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FROM THE EDITOR A
L E T T E R
B Y D U S T I N T R OYA N
have made a decision. I am throwing in the towel. I have decided that I am going to send my old Camaro out to a shop to get finished. Well not totally finished, but running. I am going to get the car running. It is pretty close, but what it needs and with the little time I have and wanting the fit and finish to be better than I could do...I am throwing in the towel. I just really need this car to be running and not a source of frustration everytime I open the garage. Done. Decision made. I am going to get as much stuff done as possible to save a couple billable hours here and there. That would just be the smart thing to do. But, there is a huge sense of relief that I at least have some direction to go on the car. It will be so nice to hear that motor start, push in the clutch and engage first gear. Mind you, I told the shop to just get it running, there are no windows, no door handles, it is basically stripped. No paint, no interior, just a couple seats and gauges. I still have a ton to do. The other issue is that this 68 Camaro should be about 730-750hp at the crank. So it will be quite fast. And with that much horsepower I want to make sure that the car is safe. That the brakes are set up right, the fuel system and everything is mechanically sound. I can’t wait. The other nice thing is that the shop it is going to, these guys do amazing work and they get the job done. It is the same shop that welded in a full TCI Coil-Over suspension into my wife’s 1969 Fastback. They work efficiently. It is such a weight off my shoulders. Thank you Cris Gonzales at JCG Restoration and Custom. It was a decision that was not easy, until, I just couldn’t take it anymore. Sounds silly, that a car in pieces would be such a draining thing on a person but it is. Perhaps it is the potential or that you don’t feel like you have accomplished enough or realizing that the more time that goes by, the less relevant the car comes or, how cool the car could be. Nowadays the technology that I put in the car, is the standard. A LS-swapped Camaro has been done over and over and over. All those years back, it was really a cool thing. Now, status quo. Better late than never I suppose. And...no more mess in the garage. Thank god for that! All those parts and boxes laying around, I cannot wait to get all those pieces back on the car and rid of all that stuff. It will be a spring cleaning of sorts. A clean and organized garage! I have a feeling we’ll be adding a second fridge... Going going going...stalled. I guess that is life. Some things come, some things go and some things are easy and most things worth anything, those things are hard. It is the never giving up that gets there. Plans change and it is being able to adapt to your needs, situation and ability. At this point in my life, it is better to hand the project off. Better to spend some money and get it done before I am so disenchanted that a dream dies. Can’t let that happen. I have thought over and over whether to sell the car, but I just can’t. And my wife told me that I would look back years later and never forgive myself. And, I know she is right. I am not a quitter and damn I feel like I almost was. Cash out and put the money in the bank and hand the headache off to someone else. I just can’t do it. So she stays. I always tell people that sometimes you are moving forward fast, sometimes slow and sometimes barely, but dammit you have to keep moving forward at all costs. Inch by inch until you pick up some speed and all of the sudden you are off and running and flying. Carrying that momentum as far as you can. Now that I have made a decision, I find myself reinvigorated. Knowing that I am going to hand the project off actually makes me want to work on the car more before it goes out. I know it is not huge job and the task that seemed endless now seems manageable. What a quick paradigm shift. A paradigm shift. It is all in the perspective. The task that seems so monumental now seems so doable. Some wiring, some plumbing and heck I can do it all myself. Of course I could, but I have not been able to. Now I am wrestling around with how far I will go before I hand the project out. There is a certain sense of irony and pride that is all of the sudden kicking in. But, at the end of the day, I know that I cannot do the job like the shop that is going to do it. They are the pros, they do incredible work and, it is time to let go. The day I drop that car off will be a momentous occasion. Knowing that the next time I see it, the car will start. Oh the sound. For the guys at the shop, it is no big deal. To me it is indeed a special moment. My first old car, and she runs again. The dream is back alive, breathing and consuming copious amounts of high octane. A fire breathing dragon back from extinction. The legend lives. Hooray! I told my wife that I will simply flat black the car and call it a day. Drive it for a while and revisit making it pretty. The car needs to be mini-tubbed and the floors need a ton of attention. The fact of the matter is that I am doing everything backward, but, that is the story of my life. If I did things in order I think my parents and my wife would faint. I do things as I do and I hope I end up where I should. Does any of it make any sense, how the hell do I know. Just keep moving forward. If I were smart I would fix all the floors, do the mini-tub, spend the big bucks on a TCI Camaro suspension and then all the stuff to get the car started, but I just need to hear that car run. I just need to hear that supercharger whine and feel those tires spin with all that gluttonous horsepower. Which, for the most part is useless the way the car is set up, but having over 700hp in a old Camaro, it just has a special ring to it. Even wiring this, I can feel a smile want to come over my face. A car that has caused me so much frustration is now causing me to smile. I have a plan. I guess the plan is to give the car to someone who has a better plan. Does that still mean I built it? I did once before, but this time around, it is better of in someone else’s hands. I have worked so long and hard on that car that it should be a concours winning example that handled like a Ferrari, and even when I get it back, it will be gutted and primered. All that effort some might say I have wasted, and some of it yes, I did, but the amount that I learned from this rusty old car, all the suffering was worth it. And hopefully by the time you read the next edition, I will be sitting in a running 68 Camaro with LS motor, a huge blower, worked over heads, a nasty camshaft, big Wilwood brakes, Hotchkis suspension and tons of power. Sure she won’t be pretty or finished, but she will be fast. And if you are looking at my taillights, I am not worried about the paint. She will live again!
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CONTENTS
drivenworld ISSUE 89, SEPTEMBER 2017
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dustin Troyan ART DIRECTOR James R. Stanley Jr. COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group
Page 8 CARS & CIGARS TMPCC Page 11 REAL ESTATE Patio Pizzazz Page 12 LAMBORGHINI Huracan
STORIES BY Dustin Troyan Alan Smithee Gwen Banta Tory Herald Ken Latka Thomas Lavin Mark Llewellyn Michael Teitelbaum Thomas Lavin Ted Lighthizer PHOTOGRAPHY James Stanley Jason Mordoh Matt Turve Brad Hansen Athena Stamos Michael Teitelbaum Thomas Lavin Ted Lighthizer
Page 15 ZIP TIRE Mobile Tire Shop
ADVERTISING / MARKETING
Page 17 CAR CULTURE Drive-Ins
(818) 516-5053
Page 18 35th Annual Classic Chevy’s Page 22 ROLEX Monterey Page 26 TRANSCAS Cars and Coffee Page 30 PERIOD CORRECT Pit-Stop Page 32 BLUR Focus RS Page 34 CLASSIFIEDS For Sale
dustin@connectedmediagroup.com www.drivenworld.com
www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com
Driven World Magazine is published twelve times per year by Connected Media Group LLC. It is distributed at upscale locations and events all over California. It is also available online and distributed electronically to highnet-worth individuals as well as members of the car community at large. All rights reserved. Driven World and Supercar Sunday are registered trademarks of Connected Media Group LLC. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or any other materials or advertisements herein may be reproduced without permission of copyright owner. Driven World Magazine and Connected Media Group LLC, do not take responsibility for the claims provided herein. Connected Media Group LLC, Driven World Magazine, and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, and publisher accept no responsibility for the errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. Connected Media Group LLC does not assume liability for any products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers or editorial information.
On the Cover: “PERIOD CORRECT PITSTOP Photo By: THOMAS LAVIN
Centerfold: Lamborghini Huracan
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his year’s Cars and Cigars with the Television Motion Picture Car Club (TMPCC) was held Saturday July 22, 2017 at Lavaggio in Agoura Hills, California. This was a fantastic gathering with awesome people, cool cars, good food, drink, and of course cigars for those who wished to partake. TMPCC President Ken Latka said the TMPCC enjoys hosting their annual Cars and Cigars events at Lavaggio because it is such a wonderful location for car clubs and other organizations to meet. He went on to say that it is always a fun, low key and laid back event, the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet their newest members. The club wanted to thank David Delrahim the owner of Lavaggio for allowing them to host our event at his wonderful facility for the second year in a row. They also wanted to thank Dustin Troyan for all his help
behind the scenes, as well as Tony Fiori and Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard for being strong supporters and sponsors of the event. Since the TMPCC is one of the most unique and publicized car clubs in the world, it was no surprise that Pyla Productions was in town from Seine, France to cover the event for French television. The on-camera interviewer was the beautiful and talented French actress and television host Karine Lima who also happens to be a member of this very exclusive club. With the permission of the owners of the vehicles, Karine posed in several of the vehicles on display. The pictures will be used as promotional stills for the television show that will air in France later this year. To learn more about the Television Motion Picture Car Club or to join, visit their website at TMPCC.ORG 8
ARTICLE BY ALAN SMITHEE
PHOTOS BY JAMES STANLEY, JASON MORDOH, MATT TURVE, BRAD HANSEN, ATHENA STAMOS
CARS & CIGARS Lavaggio & The Television Motion Picture Car Club
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ARTICLE BY GWEN BANTA & TORY HERALD | SOTHEBY’S INTERNETIONAL
PATIO PIZZAZZ ake your outdoor space extra special this year. There are a lot fabulous ways to decorate a patio that you can do yourself as an enjoyable summer project. As with all decorating, proper lighting is always essential. Make sure your patio is as enjoyable in the evening as it is in the daytime. Fairy lights or globe string lights are an inexpensive way to create patio drama. Light should be soothing, not jarring, as summertime is the time to relax. You can create an ambience of summer luxury and fun by hanging baskets filled with moss and seasonal flowers. Flowers are an easy touch that always
bring life to a space. Colorful throws and bright paint pops can also add sizzle and festivity. Try adding a unique architectural item, such as an old door, wrought iron gate or an intricate window. When strategically placed, such pieces suggest sophistication and artistic design. Those collectibles gathering dust in your attic are conversation pieces that can be utilized to great advantage. Don’t hesitate to use Mother Nature’s accents collected from the woods or beach. Items such as driftwood, pinecones, starfish, etc. can be used in their natural state when cleaned and dried. Or paint them with a metallic paint and add your collection to baskets or bowls to create a great accent piece. You can also freestyle by piling them in the middle of a coffee table as an unstructured centerpiece. Children love to help find such treasures, and it certainly is a good way to keep them occupied. Lastly, tie everything together with a decorative outdoor rug. If you are really creative, you can paint a design on your old cement patio using glossy outdoor paint. Say goodbye to boredom and welcome summer in full bloom.
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ARTICLE BY DUSTIN TROYAN
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN
hen Lamborghini hands you the keys to a new Huracan, you can’t help but smile. Having access to a Lamborghini Supercar for the weekend is on par to winning the lottery. The only question is, can you find enough time to drive the car...as much as you want to drive the car and, can you call up some friends with exotics to share the experience? The 2017 Lamborghini Huracan is a jet fighter. With one look, you know that the car is meant for shock and awe. The tight angles, the way the car sits, it is a spaceship on pavement that is ready for launch. Every aspect of the Huracan means business. The more you examine the car the more detail you see. If you are standing five feet away, then ten feet away, then twenty feet away, you continue to notice something different and aggressive. The Huracan really captures your attention...something Lamborghini prides itself on. When I called up some friends with Ferraris and said, let’s head to Malibu and I told them that I had a Huracan, they were intrigued. They wanted to know more about the car and were equally excited. It turns out that as much as you see Lamborghini’s driving around in Southern California, a great many exotic car owners have never driven one. And even the most dedicated of Ferrari owners does have a bit of curiosity about them. It is an internal duel between brand loyalty and stepping over to the dark-side. How is the dark-side? Sitting in the driver’s seat, you feel like you are getting ready to launch off of an aircraft carrier. I would speculate that Lamborghini
studied the cockpits of fighter jets because that is what it feels like. The 12.3 in. screen is angled perfectly, the interior is comfortable, yet focused on keeping you tight in the seat and all of the controls are in the right spot. Focus is on the driving and they want this car driven fast. Firing up the 5.2L V-10 engine is a religious experience. You know that you are about to experience something that most don’t and you hope that you have the skill and control not to take it too far. The car is indeed a loaded weapon and you had better of had a training course or two. With just over 600hp on tap, there is not much that will want to play with you and when all four tires grip, you had better make sure the G-forces don’t spin your head back because you might just see black. Yes, the car is that fast. The sound of the engine is exactly like it should be. The V-10 still naturally aspirated, screams and yells in ways that remind you of...well you can figure that out. The sound of the engine grabs the attention of anyone in earshot and they know that you are driving something special and probably too fast. The declarations are straight out of a video game. Even if you are not one of those guys that drives around in first and second gear begging for attention, you might find yourself doing it simply because the Huracan sounds so damn angry and you are controlling the beast. The sound is almost a warning to the other exotics...hey if you want to play we can but...you might not like the outcome. The seven speed transmission shifts fast. Incredibly fast. Keeping the revs 12
where they should be is easy and the power is always on tap. If you want, the shifting can be docile or with a flip of a switch, violent. Yes, violent. If you are not ready for it you might suffer from whiplash. Be sure to warn your passengers if you are going to jump on it... The Huracan is not the Lamborghini of the past. This car is current, comfortable, drivable and a race car. You could easily drive a Huracan every day. With the Audi/VW influence, the refinement and technology has been dialed in. Everything works and works well. A cousin or brother to the Audi R8, you can see the parallels in the fit and finish and computer systems. The car is highly refined and functional and ushers Lamborghini into a more relevant segment of those who demand the best in both speed and comfort. Driving the car through the canyons to Malibu, it is really easy to drive. You sit low, you feel the road and you have so much power on tap that it is just fun. To fully experience what the car has to offer you, would need to take it on a track. It performs so incredibly well that you cannot get anywhere near its potential on open roads, nor should you. The car might be too fast for open roads. The handling is superb. It begs to turn and turn fast. The front of the car is not overly long and you don’t bottom out as you do in some of the other exotics. It was a hot day and with the air conditioning on and the windows down, the car handled everything I threw at it. I was nowhere near the potential of the car. My wife was with me and we were both astonished how balance the car was. I have
always been more of a Ferrari guy, but this car really makes you start wanting a different Italian mistress. As per my friends with us, they loved the car. They were driving the nemesis of Lamborghini but after lunch we were discussing the car and they felt the same way, although they have never considered a Lambo in the past, the new Huracan looks so good, sounds so good and has such a visual presence, they would indeed consider switching brands. How did the general public react to the car? The car gets attention. Sure there are tons of exotics in Malibu, but this car commands attention and respect. Just sitting it looks like it is going 200mph. The cameras came out, people posed next to the car, sped up to get pictures next to us, video and all that nonsense... this Lamborghini might be more of a hyper car rather than just an exotic. Would I buy one? I would. The car works and works well. The speed, handling, comfort and technology are more balanced than ever. Fast, slow, superfast, stopping fast, turning fast or just cruising, the Huracan handles it all very well. If you are considering an exotic, I would suggest driving this car before you stick with a brand you feel safe with, this is a lot of car that covers all the bases. Lamborghini did an outstanding job. It is a winner. A very special thank you to Lamborghini for the experience. Not only was it greatly appreciated but the proof is in the driving. A+
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ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KEN LATKA
ZIP TIRE HAVE YOUR NEW TIRES MOUNTED AT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
ace car driver, motion picture stunt driver and television personality Andrew Comrie-Picard (better known by his fellow racing competitors and fans as ACP) just introduced his new mobile tire company “Zip Tire”. With many of us shopping online to find the best deal on anything we need, Andrew’s company is convenience personified, because it allows us to shop online for the best deal on wheels and tires and have them delivered direct to our door (or to Andrew’s). From there, just give him a call, schedule an appointment and he will come to your home or office and mount and balance your new tires at the location of your choosing. Since I had a wheel vibration issue on my 2015 Mr. Norm’s Dodge Challenger show car, this was the perfect opportunity to evaluate ACP’s new company. So I scheduled an appointment and Andrew arrived right on time. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, so we chatted for a few minutes and got caught up on what’s been happening in our lives. After our chat, we walked inside his truck, where he proudly showed me his setup, which includes state of the art tire mounting and balancing machines from the Italian company Corghi. If you are not familiar with the name Corghi, they are the only manufacturer Ferrari and Maserati use to mount and balance the wheels and tires on their production vehicles and race cars, so this is seriously good equipment. Also worthy of note is that Corghi has been used in every tire station at every Formula 1 race over the last 30 years. Need I say more? I asked Andrew if he would check the balance on all four of my tires with the existing weights still on the wheels. I wanted to determine if my perceptions about my right front wheel being the main culprit for my vibration issues was an accurate one. As it turns out, all four wheels were a bit out of balance, but the right front was out the most, so it was good to know that I hadn’t lost my seat of the pants feel for which corner of the car was acting up. At this point I asked Andrew if he would remove all the old weights from my wheels and start from scratch. He happily obliged and when he was finished, he showed me the perfect zero-zero balance on all four wheels. Andrew also goes the extra step by using special non-marring tools to protect your wheels from damage, including a special non-marring wheel socket set (which is more than I can say for some wheel mounting companies). When he was finished, I ran the car up to speed on the freeway and I was pleased to discover that not only was the vibration gone, but the car was smoother than ever before. So I am delighted to recommend Andrew’s company to anyone looking to have tires mounted and balanced at their home or business. So whether you own a daily driver or a high end exotic, the next time you need a new set of shoes for your ride, call ACP. Since he also trains dealers around the world about tires, he is also the first person you should call to ask his recommendation for the brand and type of tire that is best suited to your vehicle and driving style. You can even purchase your tires direct through Andrew and avoid the middle man. That is exactly what I plan to do the next time I need to replace my tires. Andrew’s company currently services the Los Angeles area, but he plans to have a fleet of Zip Tire trucks servicing the entire United States in the near future. Andrew’s website will be online soon at ZipTire.net but in the meantime, if you have any questions that can’t wait, you can reach him by phone at 844-ZIP-TIRE. You can also message him on Facebook at Zip Tire.
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Welcome to Leon’s Transmissions’ Car Culture. This month we look at Drive-in theatres. The first drive-in theatre was opened Tuesday, June 6th, 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. The price of admission was $.25 cents per car plus $.25 cents per person. The Drive-in was the creation of Richard Hollingshead. He worked at his dad’s “Whiz Auto Products” store. Richard had a hankering to invent something that combined two of his favorite interests: cars and movies. Originally, sound was provided by large speakers mounted around the parking area. Later, in the 1940’s RCA developed smaller speakers that would hang on your car window. Further inventions were a clip that you would attach to your car antenna allowing sound to play through your car radio. This design accounted for many dead batteries at the end of the movie, and no doubt, a good excuse for teenagers to tell their parents as to why they were late. Soon the drive-in movie theater nickname “Passion Pit” was born! The 1950’s were the height of the drive-in’s popularity. Families would pack the car with kids in pajamas and mom didn’t need to get all dressed up to enjoy a night out. The 1970’s saw the decline of the drivein. Many became swap meets while others were torn down. Despite claims that drive-ins are making a comeback, 2017 shows only 330 drive-ins in the United States still operating. During their peak in the 1950’s there were over 4,000. Many of us have fond memories of the neon-lit “Van Nuys Drive-in,” “The Reseda Drive-in,” and the “Winnetka 4 Drive-in,” located in Chatsworth.
See more beautifully restored drive-in speakers and car artifacts at the Leon’s Transmissions “Car Corner” display at the Murphy Auto Museum, located at 2230 Statham Blvd, Oxnard. Open Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00pm
Coupon good for discounted entry cost of just $5.00. Beautiful vintage automobiles and Americana. 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard, California 93033
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ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY MICHAEL TEITELBAUM
35TH ANNUAL CLASSIC CHEVYS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
he day began at 7:30 a.m. at Rancho San Antonio Boys Town of the West on July 9th it was a lovely 80 degrees with some beautiful morning cloud cover. Perfect day for a car show. This was after nearly the hottest day of the summer so far in the valley so a break in the heat was welcome. The members of the car club had taken their stations at the entrance of the campus and at the various checkpoints to help guide the procession of classic, contemporary, and modified cars, to their final destination out on the sports field where the various clubs and vendors had encircled their tents and booths for the days festivities. As I walked toward the sports field I looked at the long procession of rumbling vehicles and realized that it showcased the incredible diversity of our local car community. From hot rods and roadsters to pickups and corvettes there was going to be a incredible level of diversity on display at this years show. By 10:00 am all the cars had arrived and were parked, the vendors were fully set up and the show was already buzzing with activity. As I said diversity was on display and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We had a little of everything. There was even a ‘rodded out’ school bus towing a raced out Camaro with a parachute! It wasn’t all Chevy’s either. Fords made an impressive showing as well with a number of highly impressive Mustangs making their way into the gallery, stealing some glances from even the most diehard bowtie fan. The good-time rivalry seems to still be alive and well. Also on display was of course the host Chevy Clubs member cars. They as always never fail to impress. Along with all of this there was a silent auction and the Chevy Club members selling shirts commemorating this year’s show with all the proceeds for both going to the San Antonio Boys Town. The air was warm and filled with the smell of home cooked BBQ from the shows food court. Ribs, hot-links, hotdogs and this of course being Southern California you can’t have a party unless there’s a proper street taco set up for those craving something more locally oriented. Of course there were those who opted for all of the above and they were met with smiling faces, great food, and excellent service by the wonderful volunteers who were the glue of this entire show, keeping the day’s events organized and professional. Hats off to them. Speaking about the volunteers I would be remiss if we didn’t talk a little about San Antonio Boys Town the host of the day’s events. A little history first, if you didn’t already know, Rancho San Antonio was founded in 1933 by the Catholic Big Brothers. It started as a home for about 18 boys in Redondo Beach CA. In June of 1938, Rancho San Antonio found its permanent home in Chatsworth, CA. For 75 years Rancho San Antonio has served as a home and a place of guidance, learning, counseling, and the building of character in young men. It is a true asset to the community and to the many lives it’s helped over the years. That’s why The Chevy Club does this car show and other fundraising events every year. Every penny, dime, dollar raised, goes to Rancho San Antonio, and most importantly to the kids, making sure that they have all the tools necessary to have the most successful futures possible. We in the car community are proud of the work the Chevy Club has done for 35 years on behalf of Rancho San Antonio. It serves as the kind of example in charity and community that really highlights what makes the So-Cal Chevy Club and indeed the whole Valley car community so special, and that it’s all family. From a grandfather polishing the chrome accent on the fin on his perfectly restored 56 Bel-Air, to the adult son talking shop with his buddies around a popped hood on his ‘68 Camaro, and indeed all the way down to the 6 year old grand-daughter standing with mom staring wide-eyed at the 2017 Corvette Z06 in Torch Red, the sight of which creates a lifelong obsession with Corvettes, and a bond between the three of them that connects the moments of their lives in tangible and meaningful ways. This isn’t about just old and new cars parking on a field, it is about passion and hobby and story and of course, most importantly family made manifest. It is the best of us on display enjoying something we all love together. Maybe I’m reading to much into it, but what I saw was people coming together as a family and a community, all laughing, smiling expressing love and excitement over a shared passion. I can think of no better way to spend a Sunday.
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY TED LIGHTHIZER
ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION 2017
his year Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is celebrating 60 years of motorsports history at this iconic 2.23 mile road racing circuit with 11 turns including the infamous blind and dropping Corkscrew turn, which makes this racetrack one of the best of its kind in the U.S. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula or SCRAMP have been the track stewards/operators since forming in 1957
when road racing on the Monterey Peninsula was moved from Pebble Beach to the new racetrack, Laguna Seca, on fort Ord property for a cost of 1.5 million dollars. Over the last 60 years, the track has been reconfigured a number of times to improve safety and overall speed. Mazda raceway Laguna Seca annually hosts races for SBK Superbike Motorcycles, IMSA, Continental Tire Sports Car Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and its most prestige
event, the ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion each year during Monterey Car Week in August. Close to 1000 applicants are reduced to a field of 550 cars for the ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The 550 race cars are split into 15 race groups that practice, qualify and compete in 30 minute sessions throughout the weekend. Formula Junior was added this year to provide even more open wheel racing excitement. The 550 cars accepted into the ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion are done so based on a number of criteria that includes provenance, authenticity and period correctness. In fact, it could be argued that every entry is a treasure for automotive museums worldwide. The first race group 1A is Pre-1940 racing and touring cars followed by 14 additional racing groups, concluding with 7B, 1973-1991 IMSA, GTU,
GTO/Trans-Am race cars. Your ticket price includes pit access to all the race groups allowing the fans to get up close and see and talk to the drivers and owners of these amazing vintage racecars. It takes over 100 SCRAMP volunteers on race day to keep all the drivers and spectators safe and moving throughout the numerous spectator viewing areas around the circuit. The ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a “bucket list� must do for many motorsports fans and I hope you get to experience it down the road of life.
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ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY THOMAS LAVIN
TRANCAS
COUNTRY MARKET & CARS AND COFFEE
espite living in California for most of my life, I’ve somehow never been to Trancas Country Market, let alone the car show there. Since it’s my last month in LA for a long while, I knew I had to make a stop over at the show. I woke up on Sunday at an ungodly hour, even for a weekday: 5:15AM. My batteries were charged, my SD cards empty, and my mental state was groggy at best. The rest of the drive was, upon reflection, one rather big blur. I honestly can’t remember what happened between leaving the house and getting on Kanan Road, not that it was very important to the day anyway. As I followed a beautiful Terracotta Porsche 911 through the mountain roads, we passed through layers and layers of clouds. As we passed from leeward to windward our visibility became almost nonexistent. We glided in neutral rather smoothly down the mountain down to PCH, where the temp had dropped around a dozen degrees and was hovering at a cool 60. Unsurprisingly, we had most of PCH to ourselves for the last two miles of our journey. In fact, we only ever passed one car: a rather cheerful looking Austin-Healey Sprite, broken down on the side of the road. The owner, needless to say, was not as happy looking as the wide-eyed Sprite. As we both rolled up to the show, the 911 took the very last spot in the main lot, save for the area reserved for pre-1973 vehicles. I still don’t know exactly when the show was supposed to start, but many arrived there before the assumed 7:00AM start time. The sun crept ever so slowly over the dissipating clouds, shining just enough golden light on the vintage vehicles to flatter their best features.
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The pre-73 section, for most of the show, was where the real show stealers were. In addition to a few rat rods there were two immaculate Mercedes-Benz 300SLs in addition to a handful of classic Ferraris drew quite a crowd. The crowd turned into a mob scene when auto collector Bruce Meyer arrived in his one of 22 Iso Grifo A3/C Bizzarrini No. 0222. With design cues from the some of the best, the Bertone influenced Le Mans racer was drop-dead gorgeous. It, without a doubt, is one of the most beautiful GT cars I’ve ever seen. Unsurprisingly, this car took part in the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. The event, in addition to drawing notable cars, drew some notable guests as well. Caitlyn Jenner, Patrick Dempsey, and Jay Leno were some of the most obvious. Along with Mr. Dempsey came Patrick Long, professional racing driver and co-founder of Luftgekühlt. Trancas Country Market Cars and Coffee is held the first Sunday of every month. If you’ve got a free Sunday to drive down PCH at the crack of dawn and see some amazing vehicles, it is certainly worth the trip!
Cars continued to pour in by the dozens as various motor groups and clubs arrived, swarming the main parking lot and pushing much of the show over to a secondary lot. There I found possibly my favorite cars at the meet: an absolutely titanic, blacked out Unimog (owned by the Director of Marketing at Petrolicious), a stunning blue Alfa Romeo 1900 C Superleggera parked by itself, and a Porsche crew VW bus. Many other much newer vehicles, which would normally be featured up front at your average show, dotted the overflow lot. A Ferrari F12 Tour de France, a BMW M4 GTS, and a gold clad Lamborghini Huracan were some of the most notable of those resigned to the back of the show. The owners, needless to say, were not entirely pleased. It really does pay to be first at this event. Surprisingly, the event lacked much of hooligan car culture that can plague many local events. Save for one high revving Mustang Super Snake, the cars that paraded through the lots were tame and kept relatively quiet. They seemed much more concerned with finding a suitable place to park than blasting the ear drums out of the attendees. A welcome change, to say the least.
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ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY THOMAS LAVIN
period Correct PITSTOP an there ever be too much of a good thing? As we well know, Southern California is overflowing with car shows. It’s not a matter of if shows are happening, but rather which ones.The Period Correct Pitstop in Costa Mesa takes place on the first Saturday of every month, but is it worth the drive to visit a small parking lot and an even smaller shop? When I first heard of the event, I was certainly skeptical. My friend had blown the event off entirely, dismissing it as “far too small and way too far.” While the 67 mile journey was certainly quite a voyage, my skepticism vanished as I saw my dream car, an all original Audi Ur-Quattro, pull up to the lot. Realistically, this event could be renamed the “Period Correct Porschestop” and no one would bat an eye. While the vehicles in attendance at this small parking lot d’elegance were predominantly German, there was certainly enough variety to keep it interesting. Each vehicle in attendance, no matter the age, was maintained in great taste. Among those were almost a dozen
different takes on the Porsche 911 dotted the small lot, from a slopes-ready original with roof mounted skis to a completely stripped, track ready 993. Inbetween the flood of these Stuttgart stunners were some true foreign gems as well as some domestic classics. Of these, one of my favorites was of course the Audi Ur-Quattro which I had followed to the event. But the Quattro wasn’t the only Group B homologation to grace the event, an immaculate Renault 5 Turbo 2 was also in attendance. Across from these two classics sat a true showstopper: a 1968 Porsche 908/2 Spyder. The low slung racer brought quite a crowd as it cautiously crawled up the driveway, with onlookers examining the vehicle’s exposed engine bay. To balance out the German bias were a pair of beautiful Alfa Romeo racers, one 1969 Giulia Super 2L and a Giulia GTV clad in an assortment racing stickers. Further down the lot was a rat rod are on a BMW 3.0 CSL, as well as a C2 split window Stingray Corvette. Overall, the Period Correct Pitstop must’ve been one of the best monthly shows I’ve ever been to. It’s clearly an event by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. The guys and gals behind the event were some of the nicest I’ve met. It’s also one of the few I’ve been to where the organizer thanked me for coming out and asked me what I thought of it. There really are so many car shows to choose from all over Southern California, but few are as curated and well organized as the monthly Period Correct Pitstop.
ARTICLE BY JAMES STANLEY | PHOTOS BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY
GONE IN A BLUR FOCUS RS Almost 20 years ago, Ford released an egg shaped 2-door hatchback that was funky, different, and very European into the U.S. market. The Ford Focus was a hit from almost day one. Great fuel economy, plenty of interior room, and a decent amount of power for the new little hatchback made it the go to choice for many. When the Focus came out in late 1999 in the United States, I was finishing my up senior year of high school and I was in love with pre-runner Ford Rangers and the Italian exchange student. She loved the Focus, and loved to say the name ‘Ford Focus’ with a thick Italian accent: “Fardd Fahkoos”. I loved to hear her say it. Fast forward a year or two and I was working at a Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership and I was ready to buy my first car. I looked at the offerings of what was available at my dealership and I was less than impressed. A Pontiac Sunfire (Not the GT as it was an extra $3k), a base model Pontiac Vibe which would have still been a stretch as it started where the Sunfire GT left off, or a Buick Century. No, no, and hell no. I was a teenager, I wanted something new, funky,
and different. I went to the local Ford dealership after work one day to look at Rangers and quickly realized that they too were out of my price range. While walking the lot, we came across the line of Ford Focus’. “Fardd Fahkoos” kept playing in my head over and over again in the sexy Italian accent so I decided to give one a shot. As soon as I sat in the driver’s seat, I knew it was the right car. After a short and spirited test drive, I knew I was leaving with that car. It handled better than the Vibe, the interior was nicer than the Sunfire, and everything about it was better than the Buick... But the handling was so impressive. This car was my first taste into taking corners at high speeds. The longer I owned the car, and drove other vehicles, I realized that the Focus could out-handle cars way above its class. After owning the car for a little more than a year, I upgraded to the SVT Focus with more power, upgraded interior, and even better handling. I thought I had the best Focus available, until I looked at what was available in Europe. The Focus RS first came out in 2003 in Europe with flared fenders, turbocharged 2.0L Zetec engine, and an even better interior. I’ve drooled over that RS for years, and it was never available here in the United States. Many have tried to clone one, but have never succeeded at creating one exactly. After three model years, the MK1 Focus RS was killed off. In the late 2000’s, the European’s once again got a Focus RS. This time it was powered by a 2.5L inline 5-cylinder borrowed from Volvo. The growl of the 5-banger was amazing, and the green paint option was what every Fast and
the Furious generation 20-something wanted. Three model years later, the MK2 Focus RS was killed off, and we thought all was lost. Alas, the United States was left high and dry with a face-lifted version of the original MK1 chassis, and the complete loss of a hatchback option. Thanks to Ford’s push for a “one-world platform” for their cars, in 2012 when the MK3 Focus was released in the United States, the cars we had available to us were almost identical to those found in the UK. In 2013, the Focus ST was released and for the first time, our ST was better than the one found across the pond! Ours had a couple extra ponies due to gasoline quality available. I skipped the 2008-20011 Focus’ all together, but when the ST was released, I jumped to the nearest dealership and picked one up. From my 2007 Focus ZX3 to the 2013 Focus ST was a surprisingly easy transition. While there was more than 100 extra horsepower, an ungodly amount of torque in comparison, and go-cart like handling, it still kept the essence of the original Ford Focus. It was just so fun to drive. Last year, Ford finally released a Focus RS to the U.S. market, and the wait was worth it. By far the best RS ever created. This time, the RS is powered by a 2.3L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged Ecoboost engine putting out more than 350 horsepower and for the first time ever, all-wheel-drive! I’ve had the opportunity to take a new RS onto the track and I’m still in disbelief at how this hot hatch sticks to the corners so well and accelerates from a stop with launch control like
a bullet from a gun barrel. I should have been laughing with glee at how well this car was handling the corners, but I was expressionless as I was flabbergasted at how I could throw the car into a turn as hard as possible, and it would just go, and go, and go. 2018 marks the third model year for the MK3 Focus RS and as expected, it’s time for its production to come to an end, but now without a bang. If you are lucky enough to snag a 2018, you’ll be competing for one of only 1000 production units available for all of North America. Ford also made this final model year a bit more special by adorning the interior with real carbon fiber trim, forged wheels standard, black roof, black mirror caps, and black rear spoiler to accent the available Nitrous Blue or Race red paint. To top it off, Ford Performance increased the handling by including a front limited slip differential. Expect prices on one of these to soar above $50,000 with dealer mark-ups and added dealer accessories, but if you hold onto one of these limited edition RS’s, it’s almost guaranteed that it will increase in value quickly. Original MK1 Focus RS’ are fetching well over their original MSRP’s for lower mileage units and their rarity was far less than this new RS. It will be interesting to see what the next generation Focus RS does to top this one.
Asking: $35,000
Asking: $65,000
1930
1970
FORD COUPE
FORD MUSTANG MACH 1
Out of the Harrah’s Collection. This is a stunning 1930 Coupe. Owned for 40 years after purchased from Harrah’s. Ruble Seat, All steel, All original. Needs the interior to be finished. For more info: dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
351 Cleveland, Automatic. All options including air conditioning. This car is a show car quality, has been featured in magazines and is ready to drive cross country. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
Asking: $55,000
Asking: $55,000
1962
1989
FORD THUNDERBIRD
PONTIAC TRANS AM
All original. 390 Cu. in, Automatic transmission. A real T-bird roadster, with air conditioning and power windows. Running, Registered and ready to drive to the beach. Same owner for 25+ years. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
740 original miles. NEVER REGISTERED. In BRAND NEW CONDITION. Whomever buys this will be the first name on the title. Pace Car emblems in the car, 100% factory and stock. T-Top. Very Rare and ready to add to your collection. There is not another on the planet like this example. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
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Asking: $32,000
1954
Asking: 75,000
2012
FORD PANEL VAN
PORSCHE GTS CABRIOLET
6 cyl. Registered, Running and ready to go. Restoration is 85% done, needs interior work to finish. A very nice example. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
One owner, 6,700 miles. All options other than ceramic brakes. In perfect condition. Garage kept, only driven on the weekend. NOT a daily driver. This Porsche is in showroom condition For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
Asking $75,000
1932
Asking: $60,000
2017
FORD V-8
HARLEY TRI GLIDE ULTRA TRIKE
3 Speed Manual. All Steel. Running, driving, registered. Not the original motor. Added hydraulic brakes for safety. Rumble seat car. Same owner for 30 years. A great example. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
One owner. Ridden only a few times. Collector owned. Injury forces sale. Almost $60k invested. All options. Best of everything. Registered and ready to go! Showroom condition. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com 35
Asking: $75,000
Asking: $23,500
1964 1/2
1977
FORD MUSTANG CONV.
F-250
K-code 289 with Paxton Supercharger installed by Paxton for a Magazine Story. No power-steering, power brakes or power windows. This car is running, registered and is a show car. Same owner for over over 20 years. For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
4x4, 460 Big Block, custom stereo, Alarm, sun roof, Line-X bed, Cam, Hedders, Borla Exhuast. Registered and ready to go! For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
Asking: $55,000
1957
Custom Thunderbird This 1957 Thunderbird has over $150,000.00 invested in it. It is an incredible car. There is no other T-bird like it. Features: Art Morrison Air Ride Chassis Ford Racing 302 crate motor. Weiand 174 Supercharger 600 cfm Holley Wilwood Brakes Ford 9� and so much more! For More info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
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Asking: $7,500
2004
Asking: 75,000
1957
FORD FOCUS SVT EAP
CHEVY BEL AIR
1 of 123! Adult owned, low miles and in perfoect running order. New wheels and tires just installed and come with rare OEM roof rack included. Original HID headlights are included in sale as well. For more info: james@focusrush.com
283 cu. in, four barrel, power brakes, power steering, power windows, padded dash. Same owner for over 25 years. A very clean example, running, registered and ready to drive For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com
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L I N C O L N B L AC K L A B E L | O U R U LT I M AT E E S P R E S S I O N O F
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V I STA L I N C O L N OX N A R D. C O M
*Restrictions may apply. See a participating Lincoln Black Label Dealer for complete details. 39
OXNARD
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