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| Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible |
| 03.30.05 (4:01 am) [edit] |
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By Jamie Kitman Forget what the TV commercials say about the inherent strength of the arch. The radically curvilinear roofline of Volkswagen's New Beetle didn't make any particular sense when it was introduced in 1998, and it still doesn't, beyond the fact that, stylistically, it tracks the original Beetle while providing all the front-seat headroom a couple of pituitary giants partial to top hats could ever ask for. So less is the pity that VW takes the New Beetle roof and hacks it off to make the 2003 New Beetle convertible. With roof up, its shape closely reflects the classic Beetle form. Top down, it looks even better--as handsome, competent, and well finished a four-seat convertible as we can think of at the price, a comparatively modest $20,450. Thanks to clever German engineering, it's a perfectly acceptable daily-driving substitute for a hardtop. More... http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/convertibles/ 0301_vw_new_beetle/" title="http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/convertibles/ 0301_vw_new_beetle/" target="_blank"http://www.automobilemag.com/... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Online Automotive Auction |
| The DeLorean: More than the sum of its auto parts |
| 03.28.05 (4:20 am) [edit] |
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By Kevin Cowherd Sun Staff Originally published March 27, 2005 At an auto auction a few years ago, the best-selling adventure author Clive Cussler stared at a classic DeLorean and asked an acquaintance why people still seem so fascinated with the car. "I see the same thing in these cars that I see in your books," replied James Espey, vice-president of Houston-based DeLorean Motor Company, which owns the rights to the brand and restores and sells the cars. "It's just a great story." The March 19 death of visionary automaker John Z. DeLorean, best known for developing the sleek 1980s sports car with the stainless-steel skin and gull-wing doors that bore his name, marks the final chapter in one of the most riveting sagas in automotive history. More... http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal-as.delorean27mar27" title="http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal-as.delorean27mar27" target="_blank"http://www.baltimoresun.com/f...,1,2330800.story?coll=bal-artslife-s ociety&ctrack=1&cset=true Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Online Automotive Auction |
| AutoFair Carnival Offers Family Fun |
| 03.27.05 (5:49 am) [edit] |
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One of Lowe's Motor Speedway's giant parking lots will be transformed into a county fair-style amusement park April 7-10 as the inaugural Food Lion AutoFair Carnival offers fun for adults and children of all ages. Located at the intersection of Speedway Blvd. and Highway 29 in the speedway's silver parking lot, the Food Lion AutoFair Carnival will feature more than a dozen rides along with a variety of games and concessions. Combining traditional country themes with contemporary entertainment, the midway will include a Ferris wheel, a tilt-a-whirl, a merry-go-round, Tubs of Fun, the Castlemania Fun House and much more. The carnival, operated by National Events Group, Inc., will open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, and noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 8-10. An unlimited ride ticket is $15 or individual ride tickets can be purchased separately. There is no admission charge for the carnival area. The carnival will be held in conjunction with Food Lion AutoFair, the nation's largest automotive extravaganza. The April 7-10 event includes a car show featuring various makes and models from more than 50 clubs; thousands of vendor spaces offering a plethora of automotive parts and memorabilia; and a two-day collector car auction conducted by Tom Mack. A car corral, which completely circles the 1.5-mile superspeedway, features nearly 2,000 vehicles of all makes and models that are available for sale or trade. Food Lion AutoFair hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking for the Food Lion AutoFair is $5. Contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway events department at 704-455-3205 for additional information. Source: http://www.lowesmotorspeedway... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Online Automotive Auction |
| 50 Collectible Corvettes to Set Hearts Pounding at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction |
| 03.26.05 (5:17 am) [edit] |
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PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2005--Fifty highly sought Corvettes will be sold at no reserve during the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction. With models ranging from 1954 through 2004, this is one of the best selections of America's sports car ever offered at a Barrett-Jackson event. The 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction and Lifestyle Exposition is scheduled for March 31 - April 3, 2005 at the South Florida Expo Center in Palm Beach, Fla., with the signature kick-off gala taking place the evening of March 31, 2005. "Corvettes are in high demand among collectors," commented Craig Jackson, President of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "The red-blooded American sports car stole the show at our Scottsdale auction in January of this year, where we sold quite a collection of pristine Corvettes, one-of-a-kind concepts and customs." Collectors have consistently demonstrated that the Corvette remains as one of the most desirable sports cars in the world. Several of the iconic cars have achieved record-setting prices at Barrett-Jackson events. More... http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/in dex.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&n ewsId=20050325005100&news Lang=en" title="http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/in dex.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&n ewsId=20050325005100&news Lang=en" target="_blank"http://home.businesswire.com/... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Online Automotive Auction |
| Retro Mustang hearkens us all back to days when cool was very hot |
| 03.23.05 (6:23 pm) [edit] |
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By Betty DeRamus / The Detroit News It was 1964 when Mustangs first galloped out of the Ford Motor Company's corral. That was an edgy year, a year of conflicts and conquests: the Beatles toured America for the first time, the boxer later known as Muhammad Ali became the world heavyweight champion, Jack Ruby got a death sentence for killing Lee Harvey Oswald, Nelson Mandela went to prison, China set off its first atomic bomb, three civil rights workers were killed in Mississippi and Peyton Place became the first prime-time American soap opera. Yet both Time and Newsweek thought enough of the new Ford car to splash it on their covers. But who would have guessed that a retro version that looks a lot like the 1964 pony cars would be alive and kicking 41 years later? And who would have thought dealers could sell those cars without offering customers rebates or other incentives? It's happening, though. In fact, Ford's Auto Alliance assembly plant in Flat Rock will build an extra 32,000 Mustangs this year to keep up with the demand for the retro version of the classic 1964 Mustang. Detroiter Owen Simmons, a retired city employee, understands the car's appeal. "My very first car was a Mustang," he says. "That was back in 1971. The Mustang that I purchased was bottom of the line... It did not have power brakes, the only thing it had was automatic transmission and a heater. But it was a sporty car...and it had good gas mileage for its day." More... http://www.detnews.com/2005/m... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Online Automotive Auction |
| The costs of owning and operating a car |
| 03.22.05 (3:53 am) [edit] |
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Sunday, March 20, 2005 By Warren Brown THE WASHINGTON POST WASHINGTON - I have a possible solution to the Social Security crisis: Buy and drive less expensive automobiles. I got the idea from the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), an independent think tank avowedly dedicated to the protection of the American taxpayer and consumer. AIER recently updated a popular study, "What Your Car Really Costs: How to Keep a Financially Safe Driving Record." It's well worth reading, especially if you're a working stiff and first-time buyer of a new car or truck. Making the right choice could save enough money to help you open one of those private/personal retirement accounts currently being debated as an alternative or an addition to the nation's Social Security system. But first, a bit about the study: For purposes of statistical and editorial convenience, it looks at the costs of owning and operating a single type of vehicle - car or truck; small, large, or medium - over a 50-year period in which it has been driven 750,000 miles. Of course, most U.S. car buyers purchase at least a dozen different vehicles in that period, and many own two or more vehicles at the same time. Also, some people drive an average 15,000 miles annually. Others drive considerably more. No problem. The AIER study isn't meant to tell you exactly how much you will spend on given kinds of vehicles. It's designed to give you an idea of those costs and how you might reduce them in the long term. Its philosophy is every penny counts. "Americans spend more of their disposable incomes on automobiles than on virtually anything else except shelter," the AIER study says. Too many Americans spend that money with little regard for how those expenditures today will affect their chances for educational opportunities, good housing or adequate retirement incomes tomorrow. The organization's automotive cost estimates includes loss of dollar value through vehicle depreciation; maintenance, gasoline and insurance expenses; and taxes and fees. A small sedan (such as a Honda Civic) has an average ownership/operating cost of $240,704 over the same period and mileage range, according to AIER estimates. A "medium-sized" sedan (a Ford Five Hundred) would cost $303,102 over that period. Many factors affect those estimates, not least of which is the continuing argument in the automotive industry over what constitutes "small" or "medium" or "large." For that matter, there is growing disagreement over what is and isn't a car or a truck. And AIER makes no allowances for the comparative costs of, say, the relatively higher purchase cost of a gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle versus the lower buying cost, but potentially higher operating expense (in terms of gasoline expenditures) for a car or truck with a traditional gasoline engine that uses more fuel. The study's strong point is its embrace of common sense. For example, if you're on a limited income or otherwise living on a modest salary, it probably isn't very smart to go to a police auction looking for a cheap price on a BMW 5-series luxury sport sedan. Why? The purchase price is only one element of a vehicle's expense. It costs money to insure, garage and maintain it, and those expenses tend to rise, sometimes astronomically, for high-end automobiles and trucks. There are also vehicle property taxes in jurisdictions that collect such levies. The "low" price you paid for your BMW is of little value to a tax assessor using standard, existing market values to figure out your tax bill. Thus - and again, especially for first-time buyers - Chapter VIII of the study, "Insuring Your Vehicle," could be of particular importance. There are lots of other useful nuggets, including advice on whether you should buy new or used, how to track and respond to vehicle safety recalls, how to choose a vehicle that retains the best resale value, and how to use state lemon laws if you happen to be the unfortunate soul who bought the one and only defective Toyota Corolla. Source: http://www.northjersey.com/pa... Classic Car news from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TOP PRIORITY FOR BARRETT-JACKSON AUCTION AND CONSIGNORS |
| 03.21.05 (3:14 am) [edit] |
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Donations from the five-day event reach nearly $1.75 million setting another Barrett-Jackson record. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 4, 2005 – The 2005 Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale soared to new heights in nearly every category from car sales and prices to attendance and most importantly to giving back to the community. While the primary charitable beneficiary of the Auction, Childhelp USA® received more than $1.5 million generated by several events held throughout the Auction, donations to the Tsunami relief, cancer research, McPherson College and the Make a Wish Foundation of Arizona were made through car sales during the week. “Barrett-Jackson focused our charitable efforts this year on children and partnered with Childhelp USA to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most,” said Craig Jackson, president of Barrett-Jackson. “We increased our contribution from $148,000 in 2004 to more than $1.5 million in 2005. And then you have consigners who donate portions or all of their proceeds to charity making the Auction a vehicle for giving back to the community.” Tsunami victims and charities associated with the disaster benefited from the event with notable actor Tim Allen announcing during the sale of a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback, Lot 975, that a percentage of the proceeds over $100,000 would be donated to charity and that the actor would match the contribution. The car sold for $118,000. Additionally, Lot 1247.1, a 427 Cobra re-creation rolling chassis sold for $50,000 and 100 percent of the proceeds were donated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian Services Fund for Tsunami victims. A Ford engine built by Jeg’s Engine Master was dubbed the “Charity Engine Auction,” and sold for $45,000 with all the proceeds benefiting the Jeg’s Foundation for Cancer Research. Two custom choppers were built and auctioned with distinctive charities in mind. Lot 1260.1 is a 2004 Chris Olson Custom Chopper built for Wayne Newton. The bike sold for $52,000 with the proceeds donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in loving memory of Chris Olson’s niece, a Wish child. Another custom chopper, Lot 720.1, sold for $47,000. This extraordinary custom motorcycle was built using only the finest components and the proceeds went to the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation. Finally, Lot # 1251, a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible donated by Barrett-Jackson customer, Ron Pratte, sold for $38,000 and the proceeds are being donated to McPherson College's School of Automotive Restoration. All fees and commissions were waived by Barrett-Jackson on these vehicles. In keeping with the focus on children’s charities, Barrett-Jackson also donated vendor space to the Ronald McDonald House and the Mahnah Club for Abused Children. The Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale was held Jan. 26–30, 2005 at WestWorld in Scottsdale. The Auction Company is setting its sights on its next auction held March 31-April 3 in Palm Beach, Florida. About Barrett-Jackson Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Classic Car Auction” in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has expanded to other venues that include Palm Beach, Florida and Southern California. Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson enjoys a unique reputation for its ability to value, market and consult in the classic car market to consistently achieve above-industry prices. The company’s name is synonymous with a luxury lifestyle and high-end classic and collector automobiles. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694. |
| Easter Activities At The Heritage Motor Centre |
| 03.20.05 (7:15 am) [edit] |
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This is the time of year classic car owners will be bringing their treasured possessions out of store for their first weekend leisure drives. What better way than to take a treasure trail through the Warwickshire countryside and visit the Heritage Motor Centre - the motor Mecca of middle England. The Heritage Motor Centre is a 'golden Easter egg' nestled between Royal Leamington Spa and Banbury, close to junction 12 of the M40. It is home to the world's largest collection of historic British cars including marques such as Austin, Morris, Riley, Rover, Mini and more recently Armstrong Siddeley. This is no ordinary museum, this is a history of Britain on wheels, which not only looks back at the heritage of the British motor industry but also into the future. The Centre recently opened an exciting new exhibition called Green by Design, which looks at motoring and the environment. It will interest all the family as it explains how cars have developed over the generations and provides many examples of how the motor industry is developing alternative fuelled cars for a greener future. During Easter there is a Green by Design - Children's Competition to win a ride in the world's first Hybrid Rally Car - the Toyota Prius. More... http://www.carpages.co.uk/news/heritage-motor-ce ntre-19-03-05.asp?switched=on&echo=7397 81232" title="http://www.carpages.co.uk/news/heritage-motor-ce ntre-19-03-05.asp?switched=on&echo=7397 81232" target="_blank"http://www.carpages.co.uk/new... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| Packard site excites Shelby |
| 03.18.05 (4:24 am) [edit] |
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By George Hunter / The Detroit News SHELBY TOWNSHIP -- Trees, tar, a water tower and a retooled restaurant are signs that plans to convert the area around the old Packard Proving Grounds into a destination spot for classic car buffs are close to becoming reality. Landscaping crews next month will begin planting 80 elm trees on the old proving grounds at Van Dyke near 23 Mile. Efforts to rehabilitate the historic site, where the former Packard Motor Car Co. tested vehicles from the 1920s to the 1950s, kicked off last year when crews re-tarred the roofs of two garages. They also restored a water tower bearing Packard's script logo. And, next door to the site, the former Shelby Family Dining restaurant has been renovated and renamed. The automobile-themed restaurant is now called the Packard Grill and features photos and murals of classic Packards, along with a menu with names that reflect the Packard theme. "The plans are starting to come together," said Township Supervisor Ralph Maccarone. "It should be a nice attraction out there when it's finished." Shelby Township officials last month approved a liquor license for the Packard Grill. Although the restaurant is separate from the project to turn the proving grounds into a museum, owner Chuck Shalhoub believes it will add to the classic car theme planned for the area. "I think it'll be a great attraction," Shalhoub said. "I think the idea of putting a Packard museum here in Shelby Township is a great idea, and hopefully the restaurant can complement the museum." Shelby Township resident Timothy Kimmel likes the idea of a historical museum in the area. "I don't think it's going to make or break Shelby Township, but I think it will be a nice feature," Kimmel said. "It's a little thing, but little things like that add up to make a nice community." The Packard Motor Car Foundation, the nonprofit group working to restore the site, hopes to create an "interactive historic site" that tells the story of the Packard Proving Grounds. The group is looking to raise funds for the project, which they estimate will cost between $5 million and $6 million. In addition to an interactive Packard museum, plans call for a "National Arsenal of Democracy" museum, "which will tell the story of the mobilization of American industry to support democracy and freedom during World War II," Packard Proving Grounds director Jon Ottman said. Detroit was nicknamed the "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II because its automobile plants were retooled to manufacture military vehicles and engines. Throughout the war, Chrysler Corp. leased the proving grounds, which were used to test tanks. A landing strip for military aircraft was also built, while the Packard plant in Detroit joined other automobile factories that switched from making cars to vehicles for the war effort. The proving grounds opened in 1926, when Packard executive Jesse Vincent began purchasing farmland in rural Shelby Township to test-drive cars. The following year, the auto company commissioned world-renowned architect Albert Kahn to design an 8,342-square-foot lodge-garage building for the proving grounds. Packard engineers and executives stayed in one of the English Tudor building's nine bedrooms, while the first floor was used as garage and kitchen facilities. Packard Motors also built a 2.5-mile concrete test track, covering 370 acres. In 1928 it was hailed as "the world's fastest speedway," when race car driver Leon Duray set a world speed record at 148.7 mph. -- a record that stood until 1952. More...http://www.detnews.com/2005/m... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| Tom Mack Classics Upcoming Auction |
| 03.16.05 (7:25 pm) [edit] |
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By Jim Walsh Tom Mack Classics, that classic car guy, with the cars to make a collector drool, has an upcoming event with a list to dream of. Billed as "2 days of classic hits", this auction has over 350 cars to view. Among the beauties to appear: Friday 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible 1950 Cadillac Convertible 1966 Ford 7-Liter 428 2-Door hardtop Saturday's Cars 1956 Chevrolet Nomad 1969 Camaro Z-28 - No Photo available 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 Dale Earnhardt edition -No photo available 1956 Ford Crown Victoria 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 1982 Chrysler Labaron 1947 Ford Sedan 1930 Ford Model "A" Deluxe Rumble Seat Roadster 1949 Mercury Rest-O-Rod 1968 Pontiac LeMans Convertible 1967 Buick Sport Wagon 400 1955 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck - No Photo Available 1955 Ford Thunderbird 1954 Ford 2-Door Sedan 1952 Packard Convertible 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/SE 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible 1931 Ford "A" Pickup truck 1948 Chevrolet 3/4 ton truck-NO RESERVE - No photo Available 1951 Chevrolet Pickup truck-NO RESERVE 1975 Lincoln Town Sedan, Silver/red, original, very nice NO RESERVE - No Photo Available 1972 Lincoln Mark IV 1967 Mercury Marquis 2-Door Hardtop 1953 GMC Pickup truck 1956 Chevrolet Pickup truck 1970 Chevrolet SWB pickup truck 1987 Chevrolet Silverado SWB pickup truck, red, loaded, low miles - No Photo Available 1967 Corvette Roadster This event will take place Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9 at Lowes Motor Speedway, in Charlotte, NC. You can visit Tom Mack's website at www.tommackclassics.com Classic Car news from the Classic Car Daily. Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction Your alternative marketplace. Come grow with us! |
| A Classic Maserati Returns |
| 03.16.05 (5:42 am) [edit] |
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You don't want to bring a gift that's too exciting to the average 75th-birthday party. Strippers popping out of cakes, for example, could cause a heart attack, after all. The 75th birthday of an Italian design house, however, is another matter. Pininfarina, which recently celebrated just that milestone, produced an exhilarating tribute to its history in honor of the occasion: the Birdcage 75th, a vehicle it calls an "extreme sports prototype," which it displayed at the recent Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle almost certainly won't reach production, but if it did, well, heart attacks could very well be the result. The Birdcage 75th is a collaboration with Motorola (nyse: MOT - news - people ) and Fiat's (nyse: FIA - news - people ) Maserati subsidiary, and its name pays tribute to the Tipo 63, a classic Maserati that took fourth place in 1961's 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. The Tipo was nicknamed "the Birdcage" because of its triangulated, tubular chassis construction, which was visible under the vehicle's unusually large front windscreen. The original Birdcage is regarded as one of the greatest sports cars in history. Read More Here http://www.forbes.com/vehicle... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| The Aviator, Howard Hughes's 1953 Buick Roadmaster to Be Sold at No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson Palm |
| 03.15.05 (7:13 pm) [edit] |
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PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2005--Aviation genius Howard Hughes's 1953 Buick Roadmaster will be sold at no reserve at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction on Saturday, April 2, 2005. The 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction will run from March 31 - April 3, 2005, at the South Florida Expo Center. "The 1953 Roadmaster was purchased off the blocks at 7000 Romain, in Hollywood, Calif., where it had been sitting since Hughes last drove the car," said Craig Jackson, president of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "It's a situation of 'if these walls could talk' because the legendary history and stories attached to the car." Hughes drove the Roadmaster while he stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he suffered his second nervous breakdown that amplified his strange behavior. It was his mobile office, where he would routinely conduct important business meetings from undisclosed locations. With the Roadmaster being so important to him, it would stay with his most prized possessions to keep it safe from tampering until decades after his death when it was re-discovered. The Roadmaster, lot #378, has only 5,339 miles and is pastel blue with a seafoam green top. Much of the Roadmaster has been converted with aircraft electrical systems, including air conditioning that runs completely on electricity and is fully operable when the engine is not running. Hughes, obsessed with germs, redesigned the system for air to flow through a dust trap and bacterial filter mounted in the trunk of the Roadmaster. In addition to the car's typical 12-volt system, Hughes had a full 24-volt aircraft electrical system installed with a plug-in attachment under the trunk. The attachment gave him the ability to drive onto the tarmac and personally jumpstart his plane, thereby outsmarting his enemies and traveling undetected. The Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction is scheduled for March 31st - April 3rd, 2005 at the South Florida Expo Center. The SPEED channel will provide coverage during the event. About Barrett-Jackson Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call 480-421-6694. Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| Bring out the big gun |
| 03.14.05 (7:17 pm) [edit] |
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By Dan Pierce HAMPTON - If while driving down Route 1 through Hampton lately, you thought you saw a tank parked in front of Hampton Motors, you were right - sort of. According to owners Fred Miller and Henry Marsh, it’s a 1969 Ferret Scout Car, which they acquired about two weeks ago from a man in Florida in exchange for some antique cars. "It runs fine," Miller said. "It’s got everything on it, lights, directional lights, horn ... it’s got everything." "Everything" includes a Browning .30-caliber machine gun in a rectangular turret, ports for smoke bombs and rocket-mounting capability. So why would someone want a British-built armored car? While Miller hasn’t sold the vehicle yet, and he’s had only a few people seriously interested in it in the two weeks he’s had it, he offers a theory. "People like to collect things ... probably (its owner) would like to go in parades with it," he said. According to the Web site of the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army, some regiments of which were once equipped with the car, the Ferret Scout Car was built by the British automobile manufacturer Daimler (not to be confused with Daimler-Chrysler) from 1952 to 1971. Approximately 4,400 served with British forces in peacekeeping and internal security operations from Malaya to Northern Ireland. As for the Ferret in the front lot at Hampton Motors, you can have it for $25,000. Miller says he figures that is what it is worth. "I think it’s very fair. What can you buy like it for $25,000?" he asked. The British Army manual for the vehicle is included, which is a very important point, according to Miller. "I went through the book because I didn’t even know how to drive it," he said. "Once I read the instructions, it was a snap. "It’s quite a well-built vehicle. It’s pretty amazing. It goes in the water, too. It floats," Miller said. "It tells you how to put it in the water and bring it back up." Miller has been selling classic cars for 48 years, and he has never had a vehicle quite like the Ferret, he said. Marsh led this reporter on a guided tour of the vehicle, which smelled a little bit of oil and engine grease. Tiny slits provide the driver a very narrow view in front and to the left and right, although Marsh explained that the view can be expanded by opening larger ports on three sides. In its combat configuration, the Ferret carried a crew of two, a driver who sat in the middle and a commander who sat to the right, above and behind the driver. The machine gun is mounted, although Miller said he assumes it isn’t operable. Marsh said that Hampton Motors sells only classic cars, "by condition, not by price." He calls it a "niche business" that offers collectors the opportunity to buy a classic car and see it gain value on average between 8 percent and 14 percent per year. The company even offers a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. "Except for the tank," he said. Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily Hobby Wheels Deals Automotive Auction |
| Mid-Ohio Vintage GP news 2005-03-10 |
| 03.11.05 (4:27 pm) [edit] |
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Racing series VINTAGE Date 2005-03-10 PORSCHE AND AUSTIN-HEALEY FEATURED DURING VINTAGE GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO DUBLIN, Ohio (March 10, 2005) -- The Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio scheduled for June 24-26 celebrates over 50 years of sportscar racing including this year's featured marques, Porsche and Austin-Healey. Included in the weekend are 10 Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) class races, a classic car show, all Porsche races and a rare showcase of the Australian-U.S. Healey Challenge. "The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is one of the premier races that a lot of our members make sure they get to each year because of the great facilities and challenging track," said Carl Jensen, competition director for SVRA. Porsche will be featured during the Klubsport All-Porsche race for cars with 2 liter engines, and on track again with the running of the All-Porsche feature race open to all Porsches. Sunday's All-Porsche race will feature 30-40 cars manufactured between 1953 and 1982 racing for the win. After a 15-year absence, the Australian-U.S. Healey Challenge is returning to the United States. This race will bring together some of the best Austin-Healeys in the United States to compete against a group of Austin-Healeys originating from Australia. In 2005, the 100-S (the most potent of all Healey production models) celebrates 50 years of existence and will be a key feature of the Australian-U.S. Healey Challenge. "We have 15 drivers coming over from Australia to race approximately 30 American drivers," said Jensen. "These drivers are known for their fun loving spirit which should make this a good race." As the featured marque of the 2005 Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, Porsche and Austin-Healey will be the highlight of many weekend activities. The annual Concours d'Elegance featuring Porsche on Sunday, June 26 is open to all car clubs, owners and fans with over 300 cars expected to compete during judging. More... http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=178937&FS" title="http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=178937&FS" target="_blank"http://www.motorsport.com/new... Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily |
| Easter Car Parade To Be Gala Event |
| 03.11.05 (4:18 pm) [edit] |
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Plans are in motion for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce's 50th annual Easter Sunday Vintage Car Parade to be held on March 27. The parade will step off on Franklin Avenue at Tenth Street. Antique, classic, and special interest cars throughout the metropolitan area are expected to participate in the lineup with the Kiwanis Easter Bunnies in the lead. Interested spectators are welcome to preview the cars at the staging area in Parking Field 9E between Tenth and Eleventh Streets before the parade, but must park in the field just south of the assembly area - behind 855 Franklin. There will not be an exhibit following the parade, but the Kiwanis Easter Bunnies will distribute lollipops to the youngsters along Seventh Street during the Parade. The spectacle, which began in 1956, has become a traditional Easter Sunday event, drawing families and vintage car buffs from far and wide. Heading the Chamber committee are parade directors Dr. Gerald Corva (Garden City Chiropractic Center), George Negohisian (Bonaventure Bridal & Tuxedo) and Chris Smalley (Civic Member). Car owners should note that pre-registration is necessary and will be limited. Please call the Chamber at 746-7724, ext. 101 for information and stay tuned for further details. Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily |
| Gran Turismo 4 - Review |
| 03.09.05 (4:04 am) [edit] |
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By Greg Necastro on 2005-03-08 The Gran Turismo (GT) franchise has been a resounding success for Sony over the years. Billed as a driving simulator, GT is an in-depth auto racing game that is accessible to both the novice and the uber-gearhead. GT4, the laetst in the series, boasts over 700 cars, dozens of customizable upgrades, and 52 tracks to race on. This is a game that is intended to spend a lot of hours in your PS2. Going for the 100% completion goal will take a few weeks (unless you do nothing else but play). If you like tinkering with different cars, you may be playing this game for months or even years. Gameplay There are a couple different angles to tackle racing in GT4. Arcade race lets you select a car and race on any available track. You can do either a single race, time trial, or multiplayer races (up to 6 with the right equipment). The biggest part of your time, however, will be spent in the career based Gran Turismo mode. You enter GT mode in one of two ways; as an unlicensed driver with 10,000 credits, or, if you have a GT3 save on your memory card, you can transfer 100,000 credits and your B and A licenses. From there, the game goes wherever you want. There are five licenses in all (no rally license this time) and the tests run from simple to extremely difficult. Earning your licenses open up different races to compete in. Naturally, the tougher licenses let you compete in the higher prized races. But, you don't need a license to start racing right away as some races do not require a license. Races are held with six cars. Qualifying has been eliminated, so you start each race in the back. In GT3, I think most people skipped qualifying because it wasn't really necessary. I did notice, however, that now that the game has rolling starts, you can sometimes be several seconds behind when the race starts. I find this more of a problem with the smaller cars that don't have much acceleration or top speed. Controlling the car is a solid as to be expected. It takes a delicate touch of the Dual Shock 2 to run a perfect line around the tracks. If you got the money, the GT Driving Force Pro will give you exceptional control. Despite claims that Polyphony Digital improved the AI, it really feels the same. Opponents seem to run one line around the course and are oblivious to the player's car. If you're in their line going into a corner, they AI is likely to run into your backend rather than brake earlier. If the computer car tries to pass you, you can often get in front of them and they will bump you and stay behind, rather than make a quick move to get around. This setup leads to a couple of inherent problems with the game. Since there is no damage, players can drive extra hard and win. Favorite tricks are riding guardrails around corners and using other cars as bumpers to take a corner at full speed and gaining position. There's also no penalty for going off the track, so there are instances where the quickest way through an s-curve is a straight line. I want to put this into perspective. The people most upset with the AI are the ones who have played GT 1, 2, and 3. They have not seen any significant change in the computer drivers. First time players will not have as strong feelings. The sneaky tricks are really something that is human controlled. If you don't like the idea of bouncing off of cars to get ahead, don't do it. But, I see the point that it's something that has never changed. So, even if you race as best you can, you may make a mistake and actually get ahead as a result. A new feature is called B-Spec mode. Instead of driving the car, you direct a computer driver with a range of simple commands. You control the pace of the drive, from overly cautious to aggressive, call for pit stops, and make the call when to pass. At first, it really seemed silly to have a way to not race in a racing game. But, then it reminded me a bit of manager mode in a sports game. It's not a bad thing when you're low on funds and you don't want to run the same race a dozen times. Then, I saw the 24 hour races. Now I know what I'm going to use this mode for. B-Spec allows you to compress the time by a factor of 3, so you can complete those insane endurance races quicker. The variety of races is one of the major assets of GT4. Races vary on the restrictions and structure applied to them. Some races will allow only certain cars, year models, engine modifications. This keeps a player from playing the entire game with one car. If you manage to finish the game, you will easily have driven over 100 different cars. The races are divided into several categories. There are beginning, professional, and extreme halls that host a variety of different races. Japan, Europe, and American halls that focus on racing cars from those locations. If you've played GT3, this is a similar format to what you've seen before. There are also a variety of races for different manufacturers. These races comprise usually one or two specific models. Each race series will have a number of races (3-10) to compete in. Sometimes you can race each event individually and other times you enter a series where you the winner is the car with the most overall points. Winning a series earns you a new car in addition to more credits. The new Special Conditions hall takes the place of the rally courses. There are rally tracks to compete on in this area. In addition to dirt, there is now some snow tracks. Also, there are some road courses, like the extremely narrow Citta di Aria. What has changed is that you can't drive reckless. Slamming into walls, guardrails, and the other car (only two in a rally) gets you a five second penalty that can cost you the race. This is the one section of GT that makes you work at driving smartly around the course. Another new section is the Mission hall. These aren't full races, rather they test a players skills in different areas, like passing and drafting. The Endurance hall is where the big races are. Instead of the usual 2-4 laps in the other races, these challenges are based on longer distances or time. The distance races run from 200 - 400 miles. With a powerful car, probably two hour races. Then endurance (time) races are extreme. The 4 and 8 hour races pale when compared to the three 24 hour races. Yes, boys and girls, these races last 24 hours in real time. Plan to use B-Spec mode and let your PS2 run all night for these. This is the biggest car lot in GT history with an official list of 721 cars, topping GT2's 500+. When I started looking more in depth at the cars in the game, it's not quite as impressive as I first thought. Most of the cars are from the 1950's and later. There are a handful of older cars, such as the 1915 Model T and the 1886 Daimler Motor Carriage. As I looked at these cars, I have two thoughts. At first, it's cool to see such classic cars. But, these cars are minimal, under 20, horsepower. You're not going to want, or be able, to race these cars. Going through the list, there are many (I'd guess 15%) cars that are under 125 horsepower. Some of them have special races that you need them if you want to complete the entire game. But, most of them you'll probably pass on. There are 12 countries and over 80 manufacturers represented in the game. The dominance, naturally, is from Japan, Germany, and the US. Some countries have only one manufacturer and a small amount of cars. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain only have one car. All the major manufacturers and even several defunct car makers (like DeLorean) have cars in the game. PD is still unable to get Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche to sign on. Although, RUF, a manufacturer that creates custom Porsches, gets you a few Porsche looking vehicles. Some of the manufactures aren't, what I would call, real car makers. Nismo, a manufacturer of high performance parts, has a few vehicles under their name that are modifications (mostly in appearance) of other cars. And, somewhere I must have missed the news story that Nike and Jay Leno make cars. The game, as it has always been, leans heavily on Japanese cars with over 60% of the cars coming from Japan. It creates a lot of repetition when you see multiple versions of the same car where the only difference, in the game, is the car's appearance. The car list becomes a bit smaller when you see that the Honda NSX, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Nissan Skyline, and Subaru Impreza account for over 100 cars. There are 34 different Skylines alone. Tuning the car is a vital element of the game. One thing I like is that you don't have to be a mechanic to make your car better. Some improvements are very easy; brakes, exhaust, tires, weight reduction. You buy different upgrades to improve your performance. For the engine and transmission, in addition to simple upgrades, there are some fully customizable parts (transmission, suspension) that allows the gear heads to tinker to their hearts content. A new upgrade this year is a nitrous boost. Didn't really add much and you can win without it. There is also a handful of top after market manufacturers. Although not every car can use these parts, they are generally identical to the dealer upgrades (price and performance). There are a few cars that can get something different, like a level 5 turbo. But, on the whole, the after market shops aren't much different. In my opinion, the race courses are where Gran Turismo took the biggest leap forward. 52 real life and fantasy tracks are available. Add that 30 of those can also be run in reverse and you have 82 different courses to compete on. Real world courses have some amazing detail and realism in how the track drives, looks, and the surrounding scenery. PD even went back to previously used course Laguna Seca Raceway and recreated the track to improve the realism. The World circuits feature some truly challenging courses from Japan, Germany, and the USA. The Fuji Speedway 80s will bring a wave of nostalgia to long time video race drivers as they fondly remember days of dropping quarters into a Pole Position game. The Laguna Seca Raceway has long been the toughest course in GT with it's infamous corkscrew. But, the new monster is the 13 mile, 176 turn punisher Nurburgring Nordschleife. City courses have expanded to include New York City, Hong Kong, and Paris in addition to some of the previous courses of Tokyo, Seattle, and the Cote D' Azur in Monaco. The rally courses and the original courses feature new places in addition to GT standards like Grand Valley, Trial Mountain, and Tahiti Maze. Two very scenic courses are the El Capitan raceway and Grand Canyon rally course. A new feature is photo mode which allows you to take your car to numerous locations and take pictures that you can save or print with a compatible USB printer. The mode is insanely deep. You can set color tones, brightness, and even pick over a dozen sounds of the shutter "click". It's the kind of feature that when the game is so good, it's just gravy. Live Polyphony Digital talked about online play after GT 3 A-Spec was released. As the release date got closer, PD decided they wouldn't be ready in time and removed online play. There are rumors that a newer version of GT4 will be released this year that will include online, but this has not been verified by PD or Sony. Many players are moaning and crying about it, but the Gran Turismo series has always been a solo/two player game. Since the game has never relied on online play, it doesn't take away anything from the game. Most likely, the next installment of GT will have online play and be released on the next gen PS3. Graphics Gran Turismo has been a benchmark series for the visual capability of the PS2 (and the PS1 previously). The cars, which boast over 5000 polygons in their construction, look great and even better in HD 1080i mode. I believe this is the first PS2 game to achieve that mark. They also reflect backgrounds better than ever. The areas around the tracks have been worked on and, at times, looks like the real thing. The tree canopies in Trial Mountain, for example, show hundreds of beams of light falling through the leaves and is just amazing to see. I saw a couple of small graphical glitches on some courses, but nothing that really distracts or distorts the game. The backgrounds are richly detailed without instances of draw in. The only major visual problem is a tendency for the screen to shake during the start of a race with a rolling start. It stops once the race begins and doesn't affect gameplay. One of the things that is missing is dynamic environments Each track is setup for a certain time. Laguna Seca, for example, runs at midday (it was sunset in GT3). So, each race has the same lighting. The clouds, beautifully rendered, never move. I think it would add more to the many tracks if they had different lighting conditions. Especially the endurance races. A 24 hour race would look even better if the lighting went through an entire day. Audio The PD crew recorded hundreds of different engines to create the racing sounds in the game. I doubt every car has their own sound, but it's easy to distinguish a Honda Prelude from a Dodge Viper. The Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound fills the room with the sounds of cars accelerating, braking, shifting, and spinning tires. The soundtrack mix features a little bit of everything. In fact, of the 65 tracks, the only thing missing is country music (and I'm not missing that). The intro movie is backed by the Van Halen classic "Panama". Definitely not something I expected. Often during races I'm concentrating too much to really notice the music. But, on longer races, it's nice to turn up the music and see what's comes out. Suggestions Someone needs to work on that AI driving. There needs to be a sense that these cars are competing against you and are trying to beat you, not follow a line. That's the only glaring weakness of GT4 and, again, it's mostly because I haven't seen much development in the AI over the years. It's not my American pride talking, but can we reduce the number of Japanese cars and get some more US ones? I understand the game is made in Japan. But, as I said earlier, there are so many versions of some cars and there is no real difference in how they play in the game. There is a huge amount of unused US muscle and sports cars that could really make the car list impressive. Also, I could do without so many under 100 hp cars. I don't need to race that many cars with less horsepower than my real one. My other suggestions are more like a wish list: more cars per race (8 - 10), random starting position instead of always at the back, the tuner section hasn't really changed much over the years and could use some work, and drop 24 hour races. Add to ManRoom? Gran Turismo has ruled the Sony driving world for years. No one has ever challenged the depth and realism that GT offers (although there is one on the horizon). The gameplay is as open ended as you could want. You control what you want to do next. The variety of cars available makes the replay value extremely high. Even on the same track, there is a huge difference racing at 100 mph and 200 mph. Many racing games today are either based on street racing or actual racing leagues. That makes Gran Turismo 4 a truly unique experience that anyone who likes to play racing games will enjoy. Source Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily |
| Vintage Ferrari faces fire sale |
| 03.08.05 (3:56 am) [edit] |
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Vintage Ferrari faces fire sale When we last left Walter Medlin, the 21st century’s answer to Howard Hughes, Hurricane Charley had just blown through central Florida, taking with it a barn that held part of Medlin’s collection: 17 Ferraris, an old Indy car and an Avanti (AW, Sept. 6, 2004). Now, Hurricane IRS has taken aim at the eccentric Ferrari collector. The Internal Revenue Service has seized Medlin’s 1967 Ferrari P4 (which was not in the barn during the storm) and plans to auction it off March 30 to satisfy a $2.9 million tax lien against Medlin, a Florida land developer. The auction of the Le Mans racer will be in Phoenix, with minimum bids starting at $2 million. For a look at the car, go to www.ustreas.gov/auctions/irs/phaz_ant i_655.htm. Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily |
| NASCAR Knocked By Lead-Head |
| 03.05.05 (12:58 pm) [edit] |
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by Steven Milloy, www.junkscience.com Saturday, March 5, 2005 Environmentalists have blown a gasket over the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing's (NASCAR) continued use of leaded gasoline in its stock car races. Since NASCAR has science and safety on its side, I hope it has the good sense not to cave in to this eco-harassment. The Clean Air Trust "urged" NASCAR in a January 19 letter to consider the supposedly dire consequences of using leaded fuel: "By permitting the continued use of lead, your organization may be putting millions of spectators and nearby residents at unnecessary risk of suffering serious health effects, according to the Environmental Protection Agency." Lead was eliminated from most gasoline in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990, however, Congress exempted the aviation and racing industries from the lead ban. The exemptions made sense since no one wanted airplanes falling from the sky because of stalled engines and auto racing would only add an insignificant amount of lead to the environment. NASCAR engines run on a high performance fuel designed exclusively for competition called "110 Leaded Racing Gasoline." The "Official Fuel of NASCAR" make stock cars run better. In contrast to the sound reasoning used to permit racing cars to use leaded gasoline, the Clean Air Trust drags out the usual myths about lead in its attack on NASCAR. "According to the EPA, lead causes damage to the kidneys, liver, brain and nerves, and other organs," claims the letter. What it omitted mentioning was that you would have to be exposed to unusually high levels of lead before health effects would result. The classic lead poisoning scenario involves chronic ingestion of lead-contaminated dust from deteriorating lead-based paint that is chipping, peeling or flaking in older homes in poor condition. NASCAR fans and the communities surrounding NASCAR race tracks are far removed from such high exposures to lead. There is no evidence that anyone has ever been overexposed to lead because of NASCAR racing. As toxicologists say, "It's the dose that makes the poison" and exposures to low levels of lead are not known to cause health effects. The Clean Air Trust nevertheless alleged, "Even low levels of lead damage the brain and nerves in fetuses and young children, resulting in learning deficits and lowered IQ." Not only is this mythical assertion still unsupported up by any solid science more than 25 years after it was first publicized, it actually originated in the shadowy world of scientific misconduct. "Removing lead from the gasoline used by highway vehicles is one of the great public health success stories in recent times. Because of the ban on lead in highway gasoline, the EPA reports that levels of lead in the air have dropped by 94 percent since 1980," the Clean Air Trust writes. There is little doubt that there is much less lead in the environment due to air pollution controls -- even though we use more lead today than ever before. But it's possible that the effect of banning leaded gasoline has been oversold. Scientists examining sediment cores from New York City's Central Park Lake dating back 100 years concluded in 1999 that "incineration of solid waste, rather than leaded gasoline, has been the dominant source of atmospheric lead in New York City, and possible many other urban areas during the 20th century." "Lead deposition rates to the atmosphere reached a peak "from the late 1930s to early 1960s, decades before maximum emissions from combustion of leaded gasoline," according to an article published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology. Moreover, regardless of the reason for lower levels of lead in the environment, it's much less clear that public health has benefited commensurately from the decrease in ambient lead levels. Though surveys indicate that blood lead levels have dramatically declined over the last few decades, I could not find a single study reporting -- or even estimating -- precisely what health benefits have been produced or what health problems have been avoided by the reported lower blood lead levels. No doubt the Clean Air Trust hopes to exploit NASCAR's immense popularity and both the public's tendency to overreact to health scares in order to gain media attention and facilitate fundraising. As the stock car racing season has just kicked off, I'm sure NASCAR won't be too happy if eco-activist protesters start showing up at races wearing gas masks and chanting "Get the lead out!" and "NASCAR pollution lowers kids' IQs!" Assuming the protesters survive amid the loyal stock car racing fans who are unlikely to appreciate their disruption, let's hope NASCAR isn't the next brand-sensitive business to surrender to junk science-fueled eco-activist harassment and extortion. Steven J. Milloy is the publisher of JunkScience.com, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, and a columnist for FoxNews.com. Since April 1, 1996, JunkScience.com has had a discernible impact in the fight against junk science and garnered numerous awards. Junkscience.com has also been spotlighted by the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Detroit News, The Times (UK), Financial Times (UK), Daily Telegraph (UK) Forbes, MSNBC and many other popular media outlets. Classic Car News from The Classic Car Daily |
| Jaguar Launches E-type Fanclub to Enhance Loyalty Among Buyers |
| 03.04.05 (8:13 pm) [edit] |
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Precision Marketing - March 4, 2005 Motor Trend Jaguar is backing an international fanclub for its E-type marque. The scheme's founder, author and enthusiast Philip Porter, hopes to build on the success of his existing Jaguar XK Club. The club is to roll out alongside a new monthly magazine, also dedicated to E-type owners and enthusiasts. Members will automatically receive the magazine, with the first issue due out in mid-November. The publication will be edited by Porter, and will include event reports, historical articles and product news. Membership benefits are to include a range of discounts from classic car specialist companies, as well as limited edition merchandise and publishing offers. A database of members will be built. Club members will be offered the chance to attend a variety of international events, including the first E-type tour, which will take place in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany next year. Source http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_new s40/" title="http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_new s40/" target="_blank"http://motortrend.com/feature... |
| Car lover's $3m garage sale |
| 03.04.05 (8:07 pm) [edit] |
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Neil McDonald March 05, 2005 AT this time of year, Melbourne is the country's undisputed car capital. But while revheads congregate for tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix and the 10-day Melbourne Motor Show, something rather special has been added to the automotive calendar. On Monday, trucking tycoon Lindsay Fox will flog 30 cars worth more than $3 million from his classic car collection - an event likely to draw hundreds of national and international bidders. Two of the most expensive cars on offer are a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, worth between $390,000 and $460,000, and a Ferrari Super-America worth between $430,000 and $530,000. Bonhams and Goodman chief executive officer and auctioneer Tim Goodman has received many international inquiries on the cars. He expects a big local turnout, especially for a near-new 1970 Holden GTS coupe with 314 miles (505km) on the speedo. "Most of the cars are in pristine condition," he said. Mr Fox, with his total collection numbering about 100 cars worth a cool $30 million, has decided he does not need all the expensive machinery. "I place importance on different things and while I am still a keen motoring enthusiast, I just don't need all these cars," he said in a statement through Bonhams. "It's time for someone else to share some of the great pleasure I have had over the years." The auction will be held at Mr Fox's car museum in Melbourne's Docklands. He has asked that 2.5 per cent of sales revenue be donated to his old school, Melbourne High. Source http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0" title="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0" target="_blank"http://www.theaustralian.news...,5744,12446297%5E2702,00.html |
| HMSA: Portland news 2005-03-02 |
| 03.04.05 (4:29 am) [edit] |
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Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races Will Commemorate Shelby Mustang GT350R at Portland International Raceway PORTLAND, Ore. - March 1, 2005 -- The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races will commemorate the legendary Shelby Mustang GT350R at this year's 29th annual vintage racing event, July 8 through 10 at Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd. Other racing highlights include a field of historic Winston Cup stock cars, and Vmoto vintage motorcycles. The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races features high-speed racing by 250 prestigious vintage cars that are divided into groups according to age and horsepower. The races run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $40 for all three days; $10 for Friday; or $25 for Saturday or Sunday. Tickets are available at www.portlandhistorics.com and at the gate. Children under 12 are admitted for free. More... http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=178348&FS" title="http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=178348&FS" target="_blank"http://www.motorsport.com/new... |
| Car buff off on charity crusade |
| 03.03.05 (3:57 am) [edit] |
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A Northern Ireland car buff is leading a fleet of vehicles on a mammoth fundraising journey in aid of Comic Relief. Mike Barr from County Antrim is joining the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show team on a Red Nose Rally, driving from John O'Groats in Scotland to Lands End in England. Barr, 25, who runs what he believes is the UK's first internet star car hire company, got involved after DJ Chris Moyles stumbled across his website at the end of last year. Moyles and team were fascinated by the array of famous vehicles which the Larne man has for hire. They include Starsky and Hutch's Gran Torino, The Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee, KITT from Knightrider, Back to the Future DeLoreans and The A-Team van. Also for hire is the Pink Cadillac driven by Clint Eastwood in the movie of the same name, the 1979 T-Top Trans AM made famous in Burt Reynold's Smokey and the Bandit and the Ford Mustang used in the Steve McQueen classic Bullit. Barr said he was more than happy to get involved in the rally. "It sounded like great fun and is in aid of a great cause," he said. "I'm a huge fan of the Chris Moyles show so it was really quite an honour for my company to be asked to be the nuts and bolts of the project. "I set up Starcarhire.co.uk, more or less, as a hobby in March 2004 but since then it has really taken off and has developed into a full-time business. "I really couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate our first official anniversary than this." Members of Moyle's team have already picked out which vehicle they want to drive during the week-long road trip which gets under way on Friday 4 March. During the trip, the Breakfast Show will be also broadcast live from a different location each day. As well as competitions, the team will be raising money in all kinds of ways and have offered to quite literally, do anything for cash. They have even promised that, if the price is right they will turn up at your school disco, open your new shop, or even come and serve in your canteen. Moyles said: "It's going to be very exciting traversing the country and hopefully raising tons and tons of cash for Comic Relief. "The fact that we've offered to do anything for money is going to throw up some interesting and potentially embarrassing situations." The epic trip will finish in London on Friday 11 March in time for the traditional Red Nose Night. For more details and a fundraising pack, contact www.bbc.co.uk/radio1. Source |
| Pussy Galore Helps H&H To New Sales Record |
| 03.01.05 (7:11 pm) [edit] |
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E-Type Jaguar ‘Cut 7’ fetches a whisker under £300,000 H&H Classic Auctions’ two sales at last weekend’s (February 25/26/27) International Historic Motorshow, Stoneleigh Park, Warks, netted £1.6 million - a new record for this burgeoning sale house. The star car lot, one of many ‘big cats’ to find new homes at this sale, was ‘CUT 7’, the famous ex-Dick Protheroe 1961 Jaguar E-Type Coupe. After strong bidding on the phone and from the packed floor, the hammer fell at £295,625, which is believed to be the highest price paid to date for a steel-bodied Jaguar E-Type. A ‘barn find’ two owner Jaguar XK 150S Drophead Coupe with the registration number S150 drew enormous interest and eventually sold for £44,075 - well over its top estimate. Many other lots topped their estimates, including such road cars as: a mint 1969 Shelby Mustang (£39,775); a replica C-Type Jaguar (£19,350) and a 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS (£17,200). Most of the exciting array of competition cars made good money too, not least the stunning 1989 Alucraft Porsche 962 that fetched £150,500. At the other end of the scale, a 1952 MK6 Cooper Jap from the motorcycle-engined F3 era made way over estimate at £17,738, while the well-known ‘Cooper-Buick' (a 1958 Type 45 Cooper), these days in need of some TLC, made £31,713. The 2004 ‘Children In Need’ Honda FR-V that carries the signatures of countless celebrities, from Elton John to Shania Twain and Amanda Holden to Tony Blackburn, fetched £12,363. The automobilia auction was also a memorable performance, with sales a staggering 59% up on those of the equivalent event last year. Among the numerous lots to way outstrip their estimates were: a unique photo album of the first two BRM racers (£1760); an AA garage lightbox (£660) and a charming six-person Coracle picnic set (£1430). The many Brooklands members’ badges proved popular, with a set from 1913 making some three times their estimate at £715. The stunning 2m long Jaguar XJR6 and XJR9 promotional models made £2750 and £1980 respectively. All 3000 items of the Queiroz model collection were sold on the day. Said H&H’s Managing Director and auctioneer Simon Hope, "Both sales were packed to the gunwales and the results prove that the right people were in attendance. We were delighted with the venue and the result and will be back next year." Source |
| Car show drives in crowd |
| 03.01.05 (4:09 am) [edit] |
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By JENNA DAVIS, Staff Writer jdavis@ndweb.com It's not often you get a hands-on experience at a car show, or much less, a chance to climb in. But, at this year's Wild About Wheels Car and Motorcycle Show at the All Seasons Arena, enthusiasts got that and more. Nodak Race Club's 14th annual event Saturday and today includes everything from classic cars and trucks to race cars, and choppers to mini-bikes. The race cars were a hit with the kids right up front, since two of the owners, Chris and Julie Shirek, of Thompson, came to the show for the first time, ready to let the wanna-be drivers get behind the wheel of the family's brand new sprint car. "These kids look up to these (racers) like they're the greatest thing ever," Chris Shirek said. "But, they're just regular people their rooms are messy too." Shirek made the remark laughingly referring to his own teenage sons, who are now race car drivers themselves. The car the kids climbed in and out of Saturday was theirs. The sight brought back great memories for "mom". "This is what you do at the races," Julie Shirek said. "I have pictures of my son Chris doing that same thing when he was that age. And now he's a racer." The hands-on experience turned into "ears-on" down the way from the Shireks, as visitors came upon another first-timer to the show, Pacific Sound. The inside of the company's show car pulled in the interest of kids and adults with an in-dash DVD player right next to the steering wheel. The gadget was only a small, $1,500 part, of the vehicle's $9,300 sound system that technicians slammed together in a week to try and show off their talents and the car show. There were subwoofers in the hatchback, at $700 each. The speakers in each door ran $600 and the three amps behind the front seats cost about $700 apiece. Of course, to incorporate all this into one package, you have to upgrade the electrical system for more power and install a capacitor to keep track of the wattage from your battery. More... http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0227202005 _new27news2.asp" title="http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0227202005 _new27news2.asp" target="_blank"http://www.minotdailynews.com... |
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