A fireball spits rearward from Ayrton Senna’s Lotus at the 1986 Brazilian GP. Senna would place second in the race behind Nelson Piquet. Senna would go on to win the following round in Spain, and placed fourth overall in the Championship at the end of the season.

Photo of the Day: Senna and Lotus 1986 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The forced retirement on medical grounds of Dario Franchitti has brought to an end the racing career of one of Britain’s most successful drivers of the modern era of International motorsport.

As skilled as he was on track (three-time Indy 500 winner, four-time Indycar Champion, 31 wins) he was also a pure ‘racer’, a breed of “have car, will race”. So besides his Indy wins, add in victories in the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours. Plus we know he loves his motorsport history, so we are big fans of Dario here at Motorsport Retro.

Off the track, the tributes have poured in, from Formula 1 down, and one thing that shines through is the respect the Scotsman has among his peers. This emotional five-minute video compiled by Indianapolis Motor Speedway shows just how he is perceived, and the warmth of affection.

Shortly before his accident at Houston, Franchitti completed his first book, Romance of Racing with Andy Hallbery , a friend and contributor to Motorsport Retro. In the book Dario writes about  his personal legends, heroes and legends, with true insight and reverence. He would never see himself among the drivers he selected for the book, but not only does he have a well-earned place there, he has a group of friends for life. And judging by this video, their favourite word to describe their comrade is: LEGEND. Watch this, smile and cry, and look back at the wonderful career of Dario Franchitti.

Romance of Racing, a 136-page book by Dario Franchitti is available now via Amazon by clicking here

“Thank you, it was fun!” – Dario Franchitti

Video: Thank You Dario Franchitti is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

This uplifting clip recalls six decades of Formula 1 champions in five minutes. These are the drivers who made history.

Celebrating Formula 1 history in chronological fashion by running through the sport’s World Champions from 1950 until the present, this video includes everyone from Ascari to Alonso, Mansell, Senna and beyond. A powerful reminder of everything we love about the greatest of motorsports. Enjoy!

Video: Remembering the Champions is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Teams unloading at the 1968 Italian Grand Prix, which was held at Monza. The race was won by New Zealander Denny Hulme, who was the defending Formula 1 World Champion at the time.

Photo of the Day: Unloading the hardware, 1968 Italian GP is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Enjoy the unique sounds as you ride onboard in the fabulous Howmet TX.The Howmet TX (Turbine eXperimental) was an American sports prototype racing car designed in 1968 to test the competitive use of a gas turbine engine in sports car racing. Planned by racing driver Ray Heppenstall, the TX combined a chassis built by McKee Engineering, turbine engines leased from Continental Aviation & Engineering, and financial backing and materials from the Howmet Corporation.

Although not the first attempt at using a turbine powerplant in auto racing, the Howmet TX was the first and is still the only turbine to win a race, earning two Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) race victories and two qualifying sprint victories during its only year of competition. The TX later set six Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) land speed records for turbines after being retired from racing.

Thanks for the tip: Stefan Mullikin

Video: Prepare for takeoff – onboard the Howmet TX turbine car is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Take a look at this terrific video which really plays on the strengths of vintage motor racing – the comradery, the fun and of course, the stunning cars.

Shot at the 2013 SVRA US Vintage Racing Championships at Circuit of the Americas, this clip perfectly captures the atmosphere of the national-scale event, which sees classic racing enthusiasts travel from across the United States to Austin TX for what is considered to be the largest event of its kind.

There’s also a breathtaking gallery of images to check out here once you’ve finished with the clip.

Entrants compete to become the overall SVRA Vintage Racing National Champion for the year, a prize which comes bearing a revered golden helmet. It’s a fierce, but fun battle.

Video: 2013 SVRA Vintage Racing Championship is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The latest installment of McLaren’s Tooned series stars Mika Häkinnen.In this episode Professor M and the old mechanic reveals the true power behind the ‘Flying Finn’.

Video: Tooned 50 – The Mika Häkinnen Story is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

See a Mk 2 Ford Escort being driven at full noise in the Irish Hillclimb championship by Simon McKinley. McKinley;s approach is simple, just paint it white and drive the wheels off it.

Video: How to treat a Mk2 Ford Escort is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Likening vintage racing to an addiction, Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) members Ken Blasko and Jeff Ireland have come to know the excitement, feelings, and adrenaline that comes with racing a vintage car.The Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA), was founded in 1973 and has become the largest vintage racing organization on the West Coast of America. Racing hard and clean is what it’s all about and in this clip we see the camaraderie and fun of a race weekend where members share knowledge, parts, and an all around good time

Via: Petrolicious

Video: The joy of Vintage Racing is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

This beautiful video was run before the final round of the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship on Brazilian TV. The animation begins with 1950s F1 cars driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and morphs into the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s right through to this year’s Championship winning Red Bull driven by Sebastian Vettel.

Animation: The evolution of Formula 1 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

A tribute to the sights and sound of the Group B rally cars. Turn up your speakers and enjoy.

Because you can’t really have too much Group B footage.

Video: The sound of Group B Rally is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Martini turned 150 this year, and they’ve released this video as a sneak-peak at how they celebrated.

The clip sees Emanuele Pirro of Formula 1 and Le Mans 24hr fame discuss some of the highlights of the celebration, which saw 40 years of the brand’s motorsport history represented in the metal, with a broad selection of iconic Martini Racing cars on site.

Video: What do the Martini Stripes mean to you? is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Many records were set and broken during the running of the 1971 24 hour of Le Mans

1971 was a big year for the Le Mans 24 hour, with safety concerns seeing the traditional start being ditched in favor of a rolling Indianapolis Start. It was huge year for Porsche too, who finished the event with 917s in both first and second position. Furthermore, cutting-edge lightweight design saw numerous records tumble, such as the highest ever average speed at 222km/h.

Porsche are celebrating their memory of this historic event with this video honoring their achievements. Enjoy!

Video: The race of records – Porsche at Le Mans 1971 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Gordon Robertson, Porsche’s Chief Driving Consultant, gets behind the wheel of this iconic car and finds out how 760 bhp on full-boost feels on the track.Since the Porsche 935 was first introduced in 1976, the car won over 150 races worldwide until 1984.

Video: Living the dream – Driving the Porsche 935 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Old Bike magazine editor Jim Scaysbrook’s new book is pretty special, and here’s why.

Titled “Along for the Ride”, author Scaysbrook describes the hard cover release as a tale of people, places and motorbike races. It’s categorized as an autobiography, which given the common theme of motorcycle racing throughout his life, could very well be a pun. Jim has raced on two wheels in more or less every manner possible – motorcross, road racing, Isle of Man TT, you name it.

Along for the Ride tells of the stories he’s collected across a span of 65 years – larger than life characters are dotted throughout unbelievable tales of adventure and racing, set across the backdrop of traditional Australian life. We sat down and hit him with 20 questions regarding his amazing experiences, enjoy:

What was your most satisfying race, whether you won or not?

This would have to be the 1977 Castrol Six Hour Race at Amaroo Park, the first time I teamed with Mike Hailwood. An enormous crowd turned out, and because Mike was still carrying an ankle injury from his big Formula One crash, I took the Le Mans start. I really felt the pressure of trying to maintain a competitive pace without crashing, and to finish the first stint so I could hand over to Mike and the crowd could get to see the bloke they had heard so much about. Because we didn’t get our fuel calculations right (we didn’t do any!) we did about 75 minutes between stops, which meant three shifts for me and two for Mike. In the final run to the flag we had worked into the top six but I thought the race would never end. On the slow down lap when the pressure was finally off I just about collapsed. A few glasses of champagne helped get me back to normal!

What was the first motorcycle you bought with your own money?

Just about all my early bikes were bought with some degree of financial help from my parents, but in 1967 I bought a second hand Cotton scrambler from Blair Harley which took every cent I had, and I hated the bike. It wouldn’t start reliably and had leading link forks so the handling was a bit peculiar, so I unloaded it as quickly as I could and ordered a brand new Bultaco Pursang from Jim Eade’s shop in Ashfield. That cost $800 which was a fortune (to me) at the time as I was only on apprentice’s wages.

Who was your fiercest rival and why?

Racing across several different disciples (scrambles/motocross, Short Circuit/ Dirt Track and eventually road racing) meant facing lots of fierce rivals. In the early motocross days the man to beat was Matt Daley. Not only was he a brilliant rider, he paid a great deal of attention to physical fitness and diet, which most of us didn’t. When I did manage to beat Matt a few time when I was riding a Yamaha, his sponsor invited me to join the team with a pair of new CZ motocrossers – the top bike of the time – supplied. In Short Circuit there was a bunch of riders that rode hard and fast, notably Keith Davies, Kevin Fraser and Bill McDonald, who all rode English Grass Track bikes (“Sliders”) like Hagons, Goddens etc, while I was on Maicos supplied by Blair Harley. I used to enjoy carving up the “sliders” on the MX bike, and I think the spectators did too. When it came to road racing later on, I never had the time/budget/inclination to contest the national titles which would have meant travelling all over Australia, but I did ride against most of the big names and I usually went well at Bathurst which was my favourite event each year.

Which bike you’ve raced is your favourite?

Sentimentally I guess it would have to be the Ducati 750SS (owned by Malcolm Bailey) that Mike and I rode in two Castrol Six Hour Races and once at the Adelaide Three Hour. I also raced this at Bathurst in 1978 and won the 750 Production race with a new lap record that stood for a few years. It was pretty knocked around after the multiple crashes in the 1978 Six Hour (Mike, reserve rider Stu Avant and I all crashed it during the course of the event) and it disappeared off the scene (actually into Malcolm Bailey’s lounge room after it was rebuilt) for decades. Then Motorcycling Australia bought it as the first acquisition for their museum and I have been riding it in various demonstrations ever since. Next Easter MA will be holding a Castrol Six Hour Race celebration as the highlight of the annual Broadford Bonanza and it will be fabulous to ride the old Ducati again surrounded by bikes and people associated with the event. It’s hard to believe it’s 37 years since I first raced the bike.

What is the greatest racing motorcycle ever built?

Strewth, that’s a tough one, but I discount the factory exotica in favour of the bikes that actually filled the grids and allowed the privateers to race. In that respect, I would have to say the Manx Norton, or from the boom ‘seventies era, the Yamaha TZ250/350 and the Suzuki RG500.

Who is the greatest motorcycle racer of all time?

Mike Hailwood. Of course, I’m biased but Mike could ride anything, anywhere, and also ride around inherent faults, as he did with the works Hondas.

What was your closest shave or “holy shit” moment ?

Having the throttle jam wide open on the works NCR Ducati at the Isle of Man. It’s seriously fast across the mountain section and when I realized the front carb was jammed open I had a nano-second to negotiate a corner that I’d never taken flat-out before. Fortunately there was a straight section after that and I managed to get it stopped eventually. If this had happened pretty much anywhere else on the course I think the outcome could have been fairly messy.

What is your favourite racing livery or logo?

In terms of instant identification, I always thought the red and white Marlboro livery was great – it worked just as well without the brand, and on the McLarens it looked like the car had been made for the livery. The works Yamahas in the same colours always looked distinctive and professional.

Which riders, dead or alive would you most like to have dinner with?

For fun company, Graeme Crosby is hard to beat, and he modeled his act on Mike Hailwood. Going back a long way, Geoff Duke was the epitome of the dashing English sportsman. I met him when he was in Australia in the ‘fifties, although I was only a kid, but much later met him again in the Isle of Man, where he has lived for many years. A real charmer, magnet to the ladies, incredibly talented rider. From more recent times, and from four wheels, someone I have always respected but never met is Keke Rosberg. I was in charge of creating the advertising for the F1 GP in Adelaide, and I used to admire Keke for speaking his mind when most of the others were already slipping into the political non-speak that is now so mind-numbingly boring.

Who was the best rider you saw, who didn’t make it to the big time?

A strong candidate would be Michael Dowson, who had the ability to do well at Grand Prix level but failed to get there for a number of reasons. True, he had a lot of success in Australia but there were many Aussies either in, or trying to get into GPs (Gardner, Magee, Mal Campbell, Doohan) so it was a crowded scene. But on his day, I reckon Dowson was a match for any of them.

What was your biggest disappointment in racing?

Probably crashing in the 1978 Six Hour, although I always maintained this was not my fault and the proof only came to light in fairly recent times when it was discovered that the gearbox had locked up, which I had always maintained it had. Another blow, my own fault, was falling off in the Australian 350cc Short Circuit Championship final at the Amaroo Park Dirt Track. I had won my heat easily but I made a terrible start in the final and instead of using my head and picking off those in front of me, I threw the bike away coming onto the back straight. Of all the races I did on Blair Harley’s Maicos on Short Circuit, I think this was the only time I fell off.

What made you retire from racing?

Discounting Historic Racing, which I am still doing on a small scale, my last ‘serious’ race was the Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst in 1982 where I rode Peter Addison’s Yamaha TZ750 – the bike that Ron Boulden had ridden to victory in the amazing 1979 Unlimited GP against Croz and John Woodley. The foot I mangled in the 1978 Six Hour crash was giving me hell (still does) and it seemed to me that road racing was developing into a tyre science. I used the one Goodyear front for the entire meeting and at the end of my last race on the Sunday it was down to the cord on the left side. By this stage (1982) I was concentrating on carving a career in advertising and I guess I just ran out of enthusiasm and couldn’t be bothered putting in the effort any longer.

Is there an event you would still like to race in?

I have really enjoyed racing at the Goodwood Revival six times since 2000, on a variety of very nice bikes all provided for me, so I’ve been lucky there and that really spoils you. I believe the Historic Festival at Barber Raceway in Alabama has developed into a really good thing, but at age 65 I realize I am unlikely to get there. It’s not a race, just a ‘spirited demonstration’ but I would love to have a go at the Spa-Francorchamps Bikers Classic held each June, and my friend and colleague Alan Cathcart has indicated that he could organize something there. More temptation!

What do you think of the historic motor cycling scene?

The general (non-racing) side is going great guns, there are rallies all over the country and they are wonderful social occasions. Pressure of work keeps me from attending as many of these as I would like, but I hope to get to at least four or five next year.

On the racing side, I don’t feel as confident for the future. In NSW there is now only one major meeting – the Barry Sheene Festival at Eastern Creek – so that’s sad compared to how healthy it used to be here when we had Amaroo and Oran Park. Queensland is also suffering but hopefully the running of the Australian Historic Road Racing titles at Lakeside in September 2014 may be a shot in the arm. Victoria has the circuits and it seems to be going quite well there, but the dominant class is now Period 5 for bikes up to 1983 so that means over-bored Suzukis, Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasakis that are expensive to run. The answer is more circuits, smaller tracks where clubs can afford to promote meetings and hence help the sport to grow. As the participants get older, it is vital to help the younger ones get into Historic Racing or it will be in bad shape in a few years. People point to the big entries for events like the Island Classic, but that’s just one meeting and it’s expensive (and hard on machinery). There needs to be more tracks of the Broadford size, or like McNamara Park in Mount Gambier, which is terrific circuit and the meetings are always friendly, but it’s a long way away from the eastern seaboard.

Electric racing motorcycles? Yes or No?

For someone brought up on big four stroke singles with open megaphones, electric bikes don’t do much for me, and frankly I don’t see the point.

What is your current state of mind?

Having a bit less on my plate next year! With editing Old Bike magazine, finally completing my autobiography, racing in New Zealand, Goodwood and a few events in Australia, 2013 was pretty exhausting. 2014 marks 40 years of marriage so I am working towards doing something laid-back to celebrate that. But overall, no complaints at all.

 Along for the Ride is now on sale at a RRP of $46.50 plus postage or freight ($12.50 within Australia). Full details are at www.alongfortheride.com.au or by calling (02) 4572 2226.

People, places, motorbike races – 20 questions with Jim Scaysbrook is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

A photo taken during what looks to be the early moments of the famous partnership between Ayrton Senna and Lotus. The image captures Ayrton deep in thought, perhaps contemplating the times and challenges to come.

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

Uplifting, moving and insightful quotes by Formula 1 greats laid over some of the best racing footage ever shot.

“I am not a driver, I am a racer”, enjoy the insights of F1 legends in this excellent digital production.

Video: Words of Formula 1 Wisdom is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

A Porsche 911, Datsun 260Z and Group 4 Ford Escort shared the podium at the 2013 Alpine Classic Rally. Take a look at this spectacular gallery.

Supplied by Craig O’Brien of CO Images, these stunning photographs capture the atmosphere and excitement of the 2013 Alpine Classic, which saw Jeff David and Grant Geelan in their Autohaus Porsche 911 ahead of Alister McRae and David McShane in the Group 4 Escort, with Wayne Hoy and Lisa Dunkerton 3rd in the Datsun 260Z.

Gallery: Alpine Rally madness! is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

24 epic photographs show the rest of the world how vintage motorsport should be shot.

Photographer extraordinaire Peter Aylward has returned home from the 2013 Silverstone Classic with an utterly stunning collection of photographs which embody the spirit of vintage motor racing perfectly, without going over the top. Each and every one of these 24 photographs is a worthy standalone creation of their own, and there are more still to be found through his own channels.

Take a look at the gallery below and if you’re craving more, feel free to sit back in awe of his portfolio on Behance

Gallery: Silverstone 2013 Classic is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

In an effort to breathe life into machinery, this artist is blowing cars to pieces.

OK so they’re really only models, and it’s being done very carefully – but the result is still pretty damn impressive!

Fabian Oefner’s spectacular collections can be broken down into two categories: “Disintegrating”, and “Hatch”. Disintegrating sees the cars carefully dissected piece by piece and painstakingly photographed one component at a time before blending hundreds of captures into a single image, whilst Hatch seeks to breathe like into the sleek shape of classic sports cars, by using latex molds to give the effect that they are emerging from a shell.

The processes use of a little bit of string and a whole lot of patience, with stunning results. Enjoy the widescreen images, and watch the video clip at the end.

Disintegration – 1967 Ferrari 330 P4

Hatch – Ferrari 250 GTO

Hatch – Ferrari 250 GTO

Disintegration – 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SLR

Hatch – The aftermath

Gallery: Exploding Classic Cars is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.