Driven World October 2014 Edition

D RIVENWORLD

Oct 2014

After all...it’s a driven world!

DRIVENWORLD.COM

THE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE

The Annual Monterey Car Week Issue The Official Magazine of Supercar Sunday

IMAGINE DRIVING A PRISTINE CAR EVERY DAY OF EVERY WEEK.

P L AT I N U M C L U B M E M B E R S H I P F R O M L AVA G G I O Lavaggio’s world-class wash facilities and concours-trained detail technicians are at your service.

At Lavaggio, we pamper automobiles... and their owners with The Art of Auto Detailing.

ConCierge ServiCe Complimentary BiStro me al interne t & entertainment

exeCutive BuSineSS lounge v . i . p. t r a n S p o r t a t i o n e xCluSi v e memBer-only e v ent S

For more information, call Lydia Derian at 818.584.3240 and visit www.lavaggio.net

D RIVENWORLD ISSUE 58, Oct. 2014

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Dustin Troyan

ART DIRECTOR

Connected Media Group LLC

COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan

DESIGN Connected Media Group WEB DESIGN

Page 10

Contents

Jeff Balbien

STORIES BY Dustin Troyan Mark Llewellyn Scott Martin Brooks Smith Tommy Mansuwan Jim Hunter Mike Grudt

PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Grudt Scott Martin Tommy Mansuwan Dustin Troyan Jim Hunter

Advertising/Marketing: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com

818-516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com Page 20

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.

On the Cover: “Perfection�

Photo: Greg Grudt www.exoticcarfotos.com

Page 30

From the Editor

The first time I drove a Ferrari.

Well, it was more of moving it. One parking space to the next.

But it was very exciting. A 1997 F355 Spider, Fly Yellow in color. It was AWESOME.

Attention to Detail, that was the name of our mobile detailing business. Brian Zacuto and I. Attention to detail. His mom actually came up with the name as we sat at her dinner table and hypothesized about opening our own mobile detail business.

Brian has always been a car guy. He has owned so many cars I cannot keep track. He always kept them spotless. Great with a buffer, he could make them shine. I was more of the labor.

But hey, I don’t mind work, so...we went for it.

At that time I was going to Pierce College, working as a barista at Village Coffee Roaster and surfing as much as I could. Brian had decided that he wanted to be his own boss and I too liked the idea as well and figured I could juggle it all, so we went for it. How hard could it be?

Our trailer was bitchin’. Brian always liked nice cars and has a gift for setting them up.

The trailer was no different. Ferrari Fly Yellow in color, a huge water tank for the Reverse Osmosis water (Brian demanded we had it), a quiet generator, carpeted plywood and diamond plate. She was a beauty. The little things like electrical cable on hose reels and the bells and whistles, all Brian.

How did we get started? The old fashioned way, we pounded the pavement. I kept the job at Village Coffee Roaster and would talk to my regular clients and we would do their cars.

I’ll never forget the day we knocked on a new clients door and a blonde bombshell opened the door almost in the nude. Brian nearly fell off his feet. Naturally, I smiled and took her keys.

Brian had a connection with a business owner and they were a highly successful group of guys. They all had nice cars including that Ferrari F355 Spider that I got to move. That was our Friday account. We would wash about 20 cars and detail about four. It was a l-o-n-g day. And, let me remind you, I was the labor. Meaning that I would do all the hard stuff. Well, I guess that isn’t fair.

Brian is an artist with the wheel, man can he polish up cars. I wanted nothing to do with that as I was afraid of burning paint. So, he got to fine tune and I got the broad strokes. Interior and exterior washing and vacuuming. Now in his defense, we both worked our asses off and then some.

Thursdays too. Man I hated Thursdays. We had another account in Chatsworth.

It gets really hot in Chatsworth. As I recall we would do about 20 washes a couple details and then head to the business owners home and do his other three to four cars. We never took lunches, but worked straight through.

Hot, windy, sick, whatever, we worked hard.

I remember the day we decided to get cell phones. Cell phones were not like they are now, disposable. It was quite something to have a cell phone, let alone a Motorola StarTac with

the larger battery. Brian was always a gadget guy.

He didn’t have to twist my arm too much on that one though. The coolest phones, a trailer, man we were on our way to the top. Detailers to the stars.

Pounding the pavement. I remember getting kicked out of shopping centers for leaving fliers on cars. Or the guys that would negotiate the price AFTER you agreed upon and finished the job. Acid wheel cleaner, that must have been great for our lungs.

We cleaned this car and that car. A truck, a van, a boat. Some really nasty cars, vomit. I’ll never forget pulling out a cheeseburger that had been in the car for years...from a notable fast-food restaurant. I pulled it out from deep under the seats of the van, and I swear to this day, beyond being harder than a rock, it looked as if it just rolled off the skillet. Yuck.

I never could roll up the pressure washer hose. At the end of the day, I didn’t care too much and we kept the trailer and supplies at Brian’s house. So...I would leave it for him. After all, I washed every damn car while he rinsed them off. He still laughs to this day...how I washed them all and did the interiors. Brian!

It was a tough business, but we were our own bosses. Doing what we wanted, how we wanted, when we wanted. Naturally, we kept all appointments and worked hard to deliver value, but...if there was surf, we would cut the day short and I would surf and Brian would work on his car. It was great. We were making pretty good money, low overhead, our own hours and freedom. Entrepreneurs.

We both came from middle class households, so it was interesting to get behind all the gates and private communities. It was enlightening to see how much wealth was out there. Guys with big fancy cars, big watches and wads of cash.

Some guys would go through cars so fast it was crazy. Every few months a new car. Five thousand miles, time to take it back... Guys throwing us keys to Porsche Turbos and saying “take it for a spin...”

It is funny to look back and to see that we are both still in automotive doing our own things. Brian now owns SuperchargersOnline. com, the largest distributors of Superchargers in the world and I have Connected Media Group LLC which is my Marketing and Consulting business that revolves around the car world.

We have always been hard workers, back then and now. Being your own boss is awesome, but it requires a lot of work, time and effort. And then a little bit more. Sacrifice they say, but is it a sacrifice if you are doing it on your own terms?

I am shocked when I think that our passion for cars have played such a role in our lives. I remember Brian talking about getting into high performance because it was his passion. Saying, he would be doing what he loved.

Twenty years later, he is still doing it and doing it well. As for me, I never really knew what I wanted to do. I like to do a lot of stuff and right now they are all in the car world, and I love it.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream.

Discover.”

- Mark Twain

Where am I going with this? Well, I suppose if two bums who started an auto detailing business because we both knew it would be a stepping stone to the next better business, so can you.

It was taking that first step in a direction, that started to pave the way for our future... one little step.

Now neither Brian or I are millionaires, yet. We are not driving Ferraris and McLarens, but, we are having a good time. We are working harder then ever, for ourselves. At the end of the day, I guess there is something nice about being your own boss, although you can never really turn off.

My father used to tell me over and over, “be your own boss”, perhaps because he didn’t like his bosses. He would also say that there is “no greater tragedy than wasted talent”, I never really got it as a kid. But, now that I am approaching forty, I get it. I see young men and women with so much talent and they either are afraid to take that step or do not believe in themselves. Talent, I think so many of us have so much untapped, raw talent that we just need to find it. And pursue your dreams with the passion of a giant.

Washing cars. I have washed hundreds of cars. Maybe a thousand cars. I have cleaned up vomit, pet hair, diapers and so on and all sorts of gross stuff. Brian worked his tail off. It was hard, it was sacrifice, it was experience, it was pride, it was experience and I don’t think either of us would change it for the world.

If you follow your passion and love what you do and do it well, you may just get the right equation together and hit it big. Or you may not, but I will die trying and doing it on my terms. Brian too.

Go for it. Trust yourself, believe in yourself, have faith and don’t waste that talent. Be great!

-Dustin

A Car Guy in Monterey

Story & Photos by Scott Martin

For a car guy, there’s nothing better than going to Monterey Car Week. This time last year, I was “A Car Guy in Italy”, seeing my own version of a diverse International Car Show. But as much as I hate to say it, that adventure almost pales in comparison to all the amazing cars and events that you can witness while visiting this Mecca of vehicular awesomeness which occurs every September.

Starting in 1950 with a race event sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has grown into a week-long series of the highestlevel of automotive events, introductions, shows, parties, drives, races and auctions which now culminate in the exclusive Concours.

My time in Monterey this year was limited to just four days prior to the weekend and was filled with a back-to-back itinerary which had me

continually driving from one side of the Peninsula to the other. Occasionally I got lucky, like being able to walk from the Russo and Steele to the RM Auction areas, or driving out of the Crash d’Concours and running into one of the meeting points for the Tour d’Elegance. I was also able to combine my media-scheduled test drive in the new F-type R Jaguar Coupe and visit Bonhams auction area with an afternoon at the Quail Motorsports Gathering.

The first event on my agenda is only in its second year, but looks like it will be around for a long time. The Carmel Mission Classic “Car Show and Blessing of the Automobiles,” took place at the historic Carmel Mission. Established by father Junipero Serra in 1770, it was only the second Spanish mission following San Diego. Vehicles on display there ranged from Gary Wales’ La Bestioni to Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS, plus the new Pagani Huayra. Every vehicle was actually blessed with Holy water in a very interesting ceremony by the Most Reverend Richard Garcia, Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey and Fr. Paul Murphy, Pastor of Carmel Mission Basilica.

From there, I drove across the Peninsula to see a great collection of Micro and other small cars at The Little Car Show in downtown Pacific Beach. Just like at August 2014’s Supercar Sunday Microcar Marque Day, you could find Subaru’s, Fiats, Smart Cars, VW’s and BMW Isetta’s, but this show went on for blocks on both sides of the street and the medians, so the selection was enor-

mous. All the people were super friendly and everybody wanted to talk about their cars as I was taking photos, so I made a lot of new friends.

I began to see a lot of Tatra cars in between the micros and minis, and didn’t find out until later that the streamlined Czechoslovakian car, mainly of the 30’s was a “Special Class” this year at Pebble Beach, as well as Ferrari Testa Rossa and Ruxton.

While cruising around Carmel, all the classic, valuable vehicles driving and parked were

amazing, basically the owners of millions of dollars-worth of cars were just cruising around and having a good time, eating, drinking (hopefully not too much alcohol) visiting the shops and galleries, schmoozing on the streets and attending all the private parties and introductory gatherings around the byways of Carmel-By-The-Sea and throughout the Monterey Peninsula.

Another phenomenon that you notice after a while is all the pre-parties at the auction houses… Mecum, Bonhams, Russo and Steele, RM, Gooding & Co, all had very nice reception layouts and then food and drink constantly available throughout the previews and auctions themselves. But seemingly, they can afford it, considering a total of $400 million worth of cars were sold, with Bonhams garnering $108 million, Gooding taking $106 million and RM raking in $143 million dollars.

Speaking of the auctions, a continuing trend that I saw at each (a little less at RM) is the promotion of “original” vehicles, or those that have their original paint and interiors and are sold accordingly. The prices are still high depending on the model, and some which are considered “barn

finds” may go for millions of dollars in certain circumstances. Another related category are those vehicles whose looks, including the character of the paint and interior has been kept to original, but all the underlying components have been modernized. One show that featured vehicles of that nature was the newly created Crash d’Concours event.

Crash d’Concours billed itself as “Pioneers of Retro Innovation” and was essentially a salute to modern day automotive pioneers. The relatively small outdoor exhibition made up for its size by the uniqueness of its offerings. Gary Wales was there, of course, with his totally unique La Bestioni and there was another Jules Vernesque vehicle

that dwarfed even “The Beast”. A number of electric vehicles were featured including retro-modern offerings from the sponsoring Vintage Electric Bikes and a Zelectric VW Beetle. One weatherbeaten looking 1950’s Oldsmobile convertible from ICON had a completely new chassis, drivetrain, electronics and even a navigation system.

I ran into some bad traffic leaving the “Crash”, but it turned out to be a stroke of good luck. Lanes were narrowed by the police to make way for the final leg of the Tour d’Elegance which was on its way to Ocean Avenue in Carmelby-the-Sea. So I pulled over at a good vantage point and started shooting away… getting great shots of almost every classic vehicle that would soon be displayed on Ocean Avenue and ultimately at the Pebble Beach Concours on Sunday. It wasn’t as picturesque as the 17 mile segment or Laguna Seca portion, but the cars tell their o w n stories.

Allowing enough time for all the classics to be parked on Ocean Avenue, I made my way to the small town of Carmel-by-theSea, amazingly finding a parking space only two blocks away. Taking photos of some great classic cars on the streets while walking, I finally saw what looked like a river (literally flowing)

of people which turned out to be Ocean Avenue.

“This is not going to be good,” I thought, planting myself directly behind a 1941 Chrysler Town & Country Station Wagon. But all of a sudden, the crowds parted before me, and “Snap!” I got my photo! Then I turned to my right and there was a 1938 Delahaye 135MS Torpedo Grand Sport, and “Snap!”, I got another one without people in front of the car! And it was like that my whole way up and down the street… not to make the scene sound biblical, but it was like Moses parting the Red Sea! I still can’t explain it, and yes at certain times I had to be very patient, but someday you must ask me to see the whole portfolio… it’s really quite amazing! The exit of the cars for their final drive was a little different… as they were leaving one at a time, four different people with their cell phone cameras kept vying to get in front of me. Yes, I tried to be nice, but sometimes people are just rude! So, I didn’t get the perfect shot of every vehicle, but I got a lot of great ones of most of them.

Out of the hundreds of amazing cars that I saw at several auctions, a few stood out in my mind. I did not get to see the 1962-63 Ferrari

GTO Berlinetta that sold for an auction record of $38,115,00, but I was able to photograph the 1967 Ferrari 675 GTB/4 that originally belonged to Steve McQueen (see story in September issue of Driven World.) It sold at RM Auctions for $10 million although the actual value of the vehicle is only around $3 million (that’s the McQueen Effect at work!) Another beautiful and rare Ferrari brought to Monterey by Wayne Carini was the 1966 365P Pininfarina Tre Posti Speciale offered through Gooding and Co. Big things were expected for the vehicle but, sadly, an agreeable price point was not reached in the auction. Just for the interest factor, Gary Wales’ Floridian counterpart, J.P. van de Bundt, offered his handcrafted 1928 Rolls Royce Torpedo Phaeton called “Thunderbolt” at the Russo and Steele auction for $199,000 and settled for a respectable $187,000.

There were several events going on at the same time on Friday morning, August 15th, but I opted for Legends of the Autobahn Concours because it sounded so darned interesting and, to be honest, I’ve owned so many (now classic) BMW’s and Mercedes plus a newer Audi that I couldn’t NOT go. There was also an open class for non-BMW, Mercedes and Audi owners to display their German-made cars, but otherwise, membership in BMW, Mercedes and Audi clubs of (North) America were required to enter. I was not disappointed by the new, classic and racing cars, plus

the rolling greens and scattered water features of the Nicklaus Club-Monterey golf course set off the cars beautifully. Porsche was absent in this fifth year of the all-German marque as they broke away to create the Werks Reunion which was held at Ranch Canada Golf Club in Carmel Valley, previous home of the Legends of the Autobahn.

N o w into the home stretch, quickly through Bonhams where the Ferrari Berlinetta had sold for $38 million, and then on my way to The Quail Gathering. But first, since they were all in the same area, a quick test drive in the new Jaguar F-Type R Coupe. No, it’s not a Ferrari 458 Italia, Lambo Huracan, nor even the like-styled Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe, but the 5.0 Liter 550hp Supercharged V8 with 502 lb-ft of torque combined with configurable dynamic sport suspension and switchable active sport exhaust was definitely impressive in the hills above The Quail Lodge.

Well worth the half-hour detour!

My last

stop, The Quail, could have been a show just to go to Monterey for by itself. There is just so much going on at this private event! Every exotic car manufacturer is introducing something new, all the high-end manufacturers are promoting a new marketing concept, the major industry players are offering champagne and the best hors d’eourves and everyone has their big schmoozing guns out plus the best vehicles they can possibly display so as to impress all the other industry players. Seriously, it is like all the best car shows and Concours’ and Kentucky Derby garden parties, all rolled into one. Basically, at the Quail Gathering, everyone pulls out all the stops and if you are not impressed here, you will never be impressed by anything.

After seeing one of my favorite cars at the Quail, Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS from the Petersen Collection, plus 6 Bugatti’s in one location and 4 Pagani Huayra’s in another, as well as Gary Wales’ La Bestioni, I was just about ready to leave. Then, all of a sudden, I heard the roar of an unfamiliar engine, and a low, wide, beautifully sculptured dark blue vehicle was advancing toward me. It turned out to be a very rare example of a 755hp Maserati MC12 Corsa. This was the only one of 15 produced that has been

modified to receive legal road registration. As they positioned it on to one of the putting greens, I started shooting and then I noticed, there is Mike Grudt! So I looked to my left, and sure enough, there with his long lens was one of my favorite photographers, Mike’s son, Greg Grudt.

They didn’t realize it, but we were sort of passing the torch right there, as one Driven World photographer and writer to another. For me, it was a very satisfying four days of non-stop classic and supercar action, knowing that I had gotten some of the best photographs of my life. For Mike and Greg, it was just the start of what I’m assuming would be a magical weekend including the conclusions of all the great car auctions, Concorso Italiano and of course, The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Scott Martin is a Calabasas resident, photojournalist, auto broker and frequent contributor to Driven World Magazine. He can be reached at autobrokerscott@gmail.com or 818-430-7266

For Show and For Go: Rare Classics Take Center Stage at Monterey Story & Photos by Jim Hunter

Our fascination with the automobile, the iconic symbol of the industrial age, has resonated with hopes and dreams beyond mere utilitarian purpose. It is doubtful that those who envisioned our liberation from behind the horse-drawn carriage foresaw the impact their creation would have on the world. Could Karl Benz and Henry Ford have possibly imagined the automobile to serve as a reflection and statement about the individual, about how he sees himself, and the extension of the ego via a machine?

Might they have also foreseen the automobile to become metaphorical for roads traveled against those unchartered, and that our apparent curiosity with its evolution to feed romantic notions of the man/machine relationship, past, present, and future? Who could have also extrapolated that the automobile’s operation would extend well beyond utilitarian purpose into competition, to be recognized as a rare skill practiced all over the world, requiring bravery, tenacity, and focus from those lucky enough to be regarded as pilots.

Yet time and time again over decades of change and growth, the automobile has become only more firmly planted in our imaginations, our dreams, our goals. As the future arrives in the form of surprising and fascinating technologies, the past is never forgotten, but instead revived, constantly present, vibrant. It is perhaps this dichotomy, our relationship with the machine as an extension of ourselves and the romanticized notions of our past, that pushes new boundaries and

fuels our insatiable appetite for the automobile.

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, cornerstone attractions in the annual celebration known as Monterey Car Week provide a brilliant, ingenious amalgamation of these unique but not mutually exclusive aspects of that appetite. Collected, restored, and exhibited automotive gems share the spotlight with equally historic race chassis, collected and restored, but driven as they were meant. The concours and historics have grown together, stimulating the imagination and creative endeavors of automakers worldwide. They are also a darn good time.

Pebble Beach fittingly kicks proceedings off with the Tour d'Elegance.

The Tour is a highlight of Pebble and Monterey Car Week, where those brave enough to wake before dawn can peruse the staging of some of the world's rarest automobiles up close before they take to scenic central coast roads including Monterey's fabled racing

circuit Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Hagerty's complimentary coffee and donut service also provides a jolt to one of the most anticipated mornings on the peninsula each year.

With the Tour, the weekend was thus set into high gear, encompassing four full days of historic racing and the accompanying auctions all building to Sunday’s concours on Pebble’s 18th Fairway. As with years past, 2014 welcomed another diverse collection of automotive influences to the peninsula.

Maserati's Centennial was celebrated at Pebble Beach and as the featured marque of the Rolex Reunion. The timing could not have

proven more appropriate for Maserati, who have dramatically re-engaged North America's ultra luxury market. It was easy to see and appreciate the unique the rare beauty this Italian marque has gifted the automotive world.

Given recent events regarding Ferrari's management and potential upturn in production, it is fitting that Best in Show went to a Ferrari for the very first time in Pebble's 64 year history.

The winning 1954 375MM Scaglietti Coupe, once owned by Roberto Rosselini, who allegedly ordered the car for his wife Ingrid Bergman, was entered by current owner and noted Ferrari collector John Shirley.

The 375 began life as a Pininfarina Spyder, but after a crash was later re-coached on Rosselini’s request by Scaglietti who had never before done a passenger car for Ferrari. Shirley acquired the car which was discovered in pieces in an underground garage in a Paris suburb in the

mid 90’s. As reported by Sportscar Digest, two restorations, the second benefitting from more thorough research, brought the car to Pebble for a second showing this year. The Scaglietti was also the first post war winner at Pebble since 1968.

As 2014 proved to be a feature year for ultra rare Ferraris, Pebble also presented a fantastic collection of 20 Ferrari Testa Rossa (250 TR), staged side by side, ranging from factory racing cars driven by some of history's most regarded drivers to customer road cars.

The collection not only included a Le Mans winner, but a prototype and the only 250 TR in existence to not have undergone restoration. No doubt, this was a very rare opportunity to see so many of the few examples in existence brought together against the beautiful, rocky coast.

Also on hand were three surviving entries from the 1914 French Grand Prix held at Lyon. The race winning Mercedes was joined at Pebble by a Peugeot and an Opel that were also on the Lyon grid. Of course, there were other featured marques and contributors to the passion and pursuit of automotive excellence. The scope of historic automobiles on display at Pebble each year could produce volumes.

The 2014 Rolex Reunion was the 41st consecutive Monterey Historic race and once again brought enthusiasts from across all demographics together in a celebration of the exercise of these machines.

Only in Monterey could one see a Ferrari 250 LM on market at auction, while its sister chassis was pushed through Laguna Seca’s famous corkscrew.

From pre-war racing machines, to the awesome power of the late 60's, early 70's TransAm machines, and up to several classes of FIA and GT championship cars not the least of which being represented by the storied BMW 3.0 CSL, a former Sebring winner driven by some of the most famous names in sports car history. There was even a Ferrari 250 GTO charging once again over the hilly, undulating circuit. The Rolex Reunion perfectly balanced Pebble, presenting equally valuable automobiles being put through their paces as we remember them, as they were intended.

Bringing it all full circle, Pebble Beach's Concept Lawn gives North America a glimpse into the vibrant future.

It was fitting to see Maserati present the Alfieri, a concept that debuted at Geneva, and is now slated for production, becoming available in 2016. McLaren also highlighted this year’s Concept Lawn with their P1 GTR, enhanced to 986 HP with numerous aero upgrades and a lower and wider front wheel track, it’s a car we’d all like see at Le Mans soon.

Concorso Italiano at Black Horse Story & Photos by Jim Hunter

Traditionally held on Friday, Concorso Italiano moved this year to Saturday for the first time in 28 years, and in doing so also returned to a very popular former venue, The Bayonet Black Horse Golf Club overlooking the Monterey Peninsula north of Seaside.

Moving the event to Saturday allowed Italiano to avoid a long-standing conflict with The Quail Motorsports Auction while making the concours more accessible to those in the region who normally could not get off work on Fridays.

Consistent with this year’s Monterey festivities, the Maserati Centennial was a highlight of this year's Concorso and a proper selection of rare Maserati classics were on display to mark the occasion. The list included the prototype Maserati 3500GT Vignale Spyder, a very popular car making the Monterey rounds and given the occasion, quite appropriately. These classic GT's shared Concorso Italiano's Centerpiece Display with a collection of Zagato's Atelier Contemporary cars, showcased by Italiano in honor of Zagato's own 95th Anniversary.

The collection included Zagato cars rarely seen by the public and marked the first and only time they have ever been seen together. Iterations included Ferraris, a 575 GTZ and a 550 GTZ Barchetta, several Aston Martins including a DB 9 Zagato Spyder Centennial, and an Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale on the hillside lawn under the Black Horse stage. A Lamborghini 595 Zagato and a Bentley GTZ rounded out the collection on display.

The show also offered a great selection of cars new and old across all Italian marques.

Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo cars from eras past and present were well represented. Fiat and DeTomaso Pantera enjoyed healthy turnouts and there was even a ’69 Intermeccanica Italia on hand. Swiss racing driver and Sauber F1 hopeful Simona de Silvestro made a special guest appearance for B.R.M. watches. A Ferrari powered 2012 Sauber chassis was also on display in conjunction with her appearance.

Above all of the beautiful cars, however, there is a spirit of pride and appreciation that defines Concorso Italiano. Whether it is an extremely rare Ferrari Zagato GTZ or a single owner Fiat, the passion these owners hold for their cars is the same.

Mike Stinson of Idaho is one such original owner. This year he brought his 1979 Fiat Brava 131 to Italiano for the second time. "I bought it new - March 19, 1979. Paid $5,390 for it; owned it since new. It has 110,000 original miles."

"It was parked for 15 years. Four years

ago I drove it again, without a test drive . . . 750 miles each way to a Fiat rally in Oregon! It was kind of risky but the car proved itself. I’ve since repainted it. The interior's been redone and I've installed Konis, sway bars, bushings, headers, a bigger carburetor, different manifold. It's been to LA, Colorado twice, Oregon six times, and now Monterey and Concorso Italiano twice."

"It's a hoot to drive. It handles really good, way better than it should because of the suspension mods. The engine is modded, it's really fun because you can do almost anything you want to it and drive it.”

Reflecting on his relationship with the car, Mike adds, “I'm pretty attached to it. I have two daughters; they call it their brother.

My wife calls it her son. I was in my twenties when I bought it. I'm 57 now. I could have sold it a dozen times last year when I came to Monterey for the first time. It's a rarity and I can't sell it. My kids say they will drive it after I'm gone.”

Mike’s story is not alone. Italiano showcases more than just cars but a boundless enthusiasm for Italy's automotive artistry. The sheer quantity and variety of Italian cars, all beautiful, most elegant, many powerful, and some priceless, feel at home under the Monterey Peninsula sun. As the day ends and the cars make the drive over the ridge back toward Monterey, it’s hard not to stand in awe for the significance of this annual celebration which passes all too soon. Bring on 2015.

72 Hours of Monterey Story by Mike Grudt and Photography by Greg Grudt

“But officer…I was only keeping up with traffic”. I’m glad I didn’t need to use that line considering the traffic included six new Lamborghini Huracans and four Aventadors. My son Greg and I recently attended the Lamborghini driving experience during Monterey car week in August. Wow… what a rush. I still can’t believe that happened. We spent a few minutes viewing a presentation of the new features of the Huracan and the various Lambo driving experience and track day options they offer and we were told the technical aspects including that the turn signals were located on the steering wheel. I went outside and hopped into “my” (at least it was mine for ~45 minutes or so) dark silver 700HP Aventador. I put it in manual shift race mode (or at least I think I did). As we pulled out onto a deserted Carmel highway I quickly snapped through the gears to hit unbelievable speeds as I struggled to keep up with the Lambo racer/rep in the red Aventador roadster ahead of me. As I kept the pedal to the metal each shift threw me

back into the seat. We soon made a left turn up the grade that leads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Again, I did my best to stay close to the red Aventador in front of me and I didn’t want to lift and risk getting rear-ended by the Aventador behind me. I figured the guy in front of me had run this course numerous times and he could see what was ahead so I just nailed it. This car is all wheel drive and keeps absolutely flat through the turns no matter how fast you go. I felt completely in control and I never did figure out the turn signals. After we completed this amazing experience I figured I would refi my house and purchase an Aventador. When I passed on Greg would inherit an Aventador and a big mortgage, but I’m sure he would be ok with that. Oh well…back to reality.

Last year Greg and I spent 48 action packed hours in Monterey. This year we scheduled 72 hours and by my calculations if we add one day per year we will spend a month in Monterey in the year 2040. This year (as we did last year) we left Agoura at 4 AM on Friday and as we entered the Monterey area we dropped down onto Laurels grade to Monterey. We spotted a silver Porsche Carrera GT and then we saw a few Pantera’s and some Triumph TR6’s going in the opposite direction. As we turned onto Carmel Valley

road we saw six Lambo Huracans and four Aventadors blowing up the highway in the opposite direction. The whole Monterey car week experience always seems so unbelievable. We arrived at Quail just before 10 AM. The Quail parking lot on the adjacent golf course is always the “car show out-

side the car show”. This year was amazing beyond belief. We saw a black Porsche 918 (supposedly the first California customer car), a couple of Veyrons, a yellow McLaren PI, a green McLaren P1, a Ferrari F40 and F50, a Ferrari 458 Speciale, a white McLaren F1 with a high downforce kit, a Carrera GT based Gemballa Mirage GT, and the list goes on and on. After we enjoyed the cars outside Quail we took in the amazing assortment inside. Just to clarify, the official name is “The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering 2014”. Some call this event “The Quail” and those of us in “the know” refer to the happening as simply “Quail”. As per usual Quail was amazing. A couple of Supercar Sunday regulars had their vehicles at Quail, Gary Wales and

Mike Weinrub. There were also the six Legends of Bugatti Veyrons on display, five Paganis and all of the Ferrari supercars. The event this year paid tribute to 100 years of Maserati and pristine and rare examples of this marquee were out in force.

Many were vehicles I have never seen. I say vehicles because there was even a 1956 Maserati single cylinder four stroke motorcycle…who knew they made bikes (or at least they made one). Lamborghini brought the amazing race version of their new Huracan that looks fast just standing still.

A f t e r our morning visit to Quail we traveled over to Pebble Beach to the Gooding auction. The Gooding always has some very unique and rare examples of motor vehicles. This year a few of my favorites were a white McLaren F1, a 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopo and a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. There were many more cars for auction including a few race cars from a bygone era. One racer I really liked was a 1927 Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix in excellent condition. We then went across the street to check out some of tents in the Pebble Beach area. After all Greg planned a very tight schedule for us to pack in as much as we could in 72 hours. I was up for it…you only live once. Off we went back to Quail to get the cars as

they departed and also get some pictures of the various cars in different lighting (at least that’s what Greg said. I can’t tell the difference). We were fortunate to have the owner of the Ferrari supercars pull each one of them outside Quail on the golf course for solo pictures. That was really a treat. We got some amazing once in a lifetime photos of rare Ferraris on a beautiful golf course.

There were still a few hours of daylight left so we went out again to check the sights and hopefully spot the elusive Ferrari LaFerrari rumored to be in the area (much like Bigfoot sightings with very few pictures). We arrived in Monterey to view the remaining auctions and as per usual the Russo and Steele and RM auctions each had an ample assortment of highly desirable (and of course expensive) vehicles. We looked at the various cars and saw a few cars roll across the auction floor at RM. We noticed some signs at the Marriott across the street from RM advertising Rick Cole auctions. We were not familiar with this show so we had to see what it was about. We went upstairs in the hotel and spoke to the very friendly staff members. Apparently Rick Cole was one of the first to hold auctions during Monterey car week years ago. After a long hiatus he came back with a silent auction format that is unique among the others held that week. Obviously they didn’t have the room for a large assortment of vehicles. They did have a combination of old corvettes and muscle cars mixed in with Ferraris and other European cars. It was late and we were tired so we called it a day…a very long day.

As daylight broke Saturday morning (maybe a little later than that) we rose early and began our next day of indescribable fun. Our first stop was to meet up with the Fuel Run entrants at their starting point in Carmel. We parked and I grabbed a Starbucks to enjoy as we checked the unbelievable assortment of high end rides. Nothing beats a hot cup of coffee and viewing endless amazing vehicles to start the day. Of course there was the mandatory and endless supply of Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens, BMWs, Porsches, Rolls Royces and Mercedes among oth-

ers. Two very rare treats were the Gemballa Mirage GT we saw at Quail and the dark gray Hennessy Venom GT that set the record of 270.49 MPH early this year for fastest production vehicle. Vinnie and the Hennessey Team were very cool and I could tell they enjoyed showcasing this unique car.

Our next stop was the Concorso Italiano event where we enjoyed more Italian beauties (cars guys…not women…but they were well represented also) than I have ever seen in one location. There were Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis and many more. There were Ferraris and Lambos in virtually every model, color and type all in this one location. It was pretty overwhelming if you enjoy Italian cars (and who doesn’t?). The marque this year honored examples of Zagato model vehicles. I may have seen one or two of these before, but the others were one off or very limited productions cars I have never seen. I don’t believe this rare assortment has ever been shown together in one setting. After enjoying this we went over to the Mecum auction. This is always one of my favorite auctions with tons of good old American muscle cars and as always a few unique and rare European cars. As we arrived inside the Mecum tent a 2006 Ford GT Heritage edition with

hardly any miles crossed the stage and sold for $520K (highest price ever for one of the new Ford GT models). We checked out the cool assortment of rides and off we went to our next adventure.

Late Saturday afternoon we arrived at a Carmel hotel that we missed on the first pass.

We made a u turn and spotted their non-descript sign (even our GPS was slightly confused). That was the starting point for our test drives of the new Ferrari California T model. For some reason the Ferrari California was referred to as a “woman’s car” when it arrived a few years ago. The new turbo model (first Ferrari turbo since the F40 in 1987) with 560 HP has been designed to change that perception. Ferrari did a great job with the new body lines and amazing performance. After a quick rundown of the new features and upgrades discussed by the Ferrari rep in the passenger seat next to me, I fired it up and turned right to go up the grade toward Laguna Seca. I quickly hit triple digit speeds and then realized I wasn’t really going as fast as I thought since I drove a Euro spec vehicle that registered the speed in kilometers. It was still pretty fast and very responsive. The Ferrari guy and I struck up a great conversation (I know that was his job and I’m sorry I forgot his name) regarding how riding motorcycles makes one a better and more aware overall car driver. I really enjoyed this car and I’m sure this Ferrari will sell very well. When we parked the Ferrari

guy popped the hood open and answered all of my questions. He was very knowledgeable, but I knew we had a schedule to keep so I kept it short.

Greg and left our Ferrari drive and we decided to head up to Laguna Seca to try and spot the elusive “LaFerrari”. He heard it may have been at the racetrack in the paddock area. We turned into the Laguna Seca entrance and Greg quickly said, “There it is!” as he pulled his truck off on the shoulder and grabbed his camera so fast to take some pictures of the dark gray LaFerrari (what a pro…he always gets his shot). I was just happy he came to a complete stop and put his truck in park before jumping out. This brief moment was the only glimpse we got of this car. I’m sure we’ll start to see them soon as they make their way to the states. We continued to our hotel and Greg spotted a doe and a fawn on

the road leading to our place. He took a few quick pictures and the doe didn’t seem concerned, but she kept a keen eye on Greg to protect her baby.

Saturday night we attended the The Serata Italiana event sponsored by the Lamborghini Club of America. I was fortunate to meet the CEO of Lamborghini (I’ve met him before) and of course Valentino Balboni (former Lambo test driver and I believe Lamborghini goodwill ambassador – they were everywhere during Monterey car week). I earned a new respect for the passion of Lamborghini owners. I never saw the CEO of Ferrari and I don’t even know what he looks like or if he was in Monterey. I don’t mean to start a conflict between Ferrari and Lamborghini owner’s. I don’t own a model of either make. At this dinner I met numerous very passionate Lambo owners. One gentle-

man clearly stood out among the rest. This guy from Indiana owns an early model Gallardo 6-speed and has well over 100K miles on the clock.

He has three sets of tires, stock, snow and track.

That’s right he drives it year round in the snow, rain and I don’t know what other weather they have in Indiana… tornadoes? He said his starter recently went out and he found out it was a VW spec starter so he purchased one from Auto Zone and swapped it out himself in 20 minutes. The best story from this guy involved an early season track day in Texas a couple of years ago.

He didn’t have a trailer so he mounted his track tires and drove to Texas. After he completed the track day event he headed home and due to a late season snow storm he had to detour through Kentucky. He ended up driving home in four inches of snow on track tires. He said he was pretty “puckered up” during that drive home. That is pretty hard core in my book. Also, he has had a deposit down on a new orange Huracan for the past 18 months. He has never driven one and only saw his first one tonight at this event. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Greg was scheduled to drive a Huracan at the Lambo experience the next day. I always thought of the typical Lambo owner as some rich guy that buys a

cool car for the moment and then gets bored and moves on. I have forever changed my opinion.

Most car guys are simply car guys no matter what they drive (sorry ladies …whatever she drives).

Sunday morning was the big day. We got up early to visit the Concours’ de Elegance. We didn’t feel a need to arrive at 4:30 AM for the dawn patrol to get a free hat. Big deal, we have enough hats. A few hours sleep seemed more reasonable to us. We arrived at Pebble Beach and the experience was pretty much the way I had imagined this world renowned event to be. I noticed a number of guys wore bright pastel pants and too tight sport coats and the women more fancy dresses and hats.

This may be the standard Concours attire…not our style though. We spotted many of the usual car crowd attendees we see often including Jerry Seinfeld. He didn’t go with the pastel pants, just a navy blazer, jeans and a navy ball cap. I’m sorry I’m not writing for GQ this is all about the cars…right?

Sorry folks…back on track. The cars at Pebble were absolutely the rarest, most unique and often oneof-a kind examples of motor vehicles one could

ever imagine. I’m not really into old cars and I really don’t know much about them, but I always appreciate any and all motor vehicles…two wheeled or four or ? There were at least twenty extremely rare Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa’s in every model, configuration and color imaginable. The cars came from all corners of the globe to be present at this event. They were placed at the far end of the golf course overlooking the bay. There were also a number of Tatra’s which if you don’t know (don’t feel bad I didn’t have a clue about these cars either) were unique cars built in Czechlovakia in the late ‘40s. They had very aerodynamic bodies and were equipped with an air cooled rear engine. Greg and I enjoyed the remaining assortment of cars and motorcycles and then went over to the concept lawn.

Among the very select group in this area McLaren displayed their P1 GTR racecar and the Hennessey Team brought out a white Venom GT. We heard that the six Legends of Bugatti Veyrons were also on display nearby for a very exclusive private showing.

We walked over and found the place, Greg spoke to the person in charge and we were in. Sometimes it pays to just ask. On the wall as we entered the location there was a Bugatti backdrop with every Veyron ever made in the exact color combination as built. That was very cool.

We went outside into the secluded courtyard area to enjoy the six Veyrons in a much more relaxed setting than we had at Quail. We wrapped up the festivities and then off to the next chapter of what had become an unbelievable adventure.

After Concours we headed to Quail to enjoy our Lamborghini Driving Experience that I mentioned earlier. Kudos to Lamborghini of America for the awesome opportunity to experience these amazing supercars. If I ever win the lottery (or refi my house) I would definitely consider purchasing one of those bad boys. Back to our journey. We had a schedule to keep so we headed to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. I really wish we had more time to watch the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (maybe next year?). As we viewed the first race there were two gull-wing Mercedes models from the ‘50s, a white one and a silver model. It was really cool to see cars worth ~$1millon or more racing around the track. The races were only 20 minutes long and weren’t supposed to be “races” from what I heard. Believe me these guys were super competitive. We enjoyed some cool IMSA cars from the ‘80s (Corvettes etc…my favorites) and a number of other races with mini coopers and other racers from the past. As we cruised through the paddocks we spotted a red McLaren F1 that we missed outside Pebble Beach. I have

seen 5 or 6 of these extremely rare cars and this was another immaculate example. We are so fortunate to live in So Cal and have the ability to experience so many rare cars. I don’t know of any other place on earth that has this access. We also saw a very cool blue Ferrari SA Aperta, a dark blue McLaren P1 and many other unique and rare cars.

I also enjoyed seeing the numerous motorcycles, especially the old Yamaha 80’s from the late 60’s.

My first motorcycle was a very well used Yamaha 80 that I purchased in 1969 for $80 when I was 14 years old. I used my paper route money and these bikes brought back some fond memories. We also enjoyed the Maserati exhibit to commemorate their 100 year anniversary. They had a very

rare Maserati MC12 'Goodwood Cent 100' racecar and another MC 12 (also very rare). As the races concluded the remaining racers and fans began to move over to the awards podium. We walked around the paddocks one last time and spotted another Porsche 918 and numerous other cool vehicles. Greg and I walked to the parking lot and per usual with our Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca trips we were one of the last vehicles in the lot.

We headed home and arrived at Agoura around midnight. Each year Monterey car week and the events get better and better. We are already discussing our trip for next year and we will definitely add at least one more day to our agenda. Please enjoy Greg’s photos –www.exoticcarfotos.com.

Greg Grudt’s Monterey Photo Essay in next months Issue!

MORE LOCATIONS SPOKE, TO SERVE YOU YOU WE LISTENED At The Auto Gallery, we like to listen to our customers. Our 2013 Customer Satisfaction Survey results told us that the number one complaint amongst our owners was the lack of convenience of our service locations.

Canoga Park Woodland Hills

Calabasas

5 LA LOCATIONS FOR SERVICE DROP OFF Beverly Hills

Santa Monica

CALABASAS

CANOGA PARK

WOODLAND HILLS

BEVERLY HILLS

SANTA MONICA

To make sure we remain your first choice in servicing and maintaining your vehicle, we’d like to let you know that you can now drop your car off at any one of our sales or service locations, regardless of the brand, and we’ll do the running around so you don’t have to.

CHOOSE THE LOCATION THAT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU With sites in Calabasas, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, you now have a choice of location to use.

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY To make your next service appointment and arrange a drop off point that best suits you. Call Irene Velazquez at (818) 932-1707 or email irenev@theautogallery.com.

FACTORY AUTHORIZED | 888.557.0366 | THEAUTOGALLERY.COM

Car Culture

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Mark Llewellyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nice Wheels

Interesting Tire & Wheel Milestones 3370 BC – Inscriptions depicting a four-wheeled animaldrawn wagon on a pot discovered in Poland in 1976 confirm wheels were in use during “The Bronze Age”

It is a known fact that a nice “set of wheels” can improve a car’s handling and performance, but what seems more important to the automotive public is the aesthetic look of the wheel.

1839 – Charles Goodyear discovers how to vulcanize rubber 1846 – Scottish engineer Robert Thomson patents the pneumatic tire

How many times have you seen a junker-of-a-car, but man it had a nice set of wheels! I can remember my high school days, and the most important thing to do when you got a new car was to slap some mag wheels and wide tires on the car and burn the tread off as fast as possible.

Today’s manufacturers have caught on and offer custom wheels as standard equipment on not only performance vehicles but all types of automobiles. One can even see custom wheels on big rigs cruising down the interstate.

If you ever want to see the evolution of tires and wheels in one place visit the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, for a first-hand history lesson of the automotive wheel, and more!

1870 – William Hillman and James Starley invent the wire spoke wheel 1895 – Edward and Andre Michelin enter the first car with pneumatic tires in a race. ParisBordeaux-Paris 732 mile run with 24 innertubes used 1915 – Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone become camping buddies. Their grandchildren, William Ford and Martha Firestone marry in 1947.

Somehow the marriage survives the ExplorerFirstone tire debacle of 2000.

1924 – Bugatti introduces cast aluminum wheels on its Type 35 racer

Michelan X radial tires

1950 – The Lancia Aurelia is the first car fitted with

1955 – Tubeless tires become standard equipment 1963 – Mickey Thompson introduces the low profile tire 1967 – Firestone introduces the wide oval bias-belted tire that gave muscle cars their racy stance 1970 – The Lincoln Continental Mark III is the first American car with standard steel-belted radials 1982 – Bob Chandler begins wowing crowds by driving over cars with his “Bigfoot” Ford truck equipped with 5’5” tires!

1994 – Chevy Corvettes are the first cars to offer run flats 2005 – The 253-mph Bugatti Veyron is equipped with Michelin PAX run flat radials $26,000 per set to replace

www.LeonsTransmission.com

The Fuel Run Drive to Monterey Story and Photos by Greg Grudt

On Thursday, August 14, 2014, a large group of exotic cars gathered in a Malibu parking lot to venture on a journey to Monterey, CA known as the Fuel Run. The Fuel Run is put on by the Gold Rush Rally team and consisted of two drives (a drive to Monterey from Los Angeles and a drive while in Monterey to Laguna Seca). A rare matte black Pagani Huayra and a Bugatti Veyron Vitesse were both present on the Los Angeles to Monterey Drive. Owners from all over the world shipped their cars out to California to attend Monterey Car Week and were also in attendance

for the Fuel Run. A beautiful white Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 joined the drive all the way from Saudi Arabia as well. Just after 9am, the group of cars turned left out of the parking lot and blasted up PCH. It was an amazing sight to see and hear.

On Saturday, August 16, 2014, Fuel Run Drive #2 was underway and departed from an undisclosed location in Monterey and ended up at the Laguna Seca Racetrack. The wonderful team at Hennessey joined Drive #2 and brought out their Ford GT1000 and the ultimate supercar, the Hennessey Venom GT. The Hennessey Venom

GT produces an astonishing 1200 horsepower and is capable of speeds up to 270 miles per hour. A rare blue Gemballa Mirage GT along with countless other amazing cars were also in attendance on this drive. I didn’t join the Fuel Run but they ended up at the Laguna Seca Racetrack. From what I heard, they had a blast at the track that day. If you own an exotic car and are planning a trip to Monterey Car Week next year, you might want to look into joining the Fuel Run. Proceeds from this run go to the Taylor Lynn Foundation.

Monterey Car Week:

Story & Photos by Jim Hunter

Calendario Completo

Monterey Car Week is multi-faceted and represents many things. Commerce. Sport.

Craft. Camaraderie. It is an art exhibition like no other, where the forms of aesthetic expression run from design to medium to performance.

Once a year, every late summer, the Monterey Peninsula offers a welcome break from the long hot days of summer to host a celebration of the automobile as the ultimate interactive art form, one which can be adored on

pedestal and also thrashed on the race course.

Taking in the entirety of Monterey Car Week's activities would be next to impossible. The number of events which have grown around Pebble Beach and the Rolex Motorsport Reunion now fill a calendar running Tuesday to Sunday. There is something on order for enthu-

siasts of almost every marque, and the peninsula’s unique charm provides the perfect setting.

Carmel’s Concours on the Avenue leads the way on Tuesday morning.

This informal morning stroll along cafe and boutique art gallery lined streets offers a fine collection of automobiles, many of which show up later in the week at other concours events or on the auction block. By week’s end, the average visitor has likely taken in a number of other fixtures such as McCall’s Motorworks Revival, The Little Car Show, Legends of the Autobahn, Concours d’Le Mons, not to mention the sheer quantity of interesting cars found simply driving around town.

There’s plenty of opportunity for social frivolity as well. Aside from all of the organized, invite only parties, Carmel Valley’s Baja Cantina has become a hot spot on Thursday nights. The restaurant is jammed but the parking lot transforms into a mini car show as the sun sets and everyone winds down into the evening.

Major auctions make up a big part the scene as Monterey Car Week has become the primary market for high dollar trade of classic automobiles in North America. Those auctions snap into life mid week, with previews available. A preview ticket to the incredible inventory of vehicles up for auction is one of the best buys of the week.

Noted sales this year include the record breaking 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which hammered at Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction at $38.1 million (some pundits believed the car would fetch

over $50 million!). RM Auctions at the Portola in Monterey sold a Ferrari 275 GTB/c Speciale, one of three in existence, for $26.4 million. A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold for $11.6 million. RM also enjoyed marketing the first of six Ford GT 40 Roadster prototypes built for almost $7 million. Gooding & Co. offered a very unique, one off mid-engine 12 cylinder Ferrari 365P “Tre Posti,” named for the forward center driver positioning from which Gordon Murray’s McLaren F1 later utilized, but the car did not meet reserve. Gooding did however achieve a world record sale price for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder at $15.2 million.

In summary, Monterey Car Week should be on every automotive enthusiast’s bucket list.

There is simply too much to be missed, not to mention the new events which will keep popping up, such as this year’s inaugural Porsche Weeks Reunion, sponsored by the Porsche Club of America.

8

www.drivenworld.com

R56

R53

Southern California’s PREMIER MINI Cooper enthusiast shop!

Call Motoring Magic FIRST to maximize your repair dollars!

Regular maintenance*Parts*Tires& Wheels*Accessories High Performance Mods-Lowering/Suspension/Big Brakes Engine repair/replacement/Tuning Featuring Quality parts from Koni, NM Engineering, Craven speed, Powerflex, Lloyd Mats, Golden Shine, MINI oem plus our own swag Motoring Magic 3170 Los Feliz Drive Suite A Thousand Oaks, Ca 91362 805-496-2300 MotoringMagic.com fax 805-381-1619

Valley Indoor RV Storage www.valleyindoorrvstorage.com

818-STORE-RV Classic & Exotic Car Storage

Located in Chatsworth, Valley RV Indoor Storage offers over 200,000 Square feet of indoor storage, concierge service and so much more...

Motorhomes - RV’S - Collector Cars - Race Cars - Trailers - 5th WheelsJet Skis- Off Road Vehicles - Exotic Cars - Private Car Collector Areas - Etc. Located at 20701 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-701-6500

NISSAN MARQUE DAY NOW THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

sponsored by

A proud member of the SAGE Automotive Group

SUPERCAR SUNDAY IS LOCATED AT: Westfield Promenade Mall 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (On the corners of Topanga Canyon Blvd and Erwin Street)

Over 30 years of award winning experience 22836 Ventura Blvd.

Woodland Hills, CA 91364

(818) 222-8881

www.coastlinemotorsport.com

Golf Tips with Tommy Mansuwan

Spending the last few years playing golf across Asia, I encountered an element of the game I was never exposed to growing up in Southern California. Golfers in the Los Angeles area deal mostly with poa annua greens, which usually get bumpier in the late afternoons. However, the majority of greens in Asia are grainy Bermuda grass that forces a golfer to consider more than just the visual slope when reading putts.

The direction of the grain, as well as the time of day, has a tremendous influence on each putt a golfer hits on these greens. Unless you typically play in the southern United States or Asia, you won’t be experiencing much of this. Just in case you will be making a trip soon to grainy greens, here are a few pointers on how to deal with them.

There are three factors one must consider when reading grainy greens; direction of grain, time of day, and the slope of the green.

The difference between putting down grain or into the grain can be a few feet in speed judgment, while side grain can influence break by a few inches. Grain influence during the day will also be different as the early morning won’t make much of a difference as opposed to putting in the afternoon when the grass is longer. However, knowing the direction of the grain is essential when putting uphill and downhill as the putt could easily drift away if you misjudge it.

One of the quickest ways to determine

For Sale

Offering this 1932 Chevrolet all steel Hi-Boy roadster built by Gene Vredenbergh, retired executive from General Motors. Featured in the Aug. 2002 Street Rodder Magazine. This is a full custom frame and chassis. Steel EMI body with rumble seat converted to trunk by Dick “Magoo” Megugorac.

Custom hood by Magoo.

The engine is a Chevy 4.3L V6 fitted with a B&M Blower, Holley 600CFM Carb, GM Splayed-Valve

Reading the Grain

the direction of grass is the shade of the green.

When you step foot on a Bermuda green, take a walk around while looking at the turf. You will notice that some areas appear darker while others may be a bit shinier, or lighter in color. The darker areas would be considered “into the grain” as the blades of grass are growing towards you, effectively making the putt a bit slower than nor-

Covers (for Indianapolis competition), Crane Cam and Isky roller Rockers. Transmission is a ‘88 Chevy Camaro 5-speed. Custom interior and lift off top by Mike Harper Interiors. Custom Dash, VDO gauges, Ron Francis wiring. Budnik Wheels and Goodyear Tires. The undercarriage is as detailed as the rest of the Hi-boy.

All records.

Asking $45,000.00 Contact: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com

mal. Conversely, the grass you see that are lighter in color will be “down grain” since the grass grows away from you, which will naturally add some speed on the putt. As mentioned before, this is very important to know on uphill and downhill putts. You might have a straight downhill putt but into the grain that you leave short thinking the slope will produce the necessary speed. In reality, this situation might play more like a flat putt when the grain is considered. Pay attention and you’ll have more consistent speed on the greens.

Another sure way to determine the grain is to look around the edge of the hole. You will notice one particular area that is more brown (or “burnt”) than others. That brown area is the direction that the grain is growing towards around the cup. Keep that in mind as this could affect the direction of the ball as it slows down around the cup. If you have a 20-foot putt, be aware that the grain within the five feet around the hole will be more of a factor than the grain around the ball at the start of the putt.

One useful tip I have received was in regards to putting inside five feet on grainy greens. An instructor once told me, “Unless there is significant slope, play it straight and hit it firm”. If you hit it hard enough, the grain won’t have a chance to influence the putt thus eliminating that additional factor.

ED T N E S E PR

BY FOR THE FIRST 150 PEOPLE

Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 Monterey Test Drive Story and Photos by Greg Grudt

During Monterey Car Week, Lamborghini North America held Huracán and Aventador test drives out of the Quail Lodge in Monterey, CA. After a short presentation inside the lodge, the keys were handed to us and off we went.

My dad test drove the Aventador and I was in the all new Huracán. We were all in Euro spec cars as the US spec cars were not available yet. The Lamborghini Huracán is the Gallardo replacement. The Gallardo was part of the Lamborghini fleet for 10 years. The V10, 602 horsepower, all-wheel drive Huracán is now taking over. With a top speed of 202 miles per hour, this car is sure to attract many.

The test drive was organized in a follow the leader type fashion. I was fortunate enough to be following the pace car, which happened to be driven by a Lamborghini race car driver. I set the car into “race” mode and off we went.

There was hardly any traffic in the area, probably due to the fact that everyone was either at Laguna Seca or at Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance. This definitely worked to our advantage as we came across some amazing straightaways in which we were able to experience how quick these cars really were. This car has been tested to go 0-60mph in an astonishing 2.5 seconds, which I clearly experienced! We took the cars into the hills above Carmel to test the handling.

These all-wheel drive machines literally stayed glued to the road like a go-kart in the twisty canyon turns. It seems as though had I driven any other car in the same exact manner, I would have skid into oncoming traffic and probably over the cliff. This car handles so well at high speeds, that even my grandma could

drive this car with ease. With an all new seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, the Huracán provides you with violent shifts that forcefully send your head into the headrest. There is absolutely no hesitation when shifting through the gears, it is instantaneous. The car that I test drove had an alcantara interior, although I believe that you can order the Huracán with leather seats as well.

The seats were very comfortable and not too hard to get in and out of the car. I could easily see driving one of these daily. The overall dashboard and interior got updated from the Gallardo. This is being very critical, but the one feature that bothered me was the turn signals. They were built into the steering wheel and not in the area where they would normally be located. I bet it would only take me a day or two to get used to it should I ever own one.

Overall, I knew that the Huracán was going to be a huge improvement over the Lamborghini Gallardo, but I am still blown away by the sheer power and handling that this car is capable of. Shortly after the drive, I joked with my wife that we were selling our house and cars and pre-ordering a Huracán, she laughed and said “Let’s buy two.” If you have the means to do so and are currently shopping around for an exotic car in the $250,000 range, I would highly recommend visiting your local Lamborghini dealership and test drive the Huracán; you can thank me later. The Huracán is a car in my opinion that handles great, looks great, sounds great and all around just drives great!