Tuesday
Oct292013

The Lion on the Hunt

Since commenter Pilote has now stirred my boyhood memories of Elkhart Lake 1993, I have to share Nigel's blisteringly fast qualifying performance at that race--at a track he'd never seen before.  What a man, and what a season he had!

Monday
Oct282013

The Lion and the F40

I was a massive Nigel Mansell fan from ages 12-15. He was my hero. And this photo of him testing the F40 at Fiorano just shows everything that was cool about him at the time! Quientessentially English but with a latin verve in the cockpit!

Wednesday
Oct162013

Brian Redman shows us the Targa Florio in a 914-6

Just found this great period footage of Brian Redman giving a practice tour of the Targa Florio in 1970. You have to love the way he threads his way through the village traffic.

 

Tuesday
Oct012013

Lancia 037 Heaven at the San Remo Storico

There is something about this video, just seeing these amazing cars with their wide rear ends. The epic backfires, the sound of that high-strung supercharged 4 cylinder. Groupe B was such a mad and amazing era.

Friday
Sep202013

Lost in a Reverie at the Museo Nicolis

Somewhere off the highway between Verona and Mantova, there is a museum that is a must for any car lover visiting the Veneto region of Italy. The Nicolis museum celebrates the legacy of collector Luciano Nicolis, who passed away a few years ago leaving behind an amazing and diverse collection of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and machinery, as well as ephemera and even period clothing from the 20th century.

The Museo Nicolis is multiple floors of beautifully presented Lancias, Alfas, Maseratis and more, contextualized amid design objects and costumes that would have been used by their wealthy owners. Perhaps the crown jewels of the collection are the ex-Eva Peron Maserati A6 1500 coupe Pininfarina, and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8, which was used as a display model to sell these sumptuous cars in the States.For Lancisti, this is probably one of the finer collections you could hope to see of pre-1970 Lancias. The most special Lancia would be the Astura that is still run in the classic Mille Miglia by the children of Mr. Nicolis.

There are also plenty of obscure Etceterini, and interestign one-offs and customs to dazzle the eye. Another incredible object on display is the Vanderbilt Cup, on loan from the Alfa Romeo museum. Produced by Cartier, It may be the finest trophy I have ever laid eyes on. Just two names are engraved on its base: those of Bernd Rosemeyer and local Mantovan hero Tazio Nuvolari.Have a look through the full gallery of the museum HERE.