VeloceToday.com https://velocetoday.com The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:47:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Katarina Kyvalova Video Interview https://velocetoday.com/katarina-kyvalova-at-st-moritz/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:54:00 +0000 https://velocetoday.com/?p=163897

Story and images by Bob Cullinan

The car is massive: A seven-litre 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK. And the resume of the diminutive driver is nearly as impressive. We met up with vintage racer Katarina Kyvalova at The ICE (International Concours of Excellence) St. Moritz to talk about her career, her favorite events, and where she wants to go from here.

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Slip Sliding at St. Moritz: Spectacular Autos at The ICE https://velocetoday.com/slip-sliding-at-st-moritz-spectacular-autos-at-the-ice/ https://velocetoday.com/slip-sliding-at-st-moritz-spectacular-autos-at-the-ice/#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:50:46 +0000 https://velocetoday.com/?p=163778

Story and photos by Bob Cullinan

Automobiles are designed to move people and possessions from one place to another, and occasionally compete in races. But every now and then, an event comes along that changes the perception and possibilities of what you can…and should…do in a car. You’ll never look at snow and ice the same way after seeing the priceless classics drive and drift across Lake St. Moritz at The ICE.

1934 Bugatti Type 57 “Tank”

The International Concours of Elegance (The ICE) is two days of historic auto worship in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Day One is devoted to observing and judging the static cars. But on Day Two your heart begins to beat faster, watching these multi-million dollar machines slide and swerve across the frozen surface of the lake.

These cars have seen it all and done it all…Formula 1, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio…but most have never been on a racecourse like this. The ice atop Lake St. Moritz ranges from 50 – 70 cm (20 – 28 inches) thick. And a fresh dusting of powder softens the surface.

Studs and spikes in the tires add a bit of traction, but getting good grip is still a major issue at The ICE.

This 1952 Ferrari F500/625 has two carburetors, four cylinders…and hundreds of tire studs.

The lightweight 1963 Lotus 24 had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid an official ICE photographer.

This Bugatti Type 59 GP won the coveted “Best in Show” honor at The ICE, but the car’s narrow tires didn’t get the best traction on the frozen lake.

Countersteering helped, but this 1929 T37A Bugatti was having a tough time, too.

Fangio’s Maserati 250 F never faced conditions like this.

Nowhere else in the world could you watch a 1953 Ferrari MM lead Elvis Presley’s 1965 McLaren Elva through an icy snow-packed corner.

The background scenery is nearly as spectacular as the sight of this 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa sliding through the snow.

If you want to know what it really feels like to be a passenger in one of these classics, watch the faces of the people. The woman in the back of this 4.5-litre Bentley is clearly enjoying the ride.

…and so is the passenger in this Aston Martin DB4 Touring Superleggera.

…but the woman in the back of this Bentley may have other thoughts.

There’s an extra “passenger” in this 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter Pinin Farina…

…but don’t worry. It’s a toy, not a real dog, strapped to the luggage rack.

Look closely at the passenger in this 1969 Fiat Abarth 2000 Sport Spider. That familiar cowboy hat is the unmistakable signature of F1 legend Arturo Merzario.

Merzario wasn’t the only big-name driver at The ICE. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was behind the wheel of this Porsche 904, slip-sliding away at St. Moritz.

This Porsche 908/03 was built for circuits like the Targa Florio and the Nurburgring. It looks more like a snow plow at St.Moritz.

This rare Pegaso raced in the 1952 Monaco GP, but the car had to withdraw from that event due to overheating…something that was not a problem on the snow and ice.

The Pegaso paced a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB around the track.

The Lamborghini Miura, a poster child of the swinging ‘60s, looks picture postcard-perfect in this snowy setting.

The 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

But attractive and traction are very different attributes.

This rare blue 1951 Ferrari 340 was campaigned at Le Mans and Sebring…a far cry from the conditions at St. Moritz.

There’s a drone following this Cooper T45!

This looks like a police pursuit. But it’s the 1982 Monaco GP pace car, an ‘81 Lamborghini Countach LP400S

In our final story from St. Moritz, we’ll have a video interview with pro driver Katarina Kyvalova. She tells us why The ICE is her favorite event…but there is an American race she’s longing to try.

Link to Website

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1923 Tours Grand Prix: Results, Videos, Specs and More https://velocetoday.com/1923-tours-grand-prix-results-videos-specs-and-more/ Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:07:27 +0000 https://velocetoday.com/index.php/?p=39011

You didn’t think we’d finish Tours up without a full spec and result section? Below, just that. Below that, some YouTube links to several videos depicting the 1923 French Grand Prix.

Above, a notice about the 90th year celebration event at Tours which will take place next year. If you are interested in participating contact: grandprixdetours@wanadoo.fr.

Next week, Gijsbert-Paul Berk will provide an analysis of the race and its legacy. It will surprise you. [Ed.]

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1923 GP TOURS / SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PARTICIPATING CARS
Group 1

MANUFACTURER BUGATTI DELAGE FIAT
FACTORY TYPE Type 32 2LCV 805-405
CYLINDERS 8 in line V12 8 in line
BORE X STROKE 60 x 86 mm 51.3 x 80 mm 60 x 87.5 mm
CAPACITY 1989 cc 1984cc 1990cc
CAMSHAFT(S) SOHC DOHC DOHC
NO. OF VALVES 24 24 16
CARBURETOR(S) 2 Zenith 4 Zenith 1 plus supercharger
BHP @ RPM (1*) 95 @ 5000 120 @ 6200 118/125 @ 5500
IGNITION 1 Magneto 2 Magneto 1 Magneto
# OF SPARK PLUGS 8 12 8
CLUTCH Multiple discs Multiple discs Multiple discs
FRONT BRAKES Hydraulic Mech. Perrot Mechanical
REAR BRAKES MECHANICAL Mech. + Servo Mech. + Servo
WHEELBASE 200 cm 260 cm 262 cm
FRONT TRACK 105 cm 125 cm 120 cm
REAR TRACK 105 cm 125 cm 120 cm
WEIGHT(*2) 755 / 761 kg 704 kg 699 / 706 kg

Group 2

MANUFACTURER ROLLAND-PILAIN SUNBEAM VOISIN
FACTORY TYPE A22/23 2-litre G.P. C6 Course
CYLINDERS 8 in line 6 in line 6 in line
BORE X STROKE 59 x 90 mm 67 x 94 mm 62 x 110 mm
CAPACITY 1968 cc 1988 cc 1992 cc
CAMSHAFT(S) DOHC DOHC 1 CRANKSHAFT
NO. OF VALVES 16 12 12 Sleeve
CARBURETOR(S) 4 Claudel 1 Solex 2 Zenith
BHP @ RPM (1*) ± 100 @ 5000 110 @ 5000 80 @ 4800
IGNITION 1 Magneto 1 Magneto 1 Magneto
# OF SPARK PLUGS 8 6 6
CLUTCH Single disc Cone Cone
FRONT BRAKES Hydraulic Mech. Perrot Mech. Perrot
REAR BRAKES Mechanical Mech. + Servo Mechanical
WHEELBASE 250 cm 250 cm 272 cm
FRONT TRACK 100 cm 130 cm 145 cm
REAR TRACK 100 cm 120 cm 75 cm
WEIGHT(*2) 822 / 842 kg 670 / 678 kg 733 /772 kg

(1*) Estimated power output. No reliable figures available
(2*) The official weights, measured by the ACF at Semblançay

Final Results

Driver/Mechanic Car Time/retired Laps completed
Segrave/ Dutoit Sunbeam #12 6 h 35 m 19.6 35
Divo/ Hivernet Sunbeam #7 6 h 54 m 25.4 35
Friderich /Rohfritsch Bugatti T32 #6 7 h 00 m 22.4 35
K.Lee Guiness /Perkins Sunbeam #2 7 h 02 m 03.0 35
Lefebvre /Fortin Voisin C6 #10 7 h 50 m 29.2 35
Salamano /Ferreti Fiat 805-405 #14 NA Retired Lap 32 /fuel problems
Duray/Blanc Voisin C6 #5 NA Retired Lap 29/engine problems
Guyot/Letigny Rolland Pilain #3 NA Retired Lap 28/engineproblems
Rougier/Lalaurie Voisin C6 #15 NA Retired Lap 19/engineproblems
Giaccone/Cangnano Fiat 805/405 #9 NA Retired Lap 16/supercharger
de Cystria/Lutz Bugatti T32 #18 NA Retired Lap 12/Damaged
Thomas /Lhermit Delage #1 NA Retired Lap 8/fuel tank
Hémery/Delalande Rolland-Pilain #13 NA Retired Lap 7/oil pump
Bordino/Bruno Fiat 805/405 #4 NA Retired Lap 7/engine
Marco/Zim Bugatti T32 #16 NA Retired Lap 3/engine
de Vizcaya/Etienne Bugatti T32 #11 NA Retired Lap 1/accident
Morel/Chanu Voisin C6 #17 NA Disqualified
Goux/ Rolland Pilain #8 NA Did not start

FASTEST LAP
Pierro Bordino Fiat 805 / 405 9 m 36’00” =142 km/h

Now that you know more about the Grand Prix of Tours than anyone else, we urge you to watch the videos on the links provided below. They will definitely make you appreciate the cars and the times. [Ed.]

Films on websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nfLP80es94

The Grand Prix of France, British Pathe video

Read Preface to this series.

Read Part 1, The Circuit of this series.

Read Part 2 the Press and Regulations of this series.

Read Part 3 Bugatti and Delage of this series

Read Part 4 Fiat and Rolland-Pilain of this series

Read Part 5 Sunbeam and Voisin of this series

Read Part 6 The Race of this series

Read The Art of Tours of this series

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