Photographs by Glen Glendenning courtesy Dave Rex
Text by Pete Vack

We begin our review of the SCCA races at Iowa City on May 30th 1955 with Janet Guthrie. While doing our homework on this small Midwest town, we learned that it was the birthplace of the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, both in 1977. Born in 1938, Guthrie was seventeen at the time of the Iowa City SCCA race and already obtaining her pilot’s license. Seems that her father, also a pilot, was the manager of the Iowa City Municipal Airport, across the river from the old state capitol building, in 1938. Furthermore, Janet first began racing at SCCA events with a Jaguar XK140MC, of which there were plenty at the Iowa City races in the mid-fifties.

Moretti

Photography by Glen Glendenning courtesy of Dave Rex

Sports Car Trials

While most professional photographer chose to spend their time and film on real racing events with the big cars and big names, Glen Glendenning also set his lens on the minor events around the extremely active Wisconsin sports car scene, from rallies to trials to ice racing and hillclimbs. It was club racing at the grassroots level.

We are not sure when or where this event was held. Glendenning listed it as “Sports Car Trial, Milwaukee SCCA Region, 1957.” We do have a note that it maybe called the Cowpasture Slayum, which fits, as does the date of January 20, 1957. But the results, while complete, only led to a possible identification of the Doretti driver as Wm Tannhauser, and that is only because the car is so rare. The Aston Martin and Moretti were not on the results list so we are left wondering. Perhaps our readers can help.

Everything that goes up….

…including Porsche Speedsters, must come down.

An early Porsche 356 does not fail to launch.

Hey Honey, lets run the new Aston Martin through the woods for trophies and jollies…

A Doretti tackles the bushes.

The MG guys were there as well, here with a new MGA.

And the MGTD was part of the mix. Oh, did you hear that it is a TF not a TD?

Ice Racing

Here is another mystery event. All we know is that it was an ice race on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1956. We should be able to guess the driver of the Deutsch Bonnet but we will not try.

Deutsch Bonnet

A new Lancia takes to the ice.

One of those die hard sports car nuts who drive in the winter with the top down.

On the other hand, have you ever seen an Arnolt Bristol with the top up?

Mercedes Gullwing in a two tone color scheme.

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..