lemans

Tequila Patron becomes Title Sponsor of American Le Mans Series

Filed under: Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos

Premium brands have been moving to secure the naming rights in racing series around the world. Rolex sponsors the Daytona sportscar championship. IZOD recently took center stage in the IndyCar Series. But while liquor brands have been sponsoring individual cars and teams for decades – think Martini, Crown Royal or even the various breweries active in NASCAR – premium tequila distiller Patron has taken it a step further.

The tequila brand has been sponsoring cars in the American Le Mans Series (the U.S. affiliate of the famous French endurance race) for years, including the championship-winning Acura prototypes of Highcroft Racing. Now the company has secured the naming rights for the entire series, which will henceforth be known as the American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patron. The company's president will even be driving a Ferrari F430 GT2 in this year's championship, bearing the ironically lime-green color scheme of the Patron brand.

The involvement of liquor companies in car racing has drawn considerable controversy, as advocates point out that drinking and driving don't mix. Some spirit purveyors, however, have used their sponsorship as part of drunk-driving awareness programs.

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Tags: american le mans series, AmericanLeMansSeries, auto racing, AutoRacing, car racing, CarRacing, le mans, le mans series, LeMans, LeMansSeries, motorsport, motorsports, patron, racing, tequila, tequila patron, TequilaPatron

1959 Aston Martin DBR1 Cufflinks Are a Piece of Motor Racing History

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

UK-based TMB Art Metal is launching a limited edition set of cufflinks handmade from metal taken from the Aston Martin DBR1 race car that won Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championships in 1959. TMB's exclusive Aston Martin DBR1/2 Essence of Form links are crafted using original pieces of aluminum body panel removed from the the famous car that was driven by Carroll Shelby, and was victorious with Sir Stirling Moss behind the wheel in the 1959 World Sportscar Championship. Two versions of the cufflinks, with arms and drivers made of solid 18ct gold, are being issued accompanied by certificates of authenticity signed personally by either Shelby or Moss. Each version is limited to just 50 pairs worldwide, priced at £1,795 or about $3,000 each. The winning Aston Martin, one of the most famous cars in the world, is today believed to be worth around $25 million.

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, cufflinks, gold, Le Mans, LeMans, racing, Sir Stirling Moss, SirStirlingMoss, TMB Art Metal, TmbArtMetal, UK

The Racing Life of Paul Newman

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Books

A new book on the late Paul Newman tells the story of how one of the world's greatest actors escaped the pressures of Hollywood by sitting behind the wheel of a race car.

As with most things he attempted in life Newman excelled at it. Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is an illustrated history of Newman's racing career both as a driver and team owner. His interest in racing began while preparing for his role in the movie, Winning, in 1968 and blossomed into several championships competing in the Sports Car Club of America.

The actor also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in 1979, and in 1995 at the age of 70 he became the oldest driver to be part of a winning team in a major sanctioned race, winning in his class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, capping his long association with the Rolex model of that name.

The book features a foreword by Mario Andretti and many first person remembrances from those who raced against him and admired him, along with many previously unpublished photographs documenting his career at the track. Newman's personal car collection including Porsches and Ferraris is also featured.

Tags: celebrity, Daytona, Ferrari, Le Mans, LeMans, Mario Andretti, MarioAndretti, Paul Newman, PaulNewman, Porsche, racing, Rolex, Rolex Daytona, RolexDaytona

The Classicist: The Ultimate Steve McQueen Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Men's Style, The Classicist

There are only six Steve McQueen lots in Antiquorum's Important Collectors' Wristwatches auction in New York on June 11, but they include the famed King of Cool's two favorite timepieces and as such the sale represents an extremely important occasion for any enthusiast. As we've noted in the past, McQueen's rugged sportiness, authentic masculinity and innate good taste have inspired countless fashion designers, not to mention scores of other actors who followed in his wake. His watches are style icons in and of themselves.

Foremost is his Heuer "Monaco" chronograph, which he wore during the filming of the classic 1971 racing movie Le Mans (above). The Monaco was originally launched by Heuer in 1969 in honor of the Monaco Grand Prix. It's an unusual, square convex, water-resistant, stainless steel self-winding wristwatch with chronograph and date; Tag Heuer recently released a new version in tribute to the great actor. Following the filming of Le Mans, McQueen presented the watch to his financial advisor in appreciation.

Antiquorum has set a ridiculously low estimate of $10,000 - $20,000 on the timepiece, no doubt to encourage more people to bid. As we mentioned just the other day, however, McQueen memorabilia has been fetching high prices at auction. One collector just paid $42,700 - more than four times its estimate - for an International Driver's License issued to the actor in 1964. The watch could easily fetch 10 times its estimate, if not more. Perhaps Brad Pitt, a huge McQueen fan who's said to be playing the actor in an upcoming biopic, will snap it up.

Gallery: Steve McQueen at Antiquorum

The Von Dutch 1929 Scott 596cc Super Squirrel

Tags: Antiquorum, Brad Pitt, BradPitt, Heuer, Le Mans, LeMans, motorcycle, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen, Tag Heuer, TagHeuer, Von Dutch, VonDutch

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Ultra-Rare 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 Le Mans Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

There's been a show-stopping addition to RM Auctions' annual Leggenda e Passione event at the Ferrari factory in Maranello on May 17. We've already enthused about the rare 1957 250 Testa Rossa and the passel of other multimillion-dollar Ferraris on offer; now RM informs us that an ultra-rare and enormously valuable 1967 podium-finish Ferrari 330 P4 Le Mans (above) has been entered in the sale, and is sure to shatter records. Regarded as one of the greatest sports-racing prototypes ever designed by Ferrari, the fiercely competitive 330 P4 is one of only three P4s ever built.

The example on offer has a distinguished racing pedigree including a win at the 1000-kilometre Trofeo Filippo Caracciolo in Monza and a third overall finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967. The car has been driven by such legendary names as Lorenzo Bandini and Willy Mairesse, while Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon famously took the car to second place in the British BOAC International 500, clinching the World Championship for Ferrari in the process. The May 17 event marks the first time the car has come to market in 38 years.

Tags: Ferrari, Italy, Jackie Stewart, JackieStewart, Le Mans, LeMans, racing, RM Auctions, RmAuctions

The Classicist: Hackett & Aston Martin Race to Le Mans

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

This is a big year for both famed British auto marque Aston Martin and one of our favorite brands, classic London-based men's clothing company Hackett, official partner of the GT1 works Aston Martin Racing team. In June Aston Martin aims to win this year's Le Mans race outright, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of racing legend Carroll Shelby's stunning overall victory at Le Mans in an Aston Martin DBR1, with its incredible new LMP1 racecars. Hackett provides official Aston Martin Racing Team clothing and sells a range of licensed apparel and accessories, including the super-stylish Hackett Aston Martin Racing Moto Plan biker style jacket (above) for £300.00, bearing the number 59 for Shelby's 1959 victory.

Hackett, founded in 1979, is a classic British clothing and accessories brand which "caters for the head to toe needs of men of all ages who wish to dress stylishly and to whom quality is more important than the vagaries of fashion." The brand takes its inspiration from the traditions of British dress without being old fashioned and as such its products are "evolutionary rather than revolutionary." As founder Jeremy Hackett says, "our clothes wear in not out". In addition to a total of 29 shops across the UK, Spain and France, Hackett is now represented in 15 European countries, Hong Kong and Dubai.

The Le Mans race "epitomizes the true values of racing; endurance mixed with the thrill of speed and a certain savoir faire," Hackett notes. The two Aston Martin Racing LMP1 cars vying for victory this year will sport the iconic Gulf colors of light blue and orange, colors with a fine tradition at Le Mans as well as being immortalized by Steve McQueen in the famous film Le Mans. In addition to Aston Martin, Hackett also sponsors the London Rowing Club and the British Army Polo Team.

Gallery: Hackett & Aston Martin Style

Jeremy Hackett is also known as "Mr. Classic," the title of his regular column for the London Independent on Sunday, which airs his witty, incisive views and observations on fashion and style. In 2007 he published a compilation of his columns accompanied by lavishly photographed style tableaux. Mr. Classic the book is a must-have for any man who takes sartorial matters seriously. As the publishers describe it, Hackett "takes us on a Grand Tour of an appealing world of Bentleys and polo, bicycles and picnics, bow ties and Sussex Spaniels, top hats and bespoke luggage." That's the world The Classicist wants to get lost in, no doubt.

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, British style, BritishStyle, Carroll Shelby, CarrollShelby, Hackett, Jeremy Hackett, JeremyHackett, Le Mans, LeMans, London, racecar, racing, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen, UK

Classic Ferraris & More in Amelia Island Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events

On Saturday, March 14, RM Auctions is staging its Automobiles of Amelia Island sale at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Florida, featuring several gorgeous vintage Ferraris, Bugattis and more. The auction coincides with the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and features some of the event's former prizewinners. The down economy is reflected in significantly lower estimates, a boon to collectors who still have some cash, as the rarity of the vehicles means they're more than likely to increase in value.

The top draw is a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, estimated at $2.4 million - $2.9 million, one of only 50 made. There's also a beautiful 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (above), estimated at only $700,000 - $900,000. Among the Bugattis on offer is a 1939 Type 57 C Faux Cabriolet 'Charmaine', est. at $550,000 - $750,000, and a 1936 Type 57 Stelvio, est. at $350,000 - $450,000. Also worth noting is the ex-Le Mans 1963 AC Cobra, est. at $1 million - $1.4 million. See the gallery for pix.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Amelia Island 2009

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider

Tags: AC Cobra, AcCobra, Bugatti, Classic cars, ClassicCars, Ferrari, Florida, Le Mans, LeMans, Ritz-Carlton, RM Auctions, RmAuctions

Patrick Dempsey To Race At Le Mans

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

No one seems to know whether or not Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey will be leaving his hit television show but one place he will appear this year is in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans race on June 13-14. The actor, beloved by many as "McDreamy" has had racing as a hobby for many years. During the period of time when his acting career was stalled, he attended the Skip Barber and Panoz racing schools. He is the co-owner of IndyCar Series team Vision Racing and has raced in a variety of events. In 2008 he participated in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car series driving a Mazda RX-8.

Dempsey will race with co-drivers Don Kitch Jr. and 2008 Gran Am Koni Challenge Champion Joe Foster under the team name Team Seattle in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Their Ferrari F430 GT race car will be prepared by Advanced Engineering. Team Seattle raises support for Seattle's Children's Hospital. The race is test of skill and endurance in which has bested many of the world's top drivers. An article on Wired questions where Dempsey falls on the spectrum of celebrity race drivers. Is he the accomplished Paul Newman type or a mere dilettante? A good showing at Le Mans could establish Dempsey as a serious racer.

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Tags: celebrity race car driver, CelebrityRaceCarDriver, lemans, patrick dempsey, PatrickDempsey, racing

Barnard, the South African Supercar

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

South Africa is shaping up to be the newest source of relatively affordable supercars, it seems. On the heels of the Perana Zagato Z-One we wrote about the other day comes the exotic looking Barnard (above). Priced at only about $110,000 with deliveries slated for later this year, the Barnard will be capable of 0-100km/h in under four seconds with a top speed in excess of 300km/h. It's designer Chris Barnard has a "deeply rooted passion for endurance racing and had always envisaged building a Le Mans style race car," MotorAuthority reports. Therefore it doesn't include such frills as power steering, vacuum-assisted or anti-lock brakes, traction control, or electric windows. Its chassis is made from high-tech steels and its body is almost entirely composite. Under the hood it will have a souped-up twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Porsche.

Gallery: A Supercar Named Barnard

Tags: Barnard, Le Mans, LeMans, Porsche, South Africa, SouthAfrica, Supercar

The Classicist: The World's Most Beautiful Ferraris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, The Classicist

Every year since 1985, German lensman Günther Raupp has photographed the world's most beautiful Ferraris for the exclusive, limited edition official Ferrari Calendar, of which only a few thousand copies are printed every year. He has now selected the best of the best for an incredible book marking the 25th anniversary: Ferarri: 25 Years of Calendar Images from teNeues. The cars in the book span the entire history of the world-famous Italian marque, from the 1950 166 MM Barchetta Touring victorious in the Mille Miglia, to the high-tech supercars of today, including the amazing 275 GTB Competizione (above), which came in 3rd at Le Mans in 1965 and is worth millions.

In his preface to the book, which he considers a sort of "family album," founder Enzo Ferrari's only living son Piero Ferrari writes that Raupp "seizes the spirit rather than simply the form of our vehicles." Enzo himself, to whom the book is dedicated, obviously agreed; the title page is a facsimile of a personal note of thanks he sent to Raupp when the first calendar was published. Raupp himself is an avid Ferrari collector; his favorite is a 1972 Dino 246 GTS, which he has owned for 28 years. He "lovingly handpicked" his greatest work over the decades for this volume showcasing scores of legendary vehicles.

Gallery: Ferrari: 25 Years

The book's cover, showing a 1958 250 Testa Rossa

Tags: Calendar, Enzo Ferrari, EnzoFerrari, Ferrari, Galleria Ferrari, GalleriaFerrari, Gnther Raupp, GntherRaupp, Italy, Le Mans, LeMans, Maranello, Piero Ferrari, PieroFerrari, teNeues

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New World Record Set with $5 Million Jaguar Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A legendary prototype sportscar that helped shaped the future of Jaguar was auctioned off at Bonhams & Butterfields' Quail Lodge Sale in California on Friday for just under $5 million, setting a new world record. Bids for the 1960 E2A (above), often called the "missing link" between the marque's classic D-Type and E-Type models, had been expected to reach up to $7 million in what has lately been a heated market for multimillion dollar automotive classics.

Raced by some of the world's top drivers at Le Mans and elsewhere, the beautiful car had an historic win in August of 1960 at Bridgehampton, NY, beating out a Maserati Birdcage. James Knight, International Head of Bonhams' motoring department, called the E2A "one of the most charismatic and significant prototypes ever produced anywhere." And $5 million - now the highest price ever paid for a Jaguar at auction - isn't too shabby.

Tags: Bonhams, California, Classic cars, ClassicCars, Jaguar, Le Mans, LeMans, Maserati

McQueen Porsche Up For Auction

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

This is one auction that we're all getting plenty of notice for: the porsche made famous by Steve McQueen in the 70s is going up on the auction block this August.

The 1970 Porsche 908/2 was raced several times by McQueen, including once when he was driving with a duct-taped cast on a broken foot and once when there were cameras attached to the vehicle to collect movie footage. The car has a 3.0 liter 350hp engine and is expected to sell for between $1.5 - $2 million at the auction in Carmel Valley, CA by Bonhams & Butterfields.

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Tags: auction, auctions, le mans, LeMans, mcqueen, porsche, steve mcqueen, SteveMcqueen, steven mcqueen, StevenMcqueen