D RIVENWORLD
NOV 2015
The Official Magazine of Supercar Sunday
After all... It’s a driven world!
DRIVENWORLD.COM
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
Lavaggio For more information, call Lydia Derian at 818.584.3240 and visit www.lavaggio.net
MORE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU Canoga Park
Van Nuys
Woodland Hills
Calabasas
Beverly Hills West LA
SERVICE YOUR CAR
CANOGA PARK BEVERLY HILLS
WOODLAND HILLS
WEST LA
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.
2 NEW LOCATIONS Introducing two new drop-off points in West LA and Van Nuys.
CHOOSE THE LOCATION THAT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU
Santa Monica
AT THE AUTO GALLERY LOCATION NEAREST YOU
YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED
CALABASAS
With sites in Calabasas, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, West LA, and Santa Monica, you now have a choice of location to use.
YOUR VAN NUYS SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT TODAY
SANTA MONICA
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.
From the Editor So there is a lot of Motor4Toys in this issue. Why? Because it is important. It is important to so many of us and to so many children. Motor4Toys has become something so amazing because of all of you. I can still remember thinking about doing a toy drive over a decade ago. I thought about doing it but then I thought I might look stupid. So the first year I had the idea, I didn’t do it. I guess I chickened out. The very next year my “little voice” kept telling me to do it. That little voice kept getting louder and louder. I love my “little voice” but it can be like a broken record. Usually it is right and I have just learned to go with it. So as it got louder and louder, I could no longer ignore it. I decided to do a little toy drive. Long story short, with the help of so many amazing people within the car community, outside the car community, so many kind and generous people, Motor4Toys has collected over 5 million dollars worth of toys for needy children. All while operating at 100% charity. I would be lying to you to tell you I understand how all this happened. How we have always been so very lucky that whenever we needed something it would magically appear. I cannot take credit for it, nor can anybody. It is truly a team effort. It is absolutely, unequivocally, incredible. Thinking back, I cannot believe we are on year Twelve. How time flies. Within a blink of an eye we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary. How magical it is. You. Yes you. You have made this happen. You have picked up the phone, written an email, invited a friend. You have bought a toy, ten toys, a hundred toys. You have written small check; A big check. You have help pick up toys, get raffle items, open doors, and hoped. You have believed. Believed that we are making a difference and we are. One toy at a time, one kid at a time. I often wonder if one of the kids that we have put a toy in their hand, if one of those kids will remember, years later, that someone that they did not know cared. That the toy that we gave, gave them some hope. Perhaps some laughter or a chance to play basketball or soccer. Maybe that kid becomes a professional athlete because of that first ball we gave. Perhaps the kid starts a toy drive when they are older. It might be a food drive. Something. That because of what we did, we helped to create hope and an opportunity. I believe. I do. I believe in what we do. I have to. I hope like hell that some kid somewhere, that they get that toy and they smile. That they realize that it came from someone that loves them without knowing them. Without asking for anything in return. That they matter, they count. Perhaps I read too much into all this, but then again perhaps I am not. My mom once told me that if it was not for the Salvation Army distributing toys to
the “poor kids” that her and her siblings would have had no toys for the holidays. It was my father speaking before young adults at a local orphanage, telling them that he was an orphan. That nobody “wanted him”. But, that somebody cared because he was in an orphanage. He was clean, he was fed, he got an education. That somewhere, out there someone cared. I personally have never known those challenges. But, many have. So many. Had I never done a toy drive, perhaps my mother would have never told me. Perhaps if we didn’t give toys to Orphanages, I would never had the opportunity to see one. And to bring my father over to talk to the kids. To hear him speak in a way that I never did before. On both accounts it was eye opening, I learned a lot from those moments. So here we are, December is approaching and so is the big Motor4Toys toy
drive. Here is what I can tell you and what I believe with all of my heart and soul; We are making a difference. We are changing lives. Sure, it may be just a toy to you and me, but to that kid, it could be everything. It could be a parent they don’t have, a sibling they miss, a doll to snuggle with when there is no one else. It could be their possession, their hope. I do believe that when all is said and done, these kids that perhaps do not have much now, will have more later in life. And I do believe that what we are doing now, they will remember. That they will do the same and better. I believe it, I subscribe to it and I hope you do to. So, if you can give a little, we will take it, if you can give a lot, please do. Every donation, every toy counts and it all goes back to the kids. If you cannot make the show, you can donate online. Let’s make this the best year yet and thank you! www.motor4toys.com
D RIVENWORLD ISSUE 71, NOV 2015
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dustin Troyan
ART DIRECTOR Connected Media Group LLC
contents
COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group WEB DESIGN
Jeff Balbien
STORIES BY Dustin Troyan Mark Llewellyn Brooks Smith Tommy Mansuwan Mark Llewellyn Jim Hunter
PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Grudt Christan Welch Duane Steiner Tommy Mansuwan
Dustin Troyan Jim Hunter
Advertising / Marketing Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com Driven World Magazine is published twelve times per year by Connected Media Group LLC. It is distributed at upscale locations and events all over California. It is also available online and distributed electronically to 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: www.Motor4Toys.com Design: Rob Underwood
Southern California’s Largest Aircooled Porsche Dealer The Nation’s Largest Porsche Inventory 21301 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 autogallery.porschedealer.com 844.866.6762
40 For 40: Un Anniversario Significativo Per Ferrari
Story // JIm Hunter Photos // Jim Hunter + Frank Bryan
Early October 1975 must have been an exciting time in Maranello. Ferrari had just reclaimed the F1 Constructors and Driving Championships at Monza in September. Scarcely three weeks later, Leonardo Fioravanti’s
stunningly beautiful take on Ferrari’s first 8-cylinder was unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon. Tifosi spirit rekindled, Ferrari’s bleak finances would almost certainly benefit from the world’s insatiable reception of the Pininfarina 308. It would be the first Maranello chassis to move Ferrari toward anything remotely resembling mass production. “Mass” is a bit of a misnomer, but Fioravanti’s homage to the 246 Dino opened Ferrari to a wider audience, and sales exploded once the car was cast as the star attraction on the hit TV show, “Magnum, P.I.” I don’t recall the moment that I became aware of the 308. Avidly ingesting each issue of Road & Track as I approached my sixteenth birthday, ripe with anticipation for the freedom that day would bring, it was most likely my instant captivation with the deep blue GTB that graced the cover of the December 1976 issue, driven 10/10ths by Bob Bondurant. The accompanying article had an enormous impression on me. Bondurant’s observations on this brand-spanking new Ferrari read like a fascinating new language. His insights, writer John Lamm’s prose and images of a car that never before appeared so stunning, burrowed deep into my juvenile mind, catalyzing dramatic curiosity. I finally turned 16 and, driver’s license in hand, soon ventured to expand my horizons.
I wondered as to where I might find such a car, and through some process forgotten long before data connectivity, I discovered that there was indeed a Ferrari dealership in Atlanta. FaF Motorcars . . . Factory Authorized Ferrari . . . ironically only a stone’s throw from home in the NE Atlanta suburbs. So one dark, rainy, late fall afternoon, I found my way over railroad tracks, past a concrete mixing company, and down a short industrial spur into FaF’s makeshift garage showroom. Not exactly where most would imagine a Ferrari dealership, even in those days. I guess FaF was boutique before boutique was chic. I’ve since realized, however, that much of FaF’s persona was in
many ways derivative of Ferrari itself. FaF as it appeared then would look almost right at home in Maranello or Modena today, quite a contrast to the ultra clean, ultra modern, ultra identical corporate brand approach that dictates every car dealership today. My memories of that moment are vague. The sole GTB, parked just inside a partially opened roll-up door. Red? Not sure. An L-shaped counter, much like a parts dept. desk, wrapped a perimeter around the front of the car. It was dusk, a result of the weather, the season, and being close to the end of the business day. And it was dark inside, too. I recall the specular brightness of the sparse interior lighting against an otherwise dim and shadowy room. What I do more precisely recall, however, is the impression that 308 GTB left on my psyche. One of the guys allowed me to slide into the driver’s seat. Despite my youth, and relative lack of driving experience, the car simply felt perfect. The seating position, the gauge cluster, the slope upon which the dash gave way
to the door pulls, the smell of the leather. With only a handful of experiences ogling (parked) high-end European sports cars, I was impressionable as wet clay, and this impression would set the mold of a clear goal (dream, if you like) that would never leave me. Other priorities took precedence over the years, and although vague and at times obscure, I never lost sight of the car nor the marque.
Therefore, when I was fortunate enough to finally realize the objective just three short years ago, it was only natural that I would fully immerse myself into everything related to owning a Ferrari, and more specifically, a 308. It was through this process that I met Mike Tuason and Clint Camamot. Naturally drawn to the vibrant enthusiast scene of SoCal, it was inevitable that we would meet and enjoy
many great moments as fellow 308 owners. After staging a rather successful gathering for all 3X8 chassis last year, it was a given that we would organize another such event in honor of the 40th Anniversary. Sticking as close as we could to the October 2 date, we set about attracting 40 cars. Could we do it? It would be a long shot. No doubt, 40 such chassis reside in the LA area, but getting them to one location at the same
time? We canvased local Ferrari service shops and benefitted from both Ferrari clubs in getting the word out. From every era of the 308/328 run, we hoped to have some special examples in attendance. With 28 cars at last year’s meet; we almost certainly expected to top that number this time around. Unfortunately, despite enduring one of the worst droughts in recent memory, the forecast for our event called for rain, and
that percentage only increased as the day approached. Los Angeles rain isn’t exactly rain as some of us from Atlanta know, but as I arose to wet streets in the pre-dawn hours of Oct 4, there could be no doubt the precipitation would play it’s hand in the proceedings. Yet, we had a great turnout after all. Twenty-two passionate 308/328 owners braved the elements, including Eric Hutchison’s torque-monster 308 GTE, an EV conversion of a salvage title, burned out ’78 GTS, and Brian Harper, who drove his ’83 Quattrovalvole down from San Jose for the event. “Modern cars are so isolating from both the world around and the machinery doing the work,” Brian observed. “The 308 is none of that. It is very mechanical, very direct. Out in the elements, I can feel temperature changes, smell the foliage and the flattened skunks. The mechanical noise from the car is ever present, and it’s not just the exhaust. I hear the drop gears and transmission quietly whine, the cams and
valves clatter, the heat shields and aluminum panels rattle, the sucking of the intake and the roar of air over the top of the car. In the way a Lexus tries to remove all of this experience, the 308 is aggressively beats it into you.“ We even had one original owner on hand, Rex Parker, who brought out his rare, all original ’79 Oro Chiaro (light gold) GTS for the morning. “Long-neglected 308s are finally coming into their own, and those that are nicely done are showing -- and aging -- remarkably well,” Rex noted. “308s are sufficiently drivable; to be driven, and driven great distances.” Frank Bryan, in attendance with his stunning white ‘86 328 GTS offered, “What really strikes me about the Ferrari 308 and 328 community is the camaraderie and diversity of the owners. It is a great mix of young and old, long time owners and recent converts. The same can be said for the cars. No car was the same, each sported it’s own character, modifications, and patina. The show was an intimate and meaningful way to celebrate such an iconic vehicle.” Ultimately, the weather paid benefits, too. The cool cloud cover arrested September’s wretched heat, and we enjoyed coffee and camaraderie under a soft light that did not pound us into the asphalt The Pininfarina 8-cylinder’s legacy may never fully escape detractors of the era who disdained the idea any Ferrari shy of 12 cylinders and never respected the model because of its significant production run. The model may also fail to captivate younger enthusiasts intoxicated by the stunning performance of the
8-cylinder models since introduced. However, it’s impossible to ignore what might have become without it. Forty years ago the 308/328 line
arrived in time to save Ferrari from extinction, and that is an anniversary every Ferrarista can cherish.
Book Review: Museo Storico Alfa Romeo
Review // Brooks Smith
Jeremy Clarkson once noted that you cannot really call yourself a car enthusiast if you’ve not owned an Alfa Romeo. That may be stretching the truth a bit (It wouldn’t be Clarkson talking if it weren’t.), but honestly not by a lot. It may be hard to reconcile the barely functioning Fiat subsidiary of today with what is probably an unparalleled linage of elegant, beautiful cars, which always managed to put their focus squarely on the person in the driver’s seat. The last really great Alfa Romeo is now some twenty-five years old, and in the US at least, the company has only rarely and briefly surfaced in that time. Fiat’s current reboot has so far proceeded in fits and starts, and at this point the brand really is teetering on the edge of being forgotten, as a new generation will have only the vaguest idea of Alfa’s storied past. So maybe now is as good a time as any to remind ourselves why Alfa Romeo still inspires such intense feelings in those lucky enough to experience truly great examples of the breed. Alfa themselves, along with NADA publishing obviously agree, as they’ve recently released Museo Storico Alfa Romeo The Catalogue, a rather robust retrospective photo essay of sorts, chronicling the marques timeline, and allowing something of a virtual
tour of the museum to this automotive brand most deserving of a museum. That may sound dramatic, but that’s just what happens when Alfa Romeo is the subject at hand. The books proceeds in exactly that manner, laying on a bit thick sometimes, but forgivably given the history being related. It’s all very “glorious” and “passionate” which can obviously lead to a
creeping cynicism, but then the history lives up to the hype, and the string of amazing road and racing cars seems to go on for page after page, largely because it does. The names, from the RL, P2, 1750 Gran Sport, P3, 8C 2300, and “Immortal” 8C 2900 of the prewar years, to the 1900, Alfetta (Yes, I know the 158 was designed before the war, but it’s legend was cemented in the immediate post war era), Giulietta, Giulia, 33, and even the 116 Alfetta and 75/Milano of the marque’s last independent stand, immediately evoke ideas of character, charisma, and driving enjoyment. The book presents all of this in a straightforward manner, to the accompaniment of wonderful and expensive looking studio photography, and a slightly less impressive, but undeniably valuable smattering of period photos. It makes a gorgeous coffee table piece, albeit not a particularly cheap one at $90.00. Even at that price, Alfisti will want to add this book to their libraries, and fans of beautiful, fast cars may well want to do the same.
Over 30 years of award winning experience 22836 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 222-8881
www.coastlinemotorsport.com
Car Culture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Mark Llewellyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C lutch Time for the C lutch Pedal Fewer than 10% of all cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. last year were equipped with a traditional manual transmission with a clutch pedal. This is despite the rising fuel costs and the fact that a manual transmission provides better fuel economy. Clutchless manual transmissions originated in European vehicles a few years back. They are making their appearances in the United States in Ford Fiesta and Focus models. Using the “power-shift feature” however, has provoked some complaints from new buyers. The technology and feel are new to consumers. Ford has actually launched a campaign to educate buyers on the clutchless manual transmission. Porsche reports that 60% of their new cars sold are equipped with clutchless manual transmissions. Volkswagen is also currently offering vehicles with a clutchless manual transmission.
15 year old Taylor Halby learning to drive her father’s Suzuki Samari, 5-speed manual
Other factors contributing to the demise of the clutch pedal are automatic transmissions that can be used in a ‘full manual mode’. On vehicles equipped with this feature, the driver can choose whether to shift gears or not. Ford has dropped the option of a manual transmission in the F150 trucks, since the demand in recent years became so low. Learning the stick shift was a rite of passage for many teenagers for years. Car collectors and enthusiasts are heart-broken at the demise of the stick. “Car and Driver” magazine has actually launched a campaign to “Save the Manuals.”
1960 Toy with Shifter
Many believe that declining interest in truly driving a car will end up consigning classic automobiles to museums and show displays. Perhaps the next generation of mechanics won’t know what a “clutch job” is!
Coupon good for discounted entry cost of just $5.00. Beautiful vintage automobiles and Americana. 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard, California 93033
www.LeonsTransmission.com
murphyautomuseum.org (805) 487-4333
Supercar Sunday Marque Schedule
Supercar Sunday is presented by: THE AUTO GALLERY
Dec 6 Motor4Toys
The 2nd Sunday is Nissan Marque Day with Universal Nissan
The 2016 Schedule will be available online at www.supercarsunday.com
Supporting Sponsors include: Coastline Motorsport SuperchargersOnline.com Century Specialized Towing & Transport
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
Covers (for Indianapolis competition), Crane Cam and Isky roller Rockers. Transmission is a ‘88 Chevy Camaro 5-speed. Cusotm 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
Advertise with Driven World Magazine Reaching the car community is what we do.
MASERATI / McLAREN 24050 West Ventura Blvd. Calabasas, CA 91302 | LAMBORGHINI 21326 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 PORSCHE / AUDI 21301 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 | MASERATI / McLAREN BEVERLY HILLS 9022 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 McLAREN SCOTTSDALE 8355 E. Raintree Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 | SANTA MONICA FIAT 1820 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404 VAN NUYS FIAT / MASERATI 5711 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91401
THEAUTOGALLERY.COM
|
818.884.4411
|
Story // Photos Scott Fortier
A Motor4toys Donation...
Hand built HRE wheels bar set
What do all kids love at Holiday time? TOYS! Seeing any child receive a gift and watching their eyes light up with surprise is a very heartfelt emotion that most of us share. I discovered the Motor4Toys charity a few years ago by meeting Dusty at my classic Chevy parts shop in Canoga Park, CA. He spoke so passionately about his cause that I immediately wanted to help in some way. In my first year, I attended the Motor4Toys show with my 4 year old daughter. We brought a trunk full of toys all while explaining that we are giving to children that won’t get any gifts for the holidays. She’s a pretty sharp girl and she asked me “Won’t Santa bring them presents?” Ummm…Let’s just say 4 year olds are easily distracted with
shiny objects. Last year, I wanted to help even more. I was able to purchase over 1000 brand new Hot Wheels toys from a friend that was liquidating his brother’s estate. This happened in early August 2014, so we were way ahead of the schedule. I called Dusty and told him about my find and he says “That’s awesome, we only have 59,000 more toys to go to reach this year’s goal”. Fast forward 45 minutes, Dusty shows up at my shop all excited to pick up the truck load of Hot Wheels. I told him I wanted to do more and he was blown away, so I decided to make Mike’s Chevy Parts a sponsor for the December Motor4Toys car show in 2014. It felt really good to help those in need and this year is no different.
How do you raise more money without actually having more money? Build something! I consider myself a semi-talented fabricator and restorer of vehicles. I thank my Dad for giv-
ing me the mechanical gene. I concluded that building something and selling it would raise way more money than just writing a check for what I could afford. I have had a vision for a set of wheel themed bar stools and table in my head for at least the last 10 years and the desire to raise more money for Motor4Toys was the perfect motivation for me to finally build them.
The idea for this unique one-off set of furniture started out as a long shot. My thought process was this, if you want the best watch, you buy a Rolex. If you want the best tools, you buy Snap-On tools. If you want the best wheels, you buy HRE Performance Wheels. I recently acquired a set of HRE Wheels for my 2014 Corvette and realized that they make some of, if not, the best wheels I have ever seen or owned. One phone call was made to the guys at HRE and my verbal proposal to donate a set of real HRE wheels for this charity project was accepted without hesitation. They chose to provide me with a set of 22” TR107’s from their brand new line of TR Series of wheels. I didn’t care which style they wanted to give me as all of their wheels are works of art in their own way. I was absolutely thrilled to get such a generous donation all because they are huge supporters of the Motor4Toys charity also. The HRE team went out of their way to help. They never said no to any of my requests, even when I requested the wheels to be refinished in a different finish and color. A special thank you goes out to Tito, Alan, Patrick, Jorge, Satoru, Greg and Nick F. for making this charity project possible. Now the plan was actually starting to fall together. I started calling my local colleagues in the restoration parts industry about this project for the kids. I needed some more support and they all said “YES” to the kids and the Motor4Toys charity. Not one person or company turned me down to help in one way form or another. Jameel at CMJ Technologies in Sun Valley used their CNC waterjet and crafted the HRE Performance Wheels logo into a 3-dimensional sculpture on the chair backs.
They also machined the mounting plates for the bar stool mounting columns. Keith at Above All Glass in Thousand Oaks donated the glass top for the table. Tires Buy Mark in Canoga Park donated the lug nuts. Andrews Powder Coating in Chatsworth discounted the powder coat work. My company Mike’s Chevy Parts donated the base furniture that I completely cut apart and modified to fit the vision that was in my head. I spent over 50 hours of labor in designing, fabricating the steel framing and refinishing the wood work. I am very proud of the end result and can’t wait to place these in someone’s bar, garage, living room or man cave. I have to thank my wife Danielle and my two kids London and Austin for all helping when a third hand was needed in the garage. All in all, this set of furniture would cost over $10,000 to duplicate and thanks to the generosity of everybody that contributed, we have created something unique to raise money and awareness for the children.
Donations: - HRE Performance Wheels hrewheels.com - Mike’s Chevy Parts mikeschevy.com - CMJ Technologies cmjtech.org - Above All Glass aboveallglass.com - Andrews Powder Coating powdercoater.com - Tires Buy Mark tirebuymark.com
T-Bird Dreaming
There are opportunities and then there are opportunities. For those of you in the car world who love a classic or custom car this might be something for you to consider. When Alan Lanyz purchased the 1957 Thunderbird from the George Stephen Sr. Collection his idea was to just drive it an enjoy it. But, being a car guy, he couldn’t leave it alone. After about a year, he decided to turn his prized bird into a pro-touring inspired hot rod. Sparing no expense to realize his dream, this ‘57 is all steel. Every body modification was done the right way, with tons of hours wrapped up into the bodywork of this one-of-a-kind ‘Bird. The body was dropped onto a custom Art Morrison Air Ride Chassis. The power plant is a Ford Racing 302 Crate Motor with a Weiand 174 Blower pushing big horsepower. The transmission is a TCI Street Fighter C4, built to handle the power. With 3.50:1 gears in the Ford9-inch rear end, the 18 inch Boyd Coddington wheels really put the power down. To handle all that power, Alan fitted the Thunderbird with Wilwood Brakes. This baby stops! Both in body and mechanics, this car is a masterpiece. The interior was done by Art Rodriguez of Rod’s Designs. Known for doing some of the best interiors in the industry, this ‘Bird is truly an example of an interior done right! Alan, has decided to move on and this amazing T-Bird is available for purchase. A tremendous value not to be missed. For more info: please contact Dustin Troyan 818.516.5503
Family owned and operated in Southern California for over 45 years.
888-798-3915
www.sageauto.com
Universal City Nissan • Glendale Nissan • West Covina Nissan Kia of Downtown LA • Glendale Infiniti • Sage Covina Chevrolet Mercedes-Benz of Valencia • Lotus of West Covina • Lotus of the Desert
Supercar Sunday Porsche Day One word can sum up Porsche Day at Supercar Sunday: WOW! I mean there is “wow” and then there is “WOW!” One of the most passionate and well connected groups of car enthusiasts on this planet just happen to be Porsche owners and enthusiasts. This is an undeniable fact. Porsche enthusiasts, they LOVE their marque! For those of you who are regulars at Supercar Sunday, you knew that we had to reschedule Porsche Day. Many enthusiasts were a little saddened, but the wait was well worth it! Porsche Marque day was one of the record books! I dare say it might have been the biggest Porsche showing at Supercar Sunday ever! As the sun came up, the German masterpieces came in one by one, then two by
Story Dustin Troyan // Photos Ted Lighthizer
two then five by five, they just kept coming. By eight o’clock, the parking lot was just about all Porsche! Over the years, we have been very lucky to have tremendous support from many
Just about every Porsche model was on display at Supercar Sunday. To walk around a parking lot and see Porsches which are usually reserved for Concours and private showing all next to each other in one Porsche Owners as well as the two big Porsche Clubs; The P.O.C and The P.C.A. Both have participated in Supercar Sunday and Motor4Toys with so much enthusiasm and passion for over a decade now. Thank you! As the Porsche Marque day was a couple weeks out, I started to receive emails from different people within the Porsche Community explaining how it was going to be an incredible day...they were right!
Supercar Sunday Porsche Day Continued
place. I think everyone was blown away, event the Porsche owners! The presenting sponsor of Supercar Sunday, The Auto Gallery who is also one of the largest Porsche Dealerships, again pulled out all stops to ensure a great event. With coffee and pastries for everyone with their compliments, to the driving simulator and the newest models on display, The Auto Gallery did an outstanding job!
25% Off Service On Your Classic or Vintage Porsche Make Your Own Coupon Choose one of the three options below
$25 Off
$50 Off
$100 Off
Any Maintenance or Repair Up to $250
Any Maintenance or Repair Between $250 and $500
Any Maintenance or Repair Over $500
21301 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 autogallery.porschedealer.com 818.932.1659
*Must present ad at time of vehicle write up for offer to apply. Can only apply one of the two service offers above. Cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to past services. Other restrictions may apply. Limit one coupon per customer. Vintage service expires 1/31/2015. Vehicle must be 8 years old or more. OpCode: VIN25. “Make your own coupon� expires 1/31/2015. OpCode: MYOC.
The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Unveiling
Story // Dustin Troyan Photos // Christan Welch
The Lamborhigni Huracan Spyder, Lamborhginis newest topless example was just released. Lambrohgini aficionados and car enthusiasts all over the state could not wait to see the example in person. Everybody was holding their breath to see how the Spyder would look in person. How did it look? Lamborhgini North Los Angeles threw an incredible “Launch Party” for the new Hurcan Spyder. The dealership transformed into a night club with an Italian theme. Prosecco and Italian inspired hor’dourves were being served, the parking lot looked more like a Lamborhgini factory than anything else. Littered outside were just about every example of Lamborhginis made. A kaleidoscope of colors and a roar of V12 and V8 motors were music to the ears of everyone in attendance. So how was the car received? As The Auto Gallery Team slowly pulled back the un-
veiling cover, the crowd roared! Whistles and applause, it was an instant hit. What an aggressive and well designed vehicle. It was simply stunning. As the guests took turns sitting in the Huracan Sypder and hundreds of pictures being taken, we all waited to hear the V10 roar to life and to see how the top aculates. As the car roared to life the crowd again broke into applause. And the top is also all about speed! The electric hydraulic cloth soft top opens in seventeen seconds, incredible. The Huracan Spyder’s chasis is 40% stiffer then the previous Gallardo. The 5.2-liter V10 pumps out 610 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and over 413 torque. From standing to 63mph in just 3.2 seconds. The new Spyder also has a top speed of just over 200 miles per hour. The new Spyder is already on order and the allocations are going fast! If you are in
the market for a new exotic, this might just be the car for you. Offering luxury, performance and customization, Lamborghini indeed elevated the customer experience from start to finish. The “Launch Party” at Lamborhgini North Los Angeles was a huge success. Another great event and an incredible offering from Lamborhgini. Thank you! Lamborhgini North Los Angeles located in Woodland Hills off of Ventura Boulevard is one of the premier Lamborhgini Dealerships in the United States. Lamborhgini North Los Angeles is part of The Auto Gallery Dealerships known for great customer service and tremendous support of the car community. If you are interested in the Huracan Spyder, please visit: www.lamborhgininorthlosangeles.com
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S LEADER IN NEW & CLASSIC FERRARI SERVICE
Your FCA membership is now worth 20% off when you service your Ferrari with The Auto Gallery
We pride ourselves in the best of Ferrari service, facility, and technical expertise 21344 Deering Ct. Canoga Park, CA 91304 | 818.932.1707 theautogallery.com
Vista Ford Racing Autocross At Camarillo Airport
Story // Photos Dustin Troyan
When Tony Fiori of Vista Ford Oxnard called me and said I had to stop by the Vista Ford Racing Auto Cross day in Camarillo it was a tough sell. Let’s see, head up before work, hang out with some cool people and enjoy the Autocross. Sold! The thing about Tony Fiori is he is a car guy...a real-deal car guy. Tony has spearheaded V.F.R., Vista Ford Racing. What is Vista Ford Racing? Like many of us, we try to incorporate our passion into our work. Makes work a bit more fun and allows for that magical cross over between work and play. They say that if you love what you do, it is not work. Well, Tony has succeeded in launching a performance brand out of the Vista Ford Dealerships. Vista Ford Racing is the performance side of the Vista
Family of Auto Dealerships. When I first met Tony years ago, he told me he was a car guy. He said he loved cars and loved the community. That the Vista Ford brand was going to launch a performance side and that he was going to “go big.” He did it. Driving down the road, it is not uncommon to see the VFR logo on the side of a new Mustang or custom Ford truck. Heck, I have even seen it on classic and collector cars! In a very short period of time, the brand has crossed over to new and old cars and VFR is growing fast. Well done Tony! So, when he called me for the Autocross, I knew I had to go. I asked my wife if I could take her ‘69 Fastback, that I might support the event with another Mustang. Naturally she said yes. Cruising up to the event in the Fastback, I was very excited to see what the event had to offer. According to Tony, the idea is to reward those who chose to not only purchase their vehicles at Vista Ford, but that also support the VFR Team. I was one of the first to arrive. Waiting for the others, I had no idea what to expect. Tony said that it was going to be a full house and that most of the cars will
be late model Fords. The latest and greatest Mustangs started to pull up. Raced out Ford Focuses, some vintage race cars and even Ford Sedans. It was a run what you brung and it was going to be awesome. At the event there were so many familiar faces. It was so nice to see how tight our community is and how we are all doing such a great job to keep it growing and rolling.
As I could only spend a few hours there, Tony the consummate host put me in VFR Mustang with Ceasar Martinez. The car was set up at Vista Ford Racing with Autocrossing in mind. When the green light lit up, we were off and Ceasar drove the tires off the car. Ceasar Martinez is the Wilwood Race Car driver for the Optima Challenge Series and did he threw that Mustang around. It was a real treat and it was an awesome experience, thank you Tony and Ceasar. Talking with Tony it was apparent that he loves what he is doing and he is driven by his passion. Bring the community together to have some fun, support his clients, build the brand and have some fun, well that is one heck of a way to spend a work day! To the VFR Team, you all pulled off a five star event. So well executed and making it all about your guests. Well done! We all had a great time and look forward to the next event. For more information on Vista Ford Racing, please visit: VistaFordRacing.com
The Gearhead Diaries
Brooks Smith
Buying a car for the right reasons and get most of those new car vibes, even is rarely exciting. Making decisions about when buying for myself is impossible. It’s carrying capacity, fuel economy, and reliability called enabling, and it can work for you as can make the whole process feel little different well. Last week, a friend of mine began from the purchase of a refrigerator. For most people, that’s just fine; the car itself is similar looking for a car. At the time, he was looking enough to an icebox in their affections, for something that would work in the day to and the desired result is the same. For the day, but would also provide a bit of fun when readers of this magazine though, I suspect the right road or empty onramp came along. that buying a rational car is both difficult, and So far, so standard. Cars like this aren’t my emotionally taxing. We’d much rather buy the favorites for one reason, compromise. The stupid car, with all of its glories and foibles, two goals of usability and entertainment may and sort out how we’re going to live with it not be completely incompatible, but they later. Spending money on a car we don’t care do have a way of stepping on each other’s about is anathema. Of course, unless you’re toes. Part of this is due to differing material doing quite well for yourself though, this isn’t requirements, obviously, but a large part of the a regular occurrence (If it is, congratulations). feeling of compromise is simply emotional. Several sporty coupes and saloons Very few of us can indulge in poor decision making as often as we’d like. Fortunately, I’ve were mooted before a BMW was finally settled my friend began found a way to indulge in the buying process, upon, 1and DrivenWorld Qtr Pg v1•2015-10-02.qxp_Layout 10/5/15 2:36 PM looking. Page 1 A clean
The fine art of automobile repair. Specializing in scheduled maintenance, repairs and performance enhancements for German marques.
Bavarian Workshop
23710 Vanowen Street | West Hills 91307
818 346.9363
BavarianWorkshop.com
©2015 Bavarian Workshop. All rights reserved.
example turned up at the desired price, and my friend was about to make arrangements. He asked finally if there was anything else out there he was forgetting, and it was at this point that I mentioned Alfa Romeo. This had a startling effect. Alfa Romeos have somehow developed a reputation as a “fancy” car. To some extent I guess they are, and many examples of the breed have recently increased considerably in value to the point where even middling examples of post war cars are less attainable than they once were. The truth though is that they almost never cost more than a comparable BMW. An Alfa Romeo is an indulgence not because of the cost of purchase, but because it takes a different level of care than a German car. My friend is more than a little mechanically inclined, and completely capable of rendering that level of care, but the cars had seemed expensive because most people who own them have to be the kind of people who can afford regular expert service. He had never expressed any real interest in the cars, but that all changed the second he saw an ad for one priced near the top of his budget. Suddenly the BMW was all but forgotten, an Italian Gran Turismo had taken its place, websites were being shopped for suspension and engine upgrades… It was at this point that my friend’s brain made a desperate bid to save him, and regain control of the situation. Even for those can take care of the, the idea of a practical Alfa Romeo is problematic at best, and in the cold light of day, A BMW makes a lot more sense. So a crisis of reason vs. emotion ensued, and the German car was again considered. My opinion was sought. I am, by my own admission, probably the last person of whom one should ask advice like this. I will almost always push for the more interesting car, and this time was no different. I’ve reminded my friend of his ability to care for the car, offered books and manuals, noted that he was looking to ride his bicycle more… This isn’t all down to self interest. I want my friend to have an interesting and fun car. We all resist making this decision, thinking that we’re being irresponsible, but at the same time, we only have so much time in life to indulge in silly cars. When the opportunity arises, I feel a responsibility to help my friends make the wrong decision. Of course, there would be the benefit of having another impractical car in my life, and the fun and excitement of joining the search, and the chase, and the purchase. It’s a process I love being part of. I don’t know if my friend will take the plunge, but in the meanwhile, being a bad influence has even felt so good
Golf Tips with Tommy Mansuwan If you are like most of the amateur golfers out there and have a problem with coming over the top, then this is for you. Is your typical ball flight one that curves extremely to the right (for right handers) or what we typically call a banana slice? If this is the case, then you are one of the many golfers out there that tend to cut across the ball at impact creating the sideways spin. While hitting a control fade is well or a little cut can be a great attribute, that huge slice will surely put you in places you do not want to be on the golf course. Here are two quick tips for those looking to fix, or at least minimize those over the top swings. Ever heard the saying that golf is a game of opposites? Well, the reason for that is if you are trying to fix something
Drop It Inside
in your game, you usually need to do the opposite of what you think. Without looking at the swing on video, most golfers I’ve talked to believed the reason they were hitting it right was because they were swinging the club to the right and in effect, pushing the ball towards that direction. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is that to hit shots that spin to the right, the club head would have to come across the swing plane to impart the spin on the ball. So if a golfer tends to swing the club over the top (or outside to inside), how would we fix it? By doing the opposite, try to swing it from inside to out. Consequently, this will normally produce a right to left ball flight. With the first drill, you will need either a range basket or if possible, a couple of empty club boxes. Take your normal set up and place the prop just outside your club head. If you use the club boxes, put them down outside the club head and parallel to your target line. Try to stack two boxes and you might get faster results. Now take your normal swings at hitting the ball but obviously, avoid hitting those props. This will teach your body to work the club from the inside of plane to avoid hitting the objects,
thus creating a more in to out swing. If the objects freak you out visually, start by putting them out a bit further then slowly work the prop back closer to where your club head is at during setup. The second drill may need a bit more understanding of the golf swing but give it a try. Once you take the club to the top of the backswing, start the motion of the downswing by sliding your left hip down the target line while keeping your right elbow tucked against the side of your body and don’t let the elbow get away from you. During the swing, you will also have to feel your right shoulder work underneath the left shoulder through the downswing. Focus on always keeping that right shoulder lower than the left going into the ball which will encourage you to flatten the swing a bit more. Practice the motions a few times before you hit a ball to feel the move. Remember that making a change takes a significant amount of time and depends on how much time you put into practice. Work one thought at a time and those changes will come around.
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
JOn and Dustin’s Exotic Summer Run Story // Dustin Troyan Photos // Scott Killeen
Mario cipollini bicycles at lavaggio Story // Dustin Troyan + Photos // Gus Corona
Passion. Passion is something that I hope we can all experience. Two groups of people that I believe are some of the most passionate are car enthusiasts and cyclists. They actually have so much in common it is unbelievable. Sure there is sharing the roads we all love to ride and drive, the technology shared between them as well, but to chase a dream of attaining your dream car or bicycle or level of fitness; there are so many similarities. I had received a call from a close friend who represents action sports clients. He said that there was a rare opportunity to do something really cool and the goal was to pair cars and bicycles. I was in from the word “go’. The event was to launch the newest line of Cipollini Bicycles and in fact cycling legend Mario Cipollini was going to be present. Mario Cipollini, also known as “The Lion King” is noted to be the strongest sprinter in cycling history. Over his extraordinary career he was victorious in each of the seventeen seasons he competed. With 189 victories over his career, Mario is considered a legend. Cipollini Bicycles, which are entirely hand made in Italy, are considered works of art. Naturally, we thought it would be awesome
to pair these fine Italian racing machines with other fine Italian machines, Lamborghini came to mind. Calling Lamborghini North Los Angeles, they loved the idea and being a very enthusiastic group, they offered tremendous support. Now the last key was the location. Lavaggio- The Art of Auto Detailing is Italian inspired. From the beautiful building, the waterfalls, and the attention to detail, we had a location. The translation of “Lavaggio” from Italian to English is “to wash.” What a perfect fit! Serious Cycling in Agoura Hills, noted as one of the most passionate bike shops around and also a Cipollini dealer were also very excited to be part of the festivities.
Serious Cycling invited many of their team riders and local cyclist to participate with this amazing event. We had all the components for
an incredible evening. As we began setting up, we knew it was going to be magical. Bellini Bistro which is part of Lavaggio catered the event and they pulled out all the stops. From some of the world finest bicycles, to exotic cars, to fine food and amazing guests, it was scheduled to be an awesome event. As the guests arrived, both on the cycling and on the car side, everybody was blown away. Cipollini Bicycles in front of the latest and greatest Lamborghini Huracan and Aventadors the guests were blown away. As the patio filled and the guests mingled with the staff, noshing on the fine offerings, everybody was waiting for the
guest of honor himself. When Mario arrived, everybody was stoked. A gracious host indeed, Mario was quick to greet his guests and thank them for attending the launch party. With his and the other Cipollini representatives speaking with Italian accents, you could almost close your eyes and imagine you were not in Agoura Hills, but somewhere in Italy. The crowd. The mix of cyclist and car enthusiasts were awesome. They cyclist checked out the cars, commenting the carbon fiber and relating them to bicycles. The car enthusiasts were doing the exact same thing in the opposite order. Talking about roads they ride and drive, sharing stories, it was a magical mix of two demographics that are indeed so similar. It was so fun to watch. It was such a win on all sides. I think everybody had such a great time that it left many of the guests asking for more. A very special thank you to everyone who attended and to Cipollini, Lavaggio, Lamborhgini North Los Angeles, Serious Cycling, Bellini Bistro and Axis Sports Group.
Motor4toys School toy drives
Kids, cars and toys. Sounds like a winning combination to most of us. After all, who wants to grow up? Some years ago,
one of the wive’s of a car enthusiast decided to pitch the idea of doing a Motor4Toys toy drive at her kids school. They went for it. It was a simple toy drive...we put out boxes and the kids were very kind to fill the boxes with toys. Everybody won. It an incredible inaugural event. Some years later, I asked if the school would like to have some cool cars present to share with the children when we pick up the toys. The school loved the idea! So ,the first year of bringing the cars, it was mostly the Chevy Club and some of the Cobra Club guys. Maybe a dozen cars. The guys, mostly retired had as much fun as the kids and it was such a “win.”
We carried this tradition on for a few years and then decided to reach out to The Auto Gallery to see if they wanted to participate. The Auto Gallery who has been the presenting sponsor of the event for years and years jumped at the opportunity. I figured that The Auto Gallery would bring maybe one or two cars, but, John Kerley the Director of Fixed Operations assembled a full team and when we rolled into the school, we rolled in with fifteen of the latest and greatest exotic cars, and another fifteen collector cars and hot rods. There must have been over $10 million dollars on display at a
local elementary school. It was absolutely incredible. The kids, the parents and the car guys had a blast. Fast forward, years later, the tradition is still alive. We will be again returning to Chaparral Elementary School for the annual toy drive. The children and parents have been so kind to continue the Motor4Toys tradition and we all love it. There is something so magical about seeing the children, the toys and the cars all
together. The amazing part is the kids know just about everything about the cars. They pull out their smart phones and take pictures, pose with the cars and toys and it is just a blast. This year, the date is set. One of our regulars at Supercar Sunday already heard from the school that we were again doing the toy drive and he emailed saying he has to go and surprise his grand daughter. How awesome is that!
It is still not too late if you would like to do a toy drive at your school! Motor4Toys continues to grow outside of the “car world” and bringing the cars to the kids, well we all get a real kick out of it. And to reward the kids for their kindness with cool cars, loud engines and the sharing or passion, we love it. If you would like more information on doing a school toy drive, please visit: www.Motor4Toys.com
The Motor4Toys Toy Run, Join us! An annual tradition. It all started with Justin Friedman. A long time Motor4Toys supporter, Justin has been there from the beginning. It was about nine years ago, he called and said he had an idea to help promoted the big Motor4Toys car show. His idea was this; Get a big group of car enthusiasts together and go on a big shopping spree. Build the camaraderie before the show and social media the heck out of the “Toys R US� run. So after all these years, it is an annual tradition. It has been covered on the news, in the papers, and of course on social media. With anywhere from fifty to a hundred cars in attendance, it is quite the sight. Toys R Us always reserves the parking and our friends from the LAPD have always been happy to join the event, it is truly an amazing sense of community. How exactly does it work? It is simple, on Sunday, November 29th, we will leave Supercar Sunday at the Westfield Promenade and go shopping as a group! We will have reserved parking and our own cashiers to check us out. After all the shopping is done, we line the cars up, lay the toys out and get one super cool group photo. We then make it go viral to remind the community that the big car show is only a week away! This tradition keeps growing and growing. It is a lot of fun and we hope that you can join us. For more information you can visit, www.motor4toys.com
The Motor4Toys Toy Run When: Sunday, November 29th Time: Leave Supercar Sunday at 10am to head over to Toys R Us on Topanga What: Car Community Toy Shopping Spree to benefit Motor4Toys Who: EVERYONE For More information: www.motor4toys.com
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)
Lamborghini North Los Angeles
instinctive technology
LAMBORGHINI HURACĂ N LP 610-4
Lamborghini North Los Angeles Authorised Dealer 21326 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Phone 1 844 861 1280