Two Italian Beauties
I have been doing some video work recently and thought you might like to see the results. And of course, please let me know if you are interested in purchasing either of these two Italian beauties.
1937 Lancia Astura
and a fabulous Ferrari
Season draws to a close
The concours season in Europe has drawn to a close with the final big events of the year the incredible Zoute Concours d’Elegance in Belgium coming hard on the heels of the amazing Chantilly Arts & Elegance near Paris. Both took place in pretty decent weather and I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Jury at both of these fabulous events. However there is still one big concours event to come when the winner of the Concours Event of the Year at the Historic Motoring Awards in London next month is announced. And I am very pleased to share, that my event, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au is one of the five finalists. Fingers crossed!
Laguna Seca
I recently returned from Monterey Car Week, and whilst lots of my time was taken up with two fabulous concours events, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I also took the opportunity to go to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the WeatherTech Raceway in Laguna Seca. Hopefully these few images from the corkscrew speak for themselves and provide a flavour of what was a fabulous day’s racing in the Californian sunshine.
All in a good cause
Isn’t it about time we used our classic cars for good rather than evil?
Click below to learn more about the inaugural Make-A- Wish Car Show on the morning of Sunday 28 August
or if cannot make the day how about a donation for a very worthy cause at http://www.makeawish.org.au
A Car Week For Europe
St. Moritz. Until 1925, automobiles were still forbidden on the dusty roads of the Upper Engadine. The then boss of Shell felt disturbed by the dust kicked up by the early motorists playing golf in St. Moritz and without further ado had the first road between Samedan and Pontresina tarred, which is why the road was henceforth called Shellstrasse. Only a few years later, in 1929, the International St. Moritz Automobile Week was launched, following the enthusiasm for mobility and in order to attract tourists. The series of events consisted of a kilometer race on the aforementioned Shellstrasse, a beauty contest in front of the Kurhaus (today the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains), skill drives, and a rally. The crowning finale of the St. Moritz Automobile Week was the Bernina Race. Won in 1929 by Hans Stuck on Austro Daimler and in 1930 by Chiron on Bugatti. Top-class drivers were at the start! The calculation worked out, the recreation seekers came in ever greater numbers, the rest is high-society history. It was also possible to draw on the fame of the 1928 Winter Olympics. But it still took until 2015 for a small group around the collector, patron and motorsport enthusiast Kurt Alexander Engelhorn to really revive the Bernina Race. “Imagine if the Mille Miglia and the Goodwood Festival of Speed had a child in the Swiss Alps”. The Bernina Gran Turismo, the new name of the traditional event, soon gained international cult status. On numerous platforms, such as Petrolicious, people praised “The Bernina Gran Turismo is the best event I’ve been to all year” or “Imagine if the Mille Miglia and Goodwood’s Festival of Speed had a baby in the Swiss Alps.” Even Forbes magazine spoke of the “World’s Most Beautiful Vintage Racing Competition” and thus contributed to the good reputation of the race. Last but not least, it was the great cooperation with St. Moritz that allowed the event to grow steadily. From the beginning, the field of participants was limited to 80 cars. Naturally, the organizers had the idea early on to revive not only the Bernina Race, but rather the entire Automobile Week. In the pandemic year 2020, most events were postponed or cancelled altogether, the “BGT” took place undisturbed. And in the second Corona year, it was even joined by two other events: Kilomètre Lancé – Alpine 1000 and Motorsport Rendezvous.
There are many “repeat offenders” and also the really big names of the scene are always there. But apart from racers like Striezel Stuck, Arthurio Merzario, Stefan Johannson or Andy Wallace, it’s the enthusiasts from all parts of the world who make this event endearing, exclusive and worth experiencing. So why not become a part of it whilst the entry lists for 2022 are still open! A car week to take part in The International St. Moritz Automobile Week has what it takes to become a small “Monterey Car Week” in the heart of Europe. An automobile week that offers you the opportunity to be an active part of it. You can simply hop into your own classic car, motorcycle or sports car at home, enjoy the drive along one of the wonderful roads that lead to St. Moritz and you are there – as an active member of the multi-layered community that makes up this hobby. The highlight of the St. Moritz summer season also offers spectators the desired amenities of the famous resort. One is welcomed in St. Moritz, is a guest of friends and can find among like-minded people the historical mobility as a cultural asset worth preserving. Some will participate in an event, some “only” watch. But everyone is an active part of the whole.
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Historique!
It was fabulous to be in Europe last month for a couple of big motoring events including the 13th edition of the Monaco Grand Prix Historique run under the auspices of the Automobile Club de Monaco. On the same track as the F1 Grand Prix a few weeks later, which is still 80% the same as used in 1929, it really is a fantastic event, which I hope I show in this small selection of my photographs…
Another Exhibition
Further to my Christmas Photographic Exhibition last year, a selection of my images can now be seen at the venerable Royal Automobile Club of Australia. It is Members only, so herewith a couple of my best images from my car and boat travels to share. And talking of car travels this month I will be at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix and then the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como.
Automobilwoche 2022
As an international ambassador for the Bernina Gran Tursimo hill climb, part of Internationale St Moritzer Automobilwoche, it gives me much pleasure to share the full week’s happenings due to take place 2 -11 September. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy as long as you like classic motor vehicles! For further details and registration please go to http://www.i-s-a-w.com.
TFA 2022
I recently completed the Targa Florio Australia 2022 and what a fabulous event it was. Nearly 1,000km over four days on the beautiful country roads of Victoria culminating with hot laps at the Albert Park Grand Prix track prior to the Australian F1 GP!
Thank you to Clive Massel at Makulu Vehicle Storage (https://makulu.com.au ) for lending me not one but two fantastic classic BMW legends to drive.
To register for the next edition set to take place in the Victorian Alps in 2023 where the mountain roads will add a new chapter to the event go to https://targaflorioaus.com
