ClassicInside - The ClassicDriver Newsletter

ClassicInside – The Classic Driver Newsletter

Edition 28/2004

July 23rd 2004

This edition is sent to 27.747 subscribers

Editorial

You join us live, from the second running of the Le Mans Classic, trackside
at the most celebrated sports car circuit in the world. The weather may be
mixed, but the quality of the entry is unparalelled.

A significant feature this year is the level of manufacturer involvement.
Last time Aston Martin was a race-sponsor and Alfa Romeo had a paddock
presence. In 2004 this has been expanded dramatically with both companies
here again, and this time joined by Porsche debuting the very latest 911,
Ford the GT and Ferrari their 575GTC racing car-resplendent in matt-black
carbon fibre.

Aston Martin have a fleet of DB9s giving on-course demonstrations (and are
of course a race-sponsor), as well as having their CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, 'in
the hot seat' co-driving the actual race-winning car from 1959. You will
see below a fascinating.

The organisers, the excellent Peter Auto, label the event “A global window display for historic and…brand new cars”. Since its inaugural running in 1923, the 24 Hours event has tested men and motor vehicles like no other. A win at Le Mans has been the stuff of legend and many a company’s initial growth has been based on success at the French circuit. Ferrari being the perfect example, winning the first post-war race.

And it’s an ongoing process, as Aston’s CEO explains “That we are willing to return to endurance racing on a GT level, means ‘Heritage Racing’ makes sense.” No one stands still, new products are introduced and the lineage and history of a company is expanded. Nothing improves the breed more than racing, and endurance events are the one arena where manufacturers can compete with two-seater products related to their road cars. Imagine Porsche without its non-stop history of works and privateer cars - impossible.

And in another 30 years time will we see ‘Le Mans Classic 2034’ with a class for the Ferrari 575GTC and Aston Martin DBR9?

Why not? Classic Driver will certainly be there, and we’ll be back next
week with a full report and pictures of this year’s event.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor
sw@classicdriver.com

*THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER*
Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez and Peter Hardman at the Le Mans Classic 2004 Exclusive Interview for Classic Driver On the eve of the running of the second Le Mans Classic, we were granted an exclusive interview with Dr Bez and historic-racing driver par excellence Peter Hardman, paired together again to drive the 1959 race-winning DBR1. Subjects discussed included the new DBR9 race car, and what it’s really like to drive at the celebrated French track... read the complete article
Ford GT40 4.7 litre Everyone knows the story of Ford’s bid to win the classic French 24 Hour race in the 1960s, finally triumphing in 1966 after years of heartache and colossal expenditure with US-run 7-litre Mk IIs. They also produced around 100 4.7 litre cars, and 15 of them are at the 2004 Classic Le Mans, including this yellow, ex-Yamaha, chassis P/107... read the complete article
Le Mans Classic 2004 – first Impressions With cars arriving from all over the world, the 2004 Le Mans Classic is already looking to be one of the best historic race meetings of the year... read the complete article
Maserati Gets Ready To Celebrate Its 90th Anniversary On December 1st, 1914 Alfieri Maserati founded "Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati", then located in Via de’ Pepoli 11 in Bologna. The company specialised in preparing cars for road competitions. This date marks the beginning of the history of one of the most glorious marques in the automotive world... read the complete article
The world’s biggest fleet of Rolls-Royce motor cars Martin Oxley shared his father’s enthusiasm for tinkering with machines. “I always had my hands dirty, and my head in an old motor bike or car engine.”His childhood hobby started a career, which has taken him far from the London suburbs. As Fleet Vehicle Manager for the Peninsula Group in Hong Kong he has the world’s largest collection of Rolls-Royce cars in his care... read the complete article
H&H at Buxton 27/28th July 2004 Preview Over 90 cars are entered for H&H’s forthcoming July Sale. As usual the mix is very much centred on traditional British sporting and classic cars with the inclusion of more modern prestige machinery such as this 1985 Audi Sport Quattro, reasonably estimated at £28,000 - 32,000... read the complete article
Circuit Driver Magazine Free Track Day Offer Circuit Driver magazine in association with BookaTrack.com is pleased to bring you the best track day offer of the yearþ.. read the complete article

Advertisement PREMIUM OFFERS
Porsche 956 Show Car For Sale by Auction Wednesday July 28th 2004, at - The Octagon Theatre Pavilion Gardens Buxton,Derbyshire,SK17 6XN, United Kingdom Colour 'Rothmans' Interior colour Black Drive RHD Year 1982 Price estimate 12.000 - 15.000 GBP Dealership: H&H Classic Auctions Sale 28th July 2004 Whitegate Farm, Hatton Lane, Hatton, Cheshire WA4 4BZ Auctions at Buxton, Derbyshire Phone +44 (0) 1925 730630 see all details see complete stock from this dealer
Mini Cooper CONVERTIBLE 5 speed, leather, sports suspension, Matching Numbers , original condition, MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL,HEATED MIRRORS/WASHERJETS,DEBADGED,VISIBILTY PACK,WIND DEFLECTOR,CHROMED MIRROR CAPS,RAIN SENSOR,AIR-CONDITIONING,COCKPIT CHRONO PACKAGE,CD PLAYER WITH RADIO BOOST. BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS YEARS MUST HAVE CONVERTIBLE, THE NEW MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. AVAILABLE FROM 6TH JULY IT IS FINISHED IN PURE SILVER WITH DARK BLUE GRAVITY LEATHER SPORTS SEATS AND DARK BLUE SOFT-TOP. FITTED WITH THE CHILLI PACK INC, 16" 7 SPOKE ALLOYS WHEELS, SPORTS LEATHER STEERING WHEEL,INTERIOR TRIM IN BRILLIANT SILVER,CHROME LINE EXT,HALOGEN FOG LAMPS,INT LIGHT PACKAGE,COMPUTER, HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE PASSENGER SEAT,SPORTS SUSPENSION. WE ARE SEEKING OFFERS OVER LIST FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. FOR FULL TECHNICAL DETAILS GO TO www.mini.co.uk Colour PURE SILVER Interior colour BLUE LEATHER Drive RHD Year 7/2004 Chassis No. TBA Engine No. TBA Price P.O.R. Dealership: Beaulieu Garage Beaulieu, Hampshire SO42 7YE Phone +44 (0) 1590 612999 see all details see complete stock from this dealer
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III saloon 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Sand over sable with beige leather. 54,944 miles. Dual air, automatic, power windows, stereo system costing $2600, all tools and books. Recent very high quality repaint. Excellent history. Exceptional cosmetic and mechanical history. $65,000 www.charlescrail.com Colour Sand over sable Interior colour beige Drive LHD Year 1965 Mileage 88.424 km / 54.944 m Chassis No. LSKP97 Price US$ 65,000 Dealership: Charles S.Crail Automobiles Santa Barbara, California Phone +1 805 568-1934 see all details see complete stock from this dealer

EVENTGUIDE

Christie’s Auction of Exceptional Motor Cars at the Le Mans Classic, France
23rd July 2004

Le Mans Classic 2004, Le Mans, France
22nd - 25th July 2004

H&H Classic Auctions, Buxton, Derbyshire
27th - 28th July 2004

Barons Classic, Collectors, Thoroughbred and Sports Car Auction, Sandown Park, Esher, UK
2nd - 3rd Aug 2004

AvD - Oldtimer Grand-Prix 2004 - Nürburgring, Germany
6th - 8th Aug 2004

Christie's Auction of Exceptional Motor Cars: The Monterey Jet Centre, Monterey, USA
12th Aug 2004

Motor Racing Legends Pre-War Sports Car Series - Assen, Holland
14th - 15th Aug 2004

Goodwood Revival, Goodwood, W.Sussex, UK
3rd - 5th Sept 2004

VSCC ‘See Red’ Festival, Donington Park, UK
11th - 12th Sept 2004

see further event details

SERVICE

If you want to unsubscribe from our Newsletter,
please visit our ClassicInside Homepage at

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/community/2300.asp

Copyright:
All articles in ClassicInside and in the Classic Driver Magazine subject to Classic Driver copyrights.

Classic Driver UK
Fountain Court 2
Victoria Square Victoria St
St Albans
Herts
AL1 3TF
United Kingdom

telephone +44 (0)1727 884650
telefax +44 (0)1727 884800
e-mail: contact@classicdriver.com
Responsible content: Steve Wakefield (Director).