Fondazione Gino Macaluso per l’Auto Storica
The Fondazione Gino Macaluso per l’Auto Storica was recently inaugurated in Turin.
Founded 10 years after the death of Gino Macaluso, a European Rally champion, designer and entrepreneur, the Foundation brings together one of the most important and unique car collections in the world, composed of historic rally, track and Gran Turismo vehicles. The cars from the collection, retracing the period from the Sixties to the Nineties, are synonymous with automotive design and international motorsport.
Starting later this year, the Fondazione Gino Macaluso will be taking part in some important automotive events, including the Milan Monza Open Air Show (from October 29 to November 1) along with the Goodwood Festival of Speed (Lord Charles Richmond and Gino were close friends) in July 2021. From December 2020 until May 2021, the cars of the Fondazione will also be the protagonists of “The Golden Age of the Rally – The Great Challenges”, a major exhibition on the history of the World Rally Championships to be held at MAUTO – the Italian National Automobile Museum in Turin.
What a wonderful initiative by the Macaluso family to make these incredibly interesting cars available to a wider audience. And for those who might miss out, never fear, the book “Mac- la Fondazione Gino Macaluso per l’Auto Storica” (dedicated to man, the driver and the entrepreneur) will be published by Rizzoli.
Social Media
Those of you who like the social media scene, and even those who do not, might like to take a look at this link to an interview with me carried out by Ruba Jardi at Classic Events. Part of a series of IGTV interviews, along with myself other interviewees include, Enzo Scalzo of Best of Italy Race and Tour, Jose Ruela of Lorenzini Tour Auto, John Brigden founder of Bespoke Rallies, and my old friend Mathias Doutreleau co-founder of Concours d’Elegance Suisse.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBt4xmKFRc-/
(due to my technical ineptitude please jump 60 seconds for the start!)
And for those of you who do like a bit of Instagram please check out and follow @jamesnicholls6263 and @axasydneyharbourconcours
New Logo New Look.
These last few months I have been maximising the opportunity to update the logo shown below (many thanks for the inspiration and initial concept to Mr Concours https://mrconcours.com) and website for the AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance in readiness for the next edition to be held on 4th-6th March 2021.
The event will once again be held at Swifts, the amazing Victorian mansion and gardens on Darling Point in Sydney, and will again have the support of title sponsor AXA; Pommery Champagne; and official time partner A. Lange & Söhne.
Joining us for 2021, will be the new official hotel, the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour. The Thursday evening party will be held at the HYDE Hacienda Sydney Bar + Lounge, and once again the Gala Awards dinner is scheduled take place at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia.
To find out more about the AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance please take a look at the new site http://www.sydneyharbourconcours.com.au
Early entries to endeavour to claim the coveted AXA Prix d’Honneur for Best in Show are already coming in, including this amazing 1922 Delage CO2 fitted with a contemporaneous 18.5 litre V8 Hispano Suiza aeroplane engine!
Off the cuff…
Every gentleman needs a good pair of cufflinks, and there is no better way to enhance your sartorial elegance than with a pair of these handcrafted Maximillian composer inspired links.
As you can see they look great at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo, or indeed, any motor car with style. To find out more about the remarkably stylish range please go to http://www.maximillianstudio.com
“The best gift you can give yourself is the gift of possibility,” said actor and some time race driver, Paul Newman, who knew a thing or two about wrist watches, which will be next up from Maximillian later this year.
James Bondinar
A couple of weeks ago I took part in a really interesting webinar entitled Bond & Beyond. It was a really fun and very well attended event. Created by Linda Hugo of Beyond Curated ( https://beyondcurated.com ) I was one of three speakers talking about that most British icon, James Bond 007.
It is really worth watching, especially when you get past the first speaker! (when you click through to the following link, it is the black screen on the right).
Hi Ho, it’s off to work we go!
Maranello, May – This week, the Ferrari factories in Maranello and Modena gradually returned to full production, in line with the “Back on Track” program. After seven weeks of production shutdown, the factories have recommenced at full capacity. Amongst the first cars to come off the Special Series lines include a Ferrari Monza SP2 with a black and gray livery, followed by a 812 GTS spider in Grigio GTS and a F8 Tributo in Rosso Corsa – the first cars completed in the 12 and 8 cylinder lines. Ferrari is also pleased to share that the first Ferrari F8 Tributo to roll off the production line is headed for Australia with other new Ferraris now ready to be delivered to their owners in USA and Germany, respectively.
(Crewe, 11 May, 2020) Bentley Motors today resumed production at the company’s headquarters in Crewe, England, with over 1,700 colleagues following the 250 comprehensive and wide-ranging hygiene and social distancing guidelines implemented to enable a safe return. This represents the next stage in Bentley’s ‘Come Back Stronger’ programme, a phased production ramp up following the biggest changes to daily working life in the company’s 100-year history.
And then they were two.
Brabham Automotive was introduced to the world on 2 May 2018, with the launch of the Brabham BT62 at Australia House, London.
As the company marked its second birthday last week, in the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis, it can reflect on having established a landmark production facility in South Australia, launched multiple variants of the BT62 globally, and regained a presence in motorsport. Brabham Automotive is currently Australia’s only OEM and while the world pauses to deal with the pandemic, its plans for the future are bright. Brabham Automotive’s recently completed production facility is an all-new workspace encompassing the engineering, design, manufacture and assembly of both parts and vehicles. It occupies 2,500m2 of a much larger facility housing Precision Buses, a division of Fusion Capital’s mobility hub, and part of the largest Australian owned bus-manufacturing group in Australia.
David Brabham, Sporting Director of Brabham Motorsport (who is also the Event Patron of my own AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance) said, “The progress Brabham Automotive has made over the last two years is a source of great satisfaction. From launch to production and now delivering to customers, we can be very proud of where we are to today as a business. My father won the British Grand Prix in a Brabham at Brands Hatch in 1966, so for me to win in our own Competition Spec Brabham BT62 on its racing debut was something very special. We made history. Competing and then winning the Le Mans 24hrs with a Brabham is our Motorsport goal. The challenge awaits. Time to “just get on with it”, as my father would have said.”
The next step on the journey will be the launch of the BT62R in June this year, a fully road-compliant version of the BT62. This third variant in the BT62 family will share the same chassis and powertrain as its track-focused siblings, with revised suspension (including front and rear axle lift kit) and aerodynamics, and increased levels of luxury and comfort for those who prefer to drive their car to the track on public roads.
Brabham BT 62 appeared at the AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance in 2020 (see previous story) and in 2019 (pictured above).
What’s in a name?
The AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is very proud to have David Brabham as its Event Patron, and to have had Brabham Automotive’s, Brabham BT62 on display in March at the event.
To find out just why this car is so popular with the crowds, why it is the fastest car around the legendary Bathurst track and what goes into the creation of the brainchild of Le Mans 24 Hour winner, David Brabham, please take a closer look :- https://www.brabhamautomotive.com/news/aerodynamics-understanding-the-record-breaking-performance-of-the-brabham-bt62/
Bei Macchine
Maserati has recently launched the ultimate iteration of its Granturismo range, the Maserati Granturismo Sport Edizione V8 Aspirato – It is not often an internal combustion engine gets a send-off – but then this is no ordinary engine, being one of the last naturally-aspirated V8 engines in the segment today. Based on the F136 family of 90-degree V8 petrol engines, this state-of-the art 4.7-litre powerhouse has been developed and hand-built jointly by Maserati and Ferrari engineers – and the limited-edition GranTurismo Sport Edizione V8 Aspirato will be its final resting place.
Originally designed by Pininfarina, the Granturismo has evolved into an iconic GT since its launch in 2007. The four-seater coupé is considered the highest expression of Maserati’s passion, technology and craftsmanship and remains easily identifiable in the supercar segment thanks to its elegant design and luxurious interior.
Maserati has produced more than 40,000 GranTurismo and GranCabrio models in the historic factory, Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena. The Edizione V8 Aspirato signs-off this iconic model with its elegant and aerodynamically efficient styling, refined interiors and state-of-the art infotainment system. It also comes in five unique heritage paint colours: Blu Corse, Blue Sera, Argento Auteuil, Verde Britannia and Celeste Chiaro (in addition to the existing Nero Carbonio and Rosso Italiano).
This Italian beauty prompts me into telling you of another fantastic Maserati, now being offered for sale, for the first time in 28 years, jointly by myself, and Mark Jansen at Oldtimer Australia https://www.oldtimeraustralia.com. This 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spyder is chassis number AM1011305 with matching engine number AM1011305. It was built in June 1961 and delivered new to the ennobled Conte di Salasco, of Arcugnano, Vicenza in northern Italy. It was fitted with Maserati’s 3485cc engine (with carburettors), a five -speed manual gearbox, Borrani disc wheels and a factory hard top. The car was originally finished in ‘Argento Luna’ (silver) with a red interior, and now sporting red paintwork with tan interior this classic Maserati GT is a true progenitor of Modena’s latest offering and a veritable legend of Italian motoring royalty.
To find out more about the 2020 Edizione V8 Aspirator contact glen.sealey@ateco.com.au. Or if you have an interest in the 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spyder – a car only imperceptibly distinguishable from a 1960 Ferrari California 250 GT Spyder but at less than a 20th of the price, please contact me james@marinamarini.com.au.
Here is a short video walk around the car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1kd3Ctl_NU&feature=youtu.be
‘Bond and Beyond’
I am really looking forward to being one of the panel speakers for the upcoming free webinar hosted by Beyond Curated ( http://www.beyondcurated.com ). The second in the series, it is entitled ‘Bond and Beyond’ – Reflections on a British Icon, and will take place on 27th April 2020 at 1pm BST (GMT). I will be joining Richard Bagnold, fine dining writer, Michelin Star expert and foremost authority on James Bond’s gastronomic journey throughout his reign as 007, lending my voice on cars, to help bring a perspective to one the most famous of British fictional characters, James Bond. The third member of the panel will be Claude Piening, Senior Director, Head of Department at Sotheby’s London. Claude will share his personal passion and insider knowledge on Bond, exploring 007’s links to the art world, including the tale behind the stolen Faberge egg featured in Octopussy.
Founder and director of Beyond Curated, Linda Hugo, will introduce and chair the webinar and the audience will have the opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.
To register your interest and for further details please contact linda.hugo@beyondcurated.com
