Tuesday 8 December 2020
Kawasaki H2 Love by Phil Green
Thursday 26 November 2020
Jamie Chadwick joins Extreme E with Veloce Racing
Jamie Chadwick is joining Team Veloce for the inaugural season of Extreme E beginning next March, as one of 20 drivers competing in this brand new off-road all-electric SUV series … yep; you read it right!
Extreme E is a new motorsport series, created with climate awareness and eco principles built-in from the ground-up (no pun intended), and promises to offer something truly unique in the world or motorsport. Founded by Spanish businessman and ex-politician, Alejandro Agag, the series already has some big names on-board; Lucas di Grassi (former Formula E champ), Andre Lotterer (three-times Le Mans champ), and Katherine Legge, (seasoned Formula E, IndyCar/ChampCar, and DTM racer), to name a few. And then there’s team X44, founded by a certain Lewis Hamilton … hmm … name sounds familiar …
Alejandro Agag |
Jamie is racing for the Veloce Racing team (fantastic name, but we are biased … and no relation, sadly) which was founded by none-other than Adrian Newey and Jean Eric-Vergne. Currently, two other female racers are confirmed; the UK’s Catie Munnings and Sara Price from the US.
The series aims to provide a fantastic spectacle, and one that could, perhaps, be a little more relatable for many people, than some race series. All-electric SUVs help not only to reduce fossil fuel use, but also create a filter-down effect for technology, much as other formulas have led to improvements in consumer vehicles. Using SUVs presents viewers with a more familiar vehicle than the extreme tech of F1 and Formula E, and could help bring a broader range of viewers to the sport. With SUVs being the biggest selling, and biggest growing auto market, bringing down its eco footprint could have a big effect on reducing fossil fuel use.
NOT your typical SUV. |
As well as utilising all-electric SUVs, the series consulted experts in the fields of ecology and environmental science to ensure that it has minimal environmental impact. There will even be a team of scientists travelling with the race teams, investigating the effects of climate change in each location.
Further lessening the eco burden, people and equipment will be ferried to each region in RMS St Helena, an ex-Royal Navy cargo vessel modified to act as a floating paddock. And as if that wasn’t enough, the series is drawing up plans to leave lasting legacies in the areas it visits, with tree-planting, clean-up operations, and renewable energy initiatives.
RMS St Helena, Extreme E transport vessel |
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of Extreme E – certainly for traditional motorsports fans – is that there will be no track-side spectators. Instead, the entire series will be broadcast on TV and streamed online, with filming carried out by drones. For viewers, the spectacle promises to be a feast for the eyes. If the trick shots and flyovers made possible by drone cams aren’t exciting enough, each race location will offer a very different environment for racing – from steamy rainforests, and frozen glaciers, to arid deserts, each being a 'poster child' for the effects of global heating and ecological damage.
Last year, Jamie showed her mettle by taking the championship crown in the female-only W Series. Sadly, the Covid pandemic brought a halt to this year’s W Series action, but it’s due back on track in 2021. Extreme E announced in April that there would be an equal number of male and female drivers, making it a rare opportunity to race against the opposite sex; as Jamie told BBC Sport:
"It's huge. It's amazing what Extreme E have done with the format they have chosen. It’s exciting for me because it gives me this opportunity - it's the same for everyone, 100% fair.
"It's such a male-dominated sport. There are so few females, that you have to take that responsibility [of being a female role model]. But I'm always just focused on doing the best job I can possibly do."
Jamie’s involvement in the sport has also had a knock-on effect on her own awareness of ecological issues, already making a positive impact on her own actions:
"I've definitely been made more aware of climate issues, with a lot of stats and things I wasn't aware of before. I try to do everything I can to help in my own life, such as scootering everywhere."
Jamie’s journey hasn’t always been smooth running, but with a W Series championship under her belt, Extreme E on the horizon, momentum continues to gather for Jamie, and with eight W Series races supporting the 2021 F1 season, the opportunity to add vital points to her Superlicence is just around the corner. Heaven knows it’s about time we saw a female racing driver in F1 again; the last to race was Lella Lombardi, in 1976.
We’d like to wish Jamie – and the brilliantly named Veloce Racing – the best of luck in the inaugural Extreme E season. We’ll be watching and cheering come March 2021 – and as they say on social #VivaVeloce !
Find out more about Extreme E and Jamie’s latest challenge, on the BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/55061262
Visit Jamie’s site http://jamiechadwickracing.com for all the latest news from Jamie, and the Veloce Racing site https://www.veloce-racing.com
Find out the what, when, and how of Extreme E at https://www.extreme-e.com
Wednesday 11 November 2020
Farewell to a life in car design
Oliver Winterbottom, with his 1966 Concorso Grifo d’Oro Bertone award-winning model. (Courtesy Malcolm Griffiths/Classic & Sports Car) |
It with much sadness that we announce that Veloce author, automotive designer, and dear friend of Veloce Publishing, Oliver Winterbottom, passed away on Friday 6th October, aged 76.
Oliver spent his entire career designing cars, and a short period designing boats. Beginning his working life as an engineering apprentice at Jaguar Cars, he later spent five years there as a staff designer.
Model and drawings on display in Turin for the Bertone competition in 1966. |
In 1971, Oliver joined Lotus Cars as Design Manager, where he was responsible for styling, body engineering, and aerodynamics. His designs have come to symbolise an entire era of auto design, defined by the classic 'wedge' shape styling. In 1975, he transferred from Lotus to Colin Chapman’s luxury boat company.
A short period of self employment, and the start of the TVR Tasmin range of sports cars, saw him joining the company through to the launch of the Tasmin Convertible and 2 +2. In 1980 he returned to Lotus to lead the joint Lotus/Toyota sports car project, completing a running prototype vehicle.
Oliver, with the JCL Mamba, a design he created in 1976. |
After a stint working in the US as Project Manager for General Motors, he returned to the UK and rejoined Lotus, holding a number of senior management positions in engineering and vehicle safety. He resigned in 1998 to set up a consultancy, where he worked until his retirement in 2009.
Oliver always maintained a 'hands-on' approach throughout his career, both to the design and to the development of a wide range of products. Besides vehicle design, he had interests in architectural design, boats, and civil engineering. He loved Italian coachwork from the 1950’s to the present, regretting the decline of the traditional design houses.
Colin Spooner, Roger Putnam, Mike Kimberley, Colin Chapman and Oliver Winterbottom inspect a full-size coupé model. |
Oliver's work took him all over the world – France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden, USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Brazil and Russia. He always enjoyed travel, and took an interest in the history and geography of the regions he visited, to get a better understanding of the places and the people there.
Since our first meeting Oliver in 2016, for preliminary work on A Life in Car Design, Oliver has been a warm friend to all at Veloce. Instrumental in helping publicise and promote his book, many of Oliver’s efforts in this area are recounted in a series of posts on the Veloce blog, called Oliver Winterbottom’s Diaries. Recounting his travels to shows and auto events across the UK and beyond, his diary included everything from funny stories and anecdotes, to meetings with friends, old and new, and commentary on many current events, technologies, and happenings that came to his broad attention.
Oliver gave frequent talks, and was a regular at car shows up and down the country. Here Oliver is interview for local radio at the Hinckley Classic Show, 2018. |
Oliver gained genuine pleasure from meeting and chatting with anyone interested in cars, design, boats, and much more besides, whether they be industry insider, or a private individual, and his passion for such things never dwindled, as is evident from his blog diaries. He was particularly keen on passing on his knowledge and an enthusiasm for creative work to younger generations, and often gave talks and presentations for car clubs and organisations. You can hear Oliver discussing his thoughts on this, and more, in our 2017 interview, below.
Whether retelling his experiences from his decades in the auto industry, to hearing his funny stories – and, of course, his recommendations for good Inns and Pubs to eat and drink around the country (and where to avoid) – Oliver was always a engaging, always entertaining, and always a gentleman; he will be sorely missed by all at Veloce Publishing.
We would like to extend our condolences to Oliver’s family.
Oliver Winterbottom
1944–2020
Tuesday 27 October 2020
Our new press release archive
While most of our readers will be familiar with our website and online store, there are some aspects of our site that many may be unaware of, unless a trade customer, dropshipper, or media worker. Once such area is press releases, which have just received a major overhaul.
Press releases are the publicity life blood for most publishers, and we have kept and maintained an archive covering seven years of Veloce and Hubble & Hattie press releases, stretching back to 2013. Our press releases have been popular with trade and media partners, but are not so well known to our customers, newer partners and dropshippers.
Timed to coincide with a book's release, or with a newsworthy story, releases are invaluable in letting the world know about our latest books and news. To give easy access to our releases, old and new, and for trade partners and customers alike, we have corralled two years of releases together, in one place, on our website.
Covering 2020 to-date, and the whole of 2019, each press release includes assets such as images and text files – perfect for trade partners publicising our books, and super fans wanting to know more. Now anyone can access the information that press and media bodies see, direct from our website.
You can find our press release pages under More at veloce.co.uk, or you can view via our dedicated subdomain at https//media.veloce.co.uk.
All the releases are arranged by date, with year and month index pages, and each includes the following downloadable assets:
- A high resolution cover image in JPG format
- A plain-text file containing the full press release text
- A ZIP press pack, comprising of a number of press pics, plus the cover and text files mentioned above
In addition, a link to each book’s product page is included, pointing to Veloce or Hubble & Hattie websites, where relevant.
We will be adding new press releases to the site as they appear, and we hope to add releases from our extensive archive, as we are able: we still receive requests for information on many books in our back catalogue, even for those that have been out of print for some time.
We hope these pages will be especially useful to our trade and media partners – don’t forget that you can use any information from our website product pages, as well as our from press release pages, so long as it is specifically to help publicise, market, or review our books.
As mentioned above, we have made available 2019 and 2020 press releases online, to start with. We aim to add pre-2019 titles as we are able (sometimes, there's just not enough hours in the day), but, in the meantime, if you would like press releases or assets for one of our pre-2019 titles, please do email us, and we will see if we have something for you.
Also, before a book is in print, we are often required to make a wide range assets for internal, social, and marketing purposes, many of which can be made available upon request, and can include product mockups, spreads, and themed graphics.
Of course, not all books have such assets, but we may have something for a particular book that suits your needs. So, if you’re advertising, marketing, or reviewing one of our books, head over to our press release pages, and product pages, to see what’s available; you’re welcome to contact us if you have a specific query about a book, or what assets are available.
Click here to visit our new press release archive.
Friday 16 October 2020
The Cars of Eddie Van Halen
October saw the loss of an icon of rock music, and an inspiration to generations of guitar players. Eddie Van Halen passed away at age 65. Eddie Van Halen burst onto the music scene in 1978, with the eponymous album Van Halen. The group was formed in 1972, by Eddie and brother Alex, and continued with varying lineups – including with son, Wolgang – until the present day.
As someone who grew up listening to Van Halen, learning riffs and songs that I still play today (albeit at a fraction of the volume and with a fraction of the talent), I can vouch for the huge effect he had on music, then and now. I may have been a little late to the Van Halen party, but I can still remember the first time I heard the blistering guitar tones: a modded Strat, rewound PAF pickups blasting through a Marshal Plexiglass powered by a Variac (yeah – I’m a guitar nerd).
Eddie's iconic home-made 'Frankenstrat.' |
Eddie's 'Van Hauler' C1500 pickup. (Courtesy Hemmings.com) |
EVH’s collection features a number of cars by Bones Fab, and the next example is a fine 1970 Chevrolet Nova. As with most things EVH, the car is modded, featuring a 454 LSX motor, good for 650hp, completely revised rear suspension and brakes, and carbon fibre bonnet and boot. It also looks pretty fine in the Cali sunshine in Tang Yellow Orange paint.
1970 Chevrolet Nova … |
… looks good from EVERY angle. |
Edie's Nomad. (Courtesy Barret-Jackson) |
1955 210. (Courtesy Mecum Auctions) |
For one, it’s just so light. But really, it’s the handling. I don’t know how Porsche did it. We raced in the rain at Buttonwillow, which is my favorite track. We raced in the fucking rain and we never lost it, never spun out. BBI [Autosport] did my suspension. I set it up so you can feel it go and you can actually slide the damn car. It’s the first time ever I’ve been able to four-wheel-drift a Porsche. Every other Porsche I’ve ever had, I’ve spun them all. Well, every 911, anyway.
The Lamborghini Miura S. Sounds good too. |
Carl Lender / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) |
Monday 12 October 2020
Getting back on track
To say 2020 has been difficult year, for pretty much everyone, is an understatement. There will, no doubt, be further obstacles to navigate before we can say we’re through the worst of the pandemic, but we’ve fought-on with distance, masks and hand gel, and we’ll continue to do just that.
During the pandemic, we have tried our utmost to keep our books, both old and new, flowing, and to bring new projects to fruition. It’s not been easy, but we’re now starting to get our programme back on track, and new books are starting to come online at a gathering pace. There is still much uncertainty, and some supply chain disruption; we’ve even seen highly unusual instances of new books selling out before we can restock.
So, whilst things aren’t back to normal yet, we can at least whet your appetite and reveal just a few of the brilliant reads we have coming your way over the next few months – and more will follow.
First, though; let's catch up with a book that came into stock between editions of On the Grid that you may have missed, and that you can get your hands on today …
FIAT 124 Spider & Pininfarina Azzura Spider
(AS-DS) 1960 to 1985
These 2-seater sporty convertibles have been entertaining drivers with an engaging ride since they debuted at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. From 1981, the car carried the Pininfarina badge, and the name was even used again, admittedly for a very different car, for 2016’s MX-5-based FIAT.
As with all our Essential Buyer’s Guides, you’ll discover what it’s like living with a Spider, where and how to buy, advice on the most suitable model, and in-depth analyses of the Spider’s strengths and weaknesses. There’s also coverage of suppliers, and the social scene around the cars, including clubs and organisations worldwide.
Coming soon
Chevrolet ½-ton C/K-Series Pickup Trucks 1973-1987 – “Built to Stay Tough” by Norm Mort
- Engine & chassis specifications included
- Covers all optional equipment
- Detailed close-up of all engines offered
- 3rd generation ½-ton Chevrolet pickup truck production facts and figures from 1971-1983
- Focus on all of the Chevrolet ½-ton C/K-Series models offered
- Previously unpublished images of fully restored ½-ton C/K-Series pickups
- Many images sourced from period advertisements and brochures
- Images of rarer performance versions
- Descriptive, detailed text on annual model changes, period road tests & references when new
- Highlights distinctive styling cues and increasing market focus on luxury features
Lotus Elan and Plus 2 Source Book by Matthew Vale
- Useful, practical, warts-and-all guide to owning and running a Lotus Elan or +2
- An invaluable source of real-world advice for existing owners
- Packed with up-to-date data
- Details Elan and +2 product history and chronology
- Guide to original features, and changes, through the life of all models
- Highly detailed specifications for all models
- Engine, transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, and dimension specifications
- Comprehensive restoration, renovation and preservation section
- Illustrated with high quality photos throughout
- The perfect guide for all Lotus owners, buyers, and restorers!
Once you’ve read Matthew’s Elan and +2 Source Book, and if you decide to take the plunge into Lotus ownership, then your next step will likely be buying your very own Elan or +2 … and we have just what you need …
Motorcycles, Mates and Memories – Recalling sixty years of fun in British motorcycle sport by Bill Snelling
Morris Cars 1948-1984 – A Pictorial History by Ray Newell
So, that's it for our look at some of the books we have coming your way. Stay up-to-date by signing up to our newsletter, On the Grid, and get notified when the book is in stock by clicking the buttons on the book pages (see our last blog entry for more details).
Monday 10 August 2020
Be the FIRST!
To use an automotive analogy, all new sites need some aerodynamic and mechanical fine-tuning – an ongoing process, of course – as we improve it, and make it faster and more useful for our customers and fellow enthusiasts.
To use another automotive analogy; if our old store was the classic Jaguar of websites, our new store is more the Porsche Taycan, or something along those lines (feel free to insert your own favourite Classic / Modern auto reference in the comments below). As with all things Classic vs Modern, some classics have features that are just too good to ignore, so we've brought back a much loved feature from our own 'classic' store, hooked it up to our new power unit and chassis, and it's racing now, as you read this. (I promise that that's the last of the auto analogies).
Get ahead of the pack
As mentioned, improvements and enhancements to our web site are a continuing process, and we'll be making our behind-the-scenes tweaks as usual over the coming weeks and months. Some of you may notice, some you may not, so make sure to stay subscribed to our newsletter and mailouts to hear about new features. new books coming your way in 2020 and beyond, and all the latest news and views from Veloce Publishing. If you have a feature request, or if you think there's something we can add to our site (or remove, of course) to improve it, let us know via email.
In the meantime, head over to our online shop, choose your next great Veloce read, and get notified … and you can get your Veloce fix before anyone else!
Thursday 16 July 2020
Model behaviour
Give your creation a workout with these paper rocks, free from papercruiser.com |
papercruiser.com's homepage hints at the range of models he sells |
Bugatti Type 35B in paper form |
A paper Valentino Rossi pilots a Yamaha YZR-R1 (also paper) |
Every Creative Park model is expertly designed and comes with instructions |
Who could resist a paper T-Rex? |
Emma Shanes (Office Administrator)
Emma, who is always up for an art or craft challenge, decided to make her choices, and opted for the Statue of Liberty, and Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.