Thursday

THE GREAT BUGATTI GIVE-AWAY


in 1964, fishing equipment magnate John Shakespeare sold his collection of thirty Bugattis and a horde of rare parts to the infamous Fritz Schlumpf for less than $250,000. If you haven't been to the Schlumpf museum in Mulhouse, France you are missing something.

The collection included a Royale similar to one that sold just eighteen years later for $8.7 million. I have only seen two of them in my life. The one here in France and the other was in my hometown ares at Henry Ford's Greenfield Village. Reason for Shakespeare's sale, according to the December, 1964 issue of Sports Car Graphic: “To devote more time to his newest hobbies, skiing and skindiving.” Of course, Shakespeare had plenty of money so I doubt that he ever felt like a chump about his end of the deal.

Sunday

INDY 500


Ever since I was about 8 years old I tried to see or hear the Indianapolis 500. I could have easily gone to see it in person since it wasn't that far from my home, but I was never wild about oval track racing. I am sure that I would have enjoyed it though. The race started in 1911 in the year of my father's birth. The track has been owned by one family most, if not all, of my lifetime.

The circus event of this type of racing is almost always the same at the 500. High school bands, honoring of military personal, Air Force flyover, Florence Henderson singing "God Bless America, Jim Nabors singing "Back Home In Indiana", roar of the engines, the drag race to the first turn, the drag race between every turn after that, lots of accidents, sometimes death and the drink of milk for the winner. Milk? Oh,and we can't forget owner Tony Hulman's "Gentlemen, start your engines". After he died his wife did it for 20 years until 1998 when she was 93 years old. Just a faint wisper...hardly the same. Now her daughter does it and I must say she is starting to look like her mother.

This year's winner was Scott Dixon from New Zealand. He led more than half the race. A couple of years ago Marco Andretti, grandson of the famous Mario, came in second place, losing by inches. He said that "when it comes to the 500 only the winner counts". I think he is right...SCOTT DIXON...THE WINNER!

FORMULA ONE IN MONACO


I love this city race, not very wide, short on passing room, beautiful back-drop of the sea and multi-million dollar boats. Throw in a little rain and you have car parts all over the place. Lewis Hamilton says that it is his favorite track and proved it by winning. Even he clipped the wall and limped into the pits for quick repairs. He was followed by Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa.
AN 'OUCH' BY NICO ROSBERG

Saturday

MOTOR ART....YAHN JANOU


Raised in Paris and at 18 he went to Le Mans and like all of us was bitten by the shaking ground, the ear-spliting engine sound and the smell of petro.

Now this year at age 38 he hopes to have an exhibit at Le Mans. He also has an exhibit at the Cavallino Classic in Florida and at Retromobile.

Check out his site:

www.yahnjanou.com

0033 6 72 15 65 68

FIVE MORE FROM THE TOP 100

I really don't have a problem with these five being somewhere in the top 100.

59 - LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH

58 - MUSTANG

57 - FACEL VEGA II

56 - DUESENBERG SJ

55 - BUGATTI VEYRON

ENGLAND ON THE 25TH

1969 - 912
1971 - 911 CARRERA RS

1974 - 930/935

Coys is going to have an auction at Brands Hatch during the program for "Excellence of Porsche." Not very many Porches for sale this time, but a lot of other fine cars:

www.coys.co.uk

+44 208 614 7888

1988 - 959S

1990 - 944

2000 - 911 GT RS LE MANS

Friday

ITALY ON THE 18TH

RM Auctions are have an all Ferrari sale. Sorry, no pictures:

Ferrari S.p.A.
Pista di Florano Via Villeneuve 23
Fiorono Modenese, Maranello, Italy

www.rmauctions.com

+44 (0) 207 293 6336

ENGLAND ON THE 17TH

A-C ED40


Robin Hill New Street
Biddulph Moor, Stone on Trent
United Kingdom

www.cheffins.co.uk

+44 (0) 1223 213777

ON AUCTION, THE O.M. OF BENITO MUSSOLINI


This O.M. 469 Cabriolet Sport is a special model expressely built in 1930 for being donated from the Officine Meccaniche O.M. of Brescia to the Head of the Government Benito Mussolini.

Assigned to the State's Police car park in Rome, it was later registered in 1933 with private plate Rome 62391.

Exibited until now in the State's Police Museum, it will be for sale at Luzzago auction listed in "ITALY ON THE 17th"

MUSSOLINI

ITALY ON THE 17TH

1934 JAGUAR SS

1951 MERCEDES BENZ 170SV

1951 MG YB


Luzzago
via Mandolossa, 65
25030, Roncadelle - BRESCIA (ITALY)


+39 030/2411531

www.luzzago.com

1962 TRIUMPH TR4

1963 OSCA MASERATI

1974 PORSCHE TARGA 911

ENGLAND ON THE 17TH

1957 DB2

1961 DB4

An all Aston Martin auction fit for the springtime:

Aston Martin Motor Works
Newport, Pagnell, United Kingdom

www.bonhams.com

+44 (0) 20 7468 5801

1965 DB6

1986 V8 VANTAGE

NEW YORK ON THE 17TH

1955 THUNDERBIRD

The 17th is a big day:

Lake Placid Olympic Center
Lake Placid, New York

www.kruse.com

1-800-968-4444

1970 DODGE

CALIFORNIA ON THE 17TH

1959 JAGUAR

Springtime at the old Laguna Seca Race Track:

Mazda Raceway
1021 Monterey Salinas Highway
Salinas, California

www.kruse.com

1-800-968-4444

1963 AVANTI

NEVADA ON THE 17H

1970 NOVA SS

Gamble on Reno:

Reno/Sparks Convention Center

www,silverauctions.com

1-800-255-4485

STREET RACER

INDIANA ON THE 16TH

1947 FORD

1948 BUICK

1950 DODGE

Mecum is hosting their Springtime Classic Auction. Cars, cars and more cars. 1000 of them:

Indianapolis State Fairground
1202 E. 38th Street
Indianapolis

www.mecumauction.com

1-815-568-8888

1951 FORD

1954 KAISER DARRIN

1962 CORVETTE

Sunday

FORMULA ONE IN TURKEY


A very interesting race in Turkey left Massa in first place ant Kimi Raikkonen in third place. Lewis Hamilton, who led most of the race, came in second after losing time in a planned third pit stop.

Friday

ALSO IN MONACO ON THE 10TH

1998 H-D FLHR, EX-PETER FONDA CYCLE

1936 ADLER MONOPOSTO

1937 BMW 328

Another one in Monaco. Why not? Nice stuff to pick from:

'Les Grandes Maarques a Monaco'
Main office: 4 Rue de la Paix
Paris, France

www.bonhams.com

+33 142 61 10 11

1938 MERCEDES BENZ 170V

1956 MERCEDES BENZ 300SL

1966 LAMBRETTA Li 150