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Jonathan Sharp

More from Villa Erba

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From the ‘Faster: the arms race on the road’ class. Brian Ross’s 1957 Ferrari 335S, ex- Pierre Bardinon’s Mas du Clos collection.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The classes for this year encompassed the years 1914 (Rolls Royce) to 2024 (Concepts and prototypes). In addition to the various classes, visitors to the public day at Villa Erba on the Sunday could enjoy a separate display of motorsport milestones and several BMW Art cars in the main convention centre, and a fine display of Gandini designed cars as a tribute to the late great Master on the green outside.

So what was my favorite car? probably the Fiat Dino Aerodynamica, or maybe the Serenissima Agena, or maybe the Alfa 8C. There wasn’t a duff car in the place, and if you do visit, and your really should, remember take the ferry!

For a list of the classes, click on the website at the end of this article.

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Fuori Concorso, 2024

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Fuori Concorso founded 5 years ago by Guglielmo Miani and curated by Andrea Luzardi is not really a concorso along the lines of Hampton Court or Pebble Beach. There are no judges, no points are lost because your hose clips are wrong and your emergency window winder was upside down in the glove box, nobody wins and nobody loses. Rather the event is a celebration of car culture held in the green and pleasant surrounds of Villa Grumello and Villa Sucato on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. [Read more…] about Fuori Concorso, 2024

Fuori Concorso Part 2

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

We continue with the Fuori Concorso coverage. Above, the free ice cream courtesy of Porsche was especially welcome, and the mint flavor complete with real mint leaves was divine. Now back to the cars. As before, no guarantees on identifications, but let us know if we have gone astray for the record.

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Italian Car Day, Brooklands 2024

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Fiat 2300 Ghia, behind which is BAC 1/11 G-ASYD. Throughout its 29-year flying career SYD was used as a test aircraft for various variants and for testing technical equipment including ‘Fly by Light Control Technology.’ Donated to the museum by British Aerospace Airbus Ltd and landing at Brooklands (her 5004th landing) on the 14th July 1994.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

“Just follow the F40!” Not something I have said before but when my pal asked me which junction we needed to exit the motorway, it sounded so much better than “this one.” The F40 had just passed us, by the way, and it was obvious that we were both heading to the same event. So where were we going on this bright spring morning (4th May)?

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Sir Stirling Moss Service at Westminster

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

A service of Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey is a very rare and special occasion, and not something you would expect to be conducted for a racing driver. Such is the respect held for Sir Stirling Moss, who was recently honored with a service at the Abbey, delayed after his death in 2020 by the pandemic. I found out about this unique happening from a friend, who in an email wrote, ‘Quick, there is going to be a service of Thanksgiving to Sir Stirling Moss at 11am on the 8th May, and it is going to be in Westminster Abbey! Go onto the web site now and see if you can book tickets.”

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More Members Meeting 2024

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Shadow Prototype

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Earlier this year when the post card from Goodwood landed on the mat inviting me to attend the 81st Members Meeting, on the front was written “Can-Am.” I knew right then I was going to be attending. I have always had a soft spot for monster McLarens, Marchs and Lolas with bodywork big enough to land a helicopter, but this year it was the seven Shadow Can Am cars of the James Bartel collection that really grabbed my attention; mini sized front wheels, twin rear wheels, spoiler mounted radiators, and aerodynamic devices like the wing fences of an old MIG 15 fighter jet! Fantastic stuff, and all the Shadows took to the circuit instead of just static displays. In fact the daily Can Am demo included 19 various examples of V8 Thunder, plus two 12 cylinder Porsches for good measure. Truly made my day.

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VSCC at Brooklands, 2018

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
From the Archives, June 2018

The Brooklands museum complex is like a nostalgic oasis surrounded by modern glass fronted corporate head offices and a Tesco’s supermarket. However once you have entered into the site the years simply drop away. Whether it’s just the 1930s music playing over the PA system, or the restored buildings, one feels (if you use a bit of imagination) that you are back in the 1920s. The feeling of nostalgia increases 10-fold when the VSCC (Veteran Sports Car Club) have an event there. [Read more…] about VSCC at Brooklands, 2018

St. James Concours and the RM Auction

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B20s for sale.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

I only popped into the RM/Sotheby’s London auction just to have a quick look around and perhaps grab a coffee. It was never in my remit to take any photographs of the auction; my visit to London was just to cover the St James’s concours adjacent to the auction but you know what us photographers are like!

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And How! Ernie, Hugues and Jonathan

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Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

This week And How gives us a glimpse of Ol’ Yeller II at Goodwood on parade while E.T. Nagamatsu, ever the ambassador, meets the women who did such a wonderful job singing the classic tunes of the war years. Then Hugues Vanhoolandt captures some of the ambiance that surrounds the Goodwood Revival, and Jonathan Sharp focuses on a special OSCA shown at the Hampton Concours.

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A Prescott Primer

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Bugattis enjoy a rare moment of sun. David Hand’s 1925 T39 sits next to the 1924 Brescia T13 of Charles Knill-Jones.

By Jonathan Sharp
From the VeloceToday Archives, 2012

The Cotswolds: bucolic golden-hued thatched cottages, rolling farm land, wheat fields swaying in a warm summer breeze, antique shops, old English country inns selling fine English ales. All this and more, for it is also the home of the Bugatti Owners Club of Great Britain and the famous Prescott Hill climb.

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Classic Aircraft at Goodwood

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Hurricane

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

If you have been with us for the past few years and have read my ramblings you are probably already aware of my love for old cars and historic racing. Well I have also inherited my father’s love of old aeroplanes, so the Goodwood Revival each year is a double whammy for me. Not just fantastic and rare old racing cars, but fantastic and rare old aeroplanes courtesy of the annual Freddy March Spirit of Aviation Concours for Aeroplanes built before 1966 held as part of the Revival meeting. [Read more…] about Classic Aircraft at Goodwood

London Concours and Lord Hesketh

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

If only I had been able to record this! The key speaker at the London Concours for me had to be Lord Alexander Hesketh, the founder of Hesketh Racing. Lord Hesketh appeared at the show as part of the launch of the book Superbears, The story of Hesketh Racing. The new book can be ordered at

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