Apex Automotive Magazine - Fall 2017

CAR REVIEWS / LOCAL SHOP STORIES / LOCAL BUILDS / CAR SHOW COVERAGE

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FALL 2017

THE MAN THE LEGEND Pg. 30

2014 TESLA Model S 85 (Pg. 12)

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Super Dirt Week (Pg. 34)

Syracuse vs. Buffalo (Pg. 38)

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THE TEAM Managing Editor Kevin Crandall

FALL 2017

Marketing Manager Bob Sblendorio Layout & Design Jacob Dowker Director of Photography Chris Penree Photography Thomas Sblendorio, Dalton Dobson, John Zachary Contributing Writers John Zachary, Nick Graziano, Bob Sblendorio, Jacob Cetnar, Mike Mastracco, Kevin Crandall, Dalton Dobson Proofreaders Denise Crandall Account Manager Elise Robinson Proudly printed locally by Kenyon Press Inc. 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, unique car stories, and everything else automotive. Want to advertise your business with us? Just email ads@apexautomag.com and let’s discuss!

Thank you!

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.

Online To find out more about advertising in Apex, visit apexautomag.com or call 315.280.8305 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 344 Sherburne, NY 13460 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 2017, Apex Automotive Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without consent. For entertainment purposes only. We do our best to fact-check specs/stories, but cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.

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

08.

12.

We take a look underneath the surface of this gentleman’s proper specimen.

The future is here.

Dave Griffin tells us about his allelectric Tesla.

THE BEAST UNDER THE HOOD

By Nick Graziano

2014 TESLA MODEL S85

By Bob Sblendorio

22.

This bike may be a memory for some, but not John

This couple share not only the love for one another, but also a passion unlike any other.

AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY ABOUT A FORGOTTEN MOTORCYCLE

By Jacob Cetnar

HIS & HERS ROADSTERS 3000 MK II

By Mike Mastracco

COOL CAR STORIES

CAR SHOWS

06. 2016 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

42. Syracuse Nationals 2017

26. Mustang Car Club, Cortland

46. Adirondack Nationals 2017

28. Under The Helmet / Mitch Gibbs

50. Street Scene

34. Super Dirt Week

54. Orphan Car Show

38. Buffalo Vs. Syracuse

56. Dover Dragway

52. Street Scene / Bad Drip

58. River Rat Rod Run

Online: apexautomag.com | Facebook.com: facebook/apexautomag.com | Instagram: apexautomag

CONTENTS PHOTO BY CHRIS PENREE \ COVER PHOTO BY THOMAS SBLENDORIO

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A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM Well, it looks as if the car show season has officially come to a close in Upstate New York. The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisp, and there are Thanksgiving and Christmas wares for sale in the stores. It’s the time of year when most are putting their show cars into hibernation for the winter.

As depressing as that sounds, we’re still here to provide you with some of the area’s best automotive features and show coverage in our Fall issue. We’ve got some hot high end feature stories as well as some pretty unique builds in this edition. On the cover is Ray Hedger’s custom hand built hot rod and we’re elated to be able to share his story as our Fall feature. Also covered is Super Dirt Week as well as the Syracuse Nationals, Street Scene, Adirondack Nationals, Dover Dragway, and more! This issue’s club profile is the Mustang club from Cortland. Stay tuned, the Mopar club is scheduled for the Winter.

We’re still looking for help if anyone has an interest in writing, ad sales, distribution, working at car shows, etc.

If you are passionate about the area’s automotive scene and want to be part of our team, shoot us an email to info@apexautomag.com.

If you are not yet a subscriber, and are considering it, you should act fast. The price is going back up to $20/year after January 1st. This is mostly to cover the cost of increased postage. Our more recent issues have been thicker/heavier than when we ran the $10 promotion, and therefore have been costing us more to mail. Subscriptions are not a profit center for us, we’re merely offering it as a convenience. We appreciate everyone who has subscribed and looks forward to receiving their issues in the mail.

Thanks for reading our magazine. As always, we’d like to encourage you to support our advertisers, as without them, Apex would simply not exist.

Stay tuned for our Winter issue, coming out after the New Year!

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YOU SEND YOUR FAVORITE CAR PICTURE  WE PUBLISH IT  YOU WIN FREE NORTHEAST CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM TICKETS

Readers Rides EACH ISSUE WE SHOWCASE A FEW OF OUR READERS RIDES!

2008 Mustang Bullitt: Words by Bob Sblendario

Bill O’Gorman is the owner of a 2008 Mustang Bullitt that will be featured in the Winter Issue of Apex Magazine. So stay tuned for all details.

For those that may not be familiar, Bullitt was a 1968 movie that starred Steve McQueen, who stars as Lieutenant Frank Bullitt. There is a famous car chase with Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, driving a 1968 Mustang GT, going after a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T…a classic muscle car chase.

1966 Mustang: Words and photos by Mike Mastracco It was September of 1995 when I was selling a Ford Tempo and received a phone call from an acquaintance interested in looking at it. When he came over he drove into my driveway with a 1966 Chocolate Brown Mustang Coupe.

Previously owning a 1966 Mustang convertible for many years and having owned several Fox body Mustangs in the past. I was currently without a Mustang however the craving for another was there.

I was asked if he was willing to do a trade of sorts. My first question was “is it a 289 - V8?” “No” was the answer, “it’s a six cylinder.” “Darn,” but we still made a deal and the rest is history. At that time the odometer read 22,425 miles, since then I watched it turn over to 00,000 for the second time and clocked on another 29,975. My total drive miles of this vintage horse is over 107,500 miles and counting!

DO YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RIDE YOU WANT US TO SHARE?

Email high-resolution, clear photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com.

Typically this steed comes out of the storage barn in April and gets put away around November each year. For me it’s an everyday driver…work, camping, cruise nights, road trips, sunny weather to some torrential rain storms and even snow on occasion. Regular maintenance is needed more with a vehicle that is over fifty years old, which I do much of it myself. A few upgrades such as a Petronix ignition and a set of period correct Appliance Industry road wheels to house a set of wider tires have been added and an FM radio with input jack.

I’ve completed much of the interior work while the exterior has only been touched up in years past.

Lee Iacocca wanted these cars to be driven fifty years ago and I continue to do so as it was to be in 1966.

Please include your name and hometown.

All of this issue’s Reader’s Rides features are getting 2 FREE Admission tickets to the North-

east 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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2016

LAMBORGHIN

GALLARDO LP560-4 WORDS BY JACOB CE TNAR A ND PHOTOS BY BUL AUTO PHOTOGR A PHER , DAN PURPUR A

It’s not everyday that you see a supercar in Upstate NY, but if you are driving around the Capital District you might just run into Greg Taylor’s 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo. If you fail to notice its iconic chiseled looks you surely won’t miss the sound of its 552 horsepower 5.2L V10 screaming from an aftermarket exhaust.

Although nearly eight model years old, which is a long time in supercar years, the car does not look outdated. Its black paint is in great condition with no notable scratches or dents.

About a year and a half ago, Greg bought the car with around 6,500 miles. Since then he has put roughy 1,500 miles on it.

Despite being over twice the cost of a Z06 Corvette yet almost 100 less horsepower, you would never know by the crowd that it attracts. There is a certain aura that surrounds exotic cars that cannot be matched by even the nicest domestic or import offerings. While we waited for the cameraman to meet

us, at least ten people walked up to the car and had to check it out. From small children to adults the reactions are the same,

“Woah, is that a Lamborghini?!”

Unfortunately we were unable to do a driving review of this car as we would normally do, but fortunately we have these photos available for your viewing pleasure. Apex would like to thank Greg Taylor for showing us his Lamborghini and Bul Auto for helping us set all of this up.

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INI

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THE

BEAST UNDER THE HOOD ZI A N O N IC K G R A W or ds by N DOBSON LT

by D A O an d ph ot os

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Parked at the peak of the driveway at Borys Buniak Fayetteville home is a 1971 Jaguar E-Type (also known as an XKE). It is the kind of car that would make any Englishman smile, but then spit out their tea and crush their biscuits in anger when he starts it.

The E-Type is a British legend. In a last minute decision from the heads at Jaguar in 1961, Norman Dewis, the Chief Development Test Engineer for the company was given about 12 hours to get the newly developed E-Type from Coventry, England to Geneva, Switzerland – about a 600 mile journey – to launch the car at the Geneva Motor Show. He made it there with 20 minutes to spare

The E-Type is also the car Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari called the most beautiful car he had ever seen. It was high praise from a man who loved his cars so much he was known for having the motto “the client is not always right.”

Buniak’s E-Type is a Series 3, the last generation of the model and also the least popular. Unlike the previous two models, the Series 3 E-Type came with a 5.3-liter V12 rather than the traditional 3.8 or 4.2-liter V6. While it gave the car more horsepower, it added more weight to the car hindering its favored superb handling. The engine is also not very reliable. The V12’s aluminum heads are vulnerable to overheating, as well as other

fragile internal components, among other issues.

The Series 3 also utilized a new longer-wheelbase 2+2 platform, which many thought ruined its attractive proportions.

But none of that is why an E-Type enthusiast would be displeased with the car.

Buniak, with a smile on his face, asks if I want to hear the car – of course I do. He opens the door to the car, exposing its well-maintained 40 plus year old interior with a few imperfections only a classic car judge would take the time to point out.

Buniak hops in the driver’s seat and turns the key.

Having had the privilege to hear a few E-Types start up, it was obvious on the first couple of cracks there was no longer a V12 under the hood. When the engine finally came to life, a thunderous roar killed the silence around the quiet suburban neighborhood.

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THE BEAST UNDER THE HOOD

Buniak pops the hood, which is the entire front body dipping forward, unveiling a Corvette LS1 engine resting where the V12 used to be. (If you listen closely you can hear E-Type enthusiasts ripping up their magazines about now.)

The disapproval of the swap by enthusiasts is something Buniak says he is used to. Because, for everyone that raises their nose to the Chevrolet engine in the car, there are just as many people who love it. He has a good reason for the swap too.

“I’ll ask other XKE guys if they can drive their cars daily, because I can,” says Buniak stating the issues with the old Jaguar motors and the hassles with fixing them.

Before Buniak bought the car, it sat in a barn for about 20 years, predictably in rough condition by the time he got to it.

Buniak says all the electrical systems were bad, the transmission was locked up, and “it leaked like crazy.”

Despite its flaws, he loved the car. When Buniak was younger he worked at his father’s body shop, his gateway to discovering cars – such as the E-Type. Like many, when he first saw the Jaguar he

became infatuated with its sleek body lines.

“I always loved Jaguars, and wanted an XKE,” Buniak says.

He wanted the car so badly he sold his Ferrari 308 to get it and repair it. The car was purchased in 2006, but Buniak didn’t start driving until two years ago.

“It spent more time at the shop than it did at the house,” Buniak says.

Most of that time was spent at Upstate Imports Auto Repair, which has locations in Baldwinsville and Syracuse. There the car was completely redone from the tires to the suspension to the electrical system. It is also where the idea for the engine swap originated.

Parts and tools to fix the Jaguar’s V12 engine are nonexistent in America. They essentially need to be custom made. Buniak was unaware of the trepidations that come with the V12 when he bought the car, and says he was initially going to sell the car, but there was no interest from buyers.

A technician at the repair shop suggested the engine swap to

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Buniak as a potential solution. The E-Type’s square tubular front frame, which looks like it was built more for a race car than a street car, provides plenty of room to make such a change.

Wanting to drive the car whenever and wherever he wants, Buniak agreed to the project. He says it took about two years to get the engine in the car and working properly. But the final product is a British classic he drive daily without any worries, with the help of a little American muscle.

You need to ride in the car with the windows down, and probably earplugs if you don’t want to go deaf after multiple rides in it, due to the emphatic nature of the car. But Buniak says it is one of his favorite aspects of the car.

“I like to feel the rumble,” Buniak says.

“I like the loudness.” His wife, not so much.

But his kids share his enjoyment, he says. His daughter nicknamed it “Zmiya,” a Ukrainian word for beast. In asking Buniak why she calls it that, he says “she heard the motor.”

The ruckus of the engine does add to the car’s enjoyable ride.

It has the classic car characteristic of being able to feel everything with the car. When you turn, you can feel the weight of the car transitioning from side to side. In the steering wheel you can feel the tires gripping the road and the suspension doing its best to handle every rise and fall in the road with the elegance of a British literary reciting a poem.

It has all the elements of a true driver’s car. Some notice that, while others just can’t break tradition. Buniak says he’s been ridiculed at classic car shows for making the engine swap. But even though he may not have won an award, he still attracted the bigger crowd.

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After a long time of resisting anything electric, especially an all-electric, there are now cracks in my reciprocating only mind. Meet Dave Griffin, owner of a 2014 Tesla Model S and a resident expert in all things Tesla.

Henry Ford (and others) experimented with producing electric cars in the early 1900s, but ultimately they all failed to the more practical gas reciprocating engine. Over one hundred years later, here we go again, producing all-electric cars with many of the same challenges they faced back then: the time it takes to charge the battery, where to charge the battery, the limited range and more. But things are different now.

“As a kid, I always loved fast performance cars, but as an adult I was always forced to buy a practical kind of car. Those worlds collided with this car. I have a car with great perfor-

mance, which is very efficient. There’s no compromise with owning a Tesla,” explained Dave.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is a second generation Tesla car. The first generation was an expensive 2-seat Roadster, which was manufactured in limited quantities. The intent was to generate capital so the company could build the Model S, which was released in 2012. It’s an all-electric, 4-door sedan, offered with a variety of options. Dave’s car has the bigger 85 kWh battery, smart air suspension, an all glass panoramic roof, and a premium sound system. The cost, with all the options, was $98,820. The car includes unlimited, life-time, free electric charging from any of the Tesla Supercharger stations around the country. The car has become his daily driver, which includes annual trips to Florida.

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2014

TESLA

MODEL S 85 Words by BOB SBLENDORIO photos by TOM SBLENDORIO

The interior has a large 17” touchscreen monitor, prominently positioned in the center of the dashboard. From the touchscreen, pretty much everything in the car is controlled. When traveling on an extended trip, like when Dave goes to Florida, the on board computer calculates all the stops based on the locations of the charging stations. Typically, the stops take about 20-25 minutes and charge the battery to 80%. Dave explained that usually the battery is charged in a manageable amount of time and often before he is ready to go. He is notified on his cell phone when the car is ready to go. The battery is good for about 235 miles per charge, and up to 265 miles depending on driving conditions.

For the life of the car, there are ongoing free over-the-air software updates. For example, in Dave’s car a hill start feature was added, a trip planner, updates to the maps, and the interface display was redesigned for a more modern look…all while the car was parked in his garage.

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2014 TESLA // Model S 85

DAVE’S 2014 MODEL S 85 Range

265 miles

Horsepower

380 hp

0-60 mph

5.4 sec (optional performance package 4.2 sec, later models 2.5 sec)

Battery, 85 kWh

7,104 lithium-ion cells, 1,200 lbs

Charge time, Supercharging Station

20-25 minutes to 80%

Cost at Supercharging station

Free for life of the car, unlimited miles

Charge time, at home, 240-volt

6-7 hours, depending on depletion of battery

Drag coefficient

0.24 (reference, 2014 Corvette 0.29)

Body panel and frame

Aluminum

Braking

Friction and regenerative

Drive train

Single motor rear wheel drive (later models dual motor awd)

compensate, the frame and body panels are made from lighter weight aluminum.

Warranty

8 year unlimited miles, battery, drive train

Charging Options

Total car weight

4,597 lbs

Oil change interval

Never…

Cost with options

$98,820 (Base cost about $75,000)

Battery

In 2014, the Model S was available in two battery sizes, the 60 and 85 kWh. The newer models offer even larger batteries, up to 100 kWh with a range of 335 miles per charge. The batteries are lithium-ion, consisting of thousands of cells. In the 85 kWh battery, there are 7,104 cells. When necessary, the battery is cooled or warmed to improve efficiency and longevity. The same climate system that is used for the cabin also controls the battery temperature. Together, these features extend the overall efficiency and life of the battery. Even with these features, there is some degradation of the battery over time. One study indicated a 6% loss after 200,000 miles.

The batteries are heavy and add a lot of weight to the car. In the case of the Model S, the battery weighs 1,200 lbs, making the overall weight of the car 4,597 lbs. To

Basically, there are three charging options available: 120-volt, utilizing the standard outlet in a house; 240-volt, which would be like a standard cooking range outlet; and then there is the Tesla Supercharger stations. The Supercharger option provides the maximum charging wattage and thereby takes the least amount of time to charge the battery. As a practical matter, even though the 120-volt is an available option, it will likely not be used much because of the very slow charging rate.

Dave explained that he and most owners typically charge the car nightly using a 240-volt outlet in their garage and use the Supercharger stations only for long road trips. In essence, your garage is your personal “fuel” station.

The Supercharger stations have been built with many charging stalls in anticipation of significant growth because of the lower priced Tesla Model 3. For example, the charging station in

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North Utica has eight stalls, and at the Crossgates Mall in Albany (the biggest station in the Northeast) there are twenty stalls. As of June 2017, there are 386 supercharging stations throughout the US and that is rapidly increasing. At this time, the charging stations are exclusive to Tesla cars only and reportedly cost Tesla between $100,000 and $300,000 to build.

Regenerative Braking

With any electric or hybrid cars, there are the traditional friction brakes, along with regenerative (regen) braking. In the case of the Tesla, the regen is very aggressive, doing most of the braking. It can be adjusted from the touchscreen display. In Dave’s case, he prefers a higher amount of regen braking, which occurs when the foot is lifted off of the “gas” pedal. In Dave’s case, he does a lot of driving with the single (“gas”) pedal only.

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The regen starts even when the car is coasting, up to 60 kW of charging power going back to the battery. With that style of driving, the friction brakes are not used too much and will last a long time.

Future

The third generation Tesla is the Model 3, with a starting price of $35,000. To date, there have been pre-sale reservations for over 500,000 cars. Dave is on that list and proudly showed me his new car certificate, which he had framed.

The technology packed into these cars is amazing. All new Tesla cars come with the hardware needed for full self-driving capability. To make that happen, the cars have eight cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and forward-facing radar. Just one example of the advancement of the technology is the forward-facing radar system. Dave explained that the radar system can bounce a beam under the car in front, to see if there is another car in front of the car in front…really?

Of course, there is an added cost to unlock the software for the autonomous driving option. Dave had the opportunity to drive a loaner Tesla with the self-driving option. He drove from Orlando to Daytona and back, intervening only for the exit ramps. It’s that good.

The Tesla cars are all manufactured in Fremont, CA, at a facility that was formerly owned by GM and Toyota.

Final Thoughts

Okay, like me, you may be lukewarm on the idea of all-electric cars. After talking with Dave Griffin — who is very passionate about anything Tesla — I think my reciprocating only mind is changing and all-electric could be the future of automobiles…. maybe. It will be fun to watch as this rapidly evolving technology continues to unfold and expand.

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MG Car Club OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

Welcoming All Classic and Contemporary European Motorcars

Visit Our Website to Join!

cny.mgcarclub.com

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AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY ABOUT A

Words by JACOB CETNAR and photos by CHRIS PENREE

For most, the Indian Arrow is a forgotten motorcycle due to modern bikes plethora of power, features, and technology. But where did it all start? What made motorcycles so popular? I found out by riding John Brojakowski’s 1949 Indian Arrow among the now century old buildings of Little Falls.

The year was 1949. It had been four years since the end of the war, but he remembers every battle. He remembers every grenade, gunshot, bomb, and every lost friend. He remembers his fear, pain, sadness, anger, and hate. He remembers storming the beaches of Normandy, fighting the Germans during the battle of the Bulge, and storming Iwo Jima. These memories make his muscles go tense, his hands shake, and tears form in his eyes. Out of desperation he wails out and kicks as hard as he can hoping, praying, for serenity even for a second from this mental anguish we now call PTSD. His Indian Arrow roars to life and he sits down on its wobbly springer seat. Still overcome with pain, he musters up his strength to take his left foot and clunk his way into first gear. As the sun falls over the booming industrial city of Little Falls, with it, sets the pain that he feels in his heart and bones.

This is the story that this old bike told me. The story of thousands of returning soldiers who took to motorcycle riding and clubs to cope with these effects. For better or worse, these men are the reason motorcycles are as popular as they are today.

The Arrow’s story doesn’t end there though, in fact it is only just the beginning. The world largely forgot about Indian Motorcycles until their recent upsurgence a few years ago. But in the early 1970’s, John’s brother Dan Brojakowski hadn’t.

Fresh out of college, he decided to buy this 1949 Indian from an Amsterdam, NY fireman who worked with their dad. The only problem was that it didn’t really look like a motorcycle.

Like any good restoration project, the bike was purchased in many, many pieces. Most people would see scrap metal if gazing upon the pile of parts, but Dan didn’t. He saw the history hidden behind layers of rust and dirt, and maybe even that troubled WWII soldier I saw when I was riding the bike.

On the worn-out paint of the fire engine red gas tank were the letters A.F.D., Amsterdam Fire Department. This bike wasn’t just any old Indian.

Back in its prime, it was used to lead many parades and fire department activities in Amsterdam. Although the names of the first and possibly second owners are lost to history, it is believed that the bike was bought at Brownies​in Troy, NY, one of the only Indian dealers around in 1949. It is believed that it was sold roughly three years later to a man named Bill Armstrong, the

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fireman Dan purchased it from, for fifty bucks!

So where does John come into this? Despite their father insisting Dan “get going on the restoration”, he quickly realized it would be years until he had the time. Because of this, he signed the registration, handed it to his dad and said, “Here, you do it.”

The restoration then became a project for John, his dad, and his second brother Blaise.

After years of tinkering in the basement, John, Blaise, and his father managed to piece the bike back together and make it into what it is today. After the bike was finished though, due to their busy lives and not having anything else to fix on it, it sat in the basement collecting dust for many years. As a result, they decided to sell it to an Indian collector from the Boston area, Bill Quinn. He owned the bike for many years until one day he got a call from John saying “I need my bike back.” After some tough negotiation, John picked up the bike and brought it back home.

So the story ends there right? Well, not exactly. The reason John needed the bike back so bad was because his father was dying. He had Alzheimer’s and got to the point that he didn’t even remember John’s name. The task of sorting his father’s possessions unearthed a VHS tape labeled “1949 Indian”. John had forgotten that during the restoration, the family had taken

turns filming the process and no one had viewed the tape – until now. John was reduced to tears and vowed that before his dad passed he wanted him to see the bike that they built one more time. To sit on it, to enjoy it...just one more time. It was many years since his father last saw the bike. Would he remember it? Would his dad be healthy enough to see it?

John didn’t let these concerns stop him. The Indian Arrow is a fairly small bike, about the size of a Honda Rebel. Rather than attempting to get his father outside, he came up with a better idea. As he rolled the bike to the front desk of the nursing home he simply asked, “Am I going to get in trouble for this?” The front desk worker said, “I deal with screaming kids, pets, and angry people all day. That bike is the least of my worries.” With that, John rolled it into the elevator, onto the 3rd floor Alzheimer’s wing of the hospital, and into his father’s room. One last time his father saw the bike, sat on it, and even remembered it!

Today, the bike sits comfortably in John’s garage where it can be enjoyed by his family, friends, and everyone who sees it on the occasional neighborhood spin around the block.

Thanks to guys like John, his dad and his brothers Dan and Blaise, bikes like his Arrow will be telling their unique histories for years to come.

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There are many his & her items on the market today, wedding bands top the list. Other than tying the knot there are sweatshirts, mugs, watches, and even vanity sinks. Here’s a Baldwinsville couple with his & her Austin-Healey 3000 MK II Roadsters.

Pete Sanborn owns this two tone “Healey Blue-Old English White” early production 1959 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 Roadster.

It was found 18 years ago in the Elmira area then brought to the Baldwinsville area for restoration. The previous owner started the disassembly process then after some time life took over as it often does and subsequently sold it to Pete. This is when Pete decided to try his first automobile restoration albeit on a British built sports car. It was five and a half years of knuckle breaking

labor, parts searching, and late nights which Pete spent on the car before he was able to finally drive it out of the garage for its maiden voyage in 2004. This Healey was like so many others in the great Northeast, full of rust along with mechanical gremlins which was typical of British cars of the day, but nevertheless Pete’s determination and perseverance to learn shone through in the end. Pete did much of the work himself such as the original quality leather interior, carpet, and dashboard just to name a

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HIS & HERS

ROADSTERS

3000 MK II Words by MIKE MASTRACCO and photos by DALTON DOBSON

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few of the areas. Looking at this car one can vision how a brand new Austin-Healey would be like sitting in the showroom of your local sports car center back in 1960.

MK II’s came with a 2,912 cc engine, hence the name 3000 with two SU carbs putting out approximately 124 horses. This engine since has been blue printed then rebuilt with a few tweaks that now puts the horsepower in the range of 160-165.

Pretty good for a Roadster that weighs in slightly over 2,500 lbs.

This bump in horsepower would make Donald Healey proud as he was into rallying and racing in the day. Austin Healey’s have a long competition history, many were raced at some of the major racing circuits around the world along with performing well at rallies worldwide.

Pete’s wife Sue has a little different story to tell. Pete found another Austin-Healey in the Jamestown, NY area. This time Pete was thinking of hot rodding this car until Sue came out to the garage one evening and said, “I like the sounds of that motor” and then said “I think that will be my car.” After some talk and similar comments the future of the 1960 “Florida GreenOld English White” Roadster took a detour. That was the end of the hot rodding idea. Sue is no newbie to vintage automobiles. At that time, Sue was driving a 1979 MGB, previously to the MGB her vintage driver was a 1967 Volvo P122 wagon. One might say she has sports car blood in her veins as her father, Art, enjoyed owning many sports cars in his day. Austin-Healey started production of the 3000 series in 1959, both of these Roadsters were on the early side of development of

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the series that ceased production in 1967.

These fine examples of Donald Healey’s work can be seen driving around our roads in Central New York on any given day. Sometimes one of the cars is taken out for a daily adventure, other times you’ll see both cars out together winding through the hills and curves of Central New York.

Pete has taken his Healey to the Vintage race weekend at Watkins Glen, NY many times through the years. Last year was the first time the newest addition to the family did this Watkins Glen trek. Pete said this was a daunting weekend, as work on the car was just finished hours before the Vintage weekend was to begin. This was the first real test drive of the car for more than just a mile or two and the bugs were not shaken out just yet. It turned out to be a great maiden voyage for the car, so good they decided to take Sue’s car this past September to the Watkins Glen Vintage weekend again. Sue was seen driving her Healey with Pete in the passenger seat zipping down Main St. Watkins Glen on Friday, September 8th participating in a Driver’s Bridge event called the “Glenora Run.” This is a road rally through the hills and back roads that surround Watkins Glen and a few other small villages. A stop at Montour Falls and a “Hot Lap” in a parking area is also included. A catered lunch is provided at Hidden Valley Camp then two spirited laps around the original 1948 road course which is 6.6 miles in length. After all this excitement the Glenora cars get to rest on Main St. Watkins Glen for the rest of the evening.

Donald Healey was a well-known car designer, automobile kingpin, rally driver and a record speed holder. He would be happy knowing that his cars are being used for the purpose they were built for, pure driving enjoyment!

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CLUB SCENE

FEATURED CLUB PROFILE

MUSTANG CAR CLUB, CORTLAND

Words by MIKE MASTRACCO and photos provided by the club.

I

t was the summer of 2001 that a dozen individuals who were Mustang and Ford fanatics got together to form the “CNY Mustang and All Ford Club.” Based in the Cortland, NY area this club has since grown to 100 plus members. Currently the span of members range north from Syracuse, east from Utica, west from the Finger Lakes and of course Cortland, Binghamton and the Ithaca areas.

Member’s cars range from the early 1965 Mustangs to the current 2017 model and everything in between. Coupes, fastbacks, convertibles, Cobras, GT’s, Shelby’s, limited edition models and many

more dot the driveways of its members.

Included are other Ford products like Thunderbirds, Crown Vics, Galaxies, and Torino’s just to name a few. Let’s not forget the Ford F series trucks as well. Many members are proud Mercury owners such as Cougars, Cyclones, and Monterey’s.

Each year many activities are planned for the car driving season. The first big event is their annual car cruise from Marathon, NY to Cort-Lanes Bowling Alley in Cortland, NY. This car cruise has grown over the years to well over 100 vehicles that participate. To keep such a large group of cars together it now gets

a police escort to keep the parade of cars and trucks rolling. Meanwhile spectators line both sides of the roads each year to see this mile long parade of vehicles. It’s been 38 years since this first cruise was organized by Bill O’Gorman and is one of the most attended club events.

Another event is the regular Tuesday car cruise nights open to all makes of cars and trucks. Each year Bill Kulikowsky organizes a “Rooftop Concert” held at CortLanes with the blessing of club member and Cort-Lanes owner John Partigianoiz Jr. This event brings in well over 200 cars of all makes and models. For your listening enjoyment a band is set up on top of the Bowling Alley’s roof, food and drink are available, and raffles and giveaways are done throughout the evening. This is a free event for participants and spectators alike. Money raised during this evening’s event go to several local charities.

Another event is the club dinner cruises to restaurants, such as Connie’s Diner in Waterloo the clubs official restaurant of choice. Also there is the annual club picnic, a cruise to a Finger Lakes Drive-In and sometimes a get together with the Syracuse Shelby Mustang Club at Bob’s BBQ in Homer. In early April the CNY Mustang and all Ford Club teams up with the 7 Valley Street Rods car club to put together the Cortland County Business Showcase Car Show. This is an indoor car show held at the J. M. McDonald Sports Complex which brings in over 1,500 spectators.

Mick Lowie the club’s president says it’s more about the people and getting together for a good time. To find out more about this active club take a trip over to their website at www.cnymustang-allford.com. Video clips from TV commercials old and new, movie chase scenes, Mustang songs, as well pictures of past events can also be viewed here.

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Under the Helmet Mitch Gibbs Words by KEVIN CRANDALL photos by JAY FISH Growing up in and around the dirt motorsports scene in the 1990’s-2000’s, I spent many days at the track and around the shop. My father, Charles Crandall Jr., was part of Mitch Gibbs’ pit crew back then and it was always thrilling to see their work pay off when Gibbs’ 2G car hit the dirt. Known as “The Show Stopper”, Gibbs had many excited fans at Utica-Rome and Fulton Speedways that packed the stands with his t-shirt on. It was an awesome time to be a dirt racing fan.

Still racing many years later, Mitch has been running at Afton in recent years and recently had a pretty respectable finish at Fulton’s Outlaw 200.

Mitch was generous enough to sit down with me and answer a few questions about his racing experiences through his lengthy career.

AP: How did you get started in racing?

MG: My father (Bob Gibbs) raced. I started out in a 1980 with a street stock that Herb Bigford and I built. We took it to Brookfield where I wound up driving it - and the rest is history. A year later, my father decided to give up racing and he helped me get into it more by selling his car and we bought a late model to run at Utica Rome.

AP: What is your home track now? Where can fans catch you running in 2018?

MG: My home track is Afton Motorsports Park. We run there every Friday and will likely continue that next year. Towards the end of the season we’ll hit a few special races like Fulton’s Outlaw 200.

AP: What is your favorite track? What sets that track apart from some of the others?

MG: My favorite track is probably Fulton. It has a nice track layout and the dirt conditions are usually always good. Overall it’s a very nice setup they have - even for spectators, there are no bad seats the way the stands look over the track.

AP: Is there a driver that you would consider as having been your biggest rival on the track over the years?

MG: While many have come and gone, the most memorable rival I had was Dale Planck. Those races we had in the mid-late 90’s at Utica Rome and Fulton it seems we were always neck and neck.

It was funny too because the rivalry transferred to the fans and sometimes you’d see a husband who was a Gibbs fan and his wife was a Planck fan, and they’d root against each other at the track.

AP: What was your most memorable win or achievement in racing?

MG: By far the most memorable win was when we won the Big Block 100 race in Hagerstown, MD. A close second is my first win which was in 1983 at Fonda in 358 Modified.

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AP: What has been the biggest change in the sport good or bad since you started?

MG: The cost to race. Everything is so much more expensive today than it was back then, at least to be competitive. To build a new race car now is roughly $60,000 (that’s around $30,000 for the car and $30,000 for the engine - and even that is conservative, some guys have $50,000 in their engines). Then on top of that you’re spending $400-500 per night just to race between entry, fuel, etc. Back when I started you could run with a couple year old car that you picked up for $3,000 and have your local motor shop build/tune your engine for another $3-4,000. You could be racing for under $10,000. Today that’s not as easily done.

AP: What advice would you have for a new racer? (someone that maybe has an older car and is perhaps already running rookie class, but looking to get better).

MG: (Jokingly) Find a pile of money. Again, racing has gotten very expensive and to be competitive, it really takes having some good equipment and that doesn’t come cheap. Outside of the equipment, I would say to race as much as you can. Experience will make you a better driver. Also, pay attention to setups. When I first started racing, the older knowledgeable guys kept setup secrets in notebooks - now chassis manufacturers are providing setup tips with their cars, plus there are all kinds of resources at

your disposal on the internet (YouTube videos, etc.). There are no real secrets anymore, and that seems to have leveled the playing field a lot.

AP: Who was your favorite driver as a kid?

MG: Dale Earnhardt.

AP: Lastly, is there anyone you’d like to thank or recognize for helping you get to where you are?

MG: There are a ton of people that have helped me through the years, but if I had to narrow it down to a few, I owe a lot to my dad, Skip Seymour, and Don Westcott. Those are the guys who helped me really get started when I didn’t have the equipment to win - they were my first sponsors. Over the years there have been quite a few car owners, crew members, and sponsors and I appreciate all the help they’ve provided along the way in my 37 years of racing. I’d like to thank my current sponsors Chambers O’Hara (the current car owner), Auto Plus part stores, and Gibbs Speed & Auto.

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THE MAN THE LEGEND Words by BOB SBLENDORIO

photos by TOM SBLENDORIO

Nike’s famous slogan is “Just Do It.” Meet Ray Hedger, a master at fabricating, and whose work many people feel is legendary.

When I asked about the skills to perform the highly specialized work as a fabricator, I was told, “I just started doing it.” In other words the skills are all self-taught. To see some of the projects built — and still being built — is an absolute wonder.

It’s always fascinating how people, when they put their mind to it, can perform something without any formal training or education. Ray’s self-taught skills are a perfect example of someone performing at a very high level by just doing it.

After exchanging initial pleasantries, and with a smile, Ray said “I can’t get out. I just can’t stop it, as much as I try. I’m trying to shut it down, but stuff keeps dribbling in.” The demand for his work is so high, that he can’t keep up and can’t get out. In his late sixties, Ray would like to slow down some, but his reputation for quality work makes that very difficult.

Ray started working as a kid in the 1960s helping his father build race cars. Back then, his father built and worked on Big-Block Modified cars. Ray says, “I tell everyone this is all my father’s fault, he’s responsible for it, he started it.”

It’s not just Ray, his younger brother was a racer. His older brother helped quite a bit with building cars and is still involved with cars at the Saratoga Auto Museum. It really became a family affair with racing and cars in general.

Shop

Ray’s shop is out in the countryside, not too far from Morrisville. It’s a relatively small shop, with just a few bays, and is located a couple hundred feet from his house. The shop is really a point of pride for Ray, even though it’s not too fancy. There are many photos hanging on the walls, all with special memories. It was fascinating to hear the stories behind some of them.

He built a “new” 1969 Modified race car for a 50th anniversary celebration of a local race track for a buddy, Scott Gall. That was back in 2011 and it was used to bring attention to the event.

Now the car is on display in Weedsport at the Dirt Museum and Hall of Fame. It’s a beautiful car and Ray has a framed photo of it on the wall of his shop.

There are many basic tools inside the shop, like an English wheel which is a metalworking tool that can form curves to sheet

steel or aluminum. Changing the wheels out enables different curves and shapes to be made. It’s really as much as creating artwork, as it is a craftsman doing work.

Small Block Supermodified (SBS) Race Cars

“When I tell people the weight [percent] on the rear wheels… they just laugh at me, ‘just no way’ and walk away.” That’s how Ray described the reaction of fellow builders and racers when he tells them about the 44% rear weight distribution on his cars.

Typically, cars in that division run a rear weight distribution of 50-51%.

Having the lower percentage on the rear wheels creates more grip on the front wheels, allowing for faster speeds in the corners. The cars just turn better. Ray explained that it’s all in the finer details of the geometry, all of which are in his head, and he get results. His driver, Russ Brown, has five track championships at Oswego Speedway. Brown won the very first championship in 1992, then three more in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and one more time in 2013. Oh yeah, Brown also holds the fastest lap record, “an astounding 18.504 sec” in a car Ray built.

For those that may not be familiar, the Small Block Supermodified

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THE MAN THE LEGEND // RAY HEDGER

cars are a somewhat unusual design. The engine (355 cu in) is offset to the right of center and the driver’s seat is offset to the left of center. The weight bias means the cars can fly through the corners at high speeds. From a fans point of view, it is an exciting form of racing and Oswego Speedway is the place in New York to go see them race.

Mod-Lite Race Cars

Ray also owns a Mod-Lite race car driven by an up-and-coming young driver, Casey Sykes. He is a talented driver who won for the first time at Brewerton Speedway this past season. Ray is impressed with his driving skills, as well as his mechanical aptitude.

Casey, a student at Morrisville College, helps out at the shop, so Ray has had a first-hand opportunity to see his many talents.

The Mod-Lite cars are powered by a 1000 cc motorcycle engine and can go upwards of 90 mph at Brewerton Speedway. They are a scaled down version of the full-sized Modified cars and a lot of fun to watch (and listen to) in action.

Other Projects

Ray’s skills go beyond just building race cars. In the shop, he showed me a 1905 Ford hood and fenders that he fabricated from scratch. Based on an old damaged hood, he was able to reverse engineer the exact dimensions and build a brand new one.

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The range and variety of projects that Ray has worked on is limitless.

He worked for Jeffrey’s Auto Body, in Syracuse, to help build street legal NASCAR cars. The work required extensive engineering and fabrication work. Creating doors that can open and close (NASCAR drivers go through the window opening) was especially challenging.

For a 1930 Packard Roadster, he built the side golf club storage compartment which was part of the original design. That car was featured in Apex Magazine last spring and is on display at the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich. The car is absolutely beautiful and to have the opportunity to work on it speaks volumes.

Mike Stillman, the tire manager at Oswego Speedway, has known Ray for many years. He used the following words in describing Ray Hedger: “Intelligent in terms of staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, legendary in racing circle, and humble.”

I know we have said this before, but the team here at Apex Magazine is always amazed at the breadth of talented folks that are associated with the automotive business in upstate New York. Whether it’s the builders, technicians, owners, car clubs, suppliers, museums, race car drivers — or fabricators like Ray — it’s all right here!

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T R I D R E SUP Z ACHAR

by JOHN d p h o to s W o rd s an

Y

Super DIRT Week 46 was full of excitement and great racing during its return to the “Steel Palace” in Oswego, NY. Two super heroes laid it on the line in Sunday’s 200.

Last year’s Super DIRT Week was an uphill battle from day one. A new SDW home, rough track conditions, and bad weather turned some fans away from Dirt Modified racing’s biggest race.

In my opinion, Super DIRT Week 46 was one of the best I have ever witnessed.

Wednesday was the first day cars made some laps on the clay surface at Oswego.

I know most of us there were watching the track to see how it would hold up. I am happy to say the track was fast and smooth. So far so good.

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K E E RT W

Thursday was a full day of practice and time trials for most divisions. Once again, we were watching the track throughout the day to see how the surface would hold up to all of the laps on it. After the practice sessions, the track went quiet for a bit so that the Small Block and Big Block Modifieds crew could prepare their machines for time trials later in the day.

The top six qualifiers in both would be locked into their feature races on Saturday and Sunday. Drivers went onto the track in small groups and ran two laps each. Their best lap would be how they lined up for the heat races on Friday night. Last year’s winner Tim Fuller set fast time for the Great Outdoors RV 150. Matt Sheppard would start on the outside of the front row with Fuller.

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laid down a fast lap in his group. During the Small Block session the later cars went slower, but not with the Big Blocks. Matt Sheppard proved this by going out late and setting fast time for the Billy Whittaker Car 200 on Sunday. Rick Laubach put down a great lap to start second for the 200. Tim McCreadie had to get locked into the top six because he had a LUCAS Oil Late Model Race in PA. T-Mac is in a three way points battle with only two races left. After two hits to the wall earlier in the day, Tim had to put down two good laps before he left to go race his late model.

McCreadie was in the last group for qualifying. All eyes were on him and the lap counter. On the last lap he ran a lap that was good enough to lock him into the sixth spot for Sunday’s big race.

Friday the Sportsman and Pro Stock Cars dominated the track’s activity before the night’s races under the lights. Once again the track looked good after a full day of use. Early morning rain reset the track from Thursday’s action. Nine heat races were on the schedule for Friday night lights at SDW. First up were the four heat races for the very popular Dirt Sportsman Division followed by two Small Block races and three DIRTcar Big Block heat races. These races would help fill in the starting line ups for each of the three divisions. Cars that did not qualify through these races still had the last chance qualifiers on Saturday. Mat Williamson and Peter Britten won their 25 lap races. Sheppard, Decker, and McLaughlin had winning runs in the triple 30s for the Big Blocks.

Saturday morning brought some rain adding to the already muddy camping area around the Speedway. This made it tough on fans, but helped the well-used track surface. On the schedule for the day was practice, some LCQ races for the 358 Small Blocks, DIRTcar Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, and the mighty Modifieds. Early in the afternoon was first big race of the week, The Great Outdoors RV 150 for the 358 Mods.

Opening ceremonies helped get the fans ready for an exciting Small Block race. As the cars made their way onto the track, you could feel the excitement in the air. Could Tim Fuller win two in a row, or would there be a first time winner standing in victory lane? At the drop of the green Tim Fuller moved to the point with some tough drivers close behind. Matt Sheppard chased Fuller down, made an impressive pass on the outside for the lead. Mat Williamson was also on the move with his number 6 car. After a few cautions Sheppard and Williamson separated themselves from the rest of the field. Most of the fast guys were running the bottom making it tough to advance to the front.

Sheppard slipped up a lane, giving Williamson room to go underneath to take the lead. Super Matt worked on the number 6 car trying to get back by, but Williamson was on the bottom not giving an inch. By now the leaders were in lap traffic, Williamson left the door open a touch allowing Sheppard to get the top spot back. Sheppard never moved off the bottom again. Williamson tried the outside with only a couple laps to go, but could not make it stick settling for the runner up spot behind Sheppard.

Sunday is the big day at SDW. First up was the Chevy Performance 75 for the DIRTcar Sportsman division. Last year’s winner

and series point leader, Dave Marcuccilli, made it two in a row with a dominating performance. Matt Furman and Connor Cleveland joined Marcuccilli on the podium.

Rob Yetman won his fifth Pro Stock 75 by leading every lap in his beautiful number 7.

As the clock ticked closer to the Billy Whittaker Car 200, fans filled both the front and back stretch grandstands. Could Stewart Friesen win three in a row? Or would a young gun like Max McLaughlin or Larry Wight stand on top of the box after 200 laps?

The Big Blocks did their four abreast pace lap for the DIRTcar fans and gaive us goosebumps as they rolled by. Pit stops always play a big part of this race. Tire wear and fuel mileage were also a concern for the crew chiefs as their driver took the green flag.

Sheppard jumped out front early with everyone else in line on the bottom. This looked like it could be a boring one lane track for 200 laps. Boy was I wrong. After the first few caution flags, cars started to jump into the pits for fuel and tires. Right rear and right front tires started to show heavy wear, with some blowing on the track. Early front runners were now in the back and some surprise drivers found themselves up front. Australian driver Peter “Batman” Britten found himself leading the pack late in the race with Larry Wight, Billy Whittaker, and Stewart Friesen close behind. Drivers fought for every inch on the track in the closing laps. While all of this was going on, early leader “Super Matt” Sheppard (with fresher tires), was quietly making his way through the field one battle at a time. LCQ winner Carey Terrance flipped his black number 66 into turn three and brought out a late race red flag. Terrance was okay, but his car was junk.

After the crash scene was cleaned up the green flag dropped for one heck of a finish. Britten, Wight, Friesen, and Danny Johnson looked like they were going to be the guys battling for the $50,000 check at the end of the day. After some green flag laps, Britten tried to move a lap car going into turn one, allowing Larry Wight to sneak by for the lead on the bottom. Peter fought back going three wide into turn three grabbing the top spot back from Wight. While all this was going on, Sheppard was up to third and closing in with five laps to go. Britten was solid up front when Sheppard moved by Wight for second. The fans were on their feet as the lap counter read 198. Matt looked low, but there was no room. The two raced down the front shoot for the white flag.

Peter parked his number 21 on the bottom and Sheppard drove it deep on the outside, running side by side down the backstretch.

Matt edged Britten going into turn three stealing the top spot from the Australian to sweep the weekend and capture his second SDW 200 victory.

Wow what a race, three wide battles throughout the field most of the day and a spectacular last lap pass in front of a packed house. I have been going to SDW since 1973 and this might have been the best one yet. Oswego Speedway is a great place for a great race.

I hope to see you next year for Super DIRT Week 47.

Take care, John

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Buffalo VS. Syracuse The mid summer temperatures help heat up the HOT competition at ESTA Drag Strip for the second running of the Buffalo vs Syracuse Outlaw Shootout.

s by n d p h o to W o rd s a

I had a blast at last year’s event and I knew when I walked through the pit area this year that the fans were going to get one heck of a show. Beautiful looking cars from both cities lined up preparing their race cars for the days 1/8th Mile battle. Along with the Outlaw cars, a full field of ESTA’s weekly classes were on hand for a full day of Racing.

Track crews had the track in great form for these big horsepower big tire cars on the day docket. I heard that the track temp was around 125 degrees. Temps like that pose a challenge for the racers trying to make a good run.

Two rounds of time trials gave the teams a good look at the track, and how they would match up to the competition. The cars competing In the shootout class were a wide range of power plants and body types. Blown Chevelles, Turboed Fox body mustangs, wheel standing station-wagons, and nitrous equipped cars trying to win the big check at the end of the day.

The heads up format was a bit different then the bracket

Y ACHAR

JOHN Z

racing that ESTA runs on a weekly basis. Heads up Racing is when the cars line up at the tree, and they both leave at the same time when the light hits green. The racers are all hoping that the tuning they did to their cars would be enough to beat the guy in the lane next to them, and turn on that win light in their lane.

When the first round was called to the lanes the fans lined the fence and filled the stands to see who would be the car to beat. A lot of close races filled the first round with some upsets taking out a couple heavy hitters early.

Spectators not only got to see some gear outlaw racing, but also some solid bracket racing throughout the day under the bright blue sky. After the first round we all were making our picks for the next round of the Buffalo vs Syracuse cars. Once again the crowds gathered round for the second round of outlaw cars. With the high temps some of the cars broke traction as they left giving up the win early in the run.

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of cars had been down the track and the temps had come down again changing their setups in the car. Rachel Jewell pulled her beautiful cream colored blown 1968 Chevelle into the water box for a earth shaking burn out. In the other lane was a nice looking deep orange 1988 Fox Bodied Mustang. Moe Aifagih did a nice smoky burnout preparing for his final round race against Rachel.

Moe is from Cheektowaga, NY, and Jewell hailed from Rochester, NY, making it a sure thing for the Buffalo side of this event. Both drivers pulled up to the lights turning on the pre-Stage lights.

Fans looked on as both cars brought up the RPMs. As the lights went from yellow to green both cars left hard with Moe getting

a slight edge with the hole shot. This means the Loud Chevelle would have to run him down for the win.

Everybody in the place watched as the two cars roared down the track, trying to see who would be this year’s winner at ESTA. Moe crosses the line first in his mustang with a ET of 4.845 at 147 mph to Jewells 4.949 at 151 mph. What a race. Fans cheered as the cars disappeared down the track. Wow, now that’s a drag race!

Again ESTA put on a great show for everyone that attended. I am already looking forward to next years Buffalo vs Syracuse outlaw shootout. Check out ESTA’s web page for their last few races of the year.

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SYRACUSE NATIONALS 2017 Words and photos by JOHN ZACHARY

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fter the snow melts and the smell of spring fills the air, the Syracuse Nationals moves its way up to the top of most people’s summer to do list. As it should. If cool cars and trucks make you smile when you see them, this show is for you.

2017 marked the 18th for the biggest car show in the Northeast. The New York State Fairgrounds once again played host to this ever growing show. Spectators

and show participants filled the newly designed fairgrounds. With the race track removed from the grounds, show promoters have a lot more room for vendors and show cars.

Friday was the first day of the Nationals, but Thursday night at the registration hotel there was a well-attended show to get things started. Each year the Holiday Inn becomes the show before the show, as people gather to pick up their tickets for the weekend’s show. I love

walking around the parking lots looking at just a fraction of the cars that will be lined up at the gate early Friday morning.

Sometimes this is the time I will see these beautiful cars all weekend.

Friday morning I arrived at the fairgrounds after driving through pouring rain all the way up to the show. Luckily the rain let up when I drove into the fairgrounds. Cars were lined up bumper to bumper waiting for the start of the show.

Our car club, Seven Valley Street Rods,

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punched tickets and checked passes, as all of these cars made their way into the massive show area.

Once the sun came up, so did the temperature and humidity. As I made my way around the grounds I noticed the place did not seem to be as packed as in past years.

With all of the extra room on the grounds now it makes it easier to get around the entire show. This show seems to get bigger and better every year. From the amount of vendors, show cars, and spectators, it just keeps growing.

Saturday morning brought another full day for show goers with blue sky and temperatures in the high eighties. Gene Winfield’s top six cars were on display in the Center of Progress Building. Prior to the Nationals, Gene picks six out of dozens of entries to be part of the Nationals. Then the best of the six is picked for the Winfield Award on Saturday.

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By Saturday, the Artie’s Party is in full swing auctioning off works of art from some of the top pinstripes in the country. All proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House. This year Artie’s Party raised $66,000 for this wonderful charity.

Joining Artie in the Horticulture Building is Gasoline Alley. A huge display of nostalgic drags cars to help fans step back in time for a moment.

By late morning on Saturday the fairgrounds was buzzing with people and automobiles. The place was a happening. I made my way into the Center of Progress Building to check out Paul Teutul Jr.’s motorcycles from the popular TV Show Orange County Choppers.

Paul was on-hand signing autographs and talking to his fans about his beautiful bikes on display. Title sponsor PPG had their huge display just behind Paul Jr. Spectators could check out what PPG has to offer in the automotive paint field.

Saturday was a perfect day for the Nationals, and it showed by the amount of people wandering around the grounds. Sunday is always a less busy day at the show, but still very busy compared to

other shows during the summer. Newer muscle cars are allowed into the show to be among the older cars. I think this is good for the younger generation, as they get to show off their cars to interested car lovers. Someday these cars will be the old cars filling the show for years to come. A nice car is a nice car no matter what year it is. These cars lovers are the future of car shows.

Once again the Ol’ Skool Roundup was very popular with the attendants. Just like the new cars, the owners of these cars lover their builds and want to share them with everyone. Rockabilly bands were playing all weekend and pin up girls were getting their pictures taken with show cars throughout the show. It’s a cool vibe in the Ol’ Skool Roundup area.

So after a wet start to this year’s show, the weather cleared up and the show was another huge success. I love this show and can’t wait to do it again next year. If you haven’t attended the Syracuse Nations yet, I highly encourage you to stop in next year for one of the best shows in the Northeast. You will love it.

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ADIRONDACK NATIONALS 2017 Words and photos by JOHN ZACHARY

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his year marked the 29th year of the Adirondack Nationals in Lake George, NY. For the past 29 years cars and fans have filled this beautiful town for the last big weekend of the summer.

This year was no different. The town was hopping from Thursday to Sunday with automotive lovers of all kinds. The weather was hit and miss with a few showers moving through the area both Friday and Saturday. This did not stop the fans from showing up or the cars from cruising Main Street during the evening parade.

I have attended over 12 car shows this year and this one is something special to my wife and me. All the car shows I’ve

gone to have their own uniqueness that makes them a good show, and the Adirondack Nationals is one of my all-time favorites. Top notch vehicles are on hand along with a growing vendor area that has something for everyone that attends.

Each year the event organizers bring in well-known car builders for a couple days of autographs and picture taking.

This year spectators stood in line to get a selfie with Dave Kindig from Kindig-It Design. Dave is also known from the very popular TV show Bitchin’ Rides.

We arrived Friday morning to a packed town of beautiful cars and trucks everywhere. Canada Street was a flurry of spectators enjoying the local shops and restaurants. $15 dollars gets you into

this quality show for the entire weekend.

50/50 raffles were happening during the show, music was playing in the background, and there was a variety of food available for all in the show area.

Entries from all over the Northeast and Canada fill the Fort William Henry show area. Lake George presents a perfect backdrop for this show with steam boats cruising the lake each day.

A nice variety of shops are open for visitors to enjoy during their visit. There is great food of all kinds up and down the main drag of this nice little town. You can get a burger, ribs, sandwich, sit down take out, whatever you would like. We ate at the Adirondack Pub & Brewery on Saturday for lunch. My sons and I all ordered

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a bacon cheeseburger with a peanut butter and jelly. I know, crazy right? That’s what I was thinking, but with a nice order of onion rings and some homemade root beer, wow it was tasty. Of course we had a couple slices of pizza later on that day from one of the fantastic pizza shops on Main Street. Getting good grub is not a problem at this show.

Okay, so my favorite part of this show is the Cruising Main Street on Friday and Saturday night. Main Street is shut down to local traffic for three hours, so that vehicles from the show can display their rides by driving them up and down the street while spectators line the sidewalks (some three deep) for a few miles to enjoy this spectacle.

Looking at beautiful cars and trucks stationary is one thing, but being able to see them driving on the street is a totally different adventure.

The sounds of these wonderful machines, along with the smell of them just sets this show apart from most others that we attend each year. To me a car is meant to be driven. So seeing a very expensive high end show car running up and down the street (even when it’s raining) give me goosebumps.

We all have seen the trailer queens at shows, wondering how much the owner drives it each year. Don’t get me wrong I love looking at these cars, but seeing them running and moving is a better experience for sure.

This year’s show was again great with top notch cars, great food, and good company. Some may say it’s not the same since they stopped all of the burnouts in town. I love a good tire roasting smoke show as much as the next guy, but this show does not feel empty without them.

If you are looking to check out a different car show next year, make sure to visit the Adirondack Nationals the weekend after Labor Day. I promise you will love it.

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SAM WILT Speed Shop Manager 4475 Commercial Drive New Hartford, NY 13413 315-768-1015

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STREET SCENE Words and photos by DALTON DOBSON

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n the Syracuse area of Central New York car culture, although vast and diverse has always been more on the domestic side of things. Praising American muscle as the dominant, import and Euro cars still have a big following, but never had a place for big meets for everyone to represent and share their passion for the vehicles from across the pond of the Pacific and Atlantic. As enjoyable as the small meet-ups from Cars and Coffee and other parking lot get-togethers are, one of my favorite rapidly growing events of the summer would absolutely have to be Street Scene.

Set up in Long Branch Park by Chris Burkhart, from an event that started out as 200 cars its first year and now has expanded to nearly 850 cars (834 this year), the event has evolved into a more of an all makes all models show. This no restriction factor brings in all sorts of cars and trucks from both sides of the spectrum.

Anything slammed or lifted or in-between is welcome making this essentially a melting pot of car culture all in one place.

Vendors, a live DJ, and a great announcer throughout the day all helped contribute to the day as well, making the whole event seamless. Drivers are also encouraged to participate in the judged

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section of the event. Spanning from a wide range of awards such as best Euro and Domestic to more specific awards including manufacturer oriented awards like best Nissan or best Volkswagen. Specialty awards are available as well, such as best engine bay, staff pick, and club participation. During the judging, there is even a limbo competition pitting the two sides of lowest static and air stance against the lowest car and truck.

Aside from the judged cars, the general camaraderie of the whole event is extremely enjoyable. Car owners talk about their builds they either brought in or are currently working on. Parents wander around the show with their kids looking at all the cars,

inspiring the young ones for when the time comes for them to get behind the wheel. Most importantly, friendships are either rekindled or formed as the car scene slowly changes into something great.

It’s the shows like these that make the car scene great and inspire everyone to make an impression in one way or another.

Here’s to hoping next year will be even better and will continue to make the scene continue to grow and grow. If you haven’t had the opportunity of attending this show make it a point to be there next year. It’s not a show you want to miss!

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STREET SCENE ///

BAD DRIP

While working the show at Street Scene, one vehicle caught my attention like no other at the show.

Words by KE VIN CR ANDALL photos by DALTON DOBSON

I first spotted this ride as it was pulling into the parking lot and then watched from afar as it rolled into Long Branch Park. I lost sight of it and made it a point to go find it when I left the Apex booth to walk around.

Built by Modified Custom Installation in Rochester, NY, this 1972 Chevy P10 Shorty is a showstopper. The shop owners Bobby Eiland and Jim Vo were able to provide some background on this stellar build and even allowed us to do an impromptu photo shoot while at the show.

This P10 was built for Bad Drip, a custom e-liquid vape company in Rochester. It was built to be used as an advertising centerpiece for their booth at trade shows and conventions. The crew at Modified pulled out all the stops in making this a one of a kind ride.

Originally from Arizona, the P10 had a boring straight six-cylinder motor and sat in stock configuration. The Bad Drip folks thought that wasn’t good enough and wanted this ride to have decidedly more power, so they donated an LS1 engine that was harvested from another project. Shoehorning this engine into the vehicle was no easy task. The swap required switching out the upper intakes for shorter Camaro/Firebird ones along with manufacturing a 90 degree steering knuckle, which required relocating the entire steering assembly.

Not stopping there, they decided to run 22” Center Line Smoothie wheels that required some extra modifications in order to get this thing to set all the way on the ground with it’s bagged suspension. To everyone’s knowledge, Modified was the first company to be able to do this (fully drop a P10 with an 52 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE FALL ISSUE

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LS1 and 22” wheels) and there is only one other like it in the world. This is no ordinary body drop, instead it required a lot of custom chassis pieces, fabbed by Porterbuilt. Modified married their custom chassis to Ford axles, 4 wheel disc brakes, and even had to build a custom transmission tunnel in the vehicle to make everything work. It also has a full custom 3” exhaust from the headers back.

If the mechanical portion of the custom build weren’t enough, the guys also installed LED lights everywhere in the vehicle along with a JL Audio system that is encased in hand bent aluminum speaker boxes. Everything in this vehicle is controlled with an iPad dash control. This was mostly so that when at the shows, the Bad Drip crew can control the music/lights without having to be in the vehicle. They can control it remotely. The iPad also acts as the complete vehicle gauge cluster

for speedometer, etc. Modified worked with Kinetic Batteries for most of the electrical components and the battery charging system (the P10 can also be plugged directly into a wall outlet for the lights/music to use at the shows).

The build took the team in excess of 350 hours, over the course a year to complete. Bad Drip took it to a number of conventions during various build phases during this time. Overall, it’s a very impressive and unique build. It was said that this vehicle is the highlight of any convention that Bad Drip takes it to, and I don’t doubt it.

You can find out more about Modified Custom Installation on their Facebook page (facebook.com/Modifiedci) or calling (585) 247-8658. We’re looking forward to seeing what else these guys have up their sleeves – so keep an eye out for a possible full shop feature story in a future edition of Apex.

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ORPHAN CAR SHOW Words by MIKE MASTRACCO and photos by DALTON DABSON

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s that a Gremlin over there? Hey I think I see a VW Thing, look here there are a bunch of Studebakers, here’s an AMX, and the list goes on and on. Did we step into a time warp of old forgotten automobiles? No, you stepped onto Vic and Connie Oliver’s lawn where the Third Annual “Gathering of Orphan Cars” took place August 19th.

A few years back Vic mentioned to his buddies that he was thinking of doing a car show of seldom seen cars, cars that are usually forgotten about. With a chuckle, their response was, go ahead, you’ll be the only one showing cars there. He proved his buddies wrong. The first year about sixty-five cars showed up, the next year that number increased, this year the

number reached 100! Vic is not new to the vintage automobile collector scene, he has several restored cars to his credit and a couple that he and Connie own and drive. Their cars include a one of a kind Studebaker and a Henry J. The Studebaker was a design that was never made by its parent company while the Henry J was a car that Connie saw in a barn a few years back that they are now proud owners of.

This year’s show which was held off of Rt. 298 in East Syracuse included members from the Kaiser Frazer Owners Club which brought over a dozen vintage automobiles. Kaiser’s were only made from 1947-1955, while Frazer’s were produced from 1947-1951. There were

cars from as far away as Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, Indiana and even Florida. There were Manhattan sedans and hardtops, Vagabonds, a Dragon along with a 1955 Willys Aero Ace which Kaiser purchased in 1953. Let’s not forget the 1950 Jeepster made by Willys-Overland.

Our local “CNY AMC Club” brought along over a dozen seldom seen cars ranging from several AMX’s, Javelin’s, and Ramblers such as a 1966 Marlin and course the unusual AMC Gremlin. Studebakers made a presence with another dozen cars such as a 1946 M5 pickup truck, Commanders from the early 1950’s to the 1960’s, even a 1963 Avanti Turismo Hawk was on the lawn for viewers to hawk at. The Six Nations Pontiac Club brought

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another group of gone, but not overlooked automobiles dating back to the late 1940’s to later models. Several Pontiac Silver Streaks and Chieftains filled up spaces on the green grass, as they would have sixty years ago at a Sunday picnic. A 1960 Catalina that took up two spots because of its length, the infamous GTO, Firebirds and the long forgotten 1985 Fiero were also on display. Plymouth’s made a moving presence at the show with a 1948 Special Deluxe, a 1951 Business Coupe, a 1977 Volare, a PT Cruiser, and of course the nostalgic open wheeled Prowler.

Scattered between the shade trees were other seldom seen vehicles such as a 1951 International Harvester A110 truck, 1960 Beardmore truck (English built), 1961 Morris Panel truck, 1962 Volvo PB 544, 1968 El Camino, 1969 MGB, 1968 Triumph TR250, 1971 Triumph TR6, 1973 Jeep Postal with a V8 crammed in the engine bay and a 1981 DeLorean. Others included several Oldsmobile models, an old Ranchero, (part car part truck), a 1954 Mercury Monterey, a 1956 Mercury Montclair and of course Ralph Nader’s favorite, a few

Corvairs dotted the grass. Street Rods and Customs were part of the car culture a half decade ago, they were not forgotten here as they fit right in with many of the other orphans.

Spectators and participants not only enjoyed the infrequent seen vehicles, but were able to tour Vic’s garage as he opened the doors for all to see his ongoing projects. Everyone also enjoyed hot dogs, salt potatoes, and such supplied by the East Syracuse Fire Department. Profits totaled about $1,000 which went to “Project Healing Waters” a small group based in Bridgeport that helps local veterans in need. Admission to this show is free for spectators while show vehicles pay a small fee that makes up the profits for the show.

Information on many of the local car and truck clubs mentioned here can be found at www.cnycca.org. Kaiser Frazer Owners Club has a web site at www.kfclub.com. Vic and Connie will be back next year with a bigger and better show, maybe even with a few surprises.

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DOVER DRAGWAY Words and photos by JOHN ZACHARY

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ack in 1961 the Dover Drag Strip opened its doors for 1/4 mile drag racing for drag racers in the Northeast. Dover Drag Strip held races from 1961 until it closed in 1976. Owners, Chet Anderson and Joe Archiere, had one of the smoothest surface tracks running during the time. The use of a “Christmas tree� at the starting line was first used in 1964, making it one of the first to be used, replacing the flag man.

This year was the 9th Annual Dover Drag Strip Nostalgia Reunion at The Lebanon Valley Dragway. Cars from 13 states made their way to the Valley for this growing event. I have been a drag racing fan for years, but I have never been to a race as neat as this one.

Lebanon Valley Dragway is the perfect place to hold this race. With Dover Drag Strip being only an hour and half away in Wingdale, NY, it makes this feel like home for both the fans and racers. When I pulled into the track early Saturday morning I was blown away with how many race cars there were throughout the vast pit area: gassers, funny cars, rails, muscle cars, and trucks. Not only were there a lot of entries, but absolutely gorgeous and rare

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drag cars made their way into the lanes for some 1/4 mile magic.

It was like a blast from the past overload at first. It seemed like every car I stopped to take a picture of was awesome, but then walk ten feet more and there was a cooler looking machine to stop and drool over.

Dino the promoter was telling the packed crowd on Sunday that some of these cars only see the light of day once a year, and it’s for this show. There were some original cars that raced at Dover Drag Strip on hand for us car nuts to admire. Along with these cars there were vintage funny cars and front engine dragsters competing as well.

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RIVER RAT ROD RUN Words and photos by JOHN ZACHARY

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016 was the First Annual River Rat Rod Run held in Fulton, NY. With the success of their first show the promoters held their Second Annual Run this year as one of the last shows of the summer.

With the calendar telling us that it is officially fall, the temperature was saying it was mid-summer. Perfect weather all weekend for both participants and fans to enjoy the ever growing River Rat Rod Show.

I was expecting nothing but wild rat rods at this show, but was pleasantly surprised with the variety of cars and trucks on display at Virgilio’s Event Centre in Fulton, NY. Muscle cars, street rods, were mixed in with Rat Rods on display. The Limp Lizard was on site serving some delicious BBQ.

Live music made its way out of the pavilion all day, with popular tunes from the 50’s and 60’s.

There were plenty of things to look at or even purchase in the swap meet area that was located in the shade. Pin up girls were well represented for the Pin Up Girl Contest that was held later in the day. They also had the Spark Plug Challenge in the pavilion.

Competitors had to remove and install spark plugs on a set of old flat heads.

This show reminds me of shows during my childhood. Plenty of cool cars, music, and cool events happening during the show.

If you are into rat rods, pin up girls, and good automotive fun, you should definitely attend this show next year.

It’s a cool event.

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