Sliding a priceless C-Type through Monaco, is it better not to see?

You don't look over a C-Type steering wheel, you see through it

When I saw this clip of Alex Buncombe sliding the JD Classics Jaguar C-Type, I  went back to check my pictures from this year's Monaco Historic Grand Prix.

As the often priceless machinery ripped around Massenet and onto Casino, I was taking pictures from the inside of the square and I remembered wondering how in the world Alex could see anything over that gigantic, school bus sized steering wheel.

As it turns out, he's just the right size and seated low enough in the car that he was watching those monegasque guard rails THROUGH the steering wheel!

Check it out.

Buncombe led that race flag to flag after putting the bronze Jaguar on pole, The C-Type is one of 55 ever made and is no garage queen despite being worth many millions.  Originally driven by Juan Manuel Fangio it had just done the historic Mille Miglia earlier this year, driven by Buncombe and Chris Harris.

Buncombe made it look easy and  fun around Monaco but remember these cars have crappy tires and , by modern standards, no brakes.


Check out what vintage braking points look like.

Brabhams in Monaco

There were quite a few Brabhams at the 9th Monaco Historic Grand Prix earlier this month,  I took pictures of a few of them.

        

That moment when you realize you just stuffed a Lotus 49 at St.Devote.

Photo: Brando Cairone

A collective "nooooooooo" rose from all in the stands around St. Devote when Chris MacAllister stuffed his immaculate 1967 Lotus 49 into the barriers.   It happened on the first flying lap of practice for the 9th Monaco Historic Grand Prix on Friday.

Tough one for Mac Allister but you might not want to be is a member of his pit crew tonight as it looked to me the front right came off, just before the crash.

This particular car is of enormous historical importance:  it was in this car that the Ford Cosworth DFV engine made its debut, with a win at Zandvoort with Jim Clark.   Clark later drive this chassis to a win at Silverstone as well as in the US and Mexican Grand Prix.

Hopefully there are spares on hand to fix this amazing car before Sunday's race.

This Mini Lancia Ferrari D50 was the best car in the Monaco paddock today

It wasn't even close!

Postcards from Monaco

Brake-by-wire will have a very different meaning in Monaco this week end.

Postcard from Monaco

In Monaco for the ninth edition of the Grand Prix Historique.  Fabulous antidote for the clean eco friendly quiet cars of 2014!    Will send more postcards.

Flashback: King for the win.

(Photo: AC/Axis of Oversteer)

We're real happy that our old friend Alex King made this new cut of his dad James' win at the 2010 Grand Prix Historique in Monaco available.
Despite a bad start, James King took his ex-Dan Gurney Brabham BT7 to victory that day and a bunch of GoPro cameras onboard for the ride. Lucky us.

Alex along with Matt Barlow made fantastic movies in the last two editions of the Monaco classic. Selfishly, we hope they go for a trilogy!

Positive Camber

1927 Bugatti Type 37 Sport by AC

I never was able to find a good answer as to why cars of the period, from the 20s all the way to the early 50s, were set up with the top of the wheels pushing out, as if the inside wheel needs to pull out in turn rather than the outside, push in. The technical reason must have to do with the rigid front suspension but can anyone explain it in more technical terms?



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Flat Out.

You remember our friends Alex King and Matt Barlow were in Monaco filming the Historic GP. They just released a first teaser for their HD program, Flat Out. More please!



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Up in the the air.

Our friend Mat Barlow was in a helicopter filming the Historic GrandPrix last week end, he set us these great pictures to share with you.
(PS Now in higher rez...what other web site offers this kind of service! :) )



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2010 Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

You have to love it when guys rip the hell out of 70 plus year old cars that might have more in common with a tractor than what you may think of as race car. Sure half the field is basically out for a Sunday drive but there are a handful of drivers who leave very little on the table. You tend to question your vision when you witness the speed of a 1935 ERA up close, driver sitting what seems like 5 feet up in the air, half out of the car, It's amazing to watch.

No six wheeled Tyrrel P34 this year but an ex Jackie Stewart 006 will take the grid Sunday and Jackie was at the track today as was Bernie Ecclestone hanging out with Flavio Briatore.

In recent editions, the race to watch has been the "Pre 1975 Formula 1". Traditionally it's a fight between Duncan Dayton's 1970 Brabham BT33 and Joaquin Folch's '74 Maclaren M23. This year Dayton and Folch will have to contend with Frank Sytner's odd looking '74 Hesketh 308, starting on pole. Last time he flipped it, this time he's on pole, true tracktard! Also watch for Manfredo Rossi di Montelera's gorgeous BT42/44.

But make sure you don't miss the earlier "Pre 1966 Rear Engined GP Car" race. Maybe you remember those gorgeous Monaco Historics clips we featured in the past. They were by Alex King and Matt Barlow, both are avid Axis readers and I ran into them in the paddock on Friday, very cool to meet them in person. They are here working, with a big crew and lots of tasty HD equipment and onboard cameras, on a full length TV program on the GP hosted by Amanda Stretton. Can't wait to see the finished product, hopefully on HD Theater or similar high quality channel. They have an extra reason to celebrate tonight: Alex's father, James King, got pole today in his 1.5 liter 1963 Brabham BT7. Congratulations!

I made a quick clip. I suggest turning up the volume and having a listen to it, if anything to put you in the mood. Then have a look at the picture gallery from qualifying. Enjoy it, I had a blast shooting today, including having to get up at 5 am to get access!

May I suggest full screen for both the video and the gallery...




On Sunday, you can follow the Monaco Historic GP races timing Streamed live by following THIS LINK.
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