Tag Archives: Santa

2016 Bucket List – Autosport International

Every year for the past couple of seasons I have come away from the Autosport International with a few new additions to my bucket list of new things to try before the season is out, if I make it to one or two I am usually happy here are six things I’ll be looking out for in the season ahead.

Ford Fusion, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

In 2003/4 my passion for motorsport was reignited after a decades abstinence when I started reading articles by veteran NASCAR writer Jerry Bonkowski.

By 2009 when I visited Talladega Superspeedway I was as hooked as I had been back in the 1970’s when I first discovered it.

I’m under no illusions that having the privilege to drive a non emergency ambulance up to 450 miles in a ten hour day is any kind of training to drive a 500 hp Cup car but top of my bucket list for 2016 is to shell out £150 for a couple of laps in the Ford Fusion above at a Rockingham Performance Driving Day.

Chevrolet Camaro, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

Sadly to date the only drag track I have visited is Shakespeare County Raceway which is due to close this year, so as well as making a final visit to Shakey I also hope to make it to Santa Pod where I have been informed the big boys like Andy Robinson go to play.

Andy drives the Pro Mod Chevrolet Camaro above which will reach 239.05 mph from rest in less than six seconds !

Winnebago Tour, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

I do not have a licence to drive anything as big as the £249,999 Winnebago Tour® nor the financial credentials to drive one to the end of my street, but I am planing on visiting the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours with a school friend and I have been informed the best way to spectate is to park an RV in the infield.

So if anyone reading this has room for two well bred and groomed Europeans in their RV at the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours please chime in below ?

March Chevrolet 717, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

One of the new features of this years Silverstone Classic will be a race for Can Am cars like the March Chevrolet 717 seen above, at the end of the 1980’s these cars were a regular site in historic events and it will be great to see a full field of them for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Sin R1 GT Cup, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

A couple of years ago Sin launched their R1 model at the Autosport International this year I hope to so one racing in either the British GT Championship, GT Cup, or if it is legible in the Britcar series.

Ford Focus WRC, Autosport International, Birmingham NEC,

Finally I have been wanting to go and see a rally cross event ever since Ford took a four wheel drive Ford Capri to Croft for Roger Clark to drive in 1969, it has always looked like great sport on TV so maybe this year I’ll finally get to a Rally Cross event, one I will be looking out for is Guy Martin’s debut in the Ford Focus WRC owned by Ollie O’Donovan and prepared by Tony Brady Motorsport seen above which will be at a date towards the end of the British Rally Cross Championship.

Watch this space to see if I achieve any of the above and chime in with your bucket list for 2016 below.

Thanks for joining me on this “2016 Bucket List” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Daytona 24 Hour challenger. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Last Vignale Rebody – Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake #7963

As soon as I laid eyes on today’s featured Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake at Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year I thought “what a cool car for Santa.”

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

In 1963 Ferrari produced it’s first 300hp 4.0 L 244 cui Tipo 209 V12’s for road cars installing them in the 250 GT/E chassis with Pininfarina bodywork naming the model 330 America.

The 330 GT 2+2 launched in January 1964 was the only 330 Ferrari to have a unique to model chassis.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 330 GT 2+2 launched in January 1964 was the only 330 Ferrari to have a unique to 330 engine chassis.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Today’s featured car chassis #7963 started life as a red with beige interior 1965 330 GT 2+2 and was shipped to Chinetti in the United States for a client known today only as Desy.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

In 1967 Luigi “Coco” Chinetti Jr, son of the US East Coast Ferrari importer sent #7963 to Vignale who built the shooting brake body designed by Coco and commercial artist Bob Peak, that is seen on the car today.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Vignale exhibited the unique Shooting Brake on their stand for the 50th Turin Show in 1968, shortly before the company went under, making #7963 the last Ferrari to be rebodied by the Turin coach builder.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

#7963 meanwhile was returned to the United States where it spent time in Philidelphia and North Virginia before being acquired by Parisian collector Jean-Claude Paturau.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Musician Jay Kay now counts #7963 among his collection of Italian exotica.

Ferrari 330 GT Vignale Shooting Brake, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Thanks for joining me on this “Last Vignale Rebody” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, here’s hoping Santa delivered to all GALPOT readers in a timely fashion and that you will join me again tomorrow, seasons greetings. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Santa’s Li’l Pick Up – Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT

Primarily aimed at businesses and municipalities the F-650/F-750 range replaced the F-600/F-700/F-800 range of vehicles that had been in production since 1980.

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Today’s featured vehicle is a 2000 crew cab powered by a 185 hp 5.9 litre / 359 cui turbo diesel Cummins straight 6 and

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

6 speed automatic transmission, which might come in handy for Santa when he sets off on his annual nocturnal round the world odyssey.

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

F-650’s and F-750’s were manufactured in a joint venture with Navistar International and Blue Diamond Truck Company LLC at a Navistar factory in Escobedo, Mexico. F-650 production will move to Avin Lake Ohio in 2013.

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The ladder chassis is an International ladder frame with an F series body on top.

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

This model is fitted with disc brakes front and rear which have an anti lock braking system, ABS, fitted as standard. Is it me or are the pick up body rear wheel arches too small for the dually rear wheels ?

Ford F-750 Super Duty XLT, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

With a gross vehicle weight of 30,000 lbs and 20,000 lb load capacity there should be plenty of room for Santa’s surprises in the back and if he needs more space there is a substantial towing hitch, maybe Rudolf and his friends will get to take this evening off !

Wishing all GALPOT readers and contributors a Merry Christmans and best wishes for the New Year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Santa’s Li’l Pick Up” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share