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Interview
Veloce March 22nd, 2006
Tony Adriaensens
Author of Alleggerita
and the Otto Vu Epic
Tony
Adriaensens today. |
After looking at what can only
be described as a magnificent opus on the OttoVu, we knew that Tony Adriaensens
must be an interesting guy. What on earth compelled him to write a two volume
epic, and what kind of life led to a work of this sort?
Tony, however, was hesitant to
talk about himself. We twisted his arm. After all, the authors have to sell
themselves as well as their work. We think Jackie Collins started that idea. Or
maybe Hemmingway.
Adriaensens was born in Antwerp
on April 17 , 1966. “My parents are from Antwerp as well and they had an
education in graphic arts.” Graphics, photography and layout, then came
naturally to Tony. Cars did too. “It was my father who gave me the bug for
motorsports and both my brother and me are now stuck with it - I guess for life.
Father was a strong supporter of Formula One and I remember that he never missed
an event.”
Racing takes its toll, however,
particularly during the 1970s. “My favorite driver was Ronnie Peterson and I
felt pretty bad when he fatally crashed his black & gold JPS Lotus.” But
the hobby stayed with him.
Tony's brother inherited the
mechanical genes and today restores his own cars, while Tony is into more
creative things probably due to his education. “Instead of working on the
machinery I bought books. From the beginning it was obvious that my main
interest went to Italian cars.”
Tony's the little guy here, with his brother at
left. Nothing like an Abarth Record Car to capture one's interest. |
His first real interest was the
Alfa Romeo GTA and the lack of good detailed info made him decide to do a book
on the car. “Having worked as an assistant graphic designer I learned how to
make a book and it was obvious from the start that I would do all myself.” As
soon as “Alleggerita” (1994) was published Tony started with the Fiat 8V
project which was almost automatically linked to SIATA.
Tony’s interest in the Otto Vu
took flight in the mid-eighties when an 8V Zagato caught his attention, along
with an Italian version of Automobile Quarterly which had the famous article on
SIATA by Griff Borgeson . “I was hooked on those gorgeous 208CS Coupes!”
Unfortunately, Tony’s father,
who had provided the inspiration, never had the chance to see the 8V-project as
a finished book, having died a sudden death at the age of 59. “That's why I
dedicated these eleven years of research to him.”
Another work of art in progress--Tony's Siata
Daina (note the spelling of Daina; it is correct!) |
Even though Tony has now
acquired a Siata Daina, he feels that it is more important for him to collect
old negatives and slides on motorsport. “During my research for Otto Vu, I was
offered the chance to buy a collection of glass plate negatives all on racing,
taken at Spa-Francorchamps from the late '20s and the Liege Rome Liege rallye.
With my photography background on hand and the knowledge of (sometimes) high
copyright fees I knew that this was a one-time chance and I bought it. (the Fiat
8V book-cover shot is one of that collection).
Since then Tony has
purchased other collections, mostly from California. “Three of these American
collections are the basis for my next book…a 700 page, massive work on the
early road races in California, to be published in original color.” The title
will be “Weekend Heroes“. Planned publication date is 2007.
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