Sure it’s a bit of an ad for the restoration magicians at Road Scholars but it’s more than worth it to see these miraculous Fuhrmann 4-cam machines in the workshop and on the track at VIR. When was the last time you saw a 904, various Carreras, Spyders, a handful of 356 specials, and more spinning around together?
Hey Road Scholars, invite me to the next one. Pretty please.
You don’t often see color photography from the Carrera. I’d love to know more about this shot of Hans Hermann’s car for the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Usually the car is seen with its iconic aluminum tonneau cover occupying the passenger seat. Was this part of a scouting run? A press event? I haven’t been able to find information on it—let me know if you do.
This remarkable set of shots below highlights the sheer variety of machines that competed in ’54 (and every year). It’s one of the things I most love about the Carrera.. Jaguars and Lincolns mixing it up? Sure. Ford and Ferrari going head-to-head a decade before that meant something? Why not.
This set is collected from a series shot by Ina Mae Overman and Stanley Dean Miller. See more of Ina Mae and Stanley’s photos at The Gentleman Racer.
Few things make me happier than more old film cans making their way onto the web. Grab a seat on an overlock over and enjoy these clips from Laguna Seca, Oct 1961. I suggest making engine noises with your mouth.
I love the variety of weirdness that turn up to see how fast they can get to the top of the hill. It’s one of those wonderful scenarios that often balances the light weight of the little nimble machines with barely a liter under the hood against the roaring horses under the heavier and more powerful machines.
Holy cow!
I said these words aloud when I saw this lot at Sotheby’s Open Roads auction listings. Designed in by the miraculous John Tojeiro in the late ’50s but built much later, this was one of John’s last front-engined hurrahs… and wow. It’s amazing.
A little bit 250 Ferrari, a little bit Porsche 550, a little bit Lotus 11…. I.. wow.. I never would have thought those three would make a great combination.. but .. wow.. it’s beautiful.
Now that people are trapped at home, maybe there will be a push of more folks dusting off the 8mm film cans from the attic and getting more old racing footage online. Like this amazing reel from Road America in 1956—only a year after the track opened.
Road America is probably the track I’ve spent the most time at, which is probably why I love seeing old footage from here. Even 60 years on it’s still remarkably recognizable. Looks like Turn 5 was always a hotspot for spectators. That 90° turn at the end of the 2nd longest straight leading into the uphill climb is still where a lot of the most dramatic action takes place.
Man, I can’t wait to stand at that corner again with one arm draped over the fence and another holding a bratwurst.
via VSCCA on Facebook.
I sure am missing sitting at a sweeping turn with a bratwurst watching some old iron go around.. Settling in with a YouTube video of old races is a poor substitute, but I’ll take this look into 1950 Rallye International des Alpines any way I can.
Then it struck me. Rallys and Hillclimbs are the perfect social distance racing experience for spectators. It’s easy enough to stay several feet away from others when you’re perched on the inside of some sweeping bend or switchback turn. (Pro tip: don’t sit on the outside of these turns unless you want to tempt fate with a very high-stakes game of dodgeball).
This remarkably clean and documented Porsche 910 is currently of offer by the Ascott Collection.
There were only 28 Porsche 910s built and it remains one of my favorite of their mid-60s developments during a crucial decade when Porsche transformed from the Giant Killer to the giant. It was a period in which Porsche’s increasing dominance began to take hold in sports car racing; a period when their cars matured from 4-bangers to 6 and 12 cylinder variants of the still air-cooled flat boxer layout. The 910 was a crucial stepping stone from the earlier small-displacement racers to what would become the utter dominance of the 917 throughout the 1970s.
This example, chassis 027, spent much of that period in the hands of the Hart Ski Racing Team. After a short stint as a factory racer, Hart Ski campaigned her at the Nürburgring 1000, Spa 1000, and a handful of events around Germany culminating in an outright victory at the 1970 Hockenheim 6 Hours race.
She’s absolutely stunning and if you’ve only experienced these mid to late 60’s racers in photos you’ll be absolutely gobsmacked by their dimunitive size when you get up close. Retromobile is always a trip worth taking, but being able to stand near this gorgeous little machine when Ascott displays her will really drive home her elegance and fragility, and remind you of the menace that lurks underneath.
More photos of this beauty at the Ascott Collection.
More on the historical record of chassis 027 at the Racing Sports Cars database.
What a fine little model it is—a perfect miniature of the Cooper-Bristol racing car. There are many others as realistic and fascinating in the wide range of Dinky Toys. See the selection at your dealers.
—Always ready for more: Dinky Toys.
Made in England by Meccano LTD.
Via Jack Matthews at the Vintage Road Racing Archive.
This is a pretty casual look for Mike Hawthorn, who was known to race with a shirt and tie under his driving suit.