Geneva Classics Postponed

Geneva Classics, the exhibition that features cars, motorbikes, boats and aeroplanes of, which was scheduled to run from 1-3 October 2010, has been postponed due to a lack of exhibitor registrations. As a result, the quality and scale of the event in previous years cannot be guaranteed and organisers have chosen to postpone it, with the aim of guaranteeing a top-quality exhibition for visitors in the future.

“Rather than organising a 2010 edition that risked welcoming fewer exhibitors than in previous years, we would prefer to postpone this year’s exhibition since our prime objective is to retain top quality levels to meet the highest expectations of our public,” explained Henri-Louis Maunoir, President of the Organising Committee.

From Steam Cars to Grands Prix…. 30 Years of Beaufort Restorations

Beaufort Restorations is celebrating 30 years of restoring, repairing and preparing an extraordinary diversity of historic road and competition cars for clients across the world.

A glimpse into Beaufort Restorations’ workshop taken at any time during the past three decades would reveal everything from an 1898 Locomobile steam car to Grand Prix cars such as the ex-Graham Hill BRM P261, ‘Hanuman II’ – the ex-Prince Bira ERA R12B, a Maserati 250F, three Connaught GP cars, as well as C-type Jaguar XKC 008, the D-type XKD534 (known as the ‘New Zealand Barn-Find Car’), a 1970s Formula 5000 McLaren, and one of the last British front-engined Grand Prix cars, the beautiful Aston Martin DBR4/250. The eclectic mix in the workshop has also included a 1920s NN Renault bread van which Beaufort Director, Mike Williams, surmises may well have been used by the French Maquiards during WWII, as when the paint was stripped off, a spray of machine gun bullet holes was revealed. See www.beaufortrestoration.com for more details of their services and projects.

Mockett-Fuentes Triumph On Pikes Peak

Each year cars built for, and raced in, the Carrera Panamericana come out in strength to contest the vintage class of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. This year Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes regained the title of fastest vintage car after losing it last year to local man, Keith Davidson.   Mockett and Fuentes’ time of 13:05:7 up the 12.4-mile course is the fastest ever posted by a vintage car. Their time was an amazing 1:11 faster than last year.  Davidson followed in his Falcon in a highly respectable 13:21.4.

This year the Vintage Class was divided into two groups: modified and unmodified. Mockett’s “Oldsmobile” was assigned to the former and Davidson’s car to the latter group, so each can claim victory.  The Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing Club rightly concluded that some of the Pan Am cars are a little too modern underneath those aged exteriors.

Mockett was followed in the modified group by Charles Breed in his Chevy Lister (14:47.9) and Guenter Sunday and Barbara Moreno Ramirez (17:01.7).  Apparently, Sunday’s new Carrera Studebaker was having problems adjusting to the high altitude.

In the unmodified group, Belgian Thierry de Latre du Bosqueau, who finished fifth in the Chihuahua Express, (a Panam dress rehearsal rally that takes place in May), and first in Historic C, was second behind Davidson, an excellent showing for his first attempt at the daunting mountain.  Thierry was driving a Mustang prepared by Todd Landon, and will be a strong competitor in the Historic C class in the Panam this year.  Doug Allen, a Panam vet, finished in another Landon Mustang in a time of 15:14.0.  Richard Bailey, Apple Farmer Racing, followed closely in 15:15.8.  Tom Kreeger, another Panam survivor, finished at 15:48 in his Original Panam ’54 Lincoln Capri.

Giant Autojumble

Beaulieu’s most famous event, the International Autojumble takes place on 11-12 September in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, and is the biggest outdoor sale of motoring items this side of the Atlantic. Now in its 44th year, the International Autojumble with 2,000 stands, filled with all kinds of classic motoring ephemera - parts, accessories, automobilia, literature, tools and clothing, there is something for everyone. The event enjoys the reputation that; “if you can’t find it at Beaulieu, it doesn’t’ exist!” The traditionally cosmopolitan flavour of the International Autojumble will be much in evidence again this year with both exhibitors and visitors coming from all continents of the world. See www.beaulieu.co.uk/ipus/beaulieu/events-internationalautojumble for more details.

SWB at Pebble Beach

The August 15 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance will showcase eight Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinettas to celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary.

Amongst these will be the very first 250 GT SWB Berlinetta produced.  It's the car that debuted at the Paris Auto Show in 1959 and also took sixth place overall at Sebring in 1960. Ferrari specialist Bob Smith is currently returning this car to its ‘59 Paris Auto Show condition. Three of the renowned 1961 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition cars will also grace the eighteenth fairway at this year's Pebble Beach Concours, including one of the cars that won its class at Le Mans.