Well, they’re off from Brescia to Rome and back. And photos and videos are starting to arrive online. Sorry, this is going to be a long one.
Hope that’s not too much of an overload. I’m sure more will continue to surface throughout the next week.. I’ll keep an eye peeled for the good stuff.
The Simeone Foundation is hosting a dinner this Friday May 6 with Brian Redman as part of their Jaguar Racing Legends weekend. Redman is a marvelous storyteller in interviews I’ve seen with him, but have never had the pleasure of seeing him speak live. I always enjoy hearing the tales from drivers of Redman’s era, as much for their exploits off-track as on, and I’m sure Brian’s stories of his travels as well as his successes in sports car and Formula racing.
Even better, admission to the dinner includes your ticket for the following day’s demonstration day at the museum, with some very special Jaguars on display. The museum collection’s gorgeous ’53 C-Type and ’56 D-Type are sure to figure prominently and Jaguar Cars is bringing a special guest from Jaguar Heritage Museum to the party as well: the Group 44 “B” Production class E-Type that was so successful in SCCA events in ’74 and ’75.
I do hope that Simeone will be filming Brian’s presentation—and hopefully throwing it online for the rest of us to enjoy later. Either way, it sounds like it will be a fun weekend in Philadelphia. Be sure to send in some photos if you attend.
Tickets available at Simeone’s site.
I usually think of Ruedelsarte as my destination for air-cooled VW and Porsche pics, so these shots of Gordinis at the Coupes de Printemps at Montlhéry in March caught me pleasantly off guard. There’s something about the particular shade of French Racing Blue that Gordini used in the 1950s that is so enchanting; not quite as dark as Bugatti’s blue, not quite as light as Gulf Blue, not quite as saturated as Mexico Blue. I ask you: is this the perfect blue?
Click on over for the complete set of shots on and off the track.
I’m such a sucker for vintage transporters.
Hey Buddy! Drop the hammer and step away from the Aston!
Ok. I know I don’t need to panic. Intellectually, I realize what’s going on here in this image from Markus’ photo set of the EspÃritu de Montjuïc Catalunya Classic Revival; that this fellow is merely giving the knock-off wheels a wack. Emotionally though, I can only clench my shoulders and wince.
Mark’s eye for capturing the spirit of an event is full effect here. Looks like I’ll have to add the Catalunya Classic to my must-do list of events. Even these less well known events in Europe really seem to draw the exotic racing machines. Just look at all of those Matras!
See the complete set at FormFrau.de FormFreu.de
I’m a couple of weeks late with these, but I just noticed Straßenversion’s shots from his trip to Florida for the Sebring 12 Hours. Thankfully, he arrived early enough for the running of the vintage event. Check out his writeup on the 12 Hours on his blog, and see the complete set of photos on his Flickr.
This Friday, January 28, at 7pm The Trylon Microcinema in Minneapolis will be screening Grand Prix as part of their ‘Color Me Gone’ celebration of racing films.
Naturally, I’ll be there. If any readers want to meet up beforehand, some of the Chicane crew will be holding down the fort starting at 5:30 at The Chatterbox for happy hour. The Chatterbox has a bunch of vintage video gaming systems and you can check out classic Atari, Sega, and Nintendo NES titles from the bar, so some Pole Position seems in order to get us ready for the movie. I’ll have posters from the film series to give away as well. Drop a line in the comments if you’re planning on coming.
Here’s a map of the pub and theatre.
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 Sartà 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.
Felix sent in these shots he captured at this year’s Oulton Park Gold Cup race a few weeks ago. I’m constantly taking photos when I attend historic races and I’m always disappointed when I see what shots from a proper photographer like Felix turn out like. There’s something about the color, a sort of cool softness to the shots that make the atmosphere feel so much more refined and important than I’m ever able to capture.
Naturally, I’m going to continue to blame my equipment. Head on over to Felix’s F1 Imagery blog for the rest of the set. Thanks Felix!
Looking at these photos that Alex Bellus captured at last weeks’ Cars & Cafe event in Minnesota reminded me of what makes these informal parking lot get togethers so fantastic. Too often car enthusiasts divide themselves up into little insular groups. Hot rodders, muscle car builders, import tuners, supercar collectors, even vintage racers spend far too much time apart. These meet ups remind me that getting together with fellow car nerds and talking transportation is where the fun is. If there’s a Cars & Coffee event in your area, try and make it out before the season ends, it’s well worth it.
Check out the rest of Alex’ set at his Picasa.
Guillaume sent in some of his excellent series of photos from this year’s Historic Spa Six Hours race. I wouldn’t call this magnificent event “under the radar”, but hot on the heels of Monterey week and Goodwood Revival, it’s certainly the more understated event in the autumn. Seeing Guillame’s shots, however, certainly reminds me that it should be discussed in the same breath as these great fall classics. Click on over to Guillaume’s Flickr for the complete set. Thanks Guillaume!
