Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Classic Bits

CELEBRATING ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE PETER HELCK

BACK IN R&T 1981, SAM POSEY CELEBRATED ARTIST PETER HELCK: “Peter Helck was born in 1893, just in time for the invention of the automobile The first car race, the … Continue reading →

September 18, 2026 · 2 Comments

F1 DRIVERS’ BRAINS—YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST (IN 2012 SORTA)

ERIC VANCE DESCRIBES “THE STRANGE BRAIN OF AN F1 DRIVER,” The New York Times, September 4, 2026: “They move too fast for the normal mind to keep up,” Vance reports, … Continue reading →

September 10, 2026 · 4 Comments

THRICE-WED GWENDA, THRICE-CITED PASHA, AND MARGARET THATCHER’S SECTION 28 PART 2

YESTERDAY, AN R&T TALE FROM 1961 GOT ME RESEARCHING GWENDA JANSON STEWART HAWKES NÉE GLUBB. We continue in Part 2 today with, among other adventures, Gwenda marrying Hawkes and, years … Continue reading →

August 17, 2026 · 1 Comment

A THRICE-WED GWENDA, A THRICE-CITED PASHA, AND MARGARET THATCHER’S LGBTQ ATTACK PART 1

GEEZ, IS EVERYTHING CONNECTED? Even a 1961 colloquium at Worcester Poly?  So there I was, recently leafing through the 1981 R&T bound volume and encountering “First Ladies: Trend Setters of … Continue reading →

August 16, 2026 · Leave a comment

CLASSICAL BRITS WITH REMOVABLE “HOODS” PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE BEGAN CHERRY-PICKING from Classic & Sports Car‘s “35 Brilliant British Classic Convertible Cars.” Today in Part 2, we continue—and even add a car inexplicably missing from the C&SC … Continue reading →

August 1, 2026 · 2 Comments

CLASSIC BRITS WITH REMOVABLE “HOODS” PART 1

THE TITLE “35 BRILLIANT BRITISH CLASSIC CONVERTIBLE CARS” in Classic & Sports Car online caught my eye, what with my having owned several of the breed. Here, in Parts 1 … Continue reading →

July 31, 2026 · 1 Comment

A STANDARD BY WHICH OTHERS ARE MEASURED—60 YEARS AGO

“IN THIS LATTER-DAY ERA OF SPORTS CARS, getting into an MG again never fails to remind us of the Good Old Days when the MG, the TC in those days, … Continue reading →

July 13, 2026 · 4 Comments

AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATORS FROM C&SC

THE BRIT CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR CONTINUES TO BE MY FAVORITE AUTO MAGAZINE. As an example, it recently discussed “25 Automotive Innovators” online.  Among the 25 listed chronologically were familiar … Continue reading →

June 6, 2026 · 4 Comments

FOR SALE—A FERRARI SIXTY YEARS AGO

IT’S FUN TO READ ABOUT CARS OFFERED FOR SALE IN R&T’S “MARKET PLACE.” But necessary, of course, to consult the CPI Inflation Calculator converting the values (and tempering our times … Continue reading →

June 3, 2026 · Leave a comment

GRESLEY A3 PACIFIC—HANDLES LIKE IT’S ON RAILS   

“IN AN AGE OF COMPACTS, ECONOMY CARS, MINI CARS AND OTHER TRIVIA,” R&T Contributing Editor Tony Hogg observed, “it is a great relief for us when occasionally we are able … Continue reading →

May 24, 2026 · 4 Comments