Magazine opens page of history

Bugatti's iconic Type 44 will be on display.

Auckland's Viaduct is set to come alive with numerous classic cars to mark the launch of Historic Racing Drivers Magazine on March 22.

In New Zealand, many of us have been touched by motorsport in one way or another. Over time, this country has produced some of the finest drivers and teams in motorsport history.

The key aim of the magazine is to raise awareness of the historic racing movement in New Zealand by featuring great articles and correspondence from here and abroad.

Future issues will include guest writers from Australia, the US and Britain. The magazine also intends to hold various other events down the line, including a four-day classic tour reminiscent of the Targa Floria and Mille Miglia 1000, which are scheduled for 2010.

The first issue of the magazine will be available for purchase on the day, along with other related merchandise including clothing and stickers. There will also be a limited-edition print available which was designed by the Contour Creative Design Team, famous for their Art Deco designs. The launch is at the Auckland Viaduct Harbour Eastern carpark, alongside the Maritime Museum, and runs from 9am to 5:30pm with free entry.

Car clubs participating are The Porsche Car Club, Ferrari Owners Club, Historic Racing and Sports Car Club, Jowett Car Club, Citroen Car Club, Jaguar Owners Club, AC Cobra Owners Club and many more.

Some of the rare cars to be displayed include the 1906 Grand Prix Darracq, the ex-Bruce McLaren Rothmans Cooper single-seater, the Blower Bentley, Grand Prix Bugatti Type 35, Grand Prix Bugatti Type 54, Bugatti Type 44 and Jaguar C-Type, as well as many other rare and exotic historic cars. Many modern marques, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley, Porsche and Maserati, will also be shown on the day. A highlight for many people will be the Hulme Supercar.

In honour of Denny Hulme's F1 World Championship in 1967, and his CanAm series victories in 1968 and 1970, the Hulme CanAm takes conceptual, engineering and styling cues from current Formula One and sports racing car technology. The car is aimed at both road and track users and was designed and built by the Hulme technology team in New Zealand.

The road-legal car features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork and race-orientated chassis, suspension and brakes. It is powered by a hand-built 7-litre (427 cubic inch) Chevrolet V8 engine producing 600bhp and 600Nm of torque, all getting to the road via a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA gearbox.

Hulme Supercars first unveiled a prototype - a closed cockpit derivative of the CanAm - at Britain's Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2006, before inviting and assessing further consumer opinion at events in the Middle East and China.

After a drive in a pre-production version, Hulme's widow, Gretta, was impressed: "The car is the most wonderful tribute to Denny, and I feel sure he would have applauded the sheer spirit, enthusiasm, technical expertise and craftsmanship that has come together in the creation of it."

The 1906 Grand Prix Darracq is interesting, and its builder Alexandre Darracq even more so.

Born in Bordeaux, France, in 1855, he trained as a draftsman at the Arsenal in Tarbes, before establishing the Gladiator Cycle Company in 1891. He sold his successful company in 1896 and for a short time went into the business of manufacturing electric cars as well as acquiring an interest in Millet motor bicycles. He established Automobiles Darracq in Suresnes, near Paris, where he pioneered the making of the chassis from pressed steel and the use of production machinery in place of hand labour.



By 1904, Darracq was producing more than 10 per cent of all automobiles in France. His company became involved with Grand Prix motor racing, winning a number of major races, including the Vanderbilt Cup in the US and twice setting a new land speed record in 1904 and 1905.

Racing success raised the image of the Darracq marque so that he was able to expand to Britain, form licensing partnerships and raise substantial capital through share issues in Italy with Cavaliere Ugo Stella, in Germany with Adam Opel and in Vitoria, in the Basque region of Spain. The company that became Alfa Romeo was founded as Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID) in 1906 by the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq, with some Italian investors.

The Bugatti Type 35 is one of the iconic Grand Prix cars and was a radical change when it was launched on the racing scene.

After early success, newer models from other manufacturers such as Fiat that were supercharged were beating the Bugatti. In 1924 Bugatti designed and built the car which ultimately made him a legend - the Type 35.

While success in racing was not immediate, interest from prospective buyers was.

At first reluctant to use a supercharged engine, he finally relented and had a supercharger based on the Roots blower design added to the 2-litre Type 35C and the 2.3-litre Type 35B.

From 1927-31, the Blue cars from Bugatti dominated the racing scene. The Type 35 would prove to be one of the most successful cars in history.

Various exhibit stalls have also been confirmed - The Bruce McLaren Trust, Hampton Downs, Targa NZ, Classic Car Restorations, and KMW Jaguar.

Additional information: amazines.com and the Bugatti Trust