Tag Archives: Mann

No Cigars – Le Mans Ferrari 458 Italia GT2’s

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As we saw on Wednesday four of the eight Ferrari 458 Italia GT2’s entered in this years 24 Hours of Le Mans raced finished on the GTE Pro and GTE Am podiums, for the last of this month’s Ferrari Friday’s I thought it might be interesting to look at the four remaining Italia’s, all GTE Am entries, that did not get a cigar at this years race.

Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Duncan Cameron, Alex Mortimer, Matt Griffin, Le Mans

The only Italia to retire was the AF Corse #55 entry crewed by Duncan Cameron, Alex Mortimer and Matt Griffin which ran out of fuel out on the circuit in the early morning after completing 241 laps from 47th on the grid.

Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Kuba Giermaziak, Michael Avenatti, Abdulaziz al Faisal, Le Mans

Last classified Italia was the JMW Motorsport #66 entry shared by Polands Kuba Giermaziak, American Michael Avenatti, and Saudi Abdulaziz al Faisal which completed 320 laps, 12 short of the GTE Am winner, and finished 36th overall from 51st on the grid.

Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Peter Ashley Mann, Raffaele Giammaria, Matteo Cressoni, Le Mans

Starting from 48th on the grid was the AF Corse entered #61 driven by Peter Ashley Mann, Raffaele Giammaria and Matteo Cressoni which came home 31st overall after completing 326 laps.

Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard, Rui Águas, Le Mans

AF Corse also entered the #83 driven by François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Rui Águas that started 40th on the grid thanks to the efforts of Emmanuel Collard and was classified 26th overall with 330 laps completed.

Thanks for joining me on this “No Cigars” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an Aston Martin powered Le Mans challenger. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Magical Car – Paragon Panther

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Between 1920 and 1924 Count Louis Zborowski and his engineer Clive Gallop built four racing cars all powered by large 18 litre / 1000 cui + World War One aero engines designed for record attempts and racing primarily at Brooklands, the first car was timed at nearly 120 mph and the last in the hands of new owner Parry Thomas in excess of 170 mph in March 1927

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Zborowski’s cars were named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang I – IV, Parry Thomas renamed the 27 litre / 1647 cui Liberty powered Chitty IV ‘Babs’ when he made his record attempts. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang name is variously attributed to the sound of an idling aero engine or a bawdy song

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Flemming author of the James Bond books became familiar with Count Zborowski’s vehicles when he was invited to Zborowski’s former home Higham Park, where the cars were built, by Walter Wigham chairman of Robert Fleming & Co the investment bank founded by Ian’s Grandfather.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

In the early 1960’s Ian used the legend of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the inspiration for a story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Magical Car, written for his son Casper that was published in three volumes in 1964 with illustrations by John Burningham.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tells the story of the Paragon Panther a touring car that is restored by Commander Caractacus Pott before revealing the capacity to fly, over traffic jams and glide over water like a hover craft.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

In 1968 a loose adaption of the plot was turned into a musical and filmed with Dick van Dyke playing Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes playing his love interest Truly Scrumptious who never appeared in the books. You can see the trailer on this link.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

In order to make the film the director Albert Broccoli asked Alan Mann to build six identical vehicles for the film of which today’s featured car is one. Apparently these Ford Zodiac V6 powered cars with automatic transmission were tested up to 100 mph before they were delivered and further modified for filming.

Thanks for joining me on “The Magical Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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