August 17, 2008- Pebble Beach Concours, Carmel, CA
The Mid-Atlantic Region of The Ferrari Club of America was proudly represented by the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial entered by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillips of Arlington, VA. Rear Admiral Phillips has owned this car since 1960, and the history of his ownership and the restoration of the car by David Carte's team at Classic and Sport is a story in itself. Suffice it to say that the Phillips' Ferrari won the highest honors bestowed on a Ferrari at The Pebble Beach Concours- Winner of 1st in Class M-2 (Competition Ferraris), and the Enzo Ferrari Trophy for Best Ferrari in the field.
While walking amongst the Ferraris on display at Pebble Beach, I discovered a long-lost "friend." Back in the Summer of '69 I was left in charge of a 1960 250GT SWB California Spider, one of a total of three cars built with an aluminum body and competition engine. The short version of this story is that at that time a friend of mine owned a Lancia Fulvia HF race car which he was advertising for sale for $4,500, and in order to dispose of it traded it to a buyer from Texas "even-up" for the California Spider. Said friend then quickly departed for his native Italy leaving me with the Ferrari, which became my summer daily driver. (Photo below right). My friend returned to the U.S. that fall and reclaimed his Ferrari, after which I lost track of both the car and the friend. When I saw this car on the lawn, I asked the long-term current owner some very direct questions about his prize, and all of his answers came back positive. Yes indeed, this was the same car, which had raced at both the 24 hours of LeMans in 1960 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961. Where's my "Way Back Machine" when I need it?
June 11, 2008- Simeone Foundation Museum Grand Opening, Philadelphia, Pa.
After several years of viewing Dr. Frederick Simeone's collection of historic racing cars in his old South Philadelphia hideaway, I wasn't prepared for what I saw when I attended the opening of his new facility (www.simeonefoundation.org). Artist's backdrops of the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, and Watkins Glen served to highlight the immaculately-prepared cars to their best advantage, totally unlike the barn-find atmosphere of the doctor's previous warehouse. The building contains a cafeteria and can be rented for car club events and corporate affairs. This collection, currently comprised of 61 automobiles, is amongst the most noteworthy of it's type anywhere in the world, and is now open to the public. It includes the winning cars from the 1938 Mille Miglia, 1937 24 Hour of LeMans, 1953 Sebring Twelve Hours, and 1959 Nurburgring 1000. Put this on your "Must See" list.
April 13, 2008- Ferrari Club of America Mid-Atlantic Region Spring Thaw Luncheon, Reston, VA
The annual Spring Thaw luncheon took place at the Reston Town Center in front of the host restaurant, Paolo's. Temperatures in the low 50s and threatening rain did not deter our winter-weary club members, as 120 of us brought 66 cars to be displayed while we dined on a delicious array of Italian food. I entered Ralph Manaker's 512BBi, which was parked between Ralph's 275GTB/4 and FCA regional director Bill Ebert's 246GTS. There were more than a few photo ops for the Sunday shoppers who found their favorite retail storefronts enhanced by a rare assortment of exciting Italian cars.
March 9, 2008- Amelia Island Concours, Amelia Island Florida
The class entitled "Cars You Never Hear Of" featured a car that I knew something about because it was fabricated in the building where I began my career in the automobile business, the Derham Custom Body Company of Rosemont, PA. The 1948 TASCO was a Gordon Beuhrig-designed, Derham-bodied prototype that ended up being the only example produced. On another part of the field was a blue 250GT SWB "SEFAC Hotrod" with aerodynamica Superamerica-type body, the prototype for the 250GTO. It languished on the top floor of the Derham building (by that time it was also the ALGAR FERRARI building) for two years during the late 1960's, loved but unsaleable.
October 14 to October 19- Mountain Mille 2007
I co-drove with Jeff Fisher in his just-out-of-restoration Lancia B24S Convertible as participants in Rich and Jean Taylor's VINTAGE RALLIES third annual Mountain Mille, a thousand miles of breathtaking scenery and not-to-be-believed roads. Coupled with overnight stops at luxury hotels such as the Berry Hill Inn, The Homestead, and The Greenbrier, there are lots of good stories to be retold. By the way, the Lancia performed like a new Honda- flawlessly!
September 30, 2007- First Annual St Michaels Concours, St. Michaels, MD
Featuring fifty mostly-Pebble Beach and other noteworthy concours winners, the first annual St. Michaels Concours was difficult to beat in terms of quality and ambience. Several of the entrants had been Best of Show at other major venues, and, displayed against a background of classic wooden boats beside The Inn At Perry Cabin, what's not to like?
October 2005- The Tucker Museum, Old Town Alexandria, VA
Led by our intrepid organizer, author and raconteur Dave Kinney, a group of local car guys and girls toured the privately-owned Tucker museum in Alexandria, VA. Not one, but THREE, mint-condition examples of this rare bird were ours for the scrutinizing, along with enough engines, spare parts, and complete plans and blueprints to build a fourth, I'm quite sure.
October 2005- First Annual Mountain Mille
I never thought that driving 1,000 miles in four days through Virginia and West Virginia could be this much fun, but just try it in one of your all-time favorite cars and let me know. Jeff Fisher's 1955 Lancia Aurelia 4th Series B20S, complete with Nardi conversion, is tailor-made for this type of switchback, mountainous driving. Call Rich and Jean Taylor at Vintage Rallies and get ready for your own gourmet driving adventure.
June 2005- Ralph Lauren Collection, Museum of Modern Art, Boston, MA
While on a trip to Boston to visit Paul Russell and Company in Essex, MA, Paul extended an invitation to me to see the exhibit of Ralph Lauren's collection that was on display at the Museum of Modern Art. Paul's company is in charge of restoring Mr. Lauren's cars, and two of these have been awarded Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours in Carmel, Ca.
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January 27-30, 2005
Scottsdale, Arizona Classic Car Auctions
The Show- It seems that this is the ultimate week and venue for record-setting prices at auction each year. Barrett-Jackson claimed 100% sales, and its surprise star was the 1954 Olds F-88 GM Concept Car. The “Smart Money” was guessing that it would sell for $600,000. So much for that- the winning bid was $3,000,000. There is exactly the right proportion of bright lights, Bidder’s Bar, and Speed Channel to induce otherwise rational folks to loose control. I myself bid on a half dozen cars at the RM Auction at The Arizona Biltmore, without success. (I had never actually stayed at the Biltmore until this week, and I completely lost myself in architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s fantasy-like environment.) A 1934 Duesenberg Model J convertible coupe set the record for highest sale price at this auction at $2,500,000, followed closely by the “Feature Car”, the 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato at $2,450,000.
Cavallino Classic, January 22-23,2005, Palm Beach, Florida
The Cavallino Classic at The Breakers Hotel kicks off the year’s
concours schedule. As a judge for the 14th annual event, I was teamed with
Paul Russell and Donovan Leyden. We were assigned to critique Jack Thomas’
1955 Ferrari 375 America Coupe Speciale (ex-Gianni Agnelli, 1955 Turin Show,
2003 Best In Class at Pebble Beach), Manny Del Arroz’ 1955 375MM Sport, and
old friend and customer Peter McCoy’s 1962 400 Superamerica. All three cars
had been restored to perfection by Motion Products, and the Arroz 375 not
only won its class, but Best Of Show as well. My sincere thanks to Chief Judge
Ed Gilbertson and Coppa Judge Rick Race for inviting me to participate in
this noteworthy event.
The following day, we drove Jeff Fisher’s Type 57 Bugatti Cabriolet and Lancia
Aurelia B20GT to the Polo Field in Wellington for the inaugural of Andrew
Carduner’s Palm Beach International concours. Featuring several of the Cunningham
cars from the Collier collection, along with everything else from "A
to Z" automotivley, this event looks like a permanent fixture on the
concours calendar.
December 1, 2004
The majority of the transactions that I assist with as a consultant never
appear on this website. For example, I recently completed the transfer of
a 1923 Stutz Bearcat Roadster from a seller in the Midwest to a collector
in New England. A 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL with 14,000 original miles was
sold to a Pennsylvania buyer. Also, a 1995 Ferrari 456 GT with 8,000 miles,
and a 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider were acquired by Maryland residents. Recent
purchases of Daily Drivers include a 2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a 2004 Volvo
X-Country Station Wagon, a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 and a 2005 E320, and a
2003 BMW X-5 4.4. Please fell free to contact me with your needs.
Ferrari Club Of America International Meet
August 17, 2004 Monterey, CA
Following closely behind the Pebble Beach week of activities was
this year’s Ferrari Club of America Annual Meet. At the track event held at
Laguna Seca the previous Saturday, we were treated to a race featuring twenty-two
250GTOs. (A 23rd GTO was wrecked during practice on Friday).
I participated in the Concours as Chief Class Judge for the Dino 246GT Class.
One of the Dinos being judged was entered by its first and only owner, who
purchased the car at the Factory in 1970. It was shown in its original, unrestored
condition.
GOODING AUCTION, August 15, 2004
Pebble Beach, CA
During this year’s annual trip to Pebble Beach, I represented a
collector-client at David Gooding’s auction at the Equestrian center, immediately
following the Pebble Beach Concours on Sunday.
I was fortunate to purchase a 33,000 mile 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
coupe, a very unique 1-owner car in spectacular, mostly un-restored condition.
The combination of dark gray paint with its original red leather really popped.
Latter in the evening, I also was the successful bidder of a very well-restored
1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, striking in silver with red leather interior.
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Schenley Park, July 18 & 19, 2004
This was my first trip to Pittsburgh for this year’s 23rd Annual
races over city streets. The 2.3 mile circuit features light poles, stone
walls, trees, curbs, and very little margin for error. To make things even
more interesting, it rained the entire weekend. Not that it mattered- the
participants (pronounced crazies) that I was hanging out with never missed
a lap. If you’re really into vintage car racing, this is a must.
May 8, 2004
Morning Madness Road Party III
Back by popular demand, my almost-annual vintage sportscar tour through some of the
most picturesque roads in the Hunt Country of Northern Virginia occurred under the best-
possible weather conditions, which, the night before, looked anything but promising.
Beginning in Middleburg, a small but highly distinctive group of cars set out for our
ultimate destination, The Hunter's Head restaurant in Upperville, VA. We were fortunate
to have as participants the proprietors of the Hunter's Head, Sandy Lerner and Don Roden,
who lavished upon us the personal attention and tasty food that their restaurant is known
for.
Our group consisted of some charter members of the original M.M.R.P.s: Ralph
Manaker's 1967 Ferrari 275GTB/4, and 1955 300SL Gullwing, driven by his brother
Arnold Manaker, Harvey Cherner (1969 MB 280SL , along with Mike Egan), and John
Denegre (1956 Jag XK140 roadster.).
Newcomers Brendan and Dana Keegan, and Ted Bullerdick, brought a pair of 1964
Porsche 356C coupes, John Redmond drove his 1971 Maserati Ghibli Spider, Sandy and
Don came in their 1974 Jag XK-E Series III roadster, and Jim and Kim Biever added some
American muscle with their "heavily breathed-on" Mustang. With the exception of the
Virginia State Trooper that joined the party (after he noticed that my 1970 Porsche 911 was
leading the pack sporting an expired inspection sticker), there were no hitches, unusual
considering the age and nature of the cars.
There's a lot to be said for "low-tech" vintage simplicity.
January 22-25, 2004
13th Annual Cavallino Classic, Palm Beach Florida
