The Roaring Season

Yesterday was the final round of the 2019 Indy Car Series that was held at Laguna Seca.
The star and winner of the race was 19 year old Colton Herta who is still living at home with his parents !
His magnificent driving is captured along with others through the lens of John Adams...thanks John for sharing. Colton Herta # 88 diving down through the Corkscrew Turn just ahead of Scott Dixon.
The winner. Future star Colton Herta.

Some photos 3rd place finisher Scott Dixon. Scott fought hard to retain his 3rd place.
Scott "The Iceman" at work on the Corkscrew turn.
(John Adams photos..)

He is greatly admired here in the US.
Part of the "Born Racer" movie. Check this at the 8 minute mark !

[video=youtube;6edPdtnhD6k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6edPdtnhD6k[/video]


(Ken H input..)

Dixon' s Ganassi team mate Felix Rosenqvist in car # 10.
2019 Series winner. Josef Newgarden. # 2.
(J. Adams photos.)

(Ken H inputs.

I know this site is for Historic and Motor Racing History but I just wanted to share these photos and hope you will forgive me..please.
(Does 3 days ago make it history ?)
Alexander Rossi # 27 ahead of Conor Daly # 25
Simon Pagenaud # 22 ahead of Will Power # 12.
(J.Adams photos.)

I was talking to a dear old friend about Laguna Seca and he told that as a boy his dad would take him to Goodwood in the early days.
He said "that was when "The drivers were fat and the tyres were skinny" just the opposite of what it is today !"

(Ken H.)

[Back to the Pre Historic Meet.
I was waiting by my car and tried out a tablet camera and thought I just had a bunch of "fence photos".
On closer inspection and some cropping I captured this sequence of a 1953 Kurtis 500S # 6 being chased by
a 1956 Maserati 300S # 66.
It shows good racing and the Kurtis does beat the Maserati into the next corner.




(Ken H photo sequence through the fence between Turns 2 and 3 @ Laguna Seca. Aug. 10. 2019..)

Ken H .. Post #84 can't see the pictures 63237 to 63242 .. Your oops or my machine ??

Thanks Roger,
I had trouble loading the 6 pack of pix.
You get the bonus photo.
Cheers,
Ken

Thanks mate - great cars too !!

Thanks Ken. No problem with posting up to date stuff. Huge fan of Scott Dixon.

He was ably supported by several Kiwi businessmen including Maurice O'Reilly, who started Chicane Racewear. When Maurice decided to shut up shop, he sold the business to Shane Drake & myself and at that time, a young, chubby Scott was on the Chicane catalogue.


I had the pleasure of chatting to Scott at the Leadfoot Hillclimb last year and to say that I was impressed with his interaction with the spectators, is a massive understatement. He is a fantastic ambassador for the sport.


Sadly, it looks as though I won't make the meeting next year, though I am still hoping to make Goodwood. Not keen on having wire fencing between me and the action which does have an effect on which circuits to attend and why I like Goodwood and also Hampton Downs National track.

Ray,
Thanks for the nice story regarding Scott, he is truly a great ambassador for NZ and motor sport.

Sorry I can not join with you at Laguna Seca, perhaps another time. I know how you feel about circuit fencing but I should point out my "fence photos" were taken from the back of the parking lot and not in the general viewing areas. Can you park that close at Goodwood ?

We should enjoy the racing while we can as I see some of these young climate changers protesting and want all racing banned as we are destroying the planet for the next generation and we should be ashamed of ourselves !
I remember how bad the smog was in LA in 1972 compared to today and I think our generation has done a lot to to improve the air we breath for future generations. (That is the end of my evening rant as I have to rest after my carpal tunnel procedure today.)
Keep up those always interesting posts.
Cheers,
Ken.

August 10. 2019.
I was wandering around at Laguna Seca and noticed this motorcycle amongst the "Bonhams " auction collection.
I took some photos not knowing much about what a " Brough Superior" bike was.
I have certainly learned a lot about this bike since then. Then recently I saw this article about the very same bike. ET0347

" The ex-Henry Laird Demonstrator
1938 Brough Superior SS100
Sold for US$ 313,000 inc. premium
FOLLOW
Quail Lodge Auction
16 Aug 2019, 10:00 PDT
Carmel, Quail Lodge & Golf Club"
Check this site;
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25221/lot/114/



(Ken H )

Possibly at sometime in it's life owned by Kirk F White.

Allan wrote:Possibly at sometime in it's life owned by Kirk F White.

When I started my apprenticeship in 1957 the very english gent in the spares had a SS100, not sure what year it was but in lovely condition, always loved it, wonder what happened to it, love to find it in an old barn somewhere.

Oh Ken! Brough Superior (cars and bikes) were manufactured in Nottingham, my neck of the woods. Most famous owner was Lawrence of Arabia.

ETO 347 is in fact a Nottingham registration plate (as is Nick Masons 250 GTO - and anything ending in RR, NN, TV, AL).
If you ever get to Nottingham, head for Wollaton Hall, not far from Nottingham University on the western side of the city. Within the stable block of Wollaton Hall (used as Wayne Towers in a recent Batman film I believe), is the Nottingham Industrial museum.

Within is a fair collection of Brough Superior bikes.

Few know of the cars, but this pic is of my mum, myself and a younger brother, in Dad's boss's car.

Probably 1950, based on the fact that Mum looks pregnant with my youngest brother.

There is a Brough car in Northland, often turned up for the Sunday meets at Paihia.

Thanks Ray for sharing that delightful photo.
Where would that have been taken ?
That long hood/ bonnet must be covering what sized / type of engine ?
(Ken H)

Another Bonhams auction vehicle was this 1959 Kellison J-4R coupe which was a pretty mean looking machine for that period and compares to modern day designs. (Ken H photos..) 1959 design.
A modern day F-type Jaguar for comparison. 2020 design.

Some information from a previous auction for this car.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24809/lot/180/


The Kellison Cars home site.
A lot to be read at this site.

http://www.kellisoncars.com/




(Ken H.)

2 months later and still plugging in photos..I hope that is ok..
Some American vehicles 1963-66 over 2500 cc.
1965 AC Cobra. # 96 1967 Corvette. # 16 1966 GT 350 # 961 (Ken H photos..)

My personal input for the day. From todays news.
BMW’s Mini is fighting to stay alive in SUV-obsessed America
I am going to stay with my '62.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/03/bmws-mi ... erica.html

Ah, those were the days !
Ken H..

Keep to the 62 Ken. Nothing matches a classic Mini.....

khyndart in CA wrote:Another Bonhams auction vehicle was this 1959 Kellison J-4R coupe which was a pretty mean looking machine for that period and compares to modern day designs.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]63299[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63300[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63301[/ATTACH]
(Ken H photos..) 1959 design.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63302[/ATTACH]
A modern day F-type Jaguar for comparison. 2020 design.

Some information from a previous auction for this car.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24809/lot/180/


The Kellison Cars home site.
A lot to be read at this site.

http://www.kellisoncars.com/




(Ken H.)

The Kellison is a great looking car Ken. I always thought they were very advanced in body style for 1959. Good style never goes out of fashion