SUMMER 2018
CAR REVIEWS / LOCAL SHOP STORIES / LOCAL BUILDS / CAR SHOW COVERAGE
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TAK E ONE C E NTR A L
N E W
YO RK’S
AUTOMOT I V E
M AGA Z I N E
A SUPER RARE
bugatti RESTORED by Steve's Restorations & Hot Rods
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Distinctive Street Rods | LaFayette Motorsports Park | Hot WheelsTM Car Care & More!
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CENTRAL NEW YORK'S AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE Visit apexautomag.com for all the latest events, photos, and more!
A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM Thank you to all veterans for your service from the Apex Team. In this issue, we honor and pay respect for the sacrifices they have made for our great country so we can all enjoy the freedom to follow our passions. There are four feature articles that are rides owned by veterans; each with a photo and caption about their service while in the military. It’s our way of paying tribute to all of our veterans. Also in this issue, we are highlighting Pontiacs. There is a profile of the CNY Pontiac Club, known as the Six Nations Chapter of The Pontiac Oakland Club. There are two Pontiac features as well; a ‘58 Catalina and a ’65 GTO. There are also two Readers’ Rides, from the Pontiac Club, to go along with the Pontiac theme. On the cover, we have the amazing Bugatti restoration from Steve's Restorations and Hot Rods. So far this summer, the Apex Team has sponsored some highly successful car shows. There was the Apex Invitational at Fountain Elms, the 1908 Great Race Celebration in Canastota, and we had a cruise-in in the City of Sherrill. There were great turnouts for each event, and you can read all about them in the Fall Issue…so stay-tuned for that. As always, thanks for reading. If you have any comments or suggestions or are interested in helping with the magazine (ad sales, photography, or writing), shoot us an email to info@apexautomag.com!
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THE TEAM Publisher Kevin Crandall
SUMMER 2018
Production Manager Bob Sblendorio Layout & Design Colleen Ingerto Director of Photography Chris Penree Photography Thomas Sblendorio, Mike Woeller, John Zachary, Ron Alexander, Nick Schleitwiler Contributing Writers Ron Alexander, Mike Mastracco, Bob Sblendorio, Mike Smith, John Zachary, Jake Cetnar, Robert Selkowitz, William Vair, Robert Kenney Jr, Kevin Crandall Proofreader Denise Crandall Account Manager Elise Robinson Special Thanks Mike Smith, Josh Herbert 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 x2 Apex Automotive Magazine is published four times per year by Seven Horsepower Publishing, LLC. To subscribe: Please send $20 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 2018, 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.
16.
A VETERAN & HIS TRUCK
An interview with Alex Cheney about his Nissan Titan PRO4X By Bob Sblendorio
22.
LOST & FOUND
The story of a stolen 1970 Shelby GT350 By Bob Sblendorio
28.
34.
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Steve's Restorations & Hot Rods brings this beauty back to its original glory
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By Mike Mastracco
EXTREMELY RARE 1936 BUGATTI (COVER)
By Mike Mastracco
COOL CAR STORIES
EVENTS / RACING / CLUBS / NEWS
08. Tim Nichol's 1965 Pontiac GTO
44. Tech Talk w/ Spec13: Weight Transfer
12. Bob Conniff's 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina
50. LaFayette Motorsports Park
33. Feed Our Vets Custom Humvee 41. 1903 Automobile Endurance Run 52. Local Shop: Distinctive Street Rods 56. Tech How-To: Keeping Cool
59. 3 Rivers Car Cruz-In 61. Morrisville State College Cruise-In 63. CNY Car Shows / Event Schedule 66. Six Nations Pontiac Club
Online: apexautomag.com | Facebook.com: facebook/apexautomag.com | Instagram: apexautomag COVER PHOTO BY CHRIS PENREE | CONTENTS PHOTO BY THOMAS SBLENDORIO
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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!
1962 Pontiac Grand Prix
Words and Photos by owner, PAUL GEISS
W
hen I was 14 years old my older brother and his college buddy pulled into our driveway with a brand new 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix, 4-speed, Tri-Power engine, black with red interior. I was truly amazed and mesmerized by its looks. The image of that car always remained with me. Many, many years later when looking for a classic car, that image prevailed. After a year and a half of searching on various websites I finally found my Grand Prix on Hemmings website and have owned it for 16 years now. 1962 was the first year for the Grand Prix. Pontiac advertised the new Grand Prix as a muscle car wearing a tuxedo. Pontiac produced and sold slightly over 30,000 models of which just over 1,000 of these were standard shift. Most popular was the 4-speed on the floor versions, this is where my Grand Prix differs, it is a 3-speed, “3 on the tree” a more rare and unique version of the Grand Prix. The car was built and sold in California; the original owner then moved to North Carolina using the car as a daily driver. I purchased this car from the second owner who used it as a classic car. Currently the odometer reads just over 63,000 miles.
DO YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RIDE YOU WANT US TO SHARE?
Email high-resolution photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com.
It has a stock 389 cubic inch engine, factory rated at 303 horsepower along with the Pontiac signature 8-lug wheels. Stock color is called Yorktown Blue and has original black bucket seats. Over the years everything mechanically has been either rebuilt, repaired, or replaced from bumper to bumper. In 2016, it was awarded the “Pristine Pontiac” award at the Syracuse Nationals. I’m still amazed with this car.
Please include your name and hometown. All of this issue’s Readers' Rides features are getting two 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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R E A D E R s ’ R I D E S ///
1968 PONTIAC GTO
Words and photos by owner, Natalie DiBiase-Eymer
I
have been enveloped by the car hobby forever! My father owned a Sunoco station and a used car dealership that I worked at for years. I also was his pit crew when he drag raced all over the country. I also drag raced locally and was the only girl there. My dream car has always been a 1969 GTO red convertible with a black top and interior. I found a 1970 red with black hardtop and brought it home, but when my dad inspected it, he said no. I then won a bid at the Tri-State Auto Auction on a 1974 black metallic GTO. I had it about a year, but my mom said it was too loud and besides I couldn’t sneak in after my curfew with that one! After that, from another auction, I had a 1969 midnight blue with black hardtop GTO which had a loud 400 ci engine. Unfortunately, coming home from a rain shortened drag race I was rear ended, and it was too much work to fix. I finally found my current car which is very close to my dream car. It is a 1968 red convertible GTO. After some engine changes, it currently has a 455 ci. I have even managed to turn my husband into a Pontiac lover and he owns a 1969 GTO Judge Tribute car. My grandmother and I were very close, and when she passed away I felt very lost. After, my cousins, John and Rita Dowling, invited me to come to the new GTO party at Bill Rapp’s Dealership. The Pontiac Club members that
were in attendance were so nice and asked me to join. I have been honored to be voted in as the president of our club for the past few years. I love doing it and think I am the only female club president locally! We have taken our cars to many shows all over the country and have met so many people. We have cruised Erie Boulevard for years, starting at Wendy’s and now at Sonic. We have gained many other like-minded fellow cruisers trying to get the Boulevard cruise scene back and hope to keep the passion alive for future generations!
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Tim Nichol’s
1965 Pontiac
GTO Words by JACOB CETNAR | Photos by CHRIS PENREE
The story of this beautiful GTO starts way back in 1970. During the heart of the Vietnam war, like many young men, Tim was drafted into the military. Anyone who is drafted usually ends up in the Army or Marines, both branches in which Tim was not interested. Instead, he decided to enlist in the Coast Guard. After basic training, Tim was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii where he traveled to the Samoan
Islands, Fiji, and many others in the region. During his time in Oahu, he met his future wife Estre on a blind date. In December of 1972, only a few months after meeting her, he was reassigned to Cape May, New Jersey. He didn’t want to leave Estre alone in Hawaii, but it would be socially unacceptable to live with her before marriage back then. As a result, Estre moved in with Tim’s parents in Camden, New York for a few months. Yes, that’s right, Tim’s parents essentially took a complete stranger into their home! One day, Tim’s dad asked him, “so
what do you plan on doing with her?” That’s when Tim realized he really only had one choice. After only a few months of dating, some of that living hundreds of miles away in New Jersey, he married her in 1973. After getting out of the military in 1974, Tim said to himself, “I want a muscle car.” Most people would likely own it for a few years, drive it too fast, and sell it when they got older, but not Tim. Over 40 years later, he is still the proud owner of this beautiful 1965 Pontiac GTO that he bought for $650, or about $3,000
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today. He is also still married to his wife, an equally impressive achievement! Knowing that Tim is the kind of guy who is in it for the long haul, it wasn’t surprising to me that the car was in beautiful condition. Admittedly, my favorite color since I was a kid is maroon, but I think it is impossible to argue that this car isn’t beautiful. Although not totally original, the Muncie 4-speed transmission, 400ci Pontiac motor, and Rally II wheels are all period correct for the car. The 1990’s era Mercury Electric Red Metallic paint is sure to upset Pontiac purists, but in my opinion, it is the perfect color for this
classy convertible cruiser. Similarly to the appearance of the car, its engine did not disappoint either. When going down the road I oftentimes find many muscle cars to be disappointingly quiet. Not Tim’s though. His dual Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust shamelessly cut through the quiet Sunday air in the small town of Camden. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the V8 engine, it always brings a smile to my face hearing an old school V8 roar without all of the modern fuel injection, catalytic converters, and dual mode exhausts on modern muscle cars.
So, this is where the story ends right? We learned about the car, Tim, and his interesting life. Not exactly. Believe it or not, this article was almost never written. In fact, this car nearly ceased to exist. In 1998, Tim’s barn caught on fire. Fortunately, he was able to safely push the car out of the barn before it was destroyed. Crisis averted... sort of. Two weeks later, Tim’s house burnt to the ground! Seriously, the man lost his barn and his house within two weeks of each other. Unfortunately, the car was parked close to the house when it burned down causing severe SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 9
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Orders must be postmarked by 9/28/18 I am Purchasing ______________Tickets for $_______________ Total order $_____________ *Please return my ticket stubs by mail. I have added or authorize an additional $1 to cover mailing materials and postage. (Stub not necessary to claim prize.) Name___________________________________________________________________Address______________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________________State____________________________________________Zip Code_________________________________ Phone______________________________________________________Email (optional)___________________________________________________________________________ Card #_________________________________________________________________
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Mail this form, or copy of this form, along with check, money order or credit card information to NECCM, Department APEX, 24 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY 13815. Also order online at www.classiccarmuseum.org or call 607-334-2886. NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN RAFFLE. Open to U.S. Residents age 18+. Void where prohibited. Runs 1/19/18 to 9/28/18. Prize: 1964 ½ Mustang Convertible ($22,000 ARV). Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. To view complete Official Rules visit www.classiccarmuseum.org or send self-addressed stamped envelope to: NECCM Rules, 24 Rexford St, Norwich, NY 13815.
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damage. As a result, Tim was the proud owner of the clothes on his back and a totaled, severely burned ‘65 GTO. Most people would have given up on the car and maybe even fallen into depression, but not Tim. Instead, he bought it back from the insurance company for a few hundred dollars and had it rebuilt piece by piece by Mark Choquette of Camden. After 400 hours of labor on the exterior, and many more on the rest of the car, it was finally restored better than ever and in the condition you see it today. Now it sits comfortably in Tim’s garage at his new house, ready for an afternoon cruise, car show, or a local parade. So, this is where the story ends right? Yes. Tim and his GTO lived happily ever after! Apex would like to thank Tim for letting us check out his beautiful GTO, express our gratitude for his military service, and suggest he stocks up on fire extinguishers!
Tim enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in May 1970 and was honorably discharged in May 1973. He was stationed at the Air Station Barbers Point in Oahu, Hawaii and worked as a storekeeper, securing the needed parts for search and rescue aircraft. For a time, he also worked on a 180’ buoy tender throughout the Hawaiian Islands. SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 11
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Bob Conniff's
1958 Pontiac
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When Bob was 11 years old, his family took a road trip to Detroit, Michigan. His dad was a partner in a Camden, NY Pontiac dealership, Card and Conniff Pontiac. Despite being a
Words by JACOB CETNAR Photos by CHRIS PENREE
dealer for 20 years at the time, his dad had yet to make it out to Detroit for any annual new model introductions. So, in August of 1957, in true Conniff family style, they drove their pink and white ‘56 Pontiac halfway across the country. Bob and his dad watched the new 1958 Pontiac models meet the public eye for the very first time, a day he would never forget. Many years later in 2005, he finally had the resources necessary to buy one of his dream cars, a 2-door ‘58 Chieftain Catalina. The Catalina was one of the cars he had seen roll across the stage brand new so many years ago. Considering how specific of a car this is, he knew it would be difficult to find one well restored. To put it into perspective, let’s look at it this way, at 23 years old I am the youngest writer on the Apex team. This car was made 37 years before I was born and is nearly three times my age. It also happens to have been made the year my father was born. Put simply, this car is old (sorry dad)! Bob knew finding a specific year and condition of such an old car would require looking across the US. He eventually found the car on eBay in Iowa. Many people won’t go halfway across their state to buy a car never mind the country. After negotiating the deal and towing the car home, he found out that much of the car’s documentation history was stored in the glovebox. Upon inspection, he noticed that the car was originally sold in Buffalo, NY, then moved to Cincinnati, OH, Louisville, KY, and Iowa, only to wind up back in Camden, NY. It took almost 60 years, but the car came back to where it started. As happy as he was just to have the car, its trail through time made it that much better. To fully understand this car, we first have to look at its place in history. Oftentimes when people think of “the old days” they think of wars, financial hardship, and disease. The 1950’s were one of the few times where that wasn’t really the case. The economy was
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It took almost 60 years, but the car came back to where it started.
booming, the US was in no major wars, and in general Americans were living better lives than ever before. I wasn’t thinking about this when I pulled up to Bob’s house, but in retrospect the car is so clearly a product of its time. The Chieftain's two-tone Tropicana Turquoise and white exterior is excessive, maybe even ridiculous. Even something as simple as the steering wheel is smothered in chrome and gorgeous inlays. But that’s exactly what the 1950’s was, a time of excess wealth and human indulgence. It is nearly impossible for me to imagine seeing these cars on the road everyday back then. Fortunately, Pontiac didn’t let the cars flashy looks steal all the attention. Under the hood, the car’s original 370ci, Carter 4-barrel carbureted V8, complete with glasspack dual exhaust provides a formidable power plant. At about 300 hp, these cars were quite powerful for their time. 14 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE
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Looking at these photos it may be hard to believe this, but in 1958 the Chieftain was the smallest, lightest model of car Pontiac made. As a result, many people turned them into capable drag racing cars which I was surprised to learn. Unfortunately, the car’s bright color and iconic V8 rumble is somewhat of an issue for Bob. People often pull up next to him screaming “nice car” and “what year is that!” As flattering as it is to him, Bob said sometimes it is hard to distinguish road rage from kind words at first! But as the owner of four classic Pontiacs, Bob is always happy to share his extensive knowledge both on the road and at car shows. Yes, that’s right. Bob also owns a 1938 and two 1970’s era Pontiacs, not surprising for a man who grew up in a Pontiac dealership. Apex would like to thank Bob Conniff for showing us his gorgeous ‘58 Chieftain Catalina.
A Purple Heart recipient, Bob Conniff was in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served from December 1966 to December 1968, initially as a Combat Infantryman and later as a radio operator. He was there during the infamous TET offensive; one of the largest campaigns of the war, consisting of surprise attacks by the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. Bob was in the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment Bravo Company, 1st Platoon. SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 15
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A VETERAN and his
TRUCK Words by BOB SBLENDORIO | Photos by TOM SBLENDORIO
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“Alex is my hero. He has been through so much. This means more to my family than you know. #familyforever,” said Walt Cheney, the brother of Alex. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Military Service Alex served in the army for eight years; four years active duty, followed by four years in the reserves. He was deployed to West Berlin, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry. He was part of the US military forces in West Berlin for the protection of the border against the former East Germany. Prior to the Berlin Wall coming down in November 1989, it was a hostile place; military engagements were
a frequent occurrence, but often not publicized. Alex explained, “it wasn’t pretty [guarding the border] — the country was pretty and the people were awesome.” In 1985, while deployed there, he got hurt. The injury has affected his longterm and short-term memory, he has to write everything down, and doesn’t remember much from his childhood. Alex explained that he lives with the remnants of his injury every day. Getting into racing and a close bond with his two brothers has helped him, especially in the last 10 years.
Team Venom Racing In 2017, Alex won first place in Vermont and New York for truck pulling, driving a Nissan Titan pickup truck…im-
pressive for his first full year of racing! He also took first place in a truck show in Carlisle, PA last year. Racing has helped him move on. With the love and support of his two brothers, Walt and Fay, he is doing pretty well. Alex races in honor of the Wounded Warriors, whose mission is serving veterans with programs and services. There’s a Wounded Warriors banner across the rear window of his truck, so everyone can see his tribute to this great organization. Some of the main sponsors that make Alex’s truck go fast are: Huttig Nissan of Plattsburgh, NY, Higher Power Performance for tuning, and BVC Racing in Plattsburgh for the wraps. Team Venom (teamvenom.racing) is a family affair and the team consists of: Team leader, Walt Cheney, who races a
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Truck Specifications 2016 Nissan Titan PRO4X XD Diesel 5.0 Cummins Purchased from Huttig Nissan of Plattsburgh, NY
Modifications Anthem wheels Rouse Tire 35" Mud Claw tires Odyssey batteries Offroad Gorilla battery hold downs Pre-Cool silicone coolant and oil catch can hoses Evans waterless engine coolant Hellwig products rear sway bar Hellwig products rear airbags BVC Graphics Custom Wrap Venom Racing custom front bumper Titan Fuel Tanks 50 Gallon tank
Higher Power Performance SOTF tuning Level 10 Transmission Quintin Brothers dyno service EGR Products fender flares EGR Products rain guards Mag-Hytec rear differential cover Rough Country Steering Stabilizer Pulling Products custom hitch CFT performance full 4" stainless exhaust with custom 6" tip CFT EGR delete kit CFT custom charge tubes CFT custom oil catch can CFT custom intake tube
Sponsors Open Wide Performance Drivetrain America Plattsburgh Spring
Rock’s Trailer Sales Mike's Auto Parts JS Custom Alternators JC Customs CNC North Country Auto Glass NAPA of Elizabethtown Leonard Bus Sales, Inc. Port Henry Service Center Chemical Guys R1 Concept Brakes Pulling Products XXX Coatings of Plattsburgh Atomic Fab and Performance PMAS Black Bear Performance Dirty Hooker Diesel Huttig Nissan of Plattsburgh Spectro Oils UpRev Kold Kutter
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Alex served in the United States Army for eight years, from 1980 to 1988; four years active duty, followed by four years in the reserves. He was deployed to West Berlin, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry. Prior to the Berlin Wall coming down in November 1989, ”it was a hostile place.”
gas-powered Nissan Titan (Apex feature, Summer-2017 Issue); his wife Amber, who races a Chevy Silverado; Alex Cheney, who races in a Nissan Titan diesel; and the newest member of the team, Fay Cheney, who will be racing a gas-powered Nissan Titan. That’s a lot of Titan power. Alex, with a hearty laugh, said the fact that Amber races the only Chevy in the group “really doesn’t come up that often.”
Family Alex mentioned that when growing
up, his father and his late mother always instilled that “you can do anything you want to do, but always do it 100%.” The brothers are tight, and racing was an opportunity to do something they all love to do and something they can do together. Alex was away for a long time serving in the army, and racing is a chance for the brothers to get close again. Alex said, about his military service, “I did enjoy it; to me it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world to serve your country.”
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LOST & FOUND The Stolen ‘70 Shelby GT350
Words by BOB SBLENDORIO | Photos by CHRIS PENREE
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“This is my car! I have the VIN number memorized,” Mike Stanton told the Carlisle, Pennsylvania cops. It had been eight years since the car was stolen, but Stanton rattled off the VIN, while the cops looked through the windshield and compared. “That doesn’t match!” the cops said. Mike was hysterical and wanted his car back, but the cops didn’t see it that way and threatened to arrest him for making a false claim.
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Dream Car: Stolen and Recovered As a young man, Mike always dreamed of owning a Shelby Mustang; a dream that was realized in February of 1993 when he purchased a ‘70 Shelby GT350. He paid $27,000 for the car that was in mint condition and in the color that he loved, Black Jade. It was a twotime national winner in 1994: Best ‘70 Shelby in the Nation and Best Overall Shelby Mustang in the Nation. In 1997, Mike had a job interview in Somerset, NJ. His daily driver, a Jeep, was broken, and with some reluctance,
he took the Shelby. It didn’t take long — by morning it was stolen from the hotel he was staying at — less than eight hours after arriving. He reported the theft to the local police, who couldn’t really do much more than fill out a report. The cops told him the stolen cars are either sold for parts or put in a shipping container and sold overseas. Port Newark, a major shipping port for containers, was close by. Devastated, Mike began searching as much and as best as he could over the next several years. The internet was getting better at the time, so he used it as much as possible, but to no avail. Eight
years had elapsed, and his feeling was that any hope was pretty much gone. In 2005, after eight years, he was at the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. Way off in the distance, Mike said to himself, “man that looks like my car.” When he got a little closer, he was certain it was his car because of the unique stance of the car. The car was manufactured with a GT500 chassis for a big-block 428 ci, but changed on the assembly line to a GT350, and a small-block was installed instead; big-block chassis with a smallblock engine, hence the unique stance. When he got to the Shelby, there was no doubt in his mind that it was his
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Mike’s 1970 Shelby GT350 Engine
351 ci Windsor
Horsepower
290 hp
Transmission
4-sp
Rear
325
Brakes
4-wheel disc
Wheels
15” x 7” stock Shelby wheels
Color
Black Jade (only 31 made in that color)
1970 Shelbys manufactured
789 (last year of manufacture)
car; it still had his personalized floor mats! His emotions were running high, and he explained how he could feel his blood pressure going up and he began to sweat. He called the Carlisle Police. Coincidentally, the owner and the cops showed up at the same time. The owner was well dressed and looked like a very well-to-do guy; in contrast to Mike, who was a young guy and dressed casually. The owner explained to the cops: “the car is a fake Shelby and this guy [Mike] doesn’t know what he is talking about.” After the VIN fiasco, the cops, who were getting annoyed, asked for some other proof. Mike then explained that years ago when he restored the car, under the carpet of the front driver’s side seat, he etched the following in the tar coating: Captain Michael Stanton, US Air Force, his social security
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number and the date. They (cops and the owner) laughed at the idea that he was a Captain in the Air Force, which to this day upsets him. When the cops asked the owner about removing the seat, “to make this kid happy,” the owner responded: “No way!” The whole situation created quite the scene by the car, with many onlookers watching, some with their video recorders taping the whole mess. The owner must have been irked by the accusations, and shortly thereafter, left for home. The owner was from Canada, just over the Niagara Falls, NY border. Upon seeing that the owner left early, and having recorded the plate number, Mike then called his brother who had a contact in the FBI. With the plate number they had the owner’s address; and incredibly the FBI dispatched a helicopter to stop the car at the Niagara Falls border crossing… which they did.
It is common for cars to have VIN numbers in multiple locations, and in the case of Mike’s Shelby, there was another stamped under the right front fender. At the border, the fender was removed and the VIN matched exactly to the one Mike had memorized! The car was impounded. To hide its true identity after it was originally stolen, a VIN from a basic 1970 Mustang was installed in the dashboard location; and hence the reason it was referred to as a “fake Shelby.”
Aftermath It took about three months, but Mike finally got the car back. When the car was initially stolen, the insurance had paid him $27,000, back in 1997. Now with the car recovered, the value of it had gone up to $105,000; because of the increase in value, Mike had to pay back some money to the insurance company, but it wasn’t much and
he was just happy to get the car back. In the end, the car had been sold and purchased four times, resulting in multiple lawsuits between all the previous owners. The guy from Canada sued the dealer where he purchased the car, the dealer sued the place they purchased the car from, and so on. The car thief was eventually caught and sentenced to three years in the slammer. Being a “professional”, he had stolen many cars and therefore was also ordered to pay $675,000 in restitution. According to Mike, the story he had heard was that the thief always dreamed of owning a Shelby, so he stole one. Mike loves cars and has 20 in his collection. He explained how he loves working and driving them. When he drives the Shelby, he joked, “it’s like driving a movie star — everyone wants to talk to you. It can take an hour or more to go get gas.”
Stanton (far right) was a Major in the United States Air Force upon retiring in 2001. He was a Navigator on the KC-135 Stratotanker, which is used for aerial refueling of military aircraft. The Stratotanker was used extensively in Operation Desert Storm, and Stanton flew over 200 missions, of which 20 were combat missions.
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Hot WheelsTM Car Care Products Lays Tracks in Camillus, NY
Words by MIKE MASTRACCO Hot WheelsTM Americana Series Car Care Products was born and bred in Camillus, NY through a partnership with Americana Pro Detailing Products, LLC. Its founder and president, Daniel Pikarsky, never lost his love for his roots right here in the Central New York region.
This is an idea that Dan brainstormed in Syracuse back in 2015. Development of better and higher quality car care products for the auto enthusiast and the everyday driver were needed available on the shelf and online. On the back of a napkin Dan started making business strategy plans on how he can remain in the car culture as a business owner after his many years in his professional motorsports career. Dan remembers at the ripe age of ten when he and a good buddy squeezed through the fences to check out their first car race at the now historic “Moody Mile.” This first meeting with Dirt cars sparked Dan’s interest into the car culture. Dan has owned a few classic muscle cars in his day. Often times while cleaning and polishing his cars, he was not happy with the results from the car care products that were currently available. He recalled as a kid his older brother Marty and all his cars, as he watched him keep them so meticulously cleaned and polished. Sometimes Dan was asked by Marty to help him wash, wax, and detail
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his car along with the wheels and tires. There’s nothing like bonding with your older brother for some good ‘ole family time. As Dan started his own legacy of car ownership, he stayed home from family vacations and dropped out of baseball and football to work on his cars to be able to cruise around with his buddies Gary, Chip and Tom, and younger brother Darrin, who’s an avid car guy too. For starters, a few years back, Dan sampled his new found car care products that he founded and formulated to a few car buddies. Dan set up his new products on the hood of his Camaro and gave out all the samples he had. From there it escalated to a new line of products which turned into his first official entry to the auto enthusiast and the car culture. His products became car culture approved, as they are known now. This is where the napkin and Dan’s business plans come into play. One morning at Suzie’s Lakeland Diner in Syracuse, he and a couple of pals, Joe and Rob, were sitting there chatting. Joe invited Dan to come set up at Suzie’s Friday Car Cruise to promote his new line of products. Dan would set up at more car shows and cruise-in’s each week handing out
On the back of a napkin, Dan Pikarsky started making business strategy plans on how he could remain in the car culture as a business owner ... today, he has a full line of products available at retailers in the USA and Australia, as well as online. sample bottles. He was invited by the local and regional car clubs and the car culture to their car events and cruises. The car culture really liked the products he had created and how wonderful his products made their rides shine, look, and feel. After promoting his products locally, the wheels in Dan’s head started turning. He asked himself, “How can I expand this product line past the Central New York area and get it into the hands of the global car culture simply due to the fact that the car culture deserves products of this quality on the shelf and online?” Dan spent many years traveling the USA on the road in the motorsports field running the business and sponsorships for some of the best teams in the country in the NHRA Pro Stock, Funny Car & Top
Fuel dragsters and NASCAR Monster Cup. This is when Dan’s past marketing and automotive relationships came into play. The many phone calls, emails, and personal visits to these contacts helped get Dan teamed up with the toy maker Mattel and their worldwide line of Hot WheelsTM. That’s how Hot WheelsTM Car Care Products were born. Currently there are five introductory products being produced, that include: Wash & Wax that includes a thick liquid Brazilian Carnauba Wax formula; Epic Shine their proprietary synthetic polymer, nano-hydrophobic – anti static spray detailer; All Wheel Cleaner non-acidic formulation which makes it safe for all coated finish wheels; Pro Tire Cleaner this no bleach formulation which breaks down the brown and makes black walls
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https://americanapro.com/hotwheels/. This year, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Hot WheelsTM. The “Hot WheelsTM Legends Tour” is stopping in 15 major cities across the United States. Hot WheelsTM Car Care Products are also involved in the NHRA Drag Racing being Official Car Care Products of the 20 time NHRA World Champions of John Force Racing and Pro Stock driver Alex Laughlin. Look for the Hot WheelsTM Car Care Products at this year’s Syracuse Nationals and mention you read this article in Apex Magazine and get the Apex discount on the spot! black and white letters white; and lastly, Pro Tire Finish dual action - satin sheen to ultra shine - water base formulation gives you the availability to dial in your own look and shine on your tires. These products are professional grade, high quality blends and are available in industrial size for the auto body industry. There are another nine products currently developed for the interior waiting for their timely release to round out the product line for total car care. The products are available at retailers in the USA and Australia, as well as online. Dan feels it is important to give back to the community, his company supports many local-regional along with national car enthusiast shows and cruise-ins. This year, Hot WheelsTM Car Care Products are the Presenting Sponsor and Official Car Care Products of the Syracuse Nationals, the largest car show in the northeast held at the New York State Fairgrounds each July. The Hot WheelsTM Car Care Crew will be onsite selling single bottles, car care kits, and the all new Hot WheelsTM Car Care Bucket just inside in Gate 1 and Gate 4 from open to close. Spectators don’t have to worry about carrying around the heavy bag and bucket all day, as they can purchase products on their way outside to their cars each day. Look for the Hot WheelsTM Car Care Proving Grounds set up at Time Square area at the NY State Fairgrounds. Other displays will also be set up at several locations throughout the entire weekend. You can’t miss them with the oversize, 20- foot-tall ginormous Hot WheelsTM spray bottles dotting the Fairgrounds. You can also visit their website for a pre-glance or to purchase at 30 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE
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Words by KEVIN CRANDALL | Photo by CHRIS PENREE
Feed Our Vets
Humvee by Steve's Restorations & Hot Rods
In 2017, Steve's Restorations and Hot Rods partnered with Feed Our Vets to restore and customize a 1990 AM General M998 Military HMMWV Humvee. It will be auctioned off this September at the Saratoga Auto Auction where 100% of the proceeds will benefit the CNY based "Feed Our Vets" charity program.
Feed Our Vets was founded by Vernon Center, NY postmaster and Navy veteran Rich Synek. One day, a World War II veteran came into Rich’s post office and bought a single stamp. When Rich asked him why he didn’t buy a book of stamps, the man broke down and confessed that he and his wife only had enough money to eat properly for two weeks out of each month, and that the last few days of the month, the couple had nothing to eat at all. That night, Rich and his wife, Michele, went out and bought groceries
for the Veteran and his wife, and brought the food to their home. When they realized how widespread the problem of veteran hunger is, they established the first Feed Our Vets Food Pantry. They have been feeding veterans ever since. Steve's Restorations & Hot Rods was provided the Humvee by an anonymous donor. They went over every nut and bolt and did a complete body-off rotisserie restoration on the vehicle. They dismantled the frame, media blasted everything, and gave it a crazy paint job. The paint on the body is a 3-tone fade using PPG Crystallance - which uses glass instead of metal flake to provide an amazing sparkle finish. The vehicles features touches like 13 stars painted on the hood along with saluting soldiers on the truck’s sides. PPG was generous enough to supply all the paint and materials for the paintjob. A few sponsors also chipped in like A&P Master Images, Iron Cross Bumpers, Westin Lighting, Pitbull Tires and others.
BEFORE Put the Saratoga Auto Auction on your calendar for September 21-22 and help support this awesome cause. For more information on the auction or to consign a vehicle contact Jeff Whiteside, Auction Director at 518-587-1935 x22 or jeff.whiteside@saratogaautomuseum.org. On the web: Feed Our Vets - www.feedourvets.org Steve's Restorations & Hot Rods www.stevesrestorations.com Saratoga Auto Auction www.saratogautoauction.org
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EXTREMELY RARE
1936 BUGATTI Words by MIKE MASTRACCO Photos by CHRIS PENREE Bugatti, a French manufacture of high-performance automobiles was founded in 1909 by Italian born Ettore Bugatti. Ettore was an artist who used his skills to build some of the most beautiful and voluptuous cars in the world. Bugatti’s designs were like no other of the time period. The Bugatti Type 57 was an entirely new design created by Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean Bugatti. Looking
at the bulbous sculptured fenders, impressive contours along with the stylish lines that flow from front to rear make this automobile a true thing of beauty. Only a total of 710 Type 57’s were produced from 1934 through 1940. There were four limited production variants of the Type 57 made during this time frame, this particular one being the Atalante. Pictured here is a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 “Atalante” an extremely rare variant of the Bugatti Type 57 series. This particular automobile is num-
ber fourteen of only seventeen ever produced by the in-house “Atalante coupé coachwork team.” Bugatti stamped his production numbers on the hood (14), lower and upper trunk lids, as well as several other body panel areas throughout these limited production automobiles. This Type 57 Bugatti’s power plant used a Twin-Cam 3,257cc DOHC Inline 8 (198 C.I.) producing 135 hp. It weighs in at a scantly 2,090 lbs. as top speed is 120 mph, pretty impressive for 1936. The Type 57 Bugatti is
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In April 1936 some of the best craftsmen in the world handbuilt this automobile. Now in 2018 Steve’s Restorations & Hot Rods of Frankfort, N.Y. had to emulate the work done by these professional craftsmen.
regarded by many as one of the greatest sports cars ever produced! This glamorous piece of art has gone through a full body-off restoration by Steve Hale and his crew from Steve’s Restorations & Hot Rods of Frankfort, NY. Every nut, bolt, piece of wood, and metal has been removed, reworked, and then restored. In April 1936 some of the best craftsmen in the world handbuilt this automobile. Now in 2018 Steve’s crew had to emulate the work done by these professional craftsmen. Pete Wilcox, Metal Fabricator did numerous repairs to the wood and metal to get it back to original. Steve’s brother Keith along with Frank Frazzita and brother-in-law Anthony Manfredo are body refinishing experts. Steve does the paintwork and is involved with all aspects of the restoration including overseeing the whole project. For the amount of meticulous work that needed to be done, these men demonstrated to be fine craftsmen in their own right. No chemicals were used on this car, hence crushed glass was used during the media blasting process along with the entire body being hand sanded. It took over 2,500 hours by these refinishing experts to recreate the exact body dimensions and impressive lines that the French sculptors originally formed. Steve and his crew used all top of the line PPG and Norton abrasive materials from body hand sanding to primer and paint materials to complete the job. These automobiles were handbuilt using ash hardwood as an inside frame which was then surrounded by aluminum 36 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE
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panels then a steel body structure outside. Steve and his crew preserved as much of the original ash hardwood as possible. When needed, they in-shop handbuilt from scratch pieces to original specifications to complete the job. Many of the original pieces were taken apart, reworked, straightened, then put back together with epoxy to preserve as much as the original 1936 work as possible. A typical restoration like this would take the average restorer two plus years to complete. Steve’s crew understood the commitment involved to finish this particular restoration in under a six-month time frame for the upcoming 2018 show circuit season. Anticipation of showing this handcrafted beauty greatly increased the time to make every line, every contour and every exterior and interior detail to perfection. A Central New York collector purchased this particular car twelve years ago. Even though this car was in show
condition, signs of an older restoration were present. This collector decided he would like to bring this fine classic automobile up to world class standards. Steve’s Restorations and Hot Rods of Frankfort, NY was chosen for this very difficult and challenging task. The final result is nothing short of perfection, beauty, and world class craftsmanship. During a rare appearance, this 1936 Bugatti 57 Atalante will be available for your viewing at this year’s Syracuse Nationals held at the NYS Fairgrounds July 20-22nd. Next, this classic beauty is heading to the 40th Concours d’Elegance, a world class event held in Plymouth, Michigan July 27th-29th. In keeping with tradition of showcasing classic, rare, and magnificent automobiles, the Concours d’Elegance car selection committee
continues to invite a unique collection of vehicles to be displayed. In September of this year the American Bugatti Club’s International Rally will be in Saratoga Springs, NY showcasing 80 of the most glamourous Bugatti’s in the world. This Type 57 Bugatti Atalante you see here will fit right in as it is one of the four featured automobiles for this weekend. From the Apex Automotive Magazine crew, we wish the owner good luck in all the upcoming shows. More pictures can be seen on our website.
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A u t o m o t i v e h i s t o r y ///
Frank Stearns in his Stearns in 1903 Endurance Run.
From Devil Wagons to Mud Larks
The 1903 Automobile Endurance Run and the Commemorative Catskill Conquest Pilot Rally Words by ROBERT SELKOWITZ, Director, Historic Automobile Endurance Runs, LLC This is a story of the birth of automobiling and the revolution in road building in New York State in October 1903. After a daunting journey through torrential downpours on dirt roads in the Catskill Mountains and Central New York State, the 125 people in 36 automobiles from 17 American makers of the First Annual Endurance Run of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers demonstrated their pluck when
25 cars completed the 800-mile route from New York City to Pittsburgh. The noisy and smelly early cars frightened horses and people and Sunday drives kept them from church, hence the Devil Wagons tag. Their perseverance through the debacle of the Endurance Run gave the veterans the nickname of the Mud Larks which they proudly carried through later reunions. The 17 makes represented in the 1903 Endurance Run were: Pierce
Arrow, White (steam), Columbia, Locomobile, Packard, Rambler, Pope Toledo, Oldsmobile, Knox, Phelps, Stearns, Northern, Haynes-Apperson, Franklin, Holley, St Louis and Fredonia. In many cases, the builders and design engineers drove their own cars: A. L. Riker in the Locomobile, Percy P. Pierce in the Pierce Stanhope, Frank Stearns in the Stearns, L. J. Phelps in the Phelps, John Wilkinson in the Franklin.
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/// A u t o m o t i v e h i s t o r y
The 1903 route was by ferry from NYC to Weehawken, then up the Hudson Valley to Kingston where a turn west along the Ulster and Delaware turnpike brought them to their first overnight at Pine Hill. A 20-mile section through the valley of the Esopus Creek in the heart of the Ulster County Catskill Mountains featured new crushed local bluestone macadam paving. This was the result of public money bonded for road building through new laws passed in 1898. The New York State Engineer called this section one of the most beautiful drives in the state. It is now State Route 28 and the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway.
125 people in 36 automobiles from 17 American makers participated in the First Annual Endurance Run in 1903. The route was
The second day of the Endurance Run brought the route into Delaware County where the skies opened up to a cold, wind-driven downpour that flooded the old dirt roads with six inches of rain. By the time the route reached the Susquehanna River at Unadilla, ten inches of rain had fallen and flooding was wide-
800 miles, from New York City to Pittsburgh.
White steamer in 1903 Endurance Run at Pine Hill.
Cars parked at Pine Hill for the first overnight.
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Photo credits, this page: Tobe Carey, Willow Mixed Media
Algonquin AACA Club showing at Unadilla House.
1913 Maxwell 40. 2015 Tesla S85, 1923 Ford Model T.
1913 Maxwell 40 at the Ashokan Reservoir.
spread with trains washed out and telegraphs disrupted, yet the automobiles persevered. It was heroic motoring and the 125 people in the run included many journalists who filled the newspapers and magazines of the day with dramatic stories and images. Binghamton, Bath, Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland and Pittsburgh were further stages along the route over a week of driving. There was one woman who took part, Edith Riker, wife of A. L. Riker in the Locomobile, which he designed. Edith was often mentioned in the press and was interviewed by a ride along correspondent of The Automobile and said, “It is glorious, I think, to fly through the country night or day at railroad speed over all sorts of roads.” That expression by Edith Riker is the birth of the experience of automobiling and we still drive at railroad speed! My work on the Catskill Mountains
“It is glorious, I think, to fly through the country night or day at railroad speed over all sorts of roads.” — Edith Riker Scenic Byway led me to the story of the 1903 Endurance Run and I was inspired to create a commemorative event to honor these pioneers of automobiling and the beautiful landscape they traversed. The story of the revolution in road building came as a bonus. It marks the shift from the old colonial labor system with Roadmasters to a money
system of engineers and contracts which allowed for the construction of the vast network of county and state roads we take for granted. The 2nd Annual Catskill Conquest Pilot Rally Commemorating the 1903 Automobile Endurance Run will be held Saturday, September 22, 2018 with the start at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center, 5069 State Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY. Richard Riker, grandson of Edith and A. L. Riker, will be an honored guest at this year's rally. The route will follow 75 miles of the historic Endurance Run across Delaware County to cross the Susquehanna River at Unadilla, with six host checkpoints along the way. This is a non-competitive tour; all vintages are welcome. If you love your car, come and drive it on this route! For information visit www.1903autorun. com, on Facebook: Historic Automobile Endurance Runs. SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 43
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Tech Talk with Spec13 Motorsports
WEIGHT TRANSFER
A
s racecar drivers, we wear many hats and perform a multitude of important jobs. We need to be able to drive the car at the limit safely, be aware of all other drivers and obstacles on the track, monitor the car’s gauges and vitals, and (in the case of most amateur drivers) manage your budget, logistics, vehicle maintenance and repairs etc., all while looking good in a fire suit. While those are all important aspects of being a racecar driver, arguably one of the most important jobs, one that every racecar driver will hone throughout their entire career, is managing weight. No, I don’t mean eating celery every meal the week before a race (though, it can’t hurt); I’m talking about managing weight transfer. Weight transfer is the unavoidable result of forces being applied to the car; be it linear acceleration, a change in direction, or some combination of the two. As forces are applied to the car, weight is transferred between the corners. Weight is a force. In a racecar, changes in speed or direction are the main sources of weight transfer (i.e. force transfer). For instance, let’s say you’re approaching a turn and begin to turn in at a constant speed. As you begin to turn the wheel, the tires apply a force to the road surface to accommodate your requested change in direction. The opposing force applied to the tire by the pavement is translated through the suspension and chassis to the car’s center of gravity. The inertia of the car (explained in greater detail below) resists this change in trajectory, and thus weight is transferred between the tires. How much weight and where it goes depends on the speed, corner radius/steering input, throttle and brake modulation, vehicle dynamics and setup. Now that we’ve laid the groundwork on the basic concept, let’s talk about why weight transfer occurs. There are many physics principals at play here, but there are three main ones I’d like to cover to give you a general idea of how this whole
weight transfer thing plays out. First, is Newton’s first law of motion which reads: a body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in motion tends to stay in motion (and moving in the same direction) unless acted upon by an outside force. For example, your car won’t spontaneously start moving. No, the tires must apply a force to the road surface in order to accelerate the vehicle. This next principal is really just an expansion on Newton’s first law: any acceleration requires an outside force. This also applies to changes in direction (if physicists named car parts, the brakes, throttle and steering wheel would all be called an accelerator). Think about it this way: when you’re driving a car, your trajectory can (more or less) be represented in a 2-dimensional plane (unless of course you’re driving at
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Words by MIKE SMITH Photo by MIKE WOELLER at Windshadow Photo Studios
Changes in speed or direction are the main sources of weight transfer. The inertia of the car resists a change in trajectory, and thus weight is transferred between the tires.
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Grip Potential
Tire Grip Potential vs. Vertical Force (weight)
Tire Vertical Load (weight)
Weight transfer's effect on tire contact
Photo by Nick Schleitwiler, Redline Photo
Watkins Glen!). The ‘Y’ axis represents your forward and backward motion, and the ‘X’ axis represents your left and right motion. If you’re just traveling straight along the ‘Y’ axis at a constant speed, there is no component of the vehicle’s velocity in the ‘X’ axis. But then, let’s say you decide to start turning the wheel to the right while maintaining the same speed. This will begin to ACCELERATE the vehicle along the ‘X’ axis and DECELERATE it along the ‘Y’ axis. While your speed has not changed, a force was still required to accelerate the vehicle in a different direction. This is referred to as angular acceleration.
Angular Acceleration Y axis X axis Y axis
Resultant (instantaneous trajectory)
The final principal I’d like to discuss is Newton’s third law of motion which reads: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. A perfect example is the interaction between a tire and pavement. When you hit the throttle, the tire exerts a force on the pavement, and the pavement reciprocates this force back to the tire. And since the car has significantly less mass than the pavement (except of course in the case of the Dodge Hellcat), the force applied to the tires by the road propels the car forward. So why does this matter? So what if the car transfers weight (force) between its corners? Some tires will have more weight on them, and others will have less weight on them, but the overall grip should be the same, right? Nope. It’s not that simple! A tire’s interaction with the road surface is fairly intricate. Without going off on a tangent about friction coefficients, cohesion/adhesion and hysteresis, I will just say that the relationship between load and traction is not linear. As you apply more weight to a tire, its grip potential per unit of weight decreases. Ross Bentley described it best in his book, Ultimate
Speed Secrets: imagine each tire has 10 grip units available to it (40 total units). When you make a left turn, the weight is transferred to the right, thus increasing the right-side tires grip units to 12, but now the left side tires only have 7 grip units. This only equals 38 grip units, which shows that maintaining a vehicle’s balance will maximize the tire’s grip potential.
Weight Transfer's Effect on Tire Contact Patch
Front
Front
Vehicle at Rest
Heavy Braking
Front
Front
Hard Right Turn
Hard Left Turn
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Now that we understand what causes weight transfer and what corners the weight will transfer to in certain scenarios, let’s talk about how to use this knowledge in a practical sense. In general, for long sweeping, high speed turns, maintaining optimal balance is the key. For these types of turns, smooth progressive inputs, with an emphasis on releasing the brakes smoothly, is generally the correct approach. Popping off the brakes too fast upon turn in will greatly reduce the amount of front end grip because it transfers weight off the front tires. For tight, low speed turns, rotation is typically the name of the game. For these turns, late trail braking (braking that persists after turn in) can help rotate the car and point it towards the apex, allowing you to get to full throttle sooner. If you find that after turn in, you’re not quite pointing at the apex, you can actually use the throttle to adjust your yaw. If the car is at the limit, lifting off the throttle slightly will transfer weight to the front, thus
causing the car to rotate (or oversteer) and turn in harder. Feeding in some throttle will transfer weight to the rear, thus causing the car to understeer and push out. Practicing these techniques is essential as you need to be able to judge the grip available to you in the moment in order to make corrections to your line. Ultimately, you want to get to the point where these concepts are simply muscle memory, and you don’t need to think about it or make conscious decisions. At first, it will be a helpful exercise to do a mental down-
Photos this page by Mike Woeller at Windshadow Photo Studios
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load session at the end of each on-track session. Just take a few minutes to sit down and think about problem turns, and try to figure out how you can use the principles above to improve the car’s attitude through those turns. Do this before you click “buy now” on a set of Penske coilovers. You’ll ultimately become a better driver and your wallet will thank you!! If you have any questions about this or other topics, please message us on our Spec13 Motorsports Facebook or Instagram page, or write us an email at Spec13Motorsports@gmail.com.
SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 49
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LaFayette
Words by JOHN ZACHARY Photos by JOHN ZACHARY AND TONY GODDARD
Motorsports Park
Around this area LaFayette, NY is known for its annual Apple Festival in October, but in the racing world this nice town is known for its Go-Kart track. LaFay-
ette Motorsports Park was built in 1959, and has been a staple in the asphalt karting world in Central New York ever since. Tony Goddard “A former kart racer from the UK and a huge F1 fan” purchased the track in 2017 after selling his business in Buffalo, NY. Tony and his family have a passion for racing and are huge F1 fans. Tony’s youngest son Matthew (19) comTony Goddard petes as a driver, and
is excited about promoting the family’s new venture as an ambassador for the track. Tony and his family are up to the challenge of building the LaFayette Motorsports Park into a successful business for when he retires in a few years. “This track has always been popular with its configuration and elevation
changes, so my wife Tina and I decided to bite the bullet and repave the entire track along with widening the narrow sections, and put in new curbs along the corners”. Now the narrowest sections are 24’ wide, six feet wider then when they bought it. Particular attention was paid to the transition from the front straight to the main straightaway. They milled down the old transition and put down three elevations of paving equaling nine inches of pavement. This also help create banking into the adjacent turn. The track’s smoothness will give the drivers better comfort and kart control while racing. “We have named most of our turns after similar look and feel turns from some of the most famous Formula 1 tracks around the world. Aptly, the run from the front straight to the main straight has been named Eau Rouge after Spa in Belgium, you can hit it hard and flat and get a fast launch into the main straight,” said Tony. For the 2018 race season LaFayette Motorsports Park has eight points series races, as well as a large money race in mid-July. The first week in October they are planning on having a race during the Apple Festival. Tony is also happy to announce that they will be hosting round #2 of the newly formed New York Karting Championship. Supermoto East Coast and SCCA events are also on the schedule for 2018. Along with a full race schedule, LaFayette Motorsports Park has also added Arrive & Drive race karts. These Italian made Birel karts have a 250cc Honda engine on them for adults and they also have kids karts for the younger racers out there. You can rent these karts for a few hours at a very affordable price. Now this sounds like fun. If that sounds cool, listen to this. You can now rent fully race ready karts for all classes. If you have always wanted to race, this is good to get your feet wet.
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Karts are available for all ages from five and up. Karting is one of the most cost effective ways to get into racing. For $2,000 you can get a good used kart and be out on the track racing wheel to wheel just like the big dogs. Most of the stars we see on TV started their racing careers in Go-Karts. In addition to the major track improvements, the Goddard’s have made a number of other additions including a state of the art timing and scoring system, the same system used at the Indy 500, registration booth, and a ladies’ bathroom. “In the future, we will be adding a new weigh station to weigh karts more efficiently after races. Striping the track and painting the curbs, etc. We are also continuing to increase the size of our pit area so we are once again able to handle some of the larger race events needing bigger pitting areas,” said Tony. They have also added a 1/10th mile
Track resurfacing
asphalt oval to the track with plans to add an oval track in the future. There are also plans to add lights to not only the oval track, but the entire road course so they can host night races on occasion and also for the Arrive and Drive
program. “The track is back, bigger and better than ever. Folks should come out and jump in one of our Arrive and Drive karts and try it for themselves, they will be quickly hooked,” said Tony.
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Distinctive Street Rods Words by BOB SBLENDORIO | Photos by THOMAS SBLENDORIO
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Spoken softly, “I always wanted to do stuff better,” says a talented and unassuming Dave Edgerton. He has talent that most people can only dream about or strive for throughout a lifetime of trying…the restoration work is that good. SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 53
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Touring inside the Distinctive Street Rods shop, it was very interesting to see the range of work that gets done. The work includes restorations of all kinds, and always at least one fullblown car build from the ground-up. When I inquired about the scope of work completed by the shop, Dave said he does everything except upholstery, which then includes: chassis and body panel fabrication, chopping and channeling, mechanical including engines, transmission and drivetrains, dashes and consoles, paint, wiring…which is pretty much everything.
Early Years Dave got started locally working in his brother’s auto body shop doing “wholesale work,” meaning body and paint work, primarily for car dealerships. He developed the skills needed and learned the business of doing auto body work. After a while, he wanted to do something different and decided to take a job at a shop in Western Massachusetts. The shop owner was known as the best in Western Massachusetts and Dave learned a lot from him. Always looking to do more and to be in control of the type of work, he decided to move to Connecticut and open his own shop, which was known as Edgerton Classics. At that time, Dave specialized in doing paint work on Corvettes and Mercedes Benz. Over time, the work evolved into full-blown restorations on Packards, Duesenbergs, and
many other older makes. In Connecticut, the business was well established and well known for quality work. Dave explained that in 1996, “I moved back home to be with my family. It didn’t matter where I lived.” With the business well established, physical location was not that important; he knew the work would come to him. Besides, the cost-of-living was so much less in Upstate New York, another great incentive to move back home from Connecticut.
Distinctive Street Rods Distinctive Street Rods is located in Camden, NY and the customers come from as far away as Texas and all points in between, including many from Upstate New York. Dave explained that the shop always has at least one full-blown build and a variety of other work, as witnessed on the day of our visit. In the shop there were cars in various stages of work, everything from a wiring job, to building a new chassis, body panel fabrication, paint work and
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a bunch of other specialty stuff. With only one employee — and the phone constantly ringing — how is all this possible? The answer is: I have no idea, but it’s impressive. Dave said he does very little advertising and the business is mostly all wordof-mouth. He occasionally attends some of the national car shows, like Goodguys and the National Street Rod Association events. He is also a dealer for Jack Roush parts, but because the
parts are very expensive, they are only used for the more high-end builds.
Final thoughts “My family is pretty important to me, so I’m pretty much a 9-5 guy here in the shop,” Dave explained. To relax and unwind, he purchased a ’67 Cutlass Convertible for his 14-year-old son that they are restoring together. He also likes to go to the local dirt tracks, and when time permits, he also
enjoys watching drag racing events. This may not be a surprise, but he also enjoys going to as many car shows as possible. Distinctive Street Rods operates out of a fairly unassuming shop, but has almost unlimited capabilities to build some of the nicest hot rods, pro-touring, and anything else. “I like building really nice hot rods, trying to build as best as I possibly can,”…and boy it really shows. SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 55
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/// t e c h H o w -t o
Tech article brought to you by Morrisville State College Automotive Program
In the shop with Mr. A
KEEPING COOL
Words and photos by RON ALEXANDER
Okay, so it’s time to make that snowflake button on the dash do something. You have a major choice, fix it or replace it.
I
If you are like me there is nothing you enjoy more than the first time you can hang your elbow out the window, turn up the tunes or just enjoy the tones from the pipes as you ride around in your pride and joy. But at some point during the heat of the summer, you yearn for the coolness of modern air conditioning in your classic car. Making the dash cool is usually one of the lower priorities on the project list, but becomes a priority when your car runs so good and looks so good to blast past your maximum mileage restriction on your classic car insurance policy during the summer months. Okay, so it’s time to make that snowflake button on the dash do something. You have a major choice, fix it or replace it. If you decide to replace it, there are some great companies dedicated to providing all you need to update and replace or restore your existing system. They can even supply you with a kit that will provide you with a complete A/C system from scratch for cars that do not have anything under the dash. In most cases, just getting a belt to spin the compressor is the only major job that you need to worry about, the rest of the instillation is just plumbing and wiring. Hoses can be made with bulk hose and hose ends, crimping can be done by a local parts store or you can buy a hose crimper online for less than $150. Wiring is simple and very well spelled out by kit instructions, not harder than installing a radio. Mounting of the
under-dash unit can be a job, but let’s face it, the pride of doing it yourself will overcome any lower back pain, neck muscle strain, or dislocated elbow. Not really, but that’s what you teenagers are for. In some cases, starting over with a retrofit kit is a better option than trying to get that old system up and running. Some companies have even developed kits that replace the major component, but still utilize the character and controls of your old system, and are just drop in components that work with existing brackets and hardware. No matter the direction you take, the final step will require you to charge it. I would recommend that you seek out a certified professional. I know you
can most likely find a charge kit sitting on a shelf at the local parts store or in the Super Mart auto department, but the proper procedure to charge a system and insure good performance requires you to evacuate the system for a minimum of 35 minutes before charging it. A professional shop can handle this at minimal charge. I would recommend a tracer dye be charged with the proper amount of oil and refrigerate when this is done. Also, avoid the temptation of using a refrigeration sealer, this stuff should remain on the shelf next to the liquid auto repair elixirs, such as head gasket in a bottle, rear main sealer spray, and the trans slip away additive. A quality install or repair should give you good performance and function. Good luck and keep cool.
Seek out a certified professional to charge the A/C unit
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C O M M U N I T Y. R E WA R D S . EXPERIENCE. T H E S E A R E T H E T H I N G S T H AT M A K E C A R B O N E E X T R A - O R D I N A R Y.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? IT MEANS THAT BY CHOOSING CARBONE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN: TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, TO BE REWARDED WITH REAL DOLLARS, TO EXPERIENCE THE CONFIDENCE, POWER, AND RESPECT YOU DESERVE...
EVERY TIME YOU CHOOSE CARBONE. THESE ARE THINGS YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND YOU WON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.
THIS IS CARBONE AND CARBONE IS NO ORDINARY AUTO GROUP.
Learn more about the values of the Carbone Brand. Visit CarboneCars.com/dealership/testimonials
COMMUNITY
APEX_Summer2018-KC-REV.indd 57
R E WA R D S
EXPERIENCE
CARBONECARS.COM 7/13/2018 7:08:39 AM
Lou DeBerardinis, Orlando, FL 1972 Brockway K361TL
August 9-12, 2018 Downtown Cortland, NY
Major Sponsors:
Thursday, August 9, 2018 6:00 p.m. Brockway Ice Cream Cruise-In at Supercream on Rt. 281 in Homer Friday, August 10, 2018 11:00 a.m. “Huskie Drive” starting at Brockway Museum 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wine, Craft Beer & Cider Tasting at CNY Living History Center 6:00-8:00 p.m. Italian Dinner, fundraising dinner at the Brockway Museum (reservations required) 7:30 p.m. Brockway Live Auction 9:30 p.m. Spectacular Fireworks Display Brockway Silent Auction beginning at Noon on Friday and closing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday Saturday, August 11, 2018 8:30 a.m. Parade from Brockway Museum to Main Street, Downtown Cortland 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Trucks parked on Main Street; Brockway exhibit by Host Hotel: Finger Lakes Cortland County Historical Society Inn & Suites 3:00 p.m. Presentation of awards on Main Street (in front of NBT Bank) 3175 Fingerlakes East Dr. Cortland, NY 13045 5:00 p.m. Bob’s BBQ buffet at Brockway Museum (reservations required) 607.756.2233 Sunday, August 12, 2018 8:00-11:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at Brockway Museum (pay at the door) 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fourth Annual South Central NY Chapter of ATCA All-Make Truck Show 607-299-4185 • www.cnylivinghistory.org • info@brockwaytrucks.org • www.brockwaytrucks.org
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3 RIVERS CAR CRUZ-IN
Words and photos by Robert Kenney Jr. The 3 Rivers Car Cruz-In is bringing its own bit of history to the historic Three Rivers Point in the Town of Clay. For the third year in a row, event organizer Gary Schaap has been growing the largest car cruise in Central New York. Every Wednesday night now through mid-September, the normally quiet Three Rivers Point turns into three acres of cars. Cars from fully restored classics to new muscle cars and domestics to imports. Gary said they have even seen as many as 500 cars in a night. With car counts like that, there is something for everyone to see. Food vendors, music, and just an overall great atmosphere make this a great summer's night outing for the family. Proceeds from the 50/50 raffles go to Golisano Children's Hospital. For more information on when live bands will be performing or if there is weather cancellations, visit their website 3riverscruzin.com or check them out on Facebook.
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SPRING CRUISE-IN AT MORRISVILLE STATE COLLEGE Words and photos by guest writer, William Vair, faculty at Morrisville College
This year's Spring Cruise-In hosted by the Morrisville State College Auto Club was unique in many ways. The weekend of the car show started with snow completely covering the ground and parking areas all around the automotive technology facilities at Morrisville State College. This meant that as the show was starting on Saturday morning, the snow was still melting away. By midday the sun was out, the temperature was rising, and the show cars were rolling in at a steady stream. Approximately 100 show vehicles arrived and took part in the show and around 300 spectators enjoyed the show. The DJ kept things lively as the competitions kicked off mid-afternoon. Competitions included low-car-limbo, highest jacked up truck, and best beats from a stereo sound system. Overall it was a great show, the BBQ was hot, the cars were cool, and the sun was shining. We hope that you will save the date and join us for our Fall 2018 Car Show during alumni weekend September 29, 2018. Thank you to Apex magazine for their continued support of Morrisville State College and its Auto Club.
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SEP T
6-9
Come join us and see over 1500 Street Rods, Customs, Classics, Trucks, Street Machines and Muscle Cars on our New Expanded Car Show Grounds Auto Vendors sis Women’s Oa g Contest Kids Colorin 0 Bingo • 50/5 s Prize Raffle ays Daily Giveaw Fireworks “Like” us on
MEET JOE & AMANDA MARTIN from Iron Resurrection
Kids under 12 FREE.
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Spectators $15 per person
Hotline: 518.416.7887 • Show Dates Are The Weekend After Labor Day, Every Year. 7/13/2018 7:09:03 AM
CNY EVENT SCHEDULE
(315) 404-6356 BMPAUTOWORX.COM UTICA, NY
ALL EVENTS LISTED ARE IN NY STATE
SPONSORED BY:
SEE OUR AD ON PG. 60
Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event l Judged Show
Date
Event Name
Venue
City
l
July 15
Street Scene 2018
Long Branch Park
Syracuse
l
l
l
July 18
Finally Ours/CNY Street Rods Cruise Night
Finally Ours
Syracuse
l
July 19
Thursday Night Classic Car Cruise-In
Lysander Town Park
Baldwinsville
l
July 20-22
Syracuse Nationals
NYS Fairgrounds
Syracuse
July 21
6th Annual Car Show & Picnic
Collins Center Town Park
Collins Center
July 21
21st Anniversary Celebration & Classic Car Show Goose Watch Winery
Romulus
l
l
July 21
Frosty Acres 10th Annual Car Show
Not Provided
Schenectady
l
l
July 21
6th Annual Joel Ajavon Memorial Car Show
The Little Speed Shop
Rochester
l
l
July 21–22
International Auto Show & Flea Market
Malone Rec Park
Malone
l
July 21–23
Maximum Power Park 2018
Maximum Power Park
Poland
July 26-29
Nxt Gen Nationals
Not Provided
Lake George
l
July 28
British Motorfest
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
l
July 28
Cars & Coffee Excite Motorsports: July
Excite Motorsports NY
Vestal
July 28
4th Annual Car Show
Hector's Inn
Bethel
l
July 29
Import Face-Off National Car Show and Drag Racing Series 2018
Lebanon Valley Speedway
West Lebanon
l
July 29
J/C Cruise In & Car Show
Unadilla Drive-In
Unadilla
July 29
58th Annual Seaway Festival Car Show
International Bridge
Ogdensburg
l
July 29
25th Vettes at The Beach
Sylvan Beach
Sylvan Beach
l
July 31
CNY Mustang & All For Club Rooftop Concert
Cort-Lanes Bowling Alley
Cortland
August 4
7th Annual American Classic & Muscle Car Show
Longley Dodge Ram
Fulton
l
August 4
Brennan Beach Resort 6th Annual Car Show
Brennan Beach RV Resort
Pulaski
l
August 4
Cayuga County Cruisers
Downtown Port Byron
Port Byron
l
August 4
Herkimer Elks Lodge #1439 Classic Car Show
Myers Park
Herkimer
l
l
August 4
2018 Honor Our Vets Car and Motorcycle Show
Stratton VAMC
Albany
l
l
August 5
2018 Emerson Resort and Spa Car Show
Emerson Resort and Spa
Mt. Tremper
August 5
5th Annual Fleetwood Street Car Show
Maggie Spillane's Ale House
Mount Vernon
l
August 5
7th Jeeps at The Beach
Sylvan Beach
Sylvan Beach
l
August 5
35th Annual Tappet Twirlers Charity Car Show
Lee Town Park
Lee Center
l
August 5
26th Annual Ticonderoga Area Car Show
Ticonderoga Bicentennial Park
Ticonderoga
l
August 7-12
2018 International Thunderbird Club (ITC) Silver Anniversary Convention
Hyatt Place Buffalo/Amherst
Amherst
Ad
l
l
l
65
l
l
l
l l
l l
l
l
l l
l
August 9-12
19th Annual Brockway Truck Show
Downtown
Cortland
l
August 10
3rd Friday Night Cruis'n Car Show
Maplefields Plaza
Plattsburgh
l
August 10
All-American Cruise Night
The Made in America Store
Elma
l
August 11
ATCA Mid Hudson Chapter's 15th Annual Antique Truck Show
Ulster County Fairgrounds
New Paltz
August 11
Cars & Coffee Rochester: August
The Little Speed Shop
Rochester
l
August 11
Cruise Nite
Angelo Canna Town Park
Cairo
l
August 11
Finger Lakes AACA “History on Wheels”
Downtown Auburn
Auburn
August 11
Glen Aubrey Fire Company's 5th Annual CruiseIn, Craft Sale, & BBQ
Glen Aubrey Fire Station 1 Grounds
Glen Aubrey
August 11
Tuners in the Park 4
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
58
l
l l l
This list is to be used as a general guide only. Please research any event before heading out in case dates/locations have changed since time of publication.
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CNY EVENT SCHEDULE
(315) 404-6356 BMPAUTOWORX.COM UTICA, NY
ALL EVENTS LISTED ARE IN NY STATE
SPONSORED BY:
SEE OUR AD ON PG. 60
Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event l Judged Show
Schenectady
l
l
Utica
l
l
Van Bortel Ford
East Rochester
l
15th Annual Salt City VW Show
Oneida Shores County Park
Brewerton
l
August 13
Car Cruise at the Winery
Busted Grapes
Black River
l
August 17-19
STUCK in the MUCK
Adirondack International Speedway
New Bremen
l
August 18
12th Annual Clifton Park Elks Car Show
Clifton Park Elks #2466
Ballston Lake
l
l
August 18
Elbridge Fire Department Third Annual Car Show
Elbridge Fire Station
Elbridge
l
l
August 18
Gathering of Orphan Cars
3633 Loucks Rd at 298
East Syracuse
l
August 18
5th Annual Hilton's Classic Wheels on Main Street Main Street
Hilton
l
August 18
Masonic Care Wings & Wheels Cruise-In
2150 Bleecker St
Utica
August 18
Rally at The Port Car Show and Swap Meet
Weedsport Speedway
Weedsport
August 18
Street Car Takeover New York
Empire Dragway
Leicester
l
August 18
Cars & Coffee Saratoga: August
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
l
August 19
Jaguar Lawn Show
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
l
August 19
Seven Valley Street Rods
Cortlandville Citizens Park
Cortlandville
l
August 25
Adirondack Car Enthusiasts Under the Lights 9
Derby Park
Hudson Falls
l
l
August 25
8th Annual Adirondack Show & Shine Car Show & Adirondack Show & Shine Car Show Road Rally
Wilmington
l
l
August 25
Cars & Coffee Excite Motorsports: August
Excite Motorsports NY
Vestal
August 25
Faith Bible Church Car Show
Faith Bible Church
Oxford
August 26
Shoppingtown Mall Exotic Driving Experience
ShoppingTown Mall
Syracuse
l
August 26
South Butler Drag Races
South Butler Nostalqia Dragway
Savannah
l
August 27-28
NASA NE HPDE
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen
l
September 1
20th Annual Autos on the River - Vintage & Classic Car Show
Cape Vincent Village Green
Cape Vincent
September 1
Car Cruise at the Winery
Busted Grapes
Black River
September 1
Deposit Classic Car Show & Village Cruise
Deposit
l
l
September 1
Olcott Beach 29th Annual Car Show
Olcott Beach
Olcott
l
l
September 2
Fillmore Auto Show & Flea Market
Fillmore Glen State Park
Moravia
l
September 2
Musclepalooza XXVIII
Lebanon Valley Dragway
West Lebanon
l
l
September 3
Weekend Cruisers Presents the Control Tower Cruise-In
September 6-9
30th Annual Adirondack Nationals Car Show
Fort William Henry Hotel
Lake George
l
l
September 6-9
WNY Gas & Steam Engine Association Rally
WNY Gas & Steam Association
Alexander
l
September 7-9
Hillard US Vintage Grand Prix
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen
l
September 8
Cars & Coffee Rochester: September
The Little Speed Shop
Rochester
l
September 9
58th Annual Mohican Model A Ford Club Car Show & Flea Market
Wampsville Fire Department
Canastota
September 14
All-American Cruise Night - September
The Made in America Store
Elma
l
Food Bank of WNY Motorcycle Run & Rally
Newell-Faulkner American Legion Post 880
Eden
l
Hoytoberfest:3rd Annual Ricky Hoyt Memorial Auto Show
Hickory Park
Bergen
August 11
Schenectady Moose Lodge #251 Car Show
August 11
Schuyler's 20th Annual Corn on the Cob Eating Competition and Car Show
August 12
The Perfect Pony All Mustang Car Show 2018
August 12
September 15 September 15
Schenectady Moose Lodge
l l
l l
l
l
40 l
l
Latham 63
l
l
l
This list is to be used as a general guide only. Please research any event before heading out in case dates/locations have changed since time of publication.
APEX_Summer2018-KC-REV.indd 64
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CNY EVENT SCHEDULE ALL EVENTS LISTED ARE IN NY STATE
SPONSORED BY:
(315) 404-6356 BMPAUTOWORX.COM UTICA, NY SEE OUR AD ON PG. 60
Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event l Judged Show
September 15
Cars & Coffee Saratoga: September
Saratoga Automobile Museum
September 15-16 Wings & Wheels in Hammondsport
Hammondsport
l
l
l
l
September 16
Boonville Fall Finale Car Show
Boonville Oneida County Fairgrounds
Boonville
September 16
Racewars NY x Street Scene Vol. II
Esta Safety Park Dragstrip
Cicero
September 21-22 Saratoga Auto Auction 2018
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Springs
September 21-23 10th Annual Dover Drag Strip Nostalgia Drags
Lebanon Valley Dragway
Lebanon Valley
September 22
East Coast Motor Bash
The Schaghticoke Fair
Schaghticoke
September 22
Catskill Conquest Pilot Rally
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
Virgilio's Event Centre
Fulton
September 22-23 Rods & Rockabilly Roundup Car Show September 23
Fonda Speedway Dirt Racing Experience
September 28-30 STUCK in the MUCK
l
Saratoga Springs
l
38 l
l
l l
58 l
l
Fonda Speedway
Fonda
l
Adirondack International Speedway
New Bremen
l
September 29
Fall Cruise-In
Morrisville State College
Morrisville
l
September 30
South Butler Drag Races
South Butler Nostalqia Dragway
Savannah
l
October 6-7
Das Laufwerk Euro Car Show
Hunter Mountain
Hunter
October 7
Clean Culture NY Ballpark Banger
Hudson Valley Renegades
Wappingers Falls
October 12
All-American Cruise Night
The Made in America Store
Elma
l
October 13
Cars & Coffee Rochester: October
The Little Speed Shop
Rochester
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October 20
Cars & Coffee Saratoga: October
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
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October 21
Tire Rack Street Survival
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs
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This list is to be used as a general guide only. Please research any event before heading out in case dates/locations have changed since time of publication.
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/// L o c a l c a r C l u b s
Six Nations Pontiac Club
Words by MIKE MASTRACCO Photos by CLUB
A famous Ottawa Indian Chief named Pontiac has a city, as well as a line of automobiles named after him. The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926. Located in the Central New York area is the Six Nations Chapter of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International. After chatting with President Natalie DiBiase-Eymer, I got the feeling this was a family oriented club. Accepting an invitation to their May meeting it did not take long to become part of this friendly family. Dinner is first on the agenda, then a carefree meeting takes
place to get business taken care of. Club members come from all over the greater CNY area, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Member cars range from the 1930’s to current day rides. Their cars include, but are not limited to Silver Streaks, Chieftains, Trans Ams, Firebirds, and modern day GTO’s and Solstices. As a club, they enjoy taking trips in their cars and using them to go places. Trips such as to the Adirondacks for the day, visiting different museums in NYS, as well as teaming up the Oneida Lake Region of the Antique Car Club of America for a day cruise in the fall.
This year was their 34th Annual Bill Rapp Pontiac & GMC Super Show which is held the second Sunday of each June. Vehicles from all points of NYS along with Canada attend this yearly gathering. As most car clubs use their show as a fundraiser, this Pontiac club is no different. Past charities include: MS Resources of CNY, Clear Path for Veterans, and the VA Hospital just to name a few. If you own or like to own a Pontiac or GMC, this is the club for you. Come visit them at www.cnypontiac.com for more information.
Join today to share your passion for Pontiac, Oakland, and/or GMC Trucks. 66 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE
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New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company
1899 Central Plaza East, Edmeston, New York 13335 • 800-234-6926 • nycm.com
...and for your classic auto Call (607) 965-6099
www.nycmagency.com
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