Lotus Europa - Love it or hate it?

I've long been smitten by the Lotus Europa.  In fact, I have a strong suspicion that my first vintage race car --if I am financially blessed to have ANY race car some day-- will probably be a Europa.  I love how incredibly low they are, and the flares just add another level of cool.  Chapman's genius for chassis engineering and use of fiberglass really shows in this peculiar car, and they are still relatively affordable and cheap to run. 

However, I know I am in a small club who likes the Europa, and many consider it to be weird and ungainly.  Let's hear from you, fellow Automobiliacs!  Love it or hate it?  And please say why you think so!

Alfa dogfight at Lime Rock

I attended the Lime Rock Vintage festival this weekend and had an absolute blast! My friend Santo (pictured below), who with his brother Frank runs the Domenick's foreign car shop in White Plains, NY, posted this wonderful video of himself dicing with another Alfa. Grab some popcorn and watch the race!

Monday Moment of Zen

Fellow Automobiliacs: I have been travelling, and apologize for the week of radio silence! While I get my clothes unpacked and sift through my photos, here's a little something to enjoy.

Photo Credit: James Lamdin

We interrupt our Pebble Beach coverage ........ to bring you the Lime Rock Historics!

This Alfa Romeo GP car , circa 1936, was lapping at around 1:10! That's pretty damn fast for a 75 year old racing car on skinny tires!Labor Day weekend, I managed to escape from the Metropolis for a few hours to enjoy the Historic Races and Lime Rock Park. The track is near and dear to my heart and it's always a lot of fun to come up there. I was there on the Monday, and it rained like crazy, but I did manage to get a few rather evocative shots before I booked it home. Click the pics below for the full gallery.

Walter Cronkite extolls the virtues of Sports Cars and takes us to Lime Rock

This video is a gem.  First, we have Cronkite at the wheel of an Austin Healey, explaining the concept of a "Sports Car" the general American public in an era when chrome grill and bumper assemblies probably weighed more than an entire Lotus chassis.  Then he takes us to Lime Rock in the 1950s, complete with in-car camera-work behind the roll bar. Lotus 11's galore. And is that Walter himself at the wheel of the Healey at 1:56?? I see a moustahce in the tiny mirror!  The piece ends at the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix with Stirling Moss's victory in the Lotus 18.  Without ever mentioning the marque, this piece is almost an infomercial for Colin Chapman's fledgling brand, showing its stellar capabilities at both amateur and professional levels.

Also, isn't it just remarkable how little Lime Rock has changed in all these years??