SPORTS CAR CENTRE PRESENTS
Motoring news from around the world - October 2018
Reproduction 300 SL Gullwing Body Parts.
Key body parts for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ (W 198) are again available in factory quality, ordered by their part number from any Mercedes-Benz sales partner. The production process combines state-of-the-art technology with traditional craftsmanship, guaranteeing a high accuracy of fit of the metal parts while minimising the need for subsequent work on the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz Classic developed the process in cooperation with a certified supplier.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ (W 198) is still one of the world’s dream cars. Between 1954 and 1957, just 1,400 units were built of the famous ‘Gullwing’. The conservation of these valuable vehicles sometimes requires key body parts. Mercedes-Benz Classic has now reproduced these parts, with others in preparation.
The body parts meet the high standards of Daimler AG and can be ordered by their part number from any Mercedes-Benz sales partner. Their surfaces are electrophoretically painted, which assures the highest technical and visual standards. The prices include VAT.
Front panelling left (A198 620 03 09 40), 11,900 euros
Front panelling right (A198 620 04 09 40), 11,900 euros
Rear panelling left (A198 640 01 09 40), 14,875 euros
Rear panelling right (A198 640 02 09 40), 14,875 euros
Rear-end center section (A198 647 00 09 40), 2,975 euros
Rear-end floor (A198 640 00 61 40), 8,925 euros
The metal parts are produced for Mercedes-Benz Classic by a certified supplier, whose expertise includes the highly complex construction of tools from optimised 3D data from original bodies. Metal parts produced on these tools are then worked into their final shape by hand using wooden mallets — another special process. The result of this symbiosis between state-of-the-art production technology and traditional craftsmanship is a high accuracy of fit that minimises the need for subsequent work on the vehicle.
The precise 3D tool data also provide the basis for quality inspection by means of painstaking false colour comparison. The measuring tool receives the data as a reference and uses false colours to visualise the measured deviations between the desired state and the actual state, thus making it possible for the measurement results to be unambiguously and quickly interpreted.
Le Mans Classic 2018:
The number of historic racing cars that continues to increase event after event, drivers coming from all over the world plus more car clubs, exhibitors and activities all confirm the undeniable growth of Le Mans Classic since its creation in 2002.
This biennial event, an exceptional mega-sized retrospective of the history of the iconic 24-Hours race, jointly organised by Peter Auto and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, has fired the enthusiasm of a growing number of collectors who come to take advantage of this unique opportunity to race on the big Le Mans circuit. And, of course, the same goes for the public who flocked to the event in even greater numbers than at previous Le Mans Classics as proved by a new attendance record of 135 000 spectators, all generations combined, present at this weekend’s races. This figure represents an increase of 10% compared to the 2016 retrospective!
Stars Shine On Super Sunday At Silverstone Classic.
Many of motor racing’s brightest stars came out to play on the third and final day of the 2018 Silverstone Classic to bring another memorable festival weekend to a shimmering conclusion.
Dubbed Tin-Top Sunday in honour of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the enduringly-popular British Touring (née Saloon) Car Championship, an illustrious line-up of high-profile drivers – both from today and yesteryear – lit up the timesheets on an exhilarating day of wall-to-wall retro racing.
Together with an abundance of marvellous parades from dozens of the country’s top car clubs and a huge array of family-orientated activities to entertain eventgoers of all ages, the Silverstone Classic once again attracted in excess of 100,000 visitors to affirm its coveted status as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival.
With touring cars taking centre stage on Sunday to comprise four of the day’s ten races, the star attractions were out in force in the much-anticipated JET Super Touring Car Trophy with all eyes on legend of the discipline Rickard Rydell to see whether he could recreate his race-winning exploits in the 1998 Volvo S40, 20 years on from his BTCC title.
After bringing the crowds to their feet by nosing into the lead early on, Rydell was ultimately forced to settle for second position behind the winning Honda Accord of James Dodd, who collected his second win of the Silverstone Classic weekend. Nevertheless, a third-place finish for 1989 and 1995 champion John Cleland in the Vauxhall Vectra ensured a popular podium line-up that fittingly evoked misty-eyed memories of the BTCC’s Super Touring heydays.
Earlier on, one of touring car’s most successful modern-day racers Rob Huff swapped his technologically-advanced World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) VW Golf for the humbler but substantially more iconic Ford Lotus Cortina to claim victory in the Gallet Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars (U2TC) alongside Andy Wolfe. Huff – the 2012 World Touring Car Champion – and Wolfe finished 16secs clear of second place Andy and Maxim Banks in their Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA to secure one of the most popular triumphs of the day, with Wolfe the beneficiary of a beautiful heritage-inspired Gallet watch as owner of the winning car.
Both Huff and Wolfe returned at the close of the event in the thundering Transatlantic Trophy for Pre ’66 Touring Cars, albeit in separate entries. Driving a Ford Falcon alongside Trevor Buckley, Huff was forced to settle for a hard-fought fifth-place whereas Wolfe powered to his second win of the day in the Ford Falcon Sprint he shared with Mike Gardiner.
In the Historic Touring Car Challenge, father-son pairing Nick and Harry Whale surged to a dominant victory in one of the most successful saloon cars of its generation, the BMW M3 E30, ahead of Mark Smith and Arran Moulton-Smith in another of the Munich marque’s venerable vehicles.
The riveting racing action was complemented by a show-stopping parade to mark 60 years of the BTCC featuring racing cars spanning six decades from a glorious Austin A105 Westminster as raced by Jack Sears to the inaugural BTCC (née BSCC) title in 1958, all the way to the 2017 BTCC title-winning Subaru Levorg GT as driven today by touring car legend Jason Plato.
Anthony Hibberd secured victory for Historic Formula Junior (1958-1960) in his Lola Mk2, while the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sports Cars went the way of Gary Pearson in his majestic Jaguar D-type. In the second Adrian Flux Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars (HGPCA) of the weekend, Peter Horsman in his Lotus 18/21 topped the podium ahead of Mark Daniell (Cooper) in second and Tony Wood (Maserati) in third.
If the action was riveting on-track, the spectacle was simply resplendent off it as acres of exquisite machinery dazzled in the Silverstone sun. With thousands of beautiful automobiles taking to Silverstone’s hallowed asphalt to enjoy their own lap of honour over the weekend, it was the turn of the British Leyland 50th Anniversary and Sprite 60th Anniversary to revel in their moment in the Silverstone sun on Sunday.
With each attending car club making an indelible contribution to the success of the Silverstone Classic, their efforts were also marked with coveted prizes. This year, a pristine example of a rare Aston Martin DB1 earned Allan Southward the much desired Yokohama Trophy for Club Car of the Show, while the Ferrari Owners Club was handed the Adrian Flux Trophy for the Best Car Club Display.
Together with the huge variety of entertainment, including Mike Brewer’s Car Clinics presented by Haynes Publishing, tyre-shredding Streetcar Shootouts, the Yokohama Chelsea Skills Zone for budding footballers and the JET Village Green – complete with funfair rides and racing simulators – the 2018 Silverstone Classic provided a veritable feast of fun for the whole family like never before.
“Every year the Silverstone Classic just gets bigger and better,“ enthused event CEO, Nick Wigley. “Once again, it’s been a non-stop weekend packed with epic races, record track parades, vast car club displays, some truly fabulous family entertainment plus a great Saturday evening performance by UB40 – with so much terrific entertainment, it’s no surprise that so many are now staying with us for the full three-day festival.
The “Number 1” could be forgiven for being a bit daunted by this prospect, particularly given that the outdoor temperature had risen to an oppressive 31 degrees. Even the traffic lights in the Swiss capital of Bern seemed to be against the very first Porsche, the mid-engine roadster from 1948, allowing what seemed like no more than three cars through each time that the lights turned green. By the time that the vehicle eventually reached the inclines of the Bernese Highlands, bubbles had already started to form in the fuel system, forcing the driver to give the car a break. The good thing about all these pit stops was the fact that it gave us more time with this unique relic from Germany’s largest sports car brand.
The “Number 1” was returned to Porsche in 1958 and after a long period out of action the vehicle has been restored for use on the road. It was high time to get it back on the asphalt from its early years – and specifically the roads of Switzerland. The mid-engine purrs behind the occupants while at the same time generating an incredible amount of heat. Despite intermediate acceleration and double clutching, the unsynchronised four-speed transmission crunches slightly as it moves through the gears, while the speedometer needle dances to its own rhythm.
From a technical perspective, there’s not much to write home about in the world’s first Porsche. An aluminium body has been hammered over a lattice tube frame and the axles, steering, wheels and brakes all originated from the VW Beetle, as did the 1.1-litre engine. At one time, Porsche did enhance the engine by 10 hp with the help of newly constructed cylinder heads, although the output was still just 35 hp. However, the engine needs to move just 585 kilogrammes of vehicle weight, enabling a maximum speed of at least 135 km/h. The engine still bears the original number.
From the “VW Sport” to the forefather of all Porsche models
The “Number 1” actually began life as the “Type 356 VW sports car”, or the “VW Sport” for short. The idea for the vehicle was conceived back in the summer of 1947. And by February 5, 1948, Ferry Porsche took his place behind the wheel in the new chassis for the first time. This first outing actually took place in the Austrian town of Gmünd as the Porsche company had been ordered to leave Germany in 1944. Ferdinand Porsche re-embraced his Austrian roots and moved his business across the border. It was also at this point that the connection between the “Number 1” bodyshell and Switzerland first cropped up: During those post-war years, lightweight metals were incredibly difficult to get hold of in Austria, but not in Switzerland. In return for his sales permit, Porsche had to promise the government in Vienna that the vehicle being made of this precious commodity would be sold abroad – Austria needed foreign exchanges.
However, it was several months before the car was stable and ready. In fact, before even completing the “No. 1”, Porsche had already started constructing the 356 series models, which featured a rear engine rather than the mid-engine. In spite of this, Porsche chose not to assign the series a new development number, no doubt because he was already busy with other designs, such as the Type 360, the Cisitalia racing car.
When the time came to present the “Sport 356/1” as the roadster was officially known, Porsche looked to Switzerland once again, choosing the surroundings of the popular Swiss Grand-Prix held at Circuit Bremgarten, which was already teaming with representatives from the trade press. It was here that the first journalists tested the car before the race on the 7.26-kilometre and incredibly dangerous track. The ever first driving report about a Porsche was thus published in the Swiss Automobil-Revue magazine on July 7, 1948: The report professed “full confidence” in the car, a “modern, low-slung, practical sports car”, suitable for “daily use by a sports driver but also for participating in sporting events…”, offering “control and stability in tight bends”.
The “Number 1’s” road through Switzerland
Suffering from a continuous lack of funds because the 356 models still in progress had to be pre-financed, Porsche eventually sold the “No. 1” in Switzerland. As the first road-approved Porsche, the vehicle received its ZH 20640 number plate on December 20. Peter Kaiser, a German architect living in Zurich, became the vehicle’s first private owner, paying CHF 7,500 for the privilege. Kaiser replaced the cable-actuated brakes with a hydraulic mechanism and tinkered with the “Porsche” signature to make it read “Pesco”, the idea being that it sounded Italian and therefore would not function as advertising for Porsche. Due to various problems with the vehicle, he sold it to a car dealer about a year later. After that, this unappreciated classic changed hands in Switzerland every couple of months until sports car fan Hermann Schulthess discovered the treasure in 1952. Schulthess got Porsche to install new brakes and convert the engine to 1.5 litres so that he could take part in Swiss slalom events, which he did until six nuns in an Opel drove into the back of him during an trip up into the mountains. He used the significant repairs required as an opportunity to make further enhancements, including larger wheel arches and round tail lights. After further changes in ownership, the “No 1” eventually made its way back to Porsche – owner Franz Blaser received a brand new 356 Speedster in exchange for the original vehicle.
From Switzerland back to Germany
Even Porsche’s first trade fair appearance was in Switzerland: A Gmünd-Coupé (356/2-001) costing CHF 15,000 and a Beutler-Cabrio (356/2-002) costing CHF 17,000 stood polished to perfection on stand 11 in the main hall at the Geneva International Motor Show held in 1949.
The associations with Switzerland began to taper off towards end of 1949 when Porsche decided to settle back in Germany rather than in the Alps. Porsche moved his newly founded “Porsche Konstruktionen GmbH” to a 600-square-metre hall belonging to “Karosseriewerke Reutter & Co. GmbH” in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. In return, Reutter received an order to build 500 steel bodies. From March 1950 onwards, the first 356 models were manufactured and the Coupé version was sold for 10,500 German Marks.
1957 BMW 507 Coupe.
Bonhams at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed. A 1957 BMW 507 Coupe smashed its top £2.5m estimate, costing its new owner just over £3.8m inclusive of commission. This was also a single-owner car, modified in period with uprated engine and brakes, but what made this car stand out was its provenance: it was presented to John Surtees by MV Agusta for winning the motorcycle world championship for them, and it remained in his ownership until his death last year.
50th Anniversary: Lamborghini Islero & Espada.
Regent Street Motor Show 2018.
TIME TRAVELLERS ON LONDON’S REGENT STREET
• The UK’s biggest free-to-view motor show returns in November
• Showcasing the Future, Celebrating the Past
• Full spectrum of motoring from pioneering veterans to tomorrow’s green machines
As tradition dictates, Britain’s most popular motor show is returning to central London on the first Saturday in November.
More than 500,000 visitors attended last year’s Regent Street Motor Show at the capital’s premier shopping destination.
The huge numbers of visitors were treated to cars from all eras and were also offered short ‘taster’ test drives in a range of the latest battery-powered electric vehicles and plug-in petrol-electric hybrids, allowing them to sample the next generation of environmentally friendly transport. Among the ground-breaking models available were state-of-the-art offerings from a number of forward-thinking manufacturers such as BMW, Renault, VW, Toyota, Kia and Hyundai.
Experts from Go Ultra Low were also present on the packed thoroughfare, offering advice to anyone considering a zero or low emission and hybrid car as their next purchase. And, with city motoring currently in the political spotlight, it was no surprise that the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport was among the enthralled visitors.
Building on that record success, this year’s one-day automotive extravaganza taking place on Saturday 3 November will showcase the future while celebrating the past.
Living up to that billing, the 2018 Regent Street Motor Show, in collaboration with New West End Company and in partnership with Regent Street, will again host the Veteran Car Concours d’Elegance with over 100 examples of pre-1905 automobile culture as well as a special display demonstrating the innovative automotive technologies that will be the key to the cars of tomorrow.
Other crowd-pleasing attractions already confirmed are gatherings of iconic classics from invited motor clubs, interactive displays plus live music, thus ensuring there is something for all ages and interests.
The Regent Street Motor Show and the Veteran Car Run are major events in the week-long London Motor Week held by the Royal Automobile Club.
“The Regent Street Motor Show goes from strength to strength and is now firmly established as a leading date on the national motoring calendar,” said Peter Read, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Committee.
“It not only gives unrivalled numbers of visitors a wonderful insight into motoring past, present and future but also provides car companies with the best possible platform to exhibit both their proud heritage and cutting-edge technologies. It really is a marvellous time-travelling ‘Back to the Future’ event that should be in everyone’s diaries.”
Nick Wigley, CEO of Regent Street Motor Show organiser, Goose Live Events, added: “Each year our team works hard to deliver a show that illustrates the full spectrum of automotive culture and this November, we look forward to showcasing the future and celebrating the past on Regent Street with a packed line-up of exotic cars and activities to entertain the whole family. Make sure the date is in your diary; we look forward to seeing you there!”
Built from autumn 1970 to the end of the series in December 1973, the Ford Capri RS 2600 is considered a cult car.
The RS 2600 was equipped with a mechanical puffer-injection system, which was used at that time widely in motorsport, but also in fast production vehicles such as the BMW 2002 tii. For the 2.6-liter engine 150 hp were specified. This statement was understated. Most of the vehicles had between 160 and 170 hp, which explains the outstanding performance at that time (0-100 in about 7.7 to 8.0 seconds at a top speed of 200 km/h). This vehicle was also the basis for the factory-owned racing capris.
The Capri 2.6 RS was developed on the initiative of the former head of the Ford RS department Jochen Neerpasch and served for homologation. In this context, a competitive version for private drivers was offered through the Motorsport department ex works. The so-called lightweight Capri had GRP doors with plastic windows and a GRP boot lid. In the interior, the car was equipped with full bucket seats, for weight reasons without any insulating material. This light version had a carburettor instead of the blower injection system.
For the competitive version, there was also a revised engine, which was distributed through the motorsport network. By drilling from 90 to 93 mm, the displacement of this engine increased to 2.8 liters. You could choose between different carburettors or carburetor systems, sharper camshafts, larger valves, exhaust systems, a huge range of rims and suspension parts, spoilers, etc. This vehicle with a power of only 6 kg/hp was offered from 1970 to 1971.
The shown Ford Capri 2600 RS was piloted by Steven Dance at the Le Mans Classic 2018.
50th Anniversary: Tasman Ferrari Dino 246.
For decades, Ferrari has only developed single seaters for Formula One racing. Indeed, the last single seater from the Scuderia to race in a series other than F1 celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2018: behold the Dino 246 Tasmania.
The period cockpit of the Tasman Ferrari Dino Photo: Andrea MelcangiIt was known as ‘the little Ferrari’, because it was so elegant, diminutive, minimal – and blindingly fast. Enough to dominate the Tasman Cup in the hands of New Zealand hero Chris Amon. He convinced Enzo Ferrari to build a one-off car for the annual Australia and New Zealand race series in 1968, and went on to make it a fan’s favourite.
The racer bore the name Dino in its title because it was Ferrari’s collaboration with Fiat that sourced the engine for the racer – and made it eligible to race: rules dictated 5,000 road-going versions of the engine had to be produced in a year in order to be homologated. This racer thus bore the heart of the road-going Fiat Dino Coupe and later Dino 206/246 GT.
Ferrari first used the engine to create a new Formula 2 car called the 166, which debuted in 1967. From this, it developed the 246 Tasmania, which developed its 200 horsepower 1.6-litre Jano V6 engine into a searing 285 horsepower 2.4-litre V6. In the hands of Chris Amon, with just two mechanics, Bruce Wilson and Roger Bailey, he won the 1968 New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe.
He then won the next round at Levin, but only after leader Jim Clark’s Lotus broke down. For the next race at Wigram, Amon finished second, to Clark. The car’s designer Gianni Marelli called Enzo Ferrari after each race with an update. What was needed to beat Clark, Enzo asked? Another 20 horsepower, Marelli told him.
Two weeks later, for the Surfer’s Paradise race in Australia, a brand-new engine was waiting for Amon, with exactly 20 extra horses. Amon put it on pole. Only a breakdown in the race stopped him from winning: he retired from the lead.
For the rest of the 1968 season, Amon and Clark battled intensely – at one race, Clark triumphed by just 0.1 seconds. At the end of the season, Clark was Tasman Champion, Amon a close runner-up. It was a respectable result. But Enzo wanted more.
Two cars were prepared for 1969, for Amon and British racer Derek Bell. Amon duly dominated, winning half the races and taking the championship with ease. “When we went back to Italy, Mr. Ferrari invited us to lunch,” recalled Wilson later.
Chris Amon raced hard in the 1969 Tasman series Photo: Andrea Melcangi
“He thanked us on behalf of Ferrari and our dealer worldwide and gave us a big hug. He was very warm and I thought I was going to get a handshake. But he put his hand in his pocket and brought out a gold watch and gave it to me. Chris got the handshake and I got the watch with a little black prancing horse on the dial. To me, it’s priceless.”
The triumphant Tasman Dino remains the last Ferrari single-seater to race in a series other than F1. Chris Amon never did win an F1 world championship race. But he did win a title in a Ferrari single-seater, dominating the field while doing so. For the late, great racer, it was a fitting success in an elegant, fast car as classy as he was.
Enzo Ferrari personally approved development of the V6 engine.
Aston Martin Recreates Iconic James Bond Goldfinger DB5.
This authenticity will extend to include functioning gadgets such as revolving number plates and more, which were made famous in Goldfinger. The gadgets will be co-developed with Oscar®-winner Chris Corbould, special effects supervisor from the James Bond films. Officially sanctioned by Aston Martin and EON Productions, all the Goldfinger edition cars will be produced to one specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.
The most instantly recognisable car of all-time, the DB5 made its first appearance in the third James Bond movie, Goldfinger, alongside Sean Connery as James Bond. Laden with gadgets and armaments installed by Q Branch, the secret agent’s Aston Martin became an instant hit with moviegoers.
Since its seminal appearance in Goldfinger the DB5 has featured in a further six James Bond movies: Thunderball (1965), again with Connery; GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Pierce Brosnan and three appearances alongside Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015). James Bond and his DB5 have become two icons of popular culture and one of the most successful and enduring movie partnerships of all-time.
Such was its popularity, the DB5’s movie debut even spawned a Corgi die-cast model, an astonishing 2.5m of which were sold in its first year of production (1965). No wonder an entire generation of children grew-up aspiring to own an Aston Martin. Now, thanks to the remarkable Goldfinger DB5 continuation project, a fortunate 25 of them can now own a faithful and authentic tribute to that original car. A further three cars will be built – one each for EON and Aston Martin, plus another to be auctioned for charity.
Andy Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin, said: “The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond is something of which we are very proud and it is remarkable that the DB5 remains the definitive James Bond car after so many years. To own an Aston Martin has long been an aspiration for James Bond fans, but to own a Silver Birch DB5, complete with gadgets and built to the highest standards in the very same factory as the original James Bond cars? Well, that is surely the ultimate collectors’ fantasy. The skilled craftspeople at Aston Martin Works and the expert special effects team from the James Bond films are about to make this fantasy real for 25 very lucky customers.”
Each Goldfinger DB5 continuation car will be priced at £2.75m plus taxes. First deliveries to customers will commence in 2020.
Classic TVR Racing Team.
The newly formed Edmonton based team has signed up with Sports Car Centre to build them a contender for the 2020 Targa Newfoundland, the reason why we made a deal with Sports Car Centre is because of their extensive knowledge of the classic British cars in general, the owner of the company successful history in classic car racing in Europe and of their contacts in the classic TVR racing world in the UK, this according to the PR manager of the team Emad El-Zien, as mentioned before the car will be build by Sports Car Centre with technical advice and input by Nigel Reuben Racing, leading classic TVR specialist in the world and based in the UK.
The team was able to find a car that left the factory without an engine and gearbox which opens the door for some period correct modifications, the car is based on a 3000M that will be powered by a Ford 289 V8, TVR tradition in some of their high performance models in the sixties and early seventies, Borg Warner T10 gearbox will bring the power to the Sailsburry LSD rear end plus a whole range of other modifications, some of them will be mentioned in the coming newsletters.
Originality And Innovation Celebrated At 2018 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
Against the striking backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, the 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta claimed the Best of Show Award at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®.
234 cars graced the fairways at Pebble Beach Golf Links® as enthusiasts mingled, witnessing awe-inspiring vintage automobiles alongside contemporary cutting-edge concept cars. Such a bold juxtaposition of old and new embodies Rolex’s appreciation of history and its influence on engineering innovation. It is this shared passion for honouring motoring tradition which underpins Rolex’s role as Official Timepiece of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and as Presenting Partner of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance®.
The Best of Show Award is bestowed to the most stylish and elegant car, recognizing its originality and authenticity. The 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B perfectly reflected the spirit of the accolade and was revered by all those who were lucky enough to see it. After the prize-giving ceremony, the owner of the winning car, David Sydorick said: “This car is one of only five built and it has recently been completely restored, taking a huge amount of effort and dedication from all those involved. It feels great to win at Pebble Beach today and receive a Rolex watch, I look forward to wearing it proudly.”
The illustrious Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® come together to create the ultimate moving motoring museum, encapsulating heritage, beauty and evolution. On Thursday morning, the impressive procession of automobiles assembled on Portola Road ahead of this year’s edition of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex. The renowned Californian marine layer cleared early to reveal sunshine as participants and fans alike were treated to an unforgettable spectacle along the coast. The Tour, a tradition dating back to 1998, sees the motorcade take to a 70-mile route, following sections of the picturesque 17-Mile Drive through the north of Monterey County. Carmel-by-the-Sea was once again the stopover point as entrants enjoyed a gourmet lunch, while their cars were displayed on Ocean Avenue for visiting aficionados to appreciate up close.
At dawn on Sunday, the group was reunited as the cars rolled on to the immaculate 18th fairway at Pebble Beach®. 28 categories showcased the ingenuity of their creators and owners, from the featured Post-war Custom Citroëns to Motor Cars of the Raj and the 1960s Indianapolis 500 Revolution class. Furthermore, the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® debuted some of the world’s most anticipated concept cars. Notably, the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow was shown to the public for the first time; drawing inspiration from the 1937 W 125 Benz, its modern aesthetic captured the crowd’s imagination, displaying an undeniable link between the past and the radical machines of the future.
Tom Kristensen, Rolex Testimonee and nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, undertook official duties as Honorary Judge at this year’s event. Following the judging, he said: “The collection of historic automobiles and world-renowned concept cars at Pebble Beach creates an event like no other. It has been a privilege to be part of the judging team, and to get so close to these amazing machines and meet their owners. The Best of Show Award represents excellence and timeless elegance – values that I closely identify with Rolex – while recognizing and preserving the greatest cars in the world. This event is an absolute must for all car lovers.”
The crowning of the Concours’ Best of Show winner marks the end of Monterey Classic Car Week. This year, the four-day extravaganza celebrated motoring heritage and paid homage to the future of the automobile – while reflecting on how the two are inextricably linked. Rolex closely aligns with the culture and passion of these classic car events and continues to enshrine the stories that stand the test of time.
2018 Day at the track event.
Sports Car Centre in cooperation with the Weird Small Automobile Club, organized for the third year in a row a track event at Strawberry Creek Raceway, first scheduled August 26 but due bad weather postponed to September 23 and again it looked that the weather gods didn't wanted to cooperate, a little bit cold start in the morning turned into very nice temperatures during the day.
There were some cancellations up front, there were some people that didn't show up at the day but overall it was again for the people that did attend a good day out, and the result was smiling faces all day, due the fact that there were less cars than previous years everybody could spend more time with their car on the track.
Halfway during the day, Jay Esterer, owner of the track, did a couple of "hot" laps in his freshly restored F1 car and there is nothing nicer then the sound of an eight cylinder Ford Cosworth in full swing, for the people that did cancel and the ones that didn't show up their is always next year and for the brave ones that did participate thank you all very much to make this event another great success again and hope to see you all in next year event.
More photos from the track day event can be found on our Facebook page.
2018 Goodwood Revival.
We will pay extra attention to this wonderful event in our November newsletter.
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