2016 PITTSBURGH VINTAGE GP: GO FAST; DO GOOD!

Charity-driven GP has donated in excess of $4.35 million since 1983 to support Autism and educational organizations. This year’s Grand Marshall was Anatoly “Toly” Arutunoff, racer, author and consummate car guy. Don’t let his ‘55 Thunderbird fool you, it’s a veteran of the European historic rally circuit and he raced it over the weekend. The Royale Formula Ford Challenge marked a return of open-wheel, single-seat, purpose-built racecars to the PVGP. They did not disappoint, as Christian M...
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MID-OHIO VINTAGE GP: SNAKE BITE & SPORTS CARS!

Chronicles’ Mike Matune is trackside at the SVRA vintage GP, held in conjunction with one of the hobby’s most exciting single-marque club events – SAAC 41. The Shelby American Automobile Club held its 41st convention in concert with SVRA’a Mid-Ohio GP. In addition to shows, open track events and dinners there was an SAAC-only race. Curt Vogt would take top spot home in his 1970 Mustang Boss 302, top, followed across the finish line by pole sitter, Scott Hackerson’s ‘67 Mustang. Here they le...
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2016 WISKO GRAND PRIX: HSR AT VIR!

Our man on the track, Mike Matune, brings you four days of glorious historic racing at Virginia International Raceway. Memorial Day weekend marked the return of the Historic Sportscar Racing group to VIRginia International Raceway with the Wisko Grand Prix. Comradery and competition ran high, as an eclectic group of historic road racers did their best to tame VIR’s full course over four days. Here using all of the road, curbing, rumble strip and “gator teeth” available, we have Jeff McKain’s...
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2016 JEFFERSON 500: WEATHER OR NOT!

Our man on the track, Mike Matune, captures the essence of what racing is all about at Summit Point Raceway.  This year’s Jefferson 500 showcased the full range of Spring weather - from torrential rain to bright sunlight to driving wind against the backdrop of a vast range in temperature. None of that seemed to slow the VRG competitors who soldiered on through the various weather systems. Here Richard Schnabel winds his Fiat 124 Spider through a very wet Carousel while corner workers and ...
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2016 AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS: THE BEST GETS BETTER!

Our intrepid photo-journalists at large - Maureen and Mike Matune – bring us highlights from one of the country’s premier shows. The Amelia Island Concours has grown to include events over several days. Friday brought the Reliable Carriers Eight Flag Road Tour where Concours participants exercised their mounts over local roads, ending up in downtown Fernandina Beach. Here is Mark Moshayedi’s ‘65 Shelby-DeTomaso P70 racer, above. Originally conceived by Carroll Shelby to contest the USRRC ch...
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CHESAPEAKE BAY: ’15 ST. MICHAELS CONCOURS!

Mike Matune represented the Car Guy Chronicles at the ninth-annual Concours d’Elegance and Motor Tour along the shores of the Choptank River in Maryland. Held on the fairways of the River Marsh Golf Club at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, the St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance Concours blends pre and postwar European and American classics into an eclectic mix of automotive art, all for the benefit of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. Shot of the show field, top, gives you an idea of what ...
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‘15 GOLD CUP: GOING FOR SVRA GOLD AT VIR!

Mike Matune stays dry long enough to bring us coverage of the wet and wild  Gold Cup weekend at VIR. With a nod towards poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the story of the 2015 Gold Cup weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) could be wrapped up in the phrase, ”Water, water, everywhere …”. The point is illustrated by David Pintaric’s Corvette, above, with its grille full of VIR landscape and water teaming off every inch of the car as it drags a cloud of spray behind. A torrential d...
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RADNOR HUNT CONCOURS: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Our Mike Matune was on the field with 100 select cars and motorcycles, celebrating divergent eras and types. The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance in Malvern, PA again entertained and informed Concours goers with top attractions. Here we have Alan Anspaugh’s ‘60 Triumph Italia 2000 GT. These were built at the behest of the Italian Triumph distributor who envisioned TR3 chassis wrapped in Italian coachwork. While the results of Giovanni Michelotti styling and Vignale’s coachwork are impressive...
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PUT-IN-BAY (PIBRRR): ROAD RACES REUNION!

Mike Matune covers the 1950s-era road racing reunion, celebrating classic ‘airport & street racing' at its finest. The starter waves the green flag as the field accelerates down the front straight during the 2015 Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion on South Bass Island in Western Lake Erie. In period, the racers at Put in Bay occupied an important spot on the racing calendar for small-bore production and race cars. Its recreation as a vintage event has involved perseverance and dedication by ...
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LAGUNA SECA: MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION!

‘When it comes to historic racing, it doesn’t get much better than the premier Rolex event in Monterey,’ blogs Mike Matune.  As August arrives, summer begins to wind down, but not before the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (RMMR) treats us to its annual celebration of the racing automobile. Among their celebrated groups this year was Formula 5000. You get a sense of the international character of RMMR when you consider Philip Lewis travelled from Denmark to compete in his ‘72 Matich...
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