D RIVENWORLD
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May 2013
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Contents
D RIVENWORLD ISSUE 40, May 2013
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dustin Troyan
ART DIRECTOR
Connected Media Group LLC
COPY EDITOR Melena Gergen Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group WEB DESIGN
Page 8
Jeff Balbien
STORIES BY Dustin Troyan Mike Grudt Tommy Mansuwan Danah Palmer Scott Martin Mark Llewlyn George Speed PHOTOGRAPHY Randy Cordero Greg Grudt Dustin Troyan George Speed AG Staff Scott Martin Effspot Photography
Advertising/Marketing: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
818-516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com Page 18
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 high-net-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.
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On the Cover: “Spyker� Photo: Randy Cordero CorderoStudios.com
from the editor
Leading Many readers of this magazine and visitors to Supercar Sunday have no idea what I do for a living. I get asked about this quite a bit. Amongst other things, I am a consultant specializing in the motorsport and luxury automotive lifestyle segment. Because of this I have been involved with many different businesses and organizations over the years. And I have had the pleasure of attending meetings and working with a great many people. These people play different roles and often are very much, different people. In any organization, the roles played, should be to make that organization better and it is generally considered a natural for a dedicated team member or employee to put the organization before them. If you are like me, you are very dedicated. Think about it for a moment, you probably spend more time at work then you do with your family. There is some food for thought…some people have even been divorced multiple times, but their dedication to their work has kept them at the same business for decades. Examining your role in this way might shed some light to what you are doing at your organization. Even if your role is minor, or if you feel it is almost irrelevant, you are there for a purpose, so I would hope that you did your job to the best of your ability. Over the years I have also seen many different leadership styles—across the spectrum from absolutely amazing to ones that make me wonder, “How do you keep your job?” I think the best leaders are those who lead by example and lead through inspiration. I enjoy watching this type of leader lead. In my opinion, it is a benevolent leader who accomplishes much more by creating a dynamic team that in turn successful. A mistake that many make is to assume that consideration and kindness can be weaknesses. If the leader is benevolent, but also has a sound business mind, they know that those who presume them to be weak will be weeded out and left behind. When one tests a benevolent leader, they will in fact see that this leader is not weak, but, sees a much larger picture and knowing that time is valuable will eliminate anyone who does not adhere to the team mission and appreciate said benevolence. I have been fortunate to see the benevolent leader. I have seen the ability they have to motivate
and enlighten their employees or team members to a great understanding of the reality of a job well done. There is something magical about a leader who also tries to inspire when there is really nothing in it for them. It seems that these leaders know that there is cosmic truth to elevating those around them, not only by example, but by taking time to share insights and wisdom. Perhaps it is because somebody did the same for them? Perhaps they believe in order to elevate humanity, these moments must be taken. These leaders I am speaking of are always the hardest workers. They are driven by some truth that they know in their soul is the only way to live, to achieve. I sat in a meeting a while back where one such leader was “preparing” an employee for a future with their organization or without. This leader was preparing the employee for the world. I know that he saw something special in this employee and he took an hour out of his day to share, motivate, inspire, and enlighten. This is not a job requirement but this leader knows he is planting a seed, cultivating a thought and, hopefully, it will take root, grow, blossom, and then seed other minds to achieve more. Just by looking at him, you could tell this leader was tired and you know he works his ass off. I wondered if the employee knew how lucky he was to have such a role model and mentor. Frankly, that is so much more than a boss and, in my book, that is what qualifies him as a leader. Anybody can be a boss, but can you lead? I have the pleasure of consulting for another business where the owner takes a similar approach. I have sat in meetings that go from bottom dollar to high-level achieving. From understanding that “no” is only a word and that there are always challenges. They are challenges for a reason, and nothing is easy. Understanding that if you want to get it done, you can, you just have to choose to. By always doing your best, you are creating a habit for all of your life, not just when you clock in. Again, this leader is hugely busy but somehow always has time for anyone. Getting back to spending more time with your workmates/team members than your family, I have a personal mantra: “Don’t be the weak link.” I am not saying I am perfect, but I try pretty damn hard to be on time, if not early, to go beyond the agreed upon expecta-
tions, and to be solution-oriented. Understanding that life is one big compromise and to look at the big picture and to move toward goals, to set goals. I have learned this from leaders in my life. I have been very lucky to have observed great men and women who achieve their goals because it is who they are. There is another unique characteristic of these leaders. Not only are they willing to get their hands dirty, but they almost always have a positive attitude regardless of the situation. They can see the worst, hope for the best, have a good chuckle about it, and then work harder than anybody to get it done (whatever it is). The root of who they are and choose to be is positive. They are always positive. They could be working a 20-hour day and they are positive. The worst things can happen and as everyone around them can be in despair and they are somehow positive and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If there is no light in that tunnel, then they will start a new tunnel or create their own light. I am uncertain whether they realize that all eyes are on them so they have to be positive or if is simply in their nature. They are positively positive and that often gets the job done. I look around and I wonder, “Where have our leaders gone? Where are the ones who lead for the right reasons.” They lead not for the “thank you” but because it is right, which is something that people have lost focus of. Leaders that make conscious decisions to lead by example, by action, by truth, by inspiration. It is so very refreshing to see it in real life. I don’t see it as much as I would like to. These men and women, who are few and far between, are planting those seeds, they are cultivating, they are harvesting, for abilities sake, for truths sake. I suppose I am very lucky to have clients who motivate me. That I am able to sit in meetings and watch one of the most natural of progressions take place before my eyes. What has become taboo is starting to return. The understanding that individual achievement can move mountains can motivate the greatest of changes for no other reason that we can. We can go further, we can achieve more. It is in our nature and our nature cannot be denied. Thank you leaders for leading. Please do not stop, we need it.
Supercar Sunday 2013 Marque Schedule www.supercarsunday.com
June 2nd - Ferrari Day July 7th - Hot Rod Day August 4th - Pro-Touring & Pre-1973 Muscle Car Day Sept 1st - Corvette Day October 6th - Ferrari vs. Lamborghini
November 3rd - European GT Style Icons A celebration of the really great GT cars: European road car made between 1950-1970 with a motor larger than 2500cc. Please visit www.drivenworld.com for examples.
On December 1st there will not be a marque day as it will be the 10th Annual Motor4toys Charity Car Show and Toy Drive
www.motor4toys.com
Spyker B6 Venator This history of Spyker is punctuated with innovation and desire. Spyker was, and continues to be, the product of artisans. The company’s humble beginnings lie with two brothers—blacksmiths turned automakers. It was in 1898 that the Spijker brothers built their first motorcar, and won immediate acclaim for the craftsmanship its bodywork. As the Spyker name grew, new innovations were introduced leading to a merger with the Dutch Aircraft Factory N.V. in 1914. During WWI, over 100 Spyker fighter planes and an additional 200 aircraft engines were produced. Spyker continued to innovate and, in 1922, renowned racing driver Selwyn Edge attempted to break the speed record set in 1907. Choosing the Spyker C4, he succeeded by driving an average of 74.5 mph during two 12-hour periods. Sadly, from 1925-2000 the original Spyker company ceased to exist. Jump forward to 2013 and the unveiling of the Spyker B6 Venator Concept. Keeping true to its roots, the craftsmanship is simply superb—right down to the many aviation-inspired features that nod to the history of the company. The B6 Venator chassis is an all-aluminum platform, wrapped in carbon fiber. The transverse mounted V6 engine produces 375 bhp. This incredibly light and responsive Spyker offers a six-speed automatic transmission. Since its rebirth in 2000, Spyker has been on the radar of enthusiasts the world over. Recognized as a work of art that you can drive, the B6 Venator is the latest in a long line of meticulously built automobiles that have defined this brand. For more info: www.spykercars.com
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The Auto Gallery
Story: by Dustin Troyan Photos: AG Staff
The recent Audi Tech Day and Clinic was a huge success for the Auto Gallery and their guests. The team at the Auto Gallery turned the dealership and service center into a five-star resort for an afternoon. As you can imagine, this was no small feat; but when the Auto Gallery team decides to do something, they do it right! Understanding that a visit to the Auto Gallery is an experience, they always go far to ensure guests are completely comfortable and at home. The goal of the Audi Tech Day and Clinic was not only to inform guests about their vehicles, but to also extend a personal touch and create lasting relationships. It was clear throughout the day that this is exactly what happened. With thirty uninterrupted minutes of one-on-one time with a certified Audi technician inspecting each car from top to bottom, guests were free to ask any questions they had about features, functions, and performance. A good measure of any event’s success is the number of smiling faces; looking around the Audi Tech Day at over 120 vehicles and over 250 guests, smiles were all you saw! At the event, the Auto Gallery had their industry-leading technicians and advisors present, as well as the entire service department to ensure that the day went smoothly. The service team, who are already accustomed to providing great customer service, truly shined. From catered food and beverages, to a raffle
prizes and auctions, there were many different activities to keep guest engaged and excited. Over the course of the last few years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the Auto Gallery and many of its team members. It is truly amazing to watch an organization evolve and become better, stronger, and more efficient, as they are doing at the Auto Gallery. One team member in particular, Diana Velasquez, has really made a name for herself in the car community and in the industry at large. She has been with the Auto Gallery since 2006 and understands and embodies their motto, “It’s the Lifestyle.” Diana has worn different hats at the Auto Gallery; her current roles include Service Consultant, Audi Event Coordinator, Process Improvement Specialist, and Best Practice Implementer. Her contribution to the success of the Audi Tech Day and Clinic was apparent. It was her organizational skills and overachieving attitude that allowed her to pull the event together in record time. Her positive
Audi Tech Day and Clinic
Above: Diana Velasquez, Driven World’s newest columnist; Be sure to read her first column next month!
attitude and natural ability to engage with others makes it hard to say “no” to Diana. She led the team to a great success and created a phenomenal event for many happy guests. Diana, who was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, has filled a niche with every brand that the Auto Gallery offers—Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi, Fiat and McLaren. She has become the team member of choice for many of the Auto Gallery’s clients. Her ability to understand the needs of each person, communicate effectively, and assist in every situation has been the basis of her good reputation. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Diana has always worked hard to know more about each brand, its history and service, in order to earn the respect and trust of colleagues and clients alike. In a global industry recognizes the rising consumer power of women and forecasts rapid sales growth amongst female consumers, Diana is leading the way with her hard work and dedication. She continues to excel and to raise the bar in every position she holds. She has been recognized many times by her fellow team members and is often the “go to” person when there is a challenge. Diana always gets the job done with a smile. At the suggestion of a mutual friend, I approached Diana to ask if she would be willing to write a regular column for Driven World about her experiences in the industry. We spoke at length and she is very excited to be a part of the magazine. Watch for her column in the future where we will all get to learn more about Diana Velazquez and her perspective of everything automotive!
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Golf Tips with Tommy Alignment Struggles If you are an avid golfer, you’ve probably noticed some golf bags with orange or yellow sticks poking out like a sore thumb. And hopefully, you have realized that they aren’t being used to hit golf balls! While these sticks can be used in a number of different ways as training aids, one of the simpler uses is for alignment. A key to hitting a straight shot is to aim where you are looking. Before any professional or elite-amateur practices, you will notice that they are tuned in to their setup and alignment. The reason is that you always want to have something to aim at so you know exactly where your ball is going. Sometimes you might be hitting it straight but missing your target simply because you are aimed improperly or vice versa. If you can assure yourself that you are setup correctly towards your intended target, you’ll have one less fault to worry about before
Cars & Coffee Story and Photos: Scott Martin
The long-running Cars and Coffee Irvine has gone through several phases to become one of the premier car-viewing events in the area. It all started with Mark Greeley and Bob Cheatly, who decided that the “Donut Derelicts” group in Huntington Beach met too early, began going to Crystal Cove Promenade on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. Soon, other car enthusiasts began meeting at the spot and it became known as the Crystal Cove Car Show. Inevitably, the event became so big that it outgrew the venue and was offered much more spacious digs at the Mazda/ Ford/PAG center in Irvine by Ford executives John Clinard and Freeman Thomas. Since 2006, the site has transitioned from the PAG (Premier Auto Group which included Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover) building to now being the headquarters for Taco Bell. Mazda’s North American Operations building remains adjacent to the primary show parking lot. Ample spectator parking is available in the parking structure next to the Taco Bell building. As you can see by the photos, one of the keys to Cars and Coffee’s success is diversity. A Bugatti may be parked next to a classic Alfa Romeo or a group of BMW M5s by the Corvette Club and so on. There’s usually a good mix of imports, classics, muscle cars, and exotics. Certain marques are sometimes featured, normally in a smaller parking corral. Local dealers or the manufacturers will often bring new models so the tastemakers can see what they’ll be buying in the future. As William P from San Marcos says: “Simply astonishing. Everything from Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Maseratis, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, McLarens, and many one-off and super exotic cars are there. If you’re looking for a unique car show with great variety, this is the place to be every Saturday early and when you decide to leave, it’s right next to the Irvine Spectrum and close to many great places to get breakfast.” Cars and Coffee Irvine When: Every Saturday from 6:00 am to 8:00 am Where: 7905 Gateway Boulevard, Irvine 92618 (Look for the signs once you’re on Gateway)
pulling the trigger. For those looking to fix alignment struggles, here are a few simple steps to follow the next time you are out there. (Note: Try this on the driving range to get comfortable before taking it to the course.) Step 1: Lay down a stick (if you don’t have one, use a club) next to the ball and make sure it is lined up correctly to the target. Step 2: As you address the ball, start by walking into the shot with your right foot only (for right handers) and place the club behind the ball so that it matches the direction where the stick is pointing. Step 3: Once that club is set and you are in your posture, look towards your target. The body will naturally try to adjust itself to where you are looking. Step 4: While still looking at the target, step into your setup position with your left foot. You might have to
By Tommy Mansuwan
give it a few tries before it becomes comfortable. You can also use the stick (or club) on the ground as another point of measure if you feel a bit off. I am confident once you give these steps a few trial runs, your alignment and setup will drastically improve on the course and throughout all your shots. Your body’s lines (including hips and shoulders) will want to follow the point you are looking at in the distance. As long as you are looking down that target line, the rest of your body should be pretty straight on once you complete the setup with your left foot. If you have issues aiming with your putter, this routine can also help you with the flat stick. However, make sure your eyes are over the ball with the putter before you look towards your target. Hopefully the contact and start line of the ball will be where you expect it to be. Once you eliminate the alignment faults, you’ll free your mind to work on one of those many other swing thoughts.
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Ferrari/Maserati 24050 West Ventura Blvd. Calabasas, CA 91302 - Lamborghini 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Canoga Park, CA 91303 Porsche/Audi 21301 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 - McLaren Beverly Hills 9022 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Santa Monica FIAT 1820 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404
Car Culture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Mark Llewellyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Size Doesn’t Matter 1962 “Bug Flea” restored by Backstreet Minibikes 1968 Taco 99
To quote William E. Butterworth, Author of “Mighty Minicycles” (1976 Harvey House publishing), “A minibike is a two-wheeled motor vehicle which is not a moped, or a motor scooter, or a minicycle, or a full-sized motorcycle”. Minibikes came about in the 1930’s by do-it-yourselfers, who would weld together a frame and an engine. They were constructed using mainly adapted bicycle parts. After World War II small gasoline powered engines became a familiar sight. These engines were removed from gardening equipment and made the construction of minibikes easier. In the 1960’s, minibikes were being manufactured in mass production. Many minibike companies emerged, such as Bonanza and Steen’s famous “Taco” minibikes. Some minibikes were actually street legal, but the majority was not. This resulted in many a young man getting his first pre-license experience with the law! Similar to the demise of the go kart, (featured article July 2012 DrivenWorld) the minibike lost popularity due in part to injuries. Furthermore, the Japanese took the idea and incorporated their more powerful small engines and better suspension designs and crushed over the U.S. market. By the early 1970’s, most U.S. minibike manufacturers were out of business. Recently there has been a re-birth of the nostalgia of the minibike era…Taco minibikes are being reproduced. Small companies like “Backstreet Minibikes” of Canyon Country are making a business out of restoring and reproducing classic minibikes. For the guy who has everything, here is one more thing that you have no business operating, but is guaranteed to bring a big smile to your face! www.LeonsTransmission.com
1967 Taco 22
Custom made 3 Wheel Trike with 5 HP engine
The Taste of Charity The Lost Coast Brewery started as a small micro-brew in Humboldt County in 1990. Since then it has grown to be the 33rd largest brewery in the United States, making over 50,000 barrels of beer. The quality, depth of flavor, and creativity of the beer have remained consistent throughout this brewery’s growth. This brewery has a special place in my heart; it is the beer I grew up with. Since this was the first beer I tasted, I was unpleasantly surprised when I realized not all beer was as flavorful and easy to drink. The Lost Coast Brewery name comes from its geographical region. The Lost Coast refers to the undeveloped span of coast between Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. It is rich in beauty but very challenging to access. This brewery is owned and operated by two women, Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound, who share a love of good beer. They started the brewery, as many do, as a garage experiment in 1986 and made their dream a reality when they opened their doors in 1990.
Story by Danah Palmer Scott,
All of the labels are designed by local artist, Duane Flatmo, who is most well known for his kinetic sculptures and murals. His sculptures have participated in the Kinetic Sculpture Race since 1982 and they are always recognizable with their vibrant colors and abstract appearance. His murals are featured throughout Humboldt County and several of the labels and names of the beers were actually inspired by these works of art. He created one of the largest murals in Northern California, a 70’ x70’ mural on the side of the Arkley Center of Performing Arts, which celebrates art. Currently the brewery has nine featured beers, all of which have received national acclaim and awards. The brewery specializes in English-style ales and it attributes their quality to the products they use to brew the beer and the clean water of Humboldt County. The Tangerine Wheat won a gold medal in the 2012 California State Fair and was listed as the April 2009 Los Angeles Times Beer of the Month. It is a light wheat beer with strong tangerine flavor. The Downtown Brown, one of the breweries most popular beers and reminiscent of a Newcastle, is a nut brown ale that has a lot of roasted flavors. Raspberry Brown is Downtown Brown with added raspberry flavors. The Alleycat Amber is an amber ale with roasted caramel malt flavors. The Lost Coast Pale Ale is a very hoppy beer which has a combination of malt and hop flavors. For those who love bold beers, this is a great choice. Indica IPA is another very hoppy beer that is made in a very traditional IPA fashion. Winterbraun is a brown ale that has a roasted chocolate and caramel flavors and a hint of spice. It truly is the perfect holiday beer. Eight Ball Stout is a very robust beer that is similar in style to a Guinness. It has a lot of roasted malt flavor, but it also has a creamy finish. The Great White, my first beer, is the perfect, easy-to-drink beer on a warm summer day. It is very crisp and has a slight citrus flavor. It is made from a combination of barley, wheat, and a “secret blend of Humboldt herbs.” (We probably do not want to know what that means.) The brewery is housed in a building that was built in 1892 at 617 4th Street in Eureka, California. The building was purchased from the Fraternal Order of Knights of Pythias and was originally known as Pythian Castle. It is an eclectic building filled with colorful décor from and pieces from Flatmo’s past kinetic sculptures. The brewery has a full food menu that is a combination of pub-style fare with a slightly Humboldt, earthy, healthy twist. The beers can be purchased at most grocery stores and large breweries. Locally, BevMo, Total Wine, and Wades Wines have a great selection of these beers.
For additional information on the Lost Coast Brewery, check out their web page www.lostcoast.com.
Dustin Troyan President & CEO c. 818.516.5053 f. 818.854.6618 23907 Ventura Blvd. Calabasas, CA. 91302 connectedmediagroup.com dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
The Trading In
Story by Scott Martin
Thanks for your informative piece on the differences between financing and leasing a new vehicle in the last issue of Driven World. I was wondering if you have any advice on how to handle trade-ins. I keep hearing how hot the pre-owned car market is, but it doesn?t seem like the dealers are willing to give me full value for the car I want to trade in for a new car. Any ideas? Thanks, Supercar Sunday Fan There are several ways to determine the value of a trade-in, including Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com), Edmunds. com, a physical appraisal by a car dealership or car-buying company, and looking at comparative vehicles being sold through the internet. The dealerships, on the other hand, use wholesale processes and auction sites, such as Manheim, to determine the amount they are willing to pay for a vehicle. The main difference is that the public is looking at retail prices while the dealers base their pricing on wholesale. If you have already done research, you know there is a big range of values on each vehicle. For instance, you will find three different levels of value on KBB which reflect 1) Trade-in value to a dealership, 2) Sell it yourself value 3) Price if sold at a dealership. And then there are different levels of condition which set different prices within each category. When people ask how to get the most for their trade, I usually say ?sell it yourself?. However, while you can get the most money that way, you have to deal with people not showing up, the ?safety factor? when buyers do show up, plus most potential buyers will negotiate to get the lowest price which will sometimes negate the difference from a trade amount. Although you may lose a little money, the most convenient and safest way to get rid of your vehicle is to trade the car in to the dealership where you?re getting the new one. The key to getting a fair amount for your trade at a dealership is to let them help you consider that as part of the negotiation along with the price you will pay for your new vehicle. Many of the ?how to buy a car? advice books suggest that you keep the trade a secret until the price for the new car or truck is negotiated, and to always keep it separate. But that is a tactic that will often create confusion and negativity that can put an end to an otherwise positive transaction. Instead, let the sales personnel assist in your efforts to come up with an equitable amount. Scott Martin is a Calabasas resident, automotive journalist, and auto broker He has financed and leased many vehicles and always expects honesty and great customer service from dealerships. As a sales specialist and manager at Southern California dealerships, he learned to make deals that would benefit both the seller and the buyer. He and his associates at Scott Martin Auto Broker act as go-betweens to help individuals obtain vehicles from dealerships and aim to make the process as simple and inexpensive as possible. Scott Martin Auto Brokers: autobrokerscott@gmail.com, phone: 818 430-7266
The Hot Rod Homecoming There are Hot Rods and there are Hot Rods! The Hot Rod Homecoming 65th Anniversary Show was one that could not be missed! It was a who’s who of the hot rod world. The culture of hot rodding is alive and well, as is the pioneering spirit of creating something uniquely your own. At Hot Rod Homecoming, there were good, oldfashioned big blocks, fuel injected motors, superchargers, and turbos. Every configuration of power plant was displayed. Creatively retrofitting the newest and highest tech components into and onto vintage metal seems to be the trend du jour. A hot rod is no longer a hot rod unless it drives like a dream and has heated seats to keep you warm! From drag racers and factory test vehicles to the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award-winning cars, you really saw the beginning of and the life of hot rodding all in one place. Notably, the So Cal Special belly tank Bonneville racer and the Pierson Brothers’ Coupe were there. These famous Bonneville racers have held many land speed records over the years and they were on display with many other historic Bonneville racers. The Ford Indy Speedster, which won the 2012 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, was also on display. The Mach40, a fully custom Mustang boasting a Ford GT engine, was a huge hit! The mix of current inspiration and traditional really shined through in this amazing specimen. Jim Wagner’s GeeTO Tiger was displayed as Jim happily signed autographs and reminisced with fellow racing enthusiasts and hot rodders. Naturally, GM brought out the new C7 Stingray along with a 1963 split-window. Some lucky Corvette enthusiasts even got
Story & Photos: George Speed
to take a spin in a new Grand Sport! The show was an absolute success! From the pioneers to the latest and greatest, it was an amazing display of passion!
For more coveage of great events like this one, please take a moment to visit us online at: www.drivenworld.com Please join our forums and share your passion!
Cars and Cigars
The Season Opener
Photo: Effspot Photography Photo: Effspot Photography
Cars and Cigars continued Story by: Dustin Troyan Photos:: Greg Grudt
The season opener of Cars and Cigars was I-N-C-R-ED-I-B-L-E! What makes the event so wonderful is, of course, the people. From the guests to the sponsors, Cars and Cigars is an event that embodies friendship and passion. Partnering with great organizations, like Lavaggio and the Auto Gallery, only make events like this one better. Lavaggio hosts the event and they held true to their mantra: exceed expectations. The Auto Gallery promised to deliver something special and they sure did. Lonnie Decker, General Manager of Lamborghini North Los Angeles, surprised everyone with an Aventador Roadster, the only one in North America! Lavaggio created a very special menu for the evening. Their Executive Chef and her staff graciously passed hors d’oeuvres and assisted guests with their every need. The food and service was outstanding! Lavaggio’s favorite Frank Sinatra-impersonator was singing classics, which only added to the lovely ambiance of this incredible evening. The newest sponsor this season, Ventura Cigar Company, is owned and operated by car guys who were passing out cigars from the back of a Rolls Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe. That sure is one way to do it! It was perfect! Glenfiddich was also there to offer samplings of their amazing single malt Scotch whisky. Imagine enjoying a tasting, getting an education on Scotch, being surrounded by the world’s finest automobiles, listening to Sinatra in the background. It was a magical combination. Because Cars and Cigars is an event created by car enthusiasts for car enthusiasts, we better get to the cars! Let’s just say that having five Lamborghini Aventadors in any location at any one time is rare, but for one of them to be the new, pre-released Roadster is really something! We were also lucky to have something from a bit earlier in Lamborghinis history a Miura that was a winner at last year’s Greystone Concours d’ Elegance. With the past and the present together, Lamborghini definitely owned the night. You know an event is a success when it is so filled to capacity that there is no room for a Carrera GT! From Italy’s most exotic cars to world-class, customized muscle cars, it was automotive nirvana, and a bit of sensory overload. The local automotive paparazzi were there, too. Photographs and videos were going viral while the event was still going on. A very special thank you to all of the sponsors and guests who make the Cars and Cigars so amazing! We have been doing it for almost a decade and will continue on for the next decade and then some.
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Porsche Day at Supercar Sunday
Porsche Marque Day at Supercar Sunday is always brilliant. There is never a shortage of Porsche enthusiasts—from the purists who have loved Porsche for decades to the air-cooled fanatics, Turbo guys, track rats, and, of course, the modified group. On this day everyone gathers to appreciate what Ferdinand Porsche created! Porsche Marque Day almost feels like a big family reunion because the community is so large yet so connected. It is fun to sit back and watch as old friends catch up and new friends are made. The first Porsche arrived well before 6:00 am. Yes, early. There are certain segments of the automotive community that are highly motivated and Porsche is one of them. This group eats, drinks, and lives Porsche. Approximately 400 Porsches pulled into Supercar Sunday on this day, representing just about every model ever designed in Stuttgart—from the elusive Carrera GT to the 1973 RS and, of course, the early 356s and the big 1980’s whale tails. The history of Porsche design and engineering was on display.
Our presenting sponsor, the Auto Gallery, pulled out all stops with over fifteen new models on display. The Auto Gallery team, dressed in their white racing jackets, was there to share the new models, answer questions about Porsche, and support the event! Auto enthusiasts from all over the state poured into the Westfield Promenade parking lot. Although it
Story by: Dustin Troyan Photos:: AG Staff
was the Porsche Marque Day, just about every other car was also on display, including Julius’s winged car, the hottest hot rods, and the rarest exotics. For more information on Supercar Sunday, to view hundreds of pictures and share some of your own, please log on and join the forums at www.drivenworld.com.
Crazy Al Donath and his new ‘57
Driven World magazine would like to congratulate Crazy Al Donath on his newly-acquired 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Those of you who know Al will understand why we call him “Crazy Al.” Filled with energy, Al has been passionate about the car scene since he was a kid. He has great stories of drag racing and cruising over the decades. Many of you know Al from Classic Chevys of
Southern California where he has been a member for over twenty-two years. He has served as President of the club, head cheerleader, and, of course, his most natural role as Crazy Al. Al’s new ‘57 boasts a fuel injected LS-3, a modern, automatic transmission, and air conditioning. It is absolutely brilliant underneath with a full Corvette suspension and only the best of the best parts! The
Story by: Dustin Troyan Photos:: Marcel Velaszquez
car was previously owned and “put together” by Jerry Magnuson of Magnuson Superchargers, and Jerry does things right. This car was built by one of the best innovators in the industry and is now owned by one of the most passionate in the community! Happy motoring, Crazy Al!
Interview of the Month: Robert, I can recall first meeting you, you were smiling and extremely positive. So positive, I noted to myself, wow, this guy is “high energy.” I wondered if I happened to catch you on a “great day” or if that was just who you were. Over the past couple of years, I have come to learn that, it is just who you are. You seem to have an amazing outlook on life and are always upbeat and ready for any challenge. Learning more about you, I found that you have your own business and are considered to be one of the best at what you do. You are also an automobile and racing enthusiast and really live the lifestyle. Tell me Robert, what makes you tick? My life lessons—he mistakes that I made in the past, the lessons I learned the hard way, and the results I have achieved with hard work and no short cuts. More than anything else I am truly grateful for everything in my life and I take nothing for granted. I take pride in the business I founded and will go to lengths to protect and maintain its reputation and mine. I will always strive to be the best in the world at what we do. I have an amazing wife, a super cool dog named Enzo, a very close family, great friends. I found something that I am very good at and love to do. So, with that being said, everyday is a great day! I have come to the conclusion that you have an outlook on life that leads you to your positive attitude and “can do” attitude, where does this attitude come from? Do you believe that this outlook or life paradigm plays a role in your success? Absolutely! “I know I can” is the first step. The attitude comes from being highly competitive. I need challenges, especially ones I enjoy to begin with. I set realistic goals and when I meet them, I set a new one. I am fueled by results and compliments and I am hard on myself when the opposite happens. I look up to some great men like David Murdoch, Lowell Milken, and Enzo Ferrari. The first two gentlemen are my clients and have taken time out of their busy lives to share knowledge and wisdom with my brother and me. It’s a gift to have the relationships that I do with them and all my other clients. Then there is a man I admire who defines the word “passion”: Mr. Ferrari. His quote, “The most important victory is the one which has to arrive” is part of my religion. In all the time I have known you, I have never heard a negative statement about, well, anything or anyone. Never. Is this part of your personal mantra? Mantra is a good word. It has been my mantra for almost 20 years and it has proven to deliver much better results than negative behavior. Thanks for the observation because it is one of the basic character traits I try to influence people to have. I believe if you have nothing nice or positive to say, then don’t say anything at all. Or, if you don’t like someone or something, pretend that person can hear what you saying and say what you would say to that person face-to-face. You can never go wrong with that policy! What exactly is your business, Bliss HTA? What do you do? How did you begin? Bliss HTA stands for Bliss Home Theaters & Automation. We build reference level turn-key home theaters
Interview by: Dustin Troyan Photos: Randy Cordero
and full automation systems. My father had a HiFi store when I was a kid. I was in awe of these big amps and stereophile speakers. My love for music was born. At the age of fourteen, I started building my first car, a 1955 custom Volkswagen Bug. Of course it had to have a serious sound system. That car and future cars earned me “Best of Show” honors for the car audio systems. Turns out I was good at something! I founded the business in May of 1994 as Bliss Enterprises after working in an audiophile retail shop in the valley for a couple of years. I did car audio installs and some HiFi sales on the day the owner was off. One day a Fosgate surround processor showed up and the boss said ‘figure it out’. I assembled a system and I remember everyone’s faces when they heard it when I finished. How cool was this! I became the lead installer for home and cars at that point. I loved getting out of the store and installing the audiophile systems in clients’ houses. I quickly learned
that each home had its own special circumstances and that a generic install left a client unhappy with wires and power cords left strewn across the floor. Using my skill set from car audio installation, I began to work on the weekends for clients directly. Running wires in the walls, hiring an electrician to provide power outlets to avoid extension cords, adding acoustic treatments to the room to enhance the sound—basically anything I could do to create a proper environment. In ‘92 a product called a Faroudja line doubler came to market. Super expensive but this device allowed CRT projectors to have a much higher quality image. I was sent to training for a company called Vidikron that made residential specific CRT projectors. In 92 these projectors were $50K and the Faroudja $12K. Home theaters were becoming a reality and I was into it! The owner of the store built a demo theater room by taking over the building next door. All top of the line equipment and I put it all together. It didn’t work out as he thought. At a $100K the customers that walked into the store would just dream about the theater but no one ever purchased it because it was too expensive and too complicated. In early ‘94 I was living in my parents’ home for financial reasons. I got to talking to the next door neighbor and he wanted a system. I told him what I would do if I were him. Then it happened, just like that. He said do it, I want what you recommend and I want you to do everything from A to Z. The biggest single sale in the store’s history was $40,000. I created an invoice that came out to $24,000. Proud of what I had started, the owner didn’t believe that someone would buy a TV he has never seen or a surround system that he had never heard. I mentioned that there are customers that don’t go into stores. They are too busy or just not knowledgeable about the product. Confident I could do it, I secured a check in full! I was promised a big bonus if this went smooth. I installed everything and the neighbor was elated!
Robert Bliss
The let down was my big bonus… a $100 bill. Deflated by the lack of compliments, shitty bonus and envious coworkers I started to daydream about my own business where I went to a client’s home and sold them what was best for their specific needs. Pitched it to my brother and he thought I was crazy. Girlfriend thought the same. At this point in my life I really had nothing to lose. I made up some business cards and handed them out on the weekends when I did the side work. I eventually got a call! And another, small jobs but jobs. I knew there was a potential. I told one of my co-workers about my plan and he went straight to the owner. Confronted about what I was doing, he gave me an option, work for him and succeed or work for myself and fail. How can this guy predict that? I proved there is a business model so I left and started my business. I used my savings and bought a new Chevy truck, tools, and a computer. Looked for any kind of training I could find in between jobs. I was averaging 8-10 hrs of work a week but I was making more than I
been in a projection booth or tech room. Just wide eyed that this level of performance existed. He gave me a project to wire up a rack. He left me to work and came back a few hours later. Content with my work, I was expecting a compliment, instead, disappointment. He very politely said I’ll show you how to do this properly. I realized that my skill set was much lower than I thought it was. I was about a 4 out of 10. Brad became my mentor. He is a master of his trade. One of the best in the business and he taught me everything he knew and I gave him a 110%. I could not wait to go to work the next day. Eventually I was flying with him to the out of state jobs and not his other techs. We became great friends and he knew I would work hard for him and never complain or tire even when we worked 20 hrs straight. I worked for Brad for 7 months until my business grew to the point where I could not share my time. I got to the position where I needed help and in 96 and hired my first employee. I moved back into my home with my brother. My brother George worked for Disney in the IT division. A savvy computer person, I hired him to moonlight and program remotes for me. Noticing the potential of the business and me starting to make real money, he started building sys-
did working 40 hours at the stereo shop. This was motivating! A home Theater magazine came out with custom installations. Wow! I was jaw dropped on what was on the cover. It was the same feeling I got from reading car magazines and then the Ferrari F40 comes out. A whole different level! I told myself I would build a theater like that one day and possibly be on a cover. Loving what I do and more motivated than ever to learn and get to the next level, I called the company that installed the theater on the cover since he was located in Santa Monica. This is where it all changes, a chance, an opportunity. I called them to find out where I can go to enhance my skills. The secretary puts me on hold and then the owner is on the line. A gentleman by the name of Brad Wells starts interviewing me and asks a lot of technical questions. I disclosed that I was an integrator. He was impressed with what I knew and told me that he was so busy that he wanted to see if I would work for him when I had spare time. I told him my rate and he agreed. 40 hrs of work at 5x what I was making at the shop or a 500% raise! I met up with Brad at job site. I have never been in such a home. I tried to act like this was another day at work but I was in amazed by everything. The theater was bigger than the entire stereo shop. I had never
tems for the Disney execs on the side. A referral from a small job led me to Mr. Quinn. He was building a custom home in a new development in Socal. This would become my first 100K job. The project was a success to the point that I did the neighbor’s home and his neighbor’s home. Literally six homes in a row. I would eventually do over half of the high end jobs in this community ending with my first 200K job in 98 and that earned my first magazine article. A six page layout with all of us in one picture. A daydream turned into reality. I bought as many copies as I could find and placed one in a manila envelope and simply mailed it to my old boss. In only 4 years, Bliss Enterprises was on the map. I went out and purchased a BMW 5 series cash. I had surpassed my previous level of car but this time I did it the ‘honest to myself way’! The business grew to the whole home. Audio, video, lighting, HVAC, etc.. This required a Crestron system to handle all the sub systems. Very difficult to program and execute for the average integrator. I needed a complimentary skill set and my brother would be the perfect employee. The only problem was George made a substantial salary at Disney. After analyzing everything about my business with his accounting background he
Robert Bliss continued
countered my offer with becoming a partner. In 2000 George and I started Bliss Home Theaters and Automation, Inc. Business was booming. Our first magazine cover was in 2001. This indirectly led to our best client. I cannot use his name but he is one of the 400 wealthiest people in the world. His partner was just as wealthy. Being unhappy with their integrator, we were interviewed to possibly take over the job with a carrot of a new project if it worked out. We fixed all the problems with the current system and we were now designing what would eventually be the most advanced home in the world. The project started in 2000 and would mature in 2005. In 2001 my step dad, William Brewer, lost his contracts with Grumman aerospace after 911. This would also be key to us. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Berkley in computer science, our step dad took a look at what we were doing and started playing around with the Crestron software. We needed him to program this mega job and he has been working for us ever since. William is recognized, time and time again as one of the best Crestron programmers in the world. This client’s sister home would eventually win Bliss HTA the inaugural Robb Report “Installation of the Year” award. It’s been non-stop since then! Ironically the Robb Report’s last year of running the award was in 2009 and we won it again. Bliss HTA was the only company to win this coveted award twice! Being a successful business owner, do you think you have worked harder and longer then say someone that doesn’t own a business? Definitely! I can say my employees leave a job site and head home while I drive back to the office to work several more hours. I have to be conscious of time because I truly enjoy what I do and now that I am married I need to create some balance!
I could envision people looking at you and thinking, “wow, that guy has it made…” what is your back-story? Have you always been successful? Have you had challenging times? What sacrifices have you made to get where you are today? As I mentioned previously, I moved back into my parent’s house at 28. I was bankrupt two years prior. Car and credit card debts overwhelmed me trying to keep up with my friends. In hindsight it was more of a insecurity. Buying luxury items so it would look like I was successful but the reality was the complete opposite. I’ll never forget the day they towed my Dinan BMW 3 series away. My brother calling me a loser… actually, he was right. I was. I do remember telling myself that from that point on I had to be honest with myself first and only then could I feel that I could be honest with everyone else. Interesting how telling a lie is similar to not making your payments. It takes a long time to rebuild your credit and your word. Since I had no money, credit or credibility, I started from the bottom. A humbling learning experience for me, I went from a luxury car to a $300 Chevy Cavalier station wagon. My brother and I owned a condo together. I moved out and leased my half to cover that expense. I literally moved into a friend’s nightclub in Santa Barbara. I turned the basement into a little apartment. I learned how to bartend and managed the club operations during the day. I showered at the Gold’s gym next door and took my clothes to the laundromat. I knew I had a long road ahead of me I just had no idea where it would go. I saved every dollar I made in tips. I eventually paid off personal loans I had with family and friends. The Cavalier died and I bought a Ford Festiva. You would swear it was a BMW as it felt good to pay cash for it! Nobody was taking this car from me! I lived in that basement for two years. I managed to save up $30K and left the nightclub. I moved into my parent’s house. I didn’t know what I was going to do next but I knew I needed income because I didn’t want my savings to disappear. That’s when I decided to do something that I enjoyed. Money was not the motivating factor, enjoyment of what I did was and that’s when I went back into the stereo field. Robert, I see you as a very motivated person, extremely motivated. How do you stay so motivated? I was told that the toughest thing about success is remaining successful! I will never forget the phone ringing and creditors calling me. The hollow feeling of being someone I was not. Hard work got me to where I am today and I’m
not about to get lazy. Like I mentioned earlier, I am very competitive and like winning the big jobs and big awards. I am a gracious loser but I will always up my game to win again. Did you have anyone in your life that helped you along, a mentor perhaps? If yes, what did you learn from this person and how did you apply it to your own life? Again, Brad Wells as far as my mentor. He told me consistent business is the key to making it. I never forgot that. I apply it by getting every job to a 100% and not stopping till my client firmly believes we are the best and delivered everything that was expected or more. Our client’s referrals are the key to our consistent business. What would you tell someone starting a business? What do you feel are the keys to success? It’s actually very simple and not complicated. ‘Passion’. If you love what you do then you never go to work, instead it is a labor of love. Ethical. Being honest and upholding your word and commitments. Be proactive. Initiate, execute and follow through. Once you become re-active you’re not as in control. Work hard! There really is no downside to working hard. Something rewarding always comes from it. Model excellence. If you want to be in the real estate business, find out who the best is and go work for them. Learn their tricks. How
they operate… every detail and then duplicate and enhance. Be punctual. How can anyone expect good results or service if you can’t even be on time! Stay in shape and good health. This is often over looked but it’s difficult to run a business if your low on energy or get ill from poor diet and/or lack of exercise. And something you cannot only apply to business but life every day is “under promise, and over deliver” You will never let someone down if you follow that. And my hard learned motto “make good decisions”.
rari 312. I fell in love racing and the red car. Getting my first Ferrari and my best racing finish, 2nd with my brother as co-driver in Washington. That was cool! Did your passion for the automobile and racing help drive you to success? I never thought about it but now that you asked, it probably did!
Now to the cars, tell us about your love for automobiles? I understand that you love to off-road and race as well? Actually I love anything with a racing engine! Motorcycles, boats, karts, snowmobiles, sand cars, road cars, heck… even remote control cars. I’ll race anything. If there was two of us on lawn mowers, I’d race them. I got introduced to desert racing 5 years ago. The cars and trucks are just incredible. There is something cool about a car that can wheelie or jump a 100+ feet. It took two trips to the desert with a client that owned a race team and my brother and I bought a 900HP desert/sand car. It’s completely different car control and for some reason I picked it up really quickly and I’m running with the fastest guys. I also race shifter karts. Bang for the buck there is nothing that comes close. The biggest downside for me, is my size. I give up a lot at 6’2” 185 compared to the 5’8” guys weighing a 150 lbs. Regardless it’s real racing, a lot of fun and a great workout! Do you have a favorite memory from your years of being an enthusiast? Many but the top ones would be 1979 My first Grand Prix at Long Beach watching Villeneuve win in a Fer-
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What is your all time favorite car? 3 way tie! Ferrari F40LM, McLaren F1 LM, Pagani Zonda R. Would you like to tell us about some of the notable cars you have owned over your life? The notable ones would be my 1978 Alpina BMW 3 series. I bought it used in 81 and I was way ahead of the curve on European performance. Raced the canyons when it was safe to do so. It was all black and I cleaned it every 3 days! 2003 Renntech (AMG) SL55. I tried buying a new Ferrari but had about 0% chance so my backup plan was the SL55. I got one of the very first. Stock it was a monster but as they became more popular I sent mine off to Renntech to have the car tuned. $45K for the stage 3 package. It was just a beast at 640 hp! A great straight line car but horrible at track days. And that leads up to my current car a 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia, It truly was one of my most fun memories. Sitting with the GM, Jason Kosova, and going over every detail on the build sheet. A little surreal having a dream come true, Ordering your first brand new Ferrari. Robert, Thank you for the interview. I truly appreciate your friendship and sharing your story! The thanks go to you! You’re enthusiasm, love for
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cars, generosity, and compassion for others is refreshing and inspiring! Cheers!
For more information on Bliss Home Theaters and Automation, please visit: www.blisshta.com
May Calendar of Events
3 Fri Mission Hills – First Friday Niter, Santa Monica Sports Car Club/SCCA Navigation Rally, 7PM, Info: 310-372-7168, 818-986-4565, http://ffn.smscc.org 3-5 Fri-Sun Willows-CSRG Rolling Thunder, Thunderhill Raceway, www.csrgracing.org Tucson AZ-39th annual Rodders Days, 5655 w. Valencia rd, 8am-3pm, 520-664-7977, www.tucsonstreetrodassociation.com Riverside-Show and Go Car Show for Charity, www.showandgo.org 4-5 Sat-Sun Chino-Airshow 2013 ‘Lighting Strikes’, Chino Airport, www.planesof fame.org Buttonwillow-VARA British Extravaganza+ SVRA-West, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, 800-280-8272, www.vararacing.com 4 Sat Burbank – Autobooks open 9AM! Free coffee and Donuts, 2900 W. Magnolia. 818-845-0707 Carmel Valley-5th annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering. 10:00 am to 3:30 pm Quail Lodge Golf Club, 8000 Valley Greens Drive, www.quaillodgetickets.com Long Beach-18th annual all Toyotafest, Queen Mary, 9am-5pm, 562-412-3932, www.toyotaclub.org Pomona-Pomona Catholic Booster’s12th Annual Car show, 533 West Holt Ave, 9am-2:30pm, 909-664-4683 Antioch-Diablo Valley Mustang Association 15th annual Show N Shine Car Show, 4701 Lone Tree Way, 10am-4pm, 925-383-9579, www.dvma.org 5 Sun Beverly Hills-4th annual Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance, 10:00am-4:00pm, www.greystoneconcours.org Torrance-8th Annual Edelbrock Rev’ved Up 4 Kids, 510 Madrid Ave, 10am-4pm, www.revvedup4kids.com Chatwsworth-Classic Chevy’s of Southern California 31st Annual Car Show San Antonio Boys town of the West, 2100 Plummer St., Chatsworth, CA 91311 Event Contact Person: Jerome Ruzicka real409@aol.com Event Info Phone: 818-259-1964 Proceeds to benefit Rancho San Antonio Boys town of the West. Open to all makes and models, classics, rods, customs, low riders and trucks. Entry fee $25.00. Free to spectators. Show features awards to top 50 cars, raffle for 350 Chevy crate engine, 50/50 raffle, bake and silent auction & BBQ. Show hours 7:30 AM to 3 PM. 9-11 Fri-Sun Monterey-American Le Mans Series weekend. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 800-327-7322, www.mazdaraceway.com Supercar Sunday 11-12 Sat Sun Every Sunday Van Nuys-Spring Fling XXVII all Mopar Event @ Woodley Park, www.cpwclub.com 7-10am 11 Sat Burbank – Autobooks open 9AM! Free coffee and Donuts, 2900 W. Magnolia. 818-845-0707 www.Supercarsunday.com Culver City-George Barris Cruisin’ Back to the 50’s Car Show, 310-499-4880, www.culvercitycarshow.com San Lorenzo-12th Annual Arroyo Classic & Custom Car show, Arroyo HS 15701 Lorenzo Ave, 9am-3pm, 510-483-1776, www.arroyocarshow.com Paso Robles-Warbirds Wings And Wheels 5, Estrella Warbird Museum 4251 Dry Creek rd, 10am-3pm, 805-423-1095, www.ewarbirds.org/www4.html 12 Sun Long Beach - Hi-Performance Swap Meet & Car Show - Veterans Stadium. Vintage, Classic & Hi Performance trucks. www.toppingevents.com 16-19 Thur-Sun Sonoma- GRL Sonoma Historic Motorsport Festival honoring Corvette, Sonoma Raceway, 805-686-9292,www.generalracing.com 18-19 Sat-Sun Santa Barbara-14th Annual Wheels & Waves Classic and Hot Rod Show, www.wheelsandwaves.com 18 Sat Burbank – Autobooks open 9AM! Free coffee and Donuts, 2900 W. Magnolia. 818-845-0707 Pine Valley-11th Annual Run to the Hills, Historic Highway 80, 9am-2pm, www.mondaynitecarclub.net Pomona-All AMC Car Show, NHRA Museum 1101 W. McKinley Ave, 10am-3pm, www.socalamx.net/carshow Buena Park-Fabulous Fords Forever, Knott’s Berry Farm, www.fabulousfordsforever.org San Rafael-Marin Sonoma Tour d’Elegance 415-479-7727, www.marinsonomaconcours.org Chatsworth-Classic Ford Car Show, California Car Cover 9525 De Soto Ave, 9am-2pm, 818-998-2100 Rancho Cucamonga-3rd Annual Cruisin’ for the Kids, Haven & Arrow, 9am-1pm, 909-226-1375 Upland-Classic Car Show & Toys for Tots Drive, Historic Downtown Upland, 9am-2pm, 909-985-2231, www.coopermuseum.org Sun 19 Pasadena Concorso Ferrari, Colorado Blvd. Old town Pasadena, free to public, $55 entry fee. Anna McKinley 818.971.3300 x2311, www.fca-sw.org Riverside-13th annual All Chrysler Car & Truck Show & Swap Meet at CSDR, 3044 Horace St, 8am-3:30pm, , www.inlandmopars.org Petaluma-40th Early Ford Swap meet, Pealume Fairgrounds, 5am-, 707-527-9183 Red Bluff-30th River Park Car show, 8am-3pm, 530-275-8655 Sun 19 Fullerton-Muckenthaler Concours d’Elegance, 1201 W. Malvern Ave, 10am-4pm, www.themuck.org San Rafael-5th Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, 10am-4pm, Marin County Fairgrounds, www.marinsonomaconcours.org Riverside-Mopars in May at CSDR, 3044 Horace St, 8am-3:30pm, 714-993-5257, www.inlandmopars.org 25 Sat Burbank – Autobooks open 9AM! Free coffee and Donuts, 2900 W. Magnolia. 818-845-0707 Rio Linda-12th Annual thunder in Depot Park, 810 Oak Lane, 8am-3pm, 530-677-4761, www.capitolautoclub.com Reno NV-Summer Salute Car show, 1595 N. Sierra, 775-424-6999, http://classicchevysreno.com Frazier Park-5th Annual Ridge Route Run, Downtown Frazier Park, 7am-3:30pm, 661-245-0150, fmcc@frazmtn.com 26 Sun Long Beach–Cycle Show & Swap @ Veterans Stadium Motorcycles & bicycles. Buy/sell/trade.vintage/parts/bikes/accessories. www.toppingevents.com, Anaheim-39th Annual All Studebaker Car Show & Parts Exchange, La Palma Park, 8am-3pm, 714-835-0249 Big Bear lake-Car Show, Citibank 41969 Big Bear Blvd, 909-585-9253, www.antiquecarclub.org.
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