I’ve taken a step sideways from my motor racing core and have started contributing to Benzina Magazine, a quarterly classic-car mag.
It’s the brainchild of Australian classic motoring and historic motorsport entrepreneur Jack Quinn. We have just put away issue #6, it’s published in Australia and the UK, so you Pommies should be able to find a copy too.
My feature in this issue (#6) is an historic treatise and driving impressions on the AC Ace Bristol, the first and best of the breed. I co-wrote a piece on the late Australian racer/businessman Reg Hunt too. #5 on back-issue was an article on the Lou Abrahams and Ted Gray Tornado V8s.
Check the mag out, we’re still locking down the ‘standard mix of articles’ so do give me your impressions on the good, the bad and the ugly. https://benzinamagazine.com/
Nico French is the photographer, a talented, fun guy to work with, a Lotus driver so say no more. The venues in-shot are Arthurs Seat, Shoreham and Flinders on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. The car is Bob King’s 1960 Ace, a machine delivered to its original Australian military-man owner in Europe but otherwise always resident here.
The 2-litre BMW derived, two-OHV, Bristol triple-Solex fed straight-six is good for circa 135bhp in this tune, more than enough for the 1960 light, spaceframe chassis car. These magnificent machines have racing-roots, it shows in every aspect of their performance.
Photo Credits…
Nico French
Nothing beats a pert, perky, two-handful rump. No fat, no frills and no baubles. Perfetto…
Finito…
primotipo... 
Nice on Mark … and Frank would say ‘… don’t sit like a girl with your legs together …. The knees brace against with the gearbox tunnel and the door , keeping your left foot against the floor pushing ya bum into the seat … and don’t cross your arms and keep your head horizontal to the road , don’t lean in to the corner ..!!”
Kind regards,
Andrew McCarthy
Senior Client Adviser
Bell Potter Securities
Ph: 03 9235 1634
Fax: 03 9235 1635
Mob: 0412 127 845
Email amccarthy@bellpotter.com.au
I am a reformed magazine junkie. Once the internet started to happen the need for magazines started to wane. I still love and read my pre 1970 magazines whose qualities of art and writing are peerless. I do not like how computer graphics which could yield fantastic results seem to gravitate to a corporate style that renders them all the same be it for a company report or a magazine. The Rodder’s Journal which for me is the best of contemporary car magazines is on its knees. I think the future of car magazines is for specialist editions on 2 or 3 particular topics including a review of an historic event like the upcoming Longford revival which is linked to a blog. I hope I don’t sound too negative.
Is Nico related to John French, the Age photographer I used to work with last century?
Shall ask him next time I see him Greg.
Mark
Dr. King, take heed. The world famous dancer Isadora Duncan died on 14 September 1929. The long scarf which she was wearing became caught in the wire wheels of the Bugatti in which she was riding.
The car she died in was an Amilcar CGSS.