CAFÉ RACER 76

The Triple Nickel is More Than a Motorcycle

“I just knew I wanted to ride,” says Stacie B. London. “I had a picture of the bike that I wanted in my head…and it was coincidence and luck that I managed to find it.”

London isn’t your typical vintage motorcycle racer, and her steed, a Honda CB160, is not a typical vintage motorcycle. Sold for just one year, the tiny, jewel-like Japanese bike isn’t the easiest to find parts for…but that matters little to London.

“Going to that first race is when I realized I needed to race. There was nothing more clear to me that I needed to experience what it felt like to do that,” London says. “I didn’t really know what that meant, that I’d been in the shop every night for hours…and on weekends…”

With a Master’s in Industrial Design and, until a few years ago, little interest in motorcycles, London’s introduction and approach to racing have since encouraged many more to don leathers and live life on two wheels.

London maintains Triple Nickel herself, with the help of a mentor, Ralph Hudson.

Through many obstacles—including a broken collarbone and finding parts for such a rare motorcycle—London’s first season of vintage riding has been both challenging and thrilling.

“What I get out of it is this incredibly rich experience… In some ways, I got swooped up into this process that I wasn’t expecting,” London says. “Now it’s about discipline, focus, staying calm, adapting…”

“It kinda went from girls posing on bikes, and being pinups…now the pinups are riding.”

Rain starts play at the International Bugatti Rally

Held in a different country every year and (brilliantly) organised by the Club Bugatti France, the International Bugatti Meeting took place last week in Provence, in the South of France…

It’s rare to have more than a trio of vintage Bugattis at a classic car meeting, so try to imagine 95 together for an entire week. At the International Bugatti Meeting last week, 17 different models were represented, driven by teams from 16 different countries.

Come rain or shine

There’s a common preconception about vintage Bugatti owners: that they perhaps prefer to admire their cars on freshly mown lawns, rather than actually drive them. But that’s nonsense. The participants of this rally are real gentleman drivers, waking up and hitting the road as early as possible, aiming primarily to enjoy driving their cars at a spirited pace.

You organise a classic car rally in Provence in June for many reasons: the roads, the views, the variety of scenic landscapes and, of course, the weather. Perhaps inevitably, it rained, nay hailed on one particular day. But spirits weren’t dampened (excuse the pun) as the rally arrived in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie for dinner. In fact, many owners said they were pleased to have experienced it, having never driven their cars in such bad weather before. Conditions thankfully improved, albeit only a little, for the rest of the week, with a mix of sunshine, rain and storms, though this was all part of the fun.

The ideal setting

During the briefing, the teams and drivers were told that their cars had been chosen from almost double the number of applicants for the rally, because they were the ‘craziest’ examples. And the range of cars present proved this. While the majority were Grand Prix models, there were several 'Brescias', two striking Type 54 and 59s, and some more luxurious Type 46s, 49s and, perhaps most desirably, 57s.

The route chosen by the Club Bugatti France was fantastic – between traversing mountains and lazing along the coast, from the Gorges du Verdon to the creeks of Cassis, every day brought its ‘pinch me’ moments. The highlight was arguably getting lost in the clouds after tackling the hillclimb up Mont Ventoux. It seemed that the locals enjoyed our presence, too, lining the roads and waving enthusiastically. Provence is certainly the perfect place to enjoy your Bugatti…

A fitting tribute

After a week on the road, you certainly feel like part of a small family, the family of Bugatti drivers who are here to get as much time behind the wheels of their wonderful cars as they possibly can. They’re proud, too, of the brand and its history, celebrating each meal with a toast, “Vive la Marque”. One thing is certain: Ettore Bugatti would be extremely proud. He once famously said, “My cars are made to be driven,” and so they are many decades later. Next year’s rally will take place in Switzerland, and we’ll do everything in our power to be there once again. Vive la Marque!

Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver

Variety is the spice of Auctionata’s Classic Cars sales in Berlin

At Auctionata’s two ‘Classic Cars’ auctions, taking place on 26 June in Berlin, a diverse assortment of old and newer classics will cross the block. We’ve selected our favourites…

Rocket science

Honours for ‘star lot’ must go to the Brabham BT23-5, the car in which the young Austrian Jochen Rindt won nine races in 1967, establishing himself as the king of Formula 2. Believed to be one of three remaining BT23s, it’s estimated to fetch between 360,000 and 500,000 euros. TheMercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 (est. 80,000-100,000 euros) of ex-NASA chief and the head of development on the Saturn V, Wernher von Braun, is also very cool, and you’d certainly never tire of reminding your friends of the car’s rocket scientist credentials.

Transformers

Elsewhere, there are numerous rally-bred machines – most notably the Lancia Stratos (est. 360,000-450,000 euros). Delivered as a Stradale, it was subsequently faithfully converted into a Group 4 machine – so faithfully, in fact, that it’s been recognised by the Registro Storico Lancia. Though not 'authentic' as such, the later Martini-liveried Delta HF Integrale is estimated at a reasonable 60,000-80,000 euros. There’s also an Ur-Quattro masquerading as a works car with all the necessary modifications (40,000-60,000 euros).

Big Bulli

The very rare 1952 VW Type 21a is one of the oldest surviving Bullis in the world, and its 200,000-240,000-euro estimate reflects that. Completely different but equally intriguing is the low-mileage (13,500 miles) DeLorean DMC-12. Gifted new by John DeLorean to his then-model/actress wife Christina, the car (70,000-100,000 euros) is accompanied by the original sales contract, as well as extensive maintenance records.

City smoker

Enthusiasts of more modern classics will be happy with the selection on offer – take the BMW 635CSi estimated at 32,000-40,000 euros, for example. Though leggier and a little less tidy, theAlpina B7 Turbo – estimated at 70,000-90,000 euros – is even cooler.

Oh, and a final mention for the charming green 1977 Peugeot 504. It might have 190,000km on the clock, but thanks to a recent respray and clearly well-looked-after (mustard!) interior and mechanicals, it’s an attractive proposition at 8,000-12,000 euros. The perfect city smoker? Hopefully not in both senses...

Photos: Auctionata

Aquarama - Bliss aboard the most beautiful of all Rivas

Rémi Dargegen enjoys the boat trip of a lifetime when he’s invited to cruise Lake Iseo on board a very special – and beautiful – boat, the 'Happy Days'…

An invitation we couldn't refuse

If you love classic cars, the chances are that you also admire classic boats; and the star of all such boats (as well as the boat of stars) is the sensual and iconic Riva. In the mid-1960s, this was the must-have craft for movie stars and wealthy businessmen. One of the most famous of Carlo Riva's models is the Aquarama – and after our visit to the company’s workshop and collection a few months ago, we had the privilege of returning to Bellini Nautica for a ride in a very special example from its collection…

A perfect moment

Imagine: a sunny morning on Lake Iseo, a perfectly flat expanse of water and one of the most remarkable Aquaramas ever produced. Firing up the two V8 engines, it was time for a two-hour tour of the lake. It made us feel like Brigitte Bardot (or her husband), admiring the reflection of the sun on the wood, enjoying the wind in our hair as the air filled with the V8s’ roaring music. An utterly perfect moment.

Following in famous footsteps

It would be a wonderful experience in any boat, but even more so in this one: hull number 483, from the 3rd series of Aquarama, just three numbers short of Carlo Riva’s own Aquarama and the last one built by Carlo Riva himself. Only 40 boats like this, with the two side air-intakes, have ever been built. It’s been used in a great many Italian films of the 1980s, not to mention a more recent advertisement with George Clooney. A long stream of famous people have been on board, including Carlo Riva himself, Miss Italia, Miss Venezuela, the former Powerboat World Champion Guido Cappellini, Adam Clayton and, in the 1990s, Naomi Campbell... not bad for a little wooden boat. The craft was fully restored to its precise period configuration some years ago, and subsequently won the elegance award at the Veuve Clicquot Riva Raduno in 2003, here on Lake Iseo.

Try it for yourself...

All good things must come to an end, and it was eventually time to return to Bellini’s quay. We switched off the engines, climbed onto dry land, and took a long last look at the boat to ensure this wonderful morning would live on in the memory. Meanwhile, if you want to experience the same sensations aboard such a boat, you can buy a trip from Bellini Nautica, which has other fascinating Aquaramas in its collection as well as the 'Happy Days'. What a highlight for your next Italian holiday.