Straightspeed photo

Hagerty, not uniquely for an insurance company, but in my opinion one of the better offerings, have built a large community around their insurance service through events, sponsorship and media articles appealing to car enthusiasts across a huge spectrum of drivers, owners and collectors. A series of articles titled "Stock Stories" offer brief insights into marque or model history all beautifully illustrated by artist and author  Martin Squires As the owner of a 1981 Morini 3 1/2 Sport, their  Stock Stories Morini 3 1/2  was an instant draw. Have a look. #morini #motomorini #morinithreeandahalf ##morini350sport #heronhead #hagertystockstories 

Taken by  Jeff Bloxham  on a test day. My father's BMW E9 3.0CS having made significant impact with Brands Hatch's notorious Paddock Hill Bend, before it had the run off area and gravel beds it enjoys now. For years, I always believe it was my father who put it into the bank at Paddock, however, recently I was told he wasn't driving. It's one of those memories I wish I'd asked Dad about before his passing. He used this car, a 2002Tii and an Alfa Romeo 2000 to win Class A of the Castrol Production Saloon Championship in 1972.  The car was (I believe) re- shelled and written off again sometime over the following year(s) Dad having moved to racing a BMW E3 3.0Si.

This is not a detailed history of Okrasa, although there are some links to the official Okrasa story. You may have seen reference to Okrasa and their air cooled VW parts, this such as in the Belgian built Mach 1 Beetle , this post just provides an insight.  Okrasa, or Oettinger KRAftfahrtechnische SpezialAnsalt, was founded in 1951 by Gerard Oettinger after graduating as a mechanical engineer. He immediatly began offering performance parts for the VW Beetle and period manufacturers producing sports cars utilising the Beetles flat floor chassis such as Rometsch and Dannenhauer & Stauss. The Okrasa kit was essentially available in two versions, the TS-1200 and the TS-1300/30, but several variants existed such as the TS-34, up to 1500 versions, in the 60s. The TS-1200 consisted of a pair of twin-intake cylinder heads, a pair of Solex 32 PBIC carburettors, a linkage for controlling the carburetors, hoses, intake pipes and special air filters. Optional extras included a Fram oil fil...

Were Abarth the most prolific racing and tuning company to come out of Italy?  Ignoring the more recent badge engineered Fiats, as good as they are, or the car's produced under Abarth and C S.p.A post 2007, and the Fiat N Performance cars with the Scorpion on their flanks, Carlo and his factories, working with the likes of Fiat, Simca, Porsche, Autobianchi, Alfa Romeo and Lancia certainly have a good case. Although he worked with of styling houses Zagato and Bertone, Abarth's were not always the most beautiful cars on the track, but they have a purposeful presence, screaming "veloce" before the ignition switch is flicked on, and the choice of the Scorpion? Small, with a nasty sting (ignoring it was Carlo Abarth's Zodiac sign) The Lancia 037 took its name from the Abarth project number SE037 The Fiat Abarth 1000 TC, the first car that springs to mind that Abarth had a hand in? Abarth  "Even at the age of 11 Carlo Abarth was already a legend in the making; cove...

Only thirty-one Type 934s were built by Porsche with most racing in Europe in the Group 4 racing classes with significant success. They were the car to beat in the GT class, and saw success in America in the SCCA Trans-Am racing series in 1976 under the driving prowess of George Follmer who won the 1976 championship. Later in the IMSA racing series in 1977, the Porsche 934/5 (an upgraded version of the 934) saw success by winning 4 races outright during the season. Porsche 934, chassis 9306700173, was delivered to George Dickinson. Between 1976 and 1977 this 934 took multiple podium finishes including, 2nd in Pocono, Mosport, Trois-Rivieres, and Gainesville. Al Holbert and his co-driver Doc Bundy drove the 934 that was sponsored by G.W. Dickinson. In 1978 the car was purchased by the famous Whittingtons Brothers who campaigned the car in the 24 Hours of Daytona and, 12 Hours of Sebring. The photos, shot when Canepa sold the car a few years ago. #porsche #porsche934 #canapa #porschegwdi...