We have had this conversation before! When you get asked a question about your greatest drive, or greatest race or...
I have just marked my half-century of being a motor racing enthusiast. On February 1, 1957, I bought a copy of Motor Sport. Many years later, I was chatting with James Weaver at Silverstone, who said, “Bloody Denis Jenkinson, it’s thanks to him I’m in my current mess.” In 1957,...
I was born in Capetown, South Africa, a very long way from the epicenter of motor racing, Central Europe. Motorsport,...
He was known as “the Silver Fox,” “the Racing Grandfather,” and “Merle the Magician.” These nicknames might indicate a gentlemanly...
1957 Climax-powered Jomar 1957 Climax-powered Jomar. Photo: Harold Pace You know the story. Start with a svelte English chassis, add an American V-8, clothe it in a lightweight body and go racing. It worked for Carroll Shelby. It worked for Sydney Allard. Worked for a lot of other folks too,...
There was never any doubt that Chris Amon was an exceptional talent. Mauro Forghieri, Ferrari’s chief designer for almost 20...
1960 Kieft Formula Junior The history of British motorsport is rife with postwar racecar manufacturers that saw their genesis in...
During the late 1960s and 1970s, the names of Leo and Ian (aka Pete) Geoghegan became known thoughout almost every household in Australia. In the case of brother Leo, a string of successes in Lotus open-wheelers, back-to-back Australian F2 championships and an Australian Drivers Championship gave him not only Australian,...
I have been quoted as saying that I didn’t much like the Tommy Atkins Cooper-Maserati. Now, I don’t know if...
The ex–Geoghegan 1960 Lotus Elite The ex–Chamberlain 1960 Lotus Elite The 1967 Lotus Elite Twin Cam No matter what year it is, there is always a celebration of something or other. Each month through Vintage Racecar’s Time Capsule page, we are reminded of significant events that have occurred throughout the...
Pete Lyons Did you hear about the diesel backhoe that did 350 mph at Bonneville? Yes, really…sort of. Become a...
One of the enduring aspects of vintage racing is the camaraderie that develops between racers. With cars and racing as...
Someone once said that Indy car drivers would be lost if they had to turn right as well as left. They also said that at Le Mans they’d never find their behinds with both hands when it got dark or if it rained. Obviously, they never met Lloyd Ruby. During...
1967 Brabham BT24-Repco Sometimes all your birthdays and Christmases come at once. Shaking down the BT24 on Australia’s legendary Phillip...
Vintage Racecar is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the founding fathers’ of South African motor sport...
The Lotus 19 took sports car racing to a whole new level upon its debut in 1960, rendering rivals such as the Cooper Monaco and Maserati Birdcage obsolete overnight and leading photojournalist Pete Biro to label it the “Birdcage Cleaner.” A real “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” it was essentially a...
Today almost exclusively remembered as the genius behind the competition cars named for a road-running bird in the southwest, Jim...
Dan Gurney Biography He drove in the last great era of Grand Prix racing before the advent of tobacco advertising...
After WWII, sports cars became more and more popular. As a consequence, road racing took hold in the U.S. For the most part, it was an amateur sport governed by the Sports Car Club of America, but after noticing the large crowds at some SCCA events, the United States Auto...
Tony Southgate began his lengthy career in motorsports by joining Lola Cars in the early days of that venerable marque’s...
Debutante’s Ball On a list of the greatest Grand Prix races will be the names of several which will strike...
John Coombs was literally born into the motoring business, as his multi-talented craftsman father was already working with automobiles when John appeared on the scene. As John grew up he eventually began racing, soon moving successfully into 500-cc Formula Three. Eventually, the family firm, Coombs & Sons, Ltd., became known for...
Now here is a man of his word—and it cost him dearly. In 1961, Innes agreed to drive for Formula...
Frankly, I was surprised at how easily it drove after some previous experiences I had with other open-wheelers. Owner Ed Holly and I are about the same size and shape, and once my bum was in the seat of his Brabham BT6 I felt perfectly at home. No names of...
Carlo Chiti Emerson Fittipaldi 1 Scuderia Ferrari is formed as the Alfa Romeo factory racing team (1929). 2 Peter Gethin...
Away from the start of Race 3 at Eagle Mountain in April of 1957, Dave Tallaksen’s 3.4-liter XK-SS (#147) shares...
1962 Tojeiro-Buick Photo: Pete Austin “Just turn the key and it will start,” I was told, as the door of the Tojeiro-Buick registration number TSU 719 was closed. A quick turn of the key to the right and a large pump of the throttle and it did! Instantly aware of the...