Phil Hill's racing photographs due out in a new book!

I for one am quite excited to learn that Phil Hill's personal collection of racing photographs, taken on his trusty Leica, are currently being compiled into an upcoming book entitled "Inside Track" by his son Derek, photographer Steve Dawson, and renowned historian Doug Nye.  Here's a brief video produced by Leica promoting the upcoming book.  One of my favorite shots is at 4:05 showing a trophy surrounded by stacks of prize money.

More info about the book at Phil Hill's official web site. You can sign up on thier mailing list to be notified when the book is out!

via Motorsport Retro

Snow Rally Moment of Zen

What could be better?

hat tip to Rob!

Honda vs. Sandy: Honda FTW

This Accord seems remarkably unfazed by the massive tree trunk that landed upon it with a sickening crash last night.  I snapped this photo this morning about a block from my house.  We're safe and sound here at Automobiliac HQ, but some folks are definitely having some bad luck in other parts of the city.

A GTV6 in Swingin' London

One of the pleasures of running this site is hearing from like-minded enthusiasts all over the world.  One such new friend is a Londoner named Alex, who has a beautiful red GTV6, with RHD, and wrote me one of the nicest letters I have received, about how reading about my exploits made him want to get out there and drive his car more.  On my recent trip to the UK, I of course had to look him up and go for a ride in his Alfa.First of all, Alex's car is in pretty damn nice condition, with an excellent respray and gorgeous Ronal Turbo wheels that make the car look totally stunning. Getting inside the car was sort of surreal, as I was of course getting in on the side I am accustomed to, yet all the dashboard is obviously on the other side.  It felt weird getting into such a familiar seat, but having no steering wheel in front of me!

We motored through some interesting parts of the city in search of a picturesque spot for some photos.  The thing that always surprises me when I ride in other peoples' GTV6's is really that no two sound alike.  There are so many different permutations of possible exhaust setup that riding in someone else's car is always something of a fresh experience.

At this point I have to confess a small twinge of jealousy.  The European bumpers really transform and lighten the entire appearance of the car, compared to the US bumpers, and Alex's Ronals just look so damn good.  It took him years to get his hands on them, as they are extraordinarily rare.I love that other than the rims, Alex has kept his car stock and really just maintains it beautifully. Being half Italian himself, Alex has a real affinity for these cars (he also owns a very pretty 1750 GTV!), and I am so glad I got to meet him and share in the passion we both have for the GTV6. Check out the full gallery of photos I took HERE.

Analog/Shift: The new best way to find quality vintage watches!

If you are looking for a new watch, buy an Autodromo. But if you are seeking a cool vintage timepiece, I highly recommend you check out Analog shift!  They have just launched a new site, featuring really top notch examples of some very desirable vintage hardware.  And if you want something they don't currently have in stock, they can hunt one down for you. The guys there are passionate about watches and classic cars, and will definitely speak your language.  Plus they know their stuff and are very honest and straightforward to deal with. Make sure you have a look at the Olive Green PVD Heuer Lemania Chrono! DO WANT!