"Into Orbit" with McLaren's Megacar F1

"My mind is blown. My soul corrupted. Absolute power has cast its spell. Solo or ménage a trois, I don’t mind. Put me back in the middle, behind the central wheel of the world’s fastest driving machine. I need more, another fix. Two days on the loose in McLaren’s three-seater megacar, and I’m hooked"

Poignant words. Written by my father, motoring journalist Roger Bell for Car magazine in 1994. His prose then repeated by my youngest son Jake as the opening words to his tribute at his Grandfather's funeral.

I was invited to accompany my father in Wales for road test, but, at the time my then employers refused to grant me the time off. Had I realised then just how the F1 was to rewrite everything known about Supercar's, or Megacar's as my father named the F1, I'd have developed a terrible fever for a few days.

Thankfully, Car's Archive let's you read the full article on model designation XP5, K8MCL, and the first test by anyone outside McLaren bar a few prospective customers.

#mclaren #mclarenf1 #mclarenxp5 #k8mcl #carmagazine #rogerbell #gordanmurray

ERA RJB1 Replica of a B Type ERA

RJB1 is a replica of a B-Type ERA, built for Roland Duce by Paul Richardson & David Ellison using many original parts.

The ERA Club has little information on RJB1, nor, it would appear have any other online resources.

Shot at Prescott Speed Hillclimb course in 2024's iteration of the Historique meeting.

The 911 Barchetta by Zollhaus

The excellent magazine Type 7, taking its name from first prototype of what developed into the quintessential Porsche: the 911, have featured the Zollhaus Porsche 911 Barchetta, the 911 model Porsche never built and I wish they had.

Published in two parts via Instagram, the "Barchetta" left Stuttgart in 1971 as a Targa, and prior to this incarnation, a previous custodian had made some Speedster esque style modifications. Some remain like the deck lid and reinforced sills, others, the wide arches and 356 screen for instance, were discarded. 

Freshly coated in the correct 71 Signal Orange, and now running a mildly fettled 2.4 engine providing 190bhp engine and weighing 900kg, Type 7 describe the Barchetta "as a riot to drive, with its light weight being immediatly evident" and "induction noise is more prominent than exhaust".

#zollhaus #zollhaus_ig #zollhausporsche #type7 #type7magazine #type7porsche #porsche #porschebarchetta #barchetta #porsche911barchetta #911 #porsche911 #porsche911targa #1971porsche911targa #speedster 

 

British Historic Racing Club

 

Cadwell Park, The British Historic Racing Club and Cadwell Park, classic motorcycle racing at it's British best.

#bhrc #britishhistoricracingclub #classicmotorcycleracing #cadwellpark

Aprilia RS GP 20

 2020 saw Aprilia start with a completely revised machine for the new MotoGP season, new double rail alloy frame, new V90 engine, improved aero dynamics and a new seamless transmission

 The team remained mostly unchanged from the previous season with riders Aleix Espargaro and Bradley Smith

Results were mixed with Aleix finishing 17th overall with an 8th place at the final race in Portugal being his best

Bradley finished 21st overall with a best finish of 12th in Andalucía, albeit he didn't complete the whole season being replaced for the final three rounds by Lorenzo Salvadori

This machine has belonged to Aleix since 2022, coming directly from Aprilia and has been part of his private collection since then

The bike is being sold by Aleix and he is also including a set of leathers, helmet, boots and gloves from that season

Presented in original condition and fitted with its factory Marelli ignition system, Akrapovic exhaust system, bespoke Ohlins suspension, Brembo calipers with carbon front discs and full carbon fibre body

Not used for a while but, whilst running, would require some assistance from Aprilia before being put on track

A rare opportunity to own a factory-entered, all-original, Aprilia MotoGP machine

Being offered for sale with some Aprilia paperwork and delivery notes.

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2026 - Motorcycles on Sunday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG.

#aprilia #apriliars #apriliarsgp #apriliarsgp20 #iconicauctions #motogp #bradleysmith #aleixespargaro #apriliamotogp