ROY SMITH COLLECTOR OF ALL-THINGS ALPINE

Author of Veloce books, Roy Smith, is photographed on page 53 of the June 2010 edition of Classic & Sports Car magazine.


Roy Smith is a retired company director who has a life long passion for motor sport, and, since 1968, Alpine Renault in particular. He began writing in the 1960s for club magazines, mainly interviews with the notables of the time.

The stunning display (pictured above) of Roy's model collection of Alpine cars ranges from a 4CV-based coupé to R5 Turbos, and includes his super-detailed Provence Moulage kit of the '78 Le Mans-winner.

Roy debuted with Alpine & Renault – The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car: 1968 to 1979, followed more recently with Alpine & Renault – The Sports Prototypes – Volume 1: 1963-1969 & Alpine & Renault – The Sports Prototypes – Volume 2: 1973-1978.
He likes to provide a good read to newcomers and hardened enthusiasts alike. He has written many motor sport and Alpine-related articles since 1989 for various magazines, and is the UK historic correspondent for the French magazine Retro Passion and the Alpine Renault magazine, Mille Miles.

Roy has begun work on his next book, which will be entitled Amédée Gordini – a true racing legend scheduled for publication late 2011.

A VW BEETLE EXPERT ON YOUR IPHONE!

Veloce Publishing releases its second iPhone App

VW Beetle - The Essential Buyer's Guide.
Available now from the App Store.
Priced at £2.49 UK / $3.99 USA.
Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

Features
- STOP! Do not buy a Beetle without the help of this App.
- Great value for money!
- Unique buyer’s guide covering VW Beetles produced between 1945 and 2003.
- Many colour photographs taken especially for this guide.
- Informative text written by enthusiastic experts with the novice in mind.
- In-App videos which feature helpful voiceovers by your marque experts, Ken Cservenka and Richard Copping.
- Invaluable guide to avoiding pitfalls and getting real value for money.
- All aspects of buying a VW Beetle are covered.

Description
A unique App dedicated to VW Beetles built from 1945-2003, including Cabriolet, Standard and Deluxe, 1300 Beetle, 1500 Beetle, 1302S, 1303, and Mexican-built Beetles (from 1978). Meticulously researched with many model-specific photographs reproduced to illustrate genuinely informative advice.

Written by enthusiasts, the easily readable text is informative for the first time buyer, while still being of great value to those who have already owned a Beetle.

Packed with good advice – from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the VW Beetle community, to will a Beetle fit in your garage and with your lifestyle? – the VW Beetle Essential Buyer's Guide is THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE to choosing, assessing and buying the VW Beetle of your dreams. Buy the right Beetle, at the right price!

Use "VW Beetle" to find the App in the App store.

NORTON COMMANDO

Check out our new blog banner, featuring a lovely shot of an original Fastback, the first Commando. If you fancy owning one then we recommend getting yourself a copy of Norton Commando – The Essential Buyer's Guide!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author's years of real ownership experience; learn how to spot a bad Commando quickly and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right bike at the right price!

'MR BIG HEALEY' IN STOCK AND BOOK SIGNING

New! 'Mr Big Healey' – The Official Biography of John Chatham by Norman Burr is out now!

We're delighted to announce that John Chatham will be available to sign copies of the book at MG Live 2010 on both Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of June at Silverstone.

Thanks to the Austin Healey Club UK for organising the signing.





Leaping in at the start of a driving test in the early 1960s

ICONIC BATMOBILE TRIBUTE AT AUCTION

A tribute to one of the most iconic and distinctive film cars of all time, the Batmobile, will be a focus of attention at the inaugural Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on June 2, when a faithfully re-created car goes under the hammer alongside a prestige portfolio of more traditional, first-class classic motor cars.

For one of Historics’ investors, Mark Perkins, the Lot holds particular significance, as he has owned the car since 1988 and is reluctantly parting with it.

One of only three existing steel-bodied versions, Perkins’ Batmobile – complete with dashboard-mounted television, rear parachute pod and Batphone – is accompanied by an extensive clippings file, having made numerous promotional appearances, including the Batman stage show in the United Arab Emirates in 1993, and a number of showings alongside Adam West, star of the original Batman TV show.

Based on a Lincoln Continental chassis and built to a similar specification as the original car in the Sixties, the car was finally completed in 1988, following input from renowned custom coachbuilder, Bill Chaplin. The car is extremely reliable and frequently driven, and is offered with a full year’s MoT test certificate as well as a UK V5 registration document.

Mark Perkins explained his reluctance to let the car go; “Classic cars, and this one in particular, should be driven to be enjoyed, and I’ve loved taking it on the road over the years. However, my work with Historics at Brooklands will leave me little time to do so in the future, and so sadly it’s time someone else derived pleasure of ownership.”

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.

Press release & image source: Historics at Brooklands

If you like classic cars in TV & film you'll love Motor Movies – The Posters!

"Be warned: a peek and you could be hooked. ‘Motor Movies – The Posters!’ is a collector’s delight, any way you choose." – Overdrive

More info.

'WORTHY OF THE JULES RIMET TROPHY'

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect by Graham Robson is BOOK OF THE MONTH in the June 2010 issue of Classic & Sports Car!

Click image to view full size

REVIEW OF ALPINE & RENAULT 2 VOLUME SET

Thanks to Classic Cars magazine for this review of Alpine & Renault – The Sports Prototypes – Volume 1: 1963-1969 & Alpine & Renault – The Sports Prototypes – Volume 2: 1973-1978.