Authentication services: history dossiers
As part of OldRacingCars.com's authentication services we can compile a dossier on any specific car covered by the site. The key ingredients of the dossier are a full race history, ownership history and a statement on the authenticity of the car. We have carefully selected experts in each field to author these dossiers, including one of the doyens of F1 journalism, Alan Henry.
When applying for papers allowing a car to race or applying for entries at high-profile events such The Historic Grand Prix of Monaco or Le Mans Classic, an objective, independently-produced history is of significant value.
Dossiers completed recently or in progress include examples of Ferrari 312B, Mirage M6, March 741, Porsche 908/3, Chevron B19, Brabham BT23C, Porsche 917, De Tomaso 505, Maserati 4CLT, Ralt RT1, Lola T280, Surtees TS9B, March 722, Shadow DN2, McLaren M19C, Brabham BT21, March 731, Frissbee GR2, Hesketh 308C, Ford GT40, Martini MK34, Shadow DN9B, Ralt RT4/80, Tyrrell 010 and Lotus 69.
Dossier contents
Sample dossier available on request.
A standard dossier is a 12-page A4 booklet containing the following sections:
- summary
- context: history of this constructor
- content: details of this model
- context: details of the category, formula or championship
- specific history of this car
- race history
- ownership history
- sources
- a statement on the car's authenticity
- specification (where available)
Two or more period photographs are typically included. Dossiers will naturally vary according to the information available and will be constructed from the information in OldRacingCars.com's files, in the author's own files, that provided by the owner and through up to two days of specific additional research.
The research library owned by OldRacingCars.com includes around 4200 magazines, all major annuals and yearbooks, virtually all the Formula 1 Register publications and innumerable books. Research is conducted in the National Motor Museum Library at Beaulieu and at the British Museum Newspaper Library at Colindale as required.
For minor formulae cars, the dossier may be reduced in size. Please note that we will not attempt dossiers where we do not believe there to be sufficient information to provide a satisfactory level of authentification.
Pricing
| Formula 1 (pre-66) | £850 |
| Formula 1 (1966-85) | £800 |
| Formula 2 (1960s) | £400 |
| Formula 2 (1970s, 1980s) | £350 |
| Formula 3 | £350 |
| Indy/USAC/CART (rear-engined) | £450 |
| Indy/USAC/AAA (front-engined) | POA |
| Tasman (1964-1969) | £600 |
| Intercontinental (1961-1963) | £600 |
| Can-Am (1977-1987)* | £500 |
| Formula 5000 | £600 |
| Formula B | £350 |
| Formula Atlantic/Pacific (1970s) | £350 |
| Formula Atlantic/Pacific (Ralt RT4s) | £250 |
| Formula Atlantic/Pacific (1980s) | £250 |
| Formula Super Vee | £175 |
| Formula C | £275 |
| Formula Renault | £200 |
| Sports racing | POA |
*This applies to cars built specifically for Can-Am such as the Lola T530, March 817 and Frissbee. Most Can-Am cars were originally built for F5000, F2, sports car racing, Atlantic or FSV and the appropriate pricing would apply.
Authors
A team of five authors write dossiers, each bringing their particular expertise and experience. Research on car ownership histories and race histories will be conducted by the principal contributors to OldRacingCars.com, Allen Brown and Chris Townsend. Allen will focus on F1, F5000, Tasman, Indy/USAC and Can-Am; Chris will lead on the 1600cc formulae: Atlantic, Pacific, FB and FSV; as well as F3 and FC. Both will work on F2.
Alan Henry started as a reporter for Autosport in 1968, moving to Motor Sport and Motoring News in the early 1970s where he reported on Formula 1 and Formula 2 as 'AH'. He has been Editor of Autocourse since 1988 and was The Guardian's GP Editor for over 20 years. Alan will focus on post-1970 single-seater histories, especially F1 and F2 where he can bring his personal observations and range of contacts to bear on the subject.
Starting in October 1978, Allen Brown has kept close track of every one of 3-litre Formula 1 cars built in the 1966-1985 period plus most Tasman cars and many of the cars built for the 1½-litre Formula 1 of the early 1960s. Allen's extensive unpublished files include continuous ownership histories for the majority of these cars. Since 1999, he has extended his research to cover F5000, Can-Am and Indy/USAC.
Chris Townsend joined OldRacingCars.com in 2002, initially contributing F5000 results and histories and later opening up a new front of research with the Formula Atlantic section in 2003. Chris's interests have expanded to cover Formula 3, Formula Super Vee and Formula C. Jointly with Allen, Chris is now developing the Formula 2 area of the site. Chris's ability to find race results in the most obscure overseas newspaper is remarkable, as is his ability to locate 1970s SCCA club racers.
Author and journalist David McKinney has joined the team to work on 1950s and 1960s cars. David has written books on Can-Am and on the Maserati 250F, was editor and publisher of New Zealand Motoring News in his native land before moving to England in 1985, since when he has written for a variety of magazines worldwide and was editor of the award-winning Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing.
Adam Ferrington has also joined the team covering post war cars. Adam's specialist expertise lies in the cars of the immediate post-war period, notably the Maseratis of that period. He is a principal contributor to OldRacingCars.com's developing history of Formula 1 from 1946 to 1953.
Contact Allen to discuss your requirements.