Solved - MJW #1000 - Moretti 750 1953 (wrecked at Torrey Pines)

[woodinsight]

I've been holding back posting any new puzzles due to the fact that the recent request for more new puzzles seems to have been a resounding success.
I was going to make my 1,000th puzzle a group puzzle but I ran out of time to complete it (it will come in the near future).
Anyway on with the next 1,000 - identify this sad photo of one of my favourite cars (strangely it doesn't seem to have been posted before) by telling me the make, model, year and who designed it.
An extra point if you can reveal where this car was wrecked and who was driving it at the time.

[Carnut]

1000 puzzles!  That's some going..  And all of them good ones!
Congratulations on reaching this milestone.

[woodinsight]

1000 puzzles!  That's some going..  And all of them good ones!
Congratulations on reaching this milestone.

Thanks Carnut.
Like you I'm still finding cars/buses/etc. that have not been posted before.....

[Otto Puzzell]

1,000  

[woodinsight]

1,000  

Thank you and the great thing is I'm still enjoying it immensely

[woodinsight]

Time for the Experts to have a go....

[hondast]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

[Iluvatar]

Ferrari 625 TF?

[RayTheRat]

Alfa Romeo?

[woodinsight]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

Yes it is!
LOCKED for you to complete the puzzle

[thorax]

CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR 1000 PUZZLES ! ! !

[woodinsight]

CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR 1000 PUZZLES ! ! !

Thank you - hopefully many more to come......

[hondast]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

1953 by Michelotti.

[Allemano]

What a milestone! 1.000 puzzles! Keep them coming woodinsight!

[woodinsight]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

1953 by Michelotti.

Yes that's correct!
One point for that.
Do you want me to keep it locked for you to guess the driver and track where it was crashed?

[woodinsight]

What a milestone! 1.000 puzzles! Keep them coming woodinsight!

Hahhaha - that's exactly what I'm doing at the moment, having a glass of vin rouge!
I'll certainly be keeping them coming with some interesting cars included.....

[hondast]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

1953 by Michelotti.

Yes that's correct!
One point for that.
Do you want me to keep it locked for you to guess the driver and track where it was crashed?

Thank you.
Not required. I'm looking for but can not find more data

[D-type]

Congratulations on your 1000!  (And many thanks for all of them)

[woodinsight]

Congratulations on your 1000!  (And many thanks for all of them)

Thanks Duncan.
I'll probably include more British racing cars in the future as I have a large library on the subject.

[woodinsight]

Moretti 750 Gran Sport?

1953 by Michelotti.

Yes that's correct!
One point for that.
Do you want me to keep it locked for you to guess the driver and track where it was crashed?

Thank you.
Not required. I'm looking for but can not find more data

Thanks Hondast for moving this one forward and gaining a point in the process.
OPEN again for the remaining point.

[woodinsight]

Can a Pro complete this one? Driver, event and year for the remaining point......

[Allemano]

Emulating the LeMans 24 hour race, the two six hour enduros held at Torrey Pines on Oct. 25, 1955 and Jan. 14, 1956 featured an "Index of Performance" award.  This used a handicap formula to theoretically equalize the performance differential between the larger and smaller engined cars.
 

"A sorry photo of the Moretti (750cc) owned and driven by John Biehl, a long time early San Diego SCCA driver. He went in too deep going into turn 9 and went off towards the electrical transformers that were protected by a high, and evidently very strong, fence. John was OK but the car was not. (...)"

[woodinsight]

Absolutely correct Allemano! Another point for you to end the day.
Another couple of photos of one of my favourite cars -

[Allemano]

Thank you!

Mr. Biehl must have been very lucky to get uninjured out of this wreck.