BRITISH WOODIES IS BOOK OF THE MONTH

British Woodies from the 1920s to the 1950s by Colin Peck is reviewed in the March 2010 edition of Best of British magazine.

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Forthcoming in 2010! American Woodies 1928-1953
By Colin Peck.
Looks at the American Woodies built from the 1920s to the early 1950s, which came in a variety of models including station wagons, convertibles and sedans. Whereas the station wagons were built for functionality, the Woodie sedans and convertibles were constructed purely for style.
More info.

STARS SET TO SHINE ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Six-times Rallye Sunseeker winner Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery in their Hyundai Accent WRC.
The eagerly anticipated battle for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship gets underway next weekend when crews from all over the UK as well as further afield converge on the South coast resorts of Bournemouth and Poole for the annual ANCRO season opener as the 25th annual Rallye Sunseeker roars into life.

And with the best entry assembled in recent years, fans on the South Coast's premier motorsport event will be revelling in the atmosphere amidst the Dorset forests.

Six-times event winner and very much the local hero Marcus Dodd from nearby Poole along with co driver Andrew Bargery from just down the coast at Hove, will be looking to win back the crown they relinquished to Isle of Wight Subaru driver Will Nicholls and co driver Nick Broom last year, and given that Nicholls and Broom are not returning to defend their title, the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing will start the event as one of the favourites.

Whereas Dodd is the reigning Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Champion having landed the crown five times in total and the last three times in succession, he faces stiff opposition as heading the challenge will be four former champions who are making a welcome return to the fold.

Twice Rallye Sunseeker winner Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield took the Championship honours in 1998 and the driver who lives near Silverstone is back for another crack at the title in his venerable Subaru whereas 2004 ANCRO winner and VK boss Steve Perez from Chesterfield along with co driver Paul Spooner has the ex Marcus Gronholm Ford Focus WRC07 at his disposal and is fresh from winning last weekend's Wyedean Rally. 2005 Champion Paul Bird is back with a vengeance in his works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the flamboyant chicken farmer from Penrith has won his last three events in a row along with co driver Kirsty Riddick but like Perez, has never sampled Sunseeker glory. The other winner of the national title to take to the start line is Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry who won the series in 1999 and the Subaru WRC driver will be looking to repeat his win on Rallye Sunseeker of 2002, this time with co driver Harvey Bell on the notes.

The rivalry between Perez and Bird is legendary in Rallye Sunseeker history, but they, as well as Dodd, Duckworth and McKinstry, will be having to look to their rear view mirrors as there are a host of top names expected to be in the mix come Saturday afternoon.

Double British Champion Jonny Milner is reunited with his trusty Toyota Corolla WRC and co driver Ian Windress so could be the dark horse whilst Irish marauders Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady (Subaru WRC) and Jonny Greer (Mitsubishi Evo 9) could spring a surprise. County Durham driver Stephen Petch teams up with John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC and don't rule out local aces Anthony Willmington/Andrew White (Mitsubishi Evo 6) and Scotsman Dave Weston Jnr and Ieuan Thomas in their latest version Subaru. Scandinavian drivers Daniel Sigurdarson and Johannes Gunnarson add to the international ambience in their respective Mitsubishis as part of the shakedown for the upcoming Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

With the traditional Friday evening Winter Gardens and Seafront stage not included this year, the event gets underway with a pompous ceremonial start at Poole Quayside at 18.15 on Friday, before the event proper starts on Saturday morning with the traditional loops around the forests and stately homes of Ringwood and Wareham before the winners' champagne is uncorked in Bournemouth town centre around 17.30.

More details, including entry lists, spectator information and maps etc on the event can be found at www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk and information on the 2010 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship is listed at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

MATRA SPORTS CARS REVIEWED IN OCTANE

Many thanks to Octane magazine for this review of Matra Sports Cars – MS620, 630, 650, 660 & 670 - 1966 to 1974 by Ed McDonough.


Click here for more info about the book.

THE GHOSTS OF CIRCUITS PAST!

Monza
Brooklands
Augusta

New! Speedway – Auto racing’s ghost tracks
By SS Collins & Gavin D Ireland

An evocative and original look at the history of eight abandoned race circuits in the USA and Europe, and viewed as they are today in stunning new photographs.
Around the world languish a number of long-forgotten raceways; windswept and abandoned, the derelict pit roads and crumbling concrete are all that remain of once great race tracks. From the NASCAR heartland of North Wilkesboro and Middle Georgia to the great European super speedways at Monza and Brooklands, these faded circuits are now monuments to the victories, defeats, triumphs and tragedies once played out before excited crowds.
With roots as diverse as Nationalist Socialism and Prohibition-era bootlegging, the histories of these places offer an insight to different times and attitudes, as well as the evolution of motor racing. Many of the characters who raced on these circuits had a profound impact on their sport; these circuits, which fostered and occasionally destroyed such great drivers, are revisited here – photographed as they are now, but also remembered in their prime by word and picture.
With over 180 images, this unique and evocative book is available now from bookshops or from www.velocebooks.com.

VW BUS APP REVIEWED!

Thanks to VW Camper Van Blog for reviewing VW Bus - The Essential Buyer's Guide iPhone app.


"for ‘newbies’ the information is clear and concise and will definitely help when taking the plunge on your first van." - VW Camper Van Blog.

Click here to read the review in full.

We would love to hear what other people think about the app. Maybe you are in a position to publish a review? If so, get in touch!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE 'BEAUTY'

Thanks for all your excellent contributions to the Sleeping Beauties competition. It's already a classic collection and certainly reveals the reach of On The Grid.

Entries have come in from all over the world ...
... Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Europe, Africa and, of course, the UK. The competition runs until August 15th, so there's still plenty of time to get your entry in. Please keep them coming to jk@veloce.co.uk.

Even if you don't have a photo to contribute, take a look at all the great entries so far, and vote for your favourite, either by posting a comment on the blog, or emailing jk@veloce.co.uk.

ITALIA COMFORT

Check out the latest picture on our blog header – a fantastic interior shot of an Italia convertible, the product of Frank Reisner and his company, Intermeccanica – one of many great photos from our forthcoming book, Intermeccanica - The Story of the Prancing Bull. With a Nardi steering wheel and handcrafted leather seating, the Italia's cockpit rivaled many luxury sports cars in the late-1960s. (Picture courtesy of Dan Eastwood)

Frank Reisner, a Hungarian-born Canadian, turned a youthful passion for cars into one of the world’s most famous small sports car building companies. From modest beginnings in Turin, Intermeccanica designed & produced a dozen different but exciting models that shook the motoring world in the '60s & '70s.

Intermeccanica - The Story of the Prancing Bull is due out this month.

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