Monday, September 27, 2010

Lookin' Tough

Cars and Bikes kinda' go together...it's the speed!

Stripping cars and bikes of the non-critical parts...fenders, bumpers, lights, tops, or extra seats...is akin to buying horsepower, except it was free. These guys are stripped of every unnecessary part that didn't make them go, stop or steer. The '32 Ford looks like it has a Duvall style windshield.

Image via, Bubble Visor

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Racing At Pomona

"Along For The Ride" blog follower and contributor, Marty Goldsmith has done a special piece along with photos to share. Enjoy!

In the 1950's, the venue we now call Fairplex was called the LA County Fairgrounds, but to auto buffs it was simply Pomona. I don't know when the track was first laid out on the huge parking lot at the north end of the property, but the first weekend sports car race meet was conducted in June 1956. It was sponsored by the California Sports Car Club, the large independent race club. Among the drivers were Ken Miles (Porsche Spyder), Richie Ginther (Porsche Spyder), Bill Murphy (Kurtis-Buick), Chuck Daigh (Troutman-Barnes), John von Neumann, Harrison Evans, Bob Drake (Ferraris), Bill Krause, and Jerry Austin (D-Jaguars).

The Cal Club went on to sponsor seven more weekends in the 50's, all club races. The biggest sports car event at Pomona was the Examiner Grand Prix, in March 1959. While the Cal Club was not the sponsor, it provided all the workers. Another unusual event was the Cal Club's six hour enduro in November 1958. It started at 2PM on Saturday and finished at 8PM after about three hours running on headlights. Ken Miles did not drive his customary Spyder in the event, but won with Carlyle Blackwell in a Jaguar D-type. The next day he reverted to form, however, winning the main event in the Porsche.

The only unusual visual feature of the track was the tunnel, actually an overpass to permit entry to the infield. Other than that it was a pretty flat course set off by hay bales for the protection of drivers and spectators. Production cars frequently got into difficulty in some corners, and even the big dogs got decorated with hay now and again. MG's seem to have a lot of trouble at many meets staying right side up, and Pomona was no exception.

It was not uncommon to see Corvettes and Jaguars spin, but somehow they always seemed to stay upright. The photo below was taken from the overpass as two Corvettes hang it out.

In the following photo, notice the large pylons that were used to mark the course.

As you can see in the next photo, Pomona drew large crowds.

After a slippery dance, even a big Ferrari might eat some hay. These photos were taken in the July '57 event.

Races then always employed a standing start and it could get quite exciting for the starter when someone in an up-front row killed his engine. You can ask me how I know! John von Neumann won the big bore race whose start is shown. Ken Miles had just won the small bore (under 1500cc) race.

Speaking of Ken Miles, in the next photo he is shown heading under the overpass in his 550 Spyder.

Even Ken would hang the back out as shown as he exits from under the overpass. These two photos were during the October '57 meet.

While cars slid this way and that on occasion, it was really a pretty safe track, with almost nothing solid to hit, except for the tunnel. Safety was much more casual in those days - roll bars were not required, most cars were open, the helmets were primitive, seat belts were mostly surplus Air Force lap belts, and your driving suit was whatever clothes you were comfortable in. But all life seemed to be simpler in the 50's.

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Day in the Life

Nothing turns me off more than to go to some blog or web page and have ads flashing in nauseating colors in my face, it's distracting , tacky and I feel like I'm being pimped. When I decided to start this blog one of my goals was to keep it non-commercial...however, sometimes I just have to break my rule...so I'm going to put in a plug for this guy.


The other day my white car had to go on the hook which sends shivers up and down my spine as well as gives me hives...some gorilla throwing chains on my car and yanking it up on a flat bed...not a good scene. The good news, I've found this guy that owns a Porsche and has been around them his whole life, and has the pride to do this towing thing right!


Matt Parsons is the dude to do any towing that you need in the San Diego area. He'll treat you and your car the way you would want it taken care of, carefully. His number in the photo (619.977.7507) will get him direct. Just a tip you may need in the future. Nuff...said.

The white car went to Brant, his brother's shop. It was fit in between Brant race prepping several Carrera four cam engines and a 904/6. Now home with a new starter motor, it's back happily sitting in the driveway.


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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Coronado Vintage Races...Latest Update

If you love fast cars, the only thing better than watching them live speed around a challenging track that’s really a U.S. Navy airstrip is, of course, riding in one while it’s doing it. And the chance to win an opportunity to do just that can be yours but you have to act fast.

Coronado Speed Festival is giving away spots for two lucky winners to ride with racing industry legends Vic Edelbrock, Jr. and his daughter, Christi Edelbrock on Friday, September 24, 2010. Visit the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation’s newly redesigned website at http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/ and click on http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/events/sf-press.html for your chance to win. But act fast, offer expires September 22, 2010.

You won’t want to miss riding next to either of the Edelbrock competitors. Renowned racers of vintage automobiles, winners will slide into the shotgun seat of Vic’s 1963 Z06 Corvette or Christi’s 1966 Shelby GT 350 for the ride of their lives.

To anyone who knows a thing or two about motorsports, the name Edelbrock is synonymous with automotive aftermarket performance parts. In 1938, Vic Edelbrock, Sr., a racer who was one of the founders of the American hot rod movement, established the Edelbrock Corporation, of which the junior Edelbrock is now CEO.

Other news: Mark Maynard of the UT has let me know that he will have flyers from "Motorbooks" offering 25 percent discounts on coffeetable books at his Maynard's Garage tent in Vendor Village.

Also on the schedule is the Thursday night "Race Car" tour and display in downtown Coronado. The cars will leave the base at 3:30 Thursday evening and parade through the streets of Coronado ending at the Coronado Village to be displayed until 6:00. This was a pretty cool event last year, good for car and people watching.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Coronado Vintage Races...Update

Well I was trying to get a discount code for people to use when purchasing tickets, however they are not set up to handle our Porsche Corral group this year. Some suggestions were made and hopefully next year they will be able to set it up in advance. General Admission tickets can be purchased from: http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/

Now to more news on the event.

Mark Maynard, the "Wheels" Editor for the UT sent this info to me. Check it out!

The Boxster Spyder has been confirmed for Maynard's Garage at the Coronado Speedfest, also the Audi R8 5.2 Spyder and a 2011 GT500 convertible with performance pack.

Mark always has a tent in the vendor area, called "Maynard's Garage." Go by and say hi...I'm sure he would love to talk cars with you. He has the "RPM" section on Friday in the UT as well as the "Wheels" section on Saturday. He is also doing a blog about all kinds of car stuff at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/maynards-garage/

Also comedian, actor and Internet sensation Adam Carolla is making a repeat performance at the Coronado Speed Festival. Carolla will race his Bob Sharp Racing 1973 Datsun 610 B Sedan Trans Am Race Car, a car he debuted at the event in 2009.

Carolla’s Datsun 610 was built by Bob Sharp Racing and was the back-up car to the B-Sedan team car that Elliott Forbes Robinson drove to the 1976 championship. The car was toured to Datsun showrooms in the Northeast and never saw any track action until it started vintage racing in 1992.

Like many other celebs, Carolla’s love of cars is nothing new. Growing up, he drove a battered Datsun pickup while he worked as a carpenter. He tried to fix up a Datsun Z-car in his driveway but didn’t have the time or money to do the job properly. Today, Carolla’s garage includes the very first BRE race car, a Datsun 2000 roadster, the Valvoline Trans Am Datsun 510, the Paul Newman IMSA GT 300zx and other Datsun racers. He also boasts a collection of vintage V12 Lamborghinis and a V12 Ferrari. He's turning into a real car collector.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

On The Road...Peking To Paris

Blog follower Ahmet is hitting the road on the Peking to Paris Rally. He will be competing in the "2010 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge" trans-continental classic car endurance rally, which was first held in 1907.

His Anadol A1, the first volume produced Turkish car, prepared by Serdar Bostanci and his team, hit the road for China last week. Here is the web site to check out, http://www.pekindenparise.com/english.html

I started a post on this a few months when they were preparing the car for the "Peking to Paris" event with details of the car and Rally.

It seems that race car drivers always end up with the women.

The Anadol all dressed up and ready to go at the kick off reception.

You can follow them on the Internet by clicking on the links below.

During the Peking to Paris rally (http://www.pekindenparise.com/) his car will be equipped with a real-time GPS tracker from SkyTag. As of September 10th, you will be able to follow there progress on-line by clicking on the below link:
http://livetrack.skytag-gps.co.uk/login_action.html?user=pekingparis&passw=skytag&action=login&skip_auto=1&lang=en

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Momma Mia...Mecca, Part 4

It never fails, after a late night Thursday of Monterey Car Week, I have to pull myself out of bed for Fridays action. There are numerous Concours to attend. This year the Germans even got into the act with the "Legends of the Autobahn." However, the two biggest shows are the "Quail" and the "Concorso Italiano." Being a race junky, I aways head to Laguna for the racing...but blog followers, John Goriup and Rick Kreiskott were at "Concorso" to catch the action. Check out some of these cars.

This is a Pegaso captured via camera by John Goriup. John tells us that Pegaso has a similar history as Lamborghini. A wealthy Barcelona industrialist, circa early '50s, who manufactured agricultural and construction equipment, didn't appreciate being ignored by Enzo when he wanted to buy a Ferrari, and so decided to build his own Spanish Ferrari as it were. Trouble is, not being nearly as clever and grounded in motor-racing as the Commendatore was, he neglected to build speed & endurance racing reliability into his cars. He never sold enough of them to raise the budget required to go racing in earnest and prove himself in competition, and quietly folded in 1958 after building and selling less than 100 cars altogether.

What an engine compartment with red to set off the wrinkle black paint on the cam covers and engine turned metal. So...Italian! Another great image via John Goriup.

Rick Kreiskott got this shot of the F 40 cars...was there ever an F 40 that wasn't red?

Alfas were there in every shape and size you could think of. Image via Rick Kreiskott

Rick also got this cool shot of a Bizzarrini 5300 GT. Bizzarrini worked with Iso Rivolta at the Italian Iso Company starting in 1962. He then formed his own company in 1965 to build his 2+2 coupes. The racing version of the 5300GT received the Corso name and the road cars were badged Strada. Production of the 5300GT lasted well into 1968 with a total of 115 examples produced. There was no replacement model so Bizzarrini was forced to close his doors in 1972. I think there is one of these that usually runs at the Coronado Vintage races.

Maybe next year I'll head to some of the shows.

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Sunday, September 5, 2010

It's Just A Hangout...Mecca, Part 3

Thursday night of the Monterey Car Week, the place to see and be seen is the Baja Cantina in Carmel Valley. I hear every Thursday night at the Cantina is car show night...but during Monterey week it turns into something special. The Cantina is the ultimate car guy restaurant and bar, you've just got to see the inside. Great Margaritas and food!

You'll see everything from Porsches to Customs...it's all eye candy.

As the evening progresses guys start to cruise their cars through the event.

They go from mild to wild.

It's best to get there early, parking is at a premium. If you're not showing there's parking on the street which turns into it's own car show.

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Coronado Vintage Races-Update

This year's marque celebrates the rich race heritage of Shelby American cars, including the legendary Cobra, the result ofCarroll Shelby's bid to build the world's fastest production car. At Riverside In October 1962, Billy Krause raced the first Cobra for the first time in a motorsports competition. Krause will race again at the Coronado Speed Festival, this time in a 1964 Cobra.

Veteran driver Scooter Patrick will race a 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster that he originally drove in the 1960s. Patrick holds numerous championship victory titles, including the 1968 American Road Race of Champions National Championship title, driving a Porsche, and victory at the final Can-Am race at Road America in 1974 in a McLaren.

Racing is often a family affair, and Al Arciero has certainly followed in his father's footsteps. Arciero hails from motorsports royalty: his father, Frank Arciero Sr., formed his first auto-racing team in 1957, and his teams have included some of the best drivers in the history of Indy car racing, among them Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and Michael Andretti. Look for Al Arciero in a 1959 Lister Chevrolet.

And finally, take note of Greg Johnson behind the wheel of his 1955 Austin Healey 100S. Only 55 aluminum bodied 100S Austin Healey racing cars were constructed by Donald Healey, and Johnson's Chassis 3805 is considered one of the most original of the rare 100S Healeys to survive.

Overall, nine different race groups will take to the racetrack, each divided according to make, age and horsepower. The cars race at high speeds on a spectator-friendly 1.7-mile course constructed in mere days on the runways and taxiways of the military base. The track is set against the stunning backdrop of San Diego Bay.

The family event also presents an open paddock, a car club exhibit featuring more than 1,200 cars, a stunning array of military static displays, ship tours, command displays, flyovers, a vendor midway and live music.