First run in 1897 in Berlin, the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA – International Automobile Exhibition) was moved to Frankfurt in 1951. The 2007 event was the 62nd show, and it certainly lived up to its reputation as the largest motor show in the world. VIRTUAL MOTORPIX was there in September 2007, and we bring you here a selection of the new models launched at the … [Read more...]
Supercars then and now – Part II
Supercars then and now - Part II. The times, they were certainly a-changing …. The sound of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, and others, heralded the dawning of a new age – the age of freedom and increased affluence. During this period, wealth came to a much younger group of the population, a group that was considerably larger than the privileged few who … [Read more...]
Supercars then and now – Part I
Supercars then and now - a light-hearted look at supercars over the years from the 1920s till present. Join me on my journey in part I... “I say boys, here comes George in his new Bentley,” enthused Arthur standing at the bar with gin and tonic in hand. The setting, the local polo ground near Windsor, in the royal county of Berkshire, circa 1929. “That will surely outgun … [Read more...]
Historic Racing and Classic Car weekend: Silverstone Classic
The nation’s favourite historic racing and classic car weekend unfolds in the form of the Silverstone Classic this weekend (28-30 July). Boasting an impressive 22-race programme staged on the famous 3.7-mile Grand Prix circuit, the event has once again attracted more than 1000 entries spanning eight decades of glorious motor sport history, from a 1923 Bentley to a 2005 BTCC … [Read more...]
Jaguar E-type Restoration – Part 3
Stripped down and body laid bare, Stuart Lottering’s E-type rebuild project is slowly but surely taking shape. With her shell being prepared, painted and reassembled at Spotless Knysna and her heart and lungs safely being dissected at Bodge Engineering, she is in the best hands any E-type could possibly be. In this 3rd part of the Jaguar E-type restoration, Ron Hollis gives us … [Read more...]
Jaguar E-type Restoration – Part 2
Even completely stripped bare in a workshop at Spotless Automotive Restorers in Knysna, the allure of Stuart Lottering’s E-type was evident. Francois Bonthuys takes us through the meticulous stripping process by highlighting key findings and outlines the road ahead during this Jaguar E-type restoration. Desire at first glance Upon arrival, the Jag E-type did not have any … [Read more...]
An E-type named Desire Part 1
Before the E-type Jaguar, sleek was just something you did with your hair. And class was something you had to attend to learn English and maths. It took some time running the alphabet before the emergence of this gem in all its ruby-coloured glory. This is the story about an E-type named Desire. With its slick design, concupiscent curves and seductively beckoning headlights, … [Read more...]
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash…there’s a Tsunami coming Much has been written of the future of the six Audi WEC drivers after the announcement by Audi to withdraw from WEC at the end of the 2016 season, less so though about the fate of the army of dedicated technicians and support infrastructure. The decision by Audi to withdraw from the WEC has in effect … [Read more...]
Anecdotes from a motoring journalist
Anecdotes from a motoring journalist – I have been fortunate enough to visit many interesting places, and to see and drive cars that would not ordinarily be possible in other occupations. Not only has this been a great pleasure and a privilege for me, but having been born and grown up in distant South Africa, I have witnessed the world of motoring and motorsport in the … [Read more...]
JAGUAR DESIGN: A STORY OF STYLE
KEY INFORMATION JAGUAR DESIGN: A STORY OF STYLE People, Process, Projects ISBN: 978-1-907085-29-1 Author: Nick Hull Publisher: Porter Press International First published: September 2015 512 pages and 500+ illustrations Price: £90.00 This is a massive book and by default, it was a massive undertaking by author Nick Hull, who has … [Read more...]
