A few years ago we established a mini-feature entitled “And How” as a page to drop in short items, newsbits, addendums, etcetera. It worked fairly well. But after a while, I forgot to make further use of it. Then last week Graham Gauld, Rich Minor and Kendall Merritt had a few things they would like to impart, but shorts, y’know, things that would fit into a mini-feature. How do we do that within the VT format? Oh ya, I remember now. And How. Ed.
Mike Anthony gives Tony Brooks a push at the 1956 British GP. (Photo Gauld)
Graham Gauld and Tony Brooks
I am afraid I was unable to add anything to the comments about Tony Brooks as I had just left France after 27 years and getting adjusted to being back in the UK.
Now a little settled in, I was able to find a couple of photos of Brooks following his British Grand Prix accident back in 1956 when he was driving for BRM. It was an incident that I observed from close quarters for early in the race, as I was photographing as usual alongside my racing photographer friend John Ross, who worked for the original Auto Course magazine. We were at Club Corner of Silverstone when Tony slowed down and trundled onto the grass and stopped just beside us, as clearly something was wrong. Fellow Brit sports car racer Mike Anthony was a spectator and rushed over to find out what was the cause. Tony remarked it was a broken throttle cable so Mike asked around for anyone with a pencil. When one was forthcoming he used the pencil to somehow get the throttle cable loosely attached and then helped push Tony off to the pits to have it properly fixed. As we now know Tony came back into the race only for the cable to break again and he shot off the road the car hitting the banking, throwing Tony out and then setting fire to itself.
A few laps later, the remains of the burnt-out BRM. (Photo Gauld)
These two photos show Mike Anthony in the pale overalls behind Tony’s shoulders helping to push start him after the rough repair and then the remains of the burnt out BRM. From then on Tony was cautious about any racing car where he had a problem.
He and Pia were regular attenders at Grand Prix Drivers Club meetings until a few years ago and he will certainly be sadly missed by those still alive who met him : sadly nearly all of his competitors at the time have also left us : it was an epic period in Grand Prix Racing.
One Man’s Alfa, twenty years later
May 10, 2022
Hey Pete,
My 1991 Alfa Spider won 1st in class {The Italians} in the recent Williamsburg European Car Show, hosted by the Williamsburg British Car Club. That is the 5th trophy she has taken over the years. Two 1st and two 3rds and a “Miscellaneous Vehicles.”
Who would have thought those 20 years ago when you wrote those two stories about me that my penchant for Alfas would turn out to be such a good hobby. Time flies when you are having fun.
Your friend,
Rich Minor
Kendall Merritt, Kimberly’s Ferrari and Glen Glendenning
Then we heard from Kendall Merritt, who operates a restoration shop in Northern Virginia. Kendall is the son of the late Richard F. Merritt, who needs no introduction here. He asked about a Glen Glendenning photo that was also shared with Jeff Allison and Prancing Horse magazine.
Kimberly’s Ferrar at MacDill AFB in 1953. Photo by Glen Glendenning.
Hello Pete
I hope this email finds you well.
I was looking at your latest addition of Veloce Today. I noticed a picture in the Glendenning Ferrari collection of a 1952 Ferrari 340A #0204. The photo is from 1953 where Jim Kimberley was racing the car at MacDill Air Force Base.
We are restoring this car at our shop. I was wondering if there are any other photos in the collection of this car? I would be happy to purchase a higher res copy of this photo and any other photos of the car that may be in the collection.
Thanks in advance.
Kendall Merritt
Dew Motorcars Corp.
44264 Mercure Circle, Suite 160
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 544-0019
(703) 544-0025 Fax
Looking further, we also found this photo, also by Glendenning, of 0204 at Chanute AFB in 1953 and sent it along to Kendall. However, a sharp eyed reader noted that this may be #0220, also owned by Kimberly, not 0204. Might readers have more images of #0204?
Kimberly at Chanute, 1953. Photo by Glen Glendenning
Fred Puhn
Sadly, Fred Puhn passed away on the morning of May 13th. Fred was a race driver, author, businessman, vintage car restorer and will always be remembered for his book, How to Make a Car Handle, and his work reserrecting the fabled Maserati V8RI. In this week’s archived feature, we republish the two articles Fred wrote for us in 2020. Click here to read Fred’s Story. Our condolences to his family.
Fred Puhn and his Maserati V8RI at Laguna Seca, 2014. Photo by Randy Reed..
The car pictured as “Kimberly at Chanute, 1953” has race number 6; this is the 225 Sport Vignale Spyder chassis # 0220 ED entered by Kimberly but raced by Marshall Lewis (and Sally Chapin in the Ladies race).
Kimberly himself drove his 340 America # 0204 A with race number 5 at Chanute.