Paddock of legends

I think words are unnecessary here. Just drink it in.

via the Chicane

Milano at Speed

My friend and sometime driving partner Rob sent me these pics of him hustling his Milano track car around Michigan's Waterford Hills course. I couldn't resist sharing them with you!

Photo Credit: Ed Frank

Lime Rock Historics Moment of Zen

Well, because of impending travel, I didn't get to go to this year's Lime Rock Vintage Festival, and I am really bummed. But while I am gone for about a week, here are two photos from last year's races to tide you over!

The Automobiliac Proposes Vol. #4 - Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

When the new Alfa 8C came out, many Alfisti praised it as some sort of "return to form" for Alfa. Return to what form? Under Walter De Silva, Alfa was arguably making their prettiest cars since WW2, and his departure for Audi left shoes that his successor has, in my opinion, utterly failed to fill. While I was excited to see Alfa produce a world class small volume sports coupe, I never have found the styling to my taste, either in photos or in person. People continually compare it to the TZ2 or to the 33 Stradale, but to me, that is like comparing Scarlett Johanson to Grace Kelly. One might be young and hot, but the other is incomparably beautiful. It's no contest. The biggest problem I have with the 8C is how stubby and pudgy it looks. It really needs to have longer, more lithe proportions to make the surfacing work. Like many modern sports cars, it is too short for the size of its wheels, and the entire design suffers as a result. For my proposal, I have lengthened the wheelbase, and reduced the amount of space between the top of the wheels and the top of the fender, which Alfa made so thick! The windshield rake has been redone, and the C pillar is less massive. It is a subtle effect, I'll admit. When you look at the original now, doesn't it look like a Pontiac Solstice?

Automobiliac visits Gullwing Motor Cars

Tucked away in a nondescript corner of Queens near LaGuardia airport is a warehouse where hundreds of classic cars of every type and description are nestled cheek to jowl. The effect is as if one has walked into a fastidious 9-year-old's bin of matchbox cars. Yet they are all rare and interesting classics, from pristine concours condition to barn finds with bumpers and coffee cans of parts sitting inside them. There is also an outside lot as well, and a friendly employee gave us a lift over there to inspect the two Alfa Montreals they have for sale. Amazed by the tight quarters of all the cars, we asked him what method is used for packing them in like sardines.  We expected to hear that they use dollies to slide the cars into place, but the employee assured us that in fact the cars are put in place by parking them! Even after his detailed description of his technique, I am still sort of baffled. Many of these cars were about 1/2 and inch apart. I really couldn't believe it.  Please enjoy the full gallery by clicking the photo below!