It’s been a week of bifurcations: making assignments for the next issues of CM and SCM on one hand, sheparding the three MGs from shop to DMV to garage on the other; preparing for the California Mille (we’ll be on it when you read this, in a 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta spider), and pushing forward with fund raising and logistics meetings for the Allure of the Autombile.
Sitting in the airport at Palm Springs, waiting for my flight back home to Portland. Forecast here is a sunny 93 degrees today—I’m afraid to look at the weather report for Rainland.
I came down to Palm Springs yesterday, flying in Lear-jet luxury, courtesy of Portland Art Museum supporters Eric and Ronna Hoffman. Sports Car Market is actively involved with bringing the show, “The Allure of the Automobile,” to Portland, and helping to raise the $750,000 needed to make it happen.
Charlotte Autofair, The B Team Update and Alex Goes Off-Road
Where’s My Sunscreen? The La Jolla Motoring Classic and Other Adventures
I’m just back from a weekend in La Jolla, where I was the emcee of the 7th Annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic. The weather was fantastic, and the setting, on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, couldn’t have been better.
On the Saturday tour, Wendie and I got to drive Paul Emple’s 1930 Isotta Fraschini Type 8A Flying Star. Powered by a 400 cubic inch V8, it’s a beast of a car. (Who needs first gear?)
Wendie went to the event with me, and SCM contributor and etceterini specialist Donald Osborne, along with Frank Garofolo, helped take care of the booth. Wendie brought Patricia Hai from her company, Enthusiast Media Group and had some nifty metallic-red SCM water bottles as subscriber giveaways.
Escaping from what must be the wettest winter on record, Wendie and I are headed to the 7th Annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic this weekend. At the concours on Sunday, I will be the Master of Ceremonies and the Guest of Honor – I was honored when good friend, Alan Taylor, of Alan Taylor Restorations, asked Wendie and me to participate.
Saturday morning, there will be a tour of classic cars, and we’ll be driving a 1930 Isotta-Fraschini Type 8 “Flying Star,” which I’m sure will be slightly different than the 1974 MGB that I picked up from the shop this morning. But more about that below.
From broken axles to sheared rear ends to rebuilding vintage Becker radios, it’s been a busy week in the SCM stable.
We took our 1973 Land Rover SIII 88 to Tillamook State Forest, and headed into the snow from Roger’s Camp. This was my first run since I installed an ARB compressed air rear locker, and I had been warned to be gentle. Well, a few miles up the trail I momentarily forgot the advice of my mentors, and managed to shear off the ends of both rear axles while trying to rock myself out of a deep snow hole. Our leader, Doug Shipman of Ship’s Mechanicals, got me turned around, and once on level ground he pulled out the rear axles, dropped the rear driveshaft and I drove home with power to just the front wheels. I view it as a very expensive driving school; hardened axles on the way.
“This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across more than a dozen categories and featured hundreds of finalists,” said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. “We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate SCM on their success.” To view the Sports […]
After two weeks on the road, I’m headed home.
First stop last week was Auctions America by RM in Ft. Lauderdale, FL where we shot 3 episodes of What’s My Car Worth. A new feature this year has me actually road-testing the cars that are going to cross the block; cars I got to drive included the barn-find 289 Cobra that sold for $467,500, a 1969 Land Rover SIIA 109 and more. There was an Alfa GT Jr. that I felt the red mist for, but luckily it sold when I was busy doing something else.
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