the Sea car show. You may also remember Steve as the winner of last month’s puzzle contest. The video in question is of the Skyline Soiree from 1993. This event was put on by the New England MG T Register. The Skyline Soiree was A scenic road trip through the mountains of the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway in mostly open 2-seater MGs. What we have here is 12 minutes of highlights from a 60 minute DVD. One of four great MG Road Trips sponsored by the New England MG-T Register. On this drive, and in this video, you get to experience the mountain vistas and natural beauty of two national parks and 574 miles […]

Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3
Aston Martin

Aston Martin Fired Up To Take On 24 Hours of Nürburgring

Aston Martin and its official motorsport division Aston Martin Racing are set to contest the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24-hours this weekend (28-29 May). Aston Martin Racing will travel to Germany’s Eifel region with a pair of V12 Vantage GT3s, with their sights set firmly on the outright win which has so far eluded them despite strong performances in the past three years. With a circuit length of 16.123 miles, 170 turns, unpredictable weather and strong competition from a field of nearly 200 starters, only a perfect run will secure victory. Having competed at the Nordschleife earlier this year, achieving 4th and 8th place in the circuit’s VLN 2 race at the end of April, the team is confident of the potential of this year’s V12 Vantage GT3.

Heroine - Dorothy Levitt Racing Driver
Highlights

Classic Motorshow to Feature Heroes and Heroines

The organisers of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show have revealed that this year’s show theme is Heroes and Heroines. Held from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th November, clubs and exhibitors are invited to pay tribute to the people and motors that are their inspiration. Dan Nwaokolo, Show Director, explains: “Everyone has a hero, something or somebody that inspires and encourages them, and with the timing of this year’s show, being Remembrance weekend, we simply had to recognise the brave men and women who have served their country, so this theme was the perfect choice.” The 250 exhibiting clubs are encouraged to get creative with their displays and to interpret the theme in their own unique way.

Endurance Rally Association launches Baltic Classic Rally 2
Highlights

Endurance Rally Association Launches Baltic Classic

Not strictly a British car event, this will still be of interest to those loving classic cars.  The Endurance Rally Association (ERA) has launched an exciting new addition to its 2017 calendar. The Baltic Classic is a two-week rallying adventure which starts in Copenhagen on Sunday 28th May 2017. The route takes in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland before finishing in Berlin on Saturday 10th June. Open to both Vintage and Classic cars, the event loops around and across the beautiful Baltic Sea and will see plenty of gravel driving and exciting forest sections on roads made famous by events such as the Rally of the Thousand Lakes and Rally Estonia. ERA Rally Director Fred Gallagher explains: “The Baltic Classic is aimed at both newcomers to long distance historic rallying as well as experienced ERA competitors. The route […]

Victory at Jaguar Classic Challenge for Julian Thomas and Calum Lockie A
Jaguar

Victory at Jaguar Classic Challenge for Julian Thomas and Calum Lockie

The duo of Julian Thomas and Calum Lockie took their second consecutive race victory in the Jaguar Classic Challenge by a mere two-tenths of a second in the International Trophy at Silverstone over the weekend. After the morning’s qualifying session, Thomas and Lockie were in a strong position ahead of the afternoon race and put their low drag Jaguar E-type on pole – their second of the 2016 campaign. Just like the last round at Donington, adverse weather added an extra dose of complexity to the race. From the green light, Lockie surged ahead closely followed by Robert Dickinson, Martin Stretton and John Pearson. The lead changed hands on several occasions throughout the first stint before the compulsory one-minute driver change/pit stop. Once Lockie swapped with Thomas after 20 minutes, the duo has maintained their lead out front and were […]

The BMH MGB leads the way through the rain
Classic Cars

Racing Improves the Breed – BMH

‘Racing improves the breed’ is an overused and often abused saying, but is totally apt when it comes to a number of products offered by British Motor Heritage (BMH). So, in addition the company’s long-established range of original specification replacement bodyshells and panels, a host of specialist items is also now offered by this versatile supplier, including: Competition parts for the MGB BMH’s managing director John Yea has now been successfully campaigning the company’s FIA specification MGB in a variety of high-profile historic race series for some nine years. His first-hand experience of ‘Britain’s favourite sportscar’ on the track has directly resulted in the following being made available from BMH: 4.1:1 crown wheel and pinion Close ratio gear set for ‘4-synchro’ transmissions Alloy door and boot-lid skins FIA specification alloy front valance Seam-welded replacement bodyshells Bespoke bodyshells featuring full-range of […]

McLaren at Spa
Highlights

McLaren GT3 Gets Podium in Canada and Top 10 in Spa

McLaren GT Factory Driver Alvaro Parente scored a double top-10 finish at the wheel of the K-PAX Racing 650S GT3 this weekend in the Pirelli World Challenge double-header at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The results keep the Portuguese driver in the battle for the championship as the season now heads to Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. In Europe, fellow Factory Driver Côme Ledogar secured pole position and a podium on his championship debut as the 650S GT3 enjoyed more success at the second round of the 2016 International GT Open at Spa Francorchamps with customer team Garage 59. Parente rejoined customer team K-PAX Racing as he continued his title challenge in the 8th and 9th races of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season. At the historic 3.9-km Ontario-based circuit – which is notoriously difficult to overtake on – Parente qualified […]

A Salute to Women in Motor Sport
Highlights

A Salute to Women in Motor Sport

On Thursday 19 May, the Royal Automobile Club hosted ‘A Salute to Women in Motor Sport’ dinner, celebrating the achievements of women across the whole spectrum of the sport and the motor sport industry. The evening was hosted by Louise Goodman, award-winning TV presenter and journalist with over 20 years in the motor sport industry who went around the room and spoke to 15 different women involved in the motor sport business. Some of the inspiring special guests and attendees included Claire Williams, who brought along nine members of the Williams Martini Racing Formula 1 team, from technical, engineering and other areas of the business. Sir Stirling and Lady Susie Moss came to show their support, along with the Secretary of the BRDC, Gillian Carr. Keeping it all in the family, there were two pairs of sisters in attendance; historic […]

Spitfire and GT6 Magazine
Highlights

The Lost Issue of Spitfire & GT6 Magazine Now Available

When the publisher (not good guy in charge, Shawn Frank) of Spitfire & GT6 stopped publishing, they took the latest issue of the magazine with them. Issue number 49 had been composed, laid out, and sent off to be printed. But then nothing. So as far as editor Shawn knew, it was lost and gone forever. But now this update in from Shawn — the lost issue is found! Or basically returned to its rightful place. And Shawn has made it available to all readers and potential readers for free on the web. (Told you he was a good guy.) To download Issue #49 of Spitfire & GT6 for free, follow this link … http://jmp.sh/v/QTLiwjEr5clBMoKTIIVY Be prepared, this a PDF file so you will need Acrobat Reader or some other such program to read it. Additional, since this was the printer’s copy […]

Roadtrip
Road Ink

What Are Your Roadtrip Must Haves?

Spring has sprung – heck in my area it might as well be summer – and it that time when a car lover’s mind turns to roadtrips! This is especially the case since in about three weeks time the MG 2016 All Register Meet will be kicking off in Louisville, Kentucky. Sadly, I will not be driving an MG to this meetup, but I may very well be taking my 1978 Triumph Spitfire on this roadtrip. Hey, don’t hate, at least it is older British. With the contemplation of such a trip come the thoughts of what I should take with me. What tools, parts, and precautions should I be packing in the trunk for those roadside repairs or hotel parking lot tune-ups?  Now the list will, of course, differ based on the car and its age and obscurity, but […]

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Concept_01
Aston Martin

Aston Martin Unveils Vanquish Zagato Concept At Villa d’Este

Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato are proud to announce the Vanquish Zagato Concept, the latest creation from their long-standing partnership. The Vanquish Zagato Concept will make its global debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, held at Lake Como in Italy from 21 – 22 May 2016. The Vanquish Zagato Concept is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin’s acclaimed sporting, dynamic and material qualities with Zagato’s signature design language.

FIRST MORGAN AERO 8 VEHICLES DELIVERED TO UK DEALER NETWORK
Morgan

First Morgan Aero 8 Vehicles Handed Over to UK Dealers

The first Aero 8 vehicles have been delivered to the Morgan UK Dealer network as part of a handover day at the factory in Malvern. 11 of the 13 UK Dealer Aero 8 demonstrators have been handed over in style as part of a special handover day at the Morgan factory on Wednesday (18/05/2016). Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015, the new model is the fifth generation Aero 8, with Dealer demonstrators being the first production vehicles to be built.