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room. We could have actually put three people on the back row of seats, comfortably. I swear, Ford needs to start making the Excursion again with the 6.7L Powerstroke motor. They would sell out in a day. Two weeks have flown by. We are leaving in the morning and I have to be back to do Supercar Sunday. I rarely miss a show, but with kids now, I do need to make some time. The show is weekly, so it is hard for me to take time off and we have been doing the show for so long, that even if I tried to cancel it for a day, I think people would still be at the Supercar Sunday location. So how did I take the two Sundays off ? There are people in your life that just make your life better. People that you can count on. People that you can trust. Now, I do give my friends a very hard time. I am annoying. I call at all hours, especially early in the morning, I call my friends names, but, they do the same to me. It makes us all better in some weird way. But, I am very lucky and blessed to have some great friends. I was able to take my vacation because Jesse Kline, of Coastline Motorsports, and Crazy Al, from the Chevy Club, said they would put the show on so I could spend time with my family. Jesse, who works a lot, I mean a lot, also has two young kids and a wife. The guy never rests. But, in any event, he gave me a gift of a couple weekends off and he took time away from his family that I might be able to spend time with mine. Jesse, you are a tremendous friend, thank you so very much. I would also like to acknowledge his wife who always has her hands full with two young boys and I am lucky that our families support each other. Thank you Randi. Then there is Alan Donath, “Crazy Al,” “Big Al,” he has a lot of names. Alan is like a second dad to me. He yells at me, he is mean to me, he has expectations of me and he is a damn good friend. We go a lot of places together and we have a lot of fun. Al is retired and he gets up early anyway...so for him to help, I just have to hear about it every time I see him and he will probably make me buy him lunch a few times and guilt me about how hard he worked putting on the show for me. Alan, thank you too, I can always count on you even if you call me names...the only way I would have it.
It is a day after my 43rd birthday. I am sitting in a small town in Oregon as I write this. The past few years we have taken a trip to see the in-laws around my birthday. It is important that the kids get to see where their mom was raised and to spend time with family. It is very rural where we are and I love it. Quiet, slow paced, no cell reception. A welcomed break. For years I really didn't take any time off. I could easily work all the time. But as I ponder my 43rd birthday, I am in shock that somehow I am forty-three. My old man always said time flies and indeed it does. Now that we have kids, I think it is important to start taking some time off. I want them to see more of the world than I have as well as how people live differently. I really want them to understand people and have a bit of culture. More than their old man for sure. We have chosen to drive to Oregon the last two years. Take in the sights, all of us together in the Excursion, it is a lot of fun. A one-and-a-half year old and a fourand-a-half year old together in a car for almost eight hours each day, incredibly the girls do amazingly well. I think it is the sheer size of the vehicle, allows for a bit more comfort and you don’t feel as confined. I'll stop a few times, but we do the trip in two days. Cut it right down the middle. So far it has worked out really well. My wife and I both drive 2002 Ford Excursion 7.3L 4x4s, his and hers. I recently acquired mine and I have to tell you that for a roadtrip with a family, there is no better vehicle. Hers is stock height, mine is a bit modified. We took hers last year and the truck did great. Mine has a 6 inch lift and sits on 37in tires. Has those big, gnarly redneck bumpers. It is awesome! I must be overcompensating for something. I wasn’t sure which vehicle to drive, but all my friends said to take mine. It is perfect for Oregon and I will fit right in with all the diesel trucks and loggers. My wife wanted to take it too. But, I knew I would be losing a bit of mileage and subsequently driving up the cost of fuel. As a side note, diesel in Oregon is almost $1.40 less than California per gallon. In any event, I opted to take what my kids call the “monster truck.” Why not, let’s travel in style and redneck awesomeness. The drive was great; we made incredible time. The 7.3L Excursion, again, did what it was supposed to do. The truck got a lot of looks and when they saw the California plates they were probably perplexed. Shouldn’t a California guy be driving a Prius or a Tesla? With the truck loaded up and bikes on the back, we still had a ton of
Then there is LAPD Senior Lead Officer Duke Dao who is a regular at Supercar Sunday. To know Duke is to love Duke. He truly cares about his community and he puts his heart and soul into his work. The community loves him and for just cause. He is a solid LAPD officer and in my opinion represents the LAPD in the highest of capacities. I asked Duke if he could swing by as I would not be there and he said he would do his best, and naturally, he did. Thank you SLO Dao, you always do your best and the community is so appreciative and grateful to have you. Of course, there are all of you. I know that in my absence you all would not let anything happen to something that we all love so much. That so many of you, if help was needed, would step up and lend a hand. We have all spent so much time together, it is truly one big wacky car family. I know that all of you would protect that “thing” we do on Sundays in my absence. It is not something I announce, that I am leaving, but, a few of you know and word spreads a bit and I know I left the show in capable, caring, strong hands. Thank you all for coming on Sundays, for being part of the family and for me being able to trust all of you. As I write this, I know I will be back for the next Supercar Sunday. Two weeks has seemed like a month and also like a day. I missed my Sunday routine and I also feel a bit refreshed. With Motor4Toys season around the corner, I need to kick it into high gear as it is our fifteenth anniversary. So, when I get home it is going to be nose to the grindstone and I will be back on Saturday so I can share my Sunday morning with all my friends at Supercar Sunday. To Jesse, Alan, Duke and all of you, thank you. I do love the event and you all have never let me down. See you Sunday. Dustin 5
CONTENTS
Page 8 CONCOURS Rodeo Drive
Page 30 RoadStr APP
Page 10 SUPERSTREET Petersen
Page 31 DETAILING Tips
Page 11 SAN MARINO Classic
Page 32 PORSCHE Effect
Page 12 SHELBY Drive In
Page 34 SUPER Car Sunday
Page 16 REBEL K9 And Cars
Page 35 THUNDERBOLT Hot Rod Jay
Page 18 SINGER WILLIAMS DLS Page 22 LAMBORGHINI Huracan Page 26 LAMBORGHINI Urus Page 28 CARS And Couples Page 29 REAL ESTATE Garage Doors
drivenworld ISSUE 101, AUGUST 2018 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dustin Troyan ART DIRECTOR James R. Stanley Jr. COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan James R. Stanley Jr. DESIGN Connected Media Group STORIES BY STEVE GELDMAN DUSTIN TROYAN GWEN BANTA TORY HERALD STEVE ELLIS DEE DORAZIO ARISSA CAMPBELL CHRIS DORSEY MARISSA DEROSA STEPHEN KNEUBUEHL JAY SANTOS COLIN RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE GELDMAN STEVE ELLIS BIANCA HEINTZ CHRIS DORSEY DEE DORAZIO TED LIGHTHIZER MARISSA DEROSA COLIN RUSSELL
ADVERTISING / MARKETING dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053
www.drivenworld.com
www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com
Driven World Magazine is published twelve times per year by Connected Media Group LLC. It is distributed at upscale locations and events all over California. It is also available online and distributed electronically to highnet-worth individuals as well as members of the car community at large. All rights reserved. Driven World and Supercar Sunday are registered trademarks of Connected Media Group LLC. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or any other materials or advertisements herein may be reproduced without permission of copyright owner. Driven World Magazine and Connected Media Group LLC, do not take responsibility for the claims provided herein. Connected Media Group LLC, Driven World Magazine, and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, and publisher accept no responsibility for the errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. Connected Media Group LLC does not assume liability for any products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers or editorial information.
On the Cover: Singer Willims DLS
Centerfold: Lamborghini
Springfest Car Show 2018
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Rodeo Drive Concours Article & Photos by Steve Geldman, Image Photo Motorsports
What do you think about when you hear the city name, Beverly Hills? Glamour? Glitz? Wealth? For many it’s a unique cultural experience not found most anywhere else in the country. With all the visual to take in, it can be exhilarating being there. When you combine this nirvana with standing on one of the best well known streets in the world, Rodeo Drive, plus the abundance of rare automobiles to view, well, for a car enthusiast that adds up to an incredibly fun experience. The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance traditionally is held every Father’s Day which is closed off to traffic from Wilshire to Santa Monica Boulevards. This years event was special as it marked its 25th Anniversary. To honor this milestone, silver painted automobiles were the focus and in great abundance. Free to the public, this largest annual one-day event in Beverly Hills draws more than 30,000 guests. It’s an opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful and exotic collectable cars in the world as well as catching occasional glimpses of the Hollywood elite, window shop at the high-end retailers and to enjoy the plush restaurants that Beverly Hills has to offer. Let’s begin with Bruce Meyer, the events founder and organizer. Meyer came from humble beginnings, from selling newspapers on a street corner to bussing tables. Saving as much money as he could, he slowly started buying commercial real estate in and around the Beverly Hills area. As his wealth grew, so did his passion for automobiles. First was a Porsche acquisition, then a hot rod. This led him to meeting Robert Petersen, the then publisher of Hot Rod magazine. Their partnership eventually leads to the founding of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Today Meyer has an impressive collection of motorcycles and automobiles, such as his prized 1965 Bizzarrini race car, a past winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Those offering their vehicles for display included private owners as well as local motorsport museums. A couple of famous personalities showing their ‘fine art’ were Axl Rose, band leader of Guns N Roses, with his 2003 Ferrari Enzo and comedian and actor Adam Carolla who displayed his 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT. Museums that graciously exhibited their vehicles included the Mullin Automotive Museum (Oxnard) with the breathtaking ‘one-off ’ 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia as well as a rare 1994 Bugatti EB110 GT SS. The Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles) exhibited their 1953 NashHealey Roadster and a 1956 Continental MKII. The Nethercutt Collection (Los Angeles) had a mint condition 1956 Porsche 356A Coupe on display. I had the pleasure to interview several car enthusiasts who, with their generosity, chose to exhibit their fine automobiles. Sean Bennett of Westlake Village used to watch Miami Vice while growing up and for over the past 30 years his bucket list included owning a Ferrari Testarossa. Three months ago, he finally checked that box off and purchased a silver 1991 model. Since then, he had it shipped to Oregon for restoration, body and engine, and just got it back in time for this event. Tom Watts of Sherman Oaks presented his beautiful mint condition silver and increasingly rare 1963 Split Window Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Mel Stein from Calabasas drove his black/gray1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster to the event. Stein has owned this eye-catching vehicle for the past 12 years. He searched for this model for many years (approximately only 100 were built) throughout the U.S. and eventually found one for sale, of all places, here locally in Thousand Oaks. Stein spent the next 2 years restoring his Auburn. Saving the best for last is Dana Graham from Rancho Palos Verdes. Graham drove his gorgeous silver 1929 Packard 645 Dual Cowl Phaeton by Dietrich to Rodeo Drive. Graham found this non-running, run-down Packard at a car museum in Michigan. This vehicle had its original Packard spark plugs, hood ornament and most all other original parts. Graham totally restored this masterpiece from the wire harnesses’ up. At 5800 pounds and 106 HP, Graham states “It looks good going slow”. Other manufacturers on display included Alfa Romero, Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, DeTomaso, Fiat, Jaguar, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Rolls-Royce, Shelby and Volkswagen ... just to name a few. Mark your calendar for Father’s Day 2019 so you don’t miss this next event. Oh, and be sure to bring your dad!
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Super Street at the Petersen Article and photos by Steve Ellis @GetBTW | Photos by Bianca Heintz @BHeintzAutomotive
*alarm buzzing* ….it is 5 am…. why am I up at 5 am on a Sunday, oh yeah, a morning car meet, but not just any meet, the Petersen Museum’s Japanese Cruise in w/ Super Street. There are a few things that I’m excited to wake up super early for, and that list consist of F1, cars, and the smell bacon cooking when I’m visiting my parents over the holidays. Other than that, I can sleep through Armageddon, but I’m bright eyed and bushy tailed, and on my way to meet up with a group of fellow Japanese car enthusiast. I am a HUGE fan of the highway street racing style that happened in Japan, throughout the early 90s and 2000’s. Do not take this as me condoning street racing as I do not, and I firmly believe that all racing should be done so at the track…or in designated safe environments. I meet my friends on the 405 south, and as we all came together while enroute to our destination, the excitement and childlike happiness was in full effect as well gathered together. Seeing a group of Nissan Skyline GT-Rs, a mint Honda/Acura Integra Type-R, a pavement scraping 240sx, or S14 Silvia to those in the know, and my Nismo Z rolling down the highway, to say the energy was palpable would be an understatement. Throughout the year, the Petersen Museum, host several events at their amazing facility off Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA. Everything from Enzo Ferrari’s birthday gathering, to specific marquee meets, to displaying some of the worlds most sought after, and admired automobiles in the world. However, this event caters to the cars from the land of the rising sun, Japan. From classic automobiles such as the Datsun 240z, 510, and even what is said to possibly be the only Nissan Leopard in the states, to many other cars from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and even Suzuki. Contrary to belief, the Japanese tuning scene has been around for many years prior to Fast and the Furious, this was well represented by the Oldshoolers club, and several beautiful done classic cars that were in attendance. After checking out the full rooftop parking, I ventured inside the museum to drool in awe over what is arguably the best automotive collection on public display that I’ve ever seen. One of the biggest attractions, which fit perfectly with the Japanese event is the current exhibit “The Roots of Monozukuri”. This is a wide collection of several cars that have helped cement the culture of Japanese tuning throughout the world, which has created such diehard racers, tuners, and collectors throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the event as this was the first true gathering that I was able to attend with my new car Chloe. I also finally got around to putting on the vintage RAYS/Nismo wheels on the car, that were previously on my last car. Something about combining the parts from my last car, onto the new to me car, has reenergized my love of cars, even crazier than before. There’s a sense of fulfillment in it all, which reminds me of the early days and experiences with cars. Hanging out with friends, making new friends, all coming together to share out hobby. From all deferent tastes and styles, to even those who wish nothing more than to maintain the car in its stock, and factory tuned trim, there was something for everyone at this event, and looking at the future events, there will be several chances to share these experiences. If you are ever in Los Angeles, and a true automotive enthusiast, or in search of learning about all aspects of the automotive industry, I highly suggest putting the Petersen Museum, at the top of your list.
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San Marino Motor Classic Article by Dee D'Orazio | Photos by Ted Lighthizer & Dee D'Orazio
The atmosphere on early Sunday morning June 10th was filled with the cacophonous engine notes and aromatic exhaust fumes of 350 antique, vintage and classic cars entering picturesque Lacy Park for the start of the 8th Annual San Marino Motor Classic. The chairman and co-founder Aaron Weiss displayed this year’s Design in Motion in a circular fashion around tree-lined Lacy Park under shady eucalyptus and oak trees surrounding the main grassy infield exhibiting early American metal, exotic European and Japanese automotive artwork – Duesenberg, Packard, Cord, Bugatti, Jaguar, Porsche, Citroen, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler were all wellrepresented. But a special presentation in this year’s show was the debut of ten Paul Newman road cars that he piloted over the last 20 years of his life. Everything from Datsuns to a Triumph TR6 to the Porsche 935, he co-drove to win 1st in class and 2nd overall at Le Mans in 1979. The cars were acquired by well-known personality Adam Carolla and staged by Passport Transport who stepped up at the 11th hour to haul the cars to the show gratis. In a closing comment after the presentation, Adam had some words of warning to his car’s admirers: “I just want to say one thing about the 10 Newman cars
here, if I see one goddamn shift knob unscrewed, I will hunt you down and get you”! No doubt here about their value! Nearby that stunning Newman centerpiece at the other end of Lacy Park, you could wind your way through David Lee’s Ferrari collection and see a modified 3.8L V-8 Dino; GTO Engineering’s 250 Testarossa (Replica) and several other outstanding red prancing horses as well as Miura and Countach Lamborghinis and Jaguars! Over the last eight years with the support of the local community, this motor show has raised over $1,600,000 not including this year for several charities such as the Pasadena Humane Society, the USC Marching Band and the San Marino Rotary Foundation. Pebble Beach may have their Concourse d’Elegance but San Marino has its Design in Motion Classic including Chief Judges John Milliken and Ed Gilbertson stewarding a cadre of knowledgeable judges for owners’ cars vying for the 37 or so class awards. There was a plethora of vendor booths to visit, free rides in classic cars, and a food court comprised of 12 gourmet food trucks to satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst. Be sure to be there next year on June 9th, 2019! It’s only $25 and, in my opinion, rivals Pebble Beach without the pomp and circumstance!
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Carroll Shelby Drive In Article by Steve Ellis
As a Texan, I’m proud to say I’m a Texan. When the conversation brings up what is better, Whataburger or IN n Out, believe me when I say it is Whataburger. Don’t even talk to me about BBQ unless you’ve got some time to spare. Texas is the biggest of the contiguous 48 states, it has 85 mph speed limits, Whataburger, avid believers in the 2nd amendment, Chuck Norris lives there, Friday Night Lights, Tex-Mex, Selena, Blue Bell Ice cream, Beyoncé (…shrug), and arguably one of the most iconic people in motorsports, American racing driver, designer, and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. This Texas native has had more input in the automotive industry than you can shake a stick at. Known for the AC Cobra, and for his contributions to the Ford Mustang, saying that Carroll Shelby was a pioneer, is speaking very shortly of his work. On January 27th, 2018 the Petersen Automotive Museum held a tribute gathering to the legend for their Breakfast Drive In. After partaking in the generous morning snacks of assorted bagels, and coffee, I proceeded to take in some of the beautiful, and rare cars that graced the upper level of the Petersen’s parking garage. If you read my previous article, “My G-Ma’s Gift”, in the January issue of Driven World, you would know that I am in the process of learning more about a proper Mustang, and let me assure you, there were plenty of perfect examples on display. From the Shelby Mustangs, to the infamous Cobras, all the way to the Brand New Ford GT, you could clearly see that even though Mr. Carroll Shelby is no longer with us, he is very much still admired and loved amongst those who preserve his visions of what American performance cars were., and by those who dream of driving them.
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Pre-70's Marque
Article & Photos by Steve Geldman, Image Photo Motorsports
It’s unlikely anyone reading this in Driven World magazine would be unfamiliar with Supercar Sunday, so I’ll skip the foreplay and get right down to the journalistic business. Sunday July 8th was ‘Pre-70’s Hotrods’ Marque Day. As usual for So Cal, our beautiful early morning weather drew a good inventory of many types of vehicles. However, on this day, the focus was on the Hotrod’s as they ‘strutted their stuff ’ in the marquee’s assigned parking area. When it comes specifically to the hotrod enthusiast, it appears there is a huge automotive passion. There are those who simply visually embrace hotrods whether it be stock or one highly modified. We are mesmerized by their beauty and appreciate all the detail and labor of love any past and current owner has placed into the vehicle. Then there are the owners themselves who know every square inch of their car, from its front bumper to its rear license plate. They have put their blood, sweat and tears (allow me to add time and money) into getting their baby to where they feel it’s ready for the road and ultimately to exhibit. As the morning sun was starting to heat up the parking lot asphalt, I spoke to several hotrod owners. As a motorsport journalist, fortunately there has never been a time walking up to any car exhibitor who was too shy to talk. First up was Randy Schmitt from La Crescenta. Schmitt brought his strikingly blue 1958 Chevy Apache Pick-Up. Currently up for sale so he can buy and restore another vehicle, this truck has an upgraded transmission, a ’67 Camaro’s Front Clip including a Camaro 350ci engine. Schmitt hopes his next project will be a Chevelle, assuming he can find one that needs restoration. Next is Bill Maropulos from Simi Valley. Maropulos is a three-time former NHRA Competition Eliminator World Champion. He held this ‘three-time’ title for 24 years, up until 2017. His record is currently now tied-up. As in all professional sports, as well as life, nothing is forever. Maropulos drove his maroon colored 1923 Ford T Roadster to Supercar Sunday. This “daily drive” beauty has a LS2 602 HP power plant, built by Maropulos himself, which also includes 500 cfm Holley carbs. Today, Maropulos builds engines for the NASCAR feeder series. Lastly is Bob Tritt from Winnetka. Tritt has been a car guy all his adult life. As an 80th birthday gift, his daughter presented him was this high-gloss black 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe. The previous owner finished this work of art in 1996. This show worthy hotrod sports a chromed out 350ci Chevy engine with its valve covers, spark plug wiring and a few other components accented in a cool purple color. The vehicle also has many electric-add modifications, including the doors and windows. Tritt, a young looking 84-year-old, must surely feel like 24 when driving this eye-catching hotrod. I greatly enjoyed talking with him and admire his continued passion. Supercar Sunday holds about 10-12 Marque Days per year. The next one scheduled is Ferrari on Sunday August 5th which is when you’re likely reading this article. Moving forward, September 2nd showcases the Chevrolet Corvette. Porsche is highlighted on October 7th, TV & Film Cars on November 4th and of course Dustin Troyan’s Motor4Toys annual children’s fundraiser will be on December 2nd. Mark your calendars! If you are new to Supercar Sunday and would like to learn more, please visit: http:// www.supercarsunday.com/about-us/
Rebel Canines & Cars Article & Photos by Colin Russell
Max, a 3-year old Belgian Malanois, walks calmly down the paint aisle in a local hardware store. He is a handsome dog with a unique appearance, not so distant from the breed’s cousin, the German Shepherd. It’s an appearance that gets attention, especially from dog lovers who would love to pet Max, were it not for his “DO NOT PET” vest. See, Max has a job and he is very good at it. As a personal security dog, Max doesn’t go looking for a fight. But, if a direct threat comes his way, Max wins. Max’s younger brother Vilin has a vest, too. His job is to find things… drugs, specifically. These dogs are part of a team in Southern California made up of highly capable dogs that all have jobs. Rebel, a 1-year old Dutch Shepherd finds explosives and doubles as a protection dog like Max, following in the footsteps of one of SoCal’s most legendary Police K-9 assets, Jaris. Affectionately called “Old Man”, the now retired K-9 watches from the sidelines as Rebel, the team’s namesake, continually trains to detect up to 12 odors that would be found in an explosive device. Who would be crazy enough to blow up a 707 horsepower Hellcat? Nobody, of course, but the rear passenger side wheel well is a perfect place to hide a small pouch containing a synthetic training aid that has the odor of dynamite.
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If it were real dynamite, and this Hellcat was parked near the entrance to a crowded concert, Rebel would find it and let his handler know, averting a deadly tragedy that has become all too common in modern times. In fact, Rebel is such an impressive dog, the whole team is named after him. At Rebel Canine Services, even the cars are part of the team. When it’s time to suit up and get to work, Rebel, Max, Vilin, and the newest member of the team, Lola, are loaded up in the back of the Dodge Ram Rebel to be serenaded by the sound of its Flowmaster Super 10 aftermarket exhaust on the way to a job. Where they will go depends on the call. Perhaps it’s a suspicious package in a warehouse or a discreet narcotics sweep at a drug treatment facility. Perhaps a high-profile person doesn’t like the look of being flanked in public by security guards that each look like they could single handedly run a whole prison. It could be that an event organizer wants to be sure that tonight’s celebration is totally safe from a worst-case-scenario like a hidden bomb or active shooter. At Rebel Canine Services, the mission is clear: Train the dogs to make people feel safe from explosives, narcotics, threatening people, or even diabetic shock! That’s right… Joy, a beautiful Labrador, has a job, too. When her mommy, a sixteen-year old girl with very serious diabetes, is experiencing a fluctuation
in her blood sugar that could lead to serious complications, Joy lets her know to test by “pawing” her. Trained by Rebel Canine Services, Joy performs this alert long before state-of-the-art medical equipment in the room does. And she is always right. It’s not all bombs, drugs, and medical at Rebel. Having a “bad dog” at home can turn your life upside down. Countless dogs have come to weekly training sessions with the Rebel Canine Services team to return home completely changed. From basic obedience to advanced obedience (like off-leash training), the mantra at Rebel is that pets get turned into partners. Roxie and Sandy, two huskies, found themselves training with the Rebel team because their family was very frustrated on their daily walks. It felt a lot to the family like the huskies were walking them instead of the other way around. In just one session, the family was shown how to keep their fur-babies in the correct “heel” position, instantly turning family walks into a calm, collected and relaxing activity instead of the daily battle it had been just an hour before. When not working the dogs, this tight group can be found pushing the limits on the highway and setting off car alarms with the HEMI, cruising local car shows, and kicking up dust offroading. The Rebel Canine dogs will often be seen pandering for pets while the team relaxes by the pool, frequently inter-
rupting their efforts by chasing each other around the yard in a group of 6 or 7 strong. But, when the call comes, it’s time to suit up and move. If there’s reason to suspect illegal drugs are being hidden in a home or business, these dogs will find it. Hopefully, the only thing Max will ever have to bite is a bite sleeve during training. Hopefully, the only thing Rebel ever alerts on is the synthetic stuff. But in the real world, you can never be too safe. They train their whole lives for one moment. From turning pets into partners to knowing that the coast is clear for your event or public appearance, these guys do it all. Rebel Canine Services can be reached by phone at (805) 616-6472 or by email at rebel.canine.services@ gmail.com. Training and missions can be followed on social media as well. Follow the action and reach out via direct message: Instagram: @rebelk9services Facebook: /rebelk9 If nothing else, you’ll certainly find yourself in an interesting conversation. Awesome dogs and killer cars…What’s cooler than that?
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Singer-Williams DLS Article by Steve Ellis @GetBTW
When an artist paints a picture, they draw inspiration from all over. The combination of what inspires them, the colors they’ve chosen, each brush stroke all result in the creation of a masterpiece. Rob Dickinson, the founder of Singer Vehicle Design, based right here in Los Angeles, has shown the world his Mona Lisa. From the first reimagined Porsche, built by Singer that I saw, was during an episode of Top Gear. Back when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, were at the helm of the show…you know, back when it was bearable to watch. From those few years, Singer has become a household name, for creating some of the most captivating, and stunning cars to ever grace pavement. And yet, the Singer-Williams DLS, that was revealed to the world at this years Goodwood Festival or Speed, may be the most ravishing car made to date. The lines, the curves, the performance, combined in the most elegant way, this is the Singer DLS. A joint effort between Williams Advanced Engineering, the DLS is built on a 964 911. Packing a 4.0 liter, flat-six-cylinder engine, running to a redline of 9,000 rpms, using dual overhead cams, titanium valves, a redesigned lubrication system, Lighter throttle bodies, and an F1 derived upper and lower fuel injector system, making 500 horsepower, I would say that this was a match made in heaven for this car, and it doesn’t stop there. DLS stands for Dynamics and Lightweight study. A standard 964 911 weighted 3,031 lbs, the DLS tips the scale at 2,180 lbs. That is roughly 850 lbs removed from the chassis, arguably THE best diet better than any Jenny Craig program! The body panels are designed using computational fluid dynamics, like those used in Formula One cars. The drastic weight loss comes in the form of customized carbon fiber body panels, with the air intakes incorporated into the rear quarter windows seamlessly, channeling fresh air down the carbon fiber funnels. To further improve weight distribution, a lighter six speed gearbox, developed by Hewland, which sits further forward in the chassis. Those stylish 18-inch, forged magnesium, centre-lock wheels are provided by none other than BBS. Those feather light wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, sizing 245/35-18 front, and 295/30-18 in the rear. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, along with adjustable damping, Bosch ABS system, traction control/ESP, keep the car in line on both the street and track. The interior of the DLS is just as much a work of art as the exterior. Carbon fiber bucket seats from Recaro, a bespoke carbon fiber Momo steering wheel, paired with exposed magnesium, and titanium linkage, leaves the cockpit with a space like feel. Unfortunately, things have a price, and the staggering price to put a Singer-Williams DLS in your garage come at $1.8 million dollars, but can you really put a price tag on the most bespoke Porsche 911 in the world? Only 75 examples of the DLS will be made, each being assembled at the Williams facility in the UK.
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Huracán Performante Spyder Article by Lamborghini
“The Huracán Performante Spyder takes the zenith of Huracán developments, combined with the enhanced emotion of driving a convertible,” says Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Huracán Performante already provides the most heightened feedback and emotion from road and track, and the Huracán Performante Spyder puts the driver even closer to asphalt and air, as well as the unique resonance of a naturally-aspirated Lamborghini engine.” With its inimitable 5.2 l V10 naturally-aspirated engine, the permanent four-wheel drive Performante Spyder accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.1 seconds, 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 9.3 seconds, and with a top speed of 325 km/h matches its coupé stablemate. Braking from 100-0 km/h is mastered in 31.5 m. Like the Performante coupé, the Spyder outputs 640 hp (470 kW) at 8,000 rpm, producing 600 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, and with more than 70% of torque already available at 1,000 rpm. With a total dry weight of just 1,507 kg, the Spyder returns a weight-to-power ratio of 2.35 kg/hp, with weight distribution front/rear of 43/57%. Design and engineering technology in exhilarating harmony The inherent design, technology and performance features of the Huracán Performante are as fundamental in the Spyder, thus adding a new dimension of driving pleasure to the supreme driving experience of the Performante. Its open-top design clearly differentiates the Spyder from its coupé counterpart, with roof both open and closed. The Performante design cues of Super Trofeo race cars and performance motorcycles with their naked, open-frame streetfighter characters remind that the Huracán Performante Spyder is a super sports car as capable on the track as the road. For more information on the Huracán Performante Spyder please contact: Dustin Troyan, Lamborghini North Los Angeles Brand Ambassador Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
• Design and engineering delivers sublime combination of performance, driving dynamics and fresh-air exhilaration • Forged carbon fiber technology contributing to 35 kg weight reduction over Huracán Spyder • Naturally aspirated 5.2 l V10 engine with 640 hp at 8,000 rpm • Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and top speed of 325 km/h • The technologies and performance prowess of the Huracán Performante in a Spyder model including active aerodynamics: “Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva” (ALA)
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Lamborghini Urus Article by Lamborghini
"The Lamborghini Urus is a visionary approach based on the infusion of Lamborghini DNA into the most versatile vehicle, the SUV. The Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible, the Super SUV. It is a true Lamborghini in terms of design, performance, driving dynamics and emotion as well as drivable every day in a range of environments," says Stefano Domenicali, Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The Urus fits perfectly within the Lamborghini family as a high performance car. It is the culmination of intensive development and passionate skill to create a new breed of bull: a Super SUV that transcends the boundaries of expectations and opens the door to new possibilities, for both our brand and our customers." The Urus features a 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650 hp (478 kW) at 6,000 rpm, maximum 6,800 rpm, and 850 Nm of maximum torque already at 2,250 rpm. With 162.7 hp/l the Urus claims one of the highest specific power outputs in its class and the best weight-to-power ratio at 3,38 kg/hp. The Urus accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 12,8 seconds and with a top speed of 305 km/h it is the fastest SUV available. Urus: a multi-faceted personality The Lamborghini Urus is as much a luxury SUV as the most powerful, with a super sports car dynamism to be enjoyed by both driver and passengers. Its low-line coupé styling and commanding road position belie the very comfortable ride, higher ground clearance, and luxurious space within together with the latest technologies. The Urus provides easy driving in the city, maximum comfort during long journeys, thrilling super sports car dynamics on the road and track, and versatile off-road abilities in a range of environments. The Lamborghini Urus has a dual personality: it is multi-dimensional. It can be specified to be as sporty or as elegant as the owner wishes, and can equally be used as a daily luxury drive or provide an exhilarating super sports experience. For more information on the Huracán Performante Spyder please contact: Dustin Troyan, Lamborghini North Los Angeles Brand Ambassador Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
• Design, performance, driving dynamics and driving emotion – pure Lamborghini DNA • Suitable for everyday driving in a range of environments • 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine with 650 hp and 850 Nm of torque for maximum performance • Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and top speed 305 km/h • 4WD system with active torque vectoring and fourwheel steering for perfect handling • Carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension and active roll stabilization for maximum safety and comfort • Up to six different driving modes + EGO mode available via 'Tamburo' driving dynamics selector
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Cars & Couples Article & Photos by Marissa DeRosa Campbell
I can’t believe it’s July and all the amazing jam packed fun weeks and weekends we have been fortunate enough to share with beautiful car people and couples over the last month! Doug always says “car people are the best people,” and month by month as we journey along in this world of car enthusiasts together, this absolutely rings true. What I love most about being a car couple is there is ALWAYS an event around the bend. I am finding living this way together keeps our car dreams alive, fresh, sparks massive creativity within, and deeper connections with others. I mean how many times do we hear or have we told ourselves, “Man, that car is my dream!” Or what about the line we hear from so many super people, “This car is a dream I’ve had since I was a teen.” Well, in my humble opinion, the events and the people keep the dreams alive. What’s happening for us as we drift from week to week cruising to different cities along the California Coast is that we’re becoming more inspired to create and live out more of our dreams in the car world. It’s like anything you are passionate about, when you get out there and change it up and are present and grateful for the experience, magic happens. Either the person, the car, the inspiration, the idea, or sometimes just the feeling of self-love living in the moment of surrounding yourself around a bunch of heal and toe drivers and tripping out as you engage in conversation with them, thinking to yourself, “did that really happen?’ So this last month we are grateful for many of those experiences week after week, and realizing how blessed all of us are in California to have so many awesome car events and people right at our fingertips to launch into. We like to fuel our dreams with a combo of neighborhood events, people and cars mixed in with brand new experiences all across California to keep us connected and forever grateful for where we live. We have our favorites which are local and true to us, and part of our immediate car community we love being a part of and the friendships run deep. It’s cool to see those that come from all over the world pop in and enjoy what we have in our own backyard. Keeps us in a constant place of gratitude over this amazing car culture and for where we live. Our Sunday favorites that are local and true to us and part of our immediate community, the Balboa Car Show coined as “The World’s Largest Small Car Show,” which happens every week on Sundays in Orange County, and then of course, the world famous “Super Car Sunday” in Los Angeles. Our favorite once a month car event is hands down, Malibu Wheels & Waves, every second Sunday of the month. In a given month in our journey with cars as a couple, we then like to venture out a little further and explore some new roads. The sprinkle of keeping it fresh in the car world this month have been awesome car enthusiast events invitations to the Highway Earth Car Show in Franklin Canyon Park, and the Steve McQueen Car Show and Commorative Dinner themed from the movie “Bullitt.” We are so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of both. Friendships launched with different people around beautiful, fun, different cars is what it’s all about. Hearing people’s personal journey and how cars are weaved into creating the life of their dreams, steeped in love, creativity and passion and with elements of giving back is what true California Dreaming, Cars & Couples is all about. Life at full throttle is about keeping your dreams alive. Super car enthusiast people get out there and show up in the car world for the experience of it all and for the inspiration. Take the month to get out there and experience a new event, give back or give in. And don’t forget to drive healthy because beautiful cars, couples, people and California is waiting for you.
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Sexy Garage Doors Now Trending Garage door design is a home trend that is worth the attention of every home-owner. Garage doors are easy to update or replace and can give your home a fresh appearance. Yes, the sexy garage door is the hottest accessory in home design. There are many types of door designs currently being offered by garage door specialists: Traditional, Classic, Tuscany, Carriage, Contemporary, etc. So what should one consider when choosing a door? Color and style are of primary importance. Consult with an expert when choosing a style to complement your home. Take photos with you as a reference aid when shopping. The second consideration is Insulation and Energy efficiency, especially for those living in colder climates. Remember to ask about the efficiency rating on each product. Perfect fit is mandatory for proper operation, so be sure to use a professional installation crew. The last consideration is warranty and company. Hire a company with an excellent reputation that offers an all-inclusive warranty. For those of you who would like to refresh your doors without replacing them, check out the decals and magnetic “windows” and fixtures currently on the market. They are not only creative, but also reasonably priced. Updating a garage door can not only increase curb appeal, but it can also add marketability. It’s the newest trend in facelifts.
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Gwen Banta
Tory Herald
RoadStr App
Article & Photos by Stephen Kneubuehl
We’ve all been there. You just purchased your long-awaited car, the one you’ve been dreaming of for years, that one you’ve been saving towards, that you’ve aligned your personal goals towards acquiring. You head to the dealer, or the private seller, or the auction where you’ve purchased it, or maybe the garage where you’ve built it. You take the keys and the excitement builds in your chest as you open the car door and get in. You grasp the steering wheel, turn on the engine, and drive off into the sun. You push it hard, or for some of us, gently care for it and not dare leave a scratch. It’s a moment and feeling you don’t want to let go of. You want to drive that passion forward, share it with friends, and find others who held a similar feeling. But after a few congratulations from friends and some photos shared on Instagram, where do you turn to next? The RoadStr app was built to drive that same passion and level of excitement forward. It creates genuine connections in local communities, bringing new ways of interacting that
aren’t available on other apps or platforms. Spontaneous meetups, events and groups discovery, and high-quality car content come together in one unique place, on a social networking platform built 100% for car enthusiasts with a beautiful and simple design. And best of all, it enables real connections between real people like you and me. One of the most exciting features of the app, called RoadSharing, allows users to share their vehicle and location information in real-time on an integrated map. With a simple notification or a quick glance, users can see whether their friends, fellow group members, or the local RoadStr community are willing to meetup or are going for a drive nearby. Ad-hoc meetups can be created through a simple RoadSharing request process, and more participants can join on the fly. Cruising local routes, meeting club members, or making new friends who share a common passion was never so easy. The map feature is further enhanced with nearby events taking
place in the upcoming days, and with quality local automotive businesses waiting to be discovered. RoadStr raises the standard even further through its high-quality content generated by its users, groups, and businesses, all packaged in an easily discoverable manner through automatic suggestions tailored to your interests and favorite car brands. And it’s all encapsulated in a beautiful, simple, and familiar design. The idea for the app stemmed from the lack of a robust and comprehensive social platform focused on the auto enthusiast community. Currently as auto enthusiasts, we have to visit multiple websites, check out YouTube videos, join chats on various platforms, find events by word-ofmouth, and post on complicated forums often without any local emphasis, making it difficult and time-consuming to follow your favorite auto topics or to meet other enthusiasts. Generic platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer plenty of methods to share, but they lack the depth of features like
groups, events, and spontaneous meetups that bring us together as auto enthusiasts in the real world. “The auto enthusiast community is a very social group”, said Alberto Moreno, Co-Founder and CEO of RoadStr. “The best moments often occur in person, when randomly spotting your favorite car on the street, at local auto shows, or getting a coffee with your local car club” RoadStr is free and was just launched for iPhone and Android devices. You can download the app today and start driving your passion forward. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play: RoadStr – For Car Enthusiasts Website: www.roadstr.io Email: hello@roadstr.io Instagram: @roadstr_app
Detailing Tip - Scratch-Free Wash Article & Photos by Chris Dorsey
Summer detailing tips : It’s the summertime and to cars guys, that means a few things; its time to show off your pride and joy and its time to keep it extra clean for the Sunday cruise and car shows. You can’t show up to a car show in a dirty ride, think of it as the first layer of your car that people look at. No longer are they looking at the amazing paint job, the custom parts, or the price tag, they won’t get past the dirt. Equally important to having a clean car is cleaning the car properly. In some cases, a dirty car is not as bad as a car with tons of paint swirls and scratches. So how do you keep your car clean and at the same time safely remove road grime and dirt? I’ll explain how I do it. I have a saying, there’s a million ways to detail your car correctly, and a million more ways to do it incorrectly. The do’s and don’ts are easy and in most cases are simple changes to the method or product you are using. Let’s start with the wash. Do not use dish soap. It may sound strange but trust me, a lot of people were taught to use dish soap including myself. Dish soap contains chemicals that will oxidize and ruin a cars clear coat, as well as dry out rubber and plastic seals. An automotive soap, foam cannon, or waterless wash is the best product to wash with and can easily be purchased online and locally. Try to look up products online and see what other car guys are saying about it before you purchase something. Personally, I use WashMist from Elite Finish along with Products from Shine Supply here in Ventura, but no matter what product you choose, the process remains relatively the same. Before we get to that though, let’s discuss the other half of washing which is of course drying. With soap and water, or a foam cannon, you need to use a high-quality microfiber towel. Some detailers even go as far as using a lubricant while drying like a wet detailer or spray wax. Do not use cheap towels, towels out of the dirty laundry pile, or a drying chamois. Why? Well no one is perfect, and no environment is perfect. After a car is washed there will be something left over on the paint. Cheap towels and chamois do not pick up small dust or dirt fragments, they roll them over the paint and scratch and they are not soft enough to carefully lift and absorb water carefully without the rough fibers scratching the paint. Now that we have the proper equipment let’s talk technique. Start with what I call the prep wash. First step is to get the larger dirt and contaminants off the surface. Don’t worry about every detail yet. After the initial dirt is off the surface, use the automotive wash soap or foam cannon to remove the rest. With a hand wash with soap, use a highquality mitt. Use the two-bucket method, or in my case, three. One for clean wash mitts, one for wheels and tires, and one to rinse. A grit guard at the bottom of the bucket will go along way to remove contaminants from the mitt. When using waterless wash, use a very high quality micro fiber towel. Now that the surface is clean let’s dig a little deeper. Removing the dirt from places like door jams and engine bays is a good start but you should also “floss” the cracks between body panels and lights. This step will help when doing a final wipe or drying the car. Dry the surface with your high-quality microfiber towel or if using waterless wash, grab a new towel and spray enough to dampen the surface and “buff ” out anything left behind from washing. Another useful tip to keep the body of your car clean will be your tire dressing choice. The super shiny tire look may cost you later. Not only does an oilbased tire shine sling all over the side of your car and attract dirt, it will kill your tire. Oil means that dirt and brake dust will stick to your tire and will make it harder to clean, it will also dehydrate your tire and end up browning it over time. For cleaning windows use an alcohol-based product if you see streaking as well as clean microfibers. Otherwise correct drying techniques should be enough. That sums up the basic steps I use to properly and safely wash a customer’s car. Every detailer and DIYer will have their own processes they have developed, and you will develop your own as well! Things to remember; use high quality, automotive specific products, avoid contaminating your towels and keep your towels clean, for light dust use a waterless wash with specific towels. Dust can scratch as fast as leaning on your car. Hopefully you find these tips useful. Happy Cleaning!
The Porsche Effect - Petersen Article & Photos by Steve Geldman, Image Photo Motorsports
I would hope by now many of you Southern California automotive enthusiasts have had the opportunity to visit the world-famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. To encourage past visitors to return to the same museum, their inventory of historic and present-day items must change allowing each visit to become a new experience. Like how Supercar Sunday hosts their Marque Days, the Petersen showcases a specific auto manufacturer for approximately a one-year run. Two past Petersen marques have been Bugatti and Ferrari, both amazing guests on their history of those brands along with an inventory of cars likely nowhere else on earth sitting at one location at the same time. In addition to automobiles, the museum also hosts an incredible rotating collection of motorcycles. Currently on display at the museum is ‘The Porsche Effect’ running through April 2019. One entire floor (including the basement, there are 4) is dedicated to this iconic brand. In a statement, this is vehicular eye candy to anyone with a passion for fine automobiles. The Porsche Effect is the most comprehensive Porsche exhibit outside of Stuttgart. It highlights a collection of the German’s brands’ street and race cars as well as artifacts and historical documents. It traces the marque’s history in distinctive design, engineering, advertising, partnerships and successful branding. Oh, did I fail to mention all of Porsche’s enviable record of racing triumphs are also detailed? I had the pleasure of having Lee Weidman, a Petersen Docent, showing me around the event floor and pointing things out I otherwise might have overlooked. Several of these incredible vehicles on display include a 1939 Porsche Type 64 60K10. Only 3 were ever built and were to compete in the 1939 Berlin to Rome endurance race but was later cancelled due to the outbreak of the war. Next, we see the FIRST Porsche production model, a 1949 Porsche 356-2 Gmund Coupe. Built using Volkswagen components, this 1.1 liter flat-4 bad boy (at the time) has 40 horses under its rear hood with a top speed of 88 mph. While we’re still drooling, we walk over to a 1986 Porsche 959 Rothmans Desert Racer which sits among an entire wall of iconic race cars. Displayed with the desert dust still adhered to its body, this baby won the 1986 Paris to Dakar Rallye. Besides any marque event that is current, there are also an array of many other motor vehicles to enjoy. A couple of fun examples located in the museums ‘movie star’ section include the Back To The Future’s 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, the lone survivor of 3 used in the trilogy and the Batmobile, used in a movie version to help ward off evil. The general admission not only gets you to view all these amazing Porsche’s, but also two other floors of automotive amazement of many other manufacturers from the late 1800’s to present day, as well as a gift shop and restaurant. Then there is The Vault! This additional 60,000 square feet of basement level floor space contains over 250 cars from around the world and is the ultimate tour experience. At a reasonable $20 up-charge for the Introductory 75 Minute Tour, the $30 granddaddy 120-minute World Tour takes you to another dimension. Both tours are docent-guided where you will see automobiles that will just blow you away as they are described in detail by your guide. The museum’s adult General Admission peaks at $16 and goes down from there depending up your age (Seniors 62+ $13) or student status. The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. For more information and hours open to the public, check out www.petersen.org
HOT ROD JAY
THUNDERBOLT Part 2
“As I roll into the water box, I know she isn’t running right. The idle is rougher then normal, but I press in the line lock button and hit the gas. The engine lets out a roar and the rear slicks spin as smoke begins to fill the air. In the corner of my eye I can see smoke coming out from the side of the intake manifold. This isn’t normal, but I’m fully committed and I lift off the gas and slowly roll into the staging lights. As all drag racers know, each time down the drag strip is a crapshoot. You can have your car set up perfectly, but for whatever reasons, things can go wrong quickly. I bump into the pre-stage light and hit the switch for the two-step. I bump in again into the staging light and smash my gas pedal to the floor. As the last amber bulb lights, I launch forward and fly down the track. But as I reach half-track, a huge plume of smoke comes from out of the intake manifold. In slow motion, I see the oil filler cap shoot up around a hundred feet in the air in front of me. I lift off the gas pedal and shut her down”. If you regularly read my articles, then you would remember reading the beginning paragraph. It was the last pass I made last season at the drag strip before I literally melted two pistons. Also, if you’re a regular attendee of SuperCar Sunday and actually know who I am and are familiar with my drag car “30 Rat”, then you would also know you haven’t seen it there for the last 6 months. In my last article, I shared how my mechanical skills and troubleshooting began nearly 36 years ago. This article is about where it’s taken me. When I finally got the “30 Rat” into my garage after the drag strip disaster, I knew that the engine had some pretty severe damage. It was running very rough, but I was able to drive it in. Over the next few days, I began to go through my troubleshooting checklist to see exactly what had happened. There was oil leaking severely from one of the head gaskets. I unscrewed the radiator cap and noticed the coolant level was low as well. Immediately, I knew it was leaking internally into the oil. Sure enough, when I drained the oil from the oil pan, it looked like a milkshake! Ok I figured that out, now it’s time to check compression in each cylinder to see if I have some dead cylinders. Well sure enough, cylinder numbers two and four had no compression. Great I thought, time to tear her down and build a new motor. As I started the tear down, the damage started to show itself. The driver side head gasket was blown, and there were two melted pistons with one of them having a broken ring landing! Now I’m sure your asking yourself, “How did this happen?” Well, actually it’s simple. I was running Hyper pistons that I knew could only handle 3 pounds of boost. I was pushing 6 pounds because I couldn’t leave well enough alone. The air fuel ratio went lean as well…BOOM! Rest assured, with this new motor, I would build it specifically for a supercharger. Now a lot of people would simply look through a catalog and plop down some cash for a new motor. But of course not me. I actually enjoy the technical process that it takes to put together a race engine. Everything has to work perfectly together - the materials used, tolerances, rpm ranges, cam specs, piston configuration, compression ratio, gearing, tire size, application, boost level etc… Once I finished my research and planning, I ordered my custom parts and had my friend who owns a machine shop, find me a new engine block. After two very long months, I had everything ready for me to begin assembly. All the parts were already measured for tolerance, and the cam bearings were installed. Once again, let me say that I really enjoy the assembly process. It’s completely fascinating to me that way back in 1872; George Brayton invented the first commercial liquid based combustion engine… Genius!!! For the most part over the next week, everything went smoothly and quickly with the engine build. I used ARP bolts exclusively on all critical parts. The most time consuming was the beloved process of gapping the rings. Once I finished the bottom assembly, I rotated the engine stand and finished the top end. Everything was looking great and the new engine was ready to be put back in the rat rod. The drive train was reattached as well as oil and coolant in the motor and radiator. At the end of that long final afternoon, I decided to wait until the next day to see if I could fire her up. The next morning when I entered the garage, I did a quick visual of the completed motor. As I looked under the vehicle, my heart stopped as I noticed that some coolant had puddle on the ground below the rear of the engine. Upon further examination, I could clearly see that the coolant was leaking between the cylinder head and engine block. I checked the other side and the head gasket was leaking as well. This was definitely not good. Unfortunately this meant only one thing, I had to pull the cylinder heads back off. Once I removed the intake and valve train, I was able to pull the cylinder heads from the engine block. I did an inspection of the surfaces of the gaskets, heads and engine block. Everything looked good so I suspected that the metal Cosmetic head gaskets that I’d decided to use might not be sealing properly. They require a perfectly flat and smooth surface. In case there was an issue there, I decided to use some Ultra Seal gaskets that I’ve used before that are more forgiving to surface smoothness. I cleaned all the surfaces and reinstalled the cylinder heads with ARP bolts that I’ve used multiple times before. Next, I installed the intake manifold and refilled the radiator with coolant. With another long day and night done, I decided again to call it a night and wait until the next day to see if I still had leaks. The next day was Sunday so you know what that means, “SuperCar Sunday”! That morning, I didn’t go in the garage. I wanted to wait until I returned from the car show to check out my work. Once I returned back home, with confidence, I opened up the garage door and stepped in. I grabbed my flashlight and knelt down under the front of the rat rod. Once again to my horror, there was coolant leaking from between the cylinder heads and engine block… WTF!! Over the past 3 decades, I’ve built and worked on countless motors and have never had this problem. Well, all of you know what was next. I had to pull the heads off again. I took a few days off to really think about what was going on here. I get very obsessive when it comes to troubleshooting; I have to figure it out. For reassurance, I bought a new digital torque wrench and straight edge to insure that all the surfaces were flat and that the heads were getting the proper torque that was required. I re-cleaned the head bolt holes/threads also. I noticed after a quick check with a straightedge and flashlight that the cylinder heads had a slight variance of flatness. I decided to take the heads to my friend’s machine shop so they could check the flatness and mill them if needed. Sure enough, they cleaned the surfaces up slightly and brought them back to flat. Once I picked them up, I was back in my garage cleaning them up and reinstalling the heads with new gaskets (again) on the motor. This time, I left the intake manifold off just in case I had another leak. If your keeping track, this would be attempt number 3. As I poured coolant back in the radiator and allowed it to fill up the engine block, I had complete confidence that this time would be golden… wrong! Once again, I looked under the rat rod and coolant was weeping at the same spots as before. Ok, what am I overlooking? In less time that you could read this article, I had the coolant drained and both heads off ! I pulled the gaskets off and took my time inspecting them just as I’ve done previously. I noticed that on both of them, I could clearly see that there were areas the gaskets weren’t sealing. Hmmmm I thought. I know all the surfaces are flat and the surfaces are clean. I have a new torque wrench so that’s not an issue. I’ve tried two different types of gasket materials but to the same effect. This was puzzling. I took a break, went inside the house and did a little research on the Internet. Now I know that ARP head bolts can be reused and are not known to stretch. They have a 200,000-PSI strength. For those of you that don’t know, some head bolts are what you call “Torque to Yield” which simply means when you torque them down they actually stretch slightly which results in their clamping force. These are one time use only. With all this info, I decided to collect all the head bolts and line them up 34
vertically on a flat surface. I grabbed my straight edge and carefully laid it across the top of the bolts. Bingo! As I carefully looked at all of them, I could visually see that some of the head bolts were taller than the others. I confirmed this by measuring them all. Some of them stretched! This is why the head gaskets weren’t sealing. Some of the bolts were bottoming out before the others, which ultimately left tiny gaps. I grabbed my phone and ordered a new set of ARP head bolts and headed inside the house. Four days later, the package of head bolts finally arrived. You can reuse Cosmetic head gaskets, so that’s exactly what I did. This is great, because they’re very expensive as well as being the best ones you can buy. I once again cleaned all the surfaces and sprayed the head gaskets with Copper Seal for added insurance. After coating the head bolt threads with Ultra Torque Assembly Lube, I used the torque wrench to install the bolts to spec. Everything looked good and I was ready to add coolant back in the radiator. As I slowly poured it in, I still had my doubts if the gaskets were going to seal. Once the level was full, I took a break and headed back inside the house. I waited for 15 minutes before venturing back in the garage. With a concerned eye, I looked under the rat rod for any signs of coolant. To my delight, the concrete was dry as well as the seam between the engine block and cylinder heads! Now remember this, there was still no pressure in the cooling system. I hadn’t fired up the engine, so I wasn’t out of the dark woods yet. I was still very confident that I figured out the problem. By the end of the next day I had the motor completely together and ready to fire. As all engine builders know, you can’t let out your breath until it actually runs. You just never know what will happen. Simple problems can arise just as quickly as complete disasters. I asked my sister Jody, who just happens to be a professional photographer, if she could come out and video the first start up. As I opened up the car door, I was a little apprehensive sliding down into the driver's seat. It had been half a year since I sat there, and that last time it didn’t turn out to well. I had already primed the oiling system, so before I turned the fuel pump on I hit the starter button for a few seconds to lubricate everything. Now, it was time to see if she would fire up. I hit the fuel pump switch and waited for the fuel pressure to build. Then with a little excitement, I pushed in the starter button and immediately the engine fired! My sister let out a yell of excitement and I let out a long sigh of relief. After running it for a few minutes, I shut the engine down and got out of the car to check for leaks. Everything was dry, so I started her back up and took her out on the street so I can seat all the rings…success! When you’ve been involved in the car community as well as being a complete
gear head for decades, you meet countless people that help shape your skills and abilities. Some may come and go, others will continue to teach you. My High School auto-shop teacher made a valuable impression on me that I still carry today. During the first week of class, he explained to us why and how he received the burns that covered his lower face and neck. It was a simple but foolish mistake he made when he himself was a teenager. He was driving his car one day and it began to start running hot. He pulled over and noticed a bunch of steam coming out from under the engine hood. Like any curious teenager, he opened the hood and saw that the radiator was bubbling over out of the radiator cap. Not thinking, he grabbed a towel and unscrewed the radiator cap to relieve all the pressure. The coolant exploded out of the radiator and covered the bottom of his face and his neck. If some of you aren’t aware of this, coolant has the ability to absorb heat longer at higher temperatures without boiling. This means very hot liquid! He was very lucky that it didn’t spray into his eyes, because he surely wouldn’t be teaching my auto shop class. I think of his story often, and how he explained the importance of thinking first before you do something. I’m by no means perfect, and make mistakes often. But, I always try to step back and look at the big picture when I’m faced with a problem or troubleshooting. The head bolt fiasco was a perfect example of stepping back and looking at the big picture. Although I did think of buying new head bolts when I was planning the engine build, I didn’t. I believed from what I had read that they would be fine. I’m still not 100% sure why they did stretch, and probably will contact ARP and send them back to them. Luckily, they stand behind their products and will replace them. I’m just happy that I thought logically when troubleshooting the problem, which ultimately gave me a solution. If my auto shop teacher was still around and witnessed what I went through, he might say “Why didn’t you just buy new head bolts?” Then again, maybe he would be happy that I figured it out and just say, “Nice job Santos!” - Hot Rod Jay Santos
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Lavaggio For more information, call Lydia Derian at 818.584.3240 and visit www.lavaggio.net 37
Price: $23,500
FOR SALE
1997 FORD F-250 4x4, 460 Big Block, custom stereo, Alarm, sun roof, Line-X bed, Cam, Hedders, Borla Exhuast. Registered and ready to go! For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup. com
FOR SALE
1996 FORD MUSTANG COBRA #1205 1996 Ford Mustang Cobra #1205 with Mystic Paint. This Cobra is a single owner car owned by a Ford Collector. With 20,829 Original Miles, this is the rare opportunity to own an “unmolested” Cobra. The vehicle is fully documented, clean Carfax and all original. All servicing has been done at the dealer. This rare cobra is ready to go into your collection. Contact: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com for more info. FOR SALE
Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: Contact for Pricing Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $55,000
1989 PONTIAC TRANS AM If you're a fan of Pontiac, then you know how special this car is. Besides it being a limited production Trans Am GTA, it's fully loaded and completly stock. It has never been registered, and rarely driven with only 740 original miles on it. This 80's icon will only increase in value, and it a piece of Pontiac history. For more information please contact dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $35,000
1930 FORD COUPE Out of the Harrah’s Collection. This is a stunning 1930 Coupe. Owned for 40 years after purchased from Harrah’s. Ruble Seat, All steel, All original. Needs the interior to be finished. For more info: dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
1970 FORD MUSTANG MACH 1 1970 Ford Mustang Mach1 This car is a 351 Cleveland, with an Automatic transmission. All options including air conditioning. This car is a show car quality, has been featured in magazines and is ready to drive cross country. The car has had the same owner for over over 20 years and is collector owned. Asking $65,000.00 For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
1954 Chevy Sedan Delivery 6 cyl. Registered, Running and ready to go. Restoration is 85% done, needs interior work to finish. A very nice example. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
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Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $65,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $32,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: Contact for Pricing
FOR SALE
1988 PORSCHE 928 S4 1988 Porsche 928 S4 Barn Find Original Owner! What a find! Local to Southern California, this is an original owner 1988 Porsche 928 S4. This Porsche is extremely well kept with just over 52,000 original miles. Only having had one owner in its lifetime the record keeping of this car is mostly complete and the sale comes with years of maintenance records and documentation of the car. Collector owned, this Porsche was always kept in pristine condition. Only driven on the weekend, this is Porsche is owned by the type of person you want to buy a Porsche from. This 928 is accident free and has never had any body or paint repair in its lifetime. The exterior of the Porsche is in wonderful condition. All light assemblies are complete and intact. The front spoiler, vinyl hatch trim, and rear bumper guards are excellent. All glass is clear without any scratches. This Porsche is all original. Yes, All original. The interior is in excellent condition. Ready for your PCA run or out do dinner, this Porsche is as new as an unrestored car can get. The leather seats show no wear and the carpets look showroom. The 928 has the distinction of being Porsche’s first production V8 powered model and the only coupÊ powered by a front-mounted V8 engine. The automatic transmission shifts beautifully and is very smooth. The engine sounds great and the car drives as it was designed to. Everything on this Porsche works and the car is ready to drive. If you are looking for a one owner Porsche 928 s4, look no further, this is your unicorn. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
2012 PORSCHE GTS CABRIOLET One owner, 6,700 miles. All options other than ceramic brakes. In perfect condition. Garage kept, only driven on the weekend. NOT a daily driver. This Porsche is in showroom condition For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $75,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $75,000
1932 FORD | V8 3 Speed Manual. All Steel. Running, driving, registered. Not the original motor. Added hydraulic brakes for safety. Rumble seat car. Same owner for 30 years. A great example. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
FOR SALE
1964 1/2 FORD K-CODE MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE 1964 1/2 K-Code Mustang Convertible K-code convertible with a 289 that is Paxton Supercharger installed by Paxton for a Magazine Story. No power-steering, power brakes or power windows. This car is running, registered and is a show car. The car is all original other than the supercharger and is a true K-code. A very rare example indeed. The car has had the same owner for over over 20 years and is collector owned. Asking $65,000.00 For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com FOR SALE
1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 283 cu. in, four barrel, power brakes, power steering, power windows, padded dash. Same owner for over 25 years. A very clean example, running, registered and ready to drive For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com FOR SALE
1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 2-Dr Convertible WideBody 1984 Carrera modified to '97 993 Turbo specs 3.8L, widebody conversion. Very well done Porsche. Two owner Porsche, the second and current owner has owned since 1990. Mileage - 124,000 +. A stunning example.
FOR SALE
Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $65,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $75,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: $130,000 Contact Information:
Dustin@Connectedmediagroup.com
Price: Contact Dustin
2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt For sale, 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt. 13,500 miles. Highland Green. Mint condition. Factory vehicle #2019. All original equipment except factory radio has been replaced by Alpine Navigation/Radio unit priced at $4K. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
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Contact Information:
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