Jonathan Sharp

A Brit in the Court of Cavallino Part 1

February 7, 2013 By pete

Sun sets on yet another great day at Palm Beach.

In January, VeloceToday correspondent Jonathan Sharp left the comforts of home in Great Britain to enjoy the warm temperatures and blue skies of Palm Beach. He reports about what he found at and on the way to Cavallino. His notebook begins with Wednesday through Friday below, and continues with Saturday and Sunday in a further article. Please note the lack of owner’s names in all three articles; this intentional and by their request.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Wednesday 23rd January, Palm Beach

Hi Peter, well we made it – amazing, given the recent snow fall at home in England. We seem to have grabbed the only snow-free day to fly out. I am told that nothing is moving in my home town today and it is impossible to get to the end of my road due to the snow, but then England does not do snow very well. The weather here in Palm Beach is amazing, temperature in the mid-70s, sun and blue sky. My brain is struggling to cope with the fact that it’s January. The atmosphere is building in the town with plenty of Ferraris to be seen.

A Brit in the Court of Cavallino Part 2

February 7, 2013 By pete

Ferrari 250 GT Chassis 2429GT on parade.

Englander Jonathan Sharp continues his notebook and letter to VeloceToday, ever more awed by quality, presentation and rarity of the Ferraris featured at Cavallino.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Saturday, The Breakers

The WOW factor started on the walk from the Chesterfield hotel to the Breakers. A lovely, warm, bright-blue-skied morning was enlivened by the sound of two V12s running in convoy, a beautiful special-bodied 250TdF followed by the 375MM, both motoring towards the Breakers. I certainly hastened my step after seeing and hearing that!
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NEC Show, Birmingham England, November 16-18, 2012

November 28, 2012 By pete

Lancia Appia Furgoncino Series 2. Supplied new on January 1, 1959 to Signor B. Caberlotto of Cornuda (TV). He used the vehicle up until 2006 for the delivery of wines and spirits to his local customers. He nicknamed the van ‘The Earl’. Caberlotto sold the van to the Appia consortium in 2010.

Photos and Captions by Jonathan Sharp

This year’s annual Footman James-sponsored NEC Classic Motor Show show at the sprawling National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham England was the largest yet. spread over 11 halls. The visitor number was also the largest ever with just shy of 58,000 attending over the three days. The show has certainly grown in size and stature since the early days at dear old Alexandra Palace in London (or as us ex locals call it Ally Pally). It is very much a show built by the attending owners clubs – everything from Alfa Romeos to Zastavas. Each year, many of the clubs try to outdo each other in their imaginative display settings. They also bring different cars each year which keeps everything fresh.
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Prescott: The Climb and the Cars

October 10, 2012 By pete

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

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.

Cheltenham is near Gloucester, Prescott Hill 5 miles northwest.

Let’s put this place on the map: Prescott Hill Climb, based five miles northwest of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire consist of 60 partly wooded acres, with a beautiful private drive of about 1127 yards (.64 mile) in length.

Overhead shot of Prescott, wouldn't it be lovely. and it is.

The course rises over 200 feet with a combination of short straights, fast and slow corners and a breathtaking hairpin. Today’s supermachines get up the hill in about 36 seconds. The old ones take a lot longer but are more fun to watch. Each year Prescott hosts a variety of annual events ranging from the “Le Vie en Bleu,” a celebration of French cars, to the Autumn Classic, open to American automobiles.

Track Diagram corresponds well with the overhead photo.

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Windsor Castle Concours, September 9th, 2012

September 12, 2012 By pete

Ferrari 290MM Scaglietti Spyder. chassis 0626. Ex-Fangio 1956 Millie Miglia. Jonathan Sharp photo.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp and Hugues Vanhoolandt

Last week, we found out that both Hugues Vanhoolandt and Jonathan Sharp would be attending the two major shows in the U.K. this past weekend. Solution? The more the better. We selected seven shots from the Windsor Concours from each photographer; Jonathan leads off on Windsor, Hugues will lead on the Prive coverage.
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Salon Prive at Syon House in London, September 7, 2012

September 12, 2012 By pete

1953 Pegaso Z-102 ‘Thrill’. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.

Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Jonathan Sharp

As was the case with Sunday’s Windsor Castle Concours, the previous Friday’s event at the Syon House was also attended by both Hugues Vanhoolandt and Jonathan Sharp. In this report we lead off with Vanhoolandts’s work. Saturday, Sharp emailed and sent his initial impression of the event:
[Read more…] about Salon Prive at Syon House in London, September 7, 2012

Presenting Jonathan Sharp

July 5, 2012 By pete

The reason I have chosen this shot is because I like the symbolism. You could not pick a more British make than Lotus but Lotus has always relied on the co-operation of others for success whether that be Ford of Britain, Coventry Climax, Renault or as it is now, Toyota.

Photos and captions by Jonathan Sharp

Jonathan caught our attention..not an easy task these days…when he sent along a few B&W images of the Bugattis at Prescott. [Read more…] about Presenting Jonathan Sharp