Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally

Alvis reunited with its heritage to give it a 21st Century future

Alvis, arguably one of the most innovative car manufacturers in the 1930s, is set to return to business in the 21st century with ownership of the brand name having been formally transferred to the company which has been providing parts, maintenance and restoration services to Alvis owners for the last 40 years, Red Triangle.

While this development is recent, there is a continuous Alvis history. In 1968, when production of Alvis road cars ceased the Midlands-based Red Triangle was established by the ex-employees, with the help of the Alvis Company. Many of the original Alvis employees continued to work for Red Triangle and even today they still employ the Alvis technician who built the last 100 TF21 engines in the mid sixties, who now assists with the training of new apprentices.

For the last four decades, the company, which derives its Red Triangle name from the Alvis badge, has thrived and remains the safe custodian of all the original car designs, plans and documents. It is believed to be unique in the collector car world in being a company, which can provide original, replacement parts on an off-the-shelf delivery basis and also processes a complete historic record of all cars produced and customer documentation.

With the legal transfer of the Alvis car trademarks, Red Triangle has formed a new company called The Alvis Car Company Limited. Alan Stote, who has owned Red Triangle for 16 years and who has led the formation of The Alvis Car Company said: “These are exciting times for Alvis and its devotees, but our primary concern is a sustainable business model to carry this legendary name from British motoring history forward.

Our philosophy will be to maintain the essence of the brand by reintroducing selected original Alvis models as newly manufactured cars and for Red Triangle to continue to expand its technical, repair and restoration support to Alvis owners across the world.”

Alvis Car Company History Key Events

Alvis was a company of true automobile engineers. Everything from the concept to the finished rolling chassis was designed and engineered by Alvis, complemented by a range of eye-catching bodywork from leading coach builders of the time. The result: cars of outstanding reliability, impressive performance and stunning good looks.

Alvis key event timeline

1920 T. G. John begins manufacturing Alvis cars in Coventry with coachwork supplied by Cross & Ellis and Carbodies.
1925 A supercharged Alvis front-wheel drive laps Brooklands at 104 mph.
1926 Alvis designs and races the first straight-eight front-wheel drive Grand Prix racing car.
1928 The Alvis Company manufactures and markets the world's first front wheel drive production car.
1933 Alvis designs the world's first all synchromesh gear box and initiates the first British car with independent front suspension.
1939 The Alvis Company controls 21 'shadow' factories producing aero engines -1945 for the British Royal Air Force RAF.
1952 Alec Issigonis joins Alvis to design a prototype 3,500 cc V8 engine.
1959 History is made when the first hovercraft SR.N 1 crosses the Channel powered by an Alvis Leonides engine.
1965 Alvis merges with Rover.
1967 After 47 years and after manufacturing almost 22,000 motor vehicles, Alvis ceases car production.
1968 The Alvis ex-employees, helped by the Alvis Company, create Red Triangle. Alvis passes everything to the new company - the complete stock of parts, over 22,000 car records and more than 50,000 works drawings, technical data sheets and correspondence files.

Alvis announces Continuation series of its greatest pre-war model

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, the Alvis Car Company has announced details of a unique project to re-introduce a renowned1930’s Alvis model using the original technical drawings, allied to the latest CAD/CAM technology.

Red Triangle, the well-established Alvis service company, which owns the Alvis cars brand and trademarks, has evidence from the original Alvis company board minutes that 77 of the chassis that were officially sanctioned for production were never fulfilled because car production had to be suspended in 1940. The newly formed Alvis Car Company has displayed a brand new 4.3 Litre chassis and engine on their stand. These are the first steps towards the reintroduction of the famous Alvis 4.3 Litre model, 71 years after the last 4.3 Litre Alvis was produced.

The 4.3 Litre Alvis was the fastest non-supercharged production car of its day, and the continuation series will live up to that heritage. Manufactured from the original drawings, the 4.3 Litre Alvis in-line six cylinder engine will be faithful to the 1936 design, in maintaining all its period character and quality, yet by utilising modern technology it will be emission compliant. Moreover, by using modern materials, fuel injection and engine management, this powerplant will deliver even more horsepower.

“This is part of our overall business plan,” said Alan Stote, Red Triangle and Alvis Car Company proprietor: “to maintain service to existing Alvis owners but also to reintroduce selected authentic Alvis models in line with the vision of the Alvis Board all those years ago. Visitors to Goodwood will be able to see the first stages of that plan.”

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Auctions by Gooding & Company

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Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is thrilled to announce two exceptional collector supercars that will be offered at its upcoming Pebble Beach Auctions. The 1947 Italian Championship-winning 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza and a California-registered 1995 McLaren F1 will proudly drive over Gooding & Company’s auction stage as premier offerings at the Sunday Auction on August 15, 2010, which commences at 6 p.m. at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. An additional point of excitement includes McLaren’s North American launch of the 2012 MP4-12C with the unveiling taking place at a private Gooding & Company event on Friday evening. The new 12C will also be on display for public viewing on Saturday and Sunday at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Concept Car Lawn.

“We have more consignors and exceptional cars from around the world than ever before,” says David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. “The diversity and quality of our cars this year is the best we have ever presented at Pebble Beach.”

The 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza and 1995 McLaren F1 join a long list of sparkling consignments for Gooding & Company’s Sunday Auction, which also includes the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K, 1927 Mercedes-Benz S Boattail Speedster, 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod and 1956 Maserati 200SI. Additional Saturday Auction highlights include Gil Nickel’s 1951 Ferrari 340 America Spider, the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France, the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione and the barn discovery 1933 Duesenberg SJ LWB Convertible.
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Stirling Moss Trophy at the Silverstone Classic 2010

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The outcome of the Stirling Moss Trophy race for genuine, pre-1961 sportscars and sports-racers changed dramatically in the final few laps of the hour-long race. From the start, Jamie McIntyre took full advantage of his Lister Knobbly’s pole position to pull out a convincing lead on the rest of the field.

By lap 21, this lead had built to more than 20 seconds over the second car in the field – none other than the Lotus 15 of Jamie’s brother Ewan. However, the result was decided when a fuel pump problem for Jamie’s Lister gave Ewan exactly the opportunity he needed, and he wasted no time in sweeping through to take the lead – just before a mercifully short safety car period four laps from the end. Now struggling to maintain his laptimes, Jamie ultimately dropped to sixth, allowing the father-and-son team of Alan and Jason Minshaw in their Maserati T61 ‘Birdcage’ to finish second, scarcely more than one second ahead of the fabulous Lister Costin of Andrew Garner and Gary Pearson.

In fourth place was the famous, 1959 Le Mans-winning Aston Martin DBR1, driven by the 1970 Le Mans winner Richard Attwood and – in his first race at the wheel of this car – Bobby Verdon-Roe, while the Wood/McCaig Lister Jaguar Knobbly was the other car to make it past Jamie as a result of his fuel pump woes.
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Stirling Back on Track! Woodcote Trophy at the Silverstone Classic

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Sir Stirling Moss, in his first race since breaking both ankles in a fall down his lift shaft earlier this year, made a glorious comeback at the wheel of his little OSCA FS372 in Saturday’s Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy race at the Silverstone Classic. Enjoying a friendly ‘grudge match’ against rock star Chris Rea, who was driving a Lotus VI in the same class, Sir Stirling drove with characteristic speed and professional precision, much to the delight of the crowds.

Although Chris Rea and co-driver Richard Hodson qualified nine places on the grid ahead of Sir Stirling and co-driver Ian Nuthall, Moss’s familiar red OSCA climbed steadily up the field, until Sir Stirling was leading the class. But, with just 10 minutes of the hour-long race still to run, he was forced to pull into the pits and retire when his gearbox stuck in fourth – gifting the class victory to Rea and Hodson. “We were flying and I really enjoyed it,” said Moss afterwards.

At the front of the 48-car grid, the competition was just as fierce, with the pole-sitting Jaguar D-type of Gavin Pickering and Spencer Marsh holding its own to claim victory against an incredible performance by Will Arif and Alex Buncombe, who brought their drum-braked C-type to an impressive second place – ahead of the Maserati A6GCS of Lukas Huni and Gary Pearson.
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RM Auctions 16th annual Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event

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RM Auctions 16th annual ‘Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook’ event posts over $10 million in total sales including a Top-seller: 1953 Chrysler “Thomas Special” Coupe exceeds pre-sale estimate, selling for $858,000.
RM’s summer auction schedule continues August 12 – 14 in Monterey, CA kicking off with a dedicated Ford-themed sale on Thursday, August 12 as part of the three-day ‘Sports & Classics of Monterey’ event

Here is the complete press release:

BLENHEIM, ON (July 26, 2010) – Wild weather across the Motor City failed to dampen the enthusiasm of car collectors at RM Auctions’ Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event on July 24, as spirited bidding in the room, on the phone and via the internet saw total sales climb over $10 million for the 98-car offering, with a strong 85% sell-through rate.

Well-attended by motoring enthusiasts from across the continent, the single-day sale was highlighted by an abundance of American classics as it celebrated the Midwest’s impact on the automobile. Once again, the auction launched the renowned Meadow Brook vintage car weekend, culminating with yesterday’s Concours d’Elegance of America at Meadow Brook event.
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Harry Flatters Historic Rally, BHRC Rally preview

A little piece of history will be made on Sunday (1 August) when the SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally runs as a round of the Waterend Asphalt Cup. Although not a full round of the 2010 Dunlop/WONAGO.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Epynt event is a round of the mini-series of asphalt events that runs under the BHRC umbrella.

The other rounds of the Waterend Asphalt Cup are the recent Isle of Man Historic Rally and the forthcoming Ulster Historic Rally and the Historic Tour of Flanders. A representative 16-car historic entry has been assembled for the Harry Flatters, headed by Mark Solloway and Den Golding, who are chasing a hat-trick of wins on this event in their Escort Mk2.

Given Solloway's knowledge of Epynt and his outstanding commitment across the ranges, it is hard to see him being beaten if the car runs strongly, but Terry Brown/Martin Jones will lead the chase in their Escort Mk2.

Top of the regular BHRC title contenders will be David Stokes and Guy Weaver in their Ford Escort Mk1, although they will face tough opposition in category two from local expert Toby Adam in his very rapid Pinto-powered Escort Mk1 and Neal James/Kevin Jones in their similar car.

Switching to category two for the Harry Flatters will be Northern Ireland crew Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride, who are running their class C4 Porsche 911 rather than their regular category one car. Class rivals to Nutt include the Porsche 911 of Wyn Jones and Ray Evans.

Meanwhile, back in category three, another four Escort Mk2s will be flying in the hands of Simon Tysoe/Cliff Simmons, Connor Corkill/Rob Fagg, Phil Squires/Mick Squires and Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies. Tysoe is proven to be quick over Epynt, while Manxman Corkill is getting quicker all the time and will want to bounce back with a strong result after a trying time on his home event earlier in July.

Also in category three is the spectacular Triumph TR7 V8 of Stephen Hall and Aggie Foster, while Rikki Proffitt and Peter Scott head category one in Proffitt's Porsche 911.

The SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally is organised by Brecon Motor Club. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.breconmotorclub.co.uk

Barbados Historic Rally Carnival 2010 won by local driver

Barbados Historic Rally Carnival 2010: LOCAL BAJAN DRIVER WHITE WINS KING OF THE CARNIVAL 2010; JIMMY McRAE NETS CLASS WIN ON RALLY Driving a 3-litre Tuthill Porsche 911 through a totally tropical mixture of searing heat and flash downpours, five-times British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae adapted swiftly to the bumpy challenges of Barbados' Turners Hall special stage and relished the swift, smoother sections of the Pickerings stage, to clinch second overall and a class win in the Karcher Summer Stages Historic Rally.

"I was flat-out in fifth on the fast bit of Pickerings and spotted my wife Margaret spectating, something she almost never does anymore," explained Jim.

"Her mouth was wide open and it was clear she was pretty awestruck, so I kept my foot in it and nearly missed the braking point!", grinned Jim during the Carnival prizegiving at Surfside beach bar, Holetown the following Sunday.

The performance earned McRae and co-driver Campbell Roy the Classic Group 5 class win, after a determined early challenge from Andrew Jones fell by the wayside when the Bajan local had a spin in his Cosworth-powered Mk2 Escort.

Another Tuthill Porsche 911 was on the island for the event. It was driven to victory in 1993 by the founder of the company, Francis Tuthill. Two drivers, Francis and his London-Sydney co-driver and friend Anthony Showell drove the car in the RallySprint, with Anthony achieving sixth place. A minor 'off' relegated Francis to 12th, but he redeemed himself with fourth overall on the rally.

Overall Historic rally winners were Greg Cozier and Jamie Marsh. The 'father' of the Rally Carnival pedalled his immaculate Mk2 Escort to win both the Classic Group 4 class and overall honours. Cozier said: "We were quicker by three seconds on the first tight stage, but when Jimmy pulled back six seconds on the long Pickerings in the Porsche, I was a bit nervous. Not much I could do about it other than drive."
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Kemp Auto Museum’s award-winning 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A

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The Kemp Auto Museum’s award-winning 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A received accolades at the recent Fourth Annual Kansas City Art Institute “Art of the Car” ConcoursTM, held in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

The Art of the Car Concours™, a benefit for student scholarships at the Kansas City Art Institute, is the largest vintage car show in Kansas City. It featured a wide variety of vintage, classic and special interest vehicles belonging to Kansas City area and national collectors. Vintage race cars, motorcycles, bicycles and fire trucks also were included in the show.

The Kemp Auto Museum’s 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A was recognized with sponsor Hagerty Insurance Agency Inc.’s "The Car We Would Most Like to Have a Claim From" Award.

This recognition by the Kansas City Art Institute’s “Art of the Car” Concours Committee and sponsor Hagerty Insurance Agency Inc. is one of multiple awards received by the Kemp Auto Museum at a national Concours events over the past five years.
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Discounted tickets for 2010 Palos Verdes Concours d’ Elegance Now On Sale

Automobile enthusiasts who plan to attend the 18th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance at the Trump National Golf Course on Sunday, September 19, 2010 can save $10 a ticket by purchasing before the event. Costing $35 at the gate, tickets are now available on the Internet and in the South Bay for just $25.

To buy online, go to www.pvconcours.com and click on Tickets. To buy in person, go to Medewar Fine Jewelry, 810C Silver Spur Rd., RHE; Dave Carney Hillside Auto Repair, 244676 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance; Rancho Palos Verdes Flowers, 28041 So. Hawthorne Blvd., RPV; Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Rd., RPV; The Artists’ Studio,5504 Crestridge Rd., RPV; Malaga Bank, 2514 Tejon, PVE , 27450 Hawthorne Blvd, RHE; 25700 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, or 1460 W. 25th St., San Pedro; PV Chamber of Commerce, 707 Silver Spur, #100, RHE., or PV Concours d’Elegance, 1921 So. Catalina Ave,#5, Redondo Beach.

The Concours will have a German theme this year. Mercedes Benz is the featured marque and the Concours’ 23 classes will include four classes of Mercedes Benz, two of Porsche, two of BMW, one each of Borgward and Volkswagen plus German race cars and motor cycles. American and European classics and unique race cars will round out the competitive classes.

Craftsmen in Restoration Alley, aka Wiederherstellungsallee, will demonstrate the art of restoring valuable automobiles, and catering will include German food, beer and wine.

The 2010 Road Rallye d’ Epicure will be held on Saturday, September 18, beginning at Trump National and ending at the Edelbrock Automotive Museum in Torrance. It will feature a treasure hunt whose theme will be The Pirates of PV, according to Rallye Chairman Greg Sparkman. Unlike in previous years, the Road Rallye will be an afternoon event, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 5. For more information about the Rallye go to http://creativepartnersgroup.com/rr2010/

The Grand Marshal Oktoberfest dinner and silent auction will follow the Road Rallye at the Edelbrock Museum from 5 to 8 p.m. This year’s Grand Marshal is racing legend Andy Granatelli.

Proceeds will benefit the community and outreach programs of the Palos Verdes Art Center and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Foundation. The Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance is a 501 (c) (3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity.

Grand Prix Masters winner Coombs gets his BRM…. watch

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Bill Coombs’s two races in the Grand Prix Masters (1970s and 1980s F1 cars) races at Silverstone over the Classic Weekend (July 24/25) had an additional and unexpectedly rewarding outcome for him.

Late yesterday evening, the owner and president of the French horological design company, Bernard Richard, of Bernard Richard Manufacture (BRM watches), decided that Bill was the “Driver of the Silverstone Classic Weekend”, and so awarded him a top of the range BRM watch in the event’s closing ceremony right at the end of the meeting.

Bill had taken third place in Saturday’s Grand Prix Masters race after gearbox problems had dropped him back from an early lead, in the Tyrrell 009 which run by Peter Orlando’s squad. Then in race two on Sunday, in front of a bumper crowd, Bill was able to win from Steve Hartley’s Arrows by just a few seconds – but not by enough to win on combined race results, that honour going to Hartley.

Bill’s racing, however, in the opinion of Monsieur Richard and the fellow judges, was an outstanding one and a real treat for the crowd – the award proved a popular choice as well, marking as it does the first ever time that any Masters racing member has won such an award at one of Europe’s main historic festivals.

Bill Coombs and Tyrrell will next be out with Grand Prix Masters at the much anticipated re-opening of Donington, on September 3-5th.

The 2010 Masters season now races on, with two grids at Castle Combe this coming weekend, and three grids at the Nurburgring Oldtimer on August 14/15.

18th Regis Rally on Saturday 9th October

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Don’t miss the 18th Regis Rally on Saturday 9th October being organised by Bognor Regis Motor Club Ltd for cars registered before 31st December 1980. The event is a daylight Regularity rally with special tests on private ground around West Sussex. A round of the Historic Rally Car Register Clubman’s Rally Championship sponsored by REIS.

This penultimate round of the HRCR 2010 championship is being organised by the current overall Champion Driver Martin Neal as Deputy Clerk of the Course with his Winning Navigator Mick Briggs as Clerk of the Course. This experienced team organise an event suitable for both Experts and Novice alike which takes in a great scenic route around West Sussex and East Hampshire with some very interesting and challenging test locations on private ground. The team are returning to Amberley as it has proved in the past to be an excellent base and provides an ideal venue for family and friends to visit while the competing crews are out on the event. The Limeburner’s always provides a great breakfast and satisfying meal at the finish.

MSA National B Competition licences are required for both Driver and Navigator. If you want to compete but don’t have a partner or car, please contact Ali Green who will be operating her famous “Rally Relate” service to try to pair up suitable crews, if possible with similar abilities. Email: alitherally@btinternet.com.

Regulations will be available very soon to download off the website.
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Castle Combe celebrates 60th Birthday

Some of the biggest icons in the history of West Country motorsport will be gathering at Castle Combe over the weekend of July 31 and August 1 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the circuit at its Diamond Anniversary race meeting.

A packed weekend centres around historic race cars, the highlight for many being the 10 lap Historic Anniversary Trophy race for cars from the 50's and 60's.

There are a number of prestigious entries, none more so than three times Monaco Historic Grand Prix winner, Julian Bronson, from Bristol. Fresh from a win at the Le Mans classic in his Talbot, the former Autograsser drives his 6.7 litre Corvette and will be a strong contender for victory.

Veteran Castle Combe driver, Ted Williams from Nailsea, is in a Healey 100, whilst completing the triumvirate of long standing local circuit supporters is Frampton Cotterell's George Douglas in his well known Ginetta G16.

Another great talent is New Zealand driver Neil Cunningham, his versatility extending to a Jaguar this time, with fellow countryman, Ross Maxwell, in a Chevron B8 and other international competition from Patrice Wattinne from France in a Turner.

Other local entries include the Lotus Elan 26R from Dursley's John Watson, plus the Frogeye Sprite of Charles Marriot and the Healey Silverstone of Chris Berens, both from Cirencester.

Invitation entries in the spirit of the race include the legendary Cologne Capri of Vince Woodman from Chipping Sodbury, which is worth attending for on its own. Bristol's Chris Clarkson is also an invitee in his BMW 2002.

Williams, Watson and Douglas also feature in the prestigious 40 minute Guards Trophy race, joined by Nigel Williams from Bristol in a 1965 Alfa TZ. Swindon's Ed Lovett is one of half a dozen Chevron drivers in his B8.
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Fairfield County Concours Accepting Barn Find Submissions through July 30

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Time is running out to submit a barn find for the Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance national barn find search! One month ago, the Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance kicked off a national search to uncover long-lost historic vehicles from across the nation, for display in a featured judging class at its 7th annual event, held on September 12, 2010 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Conn.

So far, the Concours reports that it has received some great submissions, but the search continues through July 30.

“We are really seeing some great vehicles, but the search isn’t over just yet” said Bill Scheffler, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance. “We’re on the hunt for the best of America’s long-lost automotive treasures and we want to make sure we’re seeing as much as possible.”

One submission in particular, a 1949 Willys Panel Wagon, has caught the eye of some so far. The rare vehicle is in good condition but generally unrestored, containing all of its original emblems, hubcaps, bumpers. The vehicle was found in an old Hollywood, Calif. garage, where it had been resting for 46 years, before the current owner retrieved it.
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