Apex Automotive Magazine Winter 2017

2016 corvette z06 review // force fed pickup // 1931 ford coupe // day trippin’

CNY’S PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // WWW. APEX AUTOMAG.COM // WINTER 2017 ISSUE

FREE TAKE ONE

SUPER DIRT WEEK! This time honored event finds itself bringing tons of dirt to Oswego for the annual race.

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A Legend Lives

We spend a day in flight with an automotive classic.

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A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM

The New Year brings a slightly different Apex. As we begin 2017 with this Winter edition, we wanted to note a few changes.

Some of the staffing has changed, we’re saying goodbye to our amazing account manager Matt Wilson and equally great event photographer Jordan Polizzi. They have enjoyed their time with the magazine, but free-time is at a premium and rather than contribute half-hearted efforts, they have opted to step away. We thank them for their two years of service. They will be missed.

On a positive note, we’re elated to officially welcome Thomas Sblendorio and Bob Sblendorio to the team. Most of our followers have probably seen their name in our magazine in the past as contributors, but now they are full-fledged members of our publishing group.

We owe a lot to the talent and follow-through they have brought to us, and cannot thank them enough for their continued support.

Another change you may have noticed is our selection in the paper stock and finish of the magazine itself. This new matte look is something we’ve noticed that other high end publications use and we thought we would try it and see what everyone thinks. While it is a little more expensive, our hope is we can now show off the vehicles and stories with a little less glare from the previously used gloss paper.

We would love to hear your thoughts at info@apexautomag.com!

For 2017, there will be four issues, coinciding with the seasons, with a new issue every 3 months. As we head into spring and the upcoming show season, we want you to know that we’re still growing and are amazed at the number of car enthusiasts in the CNY area. The support our readers have shown us has been overwhelming and we want to keep bringing you stories about everything automotive in the CNY region.

Thanks for reading!

— The Apex Automotive Magazine Team

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

// WINTER 2017

Managing Editor Kevin Crandall Marketing Manager Bob Sblendorio Advertising Sales Richard Aversa

Creative Directors Justin Palmer, Marc Stress Director of Photography Chris Penree Photography Thomas Sblendorio, Dalton Dobson, John Zachary Contributing Writers Justin Palmer, John Zachary, Bob Sblendorio, Marc Stress, David Sblendorio, Mike Mastracco Proofreaders Denise Crandall Website Damon Maldonado at MPW Marketing Proudly printed locally by Kenyon Press Inc.

07 REVIEW

2016 CORVETTE Z06 We test drive this breathtaking new ride.

by JUSTIN PALMER

07 ON T WO W H EELS

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE A motorcycle tour to promote men’s health.

by MARC STRESS

016

036

RUST COMMODITY Join us at the Fog & Gin while we inspect the patina of a 1930 Ford Coupe

by BOB SBLENDORIO

SUPER DIRT WEEK Apex rolls into Oswego, NY covering the 45th running.

by JOHN ZACHARY

LOCA L STORY

022 FE ATU R ED R IDE

DELOREAN DMC 12 We fly with the pilot of this stainless steel clad beauty

by JUSTIN PALMER

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GEOGR A PH Y LESSON

ORISKANY GARAGE & TIRE This local shop takes care of technology and customers.

by BOB SBLENDORIO

DAY TRIPPIN’ Mike Mastracco takes us on a tour of New York State.

by MIKE MASTRACCO

AT T H E T R ACK

042 LOCA L CA R CLU B

MG CLUB OF CNY This local club is a fan of all European marques.

by BOB SBLENDORIO

LOCA L SHOP

Advertise with us!

Apex Automotive Magazine is the only publication of its kind in CNY. Each issue contains articles featuring custom builds, local car shows, area custom shops, auto enthusiasts, unique car stories, and everything else automotive.

We appreciate all of our amazing advertisers, without them this publication would not be possible. Please give them a chance to earn your patronage and tell them you saw them in Apex Automotive Magazine.

To find out more about advertising in Apex, visit apexautomag.com or call 315.280.8305

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R ESTOMOD

1969 CHEVY PICKUP This yellow step-side pickup gets down with the help of forced intake.

by BOB SBLENDORIO

Subscribe Today.

Apex Automotive Magazine is published four times per year by Seven Horsepower Publishing, LLC. To subscribe, please send $10 to the below address. Magazines will be delivered via USPS. Apex Automotive Magazine PO Box 148 Clinton, NY 13323 We welcome feedback, story suggestions, reader contributions and anything else you might like to share with us. Send us a note to info@apexautomag.com.

All contents copyright 2016, Apex Automotive Magazine.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without consent.

Apex Automotive Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, photos, or artwork.

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R A R E A N D SPECI A L

1964 GALAXIE 500 XL A rare example of this 1960’s Ford with original paint, made special with a Holman performance treatment.

by JUSTIN PALMER

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READERS RIDES // LET’S SEE THOSE RIDES!

MATT ROWLEY 2013 CTS-V SPORT WAGON

When I purchased my V I was looking for something different. I’ve never considered myself a wagon guy, but when I saw this car I fell in love! There’s only been around 1,400 produced, so you don’t see them every day. It’s a 6.2 liter Supercharged v8 and with current mods makes 600 HP and 620 lb ft of torque. Modifications include intake, headers, x-pipe, exhaust, 1000cc injectors, larger heat exchanger, upper and lower pulleys, catch can, weld drag wheels with Mickey Thompson drag radials. It has some cosmetic upgrades too, including carbon fiber front lip, side vents, and fog light surrounds. All the chrome has been covered in black vinyl, and replaced front chrome grills with black chrome grills. Future planned mods are a cam and some nitrous! The car has been to many local shows, and I’m planning on bringing it to the strip this summer to see what kind of numbers it’ll put down!

STEVE RIOU TOYOTA SUPRA

Supras have always been my dream car for as long as I can remember, so when I had the opportunity to purchase one I had to take it. I found the car in Virginia, all stock and missing most of its clear coat. Soon after shipping it back to Syracuse I got the car repainted back to the factory original color. I have always loved the body lines of the car, so I wanted to keep it looking original and clean. The car burned a lot of oil on startup and I figured if I’m taking anything apart I might as well upgrade it. One thing led to another and I ended up replacing the factory twin turbos with a single twin scroll Precision 6766 turbo and an AEM standalone computer, along with a handful of other supporting mods. I’m far from finished with the car. In the future I plan to finish the fuel system and get it on a dyno to get a real tune. I love the car scene and the people I have met because of my car. It’s more than just a hobby for me, it’s a way of life.

Do you have an awesome ride you want us to share? Email clear, high-resolution photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com.

Please include your name and hometown.

All of this issue’s Reader’s Rides features are getting 2 FREE Admission tickets to the Northeast Classic Car Museum! We want to thank the Museum for sponsoring this section with this great prize package. If you haven’t been there lately, go check it out!

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March 25 & 26 of 2017 Customs, classics, hotrods & more!

Come join the fun! At the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fair Grounds and be a part of the largest indoor auto show in CNY! Application Forms for exhibitors and vendors will be available later this year, contact Ed or Joanne Suchon at 315-516-0560.

This is the show you don’t want to miss!!!! www.syracuse-motorama.com

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DEALER SPONSORED TEST DRIVE // CARBONE CHEVROLET

2016 Corvette Zo6 New Vehicle Review

photography Chris Penree words Justin Palmer

As an owner of a C6 Z06 the first thing I wanted to do when the C7 Z06 came out was drive it. The Z06 has always been at the very forefront of delivering supercar level performance, at a sports car level price. The biggest change from the C5 and C6 Z06 to the C7 Z06 has to be the addition of boost. Z06’s have traditionally been naturally aspirated track oriented cars and for good reason - heat soak. Supercharged engines are prone to heat soak and it seems GM engineers have battled heat soak by adding larger cooling vents to cool the C7’s supercharged and intercooled 650hp LS4 that is now up 150hp from the C6 Z06. With the horsepower war arguably at its peak, GM had to up the power output to stay competitive. And let me tell you, this thing feels every single bit of its rated power.

Power comes on hard and is explosive if the throttle is mashed,

Get into the gas and you are now ready to leave earth’s orbit

suspension is forgiving and the ride height never causes an issue.

Our test car featured GM’s renowned magnetic ride control that can make instant micro adjustments to the car’s suspension in real time through the use of magnetically charged particles in the shock fluid. Although I did not track the car, I did get to twist it through some nice bends. The suspension worked flawlessly with no detectable understeer and very controlled throttle-steer when the car was pushed.

This car was fitted with GM’s eight-speed automatic although a seven-speed manual with auto rev matching is available. While most manufacturers are moving towards dual clutch gear boxes to increase shift speeds, I have to say the eight-speed automatic felt fantastic. The shifts were crisp and smooth and I really enjoyed using the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. If this was my car I would have chosen the manual, but the truth is the automatic is faster with 0-60 times in the 3.3 second range. That puts this car in the range of cars that cost three or four times as much as this one. If you want an extremely fast and nimble car at a reasonable price, look no further than the Z06. Apex thanks Carbone Chevrolet for letting us review the gorgeous car!

although the car has a very mild demeanor when cruising around town. Stay out of the gas and you think you are driving a new Impala. Get into the gas and you are now ready to leave the earth’s orbit. I thought my 505hp C6 Z06 was quick, but it’s nothing like this next generation Corvette.

While power output has reached Dodge Hellcat levels, the chassis has also been completely revised. The thing I hate about my C6 Z06 is the fact that every bump slams you around and the car is so extremely low the side sills will scrape when driving over a speed bump. The C7 Z06 is nothing like that, even in its most extreme sport mode (there are three adjustable modes) the

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photography Dalton Dobson words Marc Stress

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// ON TWO WHEELS

Every year since 2012, on the last Sunday in September, motorcycle riders have donned their finest to ride in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR). The annual event was founded in Sydney, Australia by Mark Hawwa to raise awareness for men’s health issues.

Hawwa was inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper on a classic bike, wearing his finest suit. Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles, while connecting niche motorcycle communities. That first ride more than four years ago brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities. The success of the inaugural event encouraged Mark to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause.

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride team Initially to promote awareness around cancer research, specifically prostate cancer.

In its second year, more than 11,000 riders in 145 cities around the world raised AU$277,000 that was donated to cancer research groups.

In 2016, more than 57,000 riders in 505 cities from 90 countries mounted their motorcycles to increase awareness and ultimately raised $3.65M USD to help fund research into prostate cancer and support male suicide prevention on behalf of the Movember Foundation.

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// ON TWO WHEELS The ride is open to all motorcyclists on all types of bikes.

Cafe Racers, Bobbers, Sidecars, Classics, Modern Classics, and Undefinable Machines. This year the Syracuse ride gathered motorcycles from old vintage two-strokes all the way to a 2016 liquid-cooled customs.

Riders in Syracuse have been gathering on the last Sunday in September since 2014 and each year the event is gaining more attention. This year, more than 30 riders registered at the official global site with additional riders joining in for the day’s adventures. The ride began in the village of Manlius. Hosts and local ride coordinators, Jeff Freightenburgh and Ryan Collins, made sure everyone felt welcome and knew the plans for the day.

A group Facebook page gave all participants a place to plan and coordinate the days events. For the competitive in the group, the official Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride site kept tally of the Syracuse riders, and all their fundraising efforts. The local DGR crew raised more than $12,000 in 2016. The most funds raised for Syracuse chapter go to custom Honda rider Henry Foote.

Photographer Dalton Dobson spent the day riding in the sidecar of an Ural 600, hanging his lens over the pavement to capture these great photos.

The ride this year covered more than 45 miles and concluded in Manlius for pizza, courtesy of the wood-fired pizza wizardry of Ironwood Pizza.

The 2017 Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride happens Sunday Septermber 24. For more information and to register for next year’s ride, visit http://www.gentlemansride.com.

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words and photography Mike Mastracco

hile 2016 is now in our rear view mirrors, 2017 has drifted in. Even though it’s now February we can still enjoy our automotive hobby. Central New York’s winter is in full swing, we’ve had rain, snow, and sun for our typical winter mix.

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// GEOGRAPHY LESSON Now that the craziness of the holidays have passed, it’s time for the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500. It’s not all about TV on these cold wintery days. Often the sun shines through the trees, the air warms up a bit, and it generally feels good to get outdoors and enjoy some brisk fresh air; it’s time for some winter day trippin’.

Winter day trippin’ can be just as exciting as spring and summer day trippin’. Start the morning off with breakfast at home or at one of the many mom ‘n pop diners in your area. No matter where you live, there is a small diner to stop at to enjoy the friendly atmosphere along with home cooked meals, plus you are supporting a local business. Take a leisurely ride to any one of several museums in New York State and be back for supper. For some added adventure, find a new restaurant for supper on the way home.

New York State is home to some fantastic museums, from art museums to wax museums and everything you can think of in between. Being a car related magazine, I’m going to focus mostly on automobile related museums. We are lucky to have such a wide variety within such a short driving distance.

To our east, let’s begin with the Saratoga Automobile Museum which is located in the 2,500 acre Saratoga Spa State Park. This museum calls home to an old bottling plant built in 1934 in the heart of Saratoga Springs. As you drive closer you will notice that this museum is nestled in an area surrounded by picturesque

trees, shrubs, and plenty of grass. Displays you can expect to see are “East of Detroit,” many automobiles that were built right here in New York State. Another exhibit to sprint over to is “Racing in New York State.” To keep things fresh, the down stairs display is changed up each year to keep you coming back.

A short drive to the south is the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich. They have over 170 vehicles on display in five connected buildings along with one room that changes focus each year. A few main exhibits include the Fabulous Franklins, Cars

enjoy some brisk fresh air; it’s time for some winter day trippin’ Made in New York State, a Post-war Collection, motorcycles and more. There are videos to watch, if interested. There is the WWI & WWII aircraft engines, which line one wall for added enjoyment.

Don’t’ forget to purchase a raffle ticket for a Mustang, it is their biggest yearly fundraiser.

Pierce Arrow Museum

Glenn Curtis Museum

Museum founders Jim Sandoro and his wife, Mary Ann, have spent more than 45 years collecting memorabilia, antique vehicles and historic artifacts of the rich transportation history of Western New York. The collection includes automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, Pierce-Arrow artifacts, The 1927 Buffalo Filling Station by Frank Lloyd Wright, and more.

The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is a museum of local history with a focus on Glenn Curtiss. Located in Hammondsport, New York, the museum boasts a large collection of Curtiss’ airplanes, motorcycles and many other items pertaining to the local Finger Lakes area such as boats and wine culture.

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24 HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

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The largest car museum in the Northeast!

Home of the Staley Collection

24 Rexford Street Norwich, NY 13815 607-334-2886 Group Rates www.classiccarmuseum.org

Guided or Self-Guided Tours Photography Encouraged Event Space for up to 300 Guests All Major Credit Cards Accepted Gift Shop Free Parking Wheelchair Accessible Scooters Available

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Another stop to make to the south, and not too far, is the Central New York Living History Center in Homer/Cortland area.

This houses the Brockway Museum, the Homeville Museum and the Tractors of Yesteryear. Brockway trucks were manufactured in Cortland from 1912-1977. The Homeville Museum is home to a private collection of American military and railroad items, only part of the collection is on display which rotates yearly. You’ll see antique tractors, farming implements and more that were used on farms up to 150 years ago in the building that houses the Tractors of Yesteryear collection.

A little farther south, and to the west, is the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum located outside the quaint village of Hammondsport.

Glenn Curtiss was the “fastest man on earth” when he reached a speed over 136 MPH on a motorcycle in 1907. For his flying expertise, Glenn earned himself pilot’s license #1. There are planes, cars, campers, motorcycles and so much more to see.

Auburn lays claim to the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum, not so much about cars, but many transportation type objects and everything around the house the farm and barn you can imagine.

A very short day trip that takes you back in time, at this historical center.

To the not so far west, is the Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum, which is the newest museum on this list. Yes, it still is a day trip and well worth it. A new modern building with several rooms with more to look at and gaze upon than just automobiles. There are several brands of historic automobiles to view along with Pierce Arrow bicycles and memorabilia. Of course the focus here is Pierce Arrow, however there is plenty of information about the E. R. Thomas Motor Company and other Buffalo made automobiles.

Up to the north is the Champlain Valley Transportation Museum located in Plattsburgh. Founded in 2000 to be a museum dedicated to the history of the Lozier Automobile which was made in Plattsburgh, it now has grown in scope to cover all the transportation in the region. Inside this museum is the Bill Gates Diner car which is one of eleven still in existence.

If you are going to sit, sit in a car and do some day trippin’.

Saratoga Museum

The Saratoga Automobile Museum was organized in 1999, and opened to the public in 2002. The Museum’s mission is to preserve, interpret and exhibit automobiles and automotive artifacts. We celebrate the automobile and educate the general public, students and enthusiasts regarding the role of the automobile in New York State and in the wider world. In addition to technical and design aspects, our educational focus is on the past, present and future social and economic impact of the automobile.

The Museum is located within the 2,500 acre Saratoga Spa State Park, in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs, New York, world famous for its legendary, much honored one-mile thoroughbred track. The museum’s facility is the totally restored and renovated Saratoga Bottling Plant, a beautiful neo-classic structure built in 1934. The Museum is adjacent to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and near the landmark Gideon Putnam Hotel. Within walking distance in the Park are the National Museum of Dance, the Spa Little Theatre and the lavish Hall of Springs banquet facility.

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photography Thomas Sblendorio words Bob Sblendorio

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Mark Crane sits outside with his custom Ford outside the world headquarters of Fox & Gin.

Mark Crane, owner of the Crane Company, works long hours running his company — a septic, plumbing, general contracting company in Sherrill, NY— and getting time off is a rare commodity. He built his company up in a short time, going from just three employees in 2010 to 12 employees now, and still growing. So when he gets time off, and is not doing something with his wife and five kids, he’s with his buddies cruising in their rat rods. It’s all about relaxing and having fun!

Mark’s interest in rat rods started back in 2002, when he and his wife, Becky, were vacationing in the Southwest. While in Lincoln, Nebraska, he came across a group of guys with their rat rods hanging out in a parking lot. He was immediately intrigued and very impressed with the creativity that went into the building of the cars. The cars were “chopped and cut” in ways that were completely unique. After talking with the guys for awhile and taking a lot of photos,

Mark was hooked and had a burning desire to build his own rat rod someday.

Soon after, the planning started and Mark decided to hand build his rat rod, employing the help of many friends along the way. The car is really personalized and includes many parts that have sentimental meaning; like the body, which came from his grandfather’s 4-door 1931 Ford coupe.

He recovered it from a “hedgerow” and removed the rear doors and chopped the top. The engine, a Chevy inline 6-cylinder, is from a 1972 pickup truck. It too, has sentimental meaning, as it came from a truck his father owned when he was a kid.

Unbelievably, that engine was run for about 15 minutes without oil — and has never been rebuilt — “and still runs great.”

Mark explained: My father was selling his pickup truck and had it parked in the front lawn [for sale]. My parents went to dinner and my brother and I took the truck out for a ride

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The’31 Coupe sits low inside and out.

in the fields for about 15 minutes. We put the truck back, but my father immediately knew it had been moved. When he asked about it, we told him what we did. He was mad because he had dropped the oil and was planning to re-fill it later. He was really, really mad! After that, he never sold the truck and just left it in the field for years.

Despite the motor’s history, Mark says, “I removed the engine from that truck and got it going again without too much difficulty. It is very reliable and I wouldn’t hesitate driving the car to California, if I had to…it’s that reliable.” The other parts for the car came from many different cars; for example, the grill is from a 1938 Ford, the front axle is from a 1952 Chevy, and the air cleaner is a re-purposed mailbox recovered from a dumpster in Rome. The frame was hand built, with the goal of making the car as low as possible and as Mark said, “the lower the better.” For

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The Interior of Fox & Gin has all the comforts of home surrounding guests with hand hewn beams and incandescent light.

the front end, he had a specific vision, something that he put in a lot of time researching. To make it really stand out, the front axle was placed as far forward as possible, forward of the grill, and with that he achieved the look he wanted.

When the car was finally completed in 2004, Mark was very excited to bring it to a local show. Between the countless hours over two years, and all the sentimental attachment built into the car, it was time to show it off.

In 2004, rat rods were fairly new and somewhat obscure to the general public.

With that in mind, Mark went on to explain his experience at the first car show he attended in Norwich, NY: When pulling into the show, the parking attendant wouldn’t initially take my money for the parking fee… ‘Is this some kind of joke?... are you really going to enter this thing?’… to which I said yes. She shook her head and reluctantly took my money. Since

I had the only rat rod at the show, there was a lot of confusion as to where they were going to park me. It was finally decided to put me between some very expensive 1930s coupes. They weren’t happy! As soon as I got out of the car, there were like 50 people walking, jogging and running towards my car. For three hours, they were checking it out and taking tons of photos. The kids were especially excited to see it. After a while, I decided to leave the driver door open and allowed any kid who wanted…to go inside and do whatever they wanted. The excitement was unbelievable. It was a great feeling to see, especially after all the work I put into building the car. The guys parked on each side — with their Do Not Touch signs — were really mad that they were getting ignored all day.

When Mark goes cruising, it is usually with his rat rod buddies. They enjoy just cruising and sometimes going to shows.

A few years ago they decided to formalize

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A re-purposed delivery box from the Rome Sentinel makes sure this Coupe gets its share of air.

their group into a rat rod club. The hardest part was coming up with a name for the club, an effort that was a year in the making. After pondering and looking for inspiration, it finally came to Mark while at an antique shop in Westmoreland.

The name was based on an old sign from a moving company from Maine. After changing the name some and doing some additional checking — to avoid any potential conflicts — Fox & Gin was born and became the official name of the club.

Mark then designed the logo and created a Facebook page. The club has about 20 members.

The car is stored in an old barn that is fixed up inside, and includes all the comforts of a really cool “man-cave”… refrigerator, card table, lounge chairs, sleeping quarters and the like. The barn also serves as the meeting location for the club members, and as Mark kiddingly says, “it is the world headquarters for Fox & Gin.” APE X AU TOMOTIVE M AG A ZINE // 0 1 9

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photography Chris Penree words Bob Sblendorio

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There’s nothing greater than the bond of a father and son — and for Mike SanFilippo and his father, Salvatore — that glue for the past 20+ years has been a 1969 Chevy Pickup.

To this day, when Mike’s father comes to town for a visit…

“The very first thing he wants to do is go for a cruise in the truck.” That’s a bond! “ ‘You can go to college or start making money’ my father said after I graduated from High School.” And with that, Mike followed in his father’s footsteps and started installing flooring as a way to make money. “My father was my main influence, he got me into it.” In 1991 he opened his own business, with his father and mother helping to run it.

Mike credits his father for learning the skills necessary to run a successful business…Mike’s Floor Store.

In 1994, Mike’s father spotted a 1969 Chevy C10 Pickup truck in an Autotrader Magazine. With that, they drove out to Ohio and purchased the truck. “As soon as we got back the motor blew!” Mike described that it was likely a combination of a “tired motor” and the 411 gears causing high motor rpm on the way back. The motor was replaced with a small block Chevy and had decent power, but after some time they were “not happy with it.”

Instead of taking baby steps for the next motor, Mike and his father decided on a 454 cu. in. big block…but that

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still wasn’t enough, so they had it stroked out to 496 cu in. Why stop there? They then decided to add a massive Wieand 8-71 supercharger. So how much horsepower does the motor put out? Who knows! Mike said, “at least 750 hp, but that’s with the blower turned way down.”

Most of the major changes were completed back in 2004; the new motor, new doors, fenders, hood, and new paint. The parts are all original GM and were hard to find.

In addition to Mike and his father, “a lot of friends helped with the actual work. There were a lot of late nights with my Dad working on the truck.” The motor was built by Steve Nolan of Riverside Performance, the wiring was done by his friend, Bill Tuttle, and Nick Spina did the paint work. The blue flames were added by local artist, Tommy Venettozzi Jr. Mike said, “It was 2-1/2 years of hell waiting for my truck to get done.” The future plans, include upgrades to the brakes, changing the front end to tubular A-arms and changing the rear wheels to a wider 18”, versus the current 15”.

Mike, along with his fiancé Loretta, are regulars at all the local cruise-ins, and make a point of going to the Annual Adirondack Nationals Car Show in Lake George, as well as the Syracuse Nationals. “We just love driving and cruising in the truck!”

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FLYING into the future: d el o r e a n

s t y l e

photography Chris Penree words Justin Palmer

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Every kid or adult that lived through the 80’s saves a special place in their hearts for the quirky and impractical DMC-12 produced by the DeLorean Motor Company from 1981-1983. It was a car way ahead of its time in many ways and featured an innovative fiberglass body structure with a steel backbone chassis developed

by Lotus, along with external brushed stainless steel body panels. The original concept that featured a mid-mounted rotary engine was really interesting, but that was eventually scrapped due to cost and availability issues leaving DeLorean to settle on a rear engine layout and a lack luster PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) fuel injected V6 producing under 200hp.

The fact that the CEO and founder of DMC, John DeLorean, managed to convince celebrities to help fund his 150 million dollar endeavor much less actually produce a functioning, driving sports car is really a miracle. Creating a car company is no easy task, just ask Elon Musk. What’s really impressive is that these cars were put together fairly well given such a short development timeframe, especially noting the fact that computers were almost non-existent in the early 1980’s, This particular car is owned by Scott Selden, of Utica, NY. Scott always liked cars, but he didn’t really feel super strong about them until he got older. “I remember really wanting a Camaro so, so bad, but I never got it. I ended up with a Monte Carlo which I hated at the time, but would love to own again. Funny how that is, nostalgia I suppose” said Scott. His taste in cars is very unique. Most guys want the baddest, high horsepower car they can get for their dollar. Although Scott likes muscle cars and may one day get one, he prefers cars that are a bit bizarre or interesting, cars like his 1982 DMC-12.

Scott’s background is in graphic design. He teaches at MVCC (Mohawk Valley Community College) full time as a design professor, in fact he was my teacher! Being a designer you tend to be hypersensitive to the way things look, sometimes more so then how they function. The DeLorean is considered a sports car, but after my time with Scott and his pristine example of a well maintained DeLorean —which I am very thankful APE X AU TOMOTIVE M AG A ZINE // 0 2 3

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for because c’mon how cool is this thing—, I realized quickly that this is non-existent, the body rolls pretty badly on turn in, the PRV V6 is rated well under 200 hp, and 0-60 happens in about 10.5 seconds. Unless you opt for a manual DeLorean which is capable of a much more spry eight second run to 60 mph. But even then, you are on par with a Nissan Versa.

Where the DMC-12 lacks in speed it makes up for it by leaps in the style department. Everyone knows and loves this car for its famous part in the blockbuster hit, “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox, 3 years after the company declared bankruptcy.

Even though the car was no longer available for purchase, this starring role a secured place for the DeLorean in automotive history. Aside from its iconic following from the movie, I think this car gets as much attention as it does on its own. This thing is still striking all these years later. Its super low roofline and wide body flare give it an imposing feeling. The famously quirky gullwing doors look so cool when opened and make the car feel special. And if that isn’t enough, top it off with real stainless steel body panels.

The car is clearly 80’s with its sharp and angular body lines, but its

simplicity makes it feel timeless. That design language translates into the DMC-12’s interior space where the driver sits down low and is surrounded by a boxy and futuristic dash layout. The seats are plush and bolstered pretty well. You can really sense Lotus design influence throughout the car.

“One of my very favorite aspects of the DeLorean isn’t really how it performs or even necessarily looks, it’s all the attention the car gets when I drive through town. People go crazy when they see it. Look, look! Is that a freaking DeLorean?! I even had one guy almost crash trying to take cell phone pictures of it while I was driving down the street. It’s crazy. I especially love the kids’ reaction to it, it’s like a spaceship,” said Scott.

Scott isn’t the only one who loves the DeLorean, DMC was bought out and they are still producing DMC-12’s today from leftover parts from closed factories. They are also developing a new model of DeLorean that will modernize the car, but maintain its style. These cars are relatively affordable with super clean examples going for 25-30 thousand dollars. So if you want to go back to the future, now is the time to do it before it’s too late.

The Future of DeLorean

Beginning in 2007 a few daring entrepreneurs have tried to bring the DeLorean back to life, including an announcement of an all electric model in 2014—1.21 Gigawatts! Due to production issues and lawsuits, none of these plans have come to fruition. Thanks to continued efforts and changes in Federal Legislation, DeLorean is ripe for another comeback. The DeLorean Motor Company has indicated as many as 50 cars will be for sale in 2017. There have not been updates since October 2016, you can learn more at their official website: http://www.newdelorean.com/ APE X AU TOMOTIVE M AG A ZINE // 0 2 5

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Galaxie nostalgia

photography Thomas Sblendorio words Justin Palmer

Ted Schmitt began his passion for automobiles at a very young age. His father, Bill Schmitt, was in the car business and loved cars himself. He would bring his son with him to car shows almost every weekend and was sure never to miss Carlisle, a popular swap meet in Pennsylvania. Bill would often sell antique cars which eventually led to Ted sharing his passion for interesting and unique automobiles.

After Ted graduated college, he began working in the oil business and was travelling an average of 40,000 miles annually doing real estate development and calling on existing accounts.

During his long trips for work he would constantly pass by small car dealerships and after sometime it finally hit him. At 32 he was sick and tired of the corporate bureaucracy and decided enough was enough and left his job to start North Country Motors and follow his passion for all things cars in 1999.

Ted quickly realized that simply selling used cars wasn’t going to cut it and he wanted a different approach to the selection of cars he sold. He began traveling south every week to buy vehicles that didn’t suffer from exposure to salt, and ever since North Country has become known as the go to place for rust free southern trucks.

Ask anyone local where the best place to get a super clean used car and most will recommend North Country. Ted has done a fantastic job branding himself through simply providing clean, quality vehicles over and over. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.

Ted not only buys rust free trucks and cars, but he also (like his father had done) likes to purchase antique cars. “I really enjoy purchasing antique cars, it really adds a lot of fun to the business.”

North Country will even provide locating services and hunt down

specific cars that a customer may request.

In 2006, Ted decided he wanted to find a fun and nostalgic hot rod, but it had to have original paint and sheet metal. That’s when a friend in Florida informed him of a ’64 Galaxie 500 XL that was a Holman Moody race prepped car that had been sitting for over 30 years in a dry environment. Ted was so enamored that he bought the car sight unseen and shipped the car home.

It would then take ten more years to get the car to the state it is now. The paint remains all original, but is still presentable and has a cool patina to it. However, every nut and bolt on this car has been touched and a complete frame off restoration was completed.

Ted was so enamored that he bought the car sight unseen.

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Now if you’re not familiar with Holman Moody, it was a lot like sending your car off to Roush performance to get all the go fast goodies added on. This car features a monstrous 390 high performance engine, backed by a top loader 4-speed transmission.

Holman Moody added a tripower carb setup, aluminum intake, full length NASCAR cast iron headers, solid lifters, upgraded fuel system, worked over heads, and topped it off with 4:11 gears with a posi and traction bars.

The original owner of this car set it up to street race and then sold it to a second owner in 1969 who also raced it for a short. It was then parked and sat untouched for 30 years until Ted bought the car. Such an amazing set of circumstances which led to a very clean and rust free example. If you are interested in this car it’s for sale and is extremely well documented!

Ted would like to give special thanks to Matt Englehart of Prospect Collision of Mount Joy, PA for all of his help painstakingly painting all the pieces and parts, and to Jack Dineen for his help rebuilding the motor.

The Galaxie sat for 30 years until Ted took it home.

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// FEATURED LOCAL SHOP

Oriskany Garage & Tire The go-t0 repair shop in the Mohawk Valley

This shop blends old school management and a new school, high tech approach ensuring they can take care of their customers and the increasingly complex vehicles the shop services. photography Thomas Sblendario words Bob Sblendario

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// ORISKANY GARAGE & TIRE

OG Duo

Russ Schmitt and Rade Cavic watching over business and customers at the garage in Utica.

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You’ ll find Oriskany Garage on Champlain Ave in the Yorkville area of Utica, NY.

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// FEATURED LOCAL SHOP When the team at Apex Automotive Magazine put Oriskany Garage Tire in the queue for an article, I immediately volunteered, actually insisted, on doing this article. Here’s why: Oriskany Garage Tire is my go-to shop for all our car servicing needs. I got hooked 17 years ago, when I moved to the area for a new job. It was my first day, -12º and the car wouldn’t start...I was going to be late on day one. The car was towed to Oriskany Garage Tire and the owner/ manager, knowing my situation, said not to worry; they will get the problem diagnosed and fixed. He then offered to have one of his guys drive me to work, which was quite far away. He even offered to pick me up as well, if needed. It was a generous offer to a complete stranger and was much appreciated.

After that, I became a loyal customer. Over the many years of going there for service, there have been many additional — actually countless — acts of generosity and kindness towards me and my family in the servicing of our many cars…all as a result of Russ Schmitt.

“I was floored” is how the new owner, Rade Cavic, described his reaction when researching Oriskany Garage Tire. He had been looking to purchase a car shop for 10 years, both locally and in Westchester County (North of NYC).

“I had investigated countless shops, read countless reviews… looking for the right place. It was pretty standard [while reading shop reviews], there would be 1 or 2 or 3 outstanding reviews that sounded like they were written by the owner’s wife and brother, and then any number of negative reviews.” The reviews about Oriskany Garage Tire were different. “There was 1 negative review and mountains and mountains of praise…heaping praise! I was very surprised because it was so far out of the norm for this type of business.”

Rade struck gold when purchasing the business!

Rade, a fan of Apex Magazine, had

suggested this story to

the Apex team because he felt passionate

about sharing the 35

year legacy that Russ has built

35 Years of Success

Russ quit high school, joined the Air Force, got his GED and graduated in the top-of-his-class in aircraft mechanics. He was well trained and worked on a variety of fighter aircraft while serving in the Air Force. After serving in the Air Force, he worked in the automotive field in a couple of different jobs. He worked on trucks at the DPW and after that, worked for Ziebart Rustproofing for many years and got to know many in the field.

Russ has managed Oriskany Garage Tire for the past 35 years,

and was sole owner for past 10 years (before selling the business last year). He said, as an owner, “it was the best years of my life.”

He has grown the business into a very large operation, employing 18 Technicians and office staff. I asked about the challenges of managing and keeping that many employees. He said, “over the years there wasn’t that much turnover, but some employees would leave…for better paying jobs or would leave because they got mad at me for some reason — but every guy that left me — always came back.”

A People Person

“I am a people person — not a schooled manager — I never ran the business for profit. I ran it to stay open for the next year, which you can’t do it like that forever…but I did it and succeeded.”

He continued, “I gave a lot away, but it always came back. My accountant told me, ‘you can’t keep running your business like this’…I said why? I don’t want to count my money, I want to count my customers…I want to count my friends.” Even though he sold the business last year, he still works there and is still doing the job of managing the day-to-day operations. As long as he is not too tired, he still works 6 days a week, albeit some shorter days on occasion. “I love it more now! I now have more time to talk to customers.”

I asked where the nickname “Uncle Russ” came from. It seems that everybody familiar with the business knows his nickname…

“Many years ago, to help out a local college kid, I told him that he could work on his car in the parking lot and that if he needed help, we are right here. He would come down a few times a week. One day he needed help and I went out there and helped him out. He said ‘I have an uncle in NYC that owns a car shop like yours, but you know what? He doesn’t treat me like you do…you’re a better Uncle.’” The student told other college friends and fellow students that “Uncle Russ” is the guy to see to have your car fixed. “All of a sudden, kids would come down…is Uncle Russ here?” The college is close by and over the years many college students have had their cars serviced by Russ. He really enjoys helping young people and “if they needed anything” they knew Russ would help them at a fair price or for free.

He went on to tell another story about a college kid that two days before Christmas, came to the shop with major car problems.

Realizing that the car could not be repaired in time for the student to get home, “I loaned him $300 to take a bus to get back home.”

The student lived somewhere in the Boston area, and as it turned out didn’t return to school the following semester. Russ was out the $300. Unbelievably, the former student “came down to pay me back 8 years later.”

Giving Back

Russ also supports many charities, like the local Boy Scout troop. Years ago, he became an active member of the troop, where his son became an Eagle Scout. He went on to say, “my best friends are through scouting.”

He has been helping a 59 year old mentally challenged gentleman for many years. “He doesn’t have anyone, so I talk to him every day and gave him a job here at the shop. He organizes my papers and with that, now has purpose.” Russ went on to mention that he was going to surprise him that weekend for his birthday by bringing a big birthday cake to his church.

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New Ownership

Rade Cavic is well educated. He has 2 engineering degrees, and worked for Coca Cola in Westchester County for 23 years and had a “wonderful career in manufacturing and engineering.” While working as an engineer, he developed a keen interest in industrial automation, and that’s when he decided to pursue a second engineering degree in Electrical Engineering…while still working full-time at Coca Cola. For 2 years, he would travel for 3-1/2 hours to SUNY PI (formerly SUNY IT) in Marcy for 4 days a week and then travel back to work at Coca Cola for the remaining three days of the week...Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “It was the craziest time of my life.”

He always wanted to get into the automotive field and follow in his father’s footsteps. His father had owned a shop in Richfield Springs for about 17 years…buying, selling and repairing cars.

Rade and his brother were exposed, at a very young age, to the skills needed to service and repair cars. At 12, his father had his brother and him change an engine in a 1969 Dodge Dart.

Now as owner of Oriskany Garage Tire, he is able to utilize his skills from working in his father’s shop. He can also use many of his engineering skills, especially when it comes to researching and investigating some of the more difficult problems. “Russ does a fantastic job handling the work scheduling and customer interaction, and that allows me to pull back and work on the

By The Numbers

35

Years in business..

18

business side of things. I can facilitate between the customer and the Technician, and get to the root of a problem to find the best solution for our customers.”

Preparing for the Future

The future of the shop looks bright. Rade has plans to grow the core business of tires and brakes, and other services by advertising through online platforms. Also, in trying to anticipate the future of the industry, he recently had a Tech attend a 1-week training course on how to properly service hybrid cars. Soon, they will be a qualified shop for the repair of hybrid cars. Through it all, the main priority is to maintain the excellent customer experience and service that the shop is known for.

Rade, a fan of Apex Magazine, had suggested this story to the Apex team because he felt passionate about sharing the 35 year legacy that Russ has built in the local community, and he felt it is a story that needed to be told. Russ is a guy that transcends beyond the job of a typical manager and is an honest and inspiring person to get to know.

The blending of the old school management style provided by Russ and the new school, high tech approach provided by Rade, seems to be a winning combination — ensuring that Oriskany Garage Tire will be able to continue servicing its customer base for many years to come.

People on staff.

4.9

Average review on Google

Uncle Russ Years ago, Russ had helped a student from New York City who was attending college in town. The student started calling him Uncle, and it stuck.

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Apex Automotive Magazine is currently in need of sales representatives. While there is no base pay, we offer very competitive commission rates and the opportunity to be part of the area’s only fast growing automotive magazine.

If you have a passion for cars, enjoy meeting new people, and are organized we want you! Please send resume and cover letter to bob@apexautomag.com.

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SUPER

DIRT WEEK

Race organizers added 6,900 cubic feet of clay to the asphalt surface at Oswego Speedway for the 45th Annual Central New York Event. words and photography John Zachary

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After 44 years of racing at the “Moody Mile” in Syracuse, NY, Super DIRT Week (SDW) packed its bags and headed north to Oswego, NY. “The Steel Palace” was built in 1951 and has been home for the Super Modifieds for as long as I remember. This historical 5/8 mile asphalt track has had well known drivers like Geoff Bodine, Brett Bodine, Richie Evans, Greg Sacks, and Jimmy Spencer stand in victory lane at the Big O. One day after the ROC race at Oswego Speedway, 6,900 cubic feet of clay was applied on top of the hollowed asphalt for the 45th running of Super DIRT Week.

Dirt modified racers from all over the East Coast will compete in the richest dirt track race in the world. Sunday’s winner of the NAPA 300 will hold up a check for $50,000. Fans will set up camp for five days all around the spacious Speedway.

In mid-summer, The World Racing Group announced that SDW 16 would be held at the Oswego Speedway. Social media was all a buzz about this event being held at a temporary dirt track. People slammed the idea and others were excited about the change of venue. I myself was sad that it was no longer in Syracuse, but very excited to go and cover this show at a new facility.

This race has been a huge part of my life beginning in 1973, until now. I missed a couple in the early 2000’s, but other than that the first full week in October of each year has been spent at SDW. I was lucky enough to have been able to cover the last ever race on the Mile for APEX Auto Magazine. This year APEX was able to cover the brand new Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway.

The WRG (World Racing Group) put in a ton of work preparing for the 45th running of SDW, from the track to making camping comfortable for the dedicated race fans. The place looked spectacular when we drove in on Thursday night. Behind the updated backstretch grandstands was where the pit area was for all of the divisions that take part in DIRT Week.

I think this worked out well for the teams; by Friday at the mile

one could hardly move with all of the haulers packed in the infield pit area. On the other hand, the teams had to haul their equipment to the infield when it was their time to hit the track. The “Hot Pit” is what they called the area in the infield. Not having the big haulers in the infield was great for the fans in the stands. Fans could see the entire track from their seats without stacker trailers blocking their view.

Thursday was time trials and practice for the big block and small block classes. Matt Sheppard and Tim McCreadie put their cars on the front row for Sunday’s big race.

We arrived early Friday morning for our first full day at SDW 45.

On the schedule for Friday was a boat load of racing into the night.

Pro stock, sportsman, and futures made up most of the racing during the day. The weather was almost perfect with temperatures in the high 70’s and mostly sunny skies, but this wasn’t good for the new track surface at all. The dust was really playing havoc with the races all day. Workers could not get enough water on the track to keep it safe for the drivers. Vision was really bad, forcing the WRG to postpone the remaining races until 6:30 at night.

Everybody went back to regroup for the night racing ahead.

Not only did we get to see a few of the day races under the lights, but also the already scheduled qualifying races for both the small block and big block cars. These races would set the field for both classes, The Salute the Troops 150 for the small blocks on Saturday and the NAPA 300 on Sunday for the big blocks.

Racing was awesome under the lights. Drivers could run on the bottom, the top, and in the middle if needed. Each race had some great wheel to wheel racing, giving the fans their money’s worth.

Even though the track was developing holes in the corners, it was still a race track. I am not sure if I have ever seen so many dirt modifieds catching air as I did during the races Friday night. It was exciting and sad at the same time. There were a lot of wrecked race cars by the end of the night.

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With the combination of fast laps, rough tack, and guys trying to make it into the show, we were able to get some great images throughout the night. This was a race photographer’s dream.

Saturday was a total washout with rain most of the day in Oswego. This pushed everything up to Sunday. Promoters decided to shorten the races on Sunday to make sure they could get them all in for the fans and racers. This was a good idea for everyone involved.

When we arrived Sunday morning the place was buzzing with excitement for the big races that lay ahead. Along with the soaking rain on Saturday, the track crew put down calcium on the 5/8’s mile clay track. This helped keep the dust at bay all day on Sunday.

When we walked into the infield Sunday morning the track looked great. The big block modified non qualifiers race was run in the morning along with the pro stocks time trials.

So the field was set for the NAPA 200. Teams started to make their way into the infield with their war wagons full of spare parts, fuel, and anything else they thought they might need during the race. Meanwhile, both the front stretch grandstands and backstretch stands were filling up with dedicated dirt car fans. I was getting excited myself about the day’s events. The track crew was doing their best to repair and maintain the troubled spots before the race started.

Pre-race ceremonies were underway for the 45th running of Super DIRT Week’s premiere race. As the drivers were instructed to start their engines, you could feel the fresh new excitement in the air, it was fantastic. Teams tested their equipment for when their car came down pit road for a pit stop. Drivers went four wide while the fans stood to cheer on their favorites. I loved it. It felt a lot like the SDW that I grew up with but at a new location.

I got into position for the drop of the green. Sheppard and McCreadie lead the field down into turn one for the first of 200 laps. T-MAC went to the top and Sheppard moved to the bottom trying to gain the advantage early on. McCreadie was looking for his first win at SDW, and had a very good chance to bring it home for his team this year. Sheppard didn’t waste any time getting out front. He made a move under Tim to take the lead and opened up a comfortable lead.

Matt led every lap up until 175 or so. A whole slew of cautions flew throughout the first half of the race. The track was taking its toll on the delicate equipment. These cars are made lightweight to

run on mostly smooth tracks. When they drive through a hole that is 12” deep, it is tough on the equipment. The pace was pretty fast throughout the entire field. Drivers tried to gain positions, as well as save their cars for the end of the race.

Holes developed in the corners making it tough to run the bottom. The high line was the safest place to run, but to make a pass they had to run through the holes and hope for the best.

Rear axles, shocks, and tires took all of the abuse. Around lap 175 T-Mac made a move on Sheppard in lap traffic for the lead.

Sheppard brought his #9 into the pits for his first pit stop of the day. Most of the field had already stopped for tires and fuel. During Sheppard’s stop the car was showing some steam from under the hood. The team poured water into the radiator to help cool it down. He was off, but behind guys like McCreadie, Friesen, and Hearn who had already made their stops.

With less than 25 laps left it looked like T-Mac was going to get his first SDW win. Hearn, Terrance, and Friesen were all trying to hunt the #39 car down. Friesen made his way up to second with around ten laps to go. A late race caution flew, tightening up the field for an epic finish.

The crowd rose to their feet for the last few laps. Between turns one and two, Stewart drove underneath McCreadie to take the lead, but Timmy drove right past by him for the top spot again.

Friesen once again took the lead on the following lap as T-Mac spun going into turn one bringing out the final yellow for the day.

This put Hearn in the second spot with a couple laps left.

Hearn tried to make a move, but Friesen was too strong, crossing the stripe for his third win in a row and fifth all time.

Only 12 cars finished from the 42 that had started the 200 lapper.

Even though the track took out most of the field, I thought it was still a good race the first time on a temporary dirt track.

The Small Blocks and Sportsman ran their races soon after the victory lane ceremonies were over.

Tim Fuller lead all 100 laps, with Friesen and Marc Johnson rounding out the top three in the Salute the Troops 100 Small Block Race.

Well that’s about it for SDW 45 at Oswego Speedway. We had a great time covering the races and look forward to doing it again next October. If any of you are thinking about joining us next year I would say do it. You will enjoy it, I promise. See you at the track!

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// LOCAL CAR CLUB

All Euros Welcome The MG Club of CNY is a club for all European and British cars. It started out as an MG Club in 2000, but quickly evolved into a more inclusive club. Today, with upwards of 100 family memberships, the club is very active with monthly activities throughout the year.

Recently, Apex Magazine was invited to attend a monthly meeting by the Club President, Mike Mastracco. I attended with my son, David. We were warmly greeted by Mike and other members of the club. We were seated with folks that were welcoming and enthusiastic about our magazine. We shared some recent issues of the magazine and exchanged stories while waiting for the meeting to start.

Mike started the meeting with a very generous donation on behalf of the club’s members to a local charity…wow! The gift was accepted by a representative of the charity, who was very grateful for the donation and explained how it helps sustain their work in delivering services to the needy. Next, Mike made some very

nice opening remarks about our magazine and shared some of the stories he was familiar with. We were introduced and continued with a short history about the magazine’s origin and plans for the future.

We also mentioned how we are always looking for story ideas that are interesting or intriguing. We explained how in the short term, we are planning to collaborate with Mike on a story that he will be taking the lead on for our magazine. We are looking forward to that. The group was then thanked for the invitation and the opportunity to share our passion about Apex Magazine.

As mentioned, the club is very active with many events scheduled throughout the year, including events like “Brits-on-theBeach” in Sylvan Beach. The event has been on-going for the past 10 years and is always well attended. In Norwich, at the annual Memorial Day Car Show, the club has won the first place trophy for the past 10 years for the “Club with most Cars entered.” Mike explained how it is a point of pride for the

photography Mike Mastracco words Bob Sblendario club and goes to show the level of member participation.

Occasionally, mostly in winter months, they also host tech sessions on Sunday afternoons, held in a member’s garage. In the past, they have removed an engine, reupholstered seats, rebuilt carburetors and other tech sessions. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, that’s fine, some members just come for the coffee and donuts. The club also sponsors golf nights, winery tours, an annual picnic, lady’s and men’s weekends, as well as many other fun activities. There seems to be something for all palates to enjoy.

The two most popular cars in the club are MGs and Triumphs, but there are many other makes too: Austin Healey, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Mini Cooper, and Ferrari. The membership is wide open to all European cars.

If you are interested in joining, their website is: http://cny.mgcarclub.com. It’s a welcoming group that would take good care of any new member, so check them out!

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