Friday 29 November 2013

AUTHOR PROFILE No.8: JOHNNY TIPLER

Motoring journalist & author Johnny Tipler has a new book published this month. He's no stranger to scribbling about cars – here's his story ...

Driving a Porsche 356 Carrera Cabriolet.

Driving Porsches for a living? It’s tough, but someone’s got to do it. And one of Veloce Publishing’s original authors, Johnny Tipler, does just that: writing for three of the UK’s independent Porsche titles, 911 & Porsche World, Total 911 and Classic Porsche. Topics include interviews with famous names who’ve raced or rallied Porsches – aces like Walter Röhrl, Bjorn Waldegård, Hans Stuck, Jürgen Barth and Vic Elford – and the specialists who tune them, such as Alois Ruf, Willy Brombacher, Josh Sadler and Duel’s Ed Poland, with reviews of important and specially-commissioned cars offered by the likes of Paul Stephens, Lee Maxted-Page, Specialist Cars of Malton, MCP Motorsport, and Adrian Crawford.


Owned for eight years, Johnny’s own car is a Porsche 964, affectionately dubbed The Peppermint Pig, thanks to its original mint green hue. This vehicle also provides Johnny with a fund of stories, since he drives it when following events like the Monte Carlo Historic Rally, Mille Miglia and Roger Albert Clark (RAC) Rally, or when covering meetings such as Le Mans Classic, Spa Six Hours, Nürburgring Old Timer and the Zandvoort Historic Grand Prix. It serves as transport when he visits defunct racetracks like Berlin’s Avus, Reims, Rouen, and Porto. In February 2013, when it had logged 315,000km, the 3.6-litre flat-six was rebuilt at Kontich-based 911Motorsport near Antwerp, and in November it carried Johnny to Portugal and back while he put his Douro holiday home on the market.

'Peppermint Pig' in Portugal.

With some 35 books published over the last 25 years, including driver biographies of Graham Hill, Ronnie Peterson and Ayrton Senna, Johnny’s first tome was also Veloce Publishing’s inaugural title, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT and GTA, just re-printed in a new large format third edition. He’s written three books on Alfas – another Veloce title, now out of print, was Alfa Romeo Berlinas; other marque and model books cover Morgan, Jensen, Caterham, TVR, Fiat (124 Spyder), Land Rover, Mini-Cooper, Triumph Motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson, as well as more general tomes on heavy equipment, racing cars, automobile stylists, and trucks.

The first ever Veloce book! From 1991, (part number V000): Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupé GT & GTA by Johnny Tipler.

Johnny verges on the prolific when writing about Lotus, with eight titles published, mostly on racing cars like the Types 25/33 and 78/79, plus the Elise, and the gestation and construction of the Evora. For six years (from 2005 to 2011) Johnny wrote most of the features for Lotus Cars’ in-house Lotus Club International quarterly magazine, in the course of which he travelled to locations as far-flung as Las Vegas, Marrakech, Indianapolis, Stockholm, Lake Garda, Daytona, Morzine (Geneva), Monticello (New York), Route Napoleon (Grasse), Route 66 (Arizona), The Ice Hotel (Kiruna), Porto, and Lime Rock (Connecticut). He composed drive stories at the wheel of various Elises, Exiges, Europa, 2-Eleven and Evoras, and interviewed aces associated with the marque, such as Mario Andretti, Sir Stirling Moss, John Surtees, Johnny Herbert, Jackie Oliver and Emerson Fittipaldi, plus Lotus affiliated stars like Jay Leno, Rick Wakeman and Chis Rea. As well as key factory personnel, Johnny also established an amiable rapport with Clive Chapman, who provided access to legendary Lotus racing cars, present-day drivers like Duncan Dayton, James King, Dan Collins, Katsu Kubota and Chris Locke, as well as the CTL mechanics, some of whom, like Bob Dance, Eddie Dennis and Chris Dinnage, Johnny knew when he was JPS Motorsport Press Officer, an era spent mostly living at racetracks during the ’70s and ’80s.
Johnny puts his vehicular passion down to his father’s job as a commercial traveller, having spent a great deal of his school holidays as passenger in dad’s cars: an Austin Westminster and VW Beetle are fondly remembered, and it was his father’s pirouette into a hedge in a Porsche 356 that kindled his childhood obsession with the Zuffenhausen marque. The most exotic Porsches he’s driven – for features in 911 & Porsche World magazine – include the 906 and 910 prototype sports-racing cars, and the Ruf RT12S, probably the most evolved example of the 911. As well as a 3.2 Carrera, other notable cars Johnny’s owned over the years include a 1340cc Ford Anglia, a trio of MGBs and an MGC, Lotus Elan S4 and BMW 1602. There has been a glut of Alfa Romeos, including a Giulia 1300Ti (upped to 2.0-litres), a 1750 Berlina, two Alfetta GTVs and a GTV6 – converted into a race car for the AROC series in 1989 and then back again – and an Alfa 75 3.0 and a 155 V6. Current family hack is an Alfa 156.

Johnny’s previous Veloce offering is La Carrera Panamericana, subtitled ‘the world’s greatest road race,' which he covered as a journalist in ’06 and ’07, and then wrote up as a book in 2008. He went back in 2011 to drive the event as a competitor, spending seven days and 2000 hair-raising and hilarious miles travelling the length of Mexico in company with 115 other gung-ho racers, which he regards as his ultimate motoring experience. The tale is soon to been reissued by Veloce as an eBook, and includes a new chapter on Johnny, and co-driver Sarah Bennett-Baggs’ exciting experiences in their Porsche 914/4 GT, as well as some video clips. It was so good he vows to go back and do it again. And then another chapter can be added!

Johnny Tipler and Sarah Bennett-Baggs,with Porsche 914:GT4 in Oaxaca, at La Carrera Panamericana, 2011.

Alfa Romeo Giulia GT & GTA – Enlarged & revised 3rd edition (Limited to 1500 copies) by Johnny Tipler. Coming soon! Click here for more info.

NIGEL BENNETT INSPIRED TO DESIGN TRAILER

Ever wondered what it would have been like to work in F1 at Team Lotus in the 1960s & 1970s alongside the maverick Colin Chapman? Or with James Hunt during his F3 spell at Hesketh Racing? We asked a man who has done both, and much more! That man is Nigel Bennett, the author of brand new autobiography Inspired to Design. We've recorded a fascinating interview with Nigel, which we'll publish on our YouTube channel in the near future. In the meantime, enjoy this short 2-minute trailer ...



New! Inspired to Design – F1 cars, Indycars & racing tyres: the autobiography of Nigel Bennett

The true life story of one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s.
Nigel Bennett’s unique autobiography describes his life and career, from growing-up influenced by car design, to his education and the building of his 750 specials. He describes his work as Firestone Development Manager, recounting many tales of the outstanding designers and drivers of the period. Detailing his work in Formula 1, as a Team Lotus engineer, and then as Team Ensign designer, he also covers his Indycar designs at Theodore, Lola Cars and Penske Cars. Life after his retirement, his involvement in boat design and with modern F1 teams, are also recounted. More info.

Nigel Bennett was one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s. His Indycars won 79 races, five National Drivers Championships, five Constructers Championships and five Indy 500 wins.
He raced his home-built 750F car, and was Development Manager for the Firestone Racing Division, working with Team Lotus, Ferrari, BRM, Hesketh, Porsche and JW Automotive.
He worked at Hesketh Racing before moving on to Team Lotus, and was engineer to Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, becoming Chief Engineer to Colin Chapman. Designer of the Ensign F1 and Theodore Indy cars, Nigel was head-hunted by Lola Cars, later becoming Penske Cars’ Chief Designer, a position he held for eight years.



Thursday 28 November 2013

VELOCE READERS RIDES: 1

Our friends, Chris & Gabe, from Arkansas sent us some awesome pics of their 'toys.'

We love seeing photos of anything on wheels, so why not email us your photos to and we'll feature the best ones here each month, and also on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Thursday 14 November 2013

VIDEO: FERRARI 288 GTO – GROUP B SPEC!

This epic new Ferrari 288 GTO video is a MUST SEE!



Available now from Veloce!
The Book of the Ferrari 288 GTO by Joe Sackey.

Over three years in the making, this book covers the background, conception, design, production and aftermath of the iconic Ferrari 288 GTO, including the prototypes, the early production cars, the mainstream production cars in their various specification guises, and the Evolution cars planned for the aborted Group B FIA race series.

The work features nearly 400 relevant photographs, from original production images to the cars as they are today, including the 1984 Geneva Salon where the car debuted, the first ever GTO Reunion in 1985, current salon and action images, right up to the 25th Anniversary Ferrari 288 GTO Reunion held in America in 2009. Also featured are the actual factory production approval sheets, as filed with the Italian government, in an illustrated technical drawing form, along with a chassis by chassis register of every 288 GTO built, including destroyed prototypes, production cars, and GTO Evoluziones – in fact all 284 cars ever built.

This book contains essential resources covering all aspects of the car, including archives, maintenance specialists, restoration specialists, worldwide clubs, parts sources, etc. A comprehensive, beautifully illustrated look at a unique sports car, and a must-have for true Ferrari fans. More info.


Click here for more info about the book.


Tuesday 12 November 2013

NIGEL BENNETT SIGNS COPIES OF HIS NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY INSPIRED TO DESIGN

This morning we welcomed Nigel Bennett to personally sign copies of his brand new book Inspired to Design.


Until our stock is exhausted, signed copies can only be bought from Veloce's website or by telephone requesting a signed copy during the purchase process. First come, first served!

New! Inspired to Design – F1 cars, Indycars & racing tyres: the autobiography of Nigel Bennett

The true life story of one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s.
Nigel Bennett’s unique autobiography describes his life and career, from growing-up influenced by car design, to his education and the building of his 750 specials. He describes his work as Firestone Development Manager, recounting many tales of the outstanding designers and drivers of the period. Detailing his work in Formula 1, as a Team Lotus engineer, and then as Team Ensign designer, he also covers his Indycar designs at Theodore, Lola Cars and Penske Cars. Life after his retirement, his involvement in boat design and with modern F1 teams, are also recounted. More info.

Nigel Bennett was one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s. His Indycars won 79 races, five National Drivers Championships, five Constructers Championships and five Indy 500 wins.
He raced his home-built 750F car, and was Development Manager for the Firestone Racing Division, working with Team Lotus, Ferrari, BRM, Hesketh, Porsche and JW Automotive.
He worked at Hesketh Racing before moving on to Team Lotus, and was engineer to Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, becoming Chief Engineer to Colin Chapman. Designer of the Ensign F1 and Theodore Indy cars, Nigel was head-hunted by Lola Cars, later becoming Penske Cars’ Chief Designer, a position he held for eight years.

Thursday 7 November 2013

VELOCE DIGITAL: MOTOR RACING AT THRUXTON IN THE 1970S eBOOK EXCLUSIVE!

New release in eBook format only! Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1970s (Those were the days series) by Bruce Grant-Braham.


This book makes full use of the author’s unique collection of many previously unpublished colour photos to follow the evolution of UK motorsport at Thruxton through the 1970s. During this time the venue featured in the early careers of many Formula One drivers, and amongst others the book records the performances of such luminaries as Ronnie Peterson, Graham Hill, Keke Rosberg, Alan Jones, and David Purley.

Click here for more info about the eBook!

Wednesday 6 November 2013

RACING NAPIERS LEAD VETS TO BRIGHTON

Hundreds of machines from the dawn of motoring light up the 2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.


Commemorating the original Emancipation Run of November 1896, this year’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (Sunday 3 November) was special even by its historic standards as the longest running and greatest of all motoring celebrations.

For the very first time, the field of close to 400 extraordinary machines all dating back to before 1905 was headed by a trio of legendary racing Napiers. Although examples of these early competition cars have participated in the past, never before have three lined up together, thus recreating the pioneering British team that contested the famous Gordon Bennett Cup ­races held at the start of the last century.

The very olive green, 6.5-litre Napier that won the 1902 race between Paris and Innsbruck driven by S. F. Edge headed the trio. It was the first British car to win an international motor race and its distinctive colour was the origin of British Racing Green. The other two Napiers lining up in Hyde Park London for this year’s Veteran Car Run – one powered by a 7.7-litre engine the other by an even more potent 11.1-litre unit – competed in the Gordon Bennett Cup races in 1903 and 1904.

“Napier’s competition cars from this period are among the most significant cars in the history of British motor sport. They were not only the first to wear British Racing Green, but also the first cars built in this country to win major races overseas thus paving the way for today’s UK-based world championship winning F1 teams such as McLaren and Red Bull,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee. “To have three of these incredible machines on this year’s Veteran Car Run was very, very special.”

While the three illustrious Napiers grabbed many of the headlines, the 2013 Veteran Car Run also attracted a number of equally exceptional entries all enjoying some unseasonably good weather en route to the coast. Built in Indianapolis in the USA, the 1901 electrically powered Waverley driven by Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods, made its debut. Meanwhile, having had the honour of flagging off the early starters, Sir Ray Tindle embarked on his 50th journey to Brighton driving his faithful single-cylinder 1904 Speedwell Dogcart.

Among the famous faces participating was Pink Floyd musician Nick Mason plus Mike Brewer and Edd China, the two presenters of the hit Discovery Channel show Wheeler Dealers. They were aboard a recently restored 1903 Darracq to celebrate the popular programme reaching its 100th car milestone. Another film star was the Darracq from the classic 1953 movie Genevieve starring Kenneth Moore and Diana Sheridan.

Although not a race, this year’s Veteran Car Run included a competitive event for the very first time in its lengthy 117-year history. A regularity test where contestants have to average a precise speed between two controls has been introduced in 2013 with the 1902 Mors of Philip Oldman taking the inaugural trophy.

The first car to cross the ceremonial finish on Madeira Drive on the seafront in Brighton was the 1902 Darracq of Allan White. In total 341 of the 385 starters completed the symbolic 60-mile journey from Hyde Park to the sunny Sussex coast before the 4:30pm deadline thus receiving coveted finisher medal.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

FIRST LOOK! RETURN TO GLORY! THE MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL RACING CAR

Th advance copies of Return to Glory! The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Racing Car by Robert Ackerson arrived at Veloce House this week. Here's a few photos of the limited edition book ...

– Limited Edition of 1500 copies –

This book chronicles the development and racing career of a car regarded as the ultimate example of the purebred sports car of the 20th century and the epitome of functional beauty and extraordinary performance: the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Taking second place at its 1952 Mille Miglia debut, it went on to win every one of its races that season. Dramatic photos, vivid descriptions, and dramatic recollections from the drivers ensures this book will be a joy to read and enjoy for years to come.

Click here for more info about the book.

Friday 1 November 2013

AUTHOR PROFILE No.7: NORM MORT

Of British descent, Norm Mort was raised in Toronto where vehicles from every corner of the world were sold. He began taking pictures of old cars and trucks parked at the side of the road before he was ten. At 12 years of age, Norm was the youngest member on the executive of the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada, Toronto Chapter. In the 1960s he began accumulating photos and information on motoring. Over the years his personal vehicle collection has included everything from a 1949 Allard to a 1922 Vauxhall. A writer for magazines and newspapers in the field of transport for nearly 25 years, and a member of the Canadian Society of Automotive Historians, Norm is the author of 9 Veloce books.

The Norm Mort Veloce collection, so far ...

For some reason, cars in general – and old cars in particular – have always interested me, ever since I was a toddler zoom-zooming my Matchbox series cars across vast hardwood floors and through chair and table legs. History has also always fascinated me, and early interests – apart from toy cars and trucks – were the American Civil War and WWI airplanes. Fortunately I had great parents who encouraged these interests.
From the time I was about seven and armed with a simple Brownie camera, my Dad would stop the car whenever I spotted some old car at a gas station or along the road. I still have all my black and white photos in an album, and in fact, have used some of them in newspaper and magazine columns, and even in a few of my books published by Veloce.

Ford Model A in 1964.

Using money saved from part-time after school jobs, I first bought a 1962 Triumph TR3A. It was in great shape for a seven year old car, and cost me $425.00 after I talked the original owner down $25.00. I liked the Triumph as the styling was far more “vintage” than the newest TR250 or an MGB.
After graduating from high school I was accepted by the University of Toronto but, a week before I went to orientation, I was in a serious accident. On a twisty country road I rounded a corner only to find a rather large rock had fallen. I swerved to miss it, but it caught the front wheel, and braking hard the Triumph spun around. I continued down the road backwards. At the bottom of the hill the TR slid-off into the ditch and flipped over.
I guess I was lucky the Triumph had cut-down doors, as I went through the driver’s side-curtain and was pinned underneath. I was even luckier: my brother-in-law was right behind me and turned off the ignition. He pulled me out and went to call an ambulance. Perhaps it was the fact I was just about to start university, but I recall my first thought was whether I had brain damage. No, I was no dumber than I was before, although at time I didn’t realize I had a jaw broken in two places and a broken shoulder, as well as some minor lacerations!
Despite the crash I eventually got the car running again, fitted a new windscreen and steering wheel, and sold it for $200 toward a restored 1936 Chrysler Airstream four-door sedan. That Chrysler became my daily driver over the next two years of University, where I majored in history and anthropology.
I enjoyed driving the old Chrysler, it being quite different to the 1960s sedans and station wagons most students drove. I was also given great latitude in campus parking. If the lot was full, I parked in the professor parking. The security guards would often remark they’d seen it in the restricted parking area, but they liked the car and found my comment “Hmmm, are you sure it wasn’t somebody else’s ’36 Chrysler?” quite amusing.
When I started dating my wife-to-be we drove the Chrysler everywhere. One night on a busy downtown street the clutch sank to the floor. I quickly discovered if I turned off the car, slipped it into first gear, then started it again, it drove okay. I was able to shift the non-synchromesh transmission by ear, get home to my parent’s house, and borrow dad’s car to carry on for the evening.
I soon spotted a 1967 Triumph Spitfire for sale, and decided to upgrade to attend teacher’s college in the fall. It had three wire wheels, and a steel wheel on the rear left because the splines were shot. I used a chisel on it to deepen the splines, which worked for a while, but I was soon rolling along on three wires again. Then a U-joint went. A fellow at work wanted the car for him and his dad to repair; thus, it went in favour of another friend’s 1970 Fiat 850 Spider.
The rear engine Spider was very sophisticated compared to the Spit, and pretty reliable except for the constantly frozen door locks – we had to use my by-then fiancé Sandy’s lighter to heat the key to turn them. Wining and dining was a favourite pastime, so there was never money for such mundane things as tires, and during a rain storm driving on a sweeping uphill curve I lost it. The diminutive Fiat spun and flipped over.
Anyone who has been in an accident knows that feeling of time standing still. My first thought as I rolled into the air was, “Oh no, not again!”. I also thought – “Fall towards the passenger seat.” Well, the gods were kind, and the large electric fan I was transporting on that seat somehow went into the footwell. Also, the highback bucket seats prevented the full pancake effect.
Being experienced in this situation, I turned-off the ignition and carefully peeked out the passenger side. I knew I was okay, but with all the heavy traffic I was frightened somebody would hit the car from behind and smear me across the highway. As I looked out a nice young lady asked if I was alright. I said I thought so, and pushed myself out of the car. (Who needs a rollbar when you have highback bucket seats?!) The young lady said, “Oh thank goodness. I just graduated as a nurse so I felt I had to stop, but was afraid there’d be a lot of blood!”
I called Sandy and told her I was fine. She got a ride down to the hospital, and just as she walked into the room a doctor was looking at me behind the curtain. He asked me to remove my shirt. Unfortunately, when they set my shoulder after the previous accident it was a bit of a botch-up, even though they did it twice. The end of a bone bulged out just over an inch where they had wired it – rather unusual looking, to say the least. When the young doctor saw this bone he yelled out “Oh my gosh!” and I had to assure him I was fine. My dad had to come and pick us up, and over dinner my parents said they hoped I was finished with sports cars and convertibles. That would not be the case.
My next car was a safe, but sporting, 1966 Rover 2000SC, but despite only having 29,000 miles on the odometer it seemed to break down every other week. Sandy and I married in the summer, but not before both the rebuilt Fiat 850 and Rover were traded in for a ‘cute’ but hardly sporting, Toyota Corolla Sprinter.
I had to travel an hour each way to my teaching job, and after a year the pristine looking Toyota sent a piston through the side of its block. We had two cats and a dog by that time, so air-conditioning in our next car was a must. Thus, it was an AMC Gremlin X with the very cool ‘Levi’ interior that became our daily transport. Another old car was soon added in the form of a Humber Super Snipe, but a short term parking problem saw it go. Within six months I had bought Sandy a decade old, but fully rebuilt 1968 Mustang convertible. Alas, that was stolen from the underground parking at our condo, and immediately replaced by a huge Canadian-built, 390ci V8 Mercury Meteor Montcalm convertible.
A move north of Toronto into a house for our imminently expanding family resulted in both remaining cars being replaced by a 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit convertible. It proved not to be the most reliable, and its folded roof was difficult for Sandy to see over, so when a local Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealer offered us a family-sized Oldsmobile Omega sedan and an MGA roadster, it was a good time to sell.
The MGA was the reason I started writing about cars. I was a member of the MG Owner’s Club, and became a regular contributor to its publication for a few years. Our son, Andrew, would travel to school with me in the MGA. His seatbelt on and the tonneau cover closed and keeping him safe and warm, there were many laughs when the passenger door would slowly open seemingly by itself and he’d pop out. Today, our very young grandchildren aren’t legally allowed to even ride in this kind of car, but things were very different in the 1980s.

Norm with his son, Andrew.

Many cars have come and gone since then, as have thousands upon thousands of newspaper articles and magazine features. Over the past five years or so, I’ve written eleven books along with Andrew, who contributed his photographic talents. Nine of these were published by Veloce.
Our first book for Rod Grainger and Veloce was Micro Trucks, which was a wonderful experience and so much fun to write. Mario Palma, a microcar and truck collector extraordinaire, provided us with all the trucks, as well as the ideal location to shoot them in a wide range of interesting settings. It was at this time I discovered the Autobianchi van was the perfect 500 variation on the theme for me – as well as for my constant companion Austin, our Golden Retriever.
Since then I have written books on Anglo-American cars, American ‘independent’ automakers, American woodies and station wagons, American trucks, and a buyer’s guide on Triumph Stags. With Andrew, I also had the pleasure of writing Dogs on Wheels – published by Veloce’s pet-focussed imprint, Hubble and Hattie – which aimed to provide a greater understanding of the importance of travelling safely with your canine companion.

Norm's dog Austin.

Norm in his Autobianchi.

Currently, a 1989 Volvo 960 and a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire convertible are our daily drivers, but we also have a 1957 BMW Isetta, a 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, a 1962 Triumph TR4, a 1962 Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans, a 1966 Autobianchi 500 Furgonette (like the one featured in Micro Trucks), a 1967 Reliant Regal 3/70, and a 1985 AMC/Renault Alliance Convertible crowded into our garage. Some await restoration, while others are drivers being enjoyed whenever possible.
For nearly a decade I was a member of the Studebaker Driver’s Club, but have never owned one, so a Lark station wagon would be an ideal next car, or an AMC Rambler. Even a Pacer station wagon would be nice – particularly for our two lovely Golden Retrievers and two happy grandchildren.
As for future titles, a children’s book is in the works, and I’d love one day to do something on Alfa Romeo. Watch this space ...

Click here to view all Veloce books by Norm Mort.