People

We are very happy for our Video of the Week to feature a snapshot of a fantastic video for fans of Triumphs and racing alike. John Clancy at Triumph DVD has put out a new DVD that brings you the full story of the Group 44 Inc. race team featuring Bob Tullius, his crew and other important people who were there at the time. From their humble TR3 origins to taking Jaguar back to Le Mans in 1984 with the XJR-5 GTP cars, this is the complete, amazing history. This is the complete history of the Group 44 Inc. race team which was so dominant in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) racing in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. From the origins of the team when Bob Tullius first joined up with fellow racer […]

Note: This week we are very pleased to have a piece from John Twist of University Motors on the dangers of ethanol, or alcohol, in modern gasoline. Those of us who drive classic British cars, especially ones with original fuel system components, need to be aware of what modern fluids can do to our rides. We appreciate John letting us reprint this article from his most recent newsletter. “Nearly all of the gasoline sold in the United States contains 10 percent ethanol, which can safely be used in all of today’s gasoline-burning cars and trucks.” (From http://www.ucsusa.org) The operative word is “today’s.” Ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel than gasoline. It is created from biomass, especially corn. Arguments rage about the true environmental impact of growing corn to create ethanol versus drawing crude oil from wells and then refining it. But […]

Original “Italian Job” movie stunt driver and Mini racer, Phil Wicks, is offering his highly successful 1967 Mini Cooper S 1275 race car for sale. The price is listed at $55,000. This car was originally an SCCA racer and has the original race log book from 1972. There is also the current up to date log book. Wicks has raced and prepared the car for the past five years, competing in 42 vintage races with 39 first in class and many overall Group 1 first places. First place in the Walter Mitty at Road Atlanta for the past five years. First place at the Gold Cup at VIR for the past five years.

Greetings again, Jolly gang! It has been suggested to me by persons unnamed that my recent article “What Stops Us” was geared too much towards the possibilities of failure and that this circumstance is so rare (at least with the more handy side of our group!) I should focus now on what to carry in one’s cherished chariot, rumbler, love machine– whatever you call it– to enjoy a more complete motoring experience! Do I have suggestions for this, you query?  You bet your balaclava I do, so take notes– grab your Waterman fountain pen or your quill and well, let’s get started!

John Surtees, the only person to win world championships on both four and two wheels, has been awarded a CBE in Britain’s New Year’s Honours list 2016. The Order of the British Empire “recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds.” After being made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1959 and an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2008, the 81-year-old has now been honoured with Commander of the British Empire. The award is in recognition of his services to motorsport and the charitable work of the Henry Surtees Foundation, named in honour of his son, who lost his life in a Formula 2 crash at Brands Hatch in 2009. The foundation provides vital support for those who have suffered […]

Twas the night before the car show, but I was out in the shed. My car wasn’t budging – the danged thing was dead. The battery and petrol had been checked twice with care, The tires kicked too, to make sure they held air. The plugs were all snugged up, tight on their leads, While shop towels betrayed how much knuckles can bleed. Once more I inspected the rotor and cap, But that car was intent on a long freakin’ nap. When out in the street there arose such a clatter, I sat up far too fast to see what was the matter. Into the sump my head slammed with a bash, Crunched back to the floor – I grew faint with the crash. The lump on my forehead and ringing in ears, Gave an aura of migraine, while nausea […]

We just received an email from Les Edgar of TVR with updates on all manner of things. Some of the most interesting details of the upcoming production come when talking of the body and chassis.

OK, I will have to admit to having a bit of a ‘man crush‘ on Ian Callum. How could any follower of British cars and fan of Jaguar not? Here is a man who set out early on to pursue his passion, has worked for Aston Martin and Jaguar helping to create some of the most iconic modern designs, is well spoken, and is genuinely a nice guy. I had the good fortune of meeting Ian in 2014 at the Hilton Head Motoring Festival when Jaguar was launching their new F-Type. His insights into not only the work he does for Jaguar but into the automotive design field as a whole were eye-opening. His recollections of his youth and dedication to becoming a design engineer were just as enlightening. In this ten-minute video, you can watch as Jaguar Director of Design […]

British GT GT4 Drivers’ Champion Ross Gunn (18) has won the inaugural Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy, receiving a factory-backed contract with Aston Martin Racing for the 2016 season.   Competing against a strong field of young hopefuls, aged between 16 and 25 years old, the High Wycombe-born GT4 rookie excelled in the academy’s seminars held throughout 2015. Focusing on key areas such as fitness, simulator sessions, engineering, marketing and PR, a final group of six were selected for the Bahraini showdown. After shadowing the Aston Martin Racing team throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship’s season finale, each of the six finalists enjoyed two track sessions as part of the official WEC rookie test, driving the 2015 V8 Vantage GTE.

At least two Bentley Continental GT3s will enter the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge as Bentley Team Absolute announces a programme including entries from young American rising star Andrew Palmer and one of Asia’s top sportscar drivers, Adderly Fong. The Pirelli World Challenge is a 20-round GT championship comprising 50-minute-long, single-driver races on eleven of America’s most historic and iconic racetracks, including Laguna Seca and Road America.  The Continental GT3 has taken race wins in the championship this year and Bentley Team Absolute is looking to continue the race car’s success in the States.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrated local community heroes yesterday evening at the annual Observer Community Awards in Bognor Regis. The Goodwood-based super-luxury manufacturer has been headline sponsor of the awards since 2009. Organised by the Chichester Observer Series of newspapers, the awards recognise the true heroes of local towns and villages who make such a difference to people’s lives. This year a record 15 categories were celebrated including Best Volunteer, Best Community Person, Best School, Mini Marvel, Outstanding Bravery, Best Local Charity/Charity Group and Contribution to the Arts. The gala evening was presented by broadcasting legend, Fred Dinenage.

Vauxhall Motors and Edith Bowman have launched ‘Backseat Bedtime’, a series of narrated popular children’s stories by author Tracey Corderoy to help parents on long car journeys over the festive period.  With over 12 million cars on the road during peak times, more Brits embark on long drives over Christmas and the New Year than at any other time of the year (RAC 2014). Unsurprisingly, three-quarters (75%)* of parents say they find these long car journeys stressful, with the majority (80%) saying they find it hard to keep their little ones amused. To deal with this stress, half of parents (48%) time long journeys to coincide with bedtime and over half (56%) put their children in their pyjamas before setting off, hoping they will sleep straight through.

The best motoring writers and photographers of the year were honoured at the 2015 Guild of Motoring Writers Awards in front of a capacity crowd including Sir Stirling and Lady Susie Moss. More than 30 professionals were recognised for their work in 2015 by the Guild, with Automotive World’s Martin Kahl picking up the prized Renault UK Journalist of the Year award for both his coverage of a wide range of industry topics and also his leadership of a broad team at Automotive World Megatrends. Hilton Holloway was awarded second place in the Renault UK Journalist of the year, and Jim Holder won third place.

The nominees for the annual Torrens Trophy have been announced by the RAC. Each year the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) awards a series of historic trophies and medals to individuals and organisations, celebrating and recognising outstanding achievements, technical skills and innovation in the motoring and motor sport industries. The Torrens Trophy recognises an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to motor cycling in Britain. The Trophy was first awarded in 1978 in memory of Arthur Bourne, a motor cycling journalist and Vice Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club who wrote a column under the name Torrens. It has only been awarded eight times in its history and only when the club feels that the achievement justifies it. Its last recipient was four times British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. Shakey, upon receiving it said ‘It’s a […]

Goodwood has announced the theme for the 2016 Festival of Speed along with the dates and the subject for the Revival driver tribute. The theme for the 2016 Festival of Speed, which is planned to take place on June 23-26, will be ‘Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power’, celebrating the most powerful competition cars and motorcycles from the history of motor sport, and the heroic drivers and riders who tamed them. Alongside this central theme, the 2016 Festival of Speed will celebrate the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, mark 50 years since the inaugural Can-Am Series for ultra-powerful sports prototypes, and pay tribute to James Hunt on the 40th anniversary of his Formula 1 World Championship success with McLaren in 1976.

A very special Range Rover Sport first owned by David Beckham will be offered by Classic Car Auctions (CCA) in its sale on 5th December at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. The 2007 car was exclusively designed and upgraded for the ex-England football captain by Kahn Conversions at a cost of £100,000. It’s now offered for sale at auction, estimated at between £23,000 and £25,000.

Land Rover has unveiled its first luxury compact convertible SUV along the iconic coastline of Los Angeles in Santa Monica, CA. SPECTRE actress Naomie Harris was one of the first to view the newest member of the Range Rover family, as it was revealed for the first time ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Following the recent global release of SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond adventure, which features vehicles produced by the Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division, Harris joined the brand to receive an exclusive first look at the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible as it debuted in the US.

OK, I will admit it, I love Minis. I love old ones and new ones and large ones and small ones and … well, you get the picture. Something about the A-series engine, the transverse drivetrain, and the squat looks just appeal to me. Yes I drive a Vanden Plas Princess 1100, but in truth, all forms of the ADO16 are just large Minis. Yes, I said it. And I mean it. Anyway, our video this week is titled “Owning A Classic Mini”. Just below the clip you will see the information about the young man who made the video and why. I think it is a wonderful effort and just goes to show the kind of devotion these cars inspire.   Here is a short look into what it’s like to own a Classic Mini. Before I brought the […]