T H E CO L L E C T I O N
COPYRIGHT 2018 DILLON FINE ARTS, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
2
JAC K B OY D S M I T H J R .
03
R E S T O R E D & M A I N TA I N E D B Y L A V I N E R E S T O R A T I O N S
04
COLLECTION BUILDINGS FITNESS FACILITY NORTH FACILITY SOUTH FACILITY DINER
PLACES PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA ELKHART AMELIA ISLAND NEW JERSEY ST. JOHNS VOLO AUTO MUSEUM SNITE MUSEUM
entourage GLENN KILLOREN
TOM J. BORGER
LAURA SMITH
JASON STOLLER
VIVIAN AND ERIC LAVINE
LARRY BALKIN
SUE MONTAGUE
TODD TWEEDY
TRAVIS LAVINE
TOM HOUSAND
ELIZABETH BORGER
JEANNIE VALENCOURT
INDEX
JACK BOYD SMITH JR. . . . . . . . . 04 PEOPLE, PLACES, BUILDINGS . . . . . . . . 06 PLACES MAP . . . . . . . . 08 THE BEGINNING . . . . . . . . 14 THE PRESENT . . . . . . . . 52 THE FUTURE . . . . . . . . 90 GASKA PLATES . . . . . . . . 92 CELEBRITIES . . . . . . . . 94 HATS! . . . . . . . . 96 AWARDS . . . . . . . . 98
P E B B L E B E A C H, C A L I F O R N I A Th e Pe b b le Be a c h Co n c o u r s d ’El egance
V O L O, I L L I N O I S Vo l o Au t o Mu s eu m
S O U T H B E N D, I N D I A N A Snite Mus eum
NEW JERSEY E L K H A R T, I N D I A N A Home of Ga s ka Ta p e
A M E L I A I S L A N D, F L O R I D A
08
WHEN I SAW THE CARS ARRIVE FROM VOLO I THOUGHT THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL AND THAT THEY WOULD BE LOUD AND BELCH BLACK EXHAUST THAT WOULD PENETRATE CLOTHES AND SKIN. THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THEM THAT ALL INTRIGUED ME BY THE SEPARATION OF COMPONENTS THAT IN TODAY’S CARS ARE COMBINED OR AT LEAST HOUSED IN A COMPARTMENT AWAY FROM VIEW. I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CARS, BUT MY FIRST QUESTION TO JACK WAS WHY EIGHT? HE WENT THERE LOOKING AT ONE. HE REPLIED THAT HE STARTED WALKING THE ROWS, AND TOLD KEITH FROM VOLO THAT HE WOULD STATE A PRICE AND AS LONG AS KEITH SAID “YES” JACK WOULD CONTINUE WALKING AND STATING BID PRICES. IF KEITH SAID “NO” JACK WOULD STOP WALKING AND WOULD LEAVE. THE YEAR WAS 2012, IT WAS CLOSE TO YEAR END, AND THE STING OF THE GREAT RECESSION COULD STILL BE FELT BY SELLERS OF LUXURY ASSETS. BRILLIANT. WHEN DID THIS START? WAS IT THE VOLO TRIP? WAS IT JACK’S LONG TERM HOLD OF HIS 1986 BABY BLUE MERCEDES BENZ 560SL? WAS IT WHEN HE BOUGHT THE 1999 ROLLS ROYCE CORNICHE AND THE 2008 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FROM THE GUNDLACH ESTATE (THIS IS MY BET)? WE DIDN’T MENTION THE GUNDLACH ESTATE? JACK’S FRIEND (AND LAURA ARAUZ SMITH’S BEST FRIEND AND MATCHMAKER) ELIZABETH “LIZ” BORGER WAS WORKING ON THE ESTATE OF DAVID GUNDLACH WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY (AND IS THE SUBJECT OF HIS OWN STORY TOLD MANY TIMES ELSEWHERE). SHE NEEDED TO LIQUIDATE SOME ASSETS QUICKLY TO RAISE CASH TO HIRE LAWYERS IN VARIOUS PLACES INCLUDING GIBRALTAR, OF COURSE. SHE CONTACTED JACK AND OFFERED SOME CARS THAT WERE IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND 09
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
10
11
> CONT'D FROM PAGE 09
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
THE COUNTRY AT PRICES THAT HAD BEEN RESEARCHED AND SET. LIZ SHARED THE LIST AND AMOUNTS SUGGESTING THAT CERTAIN CARS OR COLORS MIGHT NOT BE FAVORED BY JACK. HE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE CORNICHE AND THE CONTINENTAL. LIZ SAID “GREAT – WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT” AND JACK REPLIED “BOTH” TO LIZ’S AMAZEMENT AND RELIEF. THEY ARRANGED FOR EXPEDITED DELIVERY TO THE NAQUIN FAMILY AUTO DEALERSHIP IN ELKHART (LIZ IS A NAQUIN), AND JACK PROMPTLY PAID THE AGREED UPON AMOUNT. JACK TOLD ME ABOUT THIS, AND INVITED ME TO JOIN HIM AT THE NAQUIN CAR DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE CARS SAT WAITING FOR THEIR NEW OWNER TO ARRIVE IN JUNE 2012. GLEAMING. SHAPELY. ELEGANT. LUXURIOUS. EXTRAVAGANT. THE CORNICHE HAD A MOBILE PHONE BUILT INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE WHICH WAS STATE OF THE ART AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE ALTHOUGH TO THE YOUNGER OF THOSE PRESENT IT ALREADY APPEARED ANTIQUATED. THIS PURCHASE WAS THE MAJOR ADDITION TO THE CAR COLLECTION THAT IN THE SUMMER OF 2012 WAS A 2003 AM GENERAL HUMMER (AFTERMARKET SUPERCHARGED) THAT WAS THE WINTER VEHICLE, A MERCEDES BENZ AMG S63 THAT WAS THE SUMMER CAR, AND THE BABY BLUE ’86 MB 560SL. LITTLE DID I SURMISE THAT INSIDE JACK THERE HAD GERMINATED AN IDEA THAT HE QUIETLY AND DELIBERATELY, BY HIMSELF, WATERED AND FERTILIZED DAILY – THE IDEA TO GROW A COLLECTION OF DESIRABLE AUTHENTIC TRULY CLASSIC AUTOMOBILES. I AM NOT SURE, YOU SHOULD ASK HIM, IF HE KNEW THEN THAT HE WOULD GROW IT INTO THE COLLECTION. GLENN KILLOREN, 2018
12
THE BEGINNING
2011
2011, Mercedes S63 AMG 4/22/2011 GASKA 4
15
2012
Liz Borger delivered to Naquin 2007 Bentley Continental GTC 2dr 06/26/2012 GASKA 5
2012
Volo trip to purchase 8 cars. Jack, Sue and Jeannie went to buy one, and kept on buying 2001 Rolls Royce Corniche 2dr Convert. 08/13/2012 GASKA 7
timeline
2012
Begin preparation of the temperature and humidity controlled facility. Tom Borger 1905 Cadillac F2dr Touring 11/29/2012 1914 Cadillac 30-5 Pass Touring 11/29/2012 GASKA 28
2012
1923 Studebaker EK-Speedster 11/29/2012 GASKA 27 1906 Cadillac K-Runabout 11/29/2012 1928 Ford A-Pickup 11/29/2012 GASKA 25
16
2012
1929 Pierce Arrow 133-Limousine 11/29/2012 GASKA 24
2012
1956 Chevrolet 210 Coupe 12/20/2012
1932 Ford 18-Roadster 11/29/2012 GASKA 22
1934 Packard Eight Series 1100 12/31/2012 GASKA 17
1931 Cadillac Series 355A Fleetwood-4dr 11/29/2012 GASKA 23
1934 Packard Eight Series 1101 12/31/2012 GASKA 18
timeline
2012
Jack, Laura, the twins, Glenn Killoren and Tom Borger had dinner at Heinnie’s before Jack showed his family the car collection to that point. It was raining after dinner and, as we went into the east building Angelica slipped on the wet entryway delaying Laura. When Laura finally came in after the lights were on, she wanted to know how many cars there were because she didn’t expect more than a few. There must have been at least 15 at that point. Jack III asked about the Cormorant hood ornament, and Tom quickly responded “it’s a goose and it’s cooked.”
18
1938, Cadillac
1934, Packard Twelve
Fleetwood-4dr 1/01/2013, GASKA 13
2013
Jack purchased a dragster and another beautiful high-performance specialty car. Brad Myers had a collection of car memorabilia and Camel cigarette ads. 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood-4dr 1/01/2013 GASKA 13
S1107 Coupe Roadster 8/22/2013, GASKA 15
2013
1934, Packard Twelve, Series 1107 1/25/2013, GASKA 16 1932, Auburn, 8-100A Speedster 3/09/2013, GASKA 21 1932, Packard Light Eight, Series 900 Roadster 6/10/2013 GASKA 20 1947 Chrysler New Yorker 6/17/2013 GASKA 10
1938 Packard Twelve S1067 Conv. Coupe 6/26/2013 GASKA 12 1938 Packard Eight S1601 Tour. Sedan 7/30/2013 GASKA 11
1934, Packard Twelve
S1107 Coupe Roadster 8/22/2013, GASKA 15
1923, Studebaker
EK-Speedster, 11/29/2012 GASKA 27
timeline
2013
July St. Johns Concours and the 50-year Corvettes. What is so notable about a grouping of 1963 Corvettes Jack and Glenn wonder. 50 year anniversary, duh.
2013
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with Eric and Vivian LaVine who showed Jack and Glenn the most prominent classic car show in the world. 1933 Packard Twelve S1005 Coupe Roadster 8/17/2013 GASKA 19 20
CAR, 2014
2013
Jack met Gene Perkins, a Packard judge. Purchased the two-tone blue Packard at Gooding auction. 1933 Packard Twelve S1005 Coupe Roadster 8/17/2013 GASKA 19
2014
Acquired the Lusher Street building Attended St. Johns
timeline
2014
Preparation for the first Pebble Beach Concours showing. Walter Chrysler vehicle won because of a mismatch in the class. Jack’s car took 2nd place.
2014
2014
Travis almost ran out of gas in the chase car. We stayed at Anthony’s house with an elevation of 1,300 feet in Carmel Valley. We called it the “Mansion in the Sky.”
Gilmore trip Jack, Glenn, Joe and Jeannie
2012 McLaren MP4-12C 12/17/2014 GASKA 3 22
JACK, W O W... W H AT A T H R I L L I T H A S B E E N T O B E O N T H I S “ C A R ” J O U R N E Y W I T H Y O U... FROM THE FIRST PURCHASE OF THE GUNDL ACH ROLLS ROYCE TO YOUR NEAR T U R N O F T H E C E N T U R Y C A D I L L A C S T O Y O U R PA C K A R D ’ S A N D E V E N Y O U R M C L A R E N... I T H A S B E E N A W I L D R I D E ! Y O U D O N ’ T D O A N Y T H I N G I N A S M A L L WAY A N D W I T H I N O N E Y E A R , T H E E N T I R E C A R M A R K E T K N E W A B O U T J A C K B S M I T H I I. T O M A N D I H AV E E N J O Y E D E V E R Y M O M E N T O F T H E S E PA S T Y E A R S W I T H Y O U. F R O M T H E E A R LY P H O T O S O F C A R S Y O U H A D P U R C H A S E D T O E A C H N E W A D D I T I O N T H AT R O L L S I N T O Y O U R G A R A G E S , T O O U R F I R S T T R I P T O P E B B L E B E A C H T O WAT C H Y O U D R I V E T H E W I N N E R S R A M P... E A C H Q U I T E A J O Y ! A N D T H E N T O M W O R K I N G W I T H Y O U T O C R E AT E Y O U R B E A U T I F U L M U S E U M ... I T WA S A S O U R C E O F P R I D E F O R H I M . H E L O V E D W O R K I N G W I T H Y O U. YOU HAVE TAKEN A GROUP OF US ALONG WITH YOU AND L AU R A TO C H E E R F O R YO U, D I N E WI T H YO U, C E L E B R AT E YOUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES, AND HOLLER FOR Y O U A S Y O U W I N !! A L L A R E G R E AT E X A M P L E S O F Y O U R A M A Z I N G G E N E R O S I T Y. B U T A B O V E A L L - T H E F R I E N D S H I P S WITH L AURA AND YOU AND THE REST OF TEAM SMITH I S A F O R E V E R G I F T. I THANK YOU AND I KNOW MY DEAR TOM DOES AS WELL. 23
LIZ BORGER, 2018
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
24
I W I L L N E V E R F O R G E T T H E I N I T I A L R I D E I N H I S P H A N T O M S E D A N. W E A R R I V E D AT T H E C O L L E C T I O N T O D E L I V E R H I S N E W P I E C E O F A R T I N T H E F O R M O F A R O L L SR O Y C E . W E B R O U G H T A N E N T O U R A G E , O U R R-R T E R R I T O R Y M A N A G E R , T O D D, O U R S E N I O R R-R S E R V I C E T E C H, B R U C E , O U R R-R S E R V I C E D I R E C T O R , G R E G , A N D O U R S E N I O R B E N T L E Y S E R V I C E R E P, J O H N AT H A N. O N C E T H E C A R I S U N L O A D E D J A C K I M M E D I AT E LY J U M P S I N A N D S AY S L E T ’ S G O T O T H E H O U S E , W E N E E D T O S E T T H E G A R A G E O P E N E R . A N Y WAY S E V E R A L O F U S P I L E I N, M I N D Y O U T H AT T H I S IS ONE OF THE L ARGEST AUTOMOBILES MADE AND IS NOT THE MOST DYNAMIC O F A U T O M O B I L E S , I T ’ S M O R E L U X U R Y T H A N P E R F O R M A N C E .. D O N ’ T T E L L J A C K T H AT....H E TA K E S O F F L I K E W E W E R E D R I V I N G A S P O R T S C A R . I ’ M T H A N K F U L W E O R D E R E D T H E D R I V E R P E R F O R M A N C E PA C K A G E C A U S E W E D E F I N I T E LY T E S T E D I T S L I M I T S . T O T H I S D AY I S T I L L C A N ’ T B E L I E V E H O W W E L L I T H A N D L E D W I T H J A C K AT T H E W H E E L . T H O S E O F U S T H AT W E R E I N T H E P H A N T O M W I L L A LWAY S R E M E M B E R T H AT R I D E . AND YES WE DID GET THE GARAGE DOORS TO WORK WITH THE CAR. LARRY BALKIN, 2018
25
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
26
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
28
YEAR:
2013 PEBBLE BEACH JACK GLENN KILLOREN ERIC AND VIVIAN LAVINE
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
30
31
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
32
33
YEAR:
2014 PEBBLE BEACH JERRY SEINFELD JAY LENO
34
2014
December 13 was a beautiful day, and Jack and Glenn drove the McLaren to lunch on the north side of Elkhart and back. The weather was still beautiful the following Monday, and Jack again drove the McLaren. On the return to his office, he was pulled over by the Elkhart police because the car didn’t have a license plate. Neither Jack nor Glenn noticed that instead of a plate, there was only a Steven Foley advertisement in the license plate frame.
2015
Addition of South Facility of the Lusher Street property. St. Johns, Amelia Island, Rembrandts Pebble Beach Concours winner, 1934 Packard 1107
Twelve convertible Victoria Dietrich body
timeline
2015
Rolls Royce 50th Anniversary Jack purchased a Rolls Royce Phantom in celebration of Gaska Tape’s 50th anniversary in business. Building completion of Lusher Street building, south portion 2014 Ferrari F12 3/25/2015 GASKA 2
2015 Rolls Royce Phantom 4/22/2015 GASKA 1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet 5/03/2015 GASKA 14 1925 Ahrens Fox Fire Truck 8/21/2015 GASKA 26
36
THE DINER, 2016
MCCARTHY’S LUNCH PARADE
YEAR:
2016 DINER Elkhart, IN
38
39
40
WE HAD DINNER AT L A S A L L E G R I L L WHEN WE WERE STILL N E W LY W E D S . I A S K E D H I M W H AT W E R E H I S GOALS IN THE FUTURE? HIS COMMENT WA S T H AT H E WA S THINKING OF R E T I R I N G AT T H E A G E 50. I OF COURSE DIDN’T S AY M U C H B U T I N T E R N A L LY I WA S T H I N K I N G , W H AT A M I GOING TO DO WITH HIM HOME ALL THE TIME. SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HIS CAR C O L L E C T I O N I S T H AT HE CAN’T AFFORD TO R E T I R E !!! LAURA SMITH, 2018
41
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
ROLLS ROYCE PRIVATE VILLA
42
43
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
YEAR:
2015 PEBBLE BEACH
44
45
46
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
48
49
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
50
THE PRESENT
53
SO, MY RECOLLECTION OF THE TRIP TO VOLO 5 YEARS AGO IS THAT IT WAS IN NOVEMBER, THE WEATHER WAS DECENT FOR A DAY IN NOVEMBER – NO SNOW ON THE GROUND AND JACK WAS SO EXCITED TO BE GOING. WE DROVE UP THROUGH THE CHICAGO AREA AND I RECALL ASKING JACK HOW HE KNEW ABOUT THIS CAR AND HE SAID THAT HE FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET. THAT HE LIKED THE OLD GANGSTER STYLE VEHICLES – ONES FROM HIS FATHER’S GENERATION. WHEN WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT VOLO…I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT JACK SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO GO. THERE WERE MANY BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY AND JACK HAD A LIST OF 8 CARS THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT DAY. ONE IN PARTICULAR (THE GREY AND BURGUNDY). THE GENTLEMAN STARTED THIS VEHICLE FOR JACK AND WE ALL TOOK A RIDE IN IT. SUE AND I SAT IN THE BACK WHILE JACK AND THE SALESMAN WERE UP FRONT. IT RODE BEAUTIFULLY FOR AN OLDER VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY OUTSIDE AS WE DROVE ON THE STREETS IN THE VOLO TOWN AREA. AFTER RETURNING WE STARTED LOOKING AROUND THE MAIN BUILDING THAT HOUSED MANY OF THE EARLY 1900’S VEHICLES FOR THE OTHER VEHICLES ON JACK’S
CONTINUED ON PAGE 55
54
> CONT’D FROM PAGE 54
LIST AND JACK STARTED ASKING SUE AND I WHAT WE THOUGHT OF THE ONES HE WAS INTERESTED IN. HE STARTED THEN TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE SALESMAN AND TOLD HIM THAT AS LONG AS HE CONTINUED TO SAY YES THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY, BUT SAY NO AND THE GAME WAS OVER. THE SALESMAN AT ONE POINT CALLED THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY TO NEGOTIATE THE SALE OF THE 32 FORD AS IT BELONGED TO THE OWNER OF VOLO MUSEUM AS HE WAS POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN SELLING IT TO HELP PAY FOR HIS GRANDDAUGHTERS COLLEGE. JACK GOT THE DEAL! WE LEFT THAT DAY WITH JACK AGREEING TO WIRE APPROXIMATELY $$$$ FOR 8 VEHICLES TO START HIS NOW AMAZING CAR COLLECTION. WE STOPPED AND ATE AT A LITTLE NON-DESCRIPT RESTAURANT ON THE WAY BACK AND JACK WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH HOW THE AFTERNOON WENT! WAS A GREAT DAY! AND JACK, SUE AND I ALL MISSED THAT GLENN WASN’T ABLE TO BE WITH US THAT DAY! JEANNIE VALENCOURT, 2018
55
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
56
JACK WITH VIVIAN AND ERIC LAVINE, 2017
OUR MEMORIES OF TOM ARE WONDERFUL BUT SADLY BRIEF. THE IMPACT HE LEFT IN OUR LIVES WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK ON THE SMITH COLLECTION MUSEUM WILL BE FOREVER ETCHED IN OUR MINDS AS WE WALK INTO HIS DESIGN. HIS PRESENCE AT AMELIA ISLAND BEFORE VENTURING ON TO THE DINER MANUFACTURER WAS GREAT. HAVING TIME TO BE WITH HIM AT THE CONCOURS AND SHARING TIME AT DINNER WAS A TREAT WITH HIS GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD AND WINE. PEBBLE BEACH WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPOT IN OUR HEARTS OUT ON THE PATIO WATCHING THE FIRE UP ON THE MOUNTAIN AND SHARING DRINKS AND CIGARS AT THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE. TOM’S QUIET CONFIDENT PERSONALITY IS ADMIRABLE. WE CAN ONLY BE BLESSED TO SAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW SUCH A REMARKABLE MAN. VIVIAN AND ERIC LAVINE
58
2016
Pebble Beach Concours winner St. Johns, Amelia Island Miles and 7 up purchases
2016
2017
Followed Pebble Beach, California auction by iPad at the president’s house pool and firepit
1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster 8/19/2016 GASKA 29
2011 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead 11/14/2016 GASKA 31
1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Springfield Pall Mall 8/20/2016 GASKA 30
St. Johns, Amelia Island, Pebble Beach Concours shut out in a tough class 1906 Studebaker Model G Touring 3/13/2017 GASKA 33
timeline
2017
1972 Mercedes 600 SWB 5/15/2017 GASKA 32 Ordered the Bentley Super Sport
2018
Bought the Amelia Earhart Auburn Cord.
1928 Minerva Town Car 6/13/2017 GASKA 34
1936 Packard LeBaron 1407 Town Car 1/9/2018 GASKA 36
1929 Hispano Suiza H 6 B Cabriolet 6/15/2017 GASKA 35
2018 Bentley Continental GT 3/1/2018 GASKA 37
60
61
WHEN I THINK ABOUT JACK AND THE COLLECTION THE PICTURE IN MY MIND THAT I SEE MOST OFTEN IS HIS FACE – HOW HAPPY HE IS WHEN A NEW CAR COMES – EVERY CAR HE GETS I CAN SEE THAT HAPPY LITTLE BOY FACE. HE LIGHTS UP. THERE IS A PICTURE OF JACK THAT WAS TAKEN DURING THE EMPLOYEE BONUS PRESENTATION AT THE END WHEN THE EMPLOYEES SURPRISED HIM WITH THE GOLF CART PRESENT. THAT’S THE FACE. WHAT I SEE WHEN A NEW CAR COMES IS THE WORK, THE DETAILS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I CARE SO MUCH. JACK DRIVES ME NUTS AT TIMES, BUT I KNOW THAT HE IS A CARING AND TRULY AMAZING PERSON. IT’S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COLLECTION IS THE BEST IT CAN BE. WHY DO I USE THE WORD AMAZING? 2009 WAS A TERRIBLE TIME IN THE US ECONOMY, AND IT WAS A TIME THAT GASKA TAPE WAS STRUGGLING FOR MANY REASONS. MANY PEOPLE DOUBTED THAT THE US ECONOMY WOULD RECOVER, AND MANY QUESTIONED IF GASKA TAPE WOULD SURVIVE. I NEVER FELT THAT CONCERN. IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND THAT JACK COULDN’T GET IT DONE. HIS SHEER FORCE OF ENERGY AND DETERMINATION GETS THINGS DONE. AND LOOK AT THE COMPANY AND THE COLLECTION TODAY. IT’S LIVING PROOF. SUE MONTAGUE, 2018
62
IF YOU AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION I WOULDN’T BE SAYING WHAT COMES NEXT. IT’S NOT MY NATURE TO TELL EVERYONE HOW GREAT WE ARE AT WHAT WE DO. WE LIVE IN A MODEST HOME WITH A MODEST WORKSHOP SURROUNDED BY CORNFIELDS AND AMISH FARMS NEAR NAPPANEE INDIANA. LAVINE RESTORATIONS HAS BEEN IN THE AUTO RESTORATION BUSINESS SINCE THE 1970’S. WE HAVE WORKED WITH CLIENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE RESTORED AND SHOWN CARS AT THE BEST COMPETITIONS THAT HAVE WON THEIR CLASS AND BEST OF SHOW. WE RESTORED ALMOST ALL OF S. RAY MILLER’S CARS AND WERE IN BUSINESS WITH HIM FOR A SHORT TIME. WE HAD NEVER MET JACK. ONE DAY IN EARLY 2013 I GOT A CALL AT THE SHOP. THE CALLER INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS JACK SMITH, AND SAID THAT HE HAD A FEW CARS BUT HE DIDN’T SAY HOW MANY. JACK WANTED SOMEONE TO MAINTAIN THE CARS AND WORK ON THEM AS NECESSARY SO HE COULD DRIVE THEM. HE MENTIONED THAT HE GOT OUR NUMBER FROM S. RAY MILLER’S ACCOUNTANT. HE ASKED ME WHERE OUR SHOP WAS, AND AFTER I TOLD HIM HE SAID HE WOULD COME DOWN. IT’S A THIRTY MINUTE DRIVE FROM ELKHART, AND JACK GOT TO OUR PLACE WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES AFTER HE HUNG UP. WE TALKED A LITTLE AND HE ASKED ABOUT REFERENCES. JACK ASKED WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME OR SHOW ME ABOUT YOUR WORK. I TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD RESTORED AND SHOWN ALMOST ALL OF S. RAY MILLER’S CARS. JACK SAID “THE INTERVIEW IS OVER”. YOU’RE HIRED. AFTER WE SAW HIS COLLECTION AT THE TIME AND STARTING WORK, WE TALKED ABOUT COMPETITIONS. THE BEST OF THE BEST IS PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WHICH IS HELD IN AUGUST EACH YEAR. JACK ASKED US TO ARRANGE TO ATTEND. VIVIAN AND I HAD NEVER GONE TO PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WITHOUT SHOWING A VEHICLE, SO
63
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
FOR MANY REASONS IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AND TO SHARE WITH JACK AND GLENN HOW COMPETITIVE CAR CONCOURS OPERATED. IF I HAD TO CHOOSE ONE PART THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME DURING THAT TRIP IT WAS WHEN WE TOOK OVER A TABLE AT THE EXCLUSIVE ROLEX INVITATION ONLY EVENT AT THE GUEST LODGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE OFFICIAL REVIEWING STAND. JACK GOT TWO INVITATIONS THROUGH HIS GOOD FRIEND BOB KLOSE AT IMAGE’S JEWELERS. THE FOUR OF US BOLDLY WALKED IN AND MADE OURSELVES AT HOME BEFORE ROLEX EVEN OFFICIALLY OPENED, AND WE MADE SURE THAT AT LEAST ONE OF US CONTROLLED THE SPACE DURING THE DAY SO WE DIDN’T LOSE IT. WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH ALL OF THE WINNING CLASS AND BEST OF SHOW CARS WHILE EATING, DRINKING AND NEVER HAVING TO GET UP. EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TO PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS SHOWING A CAR WE ARE COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON THE OPERATION, CLEANLINESS AND SHOWMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING HOURS OF ON THE GROUND TIME CLEANING WITH TOOTHBRUSHES). NOW YOU CAN APPRECIATE WHY THE ROLEX SITE IS MY FAVORITE MEMORY. ERIC LAVINE, 2018
64
65
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
66
67
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
70
71
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
72
73
74
75
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
76
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
78
79
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
80
81
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
82
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
84
85
86
87
88
THE FUTURE
THE COLLECTION IS JUST ANOTHER S T R O N G E X P R E S S I O N O F M Y C R E AT I V I T Y T H AT WILL L AST FOR YEARS TO COME. IT IS A LEGACY FOR MY CHILDREN’S CHILDREN A N D A R E P R E S E N TAT I O N O F M Y A P P R E C I AT I O N O F A R T, C U LT U R E A N D T H E U S A U T O I N D U S T R Y. I D O N ’ T WA N T T O O W N O R D R I V E S TA N D A R D C A R S , I WA N T R A R E A N D O N E O F A K I N D. JACK BOYD SMITH JR.
90
92
celebrities
Jay Leno Jerry Seinfeld 93
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jimmy Cagney
Wayne Newton sold to Red Skelton
Charlie Chaplin
Amelia Earhart
94
hats!
96
97
T H E CO L L E C T I O N
98
2012 - 2018 THE COLLECTION Jack Boyd Smith Jr.