Don’t get us wrong; we’re thrilled there are collectors with the means and patience required to hide vintage race cars in climate-controlled warehouses for decades. History needs its preservationists, but competition vehicles are meant to compete. Their sheet metal requires heat from a track-day sun as much as their engines require fuel. That’s part of what makes the annual Rennsport Reunion such an important event. Porsche owners from all corners of the globe bring out their race cars for plenty of track time as well as a low-key paddock car show.

Driven by the men and women who made the vehicles famous to begin with, the cars once again put fender to fender on the tarmac. For fans of the brand, there’s no better opportunity to get close to the cars or shake hands with the drivers. Hit the jump to check out a video of 24 Hours of Daytona winner Hurley Haywood speaking about what makes the event so special.

Stay tuned for live coverage of this year’s reunion October 14-16.

Continue reading Hurley Haywood talks about Rennsport history

Hurley Haywood talks about Rennsport history originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

msnbc.com: Autos

No related posts.

While at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este (yeah, we’re roughing it here) we grabbed BMW Group chief of design Adrian von Hooydonk for an interview about his team’s latest two-person open-top concept car, the 328 Hommage.

The 328 Hommage marks 75 years since the launch of the gorgeous 1930s icon, the 328, and carries on the tradition of that car in its lightness. While the 328 six-cylinder was underpowered on paper in its day, it kicked butt on the race circuit due to its very light weight and superior dynamics.

The 328 Hommage frankly looks more like an homage to the 1950s sex-tastic 507, but at least the concept gets the open sides, leather straps, and wingnut wheels fairly correct. And we like that the tall kidneys on the grille make a modern return.

Von Hooydonk admits that the 328 Hommage isn’t proportionally much like the 328 of old, but, he says, “Any sports car today needs to be wider and lower anyway.” We, however, harken back to the 2006 Mille Miglia coupe concept, which simply blew one and all away. That car also went directly from its public unveiling into the BMW museum in Munich, never to be seriously driven.

Click through to the jump to continue reading and to watch the video.

Continue reading BMW Group design boss von Hooydonk talks 328 Hommage [w/video]

BMW Group design boss von Hooydonk talks 328 Hommage [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.