It’s interesting how overtly mainstream brands are now pushing their performance divisions, emphasising their sporting credentials more than ever. You have M Power for BMW, Audi’s quattro GmbH, Nissan’s NISMO and of course Mercedes’ AMG. But unlike most of the other examples, AMG started off as a completely separate company, becoming renowned a Mercedes-Benz stylist [...]
I still walk into main dealerships with apprehension. It’s that feeling of the salespeople looking at you as though you don’t deserve to be there: how could you – you – possibly buy one of my precious cars? The idea of wandering in to simply have a look round, and be welcomed by the staff to [...]
There are some cars which have the power to completely captivate all of those around them just by their mere presence. No sound. No fanfare. Car people just know when there’s something special around. Heads turn, a crowd gathers. Jaws hang open. I know of few cars that have this power more than the astonishing [...]
The Brooklands oval in the UK was home to the fastest cars on earth for the 32 years it was open, and the modern Brooklands Museum celebrates this fact with an impressive collection of cars from both the track’s glory period and the post-war years following the circuit’s closure. This means the chance to see [...]
Close the corporations! Sequester the supermarkets! Emotions can run high once you visit Brooklands, one of the most imposing and impressive pieces in the jigsaw of automotive history. One visit to the track is all it takes to fall completely under its spell; several trips in and you’ll be a convert to the cause. This [...]
What is it about inanimate lumps of metal, glass and rubber that can stir such emotion? And why is it only certain lumps of metal? Why should an old red car from Italy stand out more than a new red car from Italy? Or a name-badge with particular letters – G, T and O for instance [...]
The Brooklands Autumn festival wasn’t called Motorsport Day for nothing: the sounds of competition engines echoed off the banking and buildings of the 100-year-old oval track. And what better sound than the scream of a Formula 1 Benetton taking to the Mercedes-Benz World test track in the middle of the oval? It was enough to [...]
The Autumn Motorsport Day at the famous Brooklands oval circuit west of London was awash with beautiful examples of cars from across the decades, as befits a venue with such a long and illustrious history. Tomorrow I’ll take a more general look at the festival itself, but in this story I want to turn the [...]
The Auto Italia show at Brooklands was a treasure-trove of all things automotive and Italian – the first thing you were greeted at when entering the legendary circuit via the old Campbell Circuit hill was the Abarth stand: snapping scorpion versions of Fiat originals. Carlo Abarth started breathing on Fiats in 1952, so the name [...]
One of the biggest car events of the year at the legendary Brooklands oval track to the west of London is the Auto Italia show, a celebration of all things Italian deep in England’s leafy suburbia. Arriving by car and parking on site only had just one simple rule. Ticked that box? Then you’re in, [...]
The Alfa Romeo SZ. Nicknamed ‘Il Mostro’ – The Monster’ – it was the product of a collaboration between Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Centro Stile Zagato, although Zagoto’s eventual contribution to the project was more in the manufacturing and the iconic badge on the side of the car than the design. Whether the SZ is [...]
I was quite honored to be given the opportunity to shoot this Do-Luck UK Supra at Brooklands, the first motor racing circuit in the world. I've been to more racetracks across the world than most people, but this was a special thing for me. I mean, I was wheeling my stickered-up lens case around, and [...]
Incredible. As an international Speedhunter, I do realize that many people would kill for the opportunities to do the things that I do on a daily basis. However, every once in a while, I get a chance to experience moments in life that even take my breath away. One such moment was my recent trip [...]
