TheGentlemanRacer.com

Irwindale Speedway appears to be closing

2012-02-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

By Keith Lair

Irwindale Speedway, considered by many to host the finest short track racing in the nation, appears to be history.

On Saturday, workers appeared to be closing down the facility, which has had the biggest NASCAR short track races on the West Coast for more than a decade.

Workers were dismantling the pit grandstand, which is adjacent to the first turn. They were also taking apart storage areas. The large billboard bordering the San Gabriel Valley River Freeway was not lit up for the first time in its history, barring power outages, and the track's website was taken off the Internet.

"They went out of business," said a prominent Irwindale racer who did not want to be identified.

Vice president and general manager Bob DeFazio and some staff members were in the locked administration building Saturday morning, a moving truck backed up to the office's side entrance and a moving box stacked outside. DeFazio, through track operations director Bob Klein, refused to comment. Klein would only say an announcement would be made Monday.

Efforts to reach DeFazio were unsuccessful.

The track's eighth-mile facility remained intact on Saturday, but according to a source, workers were given a final paycheck after last Thursday's regular street legal session. The elimination of the pit grandstand is significant because teams usually put their crews in those seats so that if there is a problem on the track, they could quickly get to

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their pit stall and fix the car and get it racing again.

L.A. Racing, a school not owned by Irwindale Speedway LLC, the consortium of owners led by Jim Williams, has 12 schools planned within the next month.

"They have not said a word," L.A. Racing's Ozzie Blackwell said. "We have no idea. We're assuming it's a go. We've been told it's a go."

The regular season, featuring the track's point-scoring divisions, has typically started the last weekend in March, although it has started as early as March 11.

DeFazio indicated two weeks ago that a schedule would be released shortly.

"A month before the season and no schedule, there is no way cars get ready at this point," three-time track champion Nick Joanides said. "It's devastating that such a nice facility over there won't be used. It amazes me."

If only the racing operation is closed, the track could still be used for filming commercials, movies and television shows, an endeavor that has been very successful.

But for as much success as the track has enjoyed in film and on the drag strip, its claim to fame has been its racing.

Opened in 1999 amid much fanfare, it featured a state-of-the-art track surface which cost several million dollars. Track CEO Williams, a former owner of Golden States Foods which supplies food to McDonald's and a pal and car builder for Roger Penske-driven IndyCars, said at the time that he wanted to rival the draw of the Dodgers.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip called the facility the finest short track in America.

But it all came unraveling last season. Car counts were down significantly, nearly every division having the fewest racers since the track opened. More important, attendance was down. There were roughly only 900 people in the stands for a May 14 Saturday race.

Attendance over the past two seasons has gradually dwindled. The track does not release attendance numbers, but an average of 1,800 people attended the 28 races last year.

Source: The Los Angeles Daily News

Ferrari 250 GTO: Britain's most expensive car

2012-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

The Ferrari 250 GTO is the world's most sought-after car with just 39 built between 1962 and 1964.

This 1963 model - number 5095 - is believed to have been sold by British businessman Jon Hunt, who bought it in 2008 for a then world record £15.7million.

Mr Hunt, who founded the Foxtons estate agency and sold it for £370m before the housing slump, has made a £4.5million profit in just three years.

It is the second most expensive car ever sold in the world after a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC which went for 'between £20 and £26million' in 2010.

The sale was agreed in secret over the past fortnight but rumours of the sale soon began circulating in the vintage car industry.

John Collins, chairman of classic Ferrari specialist Talacrest, confirmed the GTO's sale but refused to reveal if it was Mr Hunt's model.

But records show Mr Hunt as the current owner of 5095 - which is now thought to be on its way to Spain.

The multi-millionaire businessman declined to comment on the sale yesterday (Mon).

When it was launched in the 1960s by Enzo Ferrari, the 250 GTO came with a price tag of a mere £6,000.

The 250 GTO was fitted with a 3-litre V12 engine developing 300bhp - meaning a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 174mph.

Despite the economic downturn, the demand for a vintage Ferraris has gone through the roof, with collectors regarding them as bulletproof investments.

Ascot-based Talacrest, which has been selling bluechip Ferraris for more than 30 years, had record sales in 2011.

Mr Collins said: "Wealthy people are spending a lot of money on classic Ferraris and everyone wants a GTO at the moment.

"Classic Ferraris have seen more gains than others, they're like the Picassos of the car world.

"And the 250 GTO is the golden car of its generation, show me a man who wouldn't want one.

"They are bought by people who have a love of cars and see them as an investment.

"I have bought and sold seven over the years including this model and I wish I had kept one now, but hey ho."

British Ferrari fans Chris Evans and Nick Mason both own 250 GTOs, with Evans paying £12 million for his Series II model in 2010.

Pink Floyd drummer Mason, 68, bought his model in 1975.

The Ferrari 250 GTO sold privately for £20 million was built in September 1963 and enjoyed an illustrious racing career.

It made its motorsport debut in the 1963 Tour de France road race, finishing second while being driven by Carlo Maria Abate and Lucien Bianchi.

The sports car - number 5095 - went on to win three competitions in 1964 - the Rallye de Picardie, Rallye du Limousin and Les Andelys hillclimb.

It continued to race and appear at shows before it was bought by Lee Kun-hee, the chairman of Korean electronics giant Samsung, in 1996.

Mr Lee held on to the Ferrari until 2007 when he sold it to British property developer William Ainscough, with Mr Hunt paying £15.7million for it the following year.

Source: The Telegraph

A Look at Thefts of an American Automotive Icon

2012-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Ford Mustang Thefts
A Look at Thefts of an American Automotive Icon

DES PLAINES, Ill., Jan. 31, 2012 - For over 25 years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has published Hot Wheels, an annual report of America's 10 most stolen vehicles. While popular expectations have been that newer, more expensive vehicles would top the list, the data has repeatedly shown quite the opposite, with older, less flashy models topping the list.

As a take-off from our traditional Hot Wheels report, beginning with this release, the NICB will periodically issue a special report-Hot Wheels Classics-focusing on a specific class of vehicle or make and model. For the debut report, NICB selected the iconic Ford Mustang.

Since it was first introduced to the public at the 1964 New York World's Fair, nearly eight and a half million Mustangs have been sold, making it one of the most popular and enduring vehicles to ever grace a dealer's showroom.

Unfortunately, over the years many Mustang owners have had to deal with the theft of their pony cars. Aside from the hassle of losing their transportation and all that entails, a Mustang loss can be overwhelming given that many owners form an emotional bond with their machines. You would probably have to own one to understand that.

NICB reviewed Mustang theft data from 1964-2011 and identified 611,093 theft records. Although data for all years is available, confidence in pre-1981 records is low due to the inconsistency in reporting protocols and vehicle identification number (VIN) systems in use prior to 1981.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required VIN standardization beginning with the 1981 model year, that year is the oldest reliable data used in this report. Data prior to 1981 is provided for information only.

Overall, from 1981 through 2011, a total of 411,155 Mustangs were reported stolen. The most thefts occurred in 1981 (20,708) and the fewest in 2011 (4,347).

Thefts vs. Sales

During the 30-year period from 1981-2011, a total of 4,110,110 Mustangs were sold in the United States. However, over the Mustang's entire lifespan through the end of 2011, a total of 8,450,741 units have been sold in the United States. The single year with the most U.S. sales was 1966 with 549,436. Conversely, 2009 logged the fewest Mustang sales reaching only 66,623 units.*

The following graph shows the top 10 most stolen Mustang model years for the period 2001-2011. Overall, a total of 91,152 Mustangs were stolen during this time frame; the top 10 listed below accounts for 45,421 thefts or 50 percent of all thefts during that period.

2001–2011 National Mustang Thefts
Model Year Most Stolen Number of Thefts
2000 7,085
1995 6,790
1998 5,394
2001 5,103
2002 4,226
2003 3,966
1994 3,949
2004 3,234
1996 3,045
1989 2,629
Total 45,421

At NICB, we have been in the business of identifying and recovering stolen vehicles since 1912. Our expertise has been sought by law enforcement agencies all over the nation to assist with major auto theft investigations. Frequently, NICB recovers stolen vehicles that have long since been forgotten-except by their owners.

NICB Reunites Stolen Shelby GT-350 with its Owner

In 1982, a Mustang owned by a young Marine stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, was stolen. This was no ordinary Mustang; it was a 1965 Shelby GT-350. The Marine soon deployed and never saw that car again-until 2007 when an NICB agent contacted him with news that his Mustang was located in Maryland.

In the intervening years since it was stolen, the Mustang's true identity-its VIN-had been painstakingly altered and matched with a fraudulent title. It was then sold to an unsuspecting buyer who eventually put a new $12,000 Shelby engine in it.

See an NICB video on this Mustang investigation and images of the vehicle here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XRE3yw-PdM.

The duped owner was contacted in 2007 by the Maryland State Police and an NICB special agent asking to inspect his Shelby. As you can imagine, he was absolutely dazed when they informed him that his prized possession was, in fact, stolen property.

That young Marine from 1982-now a professional airline pilot-was overjoyed when he was notified that his dream car had been recovered and was in excellent condition. And, in a classy gesture of goodwill-he was not legally required to do so-the pilot gave the former owner a check for $12,000 for the engine.

Whether or not you own a Shelby Mustang, take steps to protect your vehicle from theft. Although vehicle thefts have been declining in recent years, if it happens to you it can be financially devastating and just an all-around hassle. NICB urges motorists to follow its "layered approach" to auto theft prevention. By employing these simple, low-cost suggestions people can make their vehicles less attractive to thieves.

NICB's four layers of protection are:

Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It's simple enough, but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.

Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.

Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can't be started, it can't be stolen. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.

Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting our Web site at www.nicb.org.

*All Mustang sales figures provided by Automotive News Data Center.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $319 billion in insurance premiums in 2010, or approximately 80 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 94 percent ($152 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

MINI takes First International Rally Win

2012-02-01T22:09:00.000-08:00

The MINI John Cooper Works rally car won its first FIA international event this weekend when Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari took victory at the Qatar International Rally, the first round of the 2012 Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).

Al Kuwari and his co-driving brother, Nasser Al-Kuwari, emerged victorious by a margin of 2m 24.9s and confirmed their first career MERC win and a debut success for the Prodrive-built and Tok Sport-run MINI John Cooper Works Super Production Car (SPC).

"It is a fantastic feeling to win this rally," said Al-Kuwari, who became the 32nd driver in history to win at least one round of the MERC. "I have achieved success in national rallies in Qatar, but this was the big one. This was the rally I wanted to win. It was a great battle with Nasser. The new car was fantastic. This is the biggest win of my career."

Prodrive chairman, David Richards, said: "It is particularly fitting that the MINI's first international win has come in Qatar, as this was also Prodrive's first ever rally back in 1984 in the inaugural year of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, when Saeed Al Hajri took victory in our Rothmans Porsche 911 SC RS. Saeed went on to win the Middle East Rally Championship that year; let's hope Abdulaziz can do the same."

The MINI SPC is the regional rally specification of the MINI World Rally Car. The cars are nearly identical except that the SPC runs with a smaller engine restrictor (30 mm versus 33 mm) and a smaller rear wing.

Source: Prodrive

Marking 20 Years Since The Launch Of The Jaguar XJ220

2012-02-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

The XJ220 remains the fastest Jaguar ever produced and when launched in 1992 and, at 213mph, had the highest maximum speed of any production car. Constructed using advanced aluminium honeycomb, the car was immensely strong and, despite its size, weighed just 1,470 kg.

Originally conceived as a concept car, the XJ220 debuted at the 1988 British Motor Show. Designed by Keith Helfet, the car was signed off for production in December 1989 with TWR selected as the partner for the project.

Powered by a 3.5-litre, twin turbo V6, the XJ220 channelled its drive through the 18-inch Speedline rear wheels shod in specially developed 345/35 Bridgestone Expedia tyres via a five-speed gearbox and an AP Racing twin-plate clutch. The XJ220 developed 550 PS and 475 lbs ft of torque to allow it to accelerate to 60mph in under four seconds. Braking was supplied by a set of AP Racing discs and four pot callipers.

Built by hand in an all-new factory in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, prototype 001 was completed in 1990 while car 002 achieved 186 mph at Bruntingthorpe in September of the same year. The first customer car was completed in June 1992 with a retail price of £470,000.

Production ceased in 1994, by which time 275 cars had been built.

The silver car in attendance at the recent Jaguar Experience Day held at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon is chassis 004, one of 10 pre-production vehicles. This example was used for extensive tyre and high speed testing at Fort Stockton, Texas, in 1991. Andy Wallace achieved a maximum speed of 213 mph in the car during the testing process.

Once these duties were completed the car was converted to race specification and was campaigned by Justin Law in the British GT Cup. On being retired from racing it was returned to its standard, road-going specification.

The yellow car is an XJ220 S - chassis '220-803'. This is the very first XJ220 S, built using spare parts from the Le Mans cars, including single-piece carbon fibre front and rear clamshells, revised springs and dampers and a claimed 700 PS. The luxurious interior of the road car was dropped in favour of Kevlar bucket seats and pared down, carbon trim.

The car was unveiled at the Autosport Show in 1993.

Source: Jaguar

VIDEO: The all new HB Coupe

2012-02-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

HB Coupe General Idea behind the project.

What about a HB Coupe?? We have been very busy drawing and thinking about this project. That's when it gets silent on our side... sorry for that.

However, just a few ideas for you to think over.
1. What about a sports coupe that is fuel efficient? Let's say .. 0-100 in under 6 seconds but 3.8 l /100??
2. What about modern comforts and modern proven technology??
3. What about classic lines??
4. What about it being a daily driver... let's say home-work-home stuck in traffic kind of thing??
5. What about it being comfortable when it needs to be and quick and nimble when you want it to be??
6. What about that it will never rust??

Well, we have been thinking about it a lot and we have come to the conclusion that as gentlemen drivers:
1. Yes, we want a sports coupe, for rain and sunny weather, with modern day comforts, with classic lines, which doesn't rust, which can carry our bags, which can handle mountain roads as well as traffic jams, which can be serviced at any garage, which will put a smile on our faces every day and not to forget that drives to the Swiss Alps from Amsterdam on 48 litres.
Mmhmmm, but we are not like everybody... because that car would surely exist already. So maybe some of us don't like classic lines too much and maybe some of us don't really care about tanking after 1200 km. Some of us want a race car for on the road - a road racer.

Well, we have been thinking about it a lot and we have come to the conclusion that as road racers.
1. Yes, we want a race car for on the road, for rain and sunny weather, with some modern day comforts, which doesn't rust, which can carry a bag, which can handle mountain roads as well as traffic jams, which can be serviced at any garage, which will put a smile on our faces every day and not to forget that drives to the Swiss Alps from Amsterdam in less than 7 hours... easily.
Mhmmhmmm, but some of us don't see the road as a circuit but a circuit as their road.... Yeah, think about that one.

Well, we have been thinking about it a lot and we have come to the conclusion that as pure racers.
1. Yes, we want a race car for on a circuit. That can be tuned to the bone. That's lightweight and safe and that goes like stink!
We could not really decide which of the 3 personalities we are?? So we decided to design all 3. Call them triplets if you wish, all we know is, it's taken time and effort to design. Now it's going to take a whole lot more time and serious funding to get these babies on the road. We can use all the help we can get.

HB Coupe

The Road is my Home
• I want a sports car that is fuel efficient
• I want space for my bags and golf kit
• It needs to be comfortable with climate control
• I don't need to hear the engine all the time
• I want heated seats and surround sound
• I sometimes get stuck in traffic
• I promise not to crash but if I do I want to walk away

Body
Full Carbon monocoque.

Engines
3L - 6cyl: 306 BHP/400 NM
2L 4cyl Diesel: 204 BHP/400 NM

Performance (diesel/petrol)
0-100 kph: 5.6/4.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 250 km

Weight
1121/1159 KG

Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive
Manual 6 speed gearbox.
The Diesel is also available with a 6 speed automatic. The HB Coupe is available with a seven speed double clutch transmission

Source: Huet Brothers

2012 MINI Roadster Pricing Starts at $24,350

2012-02-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

Pricing for the 2012 MINI Roadster has just been announced, with the standard roaster starting at $24.350 in the US. The Cooper S Roadster packs a little more punch and will set you back $27,350. If you are looking for the ultimate in Cooper Roadster fun, can get their hands on a John Cooper Works Roadster at $34,500 – all prices exclude a $700 destination and handling fee. The manual transmission as standard, but if you are looking for an automatic you can tack on another $1,250.

The MINI Roadster features a soft-top roof which can be opened and closed quickly and easily. The standard MINI Cooper Roadster comes with 121-hp and 114 lb-ft of torque with a 1.6L four-cylinder gasoline engine; while the MINI Cooper S Roadster packs 181-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque thanks to the addition of a twin-scroll turbocharger. Lastly, the John Cooper Works Roadster has an impressive 208-hp and 192 lb-ft of torque through a 1.6L four-cylinder turbocharged engine. 0-60 mph in the John Cooper Works Roadster is a respectable 6.3-seconds with a top speed of 147-mph.

Both the Cooper and Cooper S Roadsters come with 16-inch wheels standard, while the John Cooper Works variant will sport 17-inch rollers.

Source: MINI

Grand National Roadster Show 2012

2012-01-28T18:10:00.000-08:00

Carguy Fashion

2012-01-27T20:22:00.001-08:00

ACE Hotel Opening in L.A. Fashion Distric

2012-01-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Fashion District is getting a new hotel—one with a perfect blend of hipster credibility and old Hollywood provenance.

Ace Hotel, the indie boutique chain based in Portland, Ore., will open in the historic United Artist Theater on Broadway near 9^th Street.

The 12-story office building and 1,600-square-foot theater opened in 1927 on a site chosen by Mary Pickford, according to the Los Angeles Historic Theater Foundation. At the time, Pickford was the biggest Hollywood star in the world and one of the founders of United Artists, the first independent film studio, founded in 1919. Pickford’s partners in the endeavor were her husband (and arguable the second-biggest Hollywood star in the world) Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and director D.W. Griffith.

Ace, which operates hotels in Portland, Seattle, New York and Palm Springs, will open the L.A. hotel in summer 2013. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 180-room hotel site will feature a pool, restaurant, bar and 1,600-seat theater.

Connecticut hotel investor Greenfield Partners bought the property last Fall for $11 million from Wescott Christian Center Inc., which had been operating a church at the site for many years.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar told the L.A. Times: “This is really a shot in the arm for the Bringing Back Broadway initiative. We’ve been talking about getting a boutique hotel here and now we have one with a brand name.”

The Bringing Back Broadway initiative is an ambitious plan to revitalize L.A.’s historic theater district—including reopening the vacant theaters on Broadway and bringing more retail, parking and transit options to the area.

Today I took a stroll over to the building (you can look in the windows from the California Market Center—that’s how close it is). Here are my shots of the building.

There are great photos of the interior of the theater at Blogdowntown and the L.A. Historic Theater Foundation’s site.

No word on what will happen to the Jesus Saves sign parked on the top of the building.

Source: California Apparel News

Carroll Shelby Licensing Announces Settlement with SSC North America

2012-01-26T17:44:00.000-08:00

GARDENA, Calif., Jan 26, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. has issued a statement concerning the settlement agreement reached with the company formerly named Shelby Supercars LLC, and its owner, Jerod Shelby, requiring that no commercial use be made of the "Shelby(R)" trademark owned by Carroll Shelby. As part of the agreement, Jerod Shelby's company has also issued its own statement announcing "a new corporate identity strategy which more clearly identifies itself" by changing its name to "SSC North America."

This release issued by Carroll Shelby International Inc. implements the settlement agreement's requirement that both parties issue press releases "disclaiming and denying any association between Carroll Shelby and entities related to him, on the one hand, and SSC [North America], Jerod Shelby and entities related to them, on the other."

About Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc.

Automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby is one of the most famous and successful high performance visionaries in the world. In 1998, he founded Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., which is the exclusive holder of trademarks and vehicle design rights for some of the most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles ever built. CSL holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. For information about the company or licensing opportunities, call (310) 914-1843 or visit www.shelbylicensing.com .

SOURCE: Carroll Shelby Licensing: Via BusinessWire

Auction News: Ayrton Senna’s Helmet and Race Suit

2012-01-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

Silverstone Auctions’ upcoming Race Retro sale will present collectors with an incredibly rare opportunity to own a pair of artifacts from the Formula One legend Ayrton Senna.

Adorned with Senna’s iconic yellow, green, blue and white livery and appropriate sponsorship, the helmet was used by Senna during the1991 season with McLaren. Seriously desirable and seriously rare, it features an appropriately serious price tag. It is expected to fetch betwen £42,000 and £50,000 (Around $66,000 -$78,000).

Also up for auction at the Race Retro sale will be one of Senna’s race suits from the same period. It features Senna’s full set of sponsors for the season and is personalized with the Brazilian flag and ‘Ayrton Senna’ across the belt. The suit is expected to fetch £22,000 – £30,000 ($35,000 - $47,000).

The Race Retro Classic Car Sale will be held by Silverstone Auctions on the 25th of February, 2012, at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. The lots will be available for viewing on the 24th.

Source: Silverstone Auctions

Ferraris Lead RM Auctions Arizona Sales

2012-01-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX, Arizona (January 22, 2012) – RM Auctions kicked off its 2012 calendar on a positive note in Arizona last week, posting over $25.5 million* in sales with a strong 89 percent sell-through at its annual Arizona Biltmore sale in Phoenix.

Now in its 13^th year, the well-established auction presented a magnificent roster of 140 blue-chip motor cars – spanning the spectrum of the collector car market – before a standing-room only crowd. Illustrating RM’s global clientele, bidders represented 21 countries around the world, with a strong showing of European enthusiasts.

“Our Arizona sale proved to be a great kick start to what is shaping up as another terrific auction year. We are very pleased with the results of the sale and were delighted to welcome the world’s premiere collectors back to the Arizona Biltmore,” said Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions.

“The results speak for themselves, once again proving that great automobiles, rare, correct examples with documented provenance, consistently attract great prices at auction as collectors continue to seek out the best examples for their collections. We look forward to continuing the momentum at our upcoming Milhous Collection and Amelia Island sales.”

Headlining the top-sellers list at RM’s two-day Arizona auction was a superb roster of Ferraris, led by the unique ex-Dottore Wax / Greg Garrison 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe, s/n 0671 SA, the only example of the 34 410 Superamericas to have been bodied new by Scaglietti. The first new Ferrari road car to be bodied by the esteemed Modenese coachbuilder, 0671 SA claimed top honors of the weekend, selling for a strong $1,815,000 to great applause from the crowd.

Cementing RM’s position as a leader in the presentation of important and historic Ferraris at auction, the sale presented no less than 10 examples from the Modenese prancing horse. A 1991 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta with less than 300 miles and originally delivered new to famed auto executive Lee Iacocca, spurred a lively bidding war in the room, achieving a record price of $781,000, while a desirable 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, s/n 16705, offered for the first time in 23 years brought $990,000, and a multi-award winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta, s/n 4459 GT, realized $979,000.

Additional sale highlights included a beautifully restored 1959 BMW 507 Roadster for $990,000 and a low mileage 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster for $880,000. An outstanding, concours-quality 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster also garnered strong attention, selling for an exceptional $335,500.

RM’s top six Arizona sales:

1. 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe - $1,815,000

2. 1959 BMW 507 Roadster - $990,000

3. 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder - $990,000

4. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta - $979,000

5. 1930 Duesenberg Model J LWB LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton - $880,000

6. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra - $880,000

Next month, RM in association with Sotheby’s will lift the gavel on one of the world’s finest private museums, the Milhous Collection, during a multi-day sale, February 24– 25 in Boca Raton, Florida. Carefully amassed over the past 50 years by brothers Bob & Paul Milhous, the two-day sale will present an unparalleled selection of automobiles, rare mechanical musical instruments and desirable collectibles. For further information including select video and audio highlights visit www.rmauctions.com/milhous.

The Milhous Collection sale will be closely followed by the company’s highly anticipated Amelia Island sale, March 10, featuring an exceptional roster of approximately 100 handpicked automobiles, each representing the finest of their type.

Full results from the Arizona sale will be posted online at www.rmauctions.com.

.*All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and include 10 percent buyer’s premium.

** Photo caption: Top-seller: The 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe glitters under auction lights at RM’s Arizona Biltmore sale, fetching an impressive $1,815,000. (credit: Darin Schnabel © 2012 courtesy RM Auctions).

Route 66

2012-01-07T01:26:00.000-08:00

Words and Pictures by Michael Satterfield

Route 66 for many is one of those things in life that develops it's own persona thru folklore. It has been immortalized by Bobby Triupe, Will Rodgers, Charles Kuralt, and John Steinbeck. For some it represents the best of our society and for others it is a painful reminder of a lost past and sense of community. My recent trip started with a phone call from my little sister who was planing on moving back to California with her husband and their new baby, she asked if I could help drive one of their cars back home to Southern, California. I was excited at the chance to stop off and photograph some of the places that I missed before, and experience the mother road once more.

I arrived in Chicago, the weather was warm for December and the plan was leave out the next day. We would be driving a new Kia Soul, a fun little car with just hardly 1,800 miles on it. We would be adding over 2,400 more in this one trip. We headed south west through Illinois towards the Missouri state line, I had hoped to stop off in Joliet, IL to see the Ralito Square Theater, opened in 1926 the theater was modeled after the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, however, it was closed at the time. The theater is a reminder of a forgotten era when going to the theater meant putting on more than a clean pair of jeans.

We pushed in our south/ south west push towards St. Louis, night fall was coming and the Gateway Arch was illuminated, so it could be seen from a long ways off, the Chain of Rocks Bridge (Pictured Above)was once the main crossing of the Mississippi River, and now serves as a pedestrian bridge. Once in Missouri we got to visiting interesting cities named mostly for places we have been at war with, Cuba, Lebanon, Marlborough. The Wagon Wheel Motel has been serving traveler a warm bed since 1935, and it looks today much like it did back then.

A short foray into Kansas leads you to the town of Baxter Springs, a cow town that was a major stop for cattlemen driving their herds north, and famous for being a hide out for outlaws like Jesse James and Bonnie and Clyde. Route 66 like many of these towns, is also Main Street. Stop off at the route 66 Soda Fountain for a drink before you get to Oklahoma.
Oklahoma, if it is anything, is flat. The just before you get to Art Deco grandeur that is Tulsa, the small town of Catoosa, boasts one of those classic roadside oddities of the past. Hugh Davis built a massive blue Whale at the family roadside attraction/swimming hole/zoo as a anniversary gift to his wife in the early 70's it took a lot of welding and concrete to make the whale (below) a reality. Moving along into Tulsa, Art Deco and Big Oil combined to create some of the most amazing architecture in Middle-America. Buildings like the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Union Station, Westhope by Frank Lloyd Wright can all be found in Tulsa. We pulled of in the town of Sapulpa hoping to find a little diner or local restaurant, but sadly like many of the towns largely bypassed by the highway the majority of the city was empty, amazing buildings boarded up, even the Waffle House was closed and fenced off. Once you get past the mess of traffic and congestion that is Oklahoma City, most of the cites along the route are sadly much like Sapulpa. The last town before we enter the great state of Texas is Texola, the city is a near ghost town with less than 40 residents.

Texas is a special place, since my family has hailed from Texas since before statehood, and we still have lots of family in the state. But more important than that is Shamrock, Texas a town that is famous for just one thing really. Having one of the coolest gas stations ever built. The Conoco Tower Gas Station (Pictured Above) was built in 1936 and has been preserved much as it was, with the exception of now serving as the towns chamber of commerce. It was also the inspiration for Ramone's House of Body Art in the Disney film Cars.

The trip thru the Texas panhandle is a short one with areas so wide open you can see the curvature of the earth. The largest city in the area is Amarillo, a town built on beef and cotton. If it is beef you want stop in at "The Big Texan Steak Ranch" (Pictured Below)home of the 72oz steak challenge, if you can eat the four and a half pounds of meat, a small salad, bread, and baked potato, you can join the ranks of the few who have had the tenacity and the waistline to be a champion.
Before you know it you are passing into New Mexico, they call it "the land of enchantment" but you won't find much in this stretch, we did discover a town that had a Chinese Restaurant and Massage Parlor (not next to each other, the same business)but don't plan on stopping until you get to Albuquerque if you plan on eating again.

After Albuquerque the enchantment still escapes you until you get to the town of Gallup, the must see of Gallup is the historic El Rancho Hotel. Opened in 1937 and during the heyday of the Hollywood Western the El Rancho was favored by stars like John Wayne, Ronald Regan, and Marilyn Maxwell. The hotel was a hub of activity serving and home base for many film productions. This is another one of those classic hotels that is still open, and still much like it was back when the Duke was a resident.

Arizona is peppered with great little towns and the topography makes it a much more pleasant drive than you will find in much of New Mexico.Towns like Holbrook have the charm you would expect to find along Route 66 with a Wigwam Teepee Motel that is one of just three still operational. But if you are looking for accommodations in Arizona, the historic La Posada Hotel in Windslow is the place to stay. Built in 1929 the hotel was originally a Harvey House, the famed restauranteur and hotel builder spent the equivalent of $40 million dollars building and furnishing La Posada.

The next fun stop on the trip is Oatman Arizona, a small town with a lot of donkeys. Not far from the boarder of California is a town with pretty much one paved road, the main street, Route 66 can sometimes be hard to drive down, since the donkeys have the right-of-way. But it is a fun little town that plays off the old west theme with a Saloon, Gun Fight show, and lots of little shops to browse.
Once you get into California the desert starts to flatten back out and the temperature starts to rise most of this route is abandoned and many sections dead end and force you back on to the main highway. The town of Amboy is a interesting place, bought up by an eccentric business man the town is frozen in time, not being restored or torn down. The famous Roy's Motel (below) sign looks welcoming from a distance, but all that is left is empty rooms and broken windows. A small gas station is all that is open, the abandoned and closed school looks like a scary movie set. Not far down the road is the Amboy crater a volcano spout that is more of a small mound than a massive volcano. If you need to stop and stretch your legs it is a nice little spot, since the government just spent a ton of money building a visitors center and restrooms. This was a popular stop for travelers in the past who would recount their tales of climbing a real volcano on their way to California.

The route gets a little choppy from here on out, it dead ends in Ludlow and you have to get on the highway for a bit, and then a military base cuts it in half forcing you back to modern roads. But the strip between Barstow and Victorville is a nice drive through mostly farm land and small towns, making you almost forget you are in the desert. In Barsotow is another Harvey house, this one still owned by the railway and serving as a station for Amtrak and Greyhound. It is done in a Spanish Moore style and is a great but of history.

As we make our way down from the high desert once again the road is cut up and we have to take Interstate 15 for a short while. Getting back to the old road in Cajon this stretch has a number of the original bridges built during the Work Progress Administration days, not much else is down in this section, a few old motor campsites that have old signs (below)and a rest area that over looks a the river and train tracks.
Pushing down into San Bernardino the city that once was so grand is in a sad state, its former greatness crumbling all around you. This is a put the top up kind of town if you are in a convertible, but thankfully road turns west again and towards safer and more interesting areas. In the town of Rialto is the second Wigwam Motel that is still open on Route 66, it is a well maintained motel, but the area is not known as being one of the better ones to stay in. I recommend stopping, perhaps buying a tee shirt from the gift shop to to move on west.

You will see Bono's Historic Orange stand on the left as you come into the city of Fontana, this section of Route 66 is now completely developed so one city simply blends into the next until you reach Santa Monica. The Orange and the cafe both look as if they could be ready to open, but are permanently closed. The next town you will reach is perhaps one of the best at exploiting its Route 66 History, it also happens to be the city I live in. Rancho Cucamonga, the city recently renovated Foothill Blvd. with large Route 66 signs, memorials, and keeping with the heritage of the route the buildings are all done in a retro style. If you are looking for a good place to stay before pushing on to the end Rancho is a great choice with tons of restaurants and hotels right on 66.Upland is the next city that you will reach, if you have time take a quick detour down to Old Town Upland, just off of Route 66, the town has a fine example of a early Carnegie Library as well as a quaint small town feel. It is also the last city in San Bernardino County along the route, if you are hungry you can stop off at the Buffalo Inn for a famous Buffalo Burger.

Once you enter L.A. County you are in the city of Claremont, famous for their colleges and their classic craftsmen and Spanish homes from the 20's and 30's it is a ideal town with tree lined streets and real sense of community. The cities all tend to blend together, with the exception of a sign letting you know that you have just crossed into a new town. The city of Pomona is noticeably different than Claremont, with its run down buildings and boarded up shops. The city is the home of the Fairplex, if you are a car buff check the calender to see if the world famous Pomona Auto Swap Meet is being held, it is a one stop place to shop if you are a gear head.

La Vern, San Dimas, Glendora, Azusa, Irwindale, and Duarte all kind of blend together, it is not until you get to Monrovia that you find another unique bit of Route 66 history, the Aztec Hotel (below). Built in 1925 it was built in the Mayan Revival style by famed architect Robert Stacy-Judd. It has been a regular in Hollywood films, and is said to be haunted. The hotel is a pretty good value with rooms starting as low as $45 a night, not bad since you could stay in the same room that once hosed Bing Crosby or Mickey Rooney.
The next big highlight of the route is the Colorado Street Bridge that connects Pasadena to Glendale, this amazing concrete bridge was built in 1913. The bridge has a colorful and tragic history starting with the construction, a worker slipped and fell head first into the freshly poured concrete sinking in the mix like quicksand. It was determined that he could not be saved in time and his body was left in the quick drying cement. Since the opening of the bridge more than 100 people have jumped to their death. The bridge was restored in the early 1990's with the addition of a suicide prevention rail.

In no time you will find yourself in Los Angeles, headed down some of the most famous streets in the world. Colorado takes you to Figueroa past Dodge Stadium towards downtown L.A. and the historic center of the city. Then a turn on to Sunset Blvd before heading on to Santa Monica Blvd, thru Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and finally the end of the road at the Santa Monica pier (below).

2011 in Pictures

2011-12-31T09:44:00.001-08:00

Some of our favorite photos from 2011! Enjoy

Ferrari adds Tailor Made option to luxury line

2011-12-12T08:28:00.001-08:00

Ferrari has announced the launch of the 'Tailor-Made' programme, designed to offer buyers the same level of choice they would have enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s from its Maranello home.

Designed to offer those with the funds a near-unlimited combination of materials, colours and accessories, the programme is based around three 'design collections' from Ferrari's long history: Classica, Inedita and Scuderia.

Classica, as the name suggests, draws its inspiration from the style of the company's past GT cars, with vintage leather, cashmere, velvet, chrome, wool and hand-detailed stitching making an appearance internally along with pastel colours.

Inedtia - Italian for 'unprecedented' - is significantly bolder, using suit fabric, modern leather, denim and futuristic-looking technical finishes along with carbon-fibre where appropriate.

Finally, Scuderia draws its inspiration from the company's racing heritage, adding technical fabrigs, carbon fibre, Alcantara leather, chamois, Kevlar, rubberised leather and other hard-wearing materials to the list of options.

All this customisation doesn't come cheap, however: customers wishing to take advantage of the Tailor-Made programme will be personally invited to the company's facility in Maranello to customise their car in a specialist studio, complete with material scanner and 3D rendering system for a preview before signing off on the final design.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

Goodwood Revival 2012 to Mark 50th Anniversary of AC Cobra

2011-12-12T08:15:00.001-08:00

The finest collection of significant and authentic racing AC Cobras ever assembled in the UK will gather at next year’s Goodwood Revival (14-16 September 2012) for an one-model race.

To mark the 50th anniversary since Carroll Shelby’s introduction of the initial versions of this cult Anglo-American sports car, the 2012 Revival will feature a grid exclusively made up of thirty Cobras and their derivatives. This all-Cobra race will be a 45-minute two-driver competition, with driver changes in the pits between 15 and 30 minutes.

Sponsor

Get Official Shelby Apparel CLICK HERE

It is expected that this one-off race will feature a mix of competition Cobras, including some of the special-bodied aerodynamic Cobra-based coupés. Goodwood also hopes that Carroll Shelby will be able to attend the 2012 Revival in person as well, although this is yet to be confirmed.

An interesting line-up of drivers is expected to campaign the Cobras. More detailed information about this exclusive race will follow early next year.

This Week in Picures

2011-11-27T23:05:00.000-08:00

Here is what we did this holiday week, how about you?

Sergio Scaglietti (1920-2011)

2011-11-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

Sergio Scaglietti the man who designed and created the sleek bodies of the 250 Testa Rossa, 500 Mondial and many other famous Ferraris, has died aged 91 in Modena – Ferrari have led the tributes to the creator of some of the most spectacular cars ever built. Unsurprising, as the designer-engineer enjoyed perhaps the closest working relationship with the Scuderia.

Scaglietti opened Carrozzeria Scaglietti in 1951 - just across the road from Ferrari in Maranello, Italy, and his designs soon attracted the interest of Enzo Ferrari. As a result, he was entrusted with the design of a string of Ferrari road- and race-cars during the 1950s.

Ferrari and Scaglietti became firm friends and worked together for years. Scaglietti's shop also built Ferrari bodies that other designers created – the Ferrari 250 GTO and Ferrari 250 California were built in the Scaglietti shop to a Pinin Farina design. Ferrari now owns the former Scaglietti shop, where the Ferrari F458 Italia and 612 are built. The Ferrari 612 car carries Scaglietti's name.

The friendship between Enzo and Sergio was legendary – 'He was one of my father's best friends,' said Piero Ferrari. 'He was next to me with Marco Piccinini also the day my father died and stayed with me the whole night until the funeral. I loved him and he was a very important part of my life. The world is emptier without Sergio'.

'Today is a sad day for Ferrari. We lost a friend, a travel companion, a man who had his name forever connected to the Prancing Horse. Sergio Scaglietti leaves behind the legacy of an artist who with his talent created some of the most beautiful cars of our history. Who had the luck to know him like I did will also remember him as a straightforward and honest man, completely dedicated to his work. We will miss him,' said Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo.

Read the full obituary in the February 2012 issue of Octane.

(Source: Octane)

VIDEO: Mosler RaptorGTR "Music" Video

2011-11-16T17:20:00.000-08:00

So the Mosler RaptorGTR is basically a LeMans GT car for the street, but for some reason they have teamed up with "artist" Abby Cubey to produce one strange video. First it starts off with some nice shots of the car, the pulsing sound of a super-car exhaust, but then it all goes wrong. Abby who looks like Snooki from Jersey Shore after a diet, opens her mouth, while some Hipster starts to brakedance (poorly) and play with his synthesizer, the best part of the video might just be the bizarre green screen shots.

The really odd part about this, Mosler supported and is promoting this video....

I guess we hurt their feelings so they blocked the video. Here is a shorter version someone else posted.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers 650 HP and 200 MPH straight from the factory

2011-11-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Debuts as Most Powerful Production V8 in the World with 650 Horsepower, Top Speed of 200+ MPH

• New Ford Shelby GT500 is powered by an aluminum 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful production V8 engine in the world

• Nearly every vehicle system has been optimized including powertrain, brakes, gearing and suspension

• New Shelby GT500 sets a performance-driven design standard with new downforce- generating front grilles, aggressive splitter, new quad exhaust system and two new forged-aluminum wheels

• Also new for 2013 is an optional Performance Package with SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers and a Torsen limited-slip differential. The offering can be coupled with a Track Package for all-out racetrack performance

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2011 – The ultimate Ford Mustang – Shelby GT500 – raises the bar high on performance with the introduction of the new 2013 model that goes on sale next year delivering 650 horsepower and a top speed of more than 200 mph.

"SVT keeps the Shelby GT500 on the cutting edge of technology and takes muscle car performance to new heights," said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. "We encapsulated every aspect of performance in this car – whether it's 0-60, top speed, racetrack or quarter-mile times. Beyond that, the daily driver also will find this car perfectly fits his or her needs."

The 5.8-liter V8 aluminum-block engine produces 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful production V8 in the world. The 3,850-pound car also stays exempt from the gas-guzzler tax.

Official Shelby Apparel Click Here

Nearly every part of the powertrain has been optimized for producing the additional horsepower, including a new supercharger, new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a new carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle.

A larger, more-efficient supercharger flowing more air through the engine is key to helping produce the massive 650 horsepower. The new TVS series 2300 creates 2.3 liters of displacement and is a unique design to the 5.8-liter engine.

The entire cooling system has been significantly updated on the new 5.8-liter engine. It now includes a larger cooling fan, fan shroud with high-speed pressure-relief doors, a more efficient charge air cooler, a higher-flow intercooler pump and an intercooler heat exchanger with volume increased 36 percent.

Revised gearing

Nearly every gear on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 was revised to manage the torque and use more of the power in a way that makes it more driver-friendly. Engineers considered more than 35 gearing combinations, finally deciding on one that delivers less torque all the way through the wheels to the ground and still enables the car to achieve fuel economy targets.

A key piece of the driveline, the six-speed manual transmission, offers upgraded gears, bearings and housing so it can properly manage the torque. The final drive ratio is now 3.31:1 for optimized overall vehicle gearing to complement the massive torque. Every gear besides fourth was optimized for competing performance metrics. The clutch has increased torque and rpm capacity and uses a dual-disc design.

"It might just seem like we're putting a bigger engine into the car. But it's been a balanced approach through and through," said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief engineer. "We've completely redone the car to be even more sophisticated in terms of handling and control than the prior model."

Other keys for improved traction management include:

• Torsen limited-slip differential: When customers order the optional Performance Package, they will get a Torsen limited-slip differential that helps the rear suspension deliver maximum torque and traction better and longer under track conditions

• Launch control: A new launch control system lets drivers set the desired launch rpm depending on tire temperature, street surface or other conditions. Unique to SVT's launch control is that it is integrated with both the engine control and traction control

• Brembo braking system: A new Brembo brake system offers drivers enhanced stopping power to help keep their car under control, both on the road and the track. New six-piston calipers in front along with larger front and rear rotors help improve brake fade. New brake pads that are more aggressive also help the car achieve high deceleration and further robustness for more driver confidence

Aero advancements

Significant aerodynamic work was done on the new Shelby GT500 to ensure the car has proper downforce for optimum performance at all speeds. Engineers were able to determine how to harness the air that was moving around and through the car to improve the cooling system, maximize downforce and minimize drag.

The front fascia and splitters were modified to handle the extreme loads at 200 mph, resulting in a car that tracks more securely and feels more planted to the road at higher speeds. It offers 33 percent more effective aero loading at 160 mph compared to the 2011 model.

Superior ride

The new Shelby GT500's driving dynamics have been improved, now working in concert with all the new content on the car.

Handling, all AdvanceTrac settings and steering assist levels within selectable steering have been tuned to account for the updated content. The previously available unique traction control system and electronic stability control settings help drivers achieve maximum performance on both the street and the track.

Both systems can be completely disabled in controlled track situations where maximum driver skill is utilized, or fully engaged for maximum safety during normal driving or in less-than-ideal traction conditions. Intermediate sport mode allows drivers to push their cars hard at the track without completely disabling the safety systems, permitting more aggressive driving before the traction control and electronic stability control intervene.

"We took a completely different approach with this car so drivers can choose their settings instead of a computer making the selection," Hameedi said. "Nearly every system the driver interacts with can be tailored to his or her situation including the Bilstein electronic adjustable suspension, launch control, AdvanceTrac and steering assist levels."

The 2013 Shelby GT500 offers two new sets of forged-aluminum wheels including a unique wheel for cars with the optional packages. The 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels are coupled with Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires on all vehicle configurations.

Taking it one step further

Sometimes Ford Shelby GT500 customers want to enjoy their car on surface streets. Other times they just want to let loose on the track. Two new optional packages on the 2013 model give them the choice.

Available as part of the optional Performance Package, SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers are accessed on the dash with a simple push of a button. Normal mode gives customers a more comfortable ride over road irregularities. Sport mode is all about performance, delivering improved response time on the track and less body roll while cornering and pitch under braking. The Torsen limited-slip differential also comes with the Performance Package.

"The adjustable shocks let us develop our car on the track without any compromise," said Kerry Baldori, Ford SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer. "Before, we had to tune the car with street implications in mind. Now we can go as extreme as we want on the track setting and still offer the customer a comfortable ride on the road."

Enthusiasts can upgrade their Performance Package with an additional Track Package for all-out performance. The option comes with an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler for further durability. The coolers play an essential role in preventing crucial components from overheating under high-speed conditions.
The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will be built at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

Source: Ford

A Day At the Races: NASCAR Phoenix 2011

2011-11-14T10:03:00.001-08:00

UPDATED:SEMA: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

2011-11-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

We just got back from the SEMA show and as always it was a blast. There was a resurgence of Rice-Rockets this year that was unexpected and Japan's infamous "VIP" style has made it to our shores.

Here is our opinion on what was Good, Bad, and just Plain Ugly.

THE GOOD:

Clean Muscle Cars like this Camaro were plentiful this year, Mustangs, Chevelles, and Camaros were the most popular Muscle Cars this year.

Massive Fender flairs were all the rage this year, but this AMG managed to pull it off with the right stance, wheels, and amazing fit and finish.

Vintage race cars like this So Cal Speed Shop Land Speed Car, as well as Mark IV Ford GTs, old Lotus F1 Cars, and Vintage Alfas were all on display.

THE BAD:

This truck is one of those cars that it looked like they just ran out of time and said "Well just bring it anyways" the strange engine surround looked like it was made out of plywood and bondo.

Remember how that Clean AMG above had done fender flairs right... here is what they look like when done really wrong. The crazy thing was that the tires were pushed out, but not all that wider than stock, they were just pushed out like 8 inches....ok.

Here is another car that boggled the mind, a late 70's MGB roadster with pink house carpet that had not even been trimmed to fit correctly, no seats, no top, body work was questionable, and the "custom" dash looked like it was installed with a hammer or baseball bat. It is good to see that the fire extinguisher is already bolted in place even though the raw uneven cut edge of the carpet is still sticking out. It seems like SEMA just let anyone with a car show up this year to fill space. Same thing with the vendors. Last year we attempted to bring our apparel line to SEMA, we were told that M&P was not a relevant business to the automotive aftermarket. This year there was at least 12 apparel companies, a guy selling pre-fab log houses, and vendors retailing at the show... that is a first.

This poor Subaru has been turned into who knows what, we could not figure out what the theme or purpose of the car was. The trunk was upholstered (the outside look close) with basket ball like material, the roof had a bunch of comic book pages glued to it and clear coated over, and the interior looked like a used car salesman's suit. To top it all of it had a British License Plate, but was left hand drive. Rice is back!

THE UGLY:

If you were impressed with the rice-racer-style of the Subaru than the car that was dubbed by a passerby as the Play-dough Car is your style! Featuring molded everything, we can only assume that the builder single-handedly kept Bondo in business for at least a year.

This started life as a Scion Xb, but now looks more like a snowplow, the VIP movement has come to the US, only 10 years behind the trend in Tokyo. Because nothing says VIP like a $6,000 car.

Direct from China was this tuner car we think it might have been a Eclipse, but it is not clear. The car featured covered wheels, and a interior made up of what could only be described as garbage. But don't worry, the fit and finish is what you would expect from China, the door mirrors did not fit, the door gaps were anywhere from 1/16th to 1-inch off. The shocking thing is, that it was chosen to represent the "tuning" scene in China. Wow.

UPDATE: WE GOT AN E-MAIL

The Pink MGB on Zoops booth...

I took both the Blue & Pink MGB's to SEMA to inspire fellow manufacturers to adapt their products for the British Car fan. I feel that they deserve a lot more options that currently exist.

In the six weeks prior to SEMA, we decided to get them painted in House of Kolor Shimrin2 Strato Blue & Designer Pearl Pink and paint our serpentine systems to match.

It was a valuable lesson for me, an MGB owner, as they both required serious bodywork and I wasn't about to spend $25,000 on a "SEMA" paint job. Maaco cost $3,000 and our local dent/repair shop, $5,900 - financially, much better for me.

Dakota Digital provided the 6-gauge instruments (blue & pink dials) and matching AC controller. Maval/Unisteer did the first power steering unit, Ididit made their first MGB sku, a custom-length column of 24" and Pertronix donated their performance distributor, ignition coil and plug set.

That's a good start for MG lovers.

My wife has always wanted a pink MG so I thought, why not, she puts up with enough of my long work hours. It has a 350 stroker with 700R4 transmission. We'll be putting in a new Mustang rear end with either Chassisworks (Chris Alston is the owner) or RideTech Air for suspension and Cory Lamarra @ The Brake Man is doing an all-round disc system specifically designed for the MGB.

Kicker donated a 1,000 watt speaker system that is controlled by her iPad mounted into the console. Alas, we simply ran out of time to get it all back together before leaving but we will be finishing them in the coming days/weeks.

We'd love to meet companies that can do replacement seats, pink automotive carpet and much more.

Thanks again for an update on your blog

Regards,

David

Worst California biker feud in decade erupted at Starbucks

2011-11-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Dan D.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A turf war between the Hells Angels and a rival motorcycle gang that erupted outside a California Starbucks shop last year has left several men dead, wounded or missing in three states, stirring fears of more bloodshed.

Ranked by law enforcement as the most severe clash of two California-based biker groups in nearly a decade, the spate of violence turned deadly last month when it spilled into Nevada with a brawl and shooting among members of the Hells Angels and Vagos motorcycle clubs.

The president of the Hells Angels' San Jose, California, chapter, Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, 51, was shot to death, and one Vagos member was wounded in the melee at John Ascuaga's Nugget hotel and casino in Sparks. A second Vagos member was wounded in a drive-by shooting the next day at the site of a nearby motorcycle rally in town.

The Pettigrew killing -- coming 11 months after a gunfight between the two gangs in Arizona that left five people wounded -- in turn sparked tensions within the Hells Angels' ranks that led to yet another slaying in California, authorities say.

"There have been concerns about this rivalry for some time," said Graham Barlowe, resident agent in charge of the Sacramento office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The last California biker feud of similar proportions grew out of a 2002 casino riot in Laughlin, Nevada, between the Hells Angels and another group known as the Mongols, Barlowe said. At least three bikers died as a result of that conflict.

DEAD OR ALIVE

The latest casualty of the Hells Angels' recent battle against Vagos actually was inflicted by one of their own.

At Pettigrew's funeral in California weeks after he was slain in Nevada, his close friend and sergeant-at-arms of the San Jose chapter, Steven Tausan, 52, was shot and killed by a fellow Hells Angel in an apparent quarrel among club members.

A police source familiar with the investigation said Tausan and others confronted the accused gunman, Steve Ruiz, over his perceived failure to have protected Pettigrew during the Nugget casino brawl, prompting Ruiz to pull a gun on Tausan.

A group of bikers then pounced on Ruiz as thousands of mourners streamed out of the cemetery, preventing police officers at the funeral from making an arrest, San Jose police spokesman Jose Garcia said.

In the end, it was unclear whether the bikers who descended on Ruiz did so to subdue him, beat him or help him escape, but witnesses said he was whisked away in a car, Garcia said.

Suspecting that Ruiz may have been killed at the scene and his body dumped into Pettigrew's grave, police later obtained a search warrant to dig up the burial site, but they found no trace of Ruiz, Garcia said.

Last week, San Jose police received a tip that Ruiz was alive and hiding out in the northern California city of Stockton, but he was believed to have slipped away after investigators searched a home there to no avail on Saturday.

Garcia said authorities now believe Ruiz is on the run with a current or former girlfriend, noting that he has family and associates in Arizona and New York.

The recent bloodshed can all be traced to last year's push by Vagos, founded in the 1960s in a Southern California desert community, into the northern coastal town of Santa Cruz, long claimed as Hells Angels territory, police said.

CAFFEINE FOR BIKERS

Tensions boiled over in January 2010, when members of the rival gangs, some wielding ball-peen hammers, fought outside a Santa Cruz Starbucks before scattering as police arrived.

"It was all about who would be allowed to hang out at the Starbucks downtown," Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said. "The Vagos brazenly came in and tried to cement their presence. It was a pretty strong play on their part to establish themselves as the premiere club."

He added: "Only in Santa Cruz would you have biker wars over who's going to control pumpkin spice lattes."

Seven months after the Starbucks ambush, violence between the two groups flared again in a gunfight in August 2010 that left five people wounded and led to 27 arrests in the northern Arizona town of Chino Valley.

The U.S. Justice Department has classified both the Hells Angels and Vagos as outlaw gangs deeply involved in drug and weapons trafficking, as well as extortion, money laundering, theft and various violent crimes.

The Hells Angels, by far the larger and better known of the two, was founded in 1948 in Fontana, California, and has since established over 230 chapters with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 members worldwide, the government says.

The organization denies its involvement in criminal activity and argues the club should not be blamed for the illegal actions of individual bikers.

Members insist the overwhelming majority are law-abiding citizens who share a love of powerful motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and point to their prominent role in certain charity events as evidence that their outlaw reputation is exaggerated by the media.

Karen Snell, a San Francisco-based lawyer who has represented a number of Hells Angels members, said Pettigrew and Tausan, for example, were "family guys."

"They made honest livings. They worked hard and were responsible," she told Reuters.

Police have arrested two people in connection with last month's casino brawl, including Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 53, a Vagos member suspected in Pettigrew's slaying.

(Editing by Steve Gorman and Greg McCune)

10 Things you Did not know about Steve McQueen

2011-10-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here are ten things you probably didn't know about McQueen courtesy of someone who knew him best: Michael Munn, author of revelatory new biography Steve McQueen: Living On The Edge you can get yours for about $24.00 on Amazon.com.

He was a childhood thief

As a boy living in Indianapolis with his mother, who was a prostitute, McQueen stole food and money from houses to keep from going hungry. He also stole hubcaps and sold them on. McQueen then became part of a gang which ran many scams. He told me, "It was like organized crime but on a small scale."

He paid for sex... with cake

McQueen lost his virginity at the age of 13 when his gang took him to a local whore, 15-year-old Matilda. Said McQueen, "You didn't pay her with money. You bought her cakes. She was getting fat but at 15 it gave her big tits. The guys chipped in and bought a big iced cake, and she said for that they could all have a turn. I went first. We did it in a disused store room. She never got naked, just dropped her panties, sat on a table and... vavoom! I bought her a lot of cakes after that."

He was a hobo

McQueen ran away from home when he was 13 and lived in a hobo camp. "They seemed to look out for each other, and they made me welcome and gave me food and water. They told me every now and then the cops came and ran them in, and then they'd get released and go back to the camp. For kicks they rode the freight trains, or sometimes they'd just simply do that just 'cos they wanted to go somewhere. They never stayed around in one place too long. The camp was somewhere they could stop off at or return to, but mostly they were on the road. A lot of them had lost their jobs and homes and families in the Depression. Now they just liked to live that way. I could have been a hobo too, but I had dreams." His dreams were to be like Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney, his movie idols. "So I stayed a little time with them, and moved on."

He did time in solitary for real

McQueen was put in solitary confinement five times during his 14 months at the California Junior Boys Republic at Chino, a home for wayward boys, for making five escape attempts. "I was in the dark, alone, scared. I lay awake all night. Just an old mattress to lie on. No bed, no nothing. The sound of other boys. Some talking low. Some crying. You'd hear some kid whisper, 'Hey buddy, what you done?' I didn't know if they meant me, so I stayed quiet. Just lay there smelling what smelt like cabbages.

"I used those memories when I was in the cooler in The Great Escape. When I went into that cooler for the second time [in the movie] I remembered going back into solitary the second time - and the third time."

He was an unarmed robber

McQueen attempted an "armed" robbery at a gas station after leaving Chino - only he didn't actually have a gun. "I filled up the car, then stuck my hand inside my jacket pocket and made it look like I had a gun in there, went inside and told the guy to hand over all the cash. He looked at me, spat out some tobacco, and the next thing he was reaching for a shotgun. I never ran so fast. I heard the blast as I crashed through the door and got to the car. I got that sucker going and drove."

He was a real-life hero

McQueen saved a teenage girl from being raped when he was a marine. "I saw these guys hassling a girl. Three of them. They were dragging her down a side street. I had a small handgun on me - we were not supposed to carry weapons but I did sometimes in case of trouble.

"I followed them and they had her on the ground and one was getting on top, and I just boiled up inside and pulled this gun and told them to leave her the hell alone. These guys just freaked when they saw me with this gun, and they cried for their lives - I mean really cried, man. Cowards! I wanted to shoot them then and there. I coulda shot them. I told them to run and don't stop. The girl was on the ground and crying. I put my gun away and went to her and held my hands up -showed her I wasn't going to hurt her. I was like, "Stop cr

ying already, OK? They're gone. You're OK." I didn't know how to deal with a crying girl. I figured she was 14, maybe 15. I took her to her home, and she said, 'If I had a brother I'd want him to be like you.' I made a joke, like, 'You don't want me as a brother 'cos I'm kinda wild.' She said, 'I'd feel safe with a brother like you.'"

He was a getaway driver

After he was discharged from the marines, McQueen drove a getaway car for a trio of armed robbers. During one of the hit and runs, one of the gangsters was shot by a storekeeper. Said McQueen, "The blood was pumping out 'cos an artery had been hit. This tough guy was crying for his mother. I was panicking and saying, 'We got to get him to a doctor,' and one said, 'Just keep driving,' and all the time this guy was crying, 'I'm gonna die, oh Mother and Jesus don't let me die.' After a couple of minutes he was very qu iet. I just drove. I thought this wasn't what I thought it would be. I felt sick." The small gang broke up, ending McQueen's career as a wheel man.

He was a pimp

McQueen became a pimp for a prostitute called Lindy whose regular pimp had been arrested, and also sold illegal guns. "I thought I was making easy money - guns and Lindy. And no taxes to pay. I mean, man, you can see why people do this for life; they got it made. And you think it's so easy. But it never ends well." He quit pimping when threatened by another pimp, and gave up selling guns when one of his gangster friends told him, "You're not cut out for any of this. You want to be a movie star. So go be one. Pretend you're like us but in the movies. You'll be great at it." McQueen told me, "I knew he was right." So he went to New York to become an actor.

He made up with Yul Brynner

It was said that McQueen hated Yul Brynner following a much publicised feud when they were making The Magnificent Seven, but 20 years later when McQueen knew he was dying from cancer, he called Brynner by telephone and told him, "Yul, I want to thank you."

"What did I do?"

"You let me be by your side in The Magnificent Seven, and you coulda had me kicked off when I rattled you, but you let me stay and that picture made me, so thanks."

Brynner told him, "I am the king and you are the rebel prince: every bit as royal... and dangerous to cross."

Steve had liked that, and told me, "I had to make it up with Yul 'cos without him I wouldn't have been in that picture."

He predicted his own death

McQueen was convinced he would not live to old age and even predicted the age he would reach. In 1977 he told me, "I'm gonna be dead by 50." It was a prediction he often made, but had nothing to back it up with other than the fact that both his parents would die at the same age. When McQueen died from cancer in 1980, he was 50 years old.

(Source: GQ)

Steve McQueen & Cars

2011-10-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ford officially announces 1964 1/2 to 1966 Mustang Convertible licensed body shells

2011-10-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ford has been teasing us for a few months about releasing a new Mustang body, we were hoping for a new 65-66 Fastback. But we got the Convertible that will be unveiled at the SEMA show next week. (Photos from SEMA will be posted next Friday)

The price for your own brand new 1965-66 Mustang Convertible body??? Around $15,000. At first glance that sounds like a good deal for a brand new 65-66 Mustang. However, that is literally just the shell. That includes no glass, trim, seat frames, fuel tank, lines, hoses, mounts, wiring, etc... it is just a shell.

The thing is...you can buy a nice driver 65-66 Convertible for around $20,000 so the value here escapes me. In the real world, outside of the Pomona swap-meet and Barrett Jackson, these cars trade hands all the time for around $25K or less.
Even if you want to build a extreme custom it would make more sense to buy a driver and start from there. You can buy a complete car for $13-$20K and that is going to include the seat frames, trim, headlight buckets, suspension, brakes, rear end, wiring, top frame, and everything else.

We went on several popular Mustang websites and if you bought the 95% of the parts for the car new you will spend about $65,000 to build a standard 1965 Mustang Convertible, not including the price of the shell. That's $80,000 just to start, plus paint, any labor that you can't do yourself, you are easily looking at spending over $100,000 to have a $25,000 car.

Don't believe me that you can find a nice classic Mustang for around $20K??? Here is what $20,000 dollars will buy you in a 1965-66 Mustang Convertible, these are all live ads on Craigslist as of the time of this writing.

$20,500 in Southern CaliforniaThis nice little 6 Cylinder car for just $13,000 in Southern California

$19,000 in Southern California

“The 1964-66 Mustang is the most restored vintage vehicle. But the number of original 1964-66 vintage bodies is shrinking every year,” said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “Most of the original Mustangs left in scrapyards are rusted or wrecked beyond repair. The new body shell is made of virgin metal and uses modern welding techniques. It comes rustproofed, and after final adjustment and finish preparation of the body panels, it is ready for painting and final assembly.”

New Racing School Launches at Auto Club Speedway

2011-10-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Fontana, Calif. (October 28, 2011) - - Allen Berg Racing Schools (ABRS) one of the world's leading racing schools, will open a new west coast branch at one of America's best-known professional racing venues: the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

"This is a real dream come true for us," said school founder and chief instructor Allen Berg. "We've had so many drivers from southern California attending our other schools in the US and Canada over the years that this almost feels like a homecoming, and not a whole new track."

Unique in the racing school industry, ABRS employs full carbon fiber-chassis formula cars which are currently in use in international competition. In addition, ABRS is the only racing school to employ Formula One-style MoTeC data acquisition technology on all racecars, the same data systems as used by teams in Indy Car, ALMS and the Indianapolis 500.

Programs will begin on November 15, 2011 and be run on the variable-length, multiple-option road course at Auto Club. "There are so many combinations and possibilities with this track complex that we'll really be able to teach technique to everyone from beginners who have never been in a racing car, to top pros who want to sharpen up their road course skills," Berg indicated. "It's an ideal teaching facility that also happens to be quite a challenging race track. I find it very demanding to drive at competition speeds."

Berg, a professional driver who began racing in Karts and with credentials which include a season with the Osella team in Formula One, has made it his goal to assist young drivers in learning the intricacies of controlling a very fast formula car.

The Berg approach is both highly technical (the cars and the electronic feedback and recording systems are state-of-the-art), but his school's teaching model is tailored to each individual's abilities and rate of learning. "Our instructors stress the fundamentals and look to always be making progress with every driver we work with," Berg added.

LOCATION and FEW MORE DETAILS:

World-renown Auto Club Speedway, located as it is almost in the exact center of southern California, is within easy range of Los Angeles to the west and San Diego to the south, with the vast Inland Empire surrounding it.

On all one, two, or three-day formula car programs, each and every lap is recorded and used to monitor and critique driver's performance. The information provides a graphic comparison to experienced racers' efforts under the same conditions.

At the end of their course each student is presented with their own 4GB USB Card that contains their personal in-car video, all lap read-out data, and a copy of the MoTeC software for further study when they return home.

TECH SPECS:

Allen Berg Racing School uses Tatuus Renault Formula 1600 cars that feature a full carbon fiber chassis. These light, super-stiff structures allow drivers to have a true feel for suspension adjustments and changing track conditions.

The powerplant is a 160 HP fuel-injected 4-cylinder 1600cc engine

Built in Italy by Specialist Racing Constructors Tatuus. The basic engines are Renault, the brand that powers 2011 driver's champion Sebastian Vettel and that will see Red Bull Racing honored as the 2011 manufacturer's champion constructor in Formula 1.

5-speed sequential transmissions are also an integral part of a race-bred package that allows drivers to make gear changes faster and more precisely, with far less possibility of missed shifts.

The monoshock/monospring pushrod suspension system of the Tatuus reduces both weight and air resistance making for a faster racecar. Easier to tune to each type of track, this style of suspension is common to all advanced formula race cars all the way to Formula One and Indy Car.

Each car is equipped with an advanced dash-mounted MoTeC onboard data Acquisition computer. It records driver, engine and chassis information, which is used by ABRS instructors to analyze driver performance and thus enhance their driving skills. These systems are now commonplace at all levels of racing, but seldom used in racing schools.

The onboard Contour GPS High Definition camera is a state-of-the-art video recording system that is used by many top professional racing teams.

Now open for business, and now open for the business of serious formula car race training Allen Berg Racing Schools at the Auto Club Speedway brings a new level of commitment to the learning process which leads to becoming a top professional driver.

Please check out the action at:

www.allenbergracingschools.com

2011 Ultimate Car Guy Holiday Gift Guide

2011-10-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Muscle Car Fender Covers

Keeping the paint looking like new while working on your car is important. These fender guards make a great choice and come with a number of logos.

$25.00

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FENDER COVERS

Le Mans Blu-Ray

40th Anniversary Re-mastered Blu Ray edition starring Steve McQueen – Widescreen & DOLBY 5.1 audio make this the best version of Le Mans ever released It features a bonus “Making of Le Mans” and the Theatrical Trailer.

$24.99

CLICK HERE TO SHOP LE MANS BLU-RAY

GoPro HD Motorsports Hero Camera

“Car racing is like Sex, all men think they are good at” Jay Leno. Now you can give the car guy in your life a instant replay for those track days, road trips, or just those spirited canyon runs. It comes with the GoPro Camera , suction cup mount, and other mounting accessories. We love our GoPro here at TheGentlemanRacer.com.

$299.99

CLICK HERE TO SHOP GOPRO HD MOTORSPORTS

Barris Kustom City Shop Tee

This tee is an official reproduction of the shirt the legends of Kustom wore while working in the Barris Shop in Lynwood, California. Made of 100% super soft ring-spun c

otton.

$34.00

CLICK HERE TO SHOP BARRIS KUSTOM CITY SHOP TEE

The Hotrod Art Book by Dwayne Vance

No hot rod art book has ever had such a long list of artists ranging from seasoned veterans to the newest up and coming artists. Not only does The Hot Rod Art Book contain over a 100 pages of beautiful hot rod art from a variety of artists, but it includes tutorials from a past Hot Wheels designer, Dwayne Vance. It includes an instructional CD that shows the complete process from sketch to rendering plus a few extras.

Artist featured in book includes Dwayne Vance, Brian Stupski, Randy Ricklefs, John Bell, Eric Brockmeyer, Michael Miernik, Max Grundy, Jimmy Smith, James Owens, Justin Chin, Thom Taylor, Larry Wood, Steve Stanford.

$39.95

CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE HOTROD ART BOOK

The Maurice De Mauriac Carbon Fiber Face Automatic

Nothing is quite like a fine Swiss watch and there is none finer than a Maurice De Mauriac. Featuring a stainless steel case, and top of the line leather band. These heirloom quality watches will impress even the most discerning watch enthusiast.

$1,450.00

CLICK HERE TO SHOP MAURICE DE MAURIAC

Allard J2X MKII Roadster

If your car guy has everything but style, sure a Lambo is impressive, but this Allard J2X is just timeless and classy. Featuring a 5.7 liter V-8 that produces 370 hp and 400 ft lbs of torque, it has the speed to match the substance. Currently there is only one importer in the USA just down the freeway from us in Los Angeles. If you are planning on spoiling someone this Christmas this would be the way to do it.

$138,000.000

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ALLARD

Retro Shelby Tee Shirt

1962 was the year that Carroll Shelby and Dean Moon put together the first car that would become the Legendary Cobra. This classic Shirt pulls on the heritage of Shelby displaying the Coiled Cobra Logo made famous by the car that would shake up the racing world. Classic colors printed in Organic Ink, 100% Cotton, Printed and Finished in the USA by Morgan’s & Phillip’s.

$34.95

CLICK HERE TO SHOP SHELBY TEES

McLaren Sports Sneaker

McLaren is the name behind some of the fastest cars on the planet, and their design house has produced an incredible collection of apparel, shoes, and more. These sports Sneakers are sleek and stylish and the invisible lacing system is cool.

$89.95

CLICK HERE TO SHOP MCLAREN SHOES

Automotive Art

Give the office, den, or garage a little more octane with some fine automotive art. Fine art prints like the one pictured bring a lot of style to a room and at price ranges anyone can afford.

$34.95 and up

CLICK HERE TO SHOP AUTOMOTIVE ART

1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 pace car found with just 13 miles [w/video]

2011-10-25T13:51:00.001-07:00

Just 6,502 of the black and silver Corvette models were ever produced, and the vehicles sold out quickly. Sensing a potential future collectible, the original owner of this 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pace car bought the car and tucked it away in his garage.

In 1995, the owner sold his house and had the Corvette pace car transferred to a Detroit-area storage facility, where it was locked away for good under a pile of boxes. Now the car is being offered for sale through a dealer in New England. According to the site, the original tires still hold air, and surprisingly enough, the engine still runs

(Source: Autoblog)

RM Auctions Extends Monaco Sale

2011-10-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is pleased to announce its highly-anticipated return to Monaco, 10^th – 12^th May, 2012, for its biennial sale at the Grimaldi Forum.

Coinciding with the 8^th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, the May 2012 auction follows a record-setting debut performance in 2010 which saw the company achieve over €33 million in sales with a successful 89% of all lots sold. The 2012 sale is set to continue the grand tradition, presenting an elite, handpicked selection of 80 automobiles. In addition, the sale will also cater to discerning motorcycle collectors with the consignment of the acclaimed Saltarelli Ducati Collection, the world’s most significant private Ducati collection. The addition of the motorcycles to the auction program has seen the 2012 event extended to two sale days (11^th – 12^th May), with an auction preview planned for the 10^th May.

“Our inaugural Monaco sale in 2010 set a new standard for collector car auctions with its high quality consignments, impeccable presentation and unparalleled client experience,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe.

“We are thrilled to be returning to Monaco in 2012 and look forward to bringing another exceptional roster of automobiles, and for the first time, motorcycles, to the auction stage. The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend is a ‘must attend’ on the global collector car calendar and a wonderful celebration of the hobby. We are delighted to be part of the weekend festivities once again and look forward to building on our strong debut results,” Girardo adds.

The Saltarelli Ducati Collection represents one of the largest private collections of Ducati motorcycles ever to be offered at auction. Spanning the marque’s full history from road to racing machines, the 100-bike collection was carefully selected over the past 30 years by lifelong enthusiast Carlo Saltarelli, an ex-Ducati factory test rider, racer and owner of a Ducati dealership. Among a long list of highlights on offer is a terrific series of racing bikes, headlined by an immensely-desirable works 1972 Ducati 750SS 200 Miles Imola Racer, otherwise known as the ‘Green Frame,’ built and prepared in 1972 as a reserve bike for the world-famous 200 Miles of Imola race and sister bike to the winning entry that year (Estimate: €150,000 - €200,000). Other highlights include a rare, factory-entry 1990 Ducati 888 SBK from the golden era of Ducati racing (Estimate: €80,000- €100,000) and a 1974 Ducati 750SS Racer Number 23, which boasts an illustrious racing history, having scored a number of victories and podium finishes during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, often in the hands of Carlo Saltarelli himself (Estimate: €40,000-€60,000). The impressive bike collection will be offered ‘without reserve’ on the 11^th May; its presentation represents RM’s first dedicated single-day, single-vendor sale in Europe.

“We’re delighted to have been entrusted by Mr. Saltarelli with the sale of his important collection as we continue to expand our expertise in the collector motorcycle market,” Girardo adds. “The addition of motorcycles to the Monaco sale is in direct response to our client interests and requests, and we can think of no better fit to the sale’s focus on exclusivity, style and performance. Ducati is arguably the world’s leading exotic motorcycle manufacturer and represents the pinnacle of Italian two-wheeled desirability.”

The motorcycle offering will be followed by the presentation of a magnificent roster of blue-chip motor cars on the 12^th May. Leading early automobile entries for the sale is a competition-bred 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 ‘Daytona,’ chassis number 75033-029. One of a select few built for the 1968 international season, this superb and highly-original example boasts one of the few vetted racing histories by marque experts, who contend it was driven to victory at the 500-km Imola race by racing luminaries Nino Vaccarella and Teodoro Zeccoli, in addition to performances at Monza, Targa Florio and Zeltweg, among other events. Described as one of the best and most original examples in existence, it is ‘on the button’ and ready to go, both road registered and an active participant in a variety of leading historic events in recent years (Estimate: €900,000-€1,100,000).

Le Mans on Blu-Ray

2011-10-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of "Le Mans", which is still the best film ever made on motor racing, CBS and Paramount have digitally restored the film and will bring it out on Blu-rayTM and DVD on June 1, 2011. The Blu-ray showcases the film in brilliant high definition, with the audio option of 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Both the Blu-ray and DVD include the unique special feature called "Filming At Speed, the making of the Le Mans movie", which shows the secrets of the shoot and the special effects, as well as the numerous anecdotes which have contributed to making it a legend. If you don't own a copy get over to World Class Motoring or go online and get one ASAP. CLICK HERE to buy online for only $24.99

Just in Time for Christmas!

2011-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

What would the people of Wall Street Occupy if they decided to camp out and protest..uhhh.. having to see hippies sitting in front of their offices? They would camp in the $2.9 million Marchi Mobile eleMMent series "ultra-luxurious" recreational vehicles. It is for the ultra rich who need a comfortable mansion away from the mansion.

The eleMMent including everything you could need when roughing it, such as Automatic boarding stairs, a flybridge and an operational fireplace. They also offer a few corporate version for entertaining or as a super luxury bus, but who cares about those this thing is a RV. Lets see how the other half lives on the road.The residental model the Palazzo is a six wheel luxury mansion. The fully automatic, pop-up flybridge lounge with multiple bars towers over two floors that contain, among other things, a kitchen, a master bedroom with an integrated bathroom and a couch that can be converted into bar furniture at the push of a button. All the automatic setting-up and dismantling is handled via a touch screen control panel. An additional, mobile control unit with remote video streaming functionality enables the prudent owner to keep an eye on all the important indicators and play with lighting and temperature settings from afar.While it may not be in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog this year, their idea of camping is sleeping in a $75,000 Yurt, who do they think we are... poor people. The

(Source: Marchi Mobile)

Rusty Patrol

2011-10-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Photo By Michael Satterfield

Morgan's & Phillip's Expands Apparel Line

2011-10-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

Morgan's & Phillip's has announced its expanded range of vintage inspired Shelby Apparel, and retro motorcycle apparel. Unlike most apparel companies M&P strives for authenticity in every design, basing its artwork on real people, places, and events. Working with automotive icons like Carroll Shelby, Barris Kustom City, and many others M&P brings reality back to apparel. "So much of what is on the market is made by fashion companies that don't take the time to learn about the industry they are trying to reflect, we started doing vintage automotive and motorcycle apparel in 2007, now it is the flavor of the week. Most of our competitors just toss "Supercharged" or "Racing" on a tee but the details don't add up. Our apparel is always based on a historic person, race, or place, we are car guys, our parking lot is full of classic cars and motorcycles. Its our background and our passion" said Mike Satterfield of M&P.

The new line from M&P is focused on capturing the classic era of the 1960's when Shelby was taking on Ferrari, and the Salt Flats of Bonneville were recording records like never before. Authentic, timeless, and well made are all words that describe M&P.

"You won't find us in the big box stores, we have turned down offers to be in major retailers, not because we have anything against growing, but we want our apparel to be discovered, long after the other brands are on to the next trend we will still be making our own unique style of classic American apparel"

AMA Flat-track Finales at Pomona

2011-10-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Stolen Mustang Found In Lake

2011-10-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

BY ALECIA PINNER

A 2006 Ford Mustang stolen from a Mt Waverley home was found in Patterson Lakes last Monday.

Chelsea police attended the Lakes boat ramp after a fisherman reported that he had struck a submerged object with his boat. When the tide went out a 2006 Ford Mustang, valued at $80,000, was spotted in the water. A search and rescue team was called and a tow truck used to retrieve the Mustang. (We don't see $80,000 here, but ok)

The vehicle's roof had been scratched by the incoming vessel, the front windscreen was shattered and one of the door locks had been pushed in.Detective Senior Constable Peter Ashton of the Monash police said it was stolen from a Mt Waverley home while the owners were overseas.

Police are seeking witnesses who may have seen the car enter the water. Information to 9567 8910.

(Source: Monash Weekly)

100 years of Chevrolet Advertising

2011-10-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

TAG Heuer & Steve McQueen

2011-10-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

As the year starts to wind down, there are still a few new models to come from TAG Heuer, including this pair of McQueen Monaco’s. Just as earlier this year, TAG announced Silver and Orange Monaco twins (one in the classic Monaco case and the other a Monaco 24), this time we have two Blue editions named after the man who has become the face of the TAG Heuer Monaco- Steve McQueen These watches are interesting not just because of their designs, but also because they are the first of a new range of watches that you will only be able to buy from TAG Heuer Boutiques.In addition to a reissue of the original Heuer Monaco like McQueen wore in the film LeMans (Above) Tag Heuer has released two modern takes on the McQueen Monaco. See photos below. for our money the original is still the best and will set you back around $8,500 USD.

Source: Calibre11.com

The King Shoots Candy

2011-10-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Which George Barris are you most familiar with? The King of the Kustomizers who built the Batmobile, the Munster’s Koach and other outrageous vehicles for movies and TV? Or are you better acquainted with the Barris Brothers, George and Sam, who set custom car trends for decades with Sam’s heavily chopped ’49 Mercury and the later Hirohata Merc? Maybe you know Barris for his own custom creations, such as the Ala Kart roadster pickup, which won the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award two years running.

Buy Official Barris Apparel Here

No matter which Barris you’re familiar with, the fact that you know the name is testament to George’s skill as a promoter. The Barris Brothers were building influential customs just as many enthusiast car magazines were getting their starts, and several magazines, including Road & Track and Motor Trend, put Barris customs on their covers in the late ’40s and early ’50s.

Barris quickly recognized how important these magazines could be in gaining nationwide notoriety for his Southern California business, so he learned how to photograph his cars like the magazine pros. Barris also taught his customizing techniques—on fullsize vehicles and plastic scale models—through how-to articles he wrote for Hot Rod, Car Craft and other magazines.

This is an outtake from a November 1958 photo shoot by Petersen Publishing Company photographer Pat Brollier. The resulting article, “The Secrets of Candy Colors,” ran in the February 1959 issue of Car Craft and demonstrated how to spray what the magazine termed “the new, revolutionary, translucent paints: the healthy, vibrant family which created the headline-making Candy Apple Red.”

Candy colors were so new at the time that there were only a few sources for the special tints and just a handful more for the metallic paints and powders used to formulate the basecoat, or “underbase” as the magazine called it, that went on before the candy topcoat. (The toners Barris used to blend the underbase paints came from companies familiar to today’s painters, including Ditzler and DuPont.) Detailed charts in the story outlined the formulas for blending the underbase colors as well as the candy topcoats, right down to the amount of thinning needed for best flow and how much pressure to put through the spray gun.

Candy may have been new then, but trends were already emerging. The article said that “one painter estimates there are close to 100 possible tones” of the candy topcoat, yet Barris identified the “thirteen shades of translucent paint which have proven popular with custom car owners.” The names of those hot late-’50s candies? Candy Apple Red, Burgundy Mist, Pagan Gold, Golden Honey, Lime Gold, Mint Green, Black Gold, Organic Purple, Wild Cherry, Oriental Blue, Aqua Blue, Mother of Pearl and Platinum Pearl.

Source: SEMA News

Car Chase: The Ups and Downs of owning a Unique Car.

2011-10-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

By Michael Satterfield

I have had many unique cars over the years, but none has ever garnered as much attention as my 1969 Austin Mini Cooper. The car is far from perfect, having never been restored, but it has a way of creating universal smiles that many cars just can’t compete with. However, the other day I had a strange encounter with a man who, in his own way, was trying to connect with me, because of the Mini.

I had just turned northbound on Haven Ave, when I noticed a red sedan tailgating me; the guy had a strange look in his eye. Now I have had some run-ins with crazy people when I worked in the car business so I knew the look well, he was not waving, or motioning, but he was following pretty close. I assumed he just wanted to get a better look at the diminutive car and would pass by, giving the typical thumbs-up. He didn’t, instead he tailed me from about a car length behind, every lane change, even when he could have clearly passed me by and continued on his way, or at least pulled up beside me to motion to me.

A million thoughts began to flash through my head; Did I cut him off? Perhaps I had offended him when I was selling cars? Was this that same crazy guy that thought I looked like the guy that ran off with his wife in Oklahoma? I did not know what the motivations were, but it was clear this guy was following me. He got closer and I made eye contact through the rearview mirror, he looked like Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down, he had that same hair cut and the short sleeve dress shirt with a tie. I thought, He is making eye contact, why doesn’t he motion to me to pull over if that is what he wants. Then I remembered that in the movie Michael Douglas’s character would violently lash out against people. Clearly, it was decision time. Let’s just make sure he is following me.

I grabbed the gearshift lever and downshifted to third gear, cutting across three lanes of traffic and taking a right on Inland Empire. Surely, he wouldn’t try to keep up…then in my rearview his car came viciously into frame, he was following me, and following has now given way to chasing. Well hammer down, it was time to really go for it. The Mini was screaming as quick as it could, darting through traffic, and my pursuer was doing his best to keep up, even passing people on the right. What could he want that would drive him to chase after me so feverishly. A red light… oh man, this could get ugly, “screw it” throttle to the floor, no cross traffic to be seen, I take the red light. Unless there is going to be a fight at the end of this chase I doubt he will blow through the red light. To my surprise he did without even slowing down, on the long straightaway his car was gaining, I needed more turns. With a flick of the wrist, I darted up Ferrari Lane, without pause he followed… his car a mid 90’s Chevy was swerving all over the road. I on my way to meet a friend for lunch, if I could just get to the restaurant near the mall I would at least have some back up. So I need to just keep heading towards the mall.

Hard right through a yellow light onto Concourse and a quick right, I duck into the back parking lot of an industrial building, making my way back out to Ferrari Lane. I think I lost him…. but no sooner did I think that then I see his car turning back on to Ferrari Lane from Concourse Street. Left back on to Inland Empire and almost to the mall, if I can just get to the mall, but, NO there is traffic! It’s a red light….I am boxed in. I glance around looking for anything that I can use as a weapon, if he wants a fight, I’ll give it to him. Nothing, no tire iron, no bat, nothing, just an empty Rockstar can and an IPod. His car pulls in behind me, I am completely boxed in, trapped. So here we go…but he is just sitting there looking down. What’s he doing? After a few seconds he gets out of the car and starts walking toward my passenger side window, my seatbelt is unbuckled one hand is on the door lever and the other on the shifter, if the light goes green I’ll take off if it stays red I have to be ready for anything. He gets to the car and I start to open the door. “HELLO” he shouts in a British accent, “I just wanted to say, I like your car, I had a Mini myself back in England and my son has one he is restoring. If you ever want to chat about Mini’s here is my number.” I was dumbfounded, and just took the scrap of paper he had written his number down on, and said something profound like “ok”. He waved in a nervous and almost geeky kind of manner, walked back to his car, the light turned green and we both just drove off. When I got to the restaurant my friend was waiting and asked why it had taken me so long, I told him I would tell him over lunch.

Now I have been in car chases before, most of the time I know why the villain is chasing me. However, this chase will have to go down in history as the strangest encounter I have had in the Mini…as of yet.

World's Oldest Running Motor Car Brings $4,620,000

2011-10-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

The world’s oldest running motor car, a historic 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, entered the history books tonight, selling for an impressive $4.62 million before a packed house at RM Auctions’ Hershey, Pennsylvania sale. The impressive sale price more than doubled its original pre-sale estimate and represents a new world record for an early motor car sold at auction.

Commissioned by French entrepreneur, Count de Dion and named ‘La Marquise’ after his mother, the 127 year old vehicle drew a standing ovation from the audience as it drove onto RM’s Hershey auction stage. Attracting a starting bid of $500,000 and immediately jumping to $1,000,000, bidding moved swiftly to applause from the crowd, with the gavel eventually falling at an extraordinary $4,200,000. The final sales price of $4,620,000 includes 10% buyers’ premium.

“We were honored to have been entrusted with the sale of this most important motor car from the renowned collection of the late Mr. John O’Quinn. The world’s leading automotive collectors recognized the incredibly rare opportunity the sale represented, as was reflected in the spirited bidding and impressive result,” said Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions following the sale.

The new owner joins an elite list of just five collectors to have claimed ownership of La Marquise over its well-documented history. In addition to being the world’s oldest running motor car, La Marquise’s impressive provenance includes participation in the first automobile race in 1887, where it reached a top speed of 37 mph on the straights, along with a double award at the famed 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In addition, La Marquise has also successfully completed four London to Brighton runs in the UK.

Full results and additional highlights from RM Auctions’ Hershey sale will be posted shortly.

Hells Angels motorcycle clubs banned in German city

2011-10-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Citing a history of weapons offenses and violence, a German state banned two Frankfurt-based chapters of the Hells Angels on Friday and confiscated their assets.

"These gangs are not in any way made up only of harmless motorbike riders," Hesse state interior minister Boris Rhein said at a televised news conference.

"Many members are known to the police because of violent, drug or weapon-related offences."

The interior ministry said it had the authority to ban clubs when their aims or activities break the law. A recent report from Germany's federal criminal office showed that one in every 10 investigations into organized crime was linked to a criminal gang of motorbike riders, the ministry said.

Rhein said the authorities were closely monitoring the motorcycle gangs in Hesse and had others in their sights. "We have a zero-tolerance strategy," he added.

The Hells Angels were formed in California nearly 60 years ago and have chapters spread around the world. There have been chapters in Germany since 1970.

(Source: Reuters, Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Mercedes-Benz buys naming rights to New Orleans' Superdome

2011-10-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

One of the top luxury brands in the world will pin its name to the Superdome in New Orleans,
the stadium that came to symbolize the city's agony during Hurricane Katrina and later its comeback.

Mercedes-Benz USA is announcing that it will have naming rights for the Superdome in a 10-year agreement. The deal caps the complete renovation finished this summer of the 73,000-seat home to the NFL's Saints and site of the 2013 Super Bowl.

With MetLife taking over naming rights for the New York Giants and New York Jets' $1.6 billion stadium in New Jersey and other deals, experts say the stadium naming-rights business is finally rebounding.

For the Superdome, it's about prestige. "This is yet another sign to the entire country that New Orleans and the state are coming back stronger (from) Katrina," said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. The state owns the dome, opened in 1975. The Republican said Mercedes is a "natural partner" for the Superdome.
Saints owner Tom Benson, who owns Mercedes dealerships in New Orleans and San Antonio, says the new name will show everyone that the Big Easy isn't just a "sleepy little town...That hurricane woke everyone up." Benson credits his wife with broaching the idea of enticing Mercedes into buying naming rights for the stadium in a meeting with Mercedes' U.S. officials in Germany last April. "It worked out great for everyone," he says.

The more Mercedes U.S. officials kicked around the idea, the more it grew on them:

"The Superdome was an icon for how we (as a society) did things wrong but now is an icon for rebirth," says Stephen Cannon, a Mercedes' U.S. vice president. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The name change take effect Oct. 23 when the Saints face the Indianapolis Colts on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

While Jindal said the deal will be good for taxpayers, his office referred financial questions to the automaker and the team. Neither Mercedes-Benz nor Benson would discuss the financial terms.

During nonstop news coverage of New Orleans in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane, the Superdome became a symbol of the chaos as the shelter of last resort. Hundreds sought shelter there as the flood waters rose, yet it was largely overlooked by relief crews amid the chaos. It also was reportedly the home to wanton violence by roving gangs, although many of those reports were later shown to be untrue.

Experts say Mercedes will gain from pinning its name on the facility, with $336 million in renovations.

"Naming rights allow you to get much closer to the fans than just about anything else," says John Brody, principal of Wasserman Media Group, which brokered naming deals for MetLife Stadium and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Bill Webster of Sun Life Financial says renaming Dolphins Stadium as Sun Life Stadium has not only gotten NFL exposure, but also notice at Miami Hurricanes college football games and big-name rock concerts. "It's a way to break through some of the commercial clutter."

--Michael McCarthy/USA TODAY'S Game On blog, co-wrote this story

15-year-old wins IMSA series in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

2011-09-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Professional racing drivers keep getting younger and younger. Every year, Formula One, for example, seems to crown a new record holder for the youngest race winner in grand prix history, and almost as often, a younger-than-ever world champion. But this story takes the cake.

Madison Snow, you see, is only 15 years old. Too young, in other words, to get a driver's license. But when he does, he'll already be an old hand behind the wheel. That's because he just clinched the Gold Cup in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. Behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, no less – and that's no easy car to control.

In fact he didn't just win the title, he dominated it: The series isn't even over yet, but after finishing second this week at Laguna Seca, he's so far in the lead that he's already got the championship in the bag and can "just have fun" at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta next week. That would be enough to make any mother proud, but we have a feeling Madison's mom Melanie Snow – a past series champ herself, class winner at Sebring and part of the first all-woman team in the American Le Mans Series – must be beaming.

News Source: The Daily Derbi

New special exhibition from 20 September 2011 to 8 January 2012 "Colección Goméz"

2011-09-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Stuttgart. The Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, museum is paying tribute to 24 very special works of art with a new special exhibition. The exhibits in question, which will be on public display from 20 September 2011 until 8 January 2012 are paintings from South America. However, instead of resorting to conventional art materials, Porsche 911 GT2 sports car bonnets have been pressed into service as a "canvass". The project is the brainchild of Argentinian Jorge Gómez. As both art lover and big fan of the Porsche brand, he came up with the idea of simply combining his two biggest passions, linking two fascinating art forms in the process.

19 important artists from Uruguay and Argentina, including for example Pablo Atchugarry, Rogelio Polesello and Jorge Ferreyra Basso, accepted Gomez's invitation to lend Porsche bonnets their very own signature and put a creative twist on them. The work on the skin of a racing car inspired the artists to very different works, offering the beholder a great variety of styles and materials employed – from acrylic to enamel, from mosaic tiles to tyre rubber. But from time to time the works of art still fulfil their original purpose as car bonnets, because Gómez occasionally insists on fitting them on his own Porsche 911 GT2 and taking the artworks for a spin. The collection is now making its European debut in the Porsche museum, being exhibited against the impressive backdrop of 23,000 hp.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information please visit www.porsche.com/museum.

Source: Porsche

Blast From the Past: Eckler's Can Ams

2011-09-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

by Mike Guyette

When John Greenwood moved his operations to Florida in 1979, he joined forces with Eckler's Corvette Parts in Titusville. Bob and Ralph Eckler remade molds for the Greenwood Sportwagon and Turbo GT and sold these kits through their catalog. Eckler's would later build the Daytona body kits for Greenwood, but only after they came out with their own "widebody" style.

Generically referred to as the "Can Am" body style, Eckler's design somewhat resembled a cross between the Greenwood Sebring GT and Turbo GT. This new widebody by Eckler's was actually called the "CR-II Series", the "CR" meaning Café Racer, a term taken from modified, high performance European sports cars that would race from one café to another. To this day many mistake the Eckler's CR-II series for Greenwood cars, and hence, the reason for this section being included in the Greenwood Corvettes website.

There are a few ways to distinguish an Eckler's CanAm from a Greenwood widebodied car, typically in respect to the fenders. The CanAm front fenders are more horizontally pronounced, jutting almost straight out from the stock fender lines. This is particularly noticeable from the front view. The Greenwoods integrated their wider fenders a bit more subtly. The front fenders of the CanAm also sported a single vent, not unlike the stock vent of the rubber bumper Sharks. The Greenwood Sebring GT sported a single protruding vent while the Turbo GT used a vertical five-slot arrangement. All Greenwood widebody street cars also had the rear of the front fenders open for relief of pent up pressure and heat. The CanAm's front fenders merged back to the stock door width, eliminating the open rear and need for a complete door cap.

The rear fenders of the CanAm followed the form of the fronts in that they too jut out from the stock fender line. Most noticeable is the simulated vent on the leading edge of the rear fenders, which is almost a mirror image of the front fender's vent. Actually molded into a separate piece, this non-functional scoop attaches to the door. In some cases, these pseudo-vents were filled in, lending a smoother, custom look to the CanAm's fenders.Just as American Custom Industries built and sold kits and complete cars based on Greenwood designed body panels, so too did Eckler's. They also followed suit with their own Can Ams, building several cars for customers in their Titusville facility. The CR-II Series (I'm not sure if there was a Series I) had several options available according to their 1979 and 1980 catalogs. In these are listed front and rear wheel wells, rear bumpers, a rear spoiler and even a hatchback conversion.

Eckler's primary products were fiberglass back then so it's no wonder that they made just about every conceivable body panel and clip, both stock and custom, for all years of Corvettes. Bob and Ralph had all the bases covered by offering their CR-II series as individual fenders and also as complete rear clips. Rear fenders were offered in 10" and 12" widths, and triple taillight rear bumpers to match these fenders. In many cases the triple taillight bumpers were not ordered, retaining the stock bumper. In doing so, the back of the rear fenders were usually left open, resembling the Greenwood racing and street fenders of the '70s.

Like the Sportwagon and Panelwagon options offered by Eckler's, their Hatchback kits could be ordered as a graft-on, upper rear section, or as a complete rear clip - with or without rear flares. ACI also provided a hatchback conversion, but Greenwood never did. Another popular item and often used in conjunction with the Can Am kits is the recessed quad headlamps conversion, also offered by Eckler's. The options were myriad and as a result many combinations of custom Corvettes could be constructed from Eckler's parts catalog, ensuring some semblance of exclusivity.

I have seen both Sport and Panelwagons in combination with Can Am fenders, Turbo front fenders with Can Am rears, and various wings and spoilers united to Hatchbacks and Sportwagons. On top of the conjoining of differing body panels, some body shops and individuals would also go to great lengths to incorporate their own styling cues, ending up with some unique Corvettes.The Eckler's Can Am style was extremely popular and didn't go unnoticed in the eyes of the model makers. At least two model kits were made by AMT, and I believe a small diecast was produced by Matchbox.

The Eckler's CR-II Series body kits, like most of the Greenwood kits of the '70s and '80s, are no longer available, the molds having been destroyed long ago. To the purists these Corvettes (or any deviation from original, for that matter) are an abomination. I would like to think of the Eckler's, ACI and Greenwood designs as a slice of history that won't soon be replicated, and is truly missed by some. A time when polyester leisure suits, platform shoes and disco music were all the rage. So too were the Café Racer styles and psychedelic paint schemes of those outrageous widebody Corvettes.

Today Eckler's is still the leader in customizing classic and contemporary Corvettes to see their current offerings CLICK HERE

The Last 427

2011-09-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

We were attending the Los Angeles Shelby Club show in Santa Monica Today when we came across this old 427 Cobra. In talking with the owner it is believed to be the last unrestored Shelby 427 on earth. Check out more photos from the Show including Bob Bondurant, a King Cobra, and lots more by Clicking Here.

Volkeswagen Plans For Porsche Stall

2011-09-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

By Michael Satterfield

VW Group is moving forward with its plan to acquire the other half of Porsche's after the planned merger with Porsche's holding company has been put on hold. You may recall that Porsche attempted to buy VW in 2008, and this latest hiccup stems from legal risks that are attacked to that attempted purchase.

Matthias Müller, Porsche’s chief executive, told reporters at the Frankfurt motor show that he expected VW to pursue a back-up plan by exercising options as early as next year to acquire a further 51 per cent of Porsche’s sports car business for €3.9bn. He said the combination would create at least €600m in potential synergies.

This news caused Porsche’s shares to fall on Monday amid fears that VW would indeed exercise the option taking control of Porsche Holding Company's chief asset. Volkswagen has said it is exploring other options in addition to a buy out, but those plans are yet to be reviled. VW's management declined to go into the specifics about the delays, but stated that they were not "unexpected" according to Ferdinand Piech, VW’s chairman.

The event had a shadow cast over it with news of the tenuous state of VW's partnership with Suzuki. The Japanese carmaker has been pressuring VW to sell its almost 20 per cent stake in the company, freeing Suzuki from a co-operation agreement that has been plagued with problems. Executives from Suzuki disliked VW's steamroller approach and the communication problems and cultural differences have stalled progress.

Martin Winterkorn, the CEO of VW simply stated that VW has no plans to end their partnership with Suzuki and that VW is seeking to work with its Japanese partner to resolve any hindrances to moving forward.

VW is enjoying record sales this year, thanks to strong demand in emerging markets across its large stable of brands that include Audi, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti. VW Group sold roughly 5.4 million vehicles in the first eight months of this year, up 14 percent year to date. But the company goal to become the largest carmaker in the world, overtaking Toyota, has faced a series of set backs. As regulatory clearance from the EU has frustrated several mergers and joint ventures with smaller manufacturers.

Source: Volkswagen

Walter Leather: Wearable Speed Art

2011-09-12T10:53:00.001-07:00

Steve of Walter Leather brings old world craftsmanship to every item that is produced under the Walter Leather label. Including one off creations for some of the worlds more discerning automotive and motorcycle collectors. Making each item by hand gives them a level of quality few other leather jackets can claim and being made to each customers specifications means that your jacket will be a handcrafted one of a kind.The quality and unique styling have made Walter Leather the jacket of choice for many celebrities, car collectors, and major political figures (Walter's also make s a line of high-end hunting apparel). To inquire about having your own custom jacket made, visit www.walter-leather.com for contact information. Expect to pay between $1000-$2000 for a hand crafted jacket.

Porsche Targets Ferrari...

2011-09-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

Click Photo for Porsche Parts & Accessories

Tired of yielding ground to Ferrari, Porsche plans to develop a sports car that would compete directly with the more exclusive Italian brand.

"It always irritated me that the 911 tops out at 250,000 euros (about $362,000) and then the 918 continues starting at 750,000 euros ($1.09 million)," CEO Matthias Mueller told the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Mueller added, "In between, Ferrari cavorts around relatively comfortably and without any competition. That is where we need to be. There is still space for a larger sports car, one like the 959 that we built in the 1980s."

He said such a model could cost $360,000 to $570,000.

According to a Reuters report, Porsche has announced plans to have seven model lines, up from the four it currently sells, as part of its goal to boost annual global sales to more than 200,000 units by 2018, up from 97,000 in 2010. A new, pricier sports car would be No. 8.

In addition to the existing four model lines--Boxster, 911, Cayenne, and Panamera--Mueller has planned a small mid-engine roadster patterned on the 550 Spyder, a smaller SUV dubbed the Cajun, and a smaller version of the Panamera GT.

(Source: Automotive News)

Dale Earnhardt and Corvette Rolex 24 at Daytona

2011-09-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

The 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Jan. 28-29, marks a half-century of top-level sports car racing on the high banks and twisting infield of Daytona International Speedway. We're counting down to that milestone with a series of stories looking at some of the drivers, marques and stories that have shaped those 50 years. This week, some bittersweet memories of a stock-car-racing legend's Rolex 24 debut.

“The Intimidator” takes on the Rolex 24

Ask anyone at Corvette Racing for a favorite memory from the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona and you may not get the answer you were expecting.

Sure, it was the year Chevrolet's GTS class contender outlasted the prototypes at Daytona International Speedway to notch up an unexpected outright victory in the 'round-the-clock classic, but the sight of the No. 2 Corvette C5-R taking the checkered flag might not be the magic moment they'd choose. Instead, they're just as likely to want to talk about working with a motorsport legend – namely Dale “The Intimidator” Earnhardt.

In early February, the seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and his son, Dale Jr., took time out from their preparations for the long and grueling NASCAR season ahead to race in the 24 Hours. They made their mark out on the track, finishing fourth overall and second in class together with Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins, but they also left an indelible impression on every team member. Those memories became all the more poignant after Earnhardt Sr. was snatched away on the final lap of the Daytona 500, just two weeks after the 24 Hours.

Doug Fehan (RIGHT, with Johnny O'Connell), longtime program manager at Corvette Racing, describes working with Earnhardt Sr. as “one of the most memorable experiences of my career.” He's quick to add that he's not talking about “Earnhardt the legend, but Earnhardt the man.”

Pilgrim, who, despite his dislike of the description, acted as a kind of road racing mentor to the Earnhardts, echoes Fehan's words.

“The Intimidator was just his racetrack persona,” he says. “The real Dale was a kind-hearted person who genuinely cared about people.”

Pilgrim was Earnhardt's choice of teammate for the 24 Hours, though the first the U.S.-based Brit knew about it was when he received a letter from the great man. Earnhardt didn't know Pilgrim personally, but he knew a little bit about his driving, having seen his already famous last-lap pass on Tommy Archer's Dodge Viper to secure class honors at Petit Le Mans the previous September.

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“Dale sent me a letter after Petit,” explains Pilgrim. “It basically said, ‘Hi, Dale Earnhardt here. Man, that was some pass you pulled on the Viper. That move is exactly why I want you to be my teammate at next year's 24 Hours. You obviously know how to rub paint, so I can't teach you that, but you've got to teach me to drive the Corvette. Sincerely, Dale Earnhardt.'”

Pilgrim admits that he hadn't been aware the Earnhardts were being lined up for the 24 Hours. There were rumors, however, because the plan had been a year in the making.

"It was one of those things that just bubbled up," explains Fehan. "He had noticed what we were doing with the Corvette [the C5-R began racing in 1999] and expressed an interest in the program. Gary Claudio was motorsport marketing manager for Corvette; he took the idea and ran with it."

The original idea had been for the Earnhardts to contest Daytona the previous year, but that plan fell through for two reasons.

"He needed a small surgical procedure on a vertebra,” says Fehan. “He was also very aware that it was Junior's first year in Cup and he didn't need any extra distractions, so the idea went on hold.”

Earnhardt had done it all in his stock car career, but as far as sports car racing went, he was a rookie and happy to admit it. That explains the letter to Pilgrim: He wanted to soak up as much information about the Corvette and the road course at the Daytona International Speedway as possible.

“He would say, ‘If there's anything you think I need to know, please tell me,'” recalls Pilgrim. “I was impressed at how hard he listened. It wasn't so much coaching, as giving him information that he didn't have.”

Earnhardt famously asked for some of that during the night of the race. He'd just taken over the car in heavy rain and called for Pilgrim on the radio. It was a moment that was captured for posterity on the TV broadcast.

“He was just looking for information,” explains Pilgrim, “so I just told him where the slippery bits were and what I was using for braking points.”

The result was that Earnhardt Sr. in the No. 3 'Vette (it had to be No. 3, of course) was able to match Johnny O'Connell aboard the No. 2 machine that went on to win the race.

“Dale was fantastic in the wet,” recalls Pilgrim. “It was more familiar to him because he didn't have the downforce and didn't have to use the brakes so hard. It was much more like driving a Cup car.”

There was no fairy-tale ending to the Earnhardts' debut in the 24 Hours. The sister Corvette, which O'Connell shared with Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel and Franck Freon, was the faster of the two cars, but it was also the one that had the clean run. The No. 3 car lost time during the night with a halfshaft failure.

Not that it dampened Earnhardt Sr.'s enthusiasm for sports car racing. On the way home from the race, he was already discussing with right-hand man Steve Crisp about doing the Le Mans 24 Hours, possibly as early as 2002.

“Dale got a taste for sports car racing,” says Fehan. “After he was done with NASCAR, he was going to do sports cars with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans would definitely have been an element of that.”

For tickets to the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona, CLICK HERE.

Source: Racer for more CLICK HERE