Octane November 2022

THERE ARE CERTAIN classic cars we would all like to own, but the vast majority of us simply lack the courage. Ironically, this disease seems to be especially prevalent among motoring journalists, people who, even more ironically, spend their lives telling you what to buy and then get dissuaded from taking the plunge themselves by their own words and repetition of history’s dire warnings. Think Alfa Montreal and Citroën SM and most Lotuses, but most of all think Lamborghini Espada. I am as guilty as anyone, having backed out of a deal to buy one for £15,000 a good while ago after someone who checked it over for me mentioned that the possibly imminent engine rebuild might cost double that. I am delighted therefore that two of my kind – Octane’s…

RICHARD HESELTINE ‘The Espada continues to pull on the heartstrings and remains my favourite Lamborghini. The Ferrari 365 GTC/4 appeals for different reasons, a true GT from a time before the term became shorthand for a track-orientated blunt instrument.’ Richard compares two thoroughbred underdogs: turn to pages 56-66. TIM SCOTT ‘There is quite a contrast between a wonderfully preserved 90-year-old Alfa Romeo racer and a completely re-engineered Porsche 911, but both are satisfying to photograph in very different ways.’ See Tim’s pictures of the Alfa Romeo P3 on pages 68-76 and Singer’s DLS project on pages 78-86. MARK BRINKER ‘I am a champion of people who commit their lives to excellence. Strother MacMinn helped generations of young people to pursue careers in automobile design. The Le Mans Coupe embodies all of Mac’s passion about…

1 October Swiss Classic British Car Meeting More than 1600 British cars and bikes head to Morges on the shores of Lake Geneva, along with some 25,000 visitors. Rolls-Royce is the featured marque this year. british-cars.ch 1 October Rendez-Vous Riviera Coinciding with classic yacht regatta Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, this event sees classics and modern hypercars gather at Saint-Tropez Polo Club, where guests will also enjoy culinary and musical treats. rendezvousriviera.co.uk 1-2 October Ardennenrennen Classic VWs and Porsches are hustled from Liège to Bastogne and back, following a route that includes many stretches of road that featured in races of old. ardennenrennen.be 2 October Pioneer Run The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club brings together over 300 pre-1915 motorcyles for a trundle from Epsom down to Brighton. sunbeam-mcc.co.uk 2-7 October Modena Cento…

YOU COULD SAY that people’s fascination with old bomber aircraft is a guilty pleasure. After all, these aircraft were built with one purpose – to cause maximum disruption and damage – but it has to be said that without Bomber Command, the result of World War Two could have been very different. Almost a million people from more than 60 countries were involved with Bomber Command, which lost some 8325 aircraft and 55,573 crew carrying out their duties. That was 56% of all aircrew, and with an average age of 22. A great proportion of bomber stations were in Lincolnshire and you can experience how life at one might have been at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Walking through the entrance, the first sight is the Lancaster bomber Just Jane…

HUNDREDS OF classic car events suffered during the pandemic through cancellation, postponement or constraints that changed their nature in a fundamental way, but for hardcore enthusiasts few left a bigger hole in the calendar than September’s traditional Beaulieu International Autojumble. As one of the oldest and most loved events in the diary, its cancellation in 2020 and significant depletion in 2021 were disappointing, so its bustling energy and buzz for its 55th year on 10-11 September seemed to symbolise a return to normality. More than 26,000 people turned out to buy, sell, meet old friends, socialise, enjoy the special displays and attend the Bonhams auction. Most noticeable was a huge increase of international traders and visitors over 2021, many spending two or three full days seeking out tools, parts, automobilia,…

Festival for the motoring arts The UK’s first ever motoring, literary and arts festival will take place on 6 November. Arranged by Porter Press International, the event will boast a range of speakers from Lord Hesketh and Peter Stevens to authors, drivers, engineers, designers and collectors. It will also have exhibitions by motoring artists and photographers. The motorsport-themed venue for the festival is Whittlebury Park, close to Silverstone, and organisers hope it will echo the likes of the Cheltenham and Hay literary festivals, but with a single, motoring focus. Former F1 entrant Lord Hesketh – who launched the career of James Hunt – will talk candidly about his heady and hedonistic team in the mid-1970s, while Stevens will share insight on his creations that include the XJR-15 and McLaren F1.…