Author: Harlo

Categories
Chicane News Event

Racing on the Big Screen in Minnesota This Month

Hey Minnesotans!

This month the celluloid mavens and cinema revivalists at Take Up Productions are hosting Color Me Gone, a series of racing movies at the Trylon Microcinema in Minneapolis. What a marvelous coincidence that MPLS also happens to be The Chicane’s home base. It looks like I’ve already missed the first weekend’s movie, Viva Las Vegas, which is a shame because it is my easily favorite Elvis flick. This weekend the series continues with Smokey and the Bandit and Two-Lane Blacktop. The weekend of January 14th hosts Fast Company. With Vanishing Point starting on Jan. 21.

But then… On January 28, 29, and 30, the Trylon will host Grand Prix. I’ve never had the opportunity to see it on the big(ish) screen and I’m not going to miss the chance now. In fact, if there’s sufficient interest I’ll put together a pre-screening happy hour at a nearby bar before one of the showings. Any Minnesotans (Wisconsinites and Dakotans too!) out there want to join up with other Chicane readers for a pint before Pete Aron, Nino Barlini, Scott Stoddard and Jean-Pierre Sartí take to the streets of Monaco?

I’m sure I’ll be taking in others in the series as well, drop me a line if you’re heading to one.

Categories
Classic Sportscar

Art Appreciation: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 LeMans Coupe

Too bad they didn’t give points for beauty in the 1938 24 Hours of LeMans. If they did, this Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Coupe would have been undefeated until the mid-sixties. As it was, Raymond Sommer and Clemente Biondetti weren’t able to capitalize on Sommer’s fastest lap when the car lost oil pressure. Even so, stunning.

Categories
Ferrari Historic Racing Photos Lost Track Track Maps of the Past

Track Map of the Past: Hansen Dam

Naturally, it’s a golf course today. Damnit.

In 1955, however, the Hansen Dam park hosted the 1st Los Angeles Sports Car Races. Ernie McAfee won the day in the #76 Ferrari 750 Monza; completing 67 laps at an average speed of 93mph.

I wonder what you had to do to gain access to the Guild Area VIP parking.

More of the racing program at FScheff’s.

Categories
Classic Sportscar Ferrari

Vanity Fair Visits Ralph Lauren’s Garage

Ever the designer, it looks like Ralph Lauren organizes his collection by color. Awesome.
More at Vanity Fair.

Categories
Video

Pacific Raceways 1963

What a tremendous shame that on-board sound recording wasn’t part of the package with 8mm film cameras. Oh to have the audio of the Cobras, GTOs, and Corvettes; not to mention the Lotuses (Lotii?) and Coopers in the sports racers group. I guess I shouldn’t complain, at least we have the images from this track, which has beaten the odds and is thankfully still with us.

I particularly love the shots starting at about 1:39 of that marvelous series of esses through the forested hills. It makes Seattle look like Nürburg.

Thanks to Matthew from Hell For Motors for pointing us to this video.

Categories
Grand Prix Racing Ephemera

The Real Championship

Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart take up their controllers. How great is this?

My favorite thing about this (and there are many) is the second picture. Stirling, Graham, and Jackie all look to be having a terrific time. Gurney is deadly serious. The competitive spirit just never lets up.

I wonder where that trophy is today.

Categories
Classic Sportscar Historic Racing Photos

If One Belly Tank is Good…

I actually think this whole approach is quite clever. Why not balance the weight of the driver with the engine and fuel tanks? Although I imagine the handling characteristics must change radically as fuel is burned.

  • Nardi Giannini 750 Bisiluro

Oh for the days when radical experimentation was encouraged.

Carlo Mollino on the bisiluro frame

Via DesignBoom and The Nostaligia Forum

Categories
Ferrari Grand Prix Historic Racing Photos

You’ll Never See a Photo This Good of Sebastian Vettel

I blame the tracks. Sure, you could zoom in nice and tight with a telephoto lens that you need 2 assistants to help you hold steady, but this shot of Von Tripps at the ’58 German GP must have been taken with the photographer’s toes on the track. You just can’t replicate the immediacy and drama that close proximity provides.

Being able to see his face sure helps too.

via Hell For Motors

Categories
Automotive Art Porsche

1:8 908

When I look through the images of Simon Dagless’ incredible scratch-build Porsche 908 model, I can’t help but wonder, “how much more effort would a 1:1 scale version be?”. It’s a truly astounding project; so amazing, in fact, that I’m linking over to his project discussion on Automotive Forums before it’s complete. Once it’s finished, it’ll be nice to see the photos of the finished product, but I think seeing it slowly take form over time is the greater joy. We’re over a year into the project, which just demonstrates that Simon’s patience is far greater than mine. I’m usually skipping through to the water-slide decals in the kit before I’ve even finished assembly.

Progress
  • Pedal Assembly. Madness!
  • Frame Detail
This is BACK of the dashboard!

Here’s a few more photos. It’s almost easier to believe that a giant is holding real Porsche 908 parts. Click on over for the in-progress build discussion.

Categories
Track Maps of the Past

Track Map of the Past: LeMans 1955

Approximate translation: The facilities at the circuit Le Mans (13 km long) are improving year by year. The organizers have planned this time new facilities in the village, creating a tunnel 10 meters wide giving access on the road from Tours, speakers, fueling and a new garage for 2,000 cars. The Mulsanne Straight (which allows higher speeds) was also the subject of complete refurbishment.

(Feel free to correct my translation—this was mostly Google Translate)