21 replies to this topic

[karlcars]

For a book I am working on for Haynes I would be grateful for any leads to information about the life and times of Alberto Ascari. Most needed are any direct quotes from the man himself in any language. I am also interested in exceptional photos but good research is my main request. This is a great Forum and I hope that someone out there can assist. Many thanks.

------------------
Karl Ludvigsen

[Felix Muelas]

Dear Mr Ludvigsen

As a long-time admirer of your impecable books, let me just thanks you, in the very first place, for that extraordinary contribution that you have made to our favourite subject. As we say in my language, Olé !
On the other hand, I am sure that all members of this forum would be delighted if there's any contribution that we could make assisting you in Ascari's theme. The list of sources you usually handle -and quote- for a book is so phenomenal that I think, in order to avoid unnecesary duplications, you could well expand a bit on your requirements, whilst at the same time it would be nice if you would like to share some words about the man with all of us. I am sure that specially our younger members, who might be more unaware if only due to their age, of Ascari's extraordinary character and abilities, would appreciate very much. We would too...

Well, I assume the basic question for us would be : is there anything that Mr Ludvigsen does not know already about Ascari ?

Best regards

Felix Muelas
The 8W Team

------------------

[Ray Bell]

...and he's GOT to be older than me, too!

[Dennis David]

I would start with:

Automobile Club Milano, 39-(0)02/774-5254; fax: 39-(0)02/760-2461

and La Gazzetta dello Sport http://www.gazzetta.it/

Ascari's family and that of his dear friend Villoresi as well as people who knew him still live in the area.

As far as photos, besides the obvious I would add Alan R.Smith Publisher Foulis/Haynes

Quotes I don't have from him, only those from fellow drivers regarding his good nature, superstitions and his driving style.

There are no "good" biographies of him in the English language that I am aware of though the Italian resources should be able to help you in that area.

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[John Nelson]

Karl, I'm e-mailing you a color (or colour, if you please) photo I've scanned from an out-of-print book that shows Ascari and several Ferrari mechanics laboring over a T500, year not given. I'll include more info for purposes of determining attribution in my mail. I hope it's a new find that you can use!

John Nelson

[karlcars]

Felix is right (and thanks for the compliments by the way) in that I do have access to a lot of the usual information about Alberto, but other tips -- such as Dennis's -- are really welcome. I am hoping that an Italian colleague will conduct some interviews there for me and we are tracking down a number of his friends, family and colleagues. Regrettably, Gianni Lancia (who divides his time between France and South America) doesn't want to talk about his company's racing days. Again, thanks to all who are responding.

------------------
Karl Ludvigsen

[Dennis David]

Karl, the other idea is the Ferrari Club Brescia. Though they were rivals to the club in Milano they must have some good information plus they can put you in contact with the family of the Conte Maggi.

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[Dennis David]

Karl, you mentioned book suggestions well I have one though I don't know how popular it would be but I would love to see one done on the European Hillclimb Championship especially the period when Auto Union and Mercedes Benz were racing. The circuits if you could call them would raise the hairs on the back of your neck or how about trying your hand at some fiction? That would be a great change of pace to beable to work back and forth that would really keep the juices running. Similiar to what Douglas Rutherford did would be great.

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[Dennis David]

There must be an easier way to wash a car!



------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[karlcars]

Thanks for the great picture post, Dennis, of the Ascari Lancia in the drink at Monaco. Any and all Ascari-related photos are greatly appreciated. Glad to say I am making good progress with my research.

------------------
Karl Ludvigsen

[Barry Lake]

Since Karl seems to have had some good response to his request for Alberto Ascari clues, perhaps I might try for some help also.
I am researching the life story of Tony Gaze, Australia's first entrant in world championship GPs. While he didn't have a lot of success on the world scene, his is a very interesting story.
His exploits as a Spitfire pilot with the RAF in WWII (he was at university in England when war broke out) are a greater part of his life story than his motor racing.
He did, though, own and race some very interesting cars, including owning the ex-Ascari Ferrari 500 now in the Donington Museum. He also had some success in non-championship events.
Tony had just one race at Brooklands before the war. It was on June 17, 1939, at the Junior Car Club's Annual Members' Day. The race was the "One Hour High Speed Trial, embracing artificial hazards" (the chicanes).
Fane's BMW made best performance in the event, but Hunter's Alfa-Romeo set the fastest speed.
I don't think Tony would be mentioned in any race reports, but I would like to see copies of them just the same. So far I have been unable to track them down. They should be in The Motor, The Autocar, and Motor Sport.
Can anyone help?

[Dennis David]

Karl,

You probably already have this information but I came upon this recently and though that I should pass it along just in case. We all know the rumors regarding Ascari’s death including that he may have suffered some post-accident black out or that a workman crossed the track but according to Mike Hawthorne who was as scheduled to drive another 750 Monza with Umberto Maglioli the following may have been the cause:

The crash seemed a complete mystery and all sorts of theories were advanced to account for it. Ascari had had a blackout, as a delayed-action effect of his Monte Carlo accident, or had he missed a gear, changing into third where he should have been getting fifth? I believe the explanation is quite different. The tyres we wanted to use for these cars were 6.50 x 16, but they were not available at the time in the particular make we were using, and so 7.00 x 16 covers had been fitted. I had driven the car with these tyres on it and found it very nasty indeed when it came to the Vialone Curve, where there were a lot of little ripples in the road surface. I came to the conclusion that the rims were too narrow for these tyres and had them taken off my car. Where Ascari crashed there were long, broad, black tyre marks, followed by marks of the wheel rims digging into the road, and it seemed to me that he probably changed into fifth speed just as he hit the ripples, the car started to slide, the tyres rolled under and the rims gouged into the road, causing it to somersault.


------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[Dennis David]

Karl I can hardly wait for your book to come out. What's the chance of being able to purchase an autographed copy? ;-)

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/



[This message has been edited by Dennis David (edited 02-29-2000).]

[karlcars]

That chance is excellent! 'Ascari' should be published in time for this Christmas -- if I get a move on! 'Gurney' will be out on May.

Thanks to all for some super submissions.

[Dennis David]

A book on Gurney also? Karl you're going to bankrupt me! ;-) Now if only someone would do an English biography of Varzi and the European Hillclimb Championships I'll be in heaven.

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

[karlcars]

Hmmmm...Varzi...good idea!

Just a note to Barry Lake, who posted a query on this thread about Tony Gaze -- which I think is a great idea, by the way. He didn't supply his e-mail so I can only try this way of suggesting that he start a new thread with this topic, because otherwise it won't be noticed.

As to bankrupting you, Dennis, out very soon will also be 'Classic Grand Prix Cars', about GP cars and racing from 1906 to 1960! Hope you will like it! And thanks for your great site, by the way.

[Barry Lake]

Karl

Thanks for the tip on finding Tony Gaze information. I have just done it.

I might add that I, too, would like to see you do a book on Varzi. I have "Una Curva Sieca" - but I can't read Italian and there aren't a lot of pictures...

Among my 5000-plus motoring books I have the following by Karl Ludvigsen. Can anyone (apart from Karl) beat this?

Corvette America's Star Spangled Sports Car
Group 7 The World's Most Powerful Race Cars
Gurney's Eagles
Gurney's Eagles (revised second edition)
Ilmor Racing Engines Prime Movers
Jackie Stewart
Juan Manuel Fangio Motor Racing's Grand Master
Opel Wheels to the World
Porsche Excellence was Expected
Quicksilver Century
The Inside Story of the Fastest Fords
The Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars
Stirling Moss Racing with the Maestro
Encyclopedia of the American Automobile (with Burgess-Wise)

Checking the second hand book catalogues I see there are some more KL books I should have, but this is a good start.

[karlcars]

That's a heck of a list! Thanks, Barry!

[Don Capps]

On the tires: they were not only the 'wrong' size, but Engleberts and generally not a very satisfactory race tire. After looking at all the pieces of the puzzle, I agree with DD and think - and have thought for some time - that the key to The Accident was tires.

------------------
Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,

Don Capps

Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…

[buddyt]

Sorry, but the only Karl Ludvigsen book I have is The new MG guide by John Christy and Karl Ludvigsen. It helps keep my B-GT running. I will do beter.

------------------
"Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"

[Art]

Karl.

On SpeedVision last week they showed a lot about Ascari. And they mentioned he was superstisious and the day he was killed was the first time he wore a helmet of a different color. It may have been black but Im not sure.

Art NX3L

[karlcars]

Just a note that my e-mail will now only be kel@ludvigsen.com. Thanks!

------------------
Karl Ludvigsen