Race Legends - The Blog

The F1 World

You'd have to been living under a rock to miss all the big news of the past week in F1. Massa surviving an incredible accident in Hungary, Hamilton's win, BMW's announced departure from the sport and the bombshell yesterday of the return of Michael Schumacher to fill in for Massa. What to make of all it?

Massa's Accident: The first thought is that motorsport remains dangerous. Henry Surtees death in F2 from an errant tire and then Massa being hit by a suspension spring from a Brawn remind us that while this is a sport, it is one that can have terrible consequences for its participants.

Hamilton Wins: This season has been completely turned around on the track by the changes and updates to the cars. Brawn stole a march on everyone and for awhile it looked like it was in the bag. But with the introduction of the latest set of Newey designs and then parallel technical improvements at McLaren, we now have a real season. I often hold out situations like this as an example to my kids: it isn't over until it is over and luck often favors the prepared.

BMW Departs: Any company with public shareholders is under intense scrutiny to justify expenditures. Motorsport participation or sponsorship is the one that is often the hardest to explain and to show psotive net result. With a reported budget of $335 million for this season and with no prospect of a constructors championship, the pressure became too much. Undoubtedly the complete failure of cost-limit discussions earlier this year couldn't have helped. Is this a portent of the future for factory team?

Schumi: What a great time for him! Seven-time champion, independently wealthy, still amazingly fit and ready to do something "interesting". We thought we were in a post-Shcumacher era, but everyone everywhere is abuzz with the news of his return. After all the bad news in the past weeks, it is a ray of sunshine. Even my local newspaper, not known for covering F1 in least, has a sidebar on Schumi's return.

When F1 is news in Iowa - it's big news indeed.

Sir Jack Says Webber Can Be Champion

3-time F1 champion (and the only one to be champion driving a car of his own construction mind you) and Race Legends client Sir Jack Brabham is quoted in an AP story saying:

"I certainly believe that Mark Webber can go all the way and win the world championship - providing the car holds up."

More details can be found at autosport.com.

Henry Surtees, Son of F1 Champ John Surtees Dies of Injuries

It is with the deepest regret that we report that Henry Surtees has died as a result of injuries sustained during a Formula 2 race this weekend at Brands Hatch, England. The Race Legends team offers its to John and his family.

Hot Rod Truck Build

A little off our usual topics, but Erich Huber's crew has been commissioned by the National Rifle Association to build a 1950 Chevrolet Pickup street rod with a variety of rodder touches, including a LS1 crate motor. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece will be sold at a future auction, with the proceeds to benefit the NRA Foundation. Check out the photos of the build at the Hot Rods by Huber web site.

Mosley to Not Stand for FIA Re-election

After weeks of on-again/off-again press releases and heated rhetoric, autosport.com is reporting that Max Mosley has said he will not run for FIA president again. Well, good. Mosely has suggested Jean Todt as a candidate. I don't have any particular insight into this, other than Todt has a successful track record at Peugeot and Ferrari to make him look good on paper - and perhaps acceptable to the manufacturers that were threatening to bolt from F1.

Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 Up for Auction

Mecum Auction (which is a client of Race Legends) has announced that the Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601, the car that won the FIA GT championship in 1965, will be presented for sale at the inaugural auction in Monterey on August 15. The Coupe was offered at the Mecum Indy auction in May and did not meet the reserve despite a high bid of $7.5 million. Race Legends clients Bob Bondurant, who drove the coupe and Peter Brock, who designed it, are scheduled to be at the Monterey auction. For details on the Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 and the Mecum Monterey auction, go to www.Mecum.com

Andy Granatelli Looking for Items for His New Museum

We recently got a message from "Mr Indy 500", Andy Granatelli, looking for information: Here is what he said:

"I am looking for the following items for my Hall of Fame Museum, which will open late this year in Auburn, Indiana.  I need information on anything speed equipment or cars built by Grancor Automotive Specialists (Granatelli Corportion) like Ford Flathead motors, heads, manifolds, etc.  Also, looking for any racecars I owned or built, including Indy cars, street rods, Bonneville cars or a Fordillac. I would like to have any information on the whereabouts of any of the above.  I will consider a loan, a donation or I will purchase the items. No matter what, I would like to know what's out there.
Contact Andy at mrindy500@yahoo.com.  Thank you.  Andy Granatelli"

Ex-Paul Newman Alloy-bodied Ferrari Factory Competition Daytona

Bill Noon of Symbolic Motor Car Company sent around an e-mail this weekend of the Ex-Paul Newman Alloy-bodied Ferrari Factory Competition Daytona he has for sale. For Race Legends readers, the significance is our old friend and client Vic Elford drove the car to a 4th overall for Scuderia Filipinetti in the 1971 Tour de France.

Ex-Phil Hill Jaguar C-Type to Be Sold

Sports Car Market has information of the offering for sale of the C-Type Phil Hill drove at Elkhart Lake, WI in 1952. Hill had raced a XK120 Silverstone in 1951 at Elkhart for the west coast Jaguar importer, Charles Hornburg. Hornburg entered the new C-Types for 1952 and Hill finished fourth overall, just ahead of George Weaver in the other C-Type. The cars went on to the Watkins Glen road course and from there were driven to Los Angeles. Phil once told me how on the trip they stopped off at Omaha, NE, where US Air Force General Curtis LeMay closed the bomber base there so Hill could run the C-Type up and down the runways, much to the Generals delight.