The "Golden Age of Auto Racing" began after World War II and lasted until the early Seventies. It's a period that is frequently romanticized.

But that thin veneer was shattered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the afternoon of June 11, 1955, when a catastrophic collision caused the deaths of Mercedes-Benz driver Pierre Levegh and at least 83 spectators. Here's the story of that terrible day and its aftermath.

This episode was originally released in 2022 and is now updated and remastered.

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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Combining his background in internet tech and vintage cars, Juan Diego Calle launched CLASSIC.COM to bring the collector car market together under one digital umbrella.

The website has seen tremendous user adoption and growth and it's become a prime destination for many people who want to buy or sell a special car.

Its useful data on market trends, pricing and past sales has become a valuable tool for anyone interested in the car hobby.

In this episode, Juan talks about CLASSIC as well as his other ventures like the FJ Company (bespoke Toyota Land Cruisers) and STRAAT (period correct and custom air-cooled Porsche 911s).

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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It's arguably the greatest event in motorsport- The 24 Hours of LeMans. A grueling trial of men and machines, and for many drivers, the race they most want to win.

Its roots are as deep as the history of the automobile. This is the story of how it all began.

DOLCE è VELOCE AT THE PETERSEN MUSEUM:

https://www.petersen.org/events/dolce-e-veloce-2025

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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After World War II, the American auto industry became obsessed with power and performance, and Chrysler Corporation's Hemi engines became legendary.

This is the story of the Hemi like you've never heard it before.

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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Veteran writer Tony Thacker has spent decades covering the world of hot rods and motorcycles for multiple magazines in the U.S. and UK, and is the author of over thirty books. His latest work is "Hot Rod Mavericks", which profiles the key builders, engineers and racers in the history of the hot rod movement.

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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Gasoline, Diesel and even jet fuel made out of thin air- it sounds like science fiction, but it's now a reality.

Rob McGinnis and his team at Prometheus Fuels in Santa Cruz, California have developed a way to extract the elemental building blocks from the atmosphere and turn it into synthetic hydrocarbons that can then be formulated into just about any fuel you want.

They say they'll beat the current price you see at the pump, and the process is carbon neutral, relying on what's already swirling around us. This could be the future of fuel!

Learn more:

https://prometheusfuels.com

Maurice Merrick on the Bring a Trailer Podcast:https://bringatrailer.com/2025/04/10/one-make-one-decade-with-maurice-merrick-of-horsepower-heritage/

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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One of the biggest trends in the upper echelon of car culture is the development of private racing circuits... where members can really take their machines into "the zone" and exploit the performance of today's most sophisticated supercars.

The Concours Club is one such facility, a state-of-the art "motorsport country club" with all the amenities- a highly versatile circuit, professional driving coaches, a fleet of BMW M2 Club Sports, and gourmet food and beverage service in an elegant trackside restaurant- all just minutes from the heart of Miami, Florida.

It's also a venue for many signature motorsport-themed events each year, including the Flat Six Fest featuring historic competition Porsches.

Aaron Weiss is president of The Concours Club, and he's built a remarkable career on the business side of the track. In this episode, you'll learn what it takes to manage this world-class motorsport playground.

Learn more:

https://theconcoursclub.com

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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Let's be honest: we all spend way too much time online looking at cars for sale, right? It's irresistible. It's almost as if we're building a "virtual" car collection.

And that's the whole idea behind this episode- pick some cars to suit a few different needs and see what it might cost to put them all in your garage.

But an unlimited budget would make this easy- so keep it reasonable. You don't have to be rich to have fun with cars.

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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
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