‘MR LE MANS’ LAUNCHES CLASSIC TRIBUTE TO THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ROUND-THE-CLOCK RACE

‘MR LE MANS’ LAUNCHES CLASSIC TRIBUTE TO THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ROUND-THE-CLOCK RACE

Tom Kristensen launching Twilight Tribute to Le Mans at the Classic

This summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) will honour Le Mans, the world’s most famous 24-hour race, with Saturday evening’s on-track action featuring three spectacular sportscar showdowns under the evocative ‘Twilight Tribute to Le Mans’ banner.

The exciting initiative was launched today (Wednesday 10 April) at the special Silverstone Classic Preview by Tom Kristensen, the great Danish racer who holds the record for the most outright victories at Le Mans.

Widely known as ‘Mr Le Mans’, Kristensen has won the gallic endurance epic no fewer than nine times, six of which were consecutive successes between 2000 and 2005. Seven of his wins came with Audi, one in a TWR Porsche and one with Bentley in 2003.

“Le Mans is very much where my career unfolded, but it actually began almost by accident,” he revealed. “I only signed with the team four days before the race in 1997 as a late replacement, so I had very big ears trying to gather as much information as possible.

“I had a little bit of prior sportscar experience, but Le Mans is obviously a different challenge altogether. I didn’t know the track, and I only got chance to drive 17 timed laps before the race. It was quite an eye-opener, and I fell in love with the race there and then.

“It will be a real highlight of this summer’s Silverstone Classic to see these cars driving into the dusk – that’s when the race truly starts at Le Mans. For me, the UK is very much the centre of motorsport – and Silverstone is at the heart of it all.”

Ensuring the Classic tribute celebrates the full history of Le Mans, the trio of races selected for the Saturday evening highlight programme will feature 150 cars spanning almost a century of racing through the French countryside, drawn from the Bentley Centenary Trophy for Pre War Sports Cars, FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars and Masters Endurance Legends.

Bringing some of the Le Mans magic to Silverstone, all three showdowns will see iconic cars racing flat-out into the sunset and will run to a mini-enduro format, with mid-race pit-stops for driver changes.

The Bentley Centenary Trophy for Pre War Sports Cars will not only celebrate the illustrious Crewe company’s 100th birthday with a record entry of Bentleys from the 1920s and 1930s, but will also showcase early Aston Martins, Alfa Romeos, Bugattis, Lagondas and MGs from the dawn of Le Mans.

The celebrated Circuit de la Sarthe staged the very first running of the now fabled 24 Heures du Mans back in 1923 on closed public roads close to the city of Le Mans in north western France. A lone Bentley was among the pace-setters in that inaugural race, and the hallowed marque won five times over the following seven years – and then again in 2003, when Kristensen was among the victorious driving crew.

The more recent Tom Kristensen era is celebrated by the Masters Endurance Legends grid, which caters for both the super-fast prototypes and supercar GTs that competed at Le Mans between 1995 and 2012.

The FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars that complete the sparkling Twilight Tribute to Le Mans at the Classic highlight another great Le Mans epoch, with a glittering line-up of racers from the 1960s and early 1970s. Typically, the grid includes legendary Ferrari 512s, Ford GT40s, Lola T70s and Porsche 917s.

“It’s going to be an absolutely amazing evening and a real crowd-pleaser,” predicts Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic CEO. “The three races cover almost the entire history of Le Mans from the original ‘Bentley Boys’ right up to the current generation of hi-tech Peugeot and Aston Martin purpose-built prototypes. Watching them all race into the twilight will be very special for everybody attending the Classic this summer – and to have Tom Kristensen’s blessing is the icing on the cake!”

All those wishing to share in the spectacular Twilight Tribute to Le Mans celebrations at this summer’s Silverstone Classic must purchase their tickets in advance, with adult admission starting at £45.

Once again, all tickets will provide access to both Silverstone racing paddocks, all open trackside grandstands, live music concerts which this summer mark the 50thanniversary of Woodstock on both Friday and Saturday evenings, air shows, Drive Live test drives, funfair rides and the vast majority of the family entertainment on offer.

A wide range of child, young adult and family tickets are also available, along with camping and hospitality options. Full details of all 2019 ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website. 

THE RODEO DRIVE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE OPENS ENTRIES FOR ITS 2019 FATHER’S DAY CAR SHOW

THE RODEO DRIVE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE OPENS ENTRIES FOR ITS 2019 FATHER’S DAY CAR SHOW

The 26th annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance will showcase more than 100 rare and exotic cars this Father’s Day, June 16, 2019, with a free event hosted on the most elegant shopping boulevard in America. Local shops and restaurants will be open throughout the event giving visitors even more to enjoy.                                                                   

Beverly Hills, Calif. (April 9, 2019) – The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance will return to Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, June 16, 2019 celebrating 26 years as the must-attend Father’s Day event in Los Angeles. The event, which welcomes all, will present fathers and their families an up-close look at some of the world’s most prestigious vehicles against the luxurious backdrop of designer boutiques that line the city’s most famous street. Entries are now being accepted for show cars including the flagship class celebrating a century of Bentley Motors. 

The 2019 Rodeo Drive Concours will be headlined by the featured class celebrating 100 years of legendary British marque Bentley. The class will line the entire 200 block of Rodeo Drive with a selection of the rarest, most historic Bentley vehicles alongside the latest creations from the brand’s headquarters in Crewe, England. Further along Rodeo Drive, the 300 and 400 blocks will host curated classes including European classics, American muscle cars, pre-war cars, race cars and the latest luxury and exotic offerings from around the world.

“This year’s event will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bentley, a marque defined by the elegance and excellence that surrounds you on Rodeo Drive,” said Bruce Meyer, Chairman of the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance. “We’re proud to celebrate the history and craftsmanship of Bentley on its 100th anniversary. As one of the world’s most respected luxury and performance brands, there is a natural link between Bentley and the iconic Rodeo Drive. Our Father’s Day event will showcase the best of the best from around the world.”

Bentley is renowned today as one of the world’s foremost builders of luxury grand tourers and SUVs, and the marque’s 100-year history includes a litany of successes to add to that resume. From its dominance in racing including six overall victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans to its timeless designs and revolutionary engineering achievements – Bentley has reshaped the auto industry over the last century and has earned its place on Rodeo Drive on June 16.

In the 26 years since its beginnings at Beverly Hills High School, the Rodeo Drive Concours has become one of the most eagerly awaited annual events in Los Angeles. Considered a Father’s Day tradition for many Angelinos, the show offers a unique blend for car lovers and their families. Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance invites car owners of all types to submit their cars for consideration in 2019. Entries are now being accepted at http://rodeodrive-bh.com/26th-annual-rodeo-drive-concours-delegance-application-2019-2/.

The event benefits the Beverly Hills Police Foundation, a non-profit charity raising funds for officers and their families. Parking for the event is available at local parking garages and entry to the event is free.

RALLY ROUND VENTURES TO THE ‘ROOF OF THE WORLD’ IN TRANS-HIMALAYAN ADVENTURE

RALLY ROUND VENTURES TO THE ‘ROOF OF THE WORLD’ IN TRANS-HIMALAYAN ADVENTURE

International rally experts Rally Round is heading for the ‘roof of the world’ for the inaugural Trans-Himalayan Adventure starting on 20th April 2019. A mixture of 20 crews driving classic, vintage and 4x4 cars will journey through China, Tibet, Nepal and India as part of an exhilarating high-altitude expedition to the Himalayas.

Rally Director Liz Wenman said: “We first visited the region in 2015 with the Thunder Dragon Rally but we are reaching new heights on this event. We have kept the entries limited due to the intense nature of the terrain as we head for the plateau of the Himalayas. This will be an unforgettable adventure for all involved.”

Of the 20 crews, seven cars are in the vintage category including three Rolls-Royces – a 1925 40/50 Silver Ghost and two 25/30 models, one from 1938 and the other a 1937 Coupe. David and Julia Little will be campaigning their 1925 Bentley Super Sports while John and Mary Reddington will be in their 1927 Nash Roadster. A pair of Alvis 4.3 complete the line-up, the 1937 model owned by Michael and Anne Wilkinson and the 1938 Tourer of Martin Tacon.

The classic category is an eclectic mix with a 1952 Studebaker Champion, a 1965 Porsche 911 Coupe and a 1970 Mercedes 280SL Roadster all on the entry list. A trio of Jaguars also feature, with a ’54 XK120 DHC, a ’59 3.4/340, and a ’59 XK150 DHC all aiming to reach new heights.

The remaining vehicles are all 4x4s but still differ in age and type. The oldest is a 1979 Range Rover two-door whilst the youngest is a 2014 Land Rover Defender. There are two other Defenders, a 2000 model and a 2010 203 example. A 2003 Toyota Landcruiser and a 2012 Mercedes Benz G500 also take on the 5,400km drive.

The four-week adventure will start in Chengdu, in the Sichuan region of China, before heading via Tibet and Nepal to the finish line in Kathmandu on 10th May 2019.

“While other events have travelled along the southern foothills of the Himalayas, we will be crossing the range from north to south,” adds Liz. “Our route is not for the faint-hearted – crews will drive at high altitude and tackle astonishing roads and mountain tracks as they visit the magical city of Lhasa, the lost Western Tibetan Kingdom of Guge, sacred Mount Kailash and Everest Base Camp.

“Along the way we will experience unimaginably beautiful landscapes, rare wildlife and amazing cultural sites ranging from ancient ruins to stunning temples and monasteries.”

The journey does not end in Kathmandu as some of the crews will then continue to Pokhara in Nepal and cross the border into India to the final destination of Varanasi.

Rally Round offers amazing adventures all over the world and has a full calendar up until 2021 and beyond. It creates unique events that combine the passion for historic motorsport with the adventure of global travel.

Follow the Trans-Himalayan Adventure and find out about future events on the Rally Round website - www.rallyround.co.uk.

SEAT CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY OF 1430 AND 850 SPYDER AT THE TECHNO-CLASSICA

SEAT CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY OF 1430 AND 850 SPYDER AT THE TECHNO-CLASSICA

Once again, SEAT will be part of Techno-Classica, the renowned world show for vintage, classic and prestige cars in Essen, Germany. At this year’s edition, the Spanish carmaker is showing the variety and diversity of its history with some of the most popular vehicles to have driven off the brand’s production line.
Two versions of the 50-year-old 1430 – a first series saloon and a more powerful estate – as well as a gorgeous example of the 850 Sport Spider – the only convertible SEAT, has ever developed which also turns 50 this year – will be on show.
The SEAT that brought greater refinement to saloons: the SEAT 1430
The SEAT 1430 was released in 1969 and so marks its 50th anniversary in 2019. It was a 124 derivative, a unique Spanish model which can be considered the most complete Spanish saloon car of the time. The 1430 is easily recognisable by its twin-headlights, (the 124 always had a single headlight), and bigger taillights, while under the bonnet was a 1,438cc, 70PS engine, (10PS more than the standard 1.2-litre 124).
Although the design of the 1430 was very similar to the standard 124, the simple modifications to the lights and the bigger, more powerful engine were enough to make it a different, more up-market car. The 1430 was produced until 1976, when the 124 evolution called “Pamplona” was launched, inheriting the full 1430 engine range. More than 255,000 examples were built, powered by the standard 1430 engine as well as 1.6 and 1.8 twin-cam versions, known as FU, (the letters that identified the chassis numbers).
The 1430 was also produced defining moments in SEAT’s motorsport history. The most powerful versions were incredibly successful in rally competition, winning four Spanish rally championships in the mid-’70s, a golden period for SEAT Competition, the Spanish carmaker’s racing division at the time.
The 1430’s importance to the brand doesn’t end there. Its engine was used to power the Formula 1430, the first Spanish single-seater championship, created by SEAT at the beginning of the 1970s. Formula 1430 formed the training ground for a new generation of Spanish drivers who would go on to achieve great success, while at the same time establishing a breeding ground for Spanish chassis constructors.
The grandfather of today’s Leon ST Cupra: the SEAT 1430 Especial 1600 Familiar
Nowadays high-performance estate models are revered and loved by car enthusiasts, proven by the success of the FR and Cupra versions of the current SEAT Leon ST. But in the ‘70s cars with a fifth door, generous load space and easy access lacked the dynamic image that we take for granted today.
So imagine the shock on the average Spanish driver when in mid-1974 SEAT launched a Familiar (or estate) version of the 1430 saloon powered by the 1.6-litre twin-cam engine of the 1430-1600 (known as the FU). At the time it was the first Spanish-built sports saloon, delivering 95PS and weighing only 980kg, giving its a top speed of 105mph. At the time, performance figures that no one would have put next to a sedate-looking estate car.
The 1430 Especial 1600 Familiar (type FM) was so far ahead of its time that commercial success was difficult to come by as the domestic market still wasn’t ready for a vehicle that was the ST Cupra of its era. Only 852 examples were made between 1974 and 1976 when production stopped. It was replaced by the SEAT 131 estate, powered by the same engine but bigger and heavier, making it far less fiery.
The SEAT 1430-1600 estate’s farsighted performance make it a very rare car today, and one that is appreciated and venerated by collectors.

A unique and gorgeous slice of SEAT’s history: the SEAT 850 Sport Spider
The SEAT 850 Sport was the first niche car produced by SEAT. It also back in 1969, the same year the 1,000,000th car built by the Spanish car maker left the Barcelona assembly line since 1953.
These two apparently unrelated landmarks illustrate the great evolution experienced by both SEAT as a company and the Spanish domestic market. In SEAT’s formative years the brand made cars to satisfy the urgent need for mobility of the Spanish population, by the time the 1,000,000th car was built, both the domestic market and SEAT were mature enough to offer a car with no other raison-d’etre than pure driving pleasure.
The base of the 850 Sport, (its official name, though it’s also known as Sport Spider to differentiate it from the coupé version), was the 850 saloon, launched three years earlier, but the two vehicles couldn’t have been more different.
The Sport was a gorgeous two-seater convertible designed by the renowned Italian car designer Bertone and was also optionally available as a hardtop.
Not only was the car a milestone for the company, but so too was its engine. Under the bonnet was a 903cc, 52PS petrol engine that was later used by the 850 Sport Coupé version, and, set the groundwork for a myriad of future SEAT cars, including an entry version of the new Ibiza in the mid-’80s

.
Only 1,746 examples of the SEAT 850 Sport Spider were built when production ended in 1972, and it holds a unique place in SEAT’s history. With no successor, the Spider was the first and only production convertible ever built by the brand, a symbol of what SEAT could make possible but also a sign of how the Spanish carmaker and its domestic market had developed, with increasing demand for more mainstream vehicles.
SEAT and its historic models can be found in Hall 4 at the 31st Techno-Classica Essen 2019, which runs from 10th – 14th April.

Source: SEAT

HAGERTY APPLAUDS THE BRILLIANCE OF BASIC AT THEIR FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL ON SATURDAY 20 JULY 2019

HAGERTY APPLAUDS THE BRILLIANCE OF BASIC AT THEIR FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL ON SATURDAY 20 JULY 2019

The 2019 Festival of the Unexceptional a Concours de l’Ordinaire – created and delivered by leading classic vehicle insurance and valuation specialists, Hagerty – will be held for the sixth year in succession on Saturday 20 July.

Originally staged by Hagerty back in 2014 as the first event of its kind in Europe - to celebrate the ordinary, everyday cars that we all grew up with, but have now all but disappeared - the light-hearted Festival of the Unexceptional (or FOTU) has already become a must-attend event for admirers of the mundane motor cars of our past, and has achieved cult status around the world.

For 2019, the location for this unique and fun Hagerty event is the beautiful, concours befitting, Claydon Estate in Buckinghamshire. Claydon House is a fascinating testament to eighteenth-century extravagance and its unassuming exterior hides some of England’s most extraordinary interiors. The estate was built in the eighteenth century by Ralph, 2nd Earl Verney, as a demonstration of wealth and status offering a deliberate juxtaposition with the Hagerty concours, which celebrates the much maligned and long forgotten ‘ordinary’ classic cars and commercial vehicles of the late 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Once again, Hagerty’s annual Concours de l’Ordinaire will be free to attend for the first 600 people and will be only £5 per person thereafter. The event is open to classic cars and light commercial vehicles from across the globe that were built between 1966 to 1996. Rare cars already entered for consideration for the 2019 FOTU include a 1991 Yugo 45 Cabriolet, 1982 Peugeot 305 Estate, 1987 Honda Accord Aerodeck and a 1983 Triumph Acclaim.

Any owner of a suitably mundane but interesting ‘unexceptional’ 1966-1989 vehicle can register it for consideration and potential participation by 31 May at the latest, using the following link; https://carfestivalbooking.com/events/festival-of-the-unexceptional-2019-concours-registration.

Free public admission tickets will be available 23 April 2019 here: https://carfestivalbooking.com/register?fotu2019

2019 sees a new element added to the Concours de l’Ordinaire with the Anniversary Class. This new category celebrates vehicles that have a significant anniversary in 2019, such as 50 years of the Austin Maxi, 50 years of the base-spec Capri, 40 years of the Vauxhall Astra and so on. Already submitted are eligible vehicles such as a 1987 Capri and a 1969 Austin Maxi.

The 2019 event will also see the return of Hagerty’s Feast of the Unexceptional, the period picnic equivalent of the mundane automotive display. All participants are encouraged to bring out the Arctic Roll, Texan bars, cheese fondue and, of course, the obligatory bottle of Asti Spumante!

Angus Forsyth, Hagerty’s Managing Director said: ‘Our annual celebration of our motoring heritage continues to help raise the underlying issue that more and more of the cars we used to see on the road are fast becoming extinct. Our event will hopefully raise awareness of the rarity of some of the models on display and allow their owners a moment in the limelight. As always, we welcome all motoring enthusiasts as well as those families who simply enjoy a healthy dose of nostalgia.’

As in previous years, there will be awards for Best In Show, Runner Up, People’s Choice and Junior Judge’s Choice (as voted for by those under 18) plus, naturally, the Feast of the Unexceptional Award for Best Picnic of the day!

VOLVO CARS AT TECHNO CLASSICA: ART DECO ON THE MOVE WITH THE VOLVO PV36

VOLVO CARS AT TECHNO CLASSICA: ART DECO ON THE MOVE WITH THE VOLVO PV36

Art Deco on the move with the Volvo PV36

Volvo Cars is revisiting the Art Deco era at this year's Techno Classica Essen in Germany, the world's largest historic car show, with a 1935 Volvo PV36 once owned by one of the company's founders.

Gustaf Larson, one of Volvo Cars' two founding fathers back in 1927, drove the American-styled PV36 for several years, and that car will headline the company's display in Essen. The show will also serve as the German car show debut for the all-new US-built Volvo S60 sports saloon.

The PV36 is an example of Streamline Moderne, one of the most prominent design trends in the US in the early thirties. Buildings, trains, boats and even home appliances such as toasters and steam irons were designed in this late Art Deco style, described as "Art Deco on the move" due to the aerodynamic features.

Engineer and designer Ivar Örnberg brought the style to Volvo when he returned to Sweden in 1933, having worked in the American automotive industry for a few years. At Volvo, he was tasked with designing the PV36, and it was clear that the years at companies such as Hupmobile were fresh in his mind.

With the new Volvo model, Örnberg introduced the Streamline Moderne influences to Sweden. The exotic-looking car was soon nicknamed the 'Carioca', most probably after a popular Latin American dance at the time. According to plans, Volvo produced only 500 cars of this model between 1935 and 1938.

The PV36 on display in Essen has low mileage but a rich history. The model was one of the first to be produced by Volvo, just a few years after engineer Gustaf Larson and economist and salesman Assar Gabrielsson decided over a crayfish dinner in 1924 to start a Swedish car company.

Eleven years later, Larson got the key to this Volvo PV36 with chassis number 85. He kept the car for three years, and barring a respray in its early days, it has been practically untouched since.

This PV36 is a unique link directly to one of Volvo Cars' founders, and a fascinating example of how a decidedly American design style reached a small Swedish car company in the thirties.

The Techno Classica car show attracts around 200,000 visitors every year. Dates for the 2019 show are April 10-14. Other historic Volvo saloons that will be presented at the Volvo Cars stand include:

• 1929 PV4 – Volvo's very first saloon

• 1966 Amazon – a Volvo design icon

• 1969 164 – six-cylinder prestige car from the '60s

• 1981 240 Turbo – Volvo's first turbocharged passenger car

• 1995 850 T-5R – performance saloon from the '90s

LONDON CONCOURS TO DISPLAY THE GREAT AUTOMOTIVE ICONS

LONDON CONCOURS TO DISPLAY THE GREAT AUTOMOTIVE ICONS

Citroen DS

The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, will be hosting a special display of ‘The Icons’ presented by Footman James, in association with Azur. This astonishing line-up of 13 cars, from Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to Ferrari F40, each came to define their generation

Whether it was through ripping up the rulebook, finding fame on the silver screen or being the poster car for a whole generation of buyers, each car in this class has established itself as a verified automotive icon.

Perhaps the earliest automotive icon is the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost; a model that gained global notoriety for running virtually non-stop over 14,000 miles in 1907. In that same year, only 14 of 104 cars managed to finish the 748-mile Scottish Reliability Trials, bringing into sharp focus just how impressive the Silver Ghost’s feat really was. 

But achieving ‘Icon’ status doesn’t necessarily require a high price-tag. Also on display are a number of more everyday models that through ingenious design and innovation transformed motoring forever. The Land Rover Series I established an off-road lineage that continues to run to this day – over 70 years later – while the original Alec Issigonis-designed Mini utterly revolutionised the small car market. Both will line-up among ‘The Icons’ at London Concours.

Then there are the true performance icons, or bedroom wall poster cars that were faster, more advanced and more beautiful than anything else on the road at the time. London Concours will be displaying an early Jaguar E-Type Series I ‘Flat Floor’; one of fastest cars in the world at the time and still revered for its beautiful Malcolm Sayer-penned aerodynamic lines. Guests will also be able to admire the iconic shape of the Porsche 911, on display in legendary 1972 2.7 RS guise.

Of course, no collection of ‘Icons’ would be complete without paying homage to Italy’s great supercar manufacturers. Ferrari will be represented not only by the Dino, but also by the one-of-19 Ferrari F40 LM; a lighter, more powerful version of one of the most iconic Ferraris ever. The Lamborghini Countach will also take its place among ‘The Icons’ in sought-after downdraft configuration, featuring Weber carburettors. 

In total, nearly 100 automotive greats of all eras will be on display on the idyllic lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company HQ when the London Concours rolls into the City from 5-6 June. Curated across seven distinct classes, including ‘The Outlaws’ and ‘The Innovators’, London Concours is the ultimate automotive summer garden party.

Andrew Evans, London Concours Director, said: “Out of each of our seven classes, it was ‘The Icons’ that generated the most debate among our Steering Committee of motoring experts. In the end, we’ve arranged a collection of 13 indisputable icons that, in themselves, tell the story of the greatest motor cars ever built. But there’s plenty more for visitors to see at London Concours including fine watch displays from Montres Breguet, high-end Italian fashion from ISAIA and a luxurious hospitality offering from Searcys, Mark Hix and Veuve Clicquot.”

The London Concours 2019 takes place from 5-6 June. Tickets are available to buy now from www.londonconcours.co.uk/tickets