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As they say in America, Peter is a real car nut. Always has been. So it takes no more than a tank of petrol and a map to keep him happy.
He regularly competes on most of the well-known classic rallies, including Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, Liege-Istanbul-Liege, The Marathon, The Winter Trial and the infamous Lands End to John o’ Groats.
In between rallies Peter joins in with whatever sporting event might be on, it could just as likely be a race meeting, hill climb or even enjoying a relaxed beer or two at a pub gathering of the VSCC.
Driving any car that comes to hand, both old and new, he is not afraid to give an opinion. But we can live with that. Luckily, as he travels the world he always has his camera packed and sometimes even remembers to send pictures back home to the magazine.
Peter Collins takes photographs, lots of them. And Retro-Speed is a lucky recipient of his ever expanding collection of motor sport action.
As with most of us the bug struck early and in Peter’s case, being a Londoner it was visits to Brands Hatch that left the biggest impression. Youthful enthusiasm with an old Kodak grew into a professional career and in particular a love for powerful Italian cars. Today he travels the world and has written three authoritative books on the subject.
He is a shy, retiring man and teetotal, preferring a good cup of tea to champagne. When not interviewing the good and the great he likes nothing better than to relax with his fellow bell-ringers at his local church. At least, that’s what he tells us!
Typically, 2006 was an interesting year for Retro-Speed’s Chief Tester. He received his bus pass, underwent a double cataract operation, yet still managed his Le Mans debut. He also raced a Group C car at Spa and took part in the Tasman Revival.
This friendly ex-pat American made the UK his home in 1968 and has been involved in motor racing as a competitor since 1959. Even earlier, in 1956, he raced in the conceptual season of karting. Ed has raced in just about everything and everywhere. In recent years he has combined his driving experiences more with writing, testing historic grand prix and sports cars for, among others, Vintage Racecar, Autocollezioni, Auto Italia and Porsche Post magazines.
Now an established motor sport historian with an important photo archive, he also has six books to his credit including the definitive history of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 (published early 2006 and co-produced with Peter Collins) and his latest: the first ever biography of Marquis Alfonso de Portago.
Being a regular track tester has its privileges, the long list of great cars include the F1 Eagle-Weslake, Jaguar D-Type and Lancia D-50. Ed still competes regularly, doing several historic races each year, the accounts of which always end up in print ..... or on-line!
In 1976 whilst living in San Diego, Bob’s sister asked him if he wanted to buy her Austin Healey Mk1 Sprite for $1,000.00. He had no knowledge of the Sprite, only that it was a sports car, but nevertheless made the purchase.
During a 30-year period of ownership the car went through a total restoration and won several awards. It was also during his ownership of the Sprite that he had the opportunity of meeting and becoming a friend of Donald Healey.
Bob has owned a Healey ever since that purchase from his sister and currently possesses a 1953 Nash Healey Le Mans Coupe and the 1978 Healey Fiesta – read his article on this one-off car The Last Healey under our Features section.
It is unclear as to why such a well respected journalist as Ian Shapland should put his reputation at risk and join the Retro-Speed team. It can’t be the money. But if nothing else it proves he is a man of impeccably good taste.
Ian, modest and still relatively young, has enjoyed much success both on and off special stages. Being badly misunderstood by the racing fraternity he took to rallying and in 1988 and 1989 won Alpine Cups on both Classic Marathons. Two years later he finished fifth overall on the Monte Carlo Challenge co-driving for ex-European Touring Car Champion, John Handley. However, his best result still remains second place on the historic International Manx Rally behind the wheel of his beloved Mercedes 220SE ‘fintail’.
As journalist and cartoonist he contributed first to Auto Classic magazine before moving on to, among others, Autosport and Motoring News. For more than ten years he has edited oldSTAGER magazine, drawn, sketched and painted famous rally cars and concentrated on his graphic design business. Now he has decided to assist in our new venture and I for one am very pleased.
Lawrence manages to combine his love of everything to do with classic cars and classic aircraft with his specialist wedding photography business, Lawrence Clift Photography. He continually provides Retro-Speed with up-to-date images of rally shows and events along with breath-taking video footage.
Tel: 01772 621421
Mobile: 07979 016274
lawrenceclift@blueyonder.co.uk
www.lawrencecliftphotography.co.uk
Joan established her reputation at the Royal Automobile Club as Chief Librarian and archivist in charge of the motoring library at Pall Mall where she remained until 2000, leaving to go freelance. She also discovered that getting older had certain advantages in that car sickness disappeared and she was able to navigate for Dave on various events.
Joan and husband Dave have been associated with rallying and motor sport for a long time. Dave first started during university, navigating for Brian Hugh in a Cooper S on Motoring News events in the 1960s. Then came events with drivers such as Don Pither and Harold Morley. But life as a petrochemist with Shell meant long periods abroad, including acting as Motoring News Far Eastern correspondent in the early 1970s when posted to Japan.
In 1973 they purchased LUP 62J, the ex-works Clan Crusader, which was then put to good use until children’s education budgets put rallying onto the back burner. In 1988, along with Brian Hugh, they were invited to marshal on Philip Young’s first Classic Marathon and never looked back, having taken part in nearly every event.
A big welcome to Colin Francis, OBE – writer, top rally navigator and Vice President of FIVA Events Commission. A true gentleman and diplomat.
An early encounter with Colin was on the Liege-Istanbul-Liege Rally, a long, rough and tough journey across Europe with never-ending sections through Turkey and Greece, covering 5,000 miles in ten days. I was pleased to finish. Colin went on to win. This was not his first, that was in the days of the Motoring News Championship, and it will certainly not be his last.
Spare time is taken up helping to create, organise and administer rallies. Also, in his role as FIVA Steward, he is likely to turn up anywhere in the world. This makes him a busy man so it’s a privilege having him on board.
We first met Mike around one in the morning at the conclusion of the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. It had been a tough night behind the wheel and it was himself who realised how much repair a large glass of wine or three would do to my ailing soul. Of course, it came as no surprise to find Mike was a long time friend of our European Editor, Peter Collins, and they were in fact sharing a rental car in which to follow the event and take pictures.
Mike was born in Cheshire but at some point applied for a passport and emigrated to the West Country where, unlike the rest of us, he continues to hold down a job of some responsibility. In the past he has sold insurance to the likes of Eddie Jordan (not an easy task) and Chevron, supported Racing For Britain and even a sponsored a Formula 3 racing team with the help of brokers, Ocean Ajax.
Retro-Speed is delighted to welcome him aboard.
When not out on the track or snapping images and videos for Retro-Speed, Mark runs his own creative design services markjamesjames. His extensive knowledge of the design, marketing, merchandising, exhibition and print industries means he can produce persuasive and effective solutions.
Tel: +44(0)7092 846624
info@markjamesjames.co.uk
www.markjamesjames.co.uk
Emma is a daughter born into a real motoring family that have grown to love their Italian cars.
Mum and Dad used to own Triumphs but three people into two seats did not go so when she was only four they traded their TR7 for their first Lancia.
Dad currently owns a Lancia Intergrale Evo 2 while mum has an Alfa Romeo 156. Emma, in the meantime, can't wait to pass her driving test so she can get behind the wheel of the Lancia Fulvia Coupe already registered in her name.
One of life’s dreamers, Retro-Gnome gets the blame for everything that goes wrong in the office. Always in the wrong place at the wrong time but he has a heart of gold. And in spite of everything we love him because he’s cuddly.
When he took to the track he clobbered the banking first time out and broke nearly every bone in his body but when released from the safety harness, semi-conscious and upside down, the broad smile was still on his face. Since then he has promised to wear his glasses at all times.
Luckily he works hard, can throw together a good feature, doesn’t drink and lives on vegetarian food, so we can pay him out of petty cash. Ideal situation.
