In Style
- I recently read the article on the Anderloni family, Touring a Charmed Life, in your September 1995 issue. I was profoundly moved by this article. For myself, on the way to starting a career in the automotive industry, it proved to be very inspiring. Who knows? If I become the next Anderloni, I'm sure your work will have helped! Can't wait for the next issue.

Gabriel Paz-Arguedas
Van Nuys CA

Fly by Night
- Very, very big chutzpah and cojones on the airplane ad! Forza SCI!

Diego Rodriguez
Palo Alto CA

- Why, I'm just sure I don't know what you're talking about.... - Ed.

Blackhawk Dates
- Thanks for the color shots and releases on The Behring Auto Museum's two exhibitions, Ghia: A History of the Carrozzeria Ghia and Mercedes-Benz: 110 Years of Excellence.

I did want to point out that the dates listed weren't quite right, though - in fact, the Ghia exhibit opened last April and continues through the end of the year, while Mercedes-Benz opened in early October and will continue through March of 1996.

I look forward to seeing the SCI staffers there...soon!

Jon Hart, Marketing and
Communications
Behring Auto Museum
Danville, California

Brock Rates
- The article Up All Night by Peter Brock in the September 1995 issue is by far the best coverage I have read on the 1995 Le Mans race. The articles that appeared in other publications, such as AutoWeek and Racer, focused primarily on race results and the accomplishments of certain individuals or teams. Peter Brock's balance of history, team experience and the events of the race was simply superb. I look forward to more articles by him.

As a longtime reader of SCI, I have always been impressed by the caliber of the editors who have joined the magazine over the years. I commend you for selecting Peter as Competition Editor.

Brian McNey
Bel Air MD

- I enjoyed your article on the 1995 Le Mans race in the September issue, but believe your caption is in error. The BMW V12 produces enough horsepower already without the use of turbochargers.

Woody Hair
Arlington VA

- Right you are, or at least until some loony tuning firm gets their hands on one. (Now there's an unsavory thought.) - Ed.

Faust and Foremost
- No car mag has ever moved me to write, but prior to SCI no car mag ever focused so exclusively on the cars that interest me. I want to applaud SCI's uncompromising approach: Although I'm disappointed that it means you must go bimonthly, thank you for not selling your soul.

Eric Poulsen
Davis CA

- Last week I received my October/ November issue and the letter explaining SCI's switch to a bimonthly format. Realizing that I would now have no SCI to read for two months, I decided to savor the current issue. In no particular order - okay, the McLaren came first - and over the course of a week, I rediscovered the depth of your articles, noticed the lack of advertising for minivans and land barges, took the time to enjoy the photos and came to the logical conclusion that this was all worth waiting for.

And now, the traditional part of the reader letter - a couple of (I hope not unwanted) requests: It would be nice to have a Formula One equivalent to Emerson Fittipaldi's column (but please not by Michael "Deutsch-land über alles" Schumacher). Also, why not expand the Affordable Sports section with more technical details and a buying guide - these are the cars most of us can afford to own and tinker with. Please do not forget that your readers aren't allergic to grease.

Cédric d'Albis
Miami FL

- Actually, I'm inclined to expand the Affordable Sports section out to a 3- or 4-page profile per issue myself. Anybody else agree? Also, starting with the next issue, longtime F1 reporter and general all-around automotive globetrotter Eoin Young will be joining the SCI staff to file reports from the field. And you needn't have worried - we couldn't afford a column by Schumacher's dog. - Ed.

- I would vastly prefer to read quality articles than mindless advertising. Therefore I support your decision to use a bimonthly format with a focus on enthusiast automobiles. In addition, because you are much less dependent on manufacturers' approval (via advertising) for your continued existence, I place more trust in your judgment of the relative merits of the cars that you evaluate. For instance, SCI #111 provides a nice summary, under track test conditions, of numerous automobiles, and each of your reports is notable for its candor. All too often I find the other enthusiast publications are far less definitive in their assessment of good, mediocre and bad automobiles.

Michael J. Mooney
Cincinnati OH

On the Mondial
- I truly enjoyed your article on the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial series I, which brought back many fond memories. A few corrections are in order on the specifications sidebar, however.

Horsepower: While the Formula II engines may well have had 170-180 bhp, the Series I Mondials typically came off the factory dyno at just under 160. The later Series II generated about 170 bhp: That Steve Tillack was able to rejet the carbs on this one to be more tractable yet still deliver 158 bhp is a clear testament to his abilities.

Transmission: The transaxle in the Series I cars had a 4-speed non-synchro transmission. (The Dave Gooley photo of the shift tower bears this out.) The 5-speed transaxle showed up on the later 750 Monzas and the Series II Mondials.

Track: The rear track was actually wider than the front by 2.3 inches, not narrower.

For more trivia, I note that Steve said he replaced the 45DCOEs with 40s. The homologation papers for the Series I Mondial called for 42s, and the build sheet for the motor in 0434 says it had a 42 when it left the factory.

By the way, as you quoted of Ed Niles, you can't slip the clutch on these cars. Most starts, unless already rolling, are accompanied by some chirping wheelspin, and given the low-end power characteristics in combination with the sudden clutch, you can ignominiously chirp the tires and lurch to a stop with a stalled engine if you don't work the gas pedal just right. Spectators really get a kick out of this scene!

Having driven my own Series II 500 Mondial from San Francisco to New York in 1963, I can fully corroborate Ed's memories of these great, fun cars. Keep up the work on the oldies - those were really good days!

Robert Phillips
Arlington VA