MOTOR RACING CIRCUITS – WORLDWIDE GUIDE

Circuits Edition 1 - the illustrated guide to the world's greatest motor racing circuits will be on sale from 22nd March at more than 550 WH Smith high street bookstores across the UK, as well as WH Smith Travel bookstores in stations and airports.
Discovery Media Group announces the launch of their superb new publication for motorsport fans - Circuits 2010: the illustrated guide to the world's greatest motor racing circuits.
This highly produced 196-page publication explores in detail 50 of the world's greatest motor racing circuits with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations by Motorsport Artist, Brian Casey. Each illustration took more than a week to create from reference material.
Each circuit is described in detail, explaining the tracks rise to glory alongside detailed facts and figures about each venue. Additional comment is provided by the stars who have driven the circuits and the people who run the circuits.
Joe Saward, internationally recognised motorsports writer, and circuit designer Jarno Zaffelli have contributed their thoughts on what makes a great circuit, while John Hindhaugh, the voice of Radio Le Mans, gives us his impression of the great 24-hour race. Dr Bruce Grant-Braham gives an insight into the links between motorsport and tourism, and editor of the fine Cars for the Connoisseur magazine Charles Harbord tapped into his readers memories and contributed some fascinating stories of circuits from the past.
With a foreword by WTCC champion Andy Priaulx, this is the ultimate collector's guide to the best-loved tracks in the world.
More info visit: http://www.motorsportcircuitguide.com/

50 YEARS OF INTERMECCANICA HISTORY VIDEO

Check out parts 1 to 4 of this fantastic series of YouTube videos of Paula Reisner talking about Intermeccanica.






New! Intermeccanica – The Story of the Prancing Bull
By Andrew McCredie and Paula Reisner

From modest beginnings based in the automotive mecca of Turin, Italy throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, Intermeccanica conceived, designed and produced a dozen different models that shook the motoring world and went on to find homes in museums and collections from Europe to the United States to Japan. Most notable of these models are the Apollo, the Italia and the Indra.
From there it was on to California, where Reisner revolutionised the Porsche replicar market with his groundbreaking fibreglass Speedster design, followed by the Roadster RS, which the company continues to produce at its Vancouver, BC, Canada headquarters.
Along the way, Reisner and Intermeccanica dealt with, and in one case sued, the largest automotive manufacturers in the world, all the while maintaining an independent streak and maverick spirit that would come to define the man and his company. More info.

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR VAN

Production of the Volkswagen Transporter van officially started in March 1950 and during the 60 years since then it has become one of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ best-selling models globally, the number one imported van in the UK as well as one of the most iconic and popular vans in the world.

With over 10 million produced, the Volkswagen Transporter has evolved through five generations of functional and practical bodystyles, each representing the ultimate multi-purpose vehicle of its time and loved by business and private users alike for transporting goods or people for work or leisure. This unique heritage is the focus of the current ‘Evolution of Van’ advertising campaign for the new Transporter which was launched in the UK in January.

The first T1 ‘split-screen’ model was powered by a four-cylinder, air-cooled, 1.1-litre petrol engine mounted at the back of the vehicle. It produced 25 PS of power and had a top speed of about 60 mph. By comparison, the new Transporter enjoys the refinement of Volkswagen’s latest 2.0-litre, common rail, turbocharged diesel engine, available with power outputs ranging from 84 PS to 180 PS and a top speed of up to 119 mph, plus the latest stability control systems and braking technology that would have sounded like something from a science fiction novel 60 years ago.

Although the design has evolved over the years, the first and the latest Transporter share the same badge on the front and the same design principles of a generous loadspace and an enviable reputation for quality and durability.

Similarly, comparing the latest Volkswagen California with a T1 campervan shows that both make efficient use of the space available to create a vehicle equally suitable for daily trips to work or the shops, as for weekend escapes or continental capers.

Over the years, Volkswagen Transporters have endured challenging round the world trips by enthusiastic travellers, been used as the preferred choice of travel for rock bands since the 1960s to the present day, and been relied upon by many businesses needing a fleet of delivery or passenger carrying vehicles.

The first Transporter was imported into the UK in 1955, and the latest version of the van as well as today’s people-carrying and campervan versions, the Caravelle and California, arrived in the UK this January, 55 years later.
Source: Volkswagen.

Looking to buy a VW Bus? check out Veloce's new iPhone app!

FATHER/SON PUBLISHING TEAM

Norm Mort and son Andrew, photographed in the back of a micro van featured in their first book for Veloce Publishing.
Norm, along with son Andrew, is producing a series of books about vintage vehicles for Veloce. Norm handles the writing and research, Andrew takes the new colour photographs.

The books are naturals for Norm, who is a Canadian Automotive Journalist with an appreciation for oddball vehicles and an eclectic, ever-changing collection of vintage cars.

Read the full story on Autonet.ca.

Available now! Click covers for more info

TRIUMPH CELEBRATES 20 YEARS WITH A FESTIVAL AT MALLORY PARK

September 18th 2010 is one date that Triumph fans and all motorcycle enthusiasts need to put in their diaries, as the British manufacturer will be putting on an unmissable festival to celebrate 20 years since the successful re-launch of this iconic brand.

Riders of all marques are invited to enjoy a packed day of entertainment at the Mallory Park race circuit in Leicestershire, with additional activities scheduled to take place at Triumph’s state of the art manufacturing facility nearby in Hinckley.

A full programme of on and off track activities will be laid on, with on track activities including a round of the ‘Triumph Triple Challenge’, special invitation races featuring Triumph’s class-leading Street Triple and Daytona 675 motorcycles, plus mind blowing shows from Triumph’s professional stunt riders.

Off-track, visitors will be able to view the latest range of Triumph motorcycles, together with a selection of some of the UK’s best customised Triumphs. Key bikes from Triumph’s history will also be on display, as part of a unique exhibition exploring 20 years of Hinckley.
On top of this, there will be a host of opportunities for visitors to ride the latest line up of bikes from Triumph’s demonstration fleet, both on and off track, along with many other riding activities for visitors to enjoy.

Those looking to kit themselves out with top quality riding apparel will be in for a treat at the Triumph Clothing and Accessories Megastore, where there will be a host of bargains waiting to be snapped up, plus a first chance to purchase items from the 2010 Autumn/Winter clothing collection.

Triumph’s state-of-the-art factory, situated eight miles from Mallory Park, will be open for event visitors to take a tour of the fascinating facility where Triumph’s motorcycles are made.

The company has also promised a few exclusive surprises for fans making the trip to this special event and the party will carry on late into the night, with a full programme of live music planned.
More info: www.triumph.co.uk

CITROËN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE SM

Citroën’s high performance coupé, the SM, is celebrating its 40th birthday.

The luxury sports tourer, an alliance between Citroën and Maserati, was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 11th March 1970 - 40 years ago today.

Technically innovative, with a dynamic, yet supremely comfortable ride experience, the Citroën SM was highly regarded for its futuristic styling, prestigious quality, ‘magic-carpet’ suspension and outstanding performance - a unique combination of characteristics not available in any other car at the time.

Officially recognised as a truly exceptional vehicle in the early 1970’s, the SM placed third in the European Car of the Year Awards in 1971 - the winner was Citroën’s GS. The SM also received the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in the US in 1972.

Powered by a Maserati V6 engine, the SM was one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars of its day, with a top speed in excess of 220km/h (137mph). A competitive performer in motorsport, the SM won its first race at the Morocco Rally in 1971.

Pioneering innovative technology, the SM introduced a new type of variable assist power-steering, which made it easier to manoeuvre at lower speeds and provided greater resistance at higher speeds for improved control and handling.

The car also featured hydro-pneumatic suspension with automatic height correction and six headlamps with automatic levelling. Four power-assisted disc brakes, with independent front and rear circuits, automatically adjusted brake power according to vehicle load and weight distribution.

Renowned SM owners have included U.S. comedian Jay Leno, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, author Graham Greene and actor Lee Majors. French Presidents from Georges Pompidou to Jacques Chirac used two specially modified 4-door convertible ‘présidentielle’ models, created by coach builder Henri Chapron.
Source: Citroën
Photos: A. Martin

SM - Citroën’s Maserati-engined Supercar
By Brian Long & Philippe Claverol
This is the fascinating story of how the Citroën SM came into being, with company politics and Maserati’s involvement covered in detail. The text and pictures then follow the car’s progress from its world premier at the 1970 Geneva Show until the final production models were built in July 1975.
More info.

FORD RALLY CHAMPION!

A new month, and a new blog header, this time featuring the great photo of the rally-winning Ford Escort, (driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm), as featured on the cover of our forthcoming book The Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally 40.

Lasting six weeks and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event. Attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland, it was, and remains, the toughest rally of all time.

This 40th anniversary book is due this month (March 2010). Follow our RSS feed