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FROM THE EDITOR A
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L E T T E R
B Y D U S T I N T R OYA N
write about what I know or I think I know. I write about people and things that have affected me in some way. I write about things that I like, about changes that I want to make. I write about people who have inspired or influenced me. I write about what comes to mind, when I am writing. I write in the moment. I write for the now. For me and to get a job done. The start, the middle, the end. A task complete. I wonder if you took my writings and put them all together, what would they all mean? A theme perhaps? An evolution of thought? A progression of a style. I wonder if it will lead to anything in the future. My memoirs, what a grand idea. Most of the time I write about things that happen to me. Like today for example. I had to meet a guy about 6:30am to listen to some of his cars. I source cars for movies and video games and then record the audio of their engines. I have to preview and record each car for clients, send them the videos and then they approve the cars. It is a lot of running around, but fun. So, there we are at his collection at 6:30am. We both have a full work day ahead of us and then some, and what happens? Before we knew it, we had talked for hours. The kind of talk that old friends have. The conversation that is much deeper than the normal conversations during the day. About stuff that really matters, family, friends, health, love, future, children and the importance of being a good person. Hours had gone by. I had so much on my schedule that day. I had my day planned out, but, it was such a wonderful, refreshing conversation... we both knew it was a special moment. No judging, just two friends talking, bearing our souls. Perhaps we both needed it. For some reason, we both trusted in each other the things of which we spoke. Things that might have caused us pain the past and considerations in the future. Was I there to listen to his cars or was I there so we could listen to each other? Words spoken. He has a nice collection. He has done well. From nothing to a bit and he shares what he earns and his passion. He is a good guy. From there I came home and sat at the computer for hours trying to find the right cars to record. Calling, emailing, messaging. I had recorded another friends car and it was approved, but, it is an old car. And one of the ways we record cars is on a Dyno. Using the Dyno that we use, you have to make sure that the hubs of the vehicles will connect to the Dyno. So, I headed back to do my due diligence. This friend too has a lovely collection. Mostly older American cars, a truly great sampling of notable cars. I borrowed his tools and jacked the car up, pulled the rear wheel off and measured the hubs. And, as I was doing all that, we got into another deep conversation, About life. I had stopped writing this last night as it was time to be a father and a husband for a few hours before bedtime. But the events of the day really struck with me. It was as if there was some grander meaning to the day that I had to figure out. What did it all mean? The long conversations the philosophizing. I went to bed wondering if there was a greater meaning to it all. This morning I was at Lavaggio with one of my clients at 7:30am. When I arrived, there was a “car guy,” who was the first customer of the day. We spoke briefly and then later he walked over to me and starting chatting about a family member who was in a bad way and might possibly pass on that day or over the weekend. Again, a very serious topic for so early in the morning. And, a topic that came up multiple times the day before. It was uncanny. We spoke from the heart and I made certain suggestions based off of my own experience and a very similar conversation I had had twenty-four hours earlier. It was almost as if the whole day yesterday was meant for the conversation I had this morning. There was no explanation for it. We spoke and spoke and then the “car guy” had made a decision that he might not otherwise have made. I believe a very important decision that would mean a lot to him. Our lives seem to so consumed with the moment, acquiring things, having meaningless conversations on social media and in twenty-four hours I had had the deepest conversations I have had in a very long time. We are so focused on stuff and things that might seemingly be unimportant if we were lying on our deathbeds. So what is important? I can recall friends, over the years, when we would have philosophical conversations. Hours talking and it seemed like the time was standing still. And over the years, it seems like there is just not enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done, let alone hours of conversation. But, yesterday, those three hours, my collector friend and I shared something. A moment in
time, a thought. Nothing else existed and it made us think and think differently than we normally do. More creatively, more abstractly and it was probably a therapy session for both of us. And there was absolutely no cost, just time. Valuable time. I have realized, and it was through another friend who I consider a mentor, that the most precious commodity that we have is time. My oldest daughter has been taking swim lessons and my mother takes her and my 7 month old to the class. Both my wife and I work. My mom sent me a picture today and I was so sad that I was not there in person. Scarlett had such a huge smile in the pool. I was so proud of her and I missed that moment. I know that we all miss moments, but time. Time is always running and running fast. Philosophical. I have not been philosophical for quite some time. When I was younger, perhaps because I was in school or in nature more, or had more time or paid less attention to politics and the economy, when I was younger, I suppose I was searching for more. For more truth. What did it all mean? What was it all worth. What was I going to make of myself and whom would I become. All this philosophizing and I still don’t have the answer to that one. It was an interesting twenty-four hours. It really has got me thinking that there is so much more to life and that I am not doing my best to seek it out. That I just go on my day to day, rushing around, going to bed late, getting up early. I am having fun, but there has got to be more than driving to clients and typing on a computer and posting things on social media that, well, is it even relevant? I wonder what it is that I am missing, clearly someone is trying to send me a message. Almost like a wake-up call or a snap out of it moment. Time is running out... Tomorrow I am heading to a place called Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. I have been assisting them a bit with marketing. They offer specialized training courses for all levels of athletes. My wife is going with me, for a three hour introductory class. I am very excited as I have wanted to do something like this for years, but never really found the time. I am expecting that it will really take us out of our comfort zone and we will learn something totally new. I am happy about that, I really need to start learning some new things. I think it has been far too long. And the lesson, well it just kind of fell in my lap. Just like the conversations the last twenty four hours ago. As if, again, someone is trying to tell me something. So what is it that the universe is trying to tell me these last few days. That I need to find more meaning out of life? That I am not asking for enough out of life? That I need to open my eyes more and spread my wings and start to fly? Definitely that I need to think more. I probably could read more. I need to search for something greater than my daily routine that in some ways is so routine. The conservation of our lives, the start, the middle and the end, that I had, with three people, we were all wanting a bit more. All of us wanted more time. More time for ourselves, more time being healthy, more time with loved ones and more time doing things we love, with, those we love. And I am writing this because I am trying to figure it out. Those that philosophize say that everything happens for a reason, so what is the reason? It all points to a lesson about time for me. Time is health. Time is friends. Time is love. Time is the past, the now, the future, the dream, the failure. Time is something that we all have, until, we don’t have it. Was that the lesson I and these other gentleman were being taught, that we are not spending our time doing what we are meant to be doing with the people that we should be doing it with? Are we happy where we are at, as we were all at different stages in our lives? As I write this I hear Scarlett talking, my seven month old crying and my wife trying to vacuum the house and be a mom and here I am after a full day of work typing on a computer in my home office. Almost a twelve hour day. I know that we all have to work. I know that I am searching for something. I know that I need more out of life, and I know that time is ticking by faster than ever. And here I am in the home office while my wife juggles the two kids, one crying and this is where the story ends. I love you all, but, I love my family more. Time to go be a dad for the evening....(after I write one more story...I guess the lesson is only half learned). Spend your time well, or it will just be spent.... Dustin 5
CONTENTS
drivenworld ISSUE 87, JULY 2017
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dustin Troyan ART DIRECTOR James R. Stanley Jr. COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group
Page 8 STILL SAVING LIVES LAPD Show Page 12 LAMBORGHINI Centenario
STORIES BY Dustin Troyan James Stanley Doug Campbell Jay Santos Mark Llewellyn Tony DeFrank Ted Lighthizer Gwen Banta Tory Herold Alicia Doyle PHOTOGRAPHY
James Stanley Tony DeFrank Ted Lighthizer Sports Academy
Page 15 CARS & Connections Page 18 OLD & NEW Hot Rod Jay Page 19 MUSCLE BIKES Car Culture Page 20 CENTERFOLD Mustang GT350 Page 22 AIRSTRIP Autocross Page 26 SPORTS Academy Page 32 SEIS DE MAYO Car Show Page 34 LOS ANGELES Roadster Show Page 37 KITCHEN Cosmetic Surgery
ADVERTISING / MARKETING dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053
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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: FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302s Photo By: James Stanley
Centerfold: FORD MUSTANG GT350s Photo By: James Stanley
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STILL SAVING LIVES LAPD ‘s 14th Annual Still Saving Lives Car Show And Safety Fair - Best Car Show in The Valley
hat would you expect when you mix high powered muscle, sports, tuners, and classic cars with a number of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department? Mass ticketing? A line of tow trucks taking away cars to the impound lot? If that’s what you thought, then this event would surprise you. The LAPD hosted their 14th annual Still Saving Lives Car show Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Supercars from Lamborghini, turners from Nissan, Classics from DeTomaso, and even muscle cars from the ‘Big Three’ filled the parking lot of the Westfield mall. An LAPD helicopter was also on display surrounded by the Vista Ford Lincoln booths. Live music of various genres acted as the soundtrack to the event as spectators and participants’ alike perused aisle after aisle of exquisite vehicles. The LAPD Motorcycle Drill Team performed an entertaining display of vehicle control on a closed off section of road while the spectators looked on from the sidewalk. On the opposite side of the event, several food trucks were present featuring cuisines of varied flavors ranging from cold ice cream, to Brazilian BBQ. This was the first time that this event was held at the mall. In previous years, the show was held in the cool shade of the grass covered park just a few blocks down. For an unknown reason, the park council passed on the show in lieu of a dog adoption event. The heat was a bit much and I’m sure it touched the triple digits, but that didn’t seem to deter anyone from staying till the end. We all hope that future events return to the park and under the relief of some shade. The event went without incident and the charity auction and the event itself raised several thousand dollars for the Valley Traffic Authority as well as non-profits in support of the LAPD. We look forward to next year’s event!
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o commemorate the 100th anniversary of founder Ferruccio Lamborghini’s birth, and in honor of him, Lamborghini has built a very special, limited edition, hyper-exotic car, the Centenario. With only 20 coupes and 20 roadsters being produced this V12 Lamborghini is on every collectors list and is fetching a very hefty price tag of over $2.3 million dollars. And as it is so rare, collectors are speculating that it will only go up in value and will be a great investment. Beyond scarcity, what makes the Centenario different from every other Lamborghini? First and foremost is the 770hp. Just shy of the 800hp mark, the car is designed so radically and uses some of the most complex, expensive and sophisticated carbon fibre composites ever developed. Many consider the Centerario to be one of the most advanced designs to date and the extensive use of carbon and the types of carbon, for a production car, it is truly very special. Keeping the Centenario stuck to the ground and the driver safe at 217 miles per hour, the carbon fibre monocoque body and aerodynamics are cutting edge. A zero to sixty time of 2.9 seconds, the Centenario is as fast as or faster than just about any other production supercar on the planet. Will you see it on the street? The first one was delivered in Beverly Hills and being the mecca of the car community that it is, we expect you will. After all it is California and we do love to show our cars off. If you happen to see a Centenario on the street, you will be very lucky as it is in the rarefied of being a unicorn in the car world.
ARTICLE BY DUSTIN TROYAN
LAMBORGHINI CENTENARIO 100TH ANNIVERSARY
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have been seriously active in the car community now for about twelve years and am amazed at the people and connections I have made over in 1961. He was hired to run both his driving school and Goodyear Racing Tire disthat time. The car community never ceases to amaze me with the quality tributorship for the 11 Western States. Peter thought this would be a great way to get of people who make it up. his foot in the door and show Carroll what he could do behind the wheel of a car. As When I first ordered my Cobra Daytona Coupe from Superforthe Cobra began to obliterate the Corvettes and other competitors on the circuit, At The Auto Gallery, weUSlike mance, I had no idea how to go about things so I joined an online forum to get advice. Carroll set his sights to take on Enzo Ferrari and beat him in his own back yard on the As things progressed, one guy was incredibly helpful and offered some seriously valuable to listen to our customers. tracks in Europe. One of the hurdles Carroll faced was the longer tracks in Europe. and credible insights to help me get the car just right. On these forums you went by 2013 Customer The Cobra was not as aerodynamic as theOur Ferraris and about 20 MPH slower on tracks a moniker. Mine was “CoupedUp” and the like Le Mans with Survey the three mile long MulSatisfaction results Canoga Park person who was helping me went by “BadVan Nuys sanne straight where Ferraris were running 180 ger.” He advised me on everything from side told us that the number MPH. Peter shared with Carroll that he could mirrors, paint and engines to registering the one acomplaint amongst our design more aerodynamic body for the Cobra Woodland Hills car in California. He even knew the process that would allow them tolack beat Ferrari. Here is owners was the of importing the cars from the factory in the story of the development of the Cobra DaySouth Africa. Eventually, Badger started of convenience of our tona Coupe in Peter’s own words: to Private Message me through the forum service locations. and then, one day, he emailed me. When he “My suggestion to build the coupe was based sent the email through the forum it came up on the aero studies done in Germany in the late Calabasas under his actual name – Peter Brock. I will ‘30s. Because of WWII no one over here had ever never forget opening that email and seeing seen anything that looked like what the Germans his name. I am pretty sure I went numb for had figured out. This “Kamm tailed” shape was far about ten minutes… more efficient that the long existing belief that a For those of you not so familiar with “raindrop” shape with a long tail was the most efPeter Brock, allow me to provide my perficient shape for an automobile. Since no one had spective on his background. As a young ever seen such an “ugly shape” on an automobile man, Peter wanted to be a racing driver Beverly Hills almost everybody in Shelby American was against and car designer. He attended the LA Art Introducing two new drop-offwho I West LA my concept….including Phil Remington, Center studying automotive design for two points in West and Van he’d Nuys. had the utmost respect LA for and was hoping back years until he ran out of money for school the project! When he told Carroll he wouldn’t work and had to get a job. He ended up getting on this stupid idea Carroll was really undecided as a job at General Motors through a friend to whether to continue. Only Ken Miles, who had as a designer in 1958 and at age 19 became almost as much stature within Shelby as Rem’ beone of the youngest designers ever hired by lieved in the project because he was from England GM. One of the first projects he did for Bill Santa Monica and had seen what the Germans were doing prior Mitchell at GM was the 1958 XP87, also to WWII. Ford also refused to back the idea, as they known as the Stingray Racer concept car had their own project, the Eric Broadley Lola MK which eventually morphed into the 1963 6, which they had bought to redesign into the Ford Corvette Stingray. Many have seen the GT. So with no money Carroll had nothing...no Stingray Racer in the “Precious Metals” exoptions! It cost almost nothing to draw up the dehibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. sign and with a couple of quick sketches I’d done Peter was still pursuing his dream of he went to Goodyear and they put up the money! being a race car driver and left GM to beWith sites in Calabasas, With still continuing opposition fromCanoga Remington come Carroll Shelby’s first paid employee almost Woodland everyone in the shop refused to work on the Park, Hills, Van Nuys,
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project, so...just Ken, myself and John Ohlsen built the buck on which the first panels were formed. Once those were back in the shop a couple of the good guys like Donn Allen and Jack Lane offered to help. Even when we went to Riverside to test there was still little interest, as they knew it would fail. Ken broke the Cobra roadster’s lap record by 3.5 seconds and pushed the speed up to 180 …this on a standard Cobra race chassis as required by FIA rules. That test changed everything! You know the story at Daytona…lap record and fire, so it wasn’t until Sebring, where MacDonald and Holbert won that Ford finally agreed to back us for Europe. (The GT40 was way behind schedule.) CSX 2299, the second Daytona had its body built in Modena and it won Le Mans, which put us in the lead for FIA points.” “The rest of the story” is that the Daytona won the GT class at Le Mans its first year out in 1964 (despite an oil cooler failure while leading the overall race) and became the only American car to ever beat Ferrrari for a world GT Title in 1965. While at Shelby American, Peter also designed the now famous Cobra logo, Cobra stripes and other design elements and liveries of the cars. Peter went on to build his own race team after the Shelby days, Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE). BRE became the west coast Datsun factory race team and competed in 1969 in the SCCA DP class with Datsun 2000 roadsters, in 1970 and 1971 in the CP class with the 240Zs (SCCA National Champions ‘70-’71) and in 1971-72 the 2.5 Trans-Am Series races with the Datsun 510s (National Champions ‘71-’72). Peter’s design skills were not limited to the racetrack. In the early 1970s, Peter founded Ultralite Products which he built into the largest hang gliding company in the world and even developed the sport of competitive long distance hang gliding. Fast forward to the early 2000s… Superformance decides to manufacture and sell
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a continuation version of the Cobra Daytona Coupe to compliment their existing line of 289 and 427 Cobra Replicas. They consulted with Peter who also brought Bob Negstad (chassis designer of the original Daytona Coupe) on board to design the car, giving it some of the original coupe’s DNA. Peter and Bob get to design the car they would have done in 1964 if they weren’t limited to the existing 289 Cobra chassis and a 90 day design deadline. Superformance has now produced almost 200 of these Shelby CSX9000 series continuation Daytona Coupes. Peter is also a photographer, author, and just about anything else you can imagine. He is a true renaissance man and an incredible talent. And he’s still going! One of his latest projects is design and manufacturing of the most beautiful car hauler ever (to call it a trailer seems like an insult) called the “Aerovault.” Peter manufactures Aerovaults in Henderson, Nevada right next to his Brock Racing Enterprises facility. Peter is now also officially a jewelry designer! Baume et Mercier just launched a limited edition Shelby Daytona Coupe watch for which Peter did the design. Those who know me know I love my Daytona Coupe. I always will. But it is much more than the feel of the car, the sound of the exhaust from the side pipes, or the feel of the car at speed on a track day. It’s also about the fact that it connected me to Peter Brock, a very special man with a rich history who means a lot to me. It’s a hard thing to explain, but the car connecting me with Peter really led to me connecting back to my true self - someone who is passionate about life and driven to make the most of every day. Just like Peter has and continues to do today.
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s we reach the midway point of 2017. I’ve done something I thought that I wouldn’t do – I bought another vehicle. Now if you know me you’re probably scratching your head and asking WHY? I have four, make that five vehicles and a Harley, so you would think that would be enough. Well, you’d be wrong! This latest purchase was really about necessity - honestly. Let me explain… As you all know by now, I’m a drag racing car freak. I’ve been towing my drag car “30 Rat” for four race seasons with my 1987 Chevy R10 truck. The truck originally belonged to my twin sister Jody, who bought it from the grounds keeper of a cemetery. To answer what you may be thinking, and depending on whom you talk to, this truck may have been used to transport caskets for burial at the cemetery. Well, apparently my Dad didn’t care either because he ended up buying the truck from my sister once she was done with it. After he had it for a few years he stopped using it so I bought it from him. It’s served me well taking me to the beach to surf and towing my drag car to the strip, but it was lacking a little bit in power. I knew that I needed something a little newer, with more power, and a bit more comfortable if I wanted to continue to race. So the search began.. I started looking at new trucks but they were just way over my budget, so I started looking at used ones. One particular early morning at SuperCar Sunday I was talking to the infamous Dustin Troyan about his cool looking red Ford truck. You would all agree that it’s probably one of the nicest one’s around. Well after he finished harassing me for next months magazine article I let him know that I was looking for another truck. He looked at me in the eyes and said, “I’ll never buy another new vehicle”, then walked away. Well that statement stuck with me over the next week and made me very curious as to why he would say that. At the next SuperCar Sunday once again I approached Dustin and asked him what he meant about the comment he made the week before. Well, apparently Dustin had already had a bunch of coffee and the caffeine was just kicking in because for ten minutes he explained to me why. Like a lot of us, priorities change with our age and where we are in life. His main focus is his family and the quality time he spends with them. As Dustin stated in last months editorial, “I’m not so worried about the material stuff. I want more experiences for my family and myself. I think about those pivotal movements in 18
my life and I want to help to provide them for my girls, my wife and myself ”. I totally respect Dustin’s statement, because being a father myself, that’s where the focus should be. The comparison of new vs. classic cars has been around for quite a long time. On one hand you have the complete reliability of a new vehicle – clean, smell’s new, looks new, sounds new and of course costs new. The engines may be smaller in size but because of the advancement in technology they produce a substantial amount of more power and torque then its predecessor. The way they drive and handle is no comparison as well. If well maintained, these cars can last forever, literally. Case in point, a friend of mine recently sent a picture of his odometer in his truck. Now I’ve heard the stories and I’ve seen the commercials about people getting a ridiculous amount of miles on their vehicle, but I’ve never personally known someone. The mileage was over 500,000! He ended up selling it to a friend of his who was extremely ecstatic to get it. Think about it, all those miles and it still has a long life left. Very cool in my book! Now on the other hand with an older classic car, you have something different than the norm. A classic car demands respect. Not only from the people that see it but also from the owner. They require regular care and maintenance much more frequent then a new vehicle. I’ve only owned 3 brand new vehicles in my life and this is all by choice. I’ve always enjoyed working on older vehicles then new ones. There’s a satisfaction fixing something that is broken or worn with your own hands. I’ve been fortunate to carry those skills throughout my entire life. So as my search for another truck continued, I definitely kept all this in mind. I wanted something newer and more comfortable than what I have now. After an exhausting few months and looking at hundreds of vehicles I finally found and bought a used 2000 Chevy truck. It was previous owned by another “Car” guy that did extensive work on it. I was happy to listen to him explain everything that he had done to it. It just meant I wouldn’t have too! So where do you stand? Are you a person who likes a new vehicle every few years or one that likes to find a good deal on an older car? There’s no right or wrong answer. Personally, I dig the sound of a group of cars with old V8’s cruising down PCH after SuperCar Sunday on a sunny afternoon.
by Mark Llewellyn
No, I’m not talking about fitness machines. When muscle cars and hot rods gained in popularity in the mid sixties, those of us kids that couldn’t drive were stuck watching these cool rides cruise down the streets, filled with envy. Well, it didn’t take long for the Schwinn bicycle company to cash in on our craving! Schwinn designers had always been hip with their brand. In the early sixties they had produced bicycles with the names ‘Corvette’, ‘Jaguar’, and ‘Racer’. In 1968, the innovation of Schwinn designer Al Fritz’s ‘Stingray’ was taken to a new level with the ‘Krate’ series: Apple Krate, Orange Krate, Pea Picker, Cotton Picker, Lemon Peeler, and Grey Ghost. Their design came right from the drag strip. The bikes featured a fat, slick rear tire with raised white letters. They had a smaller rim and front tire, copying the dragster look, and featured highrise handlebars and a stick shift, just like what was in our big brother’s car. Add a Schwinn-approved rear view mirror and speedometer, and we were ready to cruise with the best of them! It didn’t take long before other manufacturers copied Schwinn’s success. The Raleigh Bicycle Company of England did it best with their ‘chopper’. The Iverson Company produced a muscle bike designed by customizer George Barris - yes, the same guy who designed and built the ‘Batmobile’. The Huffy Company produced a bicycle with a high sissy bar like Peter Fonda in ‘Easy Rider’. They also got rid of the handlebars and actually replaced them with a steering wheel. Sears produced many muscle bikes that had a very cool appeal, including bikes inspired by motorcycle
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daredevil Evel Knievel. The popularity of muscle bikes declined after 1973, when Ralph Nader banned the ‘stick shift’ because many young men were singing soprano after crashes involving the shifter. Once the cool was gone, so was the popularity! Bicycle Motocross arrived in the late 1970’s. Many of these cool bikes were stripped of their nonessential parts and converted into bicycles that could be ridden off road. Few of these vintage bikes remain today. A resurgence of the muscle bike has occurred in the last few years. Companies like Nirve and GT Dyno have produced cool, full-size bikes with automotive themes.
Coupon good for discounted entry cost of just $5.00. Beautiful vintage automobiles and Americana. 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard, California 93033
murphyautomuseum.org (805) 487-4333
All of the cool muscle bikes pictured here can be seen at the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, CA.
1970’s Evel Knievel bicycle personally signed for a lucky kid named Wyatt. These bikes were produced by the AMF Corporation which, for a time, owned Harley Davidson.
1999 Dyno GT “Mooneyes” Cruiser with factory mooneyes wheel discs.
This ‘2004 Electra Rat Fink’ bicycle pays homage to the genius of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s “Rat Fink.”
1964 “Sears Spaceliner”. Built by the Murphy Company for Sears, this deluxe model came with a chrome frame and springer forks. Notice the influence of the 60’s space-race in the design of this bike. 19
Restored 1969 Schwinn custom “Grape Krate.”
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STORY & PHOTOS BY JAMES STANLEY
AUTOCROSS
AIRSTRIP Vista Ford Racing treated their VFR Customers to a day at the Speedlimit Racing Autocross
ne by one, the parking lot just outside the back gate at the Camarillo Airport filled with one fast Ford after another. Mustangs including the GT350 and Ford’s smaller but capable Focus RS and Fiesta ST’s filled the spaces. Security at airports is tight, and this airport is no different. What is different is that these muscle cars and hot hatches were lining up to tear up their tires and test their driving ability around an autocross course setup on an active runway. With the head of Speedlimit Racing at the front, the cars made their way, single file at single digit speeds, to the course on the airstrip. Once in their assigned rows, the event was underway. Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard created this event as a customer appreciation day for all of their Vista Ford Racing (VFR) vehicle owners. The morning started with a brief introduction of the VFR staff and event sponsors including: Speedlimit Racing, Wilwood, Vortech, Borla, Horsepower for an Hour, Quicklane, and Powerstroke Diesel, each with a display of their products, and vehicles to show off what they can do. For those that were interested in how some other Ford’s handle the track, Vista Ford brought out four brand new VFR vehicles to test out on the track. First in the lineup was a brand new VFR Focus ST in Tricoat Yellow that was lowered and had aftermarket wheels. As always, the Focus ST had a long list of names signed up to drive it. This hot hatch with its 250+ horsepower makes it blast to take around the course. The second vehicle in the lineup was a brand new VFR Ecoboost Mustang. Perhaps the most popular vehicle among Mustang GT owners to test drive to see if the 4-Cylinder could keep up. “You can definitely feel the difference in the corners with so much less weight in the front” said one Mustang GT owner. The third in line was the small, but deceptively quick VFR Fiesta ST. With some sticky tires, stiffened suspension, and a Borla exhaust, this car was arguably the most fun car to drive on the track. You could take it to the limit but still feel very much in control. The saying ‘it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow’ is very evident in the Fiesta ST. Just one problem, it’s not slow, just the slowest of the bunch. Nevertheless, the car is right at home on the track. Last but not least is a newcomer to the Ford lineup. A brand new 2017 VFR Ford Fusion Sport featuring a brand new prototype Borla exhaust. I know what you’re thinking... It’s a family sedan, a mom-mobile. This has got to be one of Ford’s more underrated current vehicles. This car boasts a twinturbo V6, all-wheel-drive, and well over 300 horses under the hood! This was hands down the most driven car at the event and produced the biggest smiles. The styling of the Sport isn’t that much different from any other daily-driven Ford Fusion you see in a grocery store parking lot which makes it that much more of a joy to drive and feel it be so capable around the cones. If only it were a manual transmission, it may have produced the fastest time of the day. For LA Traffic and as a daily driver, the automatic transmission makes sense. continued->
During the event, lunch was provided by Vista Ford for all that attended from West BBQ. Massive plates of bbq ribs, pork, beef, beans, potato salad were enjoyed by all. With as much as everyone ate, it’s a surprise that times didn’t slow down due to the extra weight of a stuffed driver. Delicious as always. Towards the end of the event, timed runs began to determine the fastest cars and drivers of the day. The expectation was that the three Mustang GT350s would take the top three slots was upset by two other cars. In third place was a GT350 with a lap time of 42.585. In second place, besting the GT350 supercar was a completely stock Ford Focus RS with a lap time of 42.386. In first place was a highly modified Mustang BOSS 302 with a best time of 42.080. Less than a second apart, these three vehicles took the podium and took home trophies as well as gift certificates to Lavaggio for a free detailing. There wasn’t a disappointed person at the event with how well it went. From the younger drivers that had never participated in an autocross to the track veterans, a good time was had by all. This event is a private event for Vista customers only and their guests which made it that much more fun. Everyone had plenty of sun, food, track time and fun! If you’re interested in a VFR Vehicle, or would like to learn more about the benefits of being a part of this exclusive group, contact David Wyckoff at Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard. Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard - VFR Instagram: @VistaFordRacing Facebook: /vistafordracing www.vistafordracing.com 805-983-6511
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STORY by ALICIA DOYLE & PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE SPORTS ACADEMY
SPORTS
ACADEMY Multi-Million dollar sports training complex in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
ports Academy in Thousand Oaks is a one-of-a-kind training center where coaches, doctors and practitioners work as a team to mentor and develop athletes of all ages, helping develop their full mind and body potential. Sports Academy’s founder and CEO Chad Faulkner sat down with us to talk about his vision, and how his background as an athlete and successful business leader lead to the creation of Sports Academy. “Our philosophy here is development of the whole character,” said Chad Faulkner, CEO of Sports Academy. “We call it our full circle athlete – mind, body and spirit – the spirit meaning the belief in self.” The multi-million-dollar, 96,000 square foot facility features the latest state-of-the-art equipment and scientifically proven methodologies to develop athletes at every level – including youth, middle and high school, adult, college, professional and Olympic athletes. Faulkner says. “Sports Academy is for athletes of all ages and abilities and we are all athletes. One of our primary theories – not only the best of the best athletes should have access to the best of the best coaches and tools. We give all athletes a fair chance to become the best they could possibly be.” For Faulkner, the vision for Sports Academy unknowingly began when he was given a fair chance himself as a teenager. Born in Texas and raised in Kansas, he and his younger sister grew up in a modest family until their father left. “My dad broke apart the family when I was a teenager and bankrupted my mom – so it was my mom, my sister and I from the age of 14 on,” Faulkner, 49, recalled. As a high school student, he joined the football team, which was led by an amazing coach. “He was a mentor – this man had a life philosophy as a coach who cared about raising young people,” Faulkner remembered. “He coached the sport, but what he really did was mentor young people.” The flipside occurred when Faulkner was recruited to play football at Kansas State. “All of a sudden I experienced bad coaches that weren’t very good at what they were doing,” he said. “They weren’t very good at their jobs; they weren’t very good at developing young people.” Solid mentorship returned during his senior year, when he met Kansas State head football coach, Bill Snyder, who is now in the College Football Hall of Fame. “He is a really wise and caring person that took the time to invest his energy into me and cared enough to guide me as a young person,” Faulkner said. “He taught me how to be a young man because I was missing a father figure in my life at that time. So having a committed coach that was there for me at that time in my life was critical.” Faulkner’s personal experience with both good and bad coaches was later infused into his vision for Sports Academy. “I had really great coaches, and also I learned how not to behave and how not to aspire to be from the bad ones,” he said. “If you’re a kid that’s working to get a scholarship, and your coach doesn’t know how to amplify what you are doing or doesn’t know how to recognize your talents, you most likely will never have that experience in your life.” Giving kids a chance is the key. “We will help a young person reach their potential,” Faulkner said. “A lot
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of times they can’t get to the next level and their dreams get crushed when they don’t have to. I really care a lot about young people and them having a chance to be the best that they can possibly be by being in an environment that actually nurtures them.” Faulkner was only nine years old when he asked if he could play on a Wichita Junior Football League, recalled his mother, Sandy Tinsmon, who lives in Wichita, Kansas. “Of course I said yes with only one exception: he couldn’t quit if he didn’t like it, he had to finish the season he started,” Tinsmon said. “That was the beginning of his love, commitment and determination to be the best that he could be in sports and life.” Faulkner’s high school coach was an amazing mentor and role model that encouraged him to follow his dreams, she said. Additionally, the leadership of Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder contributed to many successes in her son’s life. “The man behind Sports Academy can now take these life experiences and provide encouragement to young athletes that regardless of their circum-
stances, they can obtain their goals through hard work, determination and perseverance,” Tinsmon said. Philanthropically, Faulkner is the co-founder of the Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows Program, which develops young leaders through the transformational process developed and utilized by Coach Snyder at Kansas State University. He also serves on the Sports Academy Foundation board of directors. The Sports Academy Foundation, a 501c (3) nonprofit organization which supports at-risk youth and veterans transitioning from active duty to civilian life through sports, will hold its first Gala Fundraiser July 13 in Los Angeles, following ESPN’s ESPY Awards and featuring several professional athletes. More information on the gala is available at https://sportsacademy. us/sports-academy-foundation-gala/. Proceeds from the event will provide funding for future sports-based programming and after-school educational support for at-risk youth, as well as refurbish sports fields and training facilities at various campuses and communities 28
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in the greater Los Angeles and the Conejo Valley area. “Chad has helped advance K-State Athletics and Kansas State University forward in many ways, said Matt Giller,” Assistant Director of Development at Kansas State Athletics. “He is a supporter and mentor for the Bill Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows Program that helps college students understand the value of leadership and the qualities that one must possess to be a leader.” With Faulkner’s background in collegiate football, he understands the full dynamics of what it takes to be successful on and off the field, Giller noted. “There is the obvious training and physical developmental piece that goes into being an elite athlete but, there is also the mental and educational aspect that plays a large role,” Giller said. “Chad understands both.” Giller added that Faulkner’s attention to detail – in all areas – has made Sports Academy an early success and will continue for many years to come. “What started as a vision has turned into a world-class facility for athletes of all ages,” Giller said. “I believe his football background and the lessons he learned from Coach Bill Snyder paved the way for who he is today.” While Faulkner is the inspiration behind Sports Academy, he firmly maintains “it’s not about me.” “It’s really about the athletes – it’s about our trainers, our coaches, our doctors, our practitioners,” he said. “It’s the people that are really touching lives in here, so my job is to support them, and give them the tools, the opportunities and the environment that can allow them to do their best.” Sports Academy combines sports skill and performance training with full medical and recovery capabilities provided by its on-site Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, and a Biomechanics Lab, Cryotherapy and Normatec facilities located on campus. “We have the most accomplished coaches, trainers and service providers working in what we think is one of the world’s best facilities,” says Faulkner. For Faulkner, Sports Academy is a business he plans to hold for life. “I have no ambition of selling or a quick flip,” he said. “I expect to grow because that’s what I’m used to doing with all the businesses I’ve ever had the responsibility of leading. My job is to always be looking out and understanding what those possibilities are and do what’s best for all our people.”
STORY & PHOTOS BY TONY DeFRANK
he LA Aircooled Volkswagen Club hosted its first ever show and shine meet at California Car Cover in Chatsworth, Calif. on Saturday, May 6th, 2017. More than 75 vintage Volkswagen Beetles and Buses took over the California Car Cover headquarters for the Seis de Mayo Hang Over Show. LA Aircooled opened the event to several Volkswagen clubs in the Southern California area. Attendees drove from all over the Southwest to attend the inaugural event. The casual meet and greet brought out a variety of custom and finely restored Volkswagens. From the perfectly restored to the rusted patina, styles spanning the spectrum came together for this show. Highlights from the event include a raffle, delicious food from the ‘Richeeze Grilled Cheese Truck’, and on-site event t-shirt screen printing courtesy of Hot Rod LA. LA Aircooled is a Los Angeles based Volkswagen Club founded in 2015. For more details on the club and future events, check out la_aircooled on Instagram.
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he L A Roadster Show & Swap has a longtime tradition of bringing out hundreds of the finest pre 1936 Roadsters in the land, so this was a must see show for me. The LA Roadster Show and Swap is held over the Father’s Day weekend every year at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the show hosted by the Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club who is celebrating their 60th year of service. Past shows have generated 800 or more pre 36 Roadsters with an additional 1500 pre 72 Specialty Cars on display plus 100’s of vendors and swap areas for the public. I attended Sunday’s show only to find 200 or less pre 36 Roadsters on display throughout the grounds surrounding building four and only a handful of pre 72 Specialty Cars, but what cars that were on display where well sorted, beautiful and showed the owners personal touches tastefully. I just
wish more cars had been on display, like the numbers I stated earlier from the 2010 L A Roadster Show and Swap. Forty seven vendors attended this year’s show offering everything the modern day hot rodder could ever need or want. The temperature was near triple digits so walking around outside was a constant search for shade whether checking out a car or a vendors wares. The vendor selling straw hats was rumored to have made a small fortune by 3PM on both Saturday and Sunday. In spite of the uncomfortable heat, there were lots of fathers with sons and daughters enjoying dad’s love of hot rods and everything that goes with them. Thanks, Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club for another memorable show.
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ARTICLE BY SOTHEBYS
Is your kitchen looking more tired and outdated than your old tie-dyed shirts? Giving your kitchen a “facelift” to add a fresh, updated appearance can be simple and inexpensive. Try some of these easy techniques: Accents: Kitchens can exude great energy with color pops, and one of the best and least expensive ways to achieve this is by adding green plants, flower arrangements and fresh fruit bowls. Even artificial fruit can be a delightful touch, as some of the newer manufactured fruits look extremely realistic. Use kitchen mats to cover worn flooring, choosing those that complement or add a bold accent to your color scheme. Fragrance is essential. If your kitchen smells delicious, friends and family will want to gather there. Candles can be lovely, but diffusers last longer than candles, so be sure to investigate your options. Quick touches: Can’t afford new cabinets? Fresh paint is a great alternative. Try a color that makes a statement, and be sure to use easy-clean semi-gloss. Adding new and interesting hardware can do wonders for an old kitchen. Cut out the fronts of several
cabinet doors and add frosted glass. It’s easy to do, and your local hardware store can provide assistance and guidance. Countertops are often most worn near cooking and cleanup areas. Frosted glass cutting boards, and marble and granite remnants can hide damage on your countertops and modernize your kitchen’s appearance. Now replace that old fixture to complete your new design. You can achieve an up-to-date look with minimum effort and cost…and you’ll have fun doing it!
Gwen Banta & Tory Herald Connecting the Worlds of Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty www.LosAngelesLuxuryHomesForSale.com
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