A snapshot from the recent Retromobile car show from Paris

Video: Retromobile Classic Car show is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Motorsport is dangerous. It says so on the back of your ticket stub. Of course no ever thinks they will get hurt watching a motor race, but sadly that was the case at Daytona on the weekend when more than 20 fans were hurt. It was an unfortunate reminder that motorsports history is littered with examples of fans being hurt or killed. The most tragic being the 1955 Le Mans disaster.

Another terrible event occurred at the 1960 Indy 500.

Indianapolis News photographer, J. Parke Randall, captured this terrifying scene. A privately owned makeshift scaffold collapsed on the warm up lap, killing two people and injuring 70.

The scaffold was holding around 125 people, who had paid $5 to $10 for vantage spots of the great race.  As the start approached spectators jostled for position causing the wood and metal tower to fall to the ground.

All private scaffolding was subsequently banned from the Speedway.

Video & Photos: Fans killed when scaffold collapses at 1960 Indy 500 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Drop the clutch

Photo of the day: 1970 Belgian Grand Prix is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

1. John Surtees 1934-

Uniquely in motorsport, ‘Il Grande John’, as he was affectionately known by the Italian tifosi, won world titles on two and four wheels. He added to his seven bike crowns – four on 500cc MV Agusta machines, three on 350cc – in just his fifth season of Formula 1, with Ferrari in 1964. He went on to win races for Cooper and Honda, before running his own team in F2 and F1.

2. Mike Hailwood 1940-1981

Known universally as ‘Mike The Bike’, the Britain dovetailed early forays in F1 during the mid-1960s with an ultra-successful bike career that netted nine titles in 250, 350 and 500cc with MV Agusta and Honda. A full-time move to cars led to success in F2 (he was European champion in ’72 with Surtees’ team) and sportscars. A comeback win in the Isle of Man TT in 1978 added to his legendary status.

3. Valentino Rossi 1979-

 For many the best bike racer of all time, the Italian has won titles at every modern-day GP level – 125, 250, 500cc and MotoGP – and is still going strong. He has also proved his ability with twice the number of wheels under him, thanks to several impressive showings in F1 tests with Ferrari and World Rally Championship outings with Peugeot and Subaru, as well as in Rally Sprint events on home soil.

4. Barry Sheene 1950-2003

A British sporting icon of the 1970s, Barry Sheene oozed charisma on and off a motorcycle. With a God-given talent in the saddle, plenty to say in front of the camera and an eye for the ladies, he was a hero to all ages, not least for his double 500cc world title wins for Suzuki. Once retired from international two-wheeled racing, he competed in touring cars, trucks and on historic bikes with aplomb.

5. Wayne Gardner 1959-

A winner for Honda in 500cc GPs from 1986-’92, the gritty Australian captured the world title in ’87. He moved to car racing in ’92, also his final year on two wheels, taking in four races in the German Touring Car championship (DTM) in a BMW M3. He then spent the next decade competing in Super GT in Japan and the V8 Supercars in his native Australia, proving competitive in both.

6. Johnny Cecotto 1956-

The Venezuelan secured the 1975 350cc world title and added the 750cc crown three years later. By 1980, with three wins in the 500cc class also on his CV, Cecotto had moved to cars. He was a winner in multiple categories over the next 20 years, including F2, World Touring cars, DTM and sportscars, but is equally well-known for his unsuccessful stint in F1, notably as Ayrton Senna’s team-mate at Toleman in 1984.

7. Gregg Hansford 1952-1995

Twice a runner-up in the 250cc world-championship class in 1978 and ’79, Australian Hansford moved to the Australian Endurance championship for sportscars, in which he raced competitively for many years. His four-wheeled career highlight was undoubtedly victory with Larry Perkins in the 1993 Bathurst 1000 aboard a Holden Commodore.

8. Eddie Lawson 1958-

Four 500cc world titles – three for Yamaha, one for Honda – confirm American Lawson’s status as a grand prix bike great; he even won a race in his first year with Cagiva in 1992. A move to the US Indy Lights single-seater series that same year – he did one race – soon led to a full-time campaign and he won a race at Cleveland in ’94 – against a field that included future IndyCar star Greg Moore. Lawson raced in IndyCar for Galles racing in 1996 doing 11 events with a best finish of 6th in the US500.

9. Stuart Graham 1942-

The son of inaugural 500cc world champion Les Graham, who was killed in the Isle of Man TT in 1953, Stuart soon caught the bug and became a TT winner himself in 1967. He also raced in the world championship in all the main classes until switching to cars. He famously won the RAC Tourist Trophy twice – in a Chevrolet Camaro – in 1974 and ’75 to complete an historic bike/car double.

10. Bill Ivy 1942-1969

A multiple GP bike race winner in 125 and 250cc and world champion (1967, 125cc), Briton Bill Ivy retired from two wheels to race in European F2 in 1968. Some excellent performances made him a man to watch. Sadly, that potential remained untapped as he returned to bikes for ’69 and was killed during 350cc GP practice at the Sachsenring.

By Henry Hope-Frost

Let us know if there are any riders who we have missed

10 motorcycle racers who were also brilliant on four wheels is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

This past weekend the Historic Sports and Racing Car Association of New South Wales shook off the cobwebs of a spectacular summer break and took to the track for an action-packed weekend of historic motorsport at Wakefield Park.

As always a magnificent collection of cars was on display both in the pits and paddock and out on the track. Racing was tight, talented and closely-competed and the drivers put on an excellent show in some tricky wet conditions.

Check out these photos from the event, and make sure to head to the HSRCA site here and their Facebook page here for more.

Photography by Seth Reinhardt

Photo Gallery: The HSRCA’s Historic Summer is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

We have sheds, here in Oz. Wonderful places built by the determined, the passionate and the lucky to create a home for cars, tools and all the paraphernalia that goes along with them.

Richard Griot’s shed is the stuff of dreams.

This video from eGarage takes you inside and chats with Richard about his collection, his passion and his business.

Video: Richard Griot – Have Fun In Your Garage is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

As comfortable at the handlebars of his MV Agusta 500 GP on the bumpy bends of the Isle of Man as he was behind the wheel of his Ferrari 158 at the Nordschleife, John Surtees is a one of a kind racer.

This documentary from the Maestro series goes behind the scenes with John Surtees to gain an insight into his incredible career.

Video Documentary: John Surtees – Motor Cyclist & Motor Racer is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

V12 Goodness

Photo of the day: Naked Ferrari is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

“Painting is like time travel,” says prolific Dutch artist Rob Ijbema. In a sport measured in thousandths of a second, where speed is king, it’s strange yet fitting that some traditions still exist today – long before the car was even dreamt of.

By Andy Hallbery and Rob Ijbema

Rob Ijbema’s work rate is phenomenal. Following are just 10 of his favourite motorsport paintings (“but ask me tomorrow and they will be 10 different ones”), and this is just scratching his acrylic surface. Add in the thousands of pictures of the Tour de France and other cycling events – his other love – and you start to form your own opinion of what makes him tick. Begin with “wheels” and “colour” and you have made a start.

1906 Renault, acrylic on canvas 20” x 30”

Where it all began. The French Grand Prix, 1906 and Hungarian Ferenc Szisz, the former riding mechanic, started the record books by becoming the winner of the first Grand Prix.

“The old pioneer races are so exciting to paint,” explains Ijbema. “There is beautiful scenery, the power and the dust. All that nostalgia inspires my brushes.”

1975 Monaco, acrylic on canvas 20” x 30”

The streets of the Principality become a rich man’s playground for almost one week per year. How many multi-millionaires stroll around posing with a camera around their neck, yet never take a photo?

“I watched Monaco on TV when I was very young,” remembers Rob. “It really captured my imagination. It’s a spectacle you can really only comprehend when you are finally actually there.

“In 1987 I painted my own pass and got everywhere…! At night I was sleeping in the caves up on the hills, then during the day selling my work by the yachts in the harbour – crazy times. Monaco is so intense, all these colours and shapes hustling for position, the contrasts and smoke… And so easy for drivers to lose it.”

1971 Ford Capri, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

Even in the very early 1970s, over-powered and over-tyres muscle cars caught everyone’s imagination. Ford’s Capri RS2600, Alfa Romeo GTAm, BMW CSL, Escort BDAs and so on slid and bounced their way into any youngster’s imagination – and the superstars listed to drive them helped too.

“I’m from the 70s and the big slicked Capris and the others were so cool back them,” Rob laughs, “especially when they were driven by Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Jochen Mass and Francois Cevert.”

1950s Mille Miglia, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

Some events that took place before we were born defy belief for us. I mean, honestly, did the Mille Miglia endurance really happen at average speeds of close to one hundred mph on public roads for over 10 hours? It sounds – and was – lethal. But the camera, or in this case the paint brush, never lies, and easily set Ijbema’s juices running.

“The old road races for sure had plenty of drama for painting action,” he says. “I love trying to catch that speed on paper and I will never get enough of painting red cars! This is Eugenio Castellotti in the red and yellow Ferrari. He won in 1956. This painting is just about the car and the speed. Then that event can also give you a lot of atmosphere – the tifosi going crazy, with blurry colours tearing through the scenery. At times I love trying to catch all of that too.”

Gilles Villenueve , acrylic on canvas 20” x 30 ”

Sometimes a picture can say it all and set the mind flowing with memories. One such subject is “Gilles Villeneve”.

Ibjema: “All that emotion,” Rob reflects. “I was there at Zolder in 1982, and the evening there was so eerie and quiet. Racing fans were just wandering around in disbelief, like zombies.”

2012 Kimi Raikkonen, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

In theory, a largely black racing car should not be a thing of beauty or art. That is where Lotus rewrote the ‘logic’ books in the early 1970s with the legendary JPS colours, and the team revisited the black and gold pallet for its 2011 challenger and beyond. The team’s colour ‘comes’ from its maverick driver, Kimi Raikkonen.

“Modern cars are just as interesting as the old ones,” says Ijbema. “It is just those modern tracks that are bland! But that gives me a good excuse to get close up, right into the action of the motion… Thank God for characters like Kimi coming back in 2012.”

1978 Dutch Grand Prix, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

Do you remember your first time? Budding artist Rob Ijbema recalls his one, and the start of thoughts of a career behind the easel.

“Easy,” he answers quickly. “It was the first time I managed to get into the pits. This was at Zandvoort – it was a doddle to get into the pits back then. As a little boy standing next to those beautiful John Player Specials, I had no chance but to get totally hooked.”

Dale Earnhardt Sr, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

‘The Intimidator’ as he was known lived up to his name both on and off the track. NASCAR’s biggest star had a reputation to maintain. Very simply it was: “Don’t mess with me.” Sr dressed the part as well, the Man in Black with the  wrap-around shades was a firm fan favourite for all of those reasons.

“I don’t often paint faces,” explains Rob. “But his face must be the meanest I have painted!”

Brabham BT45, acrylic on paper 8” x 12”

Like Colin Chapman before and Adrian Newey since, Gordon Murray was an innovator who designed beautiful, yet race-winning cars. The BT45 with is unique air intakes, may not have been one of the South African’s biggest success stories, but it was put to good use in the hands of Carlos Pace. The machine also starred in the film Bobby Deerfield ‘driven’ by Al Pacino.

“Brabhams designed by Gordon Murray are the most gorgeous,” Rob admits. ”I like to give suggestions when painting… The viewer is not stupid and by filling in the details in their minds themselves they get involved with the picture too.”

1965 Monte Carlo Rally, acrylic on paper 8” x 12″

Rallying isn’t something that features regularly as a topic for Ijbema – which is strange when you think of the backdrops and wonderful panoramas that lend themselves to his style of art. When he does tackle the subject, the outcome is predictably spectacular, as this painting of the Mini Cooper on the Monte Carlo Rally in the mid-1960s shows.

“I wanted this one to be based on an image with a 1960s Mini Cooper,” says Rob. “The atmosphere is all there and I wanted to catch that – the crowd on the hillside in the snow watching with small campfires. There is lots of passion, the fans have been there all day, up in the hills in the cold, just for a small glimpse of the car.”

Rob Ijbema: “I know these are just blobs of paint – but they are just the right blobs of paint… Details slow you down”

Paintings: Rob Ijbema, car-a-day.blogspot.com

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Stroke of genius: The racing art of Rob Ijbema is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

“The big bitch nearly killed me!”

They don’t make ‘em like they used to! Following a massive stack in the ’64 Sandown International Six Hour, Lex Davison was not thrilled with the long-form handling characteristics of Sir Gawaine Baillie’s mighty seven-litre Ford Galaxie.

Davison was partnered with Sir Baillie for the race, and the Galaxie was completely dominant; delighting the crowds with its spectacular performance and the tremendous racket Davison’s right boot elicited from its mighty motor.

However, the Galaxie was a far cry from the lithe and nimble single-seaters Davison had previously raced so successfully, and required a careful balance of bravado and madness to wring the best out of it.

Which makes the story of how it came to be, how it came to Australia and how it ended up dangling off the edge of a cliff at Sandown a fascinating one.

Check it out in full by logging in to the Shannons Club.

Image thanks to Autopics.com.au

Lex Davison and the Fearsome Holman-Moody 427 Ford Galaxie is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Top Gear is heading to Sydney this weekend with a host of their closest friends and a collection of magic machinery, and they’re set to deliver a smörgåsbord of motoring madness at Sydney Motorsport Park.

We’re going to be joining in and to celebrate we’ll be giving away ten of these awesome Lotus 72 F1 diecast replicas. Click here to enter

Over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of March Jeremy Clarkson, James May and The Stig will be joined by Mark Webber and the Red Bull team, Casey Stoner, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and, in a treat for historic racing fans, Alan Jones racing his 1980 Williams F1 car against Colin Bond in Alan Moffat’s 1977 Ford Falcon in an epic celebration of cars and motorsport at Sydney Motorsport Park.

And you can add Motorsport Retro to that impressive list! We’ve staked out our own little plot at the festival, at stand B2 in the motoring village, and will be hanging out, soaking in the action and chatting with you guys! Come down and say ‘Hi!’, and get involved in the action.

We’re going to be giving away ten of these Lotus 72 F1 diecast replicas , so make sure you stop by our stand and enter the comp. If you can’t make it to the event you can still win by entering here

Celebrate the Top Gear Festival with Motorsport Retro and Win! is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Born out of the golden era of motor racing, and a turbulent period in world history, the Silver Arrows were technologically-advanced, innovative and dominant.

This documentary, from Terrific Stuff Videos, explores their story, and is packed with great vintage footage and interesting insight into their history and success.

Image: Lothar Spurzem

Video Documentary: Racing the Silver Arrows is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Trumpets

Photo of the day: Chaparral Power is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Shell celebrated its 50^th anniversary in racing with one of the most creative TV/cinema commercials with Ferrari. For us ‘retro’ists. It was $4m well spent. Let’s take a look at some other classic Formula 1 TV ads.

By Andy Hallbery & Rich Fowler

James Hunt for Texaco

These two classic Texaco commercials feature British comedy duo, Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and James Hunt. Classic

Jackie Stewart for Ford Pinto

Who knew a Ford Pinto was faster than a Honda Civic onto the motorway?

Aytron Senna for Shell 

In the 1980s/90s, F1 drivers were all legends in Japan, and everyone seemed to be in ads, Satoru Nakajima, Aguzi Suzuki, Johnny Herbert and Mika Hakkinen, but the absolute darling of the Japanese fans was Ayrton Senna – who must have been on TV there 23 hours a day!

Aytron Senna for Honda

Mika Hakkinen for Mercedes

Mercedes has always gone by the ethos “Stars & Cars”, and the German company’s motorsport-related ad campaigns have relied on the former to sell the latter.

Perhaps its most famous was a trilogy of ads starring Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen and Wimbledon tennis winner Boris Becker. They drove around London, raced at Brands Hatch and maybe the best of the three, played golf in the future.

Golf 2029

London

Brands Hatch, You Drive

Then Michael Schumacher joined the three-pointed star. Oh, and Franz Beckenbauer. Heaven sent!

Mercedes also produced perhaps one of the best modern day ads, with three World Champions.

Gilles Villeneuve for American Express

The budget wasn’t big and the quality of this video is poor, however ladies and gentlemen AMEX presents Gilles Villeneuve, actor!

Michael Schumacher for L’Oreal

We could only bring ourselves to feature one of these ads, here is why.

Damon Hill and Murray Walker for Pizza Hut

Murray reminding us how cool he is.

Tell us which ad is your favourite or any classics that we have missed

Follow @MotorsportRetro and @Hallbean on Twitter and join in the discussion on Facebook

Fifteen classic Formula 1 TV commercials is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

We’ve been to many, many events at Sydney Motorsport Park over the years, but never have we seen it as packed with action, stars and spectators as it was this weekend for Top Gear Festival Sydney. Oh, and anything that generates propulsion with controlled explosions. There was plenty of that as well.

Every inch of the circuit grounds was occupied by something with two, three or four wheels doing burnouts, wheelies and generally going as fast as it could be pushed while falling over and making as much noise, smoke and fire as possible, and there was probably a plane, helicopter or mildly-unnerving remote controlled drone flying above throughout.

The word festival in the name wraps it all up perfectly.

Check out a few photos from Saturday below, and don’t forget that you can still enter our competition from the weekend by hitting our ‘win’ page here.

Photo Gallery: Top Gear Festival Sydney is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

“I started buying cars like some people would buy.. tacos.”

Alfa Romeo collector Manuel Leon Minassian readily admits that he feels a bit loopy about his huge collection of Alfa Romeos. But often enough people with that unique quality are the most fun, and the most interesting, so we’re right behind him!

He isn’t so worried about finding the perfect collector’s car; immaculate, untouched and rare. He wants the car that is the most fun to drive and which gives him joy. And he clearly puts a lot of love into his collection.

Check out the video which provides great insight into his ethos and passion, his collection and his prized ’72 Alfa Romeo Berlina.

Video: Never Enough Alfa is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

To celebrate 60 years since the first Australian Grand Prix was held at Albert Park, the organisers have tracked down some of the blokes who were on there and in the videos below they share their recollections of that historic day. Meet three wonderful characters: John Reaburn was a 17 year old spectator in 1953 and had dreams – that he turned to reality – to be a successful racing driver.

Graham Hoinville, already a keen racing driver, had married three weeks before the 1953 event so didn’t have the funds to enter the race and had to satisfy his desire to be involved by serving as a flag marshal.

Neal Charge, one of only a handful of drivers still around today, who brings to life what it was like to get behind the wheel and drive the Albert Park circuit for the first time.

Also go and download the excellent heritage booklet here

Video: Recollections from 60 Years of the Australian Grand Prix is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

We snapped these luscious logos whilst wandering around the Formula 1 and support paddocks at the 2013 Rolex Australian Grand Prix. Enjoy

Seventeen classic racing logos from the 2013 Australian F1 Grand Prix is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

It’s one thing to be a born racer, with talented toes, fast fingers and the guts, determination and drive to put them to good use on the track.

It’s another thing all together to secure and develop the right car through which all that can truly shine.

Allan Moffat enjoyed both, especially when it came to a particularly good relationship with the global entity that is Ford Motor Company.

Which is how he was able to secure a very rare and very fast ride for sports sedan racing in 1975, in the form of his quad-cam, fuel injected, 450 bhp RS 3100 ‘Cologne’ Ford Capri factory-built race car, fresh from the 1974 European Touring Car Championship.

The car was an absolute beast, and you can read the story of its development and the pair’s fight for the inaugural Australian Sports Sedan Championship by logging in to the Shannons club here.

Check it out in full by logging in to the Shannons Club.

Image thanks to Autopics.com.au

Allan Moffat’s ‘Cologne’ RS3100: Australia’s Wildest V6 Capri is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

This weekend in Melbourne, the Swiss Sauber Team celebrate their 20th year in Formula 1. Peter Sauber’s squad debuted at Kayalami in 1993 with JJ Lehto and Karl Wendlinger, and scored points. With thanks to the Cahier Archive, we take a photographic jouney from 1993-2013.

JJ Lehto 1993

Karl Wendlinger 1994

Heinz-Harald Frentzen 1995

Heinz-Harald Frentzen 1996

Gianni Morbidelli 1997

Jean Alesi 1998

Pedro Diniz 1999

Pedro Diniz 2000

Kimi Raikkonen 2001

Felipe Massa 2002

Nick Heidfeld 2003

Felipe Massa 2004

Jacques Villeneuve 2005

Robert Kubica 2006

Robert Kubica 2007

Robert Kubica 2008

Nick Heidfeld 2009

Kamui Kobayashi 2010

Kamui Kobayashi 2011

Sergio Perez 2012

Photo Gallery: Celebrating 20 years of the Sauber F1 Team is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.