Walt Hansgen’s 1951 Jaguar XK120 Special, now raced by Bob Millstein. Unable to purchase a C-Type for the 1953 season, Hansgen decided to transfer his Jaguar XK120’s key components to a lightweight “special”. By replacing the XK120’s basically two-dimensional ladder frame with an elaborate three-dimensional structure of (mostly) round tubing, he hoped to meet or… Continue reading Walt Hansgen Jaguar XK120 Special
News and posts
More videos from Velocity
At the Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco CA on 5th October 2024, the Group 1 cars, Sports Racing Cars 1948-1955 (the Del Monte Trophy Race Group after which this web site is named) took to the track for their first of 2 races. At the rolling start, Marcus Bicknell’s camera car (yellow… Continue reading More videos from Velocity
In the fast lane
The atmosphere we create at the Rolex Monterey Historic Reunion or at the Velocity Invitational are inspiring places, even for someone not immersed in motor racing legend and diff oil. Rob Manson, I and several of you made my old friend Andrew de Lory – veteran and photographer from Fremont CA – feel welcome at… Continue reading In the fast lane
1951 Jaguar XK120 road test
We are pleased to be able to show you the original road test and review of the Jaguar XK120 in Road and Track of May 1951. Note the remark “The Jaguar XK120 is by far the fastest car tested by Road & Track”! The particular car (#670191) tested is of great importance to us all… Continue reading 1951 Jaguar XK120 road test
1949 Mercury Baldwin
The May 1950 edition of Road and Track magazine carries a two-page article on Rob Manson’s superb 1949 Baldwin Mercury Special – a car very familiar to other drivers and spectators in the Del Monte Trophy Group races at Monterey and Sonoma. We make the article available here in pdf in case you would like… Continue reading 1949 Mercury Baldwin
ALL-British show returning to Monterey
We are so pleased to get this email from Kristan that we take the liberty of relaying it in full here. I am sure he will get the support of our numerous British-faithful Del Monte boys and gals. From: Kristansnarf <kristansnarf@aol.com>Date: December 8, 2024 at 10:03:45 pm GMT-3 Hi Rob, and everyone,I am a HUGE fan… Continue reading ALL-British show returning to Monterey
Button podium
Thank you Gilbert Hakim for sending this smartphone video of part of the podium celebration of Jenson Button’s win in our Group 1 at the Velocity Invitational at Sonoma on October 6th, 2024. For the record, I am heard saying “He says he’ll take any win he can get.” Left to right Marcus Bicknell (3rd),… Continue reading Button podium
In the paddock
John Buddenbaum forwards to us a neat video of the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion of August 2024 with some good coverage of our paddock and some of us “hanging around” chatting and me “working” on the Manning… https://youtu.be/X61BbIuHFrs?si=xGo4Gfd5Fj_H6OHa
Our group
Our group photo from Sunday – The Del Monte Trophy Race Group feature race podium at the Velocity Invitational, Sonoma Raceway USA, October 6, 2024: John Buddenbaum (1949 Parkinson Jaguar, 2nd), Jenson Button (2009 F1 World Champion, 1952 Jaguar C-Type, winner, photo inset) and Marcus Bicknell (1952 Streets Manning, 3rd). www.dmtrg.com With many thanks to… Continue reading Our group
Race report, Sonoma 2024
Velocity Invitational at Sonoma, one of the two biggest historic race meets in the USA, north of San Francisco. Group 1’s Feature Race on Oct 6, 2024, for 1947-1955 sports racing cars was won by Jenson Button in his ex Fangio Jaguar C-Type Le Mans despite starting at the back; the organisers wanted him to… Continue reading Race report, Sonoma 2024