“The Art of Automotive Design” has been chosen as the theme for the next Arizona Concours d’Elegance, set for January 21, 2024, at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, where a splendid array of 100 rare and historic automobiles will be displayed. The sixth edition of the Arizona Concours, and the second year at the lovely Scottsdale locale, the event will focus on some of the world’s most superb examples of the art of coachbuilding and car design, shown in the luxury atmosphere of a stylish garden party. The Arizona Concours at the Scottsdale Civic Center is a professionally judged and curated assembly of rarely-seen dream cars and highly valued collector vehicles, examples that impress and excite not only car lovers but anyone who appreciates the beauty of the expressive design.

Diverse field

The judged vehicles range from antiques from the dawn of motoring through pre-war classics, sports and competition cars, and modern-day exotics. Previously held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, the Arizona Concours at the Scottsdale Civic Center is presented in partnership with Scottsdale Arts, the organization responsible for multi-disciplinary artistic services in Scottsdale.  Proceeds from the Concours benefit local artists and the arts community.

“We are delighted to be back at the wonderful Scottsdale Civic Center and look forward to presenting a field of automobiles that truly exhibit The Art of Automotive Design,” said Chuck Stanford Jr., who co-chairs the Concours and Ed Winkler. “The 2024 Arizona Concours field will showcase some of the world’s rarest and most-dramatic cars – designs that people rarely have the opportunity to see in person.”

Information and applications for entering cars in the 2024 Arizona Concours d’Elegance at the Scottsdale Civic Center will become available later this month, along with sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales.

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Highlights of Chassis No. 2155

• One of 20 Zagato-bodied A6G/54 Berlinettas
• Likely the only A6G/54 with a “Double-Bubble” Zagato roof
• Raced in the 1956 Mille Miglia
• Restored in Italy, exquisitely refined by Paul Russell and Company
• Documented with digital copies of Maserati build sheets, factory and Zagato correspondence, period photography
• Comprehensively researched by Adolfo Orsi Jr. and includes an Orsi Report
• Class award at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, part of Maserati’s centennial celebration at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
• Eligible for all manner of top level vintage touring events including the Mille Miglia

Post-war “rarified air”

In the pantheon of coachbuilt, post-war sports cars, the Tipo A6G/2000 more commonly known as the A6G/54 sits in rarified air. Alongside Allemano and Frua, the famous Carrozzeria Zagato provided bodywork for the Gran Turismo with approximately 20 bespoke closed-roof Berlinettas produced by the Milanese design house during the three years of A6G/54 production. With a free-flowing, elegant Zagato design, this A6G/54 was clothed in lightweight aluminum bodywork, with the silhouette showcasing a purposeful form, its racing intentions, and, for this example alone, the trademark Zagato “double-bubble roof .” Hand-built with custom coachwork, minute details vary on each A6G/54 providing a unique opportunity to trace the lineage of a particular chassis number through historical photographs and documentation.

Inline-six

Of course, no post-war Italian GT is simply about its looks, no matter how alluring they may be. At the heart of Maserati’s GT Berlinetta was a 2.0-liter, dual overhead camshaft inline-six derived from Maserati’s A6GCS and A6GCM competition cars. Three Weber DCO/3 carburetors fed the 1,986 cc engine and with twin-spark ignition debuting in 1956, an increase in horsepower to an impressive 160 hp. Naturally, a lightweight and aerodynamic Italian GT with a race-bred engine would be designed with all the componentry to support it with coil-sprung independent front suspension with Houdaille lever-arm type shock absorbers, hydraulic drum brakes and Borrani wire wheels at all four corners.

Built for the 1956 Mille Miglia

Said to be the 17th of 20 Berlinettas built by Zagato, chassis number 2155, according to Walter Bäumer’s Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato was delivered to the coachbuilder on 15 April 1956. Completed as a 3rd Series Berlinetta, it was returned to the Maserati factory a month later, on the 15th of May. Built for Luigi Fornasari to compete in the 1956 Mille Miglia, it was delivered to Fornasari just days in advance of the start of the famous—and treacherous Italian road race. The owner of chassis number 2150, Fornasari was intimately familiar with the A6G/2000 series of cars. Bäumer recounts that Fornasari ran the car unpainted, featuring all the raw hallmarks of its hand-formed aluminum body, with a temporary rear window registration (BO59891) from the Maserati factory either due to the narrow timeline before its first race, or possibly that chassis number 2155 was loaned to him by the factory. Along with his co-driver Gianfranco Roghi, Fornasari left the starting line in Brescia with start number 311. Hopes for a well-placed finish were dashed on the rain-slickened roads of Ravenna with an accident that resulted in the brand-new Maserati landing on its roof and a subsequent DNF. With all aboard spared serious injury, the Gran Turismo was returned to Zagato to be repaired, this time painted in Silver Metallic with a smaller radiator opening, lowered headlights, a unique strip of alloy trim running from the back of the front fenders to the door handle—the only known A6G/54 Berlinetta from Zagato to receive this treatment and a detail that would remain with the car until today. A period photo included in the car’s history file shows Fornasari’s son standing in front of the repaired Maserati with its unique double-bubble roof profile in full view.

Hill climb competition

Later that year in June, according to the Orsi report and Maserati factory paperwork, also on file and available for review, the car was sold to Roberto Federici based in Rome. Less than a month later the car was purchased and registered by Gianfranco Peduzzi. By September 1957 the Maserati began competing again, this time in smaller road races and hillclimbs. On most weekends throughout the racing season the European Alps hosted numerous hillclimb contests and, with lower entry and maintenance costs, they proved extremely popular even if they were inherently more dangerous than traditional circuit racing. Bäumer’s book indicates that the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo Hillclimb was its return to racing on 1 September with a start number 48 and entered by Giacomo Moioli of Verona, who commonly raced under the pseudonym “Noris.” Moioli was at the wheel once again later that month at the Pontedecimo-Giovi Hillclimb with start number 306, finishing fourth in class, while its final race of 1957, chronicled by the Orsi report indicates that Natale Gotelli was entered to pilot 2155 at the Trieste-Opicina Hillclimb on 6 October 1957 but was classified with a likely DNS. The report also contains correspondence between Zagato and Maserati on behalf of Peduzzi regarding specific engine technical details, likey surrounding a fresh engine break-in.

Upon completion of the repairs and while at Zagato, the car was taken for a shake-down by none other than Gianni Zagato, who was involved in a high-speed accident while performing his tests. Subsequent correspondence between Zagato and Maserati beginning in November of 1957 is recorded by Orsi, regarding repairs to the car and some back-and-forth over the specifics and costs. Zagato smartly capitalized on the situation by utilizing chassis number 2155 as a design study for Maserati’s upcoming 3500 GT. Period color photographs on file show the new design, revised from previous iterations and proudly on display. By the summer of 1958, the car was racing again with Natale Gotelli at the helm at both the Bolzano-Mendoa and Trento-Bondone hillclimbs. In 1959 the Maserati was entered in two circuit races at Monza, both the Gran Premio Lotteria on 28 June, finishing 11th in the GT class, and in the Coppa Intereuropa on the 13 of September where it did not finish. A fine third in the GT class at the Pontedecimo-Giovi hillclimb rounded out the season and its racing career.

Restoration

Over the next decade, Adolfo Orsi records a successive chain of Italian owners before the car was acquired by Enrico Bertotto likely in the late-1960s. By 1977, a letter from Zagato to Maserati recounts an inquiry by the current owner to restore it to the original state with a request to Maserati for assistance in the matter. In 1984 photographs document a restoration with a color change to red with covered headlights and over the next decade, and until the turn of the century it appeared at concours, exhibitions, and in print in this configuration. Sold in Paris in the year 2000 to heralded Maserati collector John Bookout of Houston, Texas, he returned the car to Modena for a return to its 1958 configuration under the guidance and control of Adolfo Orsi Jr. During the restoration a number of Modanese specialists participated including Carrozzeria Autosport, Carrozzeria Cremonini, Officina Giuseppe Candini, and Interni Auto Maieli handing the bodywork, paint, mechanicals, and upholstery respectively. By 2005 the restored A6G Zagato was displayed at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Remarkably, after its restoration and while still in Europe, Gianni Zagato was reunited with the car, likely seeing it for the first time since 1958!

Ownership trail

In 2008 Bookout parted ways with the car, passing it to a collector also based in Texas. As documented by over 140 pages of invoices and receipts, the car was entrusted to the experts at Paul Russell and Company of Essex, Massachusetts to further refine both the cosmetics and mechanicals. Beginning in January 2009, work began at Paul Russell to prepare the car for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and its highly discriminating judges. Over the next eight months the craftsman at Paul Russell’s shop delved into all areas of the Maserati, with particular focus on the mechanicals and detail items unique to the car as well as cosmetic finishes that are critical to a high score at Pebble Beach. The fastidiousness of their work was evident in a well-earned Zagato class award. In addition to Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach this Zagato Berlinetta has been shown at The Quail in 2010 and Cavallino Classic in 2013, where it won two awards including Finest GT, later returning to Pebble Beach in 2014 as part of Maserati’s centennial celebration during the Concours d’Elegance festivities.

Retained within the consignor’s collection since 2008, this Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Berlinetta, one of only 20 Zagato bodied variants built and the only known example built with a double-bubble roof, is an expertly restored and highly decorated example. With period race history, including the famous Mille Miglia in 1956, circuit races at Monza, and numerous hillclimbs well documented in print by Walter Bäumer and a comprehensive report by Adolfo Orsi Jr., its colorful, outsized history makes it a compelling choice for one of the most unique and interesting Maseratis to emerge from Modena and Milan.

Details and auction listing HERE

Video of another A6G

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Synonymous with Zagato, but embraced throughout the automotive industry, double-bubble roofs are one of the most striking design cues ever to emerge from post-WWII Italy. An already established coachbuilder with a lot of experience in lightweight materials, namely aluminum, Ugo Zagato was also among the first to experiment with aerodynamics, creating fast cars by making their bodywork light and slippery, just like he previously did with airplanes.

Before he came up with his most famous design, Ugo Zagato patented a domed roof with curved side windows in 1948, naming it Panoramica. The Panoramica design was an aerodynamic advancement, but still inherently flawed, as the dome heightened the roofline, increasing a car’s frontal section. Addressing this setback, he devised another roof design, the one that would come to define the company he founded in 1919.

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Being a motorsports fan myself, I have always been fascinated with people who are able to compete at the highest levels—and ultimately, what makes them tick.

In our interview with Max, we cover a variety of motorsports topics that allow us to dive deeper into the psyche of a professional race car driver.

Here, he provides insight about his personal career aspirations, discusses the importance of cultivating an elite mentality, reveals what he’s been up to outside the cockpit, and much more.

Max’s multifaceted approach to professional motorsports is highlighted throughout our conversation, which you can read in the full transcript provided below. Enjoy!

Interview Transcript

SCD: Hi Max. On behalf of our team and all our readers at sportscardigest.com, thank you for taking the time to chat with us.

Before we dive in, I’d like to congratulate you on participating in your 7th successive season of racing in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

We’ve compiled a variety of questions for you, some of which were selected from our pool of readers.

MH: Thank you—us drivers are fortunate to do what we do, and it’s been an exciting journey so far!

SCD: You’re in the offseason now and you’ve had some time off to reflect on this year’s competition. What’re your thoughts and how’re you feeling? Mind sharing with us what you’ve been up to during this time?

MH: It was a bit of a rough year for us, between the bumps at Sebring and the high temps at Watkins Glen, we’ve had a few mechanical issues that prevented us from the result we’re looking for. That’s racing though, you have to build resiliency and shift focus to the next one.

SCD: Are there any specific race moments from the 2022 season that stand out for you? How do they measure up to your best moments in motorsports (please elaborate a bit on those)?

MH: Sebring qualifying comes to mind. I’ve had very limited “seat time” the last two seasons with minimal testing. My first time in any sort of race car for over 5 months and was able to qualify P4, just 0.5 sec from pole position.

SCD: You get to drive on some of the most famous racetracks in the world. What’s your favorite track to race on? Do you have a favorite turn (or sector) in particular?

MH: Petit Le Mans is one of the best events in the world. The track suits my driving style very well. I’d say my favorite sector is turn 3 through the esses at night, because it’s the darkest part of the track and you have very little room for error.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to race at some of the best circuits in the world, specifically my days in the European & Asian Le Mans Series, but I have to say there’s something special about Road Atlanta.”

SCD: You’ve competed in both the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship and the Prototype Challenge. Any plans to race in other IMSA-sanctioned series, such as the Carrera Cup and Ferrari Challenge?

MH: I’m very focused on Le Mans Prototypes. I’m currently at the LMP3 level and have aspirations to move up to the newly announced DTP or Hypercar class in the future.

SCD: Tell us a bit about the car you currently race, and some of the ones you’ve driven in the past. Do you have a favorite competition/category and/or a particular race car you enjoy driving the most?

MH: The LMP3 car is a lot of fun to drive. It’s mostly carbon fiber and has a lot of downforce and good power. It races well and is reliable. Not much more you can ask for!

“Sportscar endurance racing is it for me. The multi-class racing, pit stops with driver changes, night racing and an overload of on-track action makes for an extremely exciting and competitive environment.”

SCD: Do you mind briefly sharing with us, how you got started with racing, and the journey you took to get to where you are in your career today?

MH: My dad gifted me a 3-day racing school with Skip Barber for my high school graduation. I had no karting experience and to be honest very little knowledge of the sport as a whole. It was supposed to be something fun and casual, but quickly evolved into much more than that.

I got recruited by Michael Duncalfe, who is the team owner for Exclusive Autosport. He runs a very successful program that’s been growing year after year. I started in his first ever year with his team, driving f1600 cars in the Canadian championships.

From there I transitioned to the Mazda Road to Indy, where I did a few years of USF2000 and the Pro Mazda Championship, before transitioning to sportscar racing where I joined legendary team owner Scott Sharp and Extreme Speed Motorsports and haven’t looked back since.

SCD: What’re your longer-term goals as a professional racer? Do you have a path mapped out? Where do you see it leading to, ultimately?

MH: I want to race at the highest levels in sportscar endurance racing, specifically in the new DTP and HyperCar Class. The 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500 are two other bucket list events.

“I have a dream of becoming a team owner/driver and bringing in some of the best talent to try and win major championships.”

SCD: What advice can you give to aspiring young drivers who are dreaming of the opportunity to race professionally, like you? On the flip side, what should you not do in the quest to go pro?

MH: I think the best advice I can give is find the right mentor. The people that you surround yourself with will either catapult you into success, or drag you into obscurity. Equally, don’t surround yourself with the wrong people.

SCD: What’s the best way to get started in racing for those who are new to it? Are there any specific routes or programs that you’d recommend, based on your experience racing at a high level?

MH: I had an unusual start beginning at age 18. I’d recommend starting on a sim to get the basic fundamentals down then transitioning to karting. A big thing to think about during your development is “cost per lap”.

“The more you can learn early on through cost-effective seat time, the farther your budget will go in the future. Money is usually the first thing that ends a career, not talent.”

SCD: What separates the best drivers from the good ones—and what ends up being the biggest differentiating factor for those who manage to make a career in racing, and those who don’t?

MH: I feel the best drivers are able to get in a “flow state” frequently and perform at an extremely high level. It’s almost as if they are defying physics when they’re behind the wheel. A mix of good decision making and consistency are the keys to success.

Those who make it have a versatile skill set that goes beyond just being a great driver. They have personalities that attract sponsors and fans, or maybe they have a unique talent when it comes to engineering the car set up.

SCD: Technical skills are obviously important in becoming a top driver, but having a winning mentality is also key. How do you stay mentally prepared? Is this something you focus on right before a race, or do you always have to be “switched on”?

MH: I firmly believe mentality is the key differentiator between good and great drivers. It’s so important and something that needs to be switched on at all times.

“If you want to be great, it needs to be a lifestyle.”

I’ve also found that this “switched on” mentality has especially helped me grow my startup.

SCD: Most people look at race car drivers as athletes. Is physical fitness a big part of the equation too? If so, what do your work out regimens focus on?

MH: Physical fitness is extremely important especially in endurance racing and I challenge anyone who says race car drivers aren’t athletes to give it a try. I do a lot of sport specific circuit training, boxing, heavy cardio, etc.

One thing I always try to implement is reaction and brain training during recovery periods. Trying to have maximum focus and coordination while exhaustion kicks in is a great training tactic for any driver.

SCD: I understand that your passion for motorsports extends well beyond the confines of a race car cockpit. In fact, you started a company—MPH.Digital—through which you’ve created apps to provide improved experiences for motorsports fans and enthusiasts. Tell us more!

MH: Yes! I’m very passionate about fan engagement.

For the last 25+ years there’s been exponential innovation when it comes to the cars on track, but as the sport continues to grow, the fan experience remains ready for a revolution and now is the time to capitalize on today’s excitement around racing.

With Track King, we have the most immersive venue maps and schedules in motorsports and we help fans (new and old) navigate race day effortlessly.

SCD: General question. What’s life like being a race car driver—the best parts and the most difficult parts? Does MPH.Digital sort of blend into this, or do you see it more as a separate endeavor?

MH: The best parts are it brings you around the world and you get to meet some very interesting people. The art of driving, engineering and sponsorship is very rewarding when you get it right, but also extremely stressful when things aren’t clicking.

“It’s not always the most talented driver that gets the seat. It’s a lot of times dependent on funding and that’s a difficult pill to swallow and a big reason as to why I put a lot of emphasis on sponsorship early on in my career.”

SCD: Who (or what) inspires you the most to do what you do professionally? Are there any drivers who you look up to?

MH: I had the pleasure of training with Scott Dixon early in my career at PitFit Training in Indianapolis. It was inspiring to see what he brings day-in-and-day-out, and his attention-to-detail on the little things.

Even with all the success he’s had as a driver it doesn’t seem to affect his work ethic and that’s something that I think is really important and motivating.

SCD: What’re some things you’ve learned from motorsport that have helped you in other areas of your life? Are there any lessons that motorsports—being a race car driver in particular—has really drilled into you?

MH: Motorsports is tough, it’s very expensive to practice, there’s a lot of factors outside your control and it’s extremely difficult to win races. There’s very low lows and high highs.

“There’s a lot that racing has prepared me for, specifically when it comes to my company and going through the journey of an entrepreneur.”

I always find myself comparing running a startup to driving a race car on the limit.

SCD: What’re your favorite production (street legal) cars to drive? Do you have a favorite “driver’s car”?

MH: I’ve driven different variations of the BMW X3 pretty much my entire life. I like the mix of luxury and performance it has to offer, but…

“…someday I want to own a vintage Porsche.”

SCD: Can you list the top 10 (or top 5, if that’s too long) cars you’ve driven, overall? Do you ever go to the racetrack “for fun” as opposed to professional reasons?

MH:

1. LMPC
2. LMP3
3. Prototype Lites
4. Pro Mazda
5. Formula 1600

SCD: Sim Racing. From the perspective of a professional race car driver, what’s your overall verdict on it?

MH: I think it’s a great tool to use for training (for the following reasons) :

1. Learning new tracks and getting a good sight picture
2. Getting in a flow and feeling the rhythm of the track
3. Builds confidence going into a race weekend

SCD: Cookie-cutter question. What would you likely be doing if you weren’t a professional race car driver?

MH: I’m not entirely sure which path I would have taken if I didn’t get involved in racing. This was never the plan.

“It took me completely by surprise and has provided many amazing experiences and opportunities, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

SCD: That concludes our interview, Max! On behalf of everyone at sportscardigest.com, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.

I hope you had as much fun as we did.

We’re certain that our readers will find the dialogue not only entertaining, but insightful as well. Your multifaceted approach to motorsports is a great example for aspiring race car drivers and enthusiasts to learn from.

We wish you all the best in the coming season and beyond!

MH: Thank you for your time! Honored to be a part of the interview and happy holidays to everyone!

Photo Gallery

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Sometimes, knowing someone results is a surprise. I’ve known Mike Marsh for a number of years. He created the EuroFest car and motorcycle shows that have been very popular with Deep South enthusiasts for a number of years. A few months ago, I received an email inviting me to a send-off party for John and Julie Herlihy, who were about to fly to Italy to run their 1953 Jaguar XK120 OTS Roadster in the Mille Miglia. Herlihy – that name sounded familiar, so I looked at the article about the Mille Miglia WarmUP. Turns out they had won the WarmUp in 2019 in their Jaguar. I knew I needed to interview them when they returned to the U.S. Anyone who could win the WarmUp was likely to do well in the Mille Miglia. Little did I know that they had done the Mille Miglia before and had done quite well. The interview was scheduled for shortly after their return at their lake front home.

Vintage Racecar (VR) – Who are the Herlihys and how did you get involved with sports cars?

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A very rare Shelby was profiled in the December 2013 issue of Vintage Roadcar (The Only One – 1967 Shelby GT 500 Convertible). It was the only 1967 G.T. 500 convertible ever built. At the time, it was believed to have been built as a prototype for the upcoming 1968 model. Brian Styles, and his team, undertook a careful restoration of the car returning it to how it looked in those advertisements for the ’68 convertible. Well, it turns out that this car was never actually a prototype, the story is much, much better. Styles tells us a bit more about himself, his muscle car collection and what it took to learn the full story of the only 1967 G.T. 500 Convertible.

Brian, you’re young, you’re retired, and you have a collection of some very significant muscle cars. How did you get here?

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Mark Hyman is the proprietor of Hyman Ltd in St. Louis, Missouri (https://hymanltd.com/). Founded in a rented garage, in 1989, the company has become a premier buyer and seller of antique, classic, and special interest automobiles. They currently occupy a 67,000 square foot facility that houses their sales department, restoration and repair facilities, as well as their showroom and administrative offices. Their inventory typically exceeds 200 automobiles.

You are recognized as a strong proponent of the classic car hobby. How did your interest in classic cars develop?

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As a young boy James Mitchell shared his father’s hobby and passion for classic and historic cars. Always fascinated by history, his education took him on a very different journey as he studied and gained a degree in Theology at Edinburgh University. However, on a train journey home, reading a copy of Motor Sport, Mitchell responded to an advertisement for a junior at the renowned London historic car dealer, Fiskens. From this junior position he climbed the ladder, within Fiskens, eventually becoming Business Manager. Leaving the company in 2013, the next era beckoned as he opened his own classic car business—Pendine, locating at the prestigious hub of classic and historic motoring, Bicester Heritage. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, visited James Mitchell at his Buckinghamshire business to discuss his past, present and future in the world of classic and historic cars.

We’ve known each other for many years James, but can we go back to your roots of being involved with classic and historic racing cars?

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As a teenager I sat in the Woodcote stand at Goodwood and watched Karl Foitek in a Giulietta TI come around at the end of the first lap in among the 3.8 Jaguars. I know I wasn’t dreaming as I have it on my cine film. On the next lap he was nerfed into a spin and showed up way down. Ever since then I have dreamt of seeing a TI win at Goodwood.

The Revival Meeting sets out to reproduce touring car (saloon) car racing from that era. The rules back then were the looser Group 3 based Appendix J and the “Goodwood HRDC” rules seek to reproduce what was historically applied. Boring out, carburetion and chassis freedoms and other things mean that cars like Austin A40s can run at the front, as they did do in period. Some latitude has been introduced so as to make some of the modification a bit easier and to help even up performances. New for last year were some minimum weight limits by car, related to actual road test weights rather than homologation, which caused a lot of last-minute investment in lead ballast.

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From an early age Robert Blakemore had a passion for pre-war racing cars, particularly Aston Martins. His father owned a MkII, and the young Blakemore would wile away hours just sitting in the driver’s seat imagining he was racing at some of the world’s famous circuits…being careful not to touch any of the dials and switches! Work found commercial aircraft playing a big part of his life following a university education, although the racetrack occupied some of his spare time. However, accepting voluntary redundancy, former Captain Blakemore grasped a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Ecurie Bertelli, a well-established center of excellence for pre-war Aston Martins, with a view to becoming the owner over a five-year period. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, took time to understand his journey from boyhood dreamer to managing director of the company from which his father purchased the MkII Aston he once played in.

Many young boys have dreams of becoming a racing driver or a pilot. In your particular case your career and interests have led you to doing both, two bites of the cherry you might say. Was this all to do with a love of speed?

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While Vintage Roadcar was tracking down some interesting cars in New Mexico and Colorado, we had the opportunity to chat with Barry Petersen. Petersen has been a Senior Correspondent for CBS News for almost 40 years. We were lucky to catch up with him, since the network had him chasing down a number of stories during the time we were in Colorado. Thanks to Barry for taking time out to speak with Mike Hemsley.

VR: You are an Emmy-winning journalist. What made you decide on a career in journalism?

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Phil Bachman has been collecting Ferraris at a rate of about one a year since he got his first one in 1984. He prefers yellow, and nearly all of his Fer- raris are that color. Thanks to a mutual friend, Larry Benson, Vintage Road- car had the privilege of visiting Bachman’s “Clubhouse,” where he stores many of his cars, and interviewing he and his wife Martha.

VR: When and how did you get interested in cars?

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Peter Bourassa is the Publisher of the weekly MMR Community Newsletter and the online Motorsports Marketing Resources Directory (www.MMRsite.com) a resource for sports cars enthusiasts that lists more than 3,000 vetted suppliers of 350 different goods and services. He is also a car guy.

VR: Let’s start from the very beginning. How did you first get infected by the bug?

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Ant Anstead: Host–Wheeler Dealer, Restorer

Ant Anstead has had a passion for cars for most of his life. However, his first job was “on the beat” as a police officer. During his mid-20s he changed direction and made his hobby his job—a man in a sweet shop you may say. From there he has found a life on the small screen, first in the UK and now replacing Edd China in the Discovery Channel’s Wheeler Dealer TV program, which has a huge global audience. Mike Jiggle, VR’s UK European Editor, questioned Anstead about how his career has developed over the past few years.

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Founder and Managing Director of KW Motorsports LTD

Kieron Salter is the founder and Managing Director of KW Motorsport Ltd and KW Special Projects (KWSP) Ltd. KW Motorsport has provided design & engineering services to the motorsport industry since being founded in 2003. KW Special Projects was then set up in 2012, and provides services to meet the rapid growth in demand for a non-conventional approach to the integration of new processes and technologies into high performance engineering and manufacturing. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, met Salter at the KWSP HQ, in Brackley, Northampton, to discuss historic car restoration.

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London Fashion Designer, Car Enthusiast

London fashion designer Simon Carter spends his work days designing all types of sophisticated, high quality men’s clothing, particularly shirts. He first started in the mid-1980s designing jewelry—which is still very much a part of his accessory range today—but now includes watches and luggage. Although his main shop is situated in Mayfair, his range of products is tailored mostly for the middle class, aimed to appeal to those who appreciate great design. Carter’s passion for design includes his love of cars. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, caught up with him at the recent Chateau Impney Hillclimb where they spoke about design and cars.

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Andy Bell: Pre-War Aston Martin Expert

For the past 20-25 years, mention of pre-war Aston Martin brings your name to the head of the conversation. Where did your association and love of these cars originate?

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Oklahoma-Based Collector, Brass-Era Enthusiast

VR: How did you develop your interest in automobiles and brass era cars in particular?

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Collector, Enthusiast, Racer & Founder of Radnor Hunt Concours

VR: Why don’t we start from the beginning? I understand you got involved with cars at a pretty young age, around 12 or so?

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Enthusiast, Collector and Driving Force Behind the Glenmoor Gathering

VR: Let’s just start off at the very beginning. When did you first get bitten by the car bug?

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Racer, Rallymaster and Former Car and Driver Managing Editor

VR: Let’s start right at the beginning. When were you infected by the car bug?

The post Rich Taylor appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Collector, Head of Brightwells’ Classic Car Department

The well-established auction house Brightwells has expanded its Classic Car Department, opening an additional center at Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire. Heading the team at this new venue is Matthew Parkin, who joined the company in 2010 from his position as Sales Director at Morgan Cars. Parkin has been involved in the motoring world for most of his life. Indeed, he owned his first car at the age of nine. He has an affinity with Austin 7s and loves genuine cars of all types, especially those with interesting backgrounds, and is an active member of the VSCC. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, sat down with Parkin to learn more about the man himself and to understand more of the history of Brightwells and its recent expansion.

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Australian Collector Extraordinaire

Astounded! That would be the best word to describe how I felt when Sydney, Australia-based classic car enthusiast Rick Marks sent me the list of cars that have passed through his hands.

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From Humble Beginnings to an Enviable Collection of 30-Plus Cars

J. Michael Hemsley had the honor of meeting African-American collecting pioneers James and Ella Collier at the First Atlanta Concours d’Elegance. They were sitting under a canopy, surrounded by four of their cars, all Chevrolets and all beautifully restored. The four cars were a fuel-injected 1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe, a very rare big-block, stick-shift 1959 Impala convertible, and two 1932 Chevrolets. The ’32s were among James Collier’s favorites, because they have lots of chrome—he loves chrome. The green ’32 is a Landau convertible, and the brown one is a Phaeton that didn’t sell well when it was new—it was a bit too upscale for the regular Chevrolet buyer.

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Daughter of famed coachbuilder Henri Chapron

In the midst of celebrating the coachwork of Henri Chapron, at this year’s Pebble Beach concours d’Elegance, Lexi Maciel had the opportunity to speak with Henri’s daughter, Noëlle Chapron-Paul, about growing up in her father’s shop. Alongside her mother, Noëlle also worked to keep Henri Chapron Carrossier open for nearly a decade after Henri’s death in the late 1970s. 

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Tom Malloy: Vintage Racer, Collector

VR: Let’s start off at the very beginning, can you tell me a little bit about how and when you first got infected by the car bug?

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Surgeon, Author, Avid Collector

VR: Why don’t we start off at the very beginning? How old were you when you were first bitten by the bug?

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CEO, LeMay—America’s Car Museum

VR: So, why don’t we start off at the very beginning. When and how were you first bitten by the bug?

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Owner and Chief Executive Officer, White Post Restorations

VR: How is it that a major automobile restoration facility was founded in the little town of White Post, Virginia?

The post Billy Thompson IV appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Sports Car Market Co-Founder, Alfa Romeo Owners Club, President

VR: Lets go back to the very beginning. When did you first realize you were bitten by the car bug?

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