Thursday 31 July 2014

GOODWOOD REVIVAL TO HONOUR ICONIC MASERATI 250F WITH MONSTER DISPLAY


The Goodwood Revival will mark 60 years of one of Formula 1’s most iconic machines, the Maserati 250F, with one of the largest ever on-track collections of the car at the September 12-14 event.
As many as 16 examples of the 250F will take part in the Richmond Trophy, which this year will feature 2.5-litre, front-engined grand prix cars of a kind that raced from 1954 to 1960. Among them is one of only two of the V12-engined versions of the machine ever built.
The beautiful 250F took victory on its debut at the 1954 Argentinian Grand Prix in the hands of five-time Formula 1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio and was raced in period by more of the world’s top names, including Sir Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks, Roy Salvadori, Mike Hawthorn and Jean Behra.
While Salvadori and Moss took 250Fs to victories in the 1956 and ’57 Glover Trophy races at Goodwood, the most famous win for the car came in the latter year’s German Grand Prix; won by Fangio after the Argentinian overturned an almost insurmountable deficit at the fearsome Nurburgring to memorably catch and pass the Ferraris of Hawthorn and Peter Collins near the finish and clinch his fifth world title.
That car, and several others, will join the race machines for a pair of high-speed demonstrations during the weekend.
All 250Fs will be housed in the main paddock, which will resemble the adrenaline-fuelled Monza pitlane of 1954 at the Revival this year and is sure to be a highly-popular attraction for visitors to the Revival in September.

Available now from Veloce!
Maserati 250F In Focus
By Anthony Pritchard.
The Maserati 250F raced against Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Vanwall for Grand Prix supremacy during the 2500cc Grand Prix Formula years of ’54-’60. Period photographs, including contributions from Tom March, are presented, along with engine cutaways, drawings, technical descriptions, and the chassis and race numbers of every 250F to have competed during this period.
Stories from leading drivers who raced the 250F, including Sir Stirling Moss, Juan Fangio, and Mike Hawthorn, along with Anthony Pritchard’s lively text, helps bring the racing story of this iconic model back to life. More info.


Monday 28 July 2014

MASERATI’S 100TH CELEBRATED AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC 2014

Over 200 Maserati road and competition models paraded around the Silverstone circuit at the weekend.

Sir Stirling Moss reunited with stunning Maserati 250F


As the Silverstone Classic’s official Celebration Marque for the 2014 event, Maserati celebrated its centenary in style with hundreds of cars taking part this weekend at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE led out the largest collection of Grand Prix cars ever assembled to mark the anniversary of the 50th Grand Prix held at Silverstone. In 1948 the first ever British GP was won by Luigi Villoresi driving a Maserati, so it was fitting that Moss lead out the parade having himself won two Grand Prix titles back in 1956 in the Maserati 250F.

Sir Stirling remained on track in his 250F and was joined by Alfieri Maserati, the son of Ernesto, one of the founding brothers, as well as over 200 Maserati road and competition models for the special centenary parade lap in front of the Silverstone crowd. The 100 years of the brand were represented with examples from each period of the marque’s history right up until the present with the current range of Ghibli, Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio as well as rarely-seen 1950s Maserati motorcycles.

Sir Stirling Moss said: "The Silverstone Classic is an absolutely terrific event – what's so wonderful is that people can actually see all these glorious cars and talk to the mechanics and drivers. The 250F is such a fabulous car – absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful occasion – to be driving a car like this is just magical and reminds me just how fabulous the Maserati was. I guess it shows just how good it was if you can win a race like Monaco in one.”

Alfieri Maserati said: "Where better than Silverstone to celebrate the Centenary of the 'Officine Alfieri Maserati'. Maseratis were built for racing and after 100 years is undergoing a great renaissance. It has been a joy to participate in the parade of over 200 Maseratis from years gone by."


In recognition of the centenary and through the coordination of the Maserati Club, Silverstone Classic was able to assemble one of the largest gatherings of Maserati models the UK has ever witnessed – everything from the evocative Tipo 61 Birdcage, magical 3500GT as well as the one-off MC12 ‘Goodwood Cent 100’.



NEW APP! CARING FOR YOUR BICYCLE

Our latest app is available now on iOS, Android & Windows Phone.


This step-by-step guide is packed full of information and tells you all you need to know about caring for your bicycle. It covers everything from the basics of why maintenance matters and which tools you should use, to vital safety checks and more advanced maintenance tasks, even the fitting of accessories. Advice on how to adjust your bike to fit you, how to clean it efficiently, and how to keep it running in top condition, lets you get more enjoyment from your bicycle for longer, more safely, and with the sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you can fix or prevent problems that may arise yourself – you could even save yourself a small fortune in repair bills. With information on maintenance scheduling, troubleshooting advice, and electric bicycles, this book is the perfect companion for every cyclist. Available on iOS, Android & Windows Phone. More info.


Friday 4 July 2014

GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2014

A record 200,000 crowd was in attendance at Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, and was treated to a spectacular display of the finest cars, motorcycles, drivers & riders, which make the event paradise for petrolheads. The 2014 theme was entitled 'Addicted to Winning - The Unbeatable Champions of Motor Sport.' Other FoS highlights included special celebrations for the Maserati centenary, plus Mercedes-Benz was commemorated for 120 year's involvement in motor sport. See the photo gallery on our Facebook page.


We are delighted to have passed the 4000 Like milestone on Facebook! Please like our page for the very latest updates from Veloce.

ISLE OF MAN SCOOTER RALLY 2014

Last weekend, the Isle of Man played host to the 2014 Scooter Rally, now a bi-annual social event attended by Scooter Clubs from the UK, and this year, from France. On the Saturday morning, (June 28th) a signing was held for Scooter Mania at Lexicon Bookshop in Douglas. Ex competitor Les Moore was on hand to talk to visiting scooterists.


Steve Jackson commented about the 2014 rally:
"At 11.00, the scooters congregated at the TT grandstand, where members of the Isle of Man Scooter Club were on hand to marshal the ride-out. Around 250 machines left en mass from the grandstand, down Summerhill onto the promenade, on to Ramsey via the coast, returning to Douglas via the mountain road. Final destination was the Cat with no Tail in Onchan, were a BBQ and music was laid on. Amongst the visitors I spoke to were a couple Isle of Man Rally veterans, it was great to hear their memories first hand, and to see that they are still riding and keeping the faith!"





AUTHOR PROFILE No.13: LINDSAY PORTER

Lindsay Porter is sometimes referred to as the UK's top-selling motoring author, and he has been writing motoring books since Veloce Publishing's director, Rod Grainger, first commissioned him in 1981.
Lindsay was amoung the first to develop the photo-intensive style for
which his how-to publications are known. He currently has 5 books published by Veloce, with another due in 2015.



“My first published work was a magazine article on converting and building our house, for DIY Magazine in 1979, while my latest, a book for Veloce, is the Renewable Energy Home Handbook. In between, all of my books and articles have been on motoring, caravanning, and other related technical subjects, so, after all this time, I feel as if I’ve come full circle.

Lindsay’s Dad restored this for Lindsay's 3rd birthday. He was slightly pleased it seems.

“I was born in 1949 in the industrial West Midlands, the main centre of the British motor industry of the time. I well remember, as a small boy, hearing a bloke talking to Dad, on the shop floor at John Thompson Motor Pressings, in early 1958. The bloke had spent his life building traditional ladder-frame chassis: heavy, rigid and strong. He said to my dad, then a young accountant at the factory, 'Doug, just look at this bloody thing – it ay no good at all! Yow wouldn’t get me in one of them things!' as he shook and wobbled a newly-pressed floorpan for the yet-to-be-launched 'Frogeye' Sprite.

Half a century on, Lindsay restored his own ’59 2CV (see Lindsay's and Veloce’s 2CV Restoration Manual) and took it back to Quai André Citroën, adjacent to where it was built.

“Dad sympathised, probably thought something Scottish, and on we went to see ‘the biggest press in the world’ (as it then was), passing by badly-shielded canvas bays with their bitter smoke, unearthly, shadowy blue lights, and guttural growls of powerful arc welders at work. And my fascination with the way things were made was well under way.

“I became a school teacher in 1972. I found my time in the profession deeply rewarding, but left in the early '80s as my writing work began to take off, though I have done a little more work in the classroom in recent years, some of it voluntary. Along with rescuing a suffering dog or cat, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a child discover they can achieve things that they previously hadn’t thought possible.

“But back to publishing: that first piece of professional writing, in 1979, explained how my wife, Shan, and I built and extended our own country house – the one we still live in today. The article was produced after encouragement from our friend, publisher and leading Jaguar authority Paul Skilleter.

“I was still teaching when we became friends with Paul and June Skilleter. I had read in Thoroughbred & Classic Cars that they had moved to a house a few miles from ours, that his E-type – externally almost identical to the one we owned at the time – had broken down locally, and that he hadn’t known who to contact for help. We swapped E-type tales, discovered a shared interest in both mechanical and domestic cats (we ‘inherited’ a wonderful Siamese called Tigger from the Skilleters when ill-health forced a rehome), and became firm friends.

“Paul encouraged me to write that first article, and must have liked what he saw, because, when he launched Practical Classics magazine, he employed me to write for them as a freelance. I was already a keen photographer, but he also taught me how to take ‘proper’ car photographs. Incidentally, Shan – who has a great eye for picture composition – has always been on hand with the camera, and quite a number of ‘my’ pictures are actually hers!

“In 1980, Paul introduced me to Rod Grainger, then Managing Editor at Haynes Publishing, and the man responsible for a number of lasting innovations there. Rod was immediately helpful and encouraging, and as a result the MGB Restoration Manual – first published in 1982, and like most of my books still in print today – became the first, heavily-illustrated, step-by-step manual of its type, guiding the reader through every stage of the technical processes, using pictures in conjunction with friendly, helpful text.

“In 1985, I launched Porter Publishing Ltd, and produced the first commercial range of classic car videos, in association with Castrol, eventually building up to over 70 titles. The printed word soon followed, and Porter Publishing was commissioned by Fiat, Perkins Engines and Halfords, among others, to produce workshop manuals, including the first all-colour ones for modern cars. At the same time, I continued to write, including books and magazine articles on caravanning and motor caravanning. I was for many years the Technical Editor at Land Rover Monthly magazine.

Before getting to Paris, an enthusiastic local – and former Citroën employee – came out unbidden in his slippers to carry out essential adjustments.

“Now in our mid-sixties and around 50 years since we first met, Shan and I still live in the house in Herefordshire that sparked off the whole thing. My greatest passions, apart from Shan, of course, are our nine (last time I looked) ‘rescue’ dogs and cats; our small patch of woodland, and the classic, compact tractor I just had to buy to go with it; my immaculate, low mileage 1989 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro Avant – oh, that engine sound! – and then there’s my involvement in the whole area of renewable energy, which is where I’d like to concentrate most of my writing from now on. We’ve got some great nieces and nephews, and, in all probability, they’ll have children, too. We owe it to them – and to everyone else’s kids of the future – to do our best to pass on a more sustainable planet than the one we’re living on now.

“I am now involved in developing publications that will deal with the practicalities of eco-energy for the home and car owner. I'm still writing books, and am extremely happy to be published by Veloce’s Publisher, Rod Grainger, once again.”
Lindsay Porter

Fortunately, all of the Porters’ rescue dogs are keen classic car
enthusiasts, too.

Click here to view all Veloce books by Lindsay Porter.


Thursday 3 July 2014

REMINISCENCES OF THE TRIUMPH MERIDEN FACTORY FOR THE EAST LANCS TOMCC


David Scrafton the Social Secretary of the East Lancs TOMCC organised a very successful Club evening for John Rosamond to present his "Reminiscences of the Triumph Meriden Factory Talk" at the excellent Haslingden Cricket Club near Blackburn venue.

36 East Lancs TOMCC members, their guests, plus invited staff from the local Triumph dealer Philip Youles Motorcycles found John's "Talk" that serves as a companion to his popular book Save the Triumph Bonneville! The Inside Story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op very thought provoking. A high level of audience participation in the Q&A sessions ensured that a memorable evening was enjoyed by all.

The enthusiasm of the East Lancs TOMCC members and their Club Officials suggests that whilst only in their second year, they will rapidly become one of the most popular TOMCC branches in the Northern Region of England.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

RECORD 200,000 CROWD FOR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2014


Goodwood is delighted to announce that the 2014 Festival of Speed, held on June 26-29, was the largest and most successful in the event's history, attracting 200,000 highly-enthusiastic visitors to West Sussex.

With superstar names from the world of motorsport, including John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastien Loeb, Didier Auriol, Richard Petty, Mark Webber, Giacomo Agostini, Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer, guests were treated to non-stop entertainment throughout the weekend.

From the Michelin Supercar Run held against the clock and creating a popular winner in gamer-turned racer Jann Mardenborough and victory on the Forest Rally Stage presented by Skoda for Dani Sordo on the UK debut of the Hyundai i20 WRC, to adrenaline-fuelled action in the GAS Arena, the 2014 Festival of Speed had something for everybody to enjoy.

The Moving Motor Show presented by The AA in association with The Telegraph drew in a crowd of 34,000 motoring enthusiasts, making it the most-attended Thursday of the Festival of Speed since a fourth day was added.

Proving the status of the Moving Motor Show, the day attracted an all-time high 20 exhibitors: Audi, BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, GKN, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, SEAT, Skoda, Toyota and Volvo.

A total of 18 UK first views for new machinery, including the world debuts of the new Ford Focus ST, Bentley Continental GT3 R, Honda NSX Concept and Peugeot 208 GTi 30th anniversary edition, created yet more buzz around the event, which is now firmly established as the unofficial British Motor Show.

Lord March said: "Once again the Festival of Speed has produced a thrilling spectacle on the Hillclimb and delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors who have brought their enthusiasm for motor sport to Goodwood. Our event theme was 'Addicted to Winning' and with reams guests that include seven Formula 1 world champions and some of the greatest drivers from NASCAR, rallying, sportscars and motorcycling, we've managed to gather more famous names from motor sport than ever before. And we were blessed with splendid weather all weekend too."

FERRARI 312PB ENDS AN ERA WITH A BANG

The lastest video from Petrolicious ...



Reprinted by Veloce!
Ferrari 312P & 312PB
By Peter Collins and Ed McDonough

The origin and subsequent history of the 3-litre Ferrari sports cars, which the famed Italian firm designed and built to contest the various versions of the World Sports Car Championship between 1969 and 1973. This series of cars started with the V12 engine and progressed to using the Flat 12 Ferrari engine from the then current Grand Prix car. Includes the developmental and race history, with a full list of all events and individual chassis numbers. More info.

Tuesday 1 July 2014

MASERATI 250F IN FOCUS – A CLOSE LOOK AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2014

Maserati showcased its largest ever collection of cars at Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend as part of the Italian brand’s 100 year celebrations. Visitors to the Cathedral Paddock would have seen over twenty Maserati’s ranging from the oldest Maserati at the event, a Tipo 26M, to Fangio’s F1 championship-winning 250F. Here are a few pictures of the legendary car to enjoy!


Available now from Veloce!
Maserati 250F In Focus
By Anthony Pritchard.
The Maserati 250F raced against Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Vanwall for Grand Prix supremacy during the 2500cc Grand Prix Formula years of ’54-’60. Period photographs, including contributions from Tom March, are presented, along with engine cutaways, drawings, technical descriptions, and the chassis and race numbers of every 250F to have competed during this period.
Stories from leading drivers who raced the 250F, including Sir Stirling Moss, Juan Fangio, and Mike Hawthorn, along with Anthony Pritchard’s lively text, helps bring the racing story of this iconic model back to life. More info.