Octane December 2021

I SOMETIMES WISH we could have a special section for postscripts on the features we write. Obviously we have the Letters pages to host some wonderful memories and anecdotes, but I am thinking more of a sort of ‘How’s it going?’ on the owners and cars we showcase, like one of those ‘revisited’ TV programmes. Not least because it offers such insight into the owner, should any of you have had any doubts (shame on you!) about the depth and breadth of their devotion. It’s understandable; we’ve all met collectors whose passion runs no deeper than the lacquer on their interior wood, for whom classics represent nothing more than a high-yield savings account. And that’s fine actually – I applaud and thank them for pouring their cash into saving and maintaining…

MARK BRINKER ‘From the beginning I knew the odds of reuniting all components of the long-lost Fageol Supersonic was a long shot, but it was never a choice I made, it was something I was driven to do. Reassembling the pieces of the puzzle has turned out to be my most exciting automotive adventure.’ Find out more on pages 94-104. NIGEL HARNIMAN ‘Such a beautiful car, but to say it’s a four-seater would be stretching it – it’s a very intimate experience just for two normal-sized blokes! Even so, I very much enjoyed spending time with the Squire.’ Nigel’s stunning images accompany Mark Dixon’s story of Britain’s forgotten 1930s supercar on pages 84-92. EMMA WOODCOCK ‘I grew up dreaming about the Porsche 964 RS; its naked violence fascinated me. Now I’ve grappled…

What a momentous return for this world-beating event on 17-19 September. From the London Victory Parade and BRM tribute to the homage to Sir Stirling Moss (including 722’s retirement), everything chimed brilliantly with enthusiasts’ palpable joy and sense of relief just at being out and enjoying a major festival again. The showpiece Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration was won by Darren Turner and Oliver Bryant in an AC Cobra, while the incongruous Dumas/Shepherd Ford Thunderbird stormed to two St Mary’s Trophy wins. Off-track, hot-rods, a classic car boot sale and the classic car parks were the stars.…

27-31 October Classic Daytona A wonderful opportunity to see some of the old monsters of motorsport thundering around Florida’s most famous circuit. hsrrace.com 30 October – 6 November Rallye Transmaroc This rally begins and ends in Marrakesh, but travels through mountains and into Morocco’s desert. Don’t be daunted, though: you can hire a 4x4 if you don’t own one, and instruction will be given to those new to driving on sand. zaniroli.com 30-31 October Motor Racing Legends at Silverstone The event trialled last year was such a success that it has grown into a two-day meeting for 2021. The headliners are the Amon Cup for Ford GT40s, and the three-hour RAC Pall Mall Cup race. silverstone.co.uk 3-21 November Grand Tour Canarias An island-hopping tour of the Canaries that takes crews…

THE LONDON SCIENCE MUSEUM was founded in 1857 as an amalgam of several important collections, integrated and housed in its present building in stages until 1928, since when its growth has continued. It holds some 350,000 objects, from Napoleon’s toothbrush to a Roman prosthetic leg. The range of exhibits stretches from Stephenson’s Rocket to the first jet engine and a reconstruction of Apollo 10’s command module. The main hall contains a breathtaking range of exhibits. A 1935 Lockheed Electra aircraft hovers above some wonderful automobiles. There’s a London-built 1897 Bersey taxi, a fine example of pioneering electric cars, looking very much like a horseless carriage. It ran up to 9mph, which one would imagine was quite fast enough. There was only one charging station in London at the time, so…

ULEZ, SCHMULEZ. If you don’t live in London, why should you care about the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) expansion in October this year? If you drive a modern classic made between 1981 and 2006 there’s every reason to be worried. Not only is the ULEZ expanding to cover an extra 140 square miles within the North and South Circulars, but other cities in the UK are either planning or have already imposed their own ULEZ charges and fines. If you own a car that’s Euro 4 (or Euro 6 for a diesel), you’re fine. You can rag your Bentayga along the Westway and smile, wallet intact. If your car was built before 1 January 1981, that’s OK, too. Park The Beast of Turin outside Sadiq Khan’s office, blip…