NIGEL BENNETT SIGNS COPIES OF HIS NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY INSPIRED TO DESIGN

This morning we welcomed Nigel Bennett to personally sign copies of his brand new book Inspired to Design.

Until our stock is exhausted, signed copies can only be bought from Veloce's website or by telephone requesting a signed copy during the purchase process. First come, first served!

New! Inspired to Design – F1 cars, Indycars & racing tyres: the autobiography of Nigel Bennett

The true life story of one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s.
Nigel Bennett’s unique autobiography describes his life and career, from growing-up influenced by car design, to his education and the building of his 750 specials. He describes his work as Firestone Development Manager, recounting many tales of the outstanding designers and drivers of the period. Detailing his work in Formula 1, as a Team Lotus engineer, and then as Team Ensign designer, he also covers his Indycar designs at Theodore, Lola Cars and Penske Cars. Life after his retirement, his involvement in boat design and with modern F1 teams, are also recounted. More info.

Nigel Bennett was one of Britain’s most successful racing car designers of the 80s and 90s. His Indycars won 79 races, five National Drivers Championships, five Constructers Championships and five Indy 500 wins.
He raced his home-built 750F car, and was Development Manager for the Firestone Racing Division, working with Team Lotus, Ferrari, BRM, Hesketh, Porsche and JW Automotive.
He worked at Hesketh Racing before moving on to Team Lotus, and was engineer to Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, becoming Chief Engineer to Colin Chapman. Designer of the Ensign F1 and Theodore Indy cars, Nigel was head-hunted by Lola Cars, later becoming Penske Cars’ Chief Designer, a position he held for eight years.

LOTUS 7 CLUB CELEBRATES ITS 30TH BIRTHDAY

The Lotus 7 Club, for Caterham and Lotus Seven enthusiasts, is celebrating its 30th Birthday at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire this Saturday, 1st June.

This celebration marks a return to the Club’s roots, since it was founded at the National Motor Museum 30 years ago. Since these beginnings, the Club has grown substantially, and now counts over 2,600 members organised into over 30 regional structures throughout the UK and Europe.

The event has already received in excess of 400 bookings for members and their cars, making it the largest gathering of Caterhams and Lotus Sevens in 2013.

The event will also be attended by senior representatives of Caterham Cars who will arrive in their latest model.

In addition to the Club’s 30th anniversary, the iconic Caterham 7 model is itself celebrating its 40th year in production and counts fans and owners all over the world.

As well as viewing all the Sevens on display and talking to the owners, attendees will be able to enjoy all the exciting cars and attractions on permanent display at the National Motor Museum.

Martin Bushaway, the Club chairman said, “We are delighted to be returning to Beaulieu where the Club was founded in 1983 and to have such a large gathering of 7s to celebrate our birthday. We are a diverse and welcoming club and it will be a great occasion for friends old and new to meet. We have representatives attending from our international associations from as far afield as Switzerland and Germany.

The event is open to the public and we would love to meet any other owners of Caterham and Lotus 7s, all of whom will be welcome on the day.”

Participants arriving in a relevant vehicle can purchase tickets on the gate from 8am on Saturday. For further information visit www.lotussevenclub.com

Source: Beaulieu

Coming soon from Veloce!
Lotus Seven replicas & Caterham 7: 1973-2013 - The Essential Buyer's Guide.
Your marque expert: Rob Hawkins

Having this book in your pocket is like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of Lotus/Caterham Seven experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

More info.

THE 2013 GOODWOOD REVIVAL TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MOTOR RACING LEGEND JIM CLARK

On the 50th anniversary of the first of his two Formula 1 World Championship victories, this year’s Goodwood Revival annual driver tribute will be to the legendary Scottish racer Jim Clark.

A daily track parade at the Goodwood Motor Circuit will include a variety of Jim Clark’s most famous cars to honour the life and achievements of this incredible and versatile man.

The track parade will feature a wealth of famous competition cars, spanning a variety of different genres; in the course of his all too brief career, Clark achieved success in single-seaters, sports, GT and saloon cars, and even turned his hand to rallying, setting fastest stage times on the 1966 RAC Rally in a Lotus-Cortina. The track parade will read like a shopping list of great racing cars from the 1960s, including the Lotus 25 in which Clark won the F1 World Championship in 1963, the Lotus-Cortina in which he won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship, and the Lotus 38 in which he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965.

Such was the esteem in which the inimitable Scot, who tragically died in an F2 race at Hockenheim on 7 April 1968, was held that many of his contemporaries will make the trip to West Sussex to pay tribute. Star names confirmed so far include Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, John Surtees and Tony Brooks.

Jim Clark competed at Goodwood on many occasions in the early 1960s, and, along with fellow Scot Sir Jackie Stewart, jointly holds the lap record of 1m20.4, set at the circuit’s final F1 race in 1965. Goodwood Revival founder Lord March fondly recalls meeting him as a motor racing-obsessed boy, saying: “Jim was always very nice to me – quiet, charming, a thoroughly good guy; not brash like some of the other drivers. He was an absolute world-class driver, and effortless is a good way to describe his ability.”

Source: Goodwood

GOODWOOD FoS 2012 PHOTOS

Here are some photos from Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend. Highlights included the stunning Gerry Judah Lotus sculpture, Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee collection, Chris Evans magnificent seven Ferrari's, the forest rally stage and the'Young Guns - born to win' theme, celebrating drivers who made a huge impact on motorsport from an early age.

LOTUS DISPLAY AT GOODWOOD FOS 2012

This year's display is revealed on Goodwood's Twitter feed!

The stunning Lotus centrepiece outside Goodwood House. Is it the best one yet? #fosgoodwood twitter.com/fosgoodwood/st…

— Goodwood FOS (@fosgoodwood) June 28, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: ANTHONY CARTER REFLECTS ON A LOST ERA OF MOTOR RACING

Motor Racing - Reflections of a lost era
By Anthony Carter

A defining era in motorsport documented in words and intimate photographs, both black and white and colour, from the mid-1950s through the 1960s, when motor racing was still accessible to all, and the 1970s when overt sponsorship and television changed the sport for ever.

More info.

BRM - a mechanic's tale
By Dick Salmon. In collaboration with Anthony Carter.

Probably for the first time, criticism is leveled at both Louis Stanley, and the introduction of the H16 engine as contributory factors to the failure of British Racing Motors. Louis Stanley for his freeloading extravagance, and the rather foolish decision by the management to specify such a complicated and bulky power unit. More info.

Motor Racing – The Pursuit of Victory 1930-1962
By Anthony Carter.

Previously unpublished, stunning photographs from motor racing history, in a book that examines the many facets of Grand Prix racing before the dominance of television. A beautiful look at a fascinating time in motor racing.

More info.

Coming soon! Motor Racing – The Pursuit of Victory 1963 to 1972 By Steve Wyatt. In collaboration with Anthony Carter.
Picking up where the first volume left off, this is a beautifully illustrated journey covering a period of ten years in motor sport. Moving year by year, this book is written from the perspective of a passionate motor sport enthusiast of the day. Features many previously unpublished photographs. More info.

LOTUS TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AS THE CHOSEN MARQUE AT THE 2012 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

A full six months ahead of next summer’s Festival of Speed (28 June - 1 July 2012), Goodwood is excited to reveal that it will be honouring the pioneering Lotus marque with the main ‘Central Feature’ installation, displayed prominently outside Goodwood House.

Goodwood will celebrate this much-loved British brand at an exciting time in the marque’s history, as Lotus is currently two years into a dynamic five year brand reinvigoration plan with the goal of returning the marque to its original status alongside other prestigious sports car manufacturers. The plan includes an entire new range, the first of which will be the return of the iconic Esprit in 2013.

It’s not all about looking to the future for Lotus though, a big part of the brand is its heritage and Lotus will enjoy a vast array of significant anniversaries in 2012, including 60 years since the first Lotus company was founded by Colin Chapman in 1952, four years after the incomparable engineer had built his first vehicle – the Mark 1 trials car – in an old stable behind his parent’s Railway Hotel in Hornsey, North London.

Next year also sees the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking Lotus Elan sportscar, 40 years since the iconic Esprit supercar concept was first revealed by Giugiaro, 35 years since the innovative Lotus 78 ground effect Formula 1 car competed, and 20 years since cyclist Chris Boardman won a gold medal for Britain in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, riding the revolutionary Type 108 bicycle developed by Lotus.

The enviable global reputation that Lotus enjoys today grew out of Chapman’s unparalleled technical ingenuity to dominate all levels of motor sport, from club racing to Formula 1, to create a glorious and enduring legacy. To date Lotus has gone on to win 13 Formula 1 World Championships (six drivers, and seven constructers titles), and a spectacular collection of these victorious F1 cars will be at Goodwood in the summer, along with an impressive selection of Lotus Indycars, saloons, sports and road cars, all forming a key attraction at the 2012 Festival of Speed. A wealth of current and ex-works Lotus drivers are also expected to appear at Goodwood.

Full details of the Lotus vehicle and driver line-up, along with further news about the main Lotus Central Feature installation, will be revealed over the coming months.

Source: Goodwood

Lotus 49 - The Story of a Legend
By Michael Oliver

The Lotus 49 was one of the most evocative & successful Formula One cars of its era, & the first to use the Cosworth DFV V8 engine. Here is the definitive story from inception to the fate of the cars today. Includes a racing record & individual chassis histories. A high quality artpaper production. A highly acclaimed book.

Click here for more info about the book!

BRITAIN’S BEST SPORTSCAR – THE SHORTLIST

Jaguar XK120

MGB
In an attempt to settle an age-old argument, classic car fans are being given the chance to vote on the best British sportscar of all time. A panel of experts has prepared a shortlist of 15 iconic cars covering all the great British marques and enthusiasts can vote on-line for their own favourite via the official website of the Silverstone Classic.

As well as being firmly established as the world’s biggest classic racing festival, the annual Silverstone Classic also features one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of classic cars. This summer’s three-day event will see more than 120 UK car clubs displaying in excess of 7000 cars including large numbers of those shortlisted on-line for the coveted ‘Best British Sportscar’ title.

Centre stage this year goes to the E-type Jaguar, with the Silverstone Classic chosen by all the major Jaguar clubs as the location for the legendary model’s official 50th birthday party. The target for the event is to have 1000 E-types on display and then send them on to the Grand Prix circuit during Saturday to set a Guinness World Record for the greatest number of E-types in a parade. Cars from all over the world are already confirmed, including North America and all over Europe.

But the E-type isn’t the only car – or Jaguar – shortlisted on the website for the ‘Best British Sportscar’ crown; it is joined by its XK120 predecessor on the shortlist. Triumph, though, has the most finalists with TR3, TR6 and Spitfire models all making the last 15. Austin Healy (‘Frogeye’ Sprite and 3000), Lotus (Seven and Elan) and MG (MGA and MGB) join Jaguar with two models on the final roster, which is completed with the AC Cobra, Aston Martin DB5, Morgan and TVR Griffith.

To vote for their own favourite, enthusiasts simply log onto www.SilverstoneClassic.com/vote&win and click on the appropriate box under their particular choice – all entrants being restricted to one vote. The poll closes on 30 June and the result will be announced on 7 July with the overall winner being officially crowned during this year’s Silverstone Classic. 10 winning votes drawn at random will each receive a pair of weekend tickets to the event.

BRITAIN’S BEST SPORTSCAR – FINAL 15 SHORTLIST

AC Cobra

Aston Martin DB5

Austin Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite

Austin Healey 3000

Jaguar XK120/150

Jaguar E-type

Lotus 7

Lotus Elan Sprint

MGA

MGB

Morgan Plus *

Triumph TR3A

Triumph TR6

Triumph Spitfire

TVR Griffith

Source: Silverstone Classic

LOTUS 38: THE STAR OF GOODWOOD FOS 2010

One of the highlights of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010 had to be the historic Indy 500 winning Lotus-Ford 38/1. The car's victory in 1965, with Jim Clark at the wheel, was the first ever by a rear-engine chassis.

In 1965 Team Lotus brought in the legendary Wood Brothers from NASCAR to speed up its pit work at Indianapolis. The Lotus 38 that they assisted to Victory Lane languished in the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village for decades before being returned to the UK to be restored by Classic Team Lotus. It was driven in public, for the first time since its win, at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Thanks to Ian Wagstaff (author of forthcoming Veloce book The British at Indianapolis) for these pictures.

'38/1' driven by Charles March
Clive Chapman being interviewed by the car
Present to see ‘38/1’ for the first time since May 1965 were two of the Wood brothers, Leonard (left) and Delano.

Coming soon! The British at Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
A history of the British influence on the Indianapolis 500, including not only the drivers and cars, but the many others – mechanics, designers, and officials – who have been involved. The story is set out in a series of stand-alone chapters, with a wide variety of informative sidebars, and goes back 100 years to the early days of the race, through the British-led, rear-engined revolution of the 1960s to the present day. More info.

CLASSIC TEAM LOTUS FESTIVAL (20/6/2010)

Press release from Veloce author Johnny Tipler

Thanks to the generous support of owners worldwide, the Classic Team Lotus Festival at Snetterton on Sunday 20th June presents the first ever gathering of one of every Team Lotus F1 car.

For just one amazing day, The Team Lotus Pavilion will hold the greatest collection of Team Lotus racing cars ever assembled. From the 1958 type 12 through to the 1994 Type 109, there will be 33 Team Lotus F1 design types on view. These precious cars will be lined up in grid formation undercover, so that visitors can walk through the grid to experience a unique close-up encounter with famous racing machinery at the cutting edge of the evolution of F1 car design.


Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus comments: "We set about bringing the cars together for this unprecedented event when we realised that we could make a full grid of Team Lotus F1 design types. Cars are coming from all over the world – many from Europe, and the 109 is travelling from the Barber Museum in the USA. Owners from Japan and Australia are participating as well.‟

During the lunchbreak at midday the cars will be wheeled through the crowds and out onto the circuit grid, lined up in five abreast formation, for an aerial photograph recording the unique gathering. This special moment can be witnessed by the public from the pitwall, during the pit lane walkabout.


Between 2.00pm and 3.30pm, the race programme will be halted and the Team Lotus Pavilion will come alive, with most of the F1 cars being demonstrated on track. They will be fired up in the public area of the paddock, and then driven out in batches to make four lap runs.Famous guest drivers will include the current Lotus F1 Racing drivers and original Team Lotus Works drivers. As impressive as the Team Lotus grid will be, there is nothing to match the awesome cacophony of these World Championship winning F1 cars and their mechanical soundtrack. This is the real thing.

Newly reprinted! Lotus 49 - The Story of a Legend (Gold Leaf Edition) by Michael Oliver.

The definitive story of the Lotus 49 from inception to the fate of the cars today. Includes a racing record and individual chassis histories.

More info.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF ALL TIME

Classic & Sports Car magazine have polled a 20-strong panel as the jury to decide the single most beautiful classic car.

And the winner ...
The Citroën DS!

James Elliott, editor of Classic & Sports Car, said: “The Citroën is a benchmark design, but we were still astonished that it came out on top when you look at the sexiness – and values – of some of its rivals. Apart from the Mini, it’s by far the most affordable car to get any nominations at all, which probably means it’s a great investment!

Giorgetto Giugiaro - the man behind the Maserati Bora, VW Golf, Fiat Panda and Lotus Esprit, said: “The only example of a car really conceived ‘outside the box’. It is just impossible to imitate.”
Source:newspress

Check out these fantastic Citroën DS books published by Veloce:

Citroën DS – Design Icon
by Malcolm Bobbitt.


The most radical of Citroën’s idiosyncratic offerings, the DS was sensational when it was introduced in 1955. Twenty years and 1.45 million cars later it was still technically advanced to most other cars. Revolutionary in driving characteristics and comfort, it remains one of the most innovative cars of all time. Click here for more info about the book!





Citroën DS & ID – The Essential Buyer's Guide by Rudy Heilig.

Guides collectors, restorers and enthusiasts through the various production changes and problem areas that occur between the various models, to make sure that the restoration or prospective purchase is correct, original, and legitimate. This book is an essential reference tool that can be used when buying, selling, repairing or restoring the various D-models manufactured between 1966 and 1975. One hundred colour photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean that this book could save you thousands! Click here for more info about the book!



Personal favourite, The Lamborghini Miura also made the top 10 in the poll!
1. Citroën DS
2= Jaguar XK120
2= Ferrari 275GTB
4= Cord 810/812
4= Ferrari 250GT Lusso
4= Ferrari 250GT Short-wheelbase
4= Jaguar E-type
4= Lamborghini Miura
4= Lotus Elan
4= Lotus Elite (1957)

LOTUS DESIGN CALENDAR 2009

The latest Lotus Design limited edition calendar is now available and hints at a design language of the future. The calendar has 15 pages of development sketches, scale model photographs and digital visualisations from the Design teams’ most recent projects and has exclusive images and renderings of the brand new Lotus Evora.
The high quality, large format calendar (42cm x 42cm) is designed so that the individual pages can be removed and framed and a limited print run ensures that this 2009 calendar is a rare and collectable item.

Lotus 7 powered by twin motorcycle engine

Take a look at this awesome machine!