US post-WWII automotive design reached a creative peak in the late 1950’s – early 1960’s. Tail fins, chrome, bright colors and innovative use of stamped sheet metal were used to give form to interesting, unique and compelling automobiles which remain desirable, collectable objects of affection. This blog features not the whole design but disparate design elements which I feel stand on their own and make a strong statement about a distinctly optimistic and expressive period of time in US history.
Seldom is the adage “form follows function” more on display than in vintage motorsport. The simplicity of approach in solving problems is a thing of beauty. Cooling is addressed by adding large vents to the side of the car, as in the Mercedes 300SL, or rows of louvered slats to the engine cover seen on the Bugatti Type 59. Displaying a stroke of genius Alfa Romeo lowered engine temperatures on the Bertone designed 105/115 series Giulia coupe by raising the leading edge of the hood effectively allowing it to become one large air scoop. These pictures show the beauty and ingenuity of race-engineered problem solving.
With over 300 vehicles spread among 25 galleries the Petersen offers something automotive for everyone. Unique exhibits covering automotive engineering, design and manufacture offers a different perspective on man’s most loved mode of transportation. During my visit the Dan Gurney Eagle racing cars were given a separate galley, as were Bugatti from the Mullin Museum. So, if you find yourself in Los Angeles with an afternoon to spare or a long layover at LAX, visit the Petersen, there is an automotive surprise around every corner.
The track at Elkhart Lake is one of the longest in the world, a bit like an American version of Spa-Francorchamps, long, rolling with great series of turns and straights and one of the best venues to watch auto racing anywhere. And since it’s in Wisconsin there is plenty of good brats, great beer and friendly people.
This was my third pilgrimage to Rennsport Reunion, a 3-day all Porsche affair celebrated every 4-years in Porsches largest, most fanatical market. Originally on the East Coast, Rennsport IV moved to California where a larger group of enthusiasts worship the marque. The museum cars in Stuttgart are shipped to the US, every Porsche racing driver alive is present, and hundreds attend from the factory in Germany along with Porsche racing cars from around the world to relive the on-track glory and grandeur that surrounds the most successful automotive racing manufacturer in history.
Upwards of 400 period cars with racing provenance in every imaginable class were on the track throughout the day. The on track action is interspersed with walking the racing paddocks, manufacturer racing exhibits with concept cars and marque corrals; something for everyone.
Ford has been a featured marque for three of the last five years at the Motorsports Reunion. The company’s history in motorsports goes back over 100-years. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Mustang GT350 and the eve of Ford’s 50th anniversary of winning Le Mans. The 2017 Ford GT was on display in anticipation of next year’s return to that fabled venue.
It’s that time of the year again when historic and vintage automobiles from all around the world converge on the Monterey peninsula. Upwards of 400 period cars with racing provenance in every imaginable class were on the track throughout the day. The on track action is interspersed with walking the racing paddocks, manufacturer racing exhibits with concept cars and marque corrals; something for everyone.
Was hanging out at Turn 2 at Laguna Seca a couple of weeks ago. Don’t usually shoot here but the light was perfect and I found a hole in the fence that when I stood on my toes I could squeeze out a clear shot. And then Group 4A came through, mostly 3.0 CSL’s and variants but what’s wrong with that?
I flew to Albuquerque where I joined my friend Paul for a two-lane, high-speed run through though New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and into California in his new 2014 Corvette Sting Ray.
The entire drive turned out to be a nice run with a mix of tight on camber corners, high speed sweepers combined with some flat out straights through some of the most beautiful scenery the American West has to offer. Very little traffic and almost no law enforcement made for relaxing extra-legal cruising speeds.
The entire drive turned out to be a nice run with a mix of tight on camber corners, high speed sweepers combined with some flat out straights through some of the most beautiful scenery the American West has to offer. Very little traffic and almost no law enforcement made for relaxing extra-legal cruising speeds.
This year’s featured marque was Maserati, celebrating one-hundred years of motorsport with collectors from around the world bringing their historic racers to California for the event. The factory had a nice paddock exhibit of historic race cars which were featured at different times during the weekend. My friend Paul is a Maserati enthusiast so it was really fun to see this vintage machinery on the track. It was also a big year for Can-Am cars. These custom and series built race cars were some of the fastest most brutal machinery ever raced in North America. With large V8 engines they have a presence that is undeniable.
As everyone knows by now, I’m in love with the Corkscrew series of turns 7,8 & 9 at Laguna Seca. I’ve spent so much time there I know what hours of day and the best places to stand to get stop-action shots in great light. The Can-Am class coincided with that magical time of day and we ended up with some beautiful pictures of wonderful custom race cars.
It’s also fun to prowl the corrals and see the enthusiast cars grouped by marque. A large and interesting turnout of DeTomaso and Ford Panteras caught us by surprise. In typical Italian color schemes they were a sight to see. Overall the spectacle of the Motorsports Reunion is really hard to explain, it has to be experienced. It’s my favorite event of the year.
All images were taken with Nikon D7000 using AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED lens in A-mode, no-post processing, only crop.
As everyone knows by now, I’m in love with the Corkscrew series of turns 7,8 & 9 at Laguna Seca. I’ve spent so much time there I know what hours of day and the best places to stand to get stop-action shots in great light. The Can-Am class coincided with that magical time of day and we ended up with some beautiful pictures of wonderful custom race cars.
It’s also fun to prowl the corrals and see the enthusiast cars grouped by marque. A large and interesting turnout of DeTomaso and Ford Panteras caught us by surprise. In typical Italian color schemes they were a sight to see. Overall the spectacle of the Motorsports Reunion is really hard to explain, it has to be experienced. It’s my favorite event of the year.
All images were taken with Nikon D7000 using AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED lens in A-mode, no-post processing, only crop.
Part of the fun of Pebble Beach Week is the non-stop car show on the streets of Carmel. It’s hard not to become jaded by the constant parade of classic, exotic and collectables cruising the streets and parallel parked in every available spot in town. Recent model Ferrari’s, especially in red, don’t even register. The sound of yet another Lamborghini over-revving to life-shortening extreme barely brings a grimace. The people watching is a popular pastime and you never know who you may run into. We met collectors, enthusiasts, marque authorities, restoration specialists; every breakfast, every dinner, every coffee, every casual conversation was with an interesting person into classic automobiles. Good stuff.
So here are some pictures from the streets. Most are detail shots as the truly fabulous are never without someone standing nearby taking it in. The Aston’s were at the hotel across the street so I had opportunities to get them alone.
All images were taken with Fuji X100s 35mm, f2.0 in Velvia film mode except for the Aston Martin and silver 911 pictures which were taken with Nikon D7000 using AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D auto focus lens.
So here are some pictures from the streets. Most are detail shots as the truly fabulous are never without someone standing nearby taking it in. The Aston’s were at the hotel across the street so I had opportunities to get them alone.
All images were taken with Fuji X100s 35mm, f2.0 in Velvia film mode except for the Aston Martin and silver 911 pictures which were taken with Nikon D7000 using AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D auto focus lens.
I’ve shot the tour many times from many different vantage points and this year wanted to try something different. Paul and I scouted locations the day before and settled on a section of the Pacific Coast Highway with an embankment with eroding rivulets to be the background about 15-miles south of Carmel. The plan was that the morning marine layer would hold and I’d be shooting in God’s own light box.