Second Time Around...Road Trip Day Two

We were bookin it out of Gallup, New Mexico when I spotted some of these tall "alien" things alongside the road.

Then heading into Texas we passed the Continental Divide. One of the highlights of Texas was "The Big Texan Steakhouse" where you can eat a 72 oz. steak free...oh yeah...but you have to do it in an hour!

Then in Conway, Texas we came across "VW Ranch" - kind of like "Cadillac Ranch" only German.

We finished the day in Oklahoma City where we're gonna bunk in for the night.

Second Time Around...Road Trip Day One

We headed out I-8 to Gila Bend - there was no drama in Arizona, except the occasional dodging of illegals trying to cross the highway. We then made our way up to Flagstaff with a few sprinkles of rain.

Wide open road...

Like a scene from Arizona Highways - Teepees in Arizona

Then into New Mexico, stopping for the night in Gallup on Old Route 66. We're bunkin in at the historic El Rancho Hotel.


The El Rancho opened in 1937 and from the beginning it was a gathering place for the famous. Drawn by the many films made in the area were Ronald Regan, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Kirk Douglas. These were just a few of the many starts listed in the guest register.

Historic El Rancho lobby

Well, it's Wednesday now...heading off into New Mexico...I'm keepin my eyes open for flying saucers!

Second Time Around...A Road Trip

Yep...a "Second Time Around" for this car. It's a 1957 Speedster. The ride belongs to George Alspaugh and he has spent the last two years reseaching and working on it in an effort to do a "Full Concours" restoration, bringing this car back from the dead! The last time this car looked like this, was on the showroom floor, "back in the day" sitting there next to VW's. Hence, "Second Time Around."

Now for the "Road Trip." George knew I was heading to the Porsche Parade in Saint Charles outside of Chicago and asked me to ride shotgun and to help him clean when we get there. Oh...did I mention, this is his first concours ever! I'll try to update our adventure on a daily basis as we head across country.

Take a look at two shots I took in his garage this last weekend. The Speedster is white with blue leather interior...just drop dead gorgeous!







Getting ready to hit the road, 6 AM La Mesa...Speedster in tow! Where are the donuts?!!!

Cheap Thrills

Every once in awhile I like to twist things up a little. A friend of a friend, of a friend, of a friend turned me on to this show. It was held at a local steak house with a large parking lot....a bunch of dragsters and gassers were on display. How did the local hot rodders react? Good gawd almighty! Crowds of eager admirers drooled over the machinery.

Here are some photos...check them out! Very Cool stuff.

This is a vintage front engine machine with a blown Hemi. This photo shows why they are called "Rails."

Another vintage front engine dragster, newer than the last, notice the front suspension and wings.

The business end of a rail with a set of slicks ready-to-race. Ever ask yourself, "why are they so narrow?" There are several reasons, just a few; the rear tires catch less air this way, less weight, and as the dragster accelerates the rear tires want to toe in even with one straight axle from end to end...the narrower they are the less that will happen. At 300MPH the tires will grow in diameter about 5-7 inches and only about 8-9 inches of rubber will be on the ground.

This is the engine out of the car above, blown small block.

My favorite car of the show, a '41 Willys gasser. Just looking at the stance of this car, it just wanted to jump!

Every now and then, they would fire one of these up and people would react like poking a stick in an ant hole...fun to watch and listen!

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908/03 Through Brian's Eyes

This is a great video of last years Monterey Historics as seen through the eyes of Brian Redman...driving a 908.

This car was fielded under the Bruce Canepa Tent. It's a 908/03 from the Collier Collection. The 908 cars had a flat-eight engine and there were only 13 produced in '69-'70 and two in '71, so the cars are quite rare. One interesting note, Porsche R & D put a 908 engine in a 914 to give to Dr. Porsche for his 60th birthday back in the day.

The video is a little over 9 minutes long and has some great Porsche footage for those of you that did not make the Porsche Year at Monterey. The year 2009 was Steve Earle's last year at putting on that event which he started in 1974.

Anyway...check out the video...it's cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsf8S3qgwX8

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Medication Needed...Please!

All this stuff I read about in the Newspaper or see on TV connected with everyday life had my head spinning...so what to do about it?

I took Monique and we headed for "Freds" for some "Ice Cold Margaritas." After a few, I was filling better about life in general and noticed this "Kool" mural painted on the wall. Snapped a photo of it to share with you guys. Ah...life is now better and back to "Car Stuff"...I made a promise to myself to stay away from the news.

Funny what a painting of cars on a wall in a Mexican Restaurant will do for ya! Come to think about it, that's how Monique and I looked on our way to Freds in the flamed Buick.

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Screeech!!!

In this day and age, sometimes it fun to "step back in time."

Remember when...you got your windshield cleaned, air checked, oil checked, and gas pumped, all for free, every time? And, you got trading stamps to boot? I do...it makes me smile, and glad I experienced it!

This is an old Phillips 66 in McLean, Texas on Route 66. Monique and I saw this on a past road trip. Kinda' takes ya back.

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356 Factory Tour...Parts 3 & 4

In part 2 of the 356 Factory Tour we took a look at the painting and finishing of the body. Now onto parts 3 and 4. Each part is about nine minutes.

In part 3 we start off with the machining of engine parts and then move into assembly of the engine, including things like checking machined parts tolerance, balancing, CC'ing the heads and the beginning of engine assembly.


Here is the link if you did not get it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u53haOMYcH0&feature=related

In part 4 we take a look at the final assembly of the engine and testing. Then to the building of the trans to installing the trans and engine as well as other final components.



Here is the link if you did not get it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVMbGCmYTpQ&feature=related

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Sonoma Historic Takes Flight

Call me kinda' sheltered, but I've never really been to Sonoma or Napa to go wine tasting. The last time I was at that local area racetrack it was called Sears Point, with little or no amenities. Now it is all grown up and called Infineon Raceway, and is a fitting place to hold the first annual "Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival" which has the potential to become a huge vintage race weekend (or week) in the future.

This was a super event, not just a race weekend, but a real happenin'. If you're a wine conniseur or a foodie, it was all there for you to partake. Smack dab in the paddock area was the "Wine Country Pavillion" serving up free wine tastings and food samples by the dozens. There was also a night of the same with other local vineyards and restaurants in Sonoma at the Sebastiani Winery.

The classic car corrals were packed and people browsed through the paddock to check out the cars and vendor tents. So whether it was the fine cars, fine wine, or roads winding through the vineyard covered hillsides, there was something for every car enthusiast to enjoy.

I really haven't touched on the racing....oh yeah, there was racing. Many not involved in the sport seem to say, "It's not really racing" - not true. It is racing, however, the drivers understand that they are really only the custodians of these cars and the real purpose is to share the cars with others to see, hear, and appreciate at speed. So was the first annual Sonoma Historics a success? Oh yeah.

A 906, 908, Pooper and another 906. Check out the half cut 906 engine display.

1974 RSR, 911 460.9053...two time Swiss National Champ.

RS-60 Spyder, 718-052. The first appearance for the RS-60 was at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring.

This is 908 010. The 908 had a pressurized aluminum space-frame with a air valve fitted so that the chassis could be checked for cracks.

This is 910 004. The 910's weight is 1,298 pounds.

IMSA GTU Winner, '75 Daytona 24 and '79 Sebring 12...it's a 1968 911T called "Jezebel".

1961 Carrera Abarth GTL, #1015...one of 21 cars made.

A 935...up on it's air jacks, simply awesome!

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Speaking About Monterey

Speaking About Monterey

This is a totally KOOL event. It's the Concours on the street in Carmel. This will be the fourth year of the Carmel-By-The Sea Concours, held on Tuesday, August 10th.

It's free to check out and there are so many great cars to gaze at. If you think about entering, you still may be able to get in. A little history on the happenin'...a Multi Marques show featuring Porsches and Ferraris plus other neat cars. What a great way to start the "Over the Top" car week off!!!

This is a "Must See" event....every year it just gets better!

For more info: info@motorclubevents.com



Other Monterey Events:
Automobilia Monterey
August 10-11, http://www.automobiliamonterey.com/

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August 12-15, http://www.mazdaraceway.com/

Concorso Italiano
August 13, http://www.concorso.com/

Pebble Beach Retroauto
August 13-15, http://www.pebblebeachconcours.com/


For more, visit: http://www.montereycarweek.com/


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Maricopa Speed Sunday

Fellow blog follower and contributor Marty sent this to share. This is a story and photos of an event going back to March 1959. It is about a very amateur race at Maricopa, which he helped put on. The slides were Anscochrome, and faded badly, but still very cool. I just love these old photos!

AMATEUR RACING AT ITS MOST AMATEUR
By Martin Goldsmith
In the whole history of the Jaguar Owners Club in Los Angeles, there has probably been only one race event sponsored by the Club. That was on March 1, 1959. The JOC members mostly drove sports versions of the marque, and a few participated in competitive events such as slaloms (as autocross was called then), or drag racing, or a few time trials. But, inspired by an event put on by the Singer Owner's Club, our JOC planned and carried out a race event at an abandoned airstrip near Maricopa in the San Joaquin Valley. We called it Maricopa Speed Sunday.

A course was laid out on the featureless pavement, and was marked by paper bags weighted by sand (who had cones?). Two or three members set up the course the day before. Because groups like the SOC often hosted our members at their events, the JOC invited others to join with us. The only outsider that I now remember was a very special guest, and he was the only "regular" race driver there. That was Lew Spencer. Lew was a very accomplished driver, who went on to make his mark in national and even international racing. At that time he drove for Rene Pellandini, the importer of Morgan automobiles. Lew showed up with "Baby Doll", his BRG Morgan, on a trailer. The rest of us drove our mounts to the track.

It was a lot of fun that day, taking practice laps. Finally in the afternoon the field lined up for a standing start. How long the track was, and how many laps we drove, I cannot remember. But the track had several long straights, and in spite of Lew's skill in the curves, my XK150S managed to get in front and stay there. There were pewter cups for trophies, and my first place cup still resides on my desk. It reminds me of crazier days! Did we have emergency equipment? No. Did we have insurance? I don't think so. Did we have fun? You bet your bippie.

The Start/Finish tower.

Flagging the winner Marty at the finish.

Baby Doll arrives on trailer.

Baby Doll in the pits, with crew.

L. to R. Marty Goldsmith and Lew Spencer.

Mechanic Bill Scott working on the Jag 150S.

Overview of Maricopa airport - bleak!

Just a note, more info on Lew Spencer and his "Baby Doll" can be found at: http://www.legendsofriverside.com/spencer.htm

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Road Trip with the 914/6GT

Sorry guys...the blog will go dark for a few days. Monique and I are on our way to the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival with the GT this coming weekend.

I'll be chasing the faster cars (A.K.A. Faster Drivers) in Group 4A around Infineon Raceway. Some of the cars running in my class are, Alfa GTAs, Porsche 911s, Lotus 26Rs, Ginetta G4Rs, Elvas and the two other 914/6GTs of Jon Wactor and Hans Lapine, both blog followers.

I'll start posting again when I return.

Le May...America's Car Museum

Blog follower Bob Lampert sent this along for me to share. This sounds pretty cool. A major milestone for LeMay - AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM was reached when the Museum announced that it will break ground on the long anticipated automotive Museum in Tacoma, Washington on June 10, 2010. The Museum’s Grand Opening is in the summer 2011. About LeMay – AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM: AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the LeMay Collection of automobiles and memorabilia, along with vehicles and artifacts it may acquire. The LeMay Collection was recognized in the Guinness Book of World records as the largest privately held car collection in the world. At its peak, the collection was in excess of 3,000 automobiles, motorcycles, trucks and other vehicles, plus more than 30,000 pieces of related 20th century Americana. Plans are under way to build a brand-new museum campus in Tacoma, WA to feature 1,000 cars and memorabilia. More information is available online at: http://www.lemaymuseum.org/