The return of the pocket watch

In the 19th Century, the pocket watch was considered a status symbol as only the wealthiest could afford one. With the advent of the wristwatch after WWI, it became unfashionable to carry a clock in your waistcoat pocket – but recently, the pocket watch has re-entered the aristocrat's dressing room…

Aerowatch Cobweb

Ironically, independent Swiss specialist Aerowatch began producing pocket watches in 1910 – just as they were going out of fashion. Now such timepieces are back in vogue, the company has produced the Cobweb: a modern interpretation of a vintage fob watch, whose movement is said to be inspired by spiders delicately spinning their webs.

Hermès Arceau Millefiori Pocket Watch

Creative as ever, the designers at Hermès have conjured up the Arceau Millefiori pocket watch, which fuses the crafts of watchmaking and glassmaking. The special crystal glass lid is a work of art in itself, fashioned by Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis to resemble a bed of flowers.

Jaquet Droz Pocket Watch Paillonné

Another pocket watch to reference its creator’s long history is the Paillonné by Jaquet Droz. The process of making paillons (the tiny pieces of gold and silver) dates back to the 18th Century – and just to make things more complicated, they’re set in enamel using a painstaking method, and then covered with a translucent enamel coating.

Longines Equestrian Lépine

Longines’ designers apparently got the inspiration for the new rose gold Equestrian Lépine after viewing a similar timepiece while visiting the company’s museum. And since 2014 is the year of the horse, the equestrian design theme seems all the more appropriate.

Parmigiani Transforma CBF

When she ticks, it’s like a Samba! Created by Parmigiani for the Brazilian Football Confederation, the Transforma CBF represents the horological equivalent of being serenaded by Astrud Gilberto, with Stan Getz providing the backing track.

Panerai Pocket Watch 3 Days

The pocket watch from the deep-sea pioneers at Panerai might not make for the ideal wetsuit attachment – but with a three-day power reserve, you could cover a lot of ground on foot looking very stylish indeed.

Tissot Pocket Mechanical Skeleton

The Mechanical Skeleton Pocket Watch from Tissot pays tribute to an era when pocket watches were one of a distinguished gentleman’s most important accessories. The highlight is the leather strap that wraps around the case, as was in fashion in the 1920s.

You can find numerous vintage pocket watches for sale in the Classic Driver Market. 

Bonhams announces inaugural Goodwood Members’ Meeting sale

In March 2015, the 73rd Members’ Meeting will play host to a new Bonhams auction, the first of three sales to be held at major Goodwood meetings in 2015…

Owing to Bonhams’ sale successes at previous Goodwood events, the British auction house has added a third auction on Lord March’s estate to its 2015 calendar: the 73rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting sale. “The timing is perfect, allowing buyers a full season of recreational or competitive motoring for the year ahead” says Head of Motoring at Bonhams, James Knight. “The Members’ Meeting is a fantastically revived re-enactment of Goodwood race meetings from yesteryear, and provides the perfect backdrop for a Bonhams auction.”

Consignments invited

Consignments are currently being invited, but one fitting lot already confirmed is the ex-Kitty Maurice 1955 Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé – which was not only the last Frazer Nash to compete in period at La Sarthe (its ultimate fate pictured above), but also a regular entrant at the ‘original’ Members’ Meetings.

Bonhams’ 2015 73rd Members' Meeting sale will take place on 21 March, ahead of auctions at the Festival of Speed (26 June 2015) and the Goodwood Revival (12 September 2015).

Photos: Bonhams

British GT / Brookspeed fait appel au crowdfunding pour sa Bentley Continental GT3 / Brookspeed set to bring a privateer Bentley back to GT racing via fan funded team

par Claude Foubert (Endurance-Info.com)

 

Le team Brookspeed, ex-champion de British GT, va faire son retour dans le Championnat britannique d’une manière originale.

L’équipe a en effet choisi pour financer sa participation en 2015 de faire appel aux donateurs qui rejoindront ainsi le Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club, l’équipe ayant choisi pour son retour de faire courir une Bentley Continental GT3. Ce mode de financement –crowdfunding en anglais- est identique à celui que David Brabham a choisi pour son projet ou que Caterham a utilisé pour pourvoir courir le GP de Abu Dhabi F1.

L’objectif est de réunir 500 membres du Club qui partageront l’achat et la propriété de la Bentley qui courra donc en British GT ainsi que dans quelques épreuves internationales.

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Le but chiffré est de réunir 600 000£ (environ 300 000 pour l’achat de la voiture et autant pour la saison de course).

Plusieurs options sont possibles, avec des tickets d’entrée évidemment très différents :

- 50£ : Brookspeed Team Supporter

- 250£ : Brookspeed Team Member

- 500£ : Brookspeed Race Member

- 1000£ : Brookspeed BBRC Founder Member

- 2000£ : Founder Member + UK Pit Crew

- 3000£ : Founder Member + Spa Pit Crew

- 5000£ : Derek Bell Founder Member Day

Bien évidemment, plus l’option choisie est chère, plus les avantages donnés aux donateurs sont élevés, tels qu’une inclusion dans la vie du team dans des meetings du British GT au Royaume-Uni ou lors de la manche de Spa, plus des cadeaux multiples.

La Bentley Continental GT3 sera pilotée en British GT par Andy Wallace ou Justin Bell, alternativement, James Guess –concurrent habituel de la Radical SR1 Cup- étant le pilote amateur de l’équipage, le British GT se disputant selon la formule Pro-Am.

L’ambassadeur et figure de proue du Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club est Derek Bell, Membre de l’Empire Britannique, cinq fois vainqueur des 24 Heures du Mans.

Le Team Principal de Brookspeed, Martin Braybook, faisait partie du programme de la McLaren F1 GTR sous les couleurs de Harrods.

Martin Braybook : “Je suis très encouragé par l’accueil initial réservé au projet. Notre lancement sur Indiegogo (http://igg.me/at/bbrc/ ) est la deuxième étape du projet. Nous avons trouvé plus de 30 membres fondateurs uniquement par le bouche à oreille, ceci avant que Brabham et ensuite Caterham F1 aient lancé leurs initiatives. Après avoir mis en place des bases solides, il est temps maintenant pour nous de lancer le Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club à un niveau plus élevé. Je suis ravi d’employer le crowdfunding et, tout comme les réseaux sociaux, c’est un moyen commercial de la génération internet, et c’est un concept qui a désormais fait ses preuves en sport automobile. Je pense que ce que souhaitent les amateurs de sport automobile c’est de s’engager dans leur sport –avec le team, les pilotes et avec le sentiment d’être membre du team. Avec un coût minimum et sans engagement permanent, ce club leur en donne l’opportunité. Nous avons une gamme d’offres qui peut convenir à leurs budgets et c’est le cadeau parfait pour les mordus de la course automobile qui souhaiteraient être plus proches de l’action. Avec l’accord de Bentley, je suis sûr que nous pouvons atteindre nos objectifs. »

 

 

 

 

 

Derek Bell : « Non seulement, j’en suis certain, l’enthousiasme et le professionnalisme du Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club assureront le succès de ce magnifique concept pour attirer des membres, mais ils se transposeront en succès sur les circuits et je suis ravi de soutenir le projet. »

 

 

Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club has been set up to bring the ‘privateer spirit’ of Bentley back to Endurance racing using Brookspeed’s racing pedigree and total passion for the Bentley marque and the Bentley Continental GT3. The Bentley GT3 race car will be owned by the club members with finance raised via fan/crowd-funding.

Multi championship winning Brookspeed who have previously won the British GT Championship has set up the club with the aim of finding 500 members. They will share in the purchase and ownership of a Bentley GT3 racecar scheduled to campaign in the 2015 British GT Championship and selected International events.

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With crowd-funding now an accepted business or project funding method, it is still very new to motorsport and pioneered by BBRC, Brabham and more recently Caterham F1 who succeeded in raising enough money to return to F1 in Abu Dhabi.

Brookspeed’s crowd-funding model will give investors the opportunity of becoming not only members of the Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club, but an integral part of the race team. The tiered membership program offered by Brookspeed provides investors with a range of options, including the type of access to the inner workings of the race team and ownership privileges normally reserved for major sponsors and their guests, senior team members and manufacturers.

The platform is set with the involvement of professional drivers Andy Wallace and his ex Le Mans team mate Justin Bell, plus Radical SR1 Cup front runner James Guess who will be the amateur driver for the British GT campaign.

Brookspeed Principal Martin Braybrook, part of the Harrods McLaren programme of 1995-96 is the driving force and Team Principal of the project which started in August this year. A number of high profile partners are already on board including club ambassador and honorary member, legendary racing driver Derek Bell MBE. He also has the blessing of Bentley Head of Motorsport Brian Gush and Bentley Team manager John Wickham.

For further information and details of how to become a supporters or founder member of the Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club visit: http://www.brookspeedbentley.com/

QUOTES

“I am very encouraged by the initial take-up of the project” commented Braybrook, “Our launch on Indiegogo ( http://igg.me/at/bbrc/ ) is the second stage of the project. Simply through word of mouth we attracted over 30 founder members, this prior to Brabham and subsequently Caterham F1 launching their initiatives. Having put a solid foundation in place, the time is now right for us to launch the Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club onto a bigger stage. I am excited about using Crowd-funding and like social media, is a business tool of the internet generation, and now a proven concept in motorsport.

I think what all motorsport fans want is the chance to engage with their sport – with the team, with the drivers and feel part of the team. At minimal cost and with no ongoing commitment this club provides them with this opportunity. We have a range of offers to suit all budgets and it is the perfect gift for die hard racing fans who would like to get closer to the action. With Bentley’s blessing I feel confident we can hit our targets.” – Team Principal: Martin Braybrook

“I have no doubt that the enthusiasm and professionalism of Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club will not only ensure success in attracting members to this great concept, but will also translate into success on the track and I am excited to be supporting it” – Derek Bell MBE

“Brookspeed Bentley Racing Club is the most exciting prospect in motorsport launched to date. This “Crowd Funding” model allows enthusiasts to be a part of the team, not just a distant observer. A brilliant idea !” — Glynn Williams MBE, Motorsport journalist

“ I was also delighted to touch base with you Martin and this exciting project that I feel W.O. Would approve of.” — Miles Hutton, Step grandson of W.O. Bentley

 

 

Pirelli 2015