WHO IS BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT MAN OF THE YEAR?
//2014 SPRING Issue
ALSO INSIDE:
TIMELESS & LEGENDARY ITALIAN MOTORCYCLE
BlackTie
TABLE Of CONTENTS
MOTORSPORT
FEATURED
TRANSPORTATION
FOOD
LIFESTYLE
Dion von Moltke . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
The Ferarri Mystique. . . . . . . . 56
Top Quality Wine. . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Straight Razor Barbers. . . . . . . 26
Blacktie Motorsport Man-of-the Year
Moto Guzzi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Heritage Above All Else
Zonda Tricolore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Let Your Palette Read About This Fine Illinois Wine
Chattanooga Whiskey. . . . . . . . 58
Old Fashioned Barber with a Twist
Worlds Most Expensive . . . . . . 32 Think Your Taste is Pricey?
Legendary Italian Motorcycle
Italian Supercar that was 10 years in the making!
2014 Corvette Stingray. . . . . . . 52
Super Versatile Jet . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Get Your Brandy In-hand
A Class of It's Own
Historic Chattanooga. . . . . . . . 46
We Tell You All About It
DMC DeLorean. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
80's Flashback Dream Car
Brake Fluid Chart . . . . . . . . . . . 62 4 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
Beer is for Horses...Whiskey is for Women
You Walk Into a Cigar Shop . . 42
Honest Charlie & Coker Tires
House of Burgess Cigars . . . . . 65 A Smokin' Hot Success Story
BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 5
BlackTie
MOTORSPORT
President – COO, Founder, Alabama Charlie Editor In Chief J’Rie Elliott Master Photographer Roland Moriarty Ferrari Editor – Ferrari Art and Creative Director Chad Eric Ensz Graphic Design & Layouts Moye Colquitt Greg Allen Frank Cheslock Brady McPeak Business Development Bob Grisoff Contributing Photographer and Advertising Julianne Murphy Briana Williams Web Development – Hosting G6 Technical Solutions Stylist David Morgan Foreign Correspondence Haim David – Israel Gene Healey – Ghana Creative Designs Red8 Creative i Dream Studios Sales, Advertising & Event Information and Editorial Inquiries services@blacktiemotorsport.com Written & Produced in, Destin, Florida Black Tie Motorsport 4639 Gulf Starr Drive-Destin, Florida 32541 ______________________________________ The ONLY things we will discuss is Motorsport – Food – Fashion-Poker. Well, we take that back, we’ll talk about wines too.
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BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 7
from the publisher
professionally since the late1990s. Chad is an accomplished photographer, print and web design artist as well as a marketing and advertising guru. His specialty is Ferraris-gathering data and composing analytical yet creatively
As the 2013 publishing year comes to an end and it echoes of the year that was, I cannot help but be humbled and thankful. I am thankful for the entire team at Black Tie Motorsport; without this small, yet enthusiastic and talented group, Black Tie would have nothing to print for you. Every single member plays a key role,
captivating articles about these fascinating machines is his passion and calling. We are ecstatic here at Black Tie to welcome him and we are sure that as soon as you enjoy his unique take on Ferraris -- you will be glad he is in our family too. Have a healthy and prosperous 2014!
or--in most cases--multiple roles in making our organization tick. It is an arduous, nerve-wracking, but always rewarding job to produce your favorite magazine. I am thankful for you--the subscribers, moochers, facebook scoreboard hawks, those that
Light ‘em up. Alabama Charlie | Publisher
casually scrutinize and even the dudes who just wanted to see hot chicks. Also, I am thankful for our excellent sponsors who facilitate our entire--sometimes goofy, always brilliant, but always black tie ideas. Thank you for another year of exotic cars, cigars, drinks, beautiful women and good times and our first ever MAN OF THE YEAR on page 66. God bless you… Black Tie made the front page of the Destin Log newspaper as we played host to royalty, when King Safrotwe Kakradae IV ruler of the eastern region of Ghana spent seven days on the Emerald Coast. We celebrated the king’s 40th birthday during the trip, and while in town he modeled for a photo shoot with Roland-Black Tie Motorsport’s master photographer. The King also had the opportunity to visit Sago, Clemenza’s, Tuscany and AJ’s restaurants and we took the opportunity to take the King on a
from the editor This last issue has been a roller coaster ride; cigars, liquor, corvettes—it has all left me trying to catch my breath. I am proud of how far that we have come as a team; Alabama Charlie’s writing has improved greatly within the last few months—we can either attribute this to my tutelage or to the new Word program in his computer. I pick on Charlie about his writing, but he knows where it comes from. Our photographers were amazing this time around—Roland, with his stylish approach, and a new photographer stepping up to add her artistic talents, Briana Williams. We were pleased with all that they have done. Our contributing writers have given us some articles on some amazing vehicles—two cars that you would never think would grace the pages of the same magazine—though at Black Tie that is how we like to keep things fresh. I am looking forward to our upcoming edition—spring and summer always have surprises in store; concerts, races, car shows, maybe even getting out on the water…a person could go crazy. I am excited to be here and proud to bring you another distinguished edition of Black Tie Motorsport Magazine.
boating cruise of the picturesque Destin Harbor. In case you have not noticed, a lot of this issue is all about Chattanooga; Chattanooga attractions are among the best in
Thank you, J’Rie Elliott | Editor in Chief
world. Where to start? Chattanooga attractions are worldclass with breathtaking views surrounding you everywhere you turn. Whether you want to take in a play or concert, visit an amazing museum, be a part of the nightlife, enjoy the outdoors or experience a piece of history, it is all there. Even more, Chattanooga is one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the country—so you can do it all. See the stories on page 46 through 49 about Honest Charlie and Coker Tires. A special announcement--it is an exciting opportunity when an organization can proudly say that they have an expert joining the team, and this is exactly what the Black Tie Motorsport family is able to claim. We are welcoming Chad Eric Ensz -- a world renowned Ferrari expert. Chad was at the Ferrari Market Letter for seven years where he served as both the Editor and the Art Director. Mr. Ensz has been in the automotive industry King Safrotwe Kakradae IV
850.502.3566 Prestige.SolutionsCC@gmail.com
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ZONDA TRICOLORE by pagani
designed over years ago
The Pagani Zonda is a sports car developed by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It debuted in 1999, and production ended in 2011, with three special edition cars, the Zonda 760RS, Zonda 760LH and the Zonda 764 Passione, being produced in 2012. By June 2009, 206 Zondas had been built, including test mules; both a 2-door coupĂŠ and roadster versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.
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"...Automobili created the Zonda Tricolore as a tribute to the National Aerobatic Team. " Some of the early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named the "Fangio F1" after him but, following his death in 1995; it was give another name for an air current above Argentina. On the occasion of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the “Frecce Tricolori�, Pagani Automobili created the Zonda Tricolore as a tribute to the National Aerobatic Team. In 2010 the aerobatic season of the Frecce Tricolori comes to its 50th anniversary, which will be celebrated on 11th and 12th September at Rivolto Airport (info: www.aeronautica.difesa.it). The Frecce Tricolori (Italian, literally Tricolour Arrows), officially known as the 313th Aerobatic Training Squadron is the demonstration team of the Italian Air Force, based at Rivolto Air Force Base, in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia-Giulia, province of Udine. They were formed in 1961 as an Air Force team, replacing previous teams that had been sponsored by various commands by the end of the 1920s. The team flies the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, a twoseat aircraft capable of 898 km/h at sea level, with nine aircraft and a solo (the highest number of aircraft of any aerobatic team in the world). The Frecce Tricolori belongs to the legacy of the entire Italian community.
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technical specifications Mercedes Benz AMG engine, Power: 670 hp, Torque: 780 Nm
APP monolitic wheels forged in aluminum and magnesium Size: front 9x19 – rear 12,5x20
Carbon-titanium monocoque ECU, Traction control, ABS by Bosch Engineering Inconel/titanium exhaust system coated with ceramic Suspensions in magnesium and titanium
Pirelli PZero tires. Size: front 255/35/19 - rear 335/30/20 Brembo brakes in carbo-ceramic selfventilated with hydraulic servo brake, Size: front 380x34 mm, monolitic 6 piston caliper; rear 380x34 mm, monolitic 4 piston caliper
Weight distribution in driving condition: 47% front, 53% rear Acceleration: 0-100 Km in 3.4 sec., 0-200 in 9.6 sec. Braking: 100-0 km in 2.1 sec., 200-0 km 4.3 sec. Maximum side acceleration: 1.45 G (with road tires) Down force at 300 kph: 750 kg
Dry weight 1.210 kg Cima sequential gearbox (6 speed), robotized by Automac engineering
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C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
The iON Speed-Pro™ documents your every move while driving in HD and lets you wirelessly upload to Facebook or YouTube and share with friends or family in an instant. It comes ready to go with a suction mount and is waterproof to 30ft out of the box so it’s ready for anything you throw at it.
#ioncamera
#shootshare
For more information visit ioncamera.com
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/ioncamera
@ioncamera
/ioncamera
Our iON Air Pro™ 2 shoots 14mp stills and 1080p videos with it’s 180° FOV (field of view) lens, plus it’s waterproof up to 30ft / 10m of the box (no bulky case required). Our iON Wi-Fi Podz™ let you check & upload photos or footage to the iONCloud™, Youtube, Facebook or Twitter, all without ever touching the camera!
Check your camera’s content from your smartphone via our free Apple iOS & Android app, then upload straight to cloud or social media sites in seconds. All without ever touching your camera. It’s not all about a great camera. It’s about inspiring others. Shoot in HD / Share in real-time. It’s really that easy. BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 17
WITH A CABIN LIKE A PENTHOUSE-ON THE 5000th FLOOR...
THE SUPER VERSATILE JET A CLASS OF ITS OWN 18 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 19
Every crystal found in the mountains of Switzerland is entirely unique. Just as unique is the PC-24, the only aircraft combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet. It is a plane that simply does not fit into any of the existing business jet categories. That is why Pilatus had to create a new one: the Super Versatile Jet (SVJ) category. The PC-24 has been engineered to be “off-road“ compatible from the beginning. Its outstanding short-field performance – even on unpaved runways – opens up an incredible level of mobility. With the PC-24, you will have access to almost 100% more airports around the world. That means you can fly closer to your final destination than with any other business jet. You will be able to use smaller airports and avoid massive administrative procedures, and reduce ground transfer time to an absolute minimum. With a Cabin like a Penthouse--on the 5000th Floor... Only the finest-quality materials have been used to create an interior that fits in perfectly with the latest standards of comfort and functionality. Every component is chosen to enhance the passenger experience: soft leathers and rare hardwood cabinetry full of exquisite details create a bespoke interior that reflects the meticulous purpose of the aircraft.
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It's not first class traveling – It's Crystal Class. BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 21
PERFORMANCE
Max cruise speed (FL300) 425 k TAS (489 mph) 787 km/h TAS Range 4 Pax 1 1,950 nm / 2,244 sm 3,610 km Range 6 Pax 2 1,800 nm / 2,071 sm 3,330 km Max certified altitude 45,000 ft 13,716 m Cabin altitude at 45,000 ft 8,000 ft 2,438 m Takeoff balanced field length 3 2,690 ft 820 m Takeoff balanced field length (hot & high) 4 4,430 ft 1,350 m Rate of climb (MTOW, Sea Level) 4,075 ft / min
1,242 m / min
Time to climb sea level to FL450 (direct climb) 30 min 30 min Landing distance over 50 ft obstacle 5 2,525 ft 770 m Stall speed (MLW, ISA, Sea Level) 81 k IAS (93 mph) 150 km/h IAS 1 (800lb payload, NBAA IFR reserve, LRC, Single Pilot OPS) 2 (1200lb payload, NBAA IFR reserve, LRC, Single Pilot OPS) 3 (MTOW, ISA, sea level, dry paved runway) 4 (MTOW, ISA +20°C, 5000ft, dry paved runway) 5 (MLW, ISA, sea level, dry paved runway)
BUILT FOR THE YEEEEHA!
WEIGHTS Max ramp weight 17,750 lbs 8,050 kg Max takeoff weight 17,650 lbs 8,005 kg Max landing weight 16,250 lbs 7,370 kg Max zero fuel weight 13,450 lbs 6,100 kg
Thirteen extra-large cabin windows flood the interior of the PC-24 with bright, natural light. The generously sized cabin,
Usable fuel (888.5 U.S. gal) 5,965 lbs 2,705 kg
with its continuous flat floor, allows for an exceptional amount of headroom for both passengers and crew. It is not first
Max payload 2,500 lbs 1,135 kg
class traveling – it is Crystal Class.
Max payload with full fuel 915 lbs 415 kg
The interior of the PC-24 has been designed from the outset for quick and easy reconfiguration. Each passenger seat features quick-change capability enabling its addition or removal in just a few minutes. The aft partition is movable so you can easily enlarge the passenger cabin or increase the baggage compartment volume for each and every flight. The PC-24 features also a fully enclosed, externally serviceable private lavatory. Being an SVJ, the PC-24 will find popularity in a number of other roles – like cargo, medevac, commuter, or governmental special-mission applications, just to name a few.
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A Cockpit-designed for 45,000 Feet & two Hands
At Pilatus, the legacy of innovative and efficient technology is driven by the world around them. To power the PC-24, Pilatus chose the Williams International FJ44-4A, a world-renowned power unit. It delivers ample power to support the PC-24’s excellent field performance and enables a direct climb to the PC-24’s operational ceiling. However, it would not be Pilatus if they simply settled there – Pilatus wanted to go further. Here is another world premiere: the PC-24’s unique Quiet Power Mode™ provides quiet, economical energy to power electrical systems – including heating and air-conditioning – independent of any source of ground power. These innovations offer more operational flexibility and higher fuel efficiency--or to put it simply: maximum versatility. All Pilatus aircrafts are certified for single-pilot operation--and the PC-24 is no exception to that rule. The cockpit layout is efficient and intuitive.
From the comfort of his seat, the pilot finds an environment that has been designed specifically to reduce workload and improve safety while providing full situational awareness under all circumstances. Simply put, the PC-24 is the perfect combination of single-pilot operational knowhow, and state-of-the-art avionics technology. The PC-24’s Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE™) sets the standard for high-tech simplicity. Pilatus ACE™ is so capable and offers such a wealth of functionality that in its most basic configuration it boasts the most intuitive and user-friendly cockpit concepts ever seen in business aviation. Four 12-inch screens ensure that all relevant information is displayed in the right place and with no delay. The Inertial Reference System (IRS) guarantees excellent reliability and accuracy of altitude and navigation data. As standard equipment, the Pilatus ACE™ also includes a Synthetic Vision System, Autothrottle, Graphical Flight Planning, Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), and Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) guidance capability. Photo by Paul Bowen / Story and Photo by Black Tie Motorsport/Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
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STRAIGHT
RAZOR B A R B E R S it's a guy thing by Alabama Charlie
Remember the old-time barber shop that Dad took you to when you were a kid for a haircut? I keenly remember the sights and smells of old-time Barbershop and the real experience of being a southern boy amongst men. It was a place that we could together and do more than get a haircut--it was a place that made lasting memories.
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BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 27
I
n previous times, barbers (known as barber surgeons)
In modern times, the term "barber" is used both as a pro-
also performed surgery and dentistry. Many barbers
fessional title and to refer to hairdressers who specialize in
will still deal with facial hair if requested.
men's hair. Historically, all hairdressers were considered barbers. In the 20th century, the profession of cosmetology
The barber's trade has a long history; razors have been
branched off from barbering, and today hairdressers may
found among relics of the Bronze Age (circa 3500 BC) in
be licensed as either barbers or cosmetologists. Barbers
Egypt. In ancient Egyptian culture, barbers were highly
differ with respect to where they work, which services they
respected individuals--priests and men of medicine are
are licensed to provide, and what name they use to refer to
the earliest recorded examples of barbers. In early ethnic
themselves. Part of this terminology difference depends on
groups, a barber was one of the most important members,
the regulations in a given location.
as it was believed that certain evil spirits were able to enter a person's body through their hair, and that cutting it was a
Different states in the US vary in their labor and licensing
way to drive them out. Due to their spiritual and religious
laws. For example, in Maryland, a cosmetologist cannot use
beliefs, barbers even performed religious ceremonies,
a straight razors—this skill is strictly reserved for barbers.
such as marriages and baptizing children. During these
However, in contrast, in New Jersey both are regulated by
ceremonies, they would leave the person/people's hair
the State Board of Cosmetology and there is no longer a
hanging down until after dancing; they would then cut the
legal difference between barbers and cosmetologists, as
hair and tie it back tightly so that no evil spirits could enter
they are issued the same license and can practice both the
and no good spirits could escape.
art of straight razor shaving, coloring, other chemical work and haircutting if they choose.
In November 1999, Renegade Barber Shop opened in Fort Walton Beach and the great old-time barbershop was reborn on the Florida Gulf Shores. From the real barber chairs, the old fashion hot lather and straight razor shave, to the head and neck massage--Renegade’s sets a new standard. Renegade’s barbers provide traditional and short haircuts, as well as contemporary men's haircut styles. The conversation is about cars, guns and cigars not gardens and makeup. At Renegade’, they bring you the nostalgia of yesteryear with a modern twist--the girl barber.
DID YOU KNOW?
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig'. Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy. BLACKTIE INSIGHT #18 28 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
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If the average Swarovski-studded Dr. Dre Beats head-
ments, plus new electronics have had to be engineered to
phones never did cut it for you, here’s something that just
counteract the conductive 24-carat gold. They are exception-
fashionably might. American fashion designer, Alexander
al pieces that we will treasure,” exclaimed Lee proudly.
Wang has teamed up with Beats by Dr. Dre
Individually handmade and exclusive to Fuse, these
to design an entire collection of custom Beats
incredible instruments have been insured for over
products. “The limited-edition collection for
$22m. Glistening at a value of $2m each, the two
Beats by Dr. Dre includes my favorite head-
violins were launched to the world’s media at the
phones and portable speaker,” said Wang.
Theo Fennell boutique, Chelsea, London and will be unveiled there to the public later this month
The designer admitted to having constantly
before they are taken on tour to America and Asia.
been inspired by music, “I have always looked
Added Stoppard, “Ben and I fly all over the world
to music and musicians for inspiration and as collaborators because there is such a purity to their talent. Different types of music can also transform how you interpret or understand a fashion show, or film. It’s creating a story and translating a message.” His latest creative message ‘translates’ to matte black finishes and Wang’s signature pale gold accents. “For this collaboration with Beats by Dr. Dre, it felt right and a natural choice for me to give the Beats Studio headphones, Beats Pill and Urbeats earbuds a clean, minimal look with a luxe sensibility.” Each luxurious piece comes with its own embossed glossy stingray case with zipper and clip. The headphones retail for $449, the speaker is $299 and the earbuds are $149. The world’s first gold-plated violins are studded with precious stones and cost $2 million What do you do when you’re the five times world-record holding fastest violinist? You create 24-carat gold plated violins. Duh! At least that’s what Ben Lee has done along with his other FUSE half, Linzi Stoppard. The rock violin duo entrusted British jewelry designer Theo Fennell and bespoke violin manufacturer, Bridge to craft the world’s first ever 24-carat gold-plated violin encrusted with sapphires, rubies and diamonds. The golden violins took over nine months to create and have a bespoke blend of carbon and Kevlar to offset the weight of the gold plating. “The art and science involved to make each violin has blown us away. Entirely new and original components had to be designed for the instru32 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 33
to play live, rock violin and in every destination we put on a
The world’s most exclusive pencil is somewhat larger than
spectacular show. The thrill of playing with these new gold
the standard version, and appeared in a limited edition of
violins is something I can’t describe.”
99 pieces. The extender is available in a platinum-plated version or in sterling silver. The pencils can be bought
The Graf von Faber-Castell pencil is the world’s most expensive
separately in sets of five. The culmination of the art of graphite writing, however, can best be seen in The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen and Pencil Case.
Behold the brilliant, writing instrument! Graf von FaberCastell has created the perfect von pencil, an elegantly
A container and work of art at the same time, this case cele-
ribbed, cedar wood marvel. With diamonds in a white gold
brates the pencil in all its wooden demeanor. It is fashioned
extender, the pencil is an apostle of beauty and precision.
in choice German alder that was once the favorite of the
Carrying a silver extender cap and a built-in sharpener
craftsmen of Nuremberg. Its heavy metal lid is decorated
and eraser, it is a revered part of the “Graf von Faber-Cas-
with a high-quality mirror finish. Each case is numbered
tell” Collection.
and comes with a certificate, signed by the master craftsman to document the quality of his work. The cases are
Paying homage to the cult object of poets and scholars, the
available in brown and black, each filled with a platinum-
luxury version was created in 2001 to mark the company’s
plated Perfect Pencil, four replacement pocket pencils and
240th anniversary, “in terms of materials and exclusiveness,
four spare erasers. Otherwise, a single pencil is priced at
the pencil beat all records.” The magnum format cap in
$13,400.
solid white gold (18 carat) is crowned with three fine-quality diamonds. Their size is 0.05 to 0.06, and they are of unusual brilliance. The spring-loaded clip is also made of solid gold. “Underneath the count’s coat-of-arms at the cap, three diamonds symbolize the third millennium.” The pencil’s timeless design surpasses the familiar and impresses the beholder. Integrated in the extender is the sharpener, which protects it and makes it suitable for the pocket while the cap conceals a replaceable eraser. For a pencil, this means perfection as the three functions, writing, correcting and sharpening combine all essential elements with rigor.
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TOP QUALITY WINE & fast delivery by Alabama Charlie Jack Dunker--owner and operator of Cache River Basin Vineyard and Winery--brought a bottle of Illinois table wine sent specially to me in Destin, Florida on Bob Edwards Citation CJ2 Jet. Jack always wanted a reason to pilot right seat in a citation jet, and what better reason than to bring me a bottle of his handpicked Chambourcin wine and Jack said “flying the CJ2 with Jaimee was an amazing experience”. The Chambourcin is a fine wine made solely from the Chambourcin grape; the Cache River Basin wines comes in three varieties: New '07 wine (purple cap), 2010 Chambourcin French Oak Aged (Maroon Cap) and French Oak Aged (2011) 3+ months (Black Cap). This bottle of Chambourcin was aged 8 months in a French oak barrel and is a dry full bodied red varietal wine with a wonderfully smooth taste. Chambourcin is a French-American interspecific hybrid grape variety used for making wine--its parentage is uncertain. The hybrid was produced by Joannes Seyve who often used Seibel hybrids produced in the 1860s. The grape has only been available since 1963; it has a good resistance to fungal disease, and is one of the parents of the new disease resistant variety ‘Regent’, which is increasing in popularity among German grape growers.
Chambourcin Wine: The grape produces a deep-colored wine with a full aromatic flavor, and no unpleasant hybrid flavoring. It can be made into a dry style or one with a moderate residual sugar level, giving it a pleasant but not overbearing sweetness. Chambourcin wines are often served with dark chocolate (or desserts made from chocolate), as the flavors of the wine and chocolate intermingle exceptionally well. Chambourcin is a teinturier--a grape whose juice is pink or red rather than clear like most red vitis vinifera cultivars. Jack, on your next trip do not forget the chocolate dessert.
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YOU WALK INTO A CIGAR SHOP... great, now what? by J'Rie Elliott It is a rare occasion that I am met with a situation where I
store. Fine leather furniture, glassed in climate controlled
am at a complete loss of what is proper, what the best is
rooms, beautifully back lit humidors all contributed to make
and what is expected. I was faced with this very predica-
my first entrance a memorable one. I asked the young man
ment when speaking to a gentleman about cigars. Only an
at the counter, “I want to learn about cigars, will you teach
estimated 1% of the American population are dedicated
me?” Challenge accepted!
cigar smokers and I am not amongst that percentage. I
Now, I would like to impart upon you some of the need
had questions abounding… What is the best starter cigar?
to know the basics for going from a ‘never held a cigar’
What is an after dinner cigar? Is bigger better or are the
person to a person who could with confidence—yet still a
smaller more compact cigars more flavorful? These were
novice—enter a store and order a quality, flavorful cigar.
all questions that I had absolutely no answer for.
To begin with, cigars come in many different strengths
This is when I decided to learn; to be a new student and
and flavors, but for the beginner smoker a milder cigar is
enter my very first cigar shop. When I opened the door I
more desirable. The brand Montecristo was one that was
was taken aback by the delicious and the sexy aroma of the
said to have a light creamy flavor that was not overpower-
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ing yet still satisfyingly intoxicating. Secondly, yes, size
is how to store them properly. Tossing them in the sock
does matter—but it is not “bigger is better”. For a more
drawer or glove compartment of your car is a definite and
flavorful, smooth burning cigar the optimal size is around
unequivocal—no; a quality cigar deserves a quality humi-
5 inches in length with the diameter of a nickel; this size
dor. What is a humidor you may ask? A humidor is a cigar
burns at a nice constant speed. Size is not the only factor
storage box lined with Spanish cedar and designed for
though, shape plays a role as well; some cigars are blunt
air flow. A seasoned humidor will maintain the proper oils
cut, meaning they are flat on both ends, where some have
and moisture in your cigars, where a plain wooden box will
a tapered almost conical end. These different shapes
actually extract them from the cigars. A perfect humidor
deliver flavor in different intensities; for example if you are
needs to only be 50% to 60% filled at all times, this will al-
a fan of a more intense smoking experience, but prefer
low the air to flow around evenly. Cigars bought, humidor
the flavor of a light cigar, a tapered end would be a good
bought and seasoned, yet to be completely stored prop-
option. The taper will channel the flavor directly on the
erly a storage temperature around 70 degrees needs to be
tongue, giving a combination of both light and intense
maintained.
simultaneously. The darker, stronger cigars—also known
That is it, my first lesson in cigars, cigar smoking and
as after dinner cigars or dessert cigars are for the more
proper storage; however, a curious mind is never satisfied,
experienced cigar smoker. These cigars are called after
so my quest will continue. Did I find a new vice? Maybe…
dinners because they will linger on the palate longer and
maybe not…
are better on a full stomach. Each section of the cigar has a different flavor and therefore different appeal. A cigar is measured in thirds, the
A special thanks to Mr. Anthony Dixon of Dothan, AL for
first third is lighter in flavor, the center third—considered
tolerating my endless stream of questions.
by most to be the best—has a smooth combination of smoke and flavor intensity, the final third has more nicotine intensity which is desirable to some. Now that we know which cigars to start out with and where a developed palette will grow towards--another question BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 43
Lease financing for your collectible or exotic dream car. /SecondCityLeasing 44 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
@SecondCityLease SecondCityLeasing.com | Office 312.881.3133 BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 45
applying his mechanical prowess at a very young age to support the company’s truck fleet. Within a short time, Charley purchased a 1919 Model T touring car, which
C H AT TA N O O G A HOME OF HONEST CHARLIE SPEED SHOP, GARAGE & COKER TIRES by Alabama Charlie
eventually provided Charley with the impetus to step beyond the automotive mainstream. Looking to stand out from similar cars, Charley customized his little runabout, and unsurprisingly others noticed and followed suit with his new-fangled components on their own cars. Not satisfied with cosmetic alterations alone, Charley also honed his abilities tuning engines, and it was this ability that got the attention of famed racing driver Cannonball Baker, who lived nearby. Quickly, Charley was wrenching on
In October of 2013 my niece Ryan got married in Historic
Baker’s cars, including the Franklin Airman that ran in point-
Chattanooga, Tennessee. Not being of the feminine
to-point races throughout the region. On one particular
persuasion I decided not to spend the hours before her
occasion, Baker set the record on the famed Chattanooga
ceremony at the nail salon or sharing in the other girly
to Lookout Mountain run in 1928, managing a time of 17
affairs that always precede a wedding. I searched for more
minutes and two seconds. From that day on Baker greeted
masculine outlets to spend my time; hopefully something
Charley with a cheerful “seventeen oh-two,” whether they
to do with cars, boats, or planes. My search led me to
met racing on the hard sand of Daytona Beach, or while
Honest Charley Garage--as I pulled in to the garage, utter
attending the Indianapolis 500.
disappoint covered my face after reading “Tours Closed on
Following the revival of the Brickyard after World War II,
Saturday”. After pondering for a few minutes of where to
Charley returned to Indy and other events before getting
his projects, Charley had initialized the development of
go next a car pulled in, the gentleman inside then asked if
behind the wheel himself. Always directly involved with
a 16-valve cylinder head years before, which gave him
Corky Coker, President of Coker Tire
he could help. I told him of my situation—my flight from the
the wherewithal to team with Buck Jacks in creating a
feminine festivities--and I was pondering where to go next.
21-stud cylinder head for flathead Ford engines. Soon
To my good luck the man to whom I was speaking was
afterwards, one of Charley’s newly empowered V-8s was
Greg Cunningham, the general manager of Honest Charley Speed Shop. Greg said that he was about to give his father a tour of the facilities and if I would like I could tag along and he would give me the story of the business and I could also meet Corky Coker the President of Coker Tire. Honest Charley Garage is a full service restoration shop--from simple detailing to full restoration services for collector vehicles. Over the last six decades, Honest Charley Speed Shop headquarters has enjoyed several locations in historic downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The most recent location is also the most visited, with thousands of tourists from around the globe dropping in each year. Having watched his father build a successful vegetable business as a child, Charley came to know the commitment necessary to be successful in a competitive marketplace. Soon Charley brought his own effort into his father’s plan, 46 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
he followed with the purchase of a Whippet--a car that
Honest Charley Garage is a full service restoration shop--from simple detailing to full restoration services for collector vehicles.
fitted in a ’34 Ford Tudor sedan that would soon make history. To improve performance potential, a streamlined arrangement that Charley created using rudimentary tools of the day, replaced the original front fenders-- it all worked as planned. With Walter Hartman at the wheel, the sedan managed a best of 115.6 MPH at Daytona, which bolstered Charley’s confidence even more, while providing the impetus for Charley’s next endeavor. Confident in his understanding of America’s love for hot rods, and well aware of the need for a ready source for every conceivable component, Charley set out to provide rodders and racers, “bootleggers and lawmen” alike with everything needed to realize their automotive dreams. Honest Charley Speed Shop opened its doors in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, in November 1948, and almost overnight, its founder’s insightful vision grew from simple BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 47
looked for. From 1928 to 1988, the Honest Charley Speed Shop is a fast and easy way to shop for your domestic muscle car or hot rod. With nearly 3,000 items in its inventory to choose from, you are bound to find something that you need. •Rebuild, restore or refresh your hot rod, street machine, muscle car or race car •American iron to British sports cars and everything in between young man from Georgia named Mike Goodman. Always
•Thousands of parts, accessories and apparel
enamored with cars, Mike was a natural for the job.
items
Following his distinguished tour with the United States
•High quality fabrication and parts
Marine Corps in Vietnam, Goodman returned to Honest Charley and a varied succession of hot rods. The first of
Old school rodding is alive and well today in
these was a T-bucket he drove to the second NSRA Street
historic Chattanooga, as enthusiasts around
Rod Nationals in 1971--Goodman still cherishes that car
the world roll through what many feel is the
today.
birthplace of the automotive aftermarket-Honest Charley Speed Shop. Make sure to
beginnings to become one of the most recognized
wheels, it eventually reached a best of 137 MPH at
companies in the automotive world.
Daytona Beach in 1953. As its class record was never
In much the same way that Richard Sears captured his
bested, Charley never brought the sleek sedan back to
customers’ imagination, Honest Charley’s persuasive
the beach, however to this day its imagery continues to
slogans and catchphrases engaged the interest of
remind followers of what Honest Charley Speed Shop is
automotive enthusiasts everywhere. Using homespun
all about.
sayings and often corny rhetoric like, “Is your hot rod
In the years that followed many up and coming retailers
hot or not?” or “You can’t brag if you lag,” gave potential
borrowed from Honest Charley’s familiar marketing
buyers the impetus to get involved, while others slogans
techniques in their catalogs and stores, which only
such as, “Send money, I’ll pay the postage,” left little doubt
underlined the effectiveness and timelessness of what had
that “Honest Himself” lived up to his kindly image.
come before. Not content with past performance, Honest
Whether you are looking for a single component, steel
Charley Speed Shop continued to expand, creating
bodies or every part needed to build your dream ride,
satellite locations in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and
Honest Charley Speed Shop has what you need at the
Arkansas; while printing its colorful, entertaining catalogs
right price. Call it one-stop hot rodding--that is unless
in ever-greater numbers. At one point Charley purchased
you phone in!
his own printing company to further reduce the cost of his
As the business gained momentum Charley kept his
now-famous catalogs, thereby underlining another classic
foot in racing, modifying a 1939 Ford sedan that soon
slogan, and “passing those savings on to the customer!”
became one of the company’s most visible and relevant marketing tools. Powered by a Mercury 59A flathead and
In keeping with the growth of Honest Charley Speed
streamlined with a distinctive new nose and enclosed
Shop, the staff grew with new enthusiasts-- including a
48 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
The new millennium marked revitalization for Honest
visit Coker Tire for one of the best motorcycle
Charley Speed Shop, as Corky Coker and Mike
and automobile collections in the southeast
Goodman built upon all that had come before, expanding
when visiting Historic Chattanooga.
the scope of the company to include new products and business approaches, while retaining well-established, time-honored traditions that Honest Charley had initialized 50 years before. Since then the company has attained ever-greater stature through its association with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and rodding enthusiasts cruising the furthest regions of the free world. It is as if Charley himself was still priming the creative pump, providing today’s enthusiasts with the same connection with those who know what is needed to bring the hot rodding experience home. Be it a frame off restoration, a concourse rebuild, to a mild freshening up; the Honest Charley Garage and its staff of machinists, mechanics, fabricators, metal and wood craftsmen, and designers are on hand to get you the classic collectible ride of your dreams. But if you have already got your ride rolling or you are just in the market to spruce it up, you can go to the Honest Charley Speed Shop--an online speed parts store for everything classic and late-model that you might have
DID YOU KNOW?
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase 'minding your 'P's and Q's'. BLACKTIE INSIGHT #11 BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 49
The DeLorean
a dream, a scandal and a car that will go down in history by James Wylie
Mention the words ‘flux capacitor’ to anyone with even a passing interest in cars and images of Marty McFly at the wheel of a DeLorean DMC-12 will instantly come to mind. The unique lines of the stainless steel bodywork in combination with the famous gullwing doors will forever be associated with Michael J. Fox’s journeys Back to the Future. However, this iconic vehicle has a much deeper history and cultural significance than the movie trilogy may suggest. The DeLorean Motor Company took its name from founder John DeLorean, an American automotive engineer best known for his work on the Pontiac GTO, famously described as the first muscle car. DeLorean left GMC in 1973 and revealed his prototype DeLorean Safety Vehicle, a two-seater Guigiaro-designed coupé in 1976. The car was produced as a DMC-12 but is more commonly known as the DeLorean. The stainless steel body must be the most striking feature of the DeLorean. The rust-free alloy clad a fibreglass chassis allowing reasonable balance of weight against integral strength. The gullwing doors add drama to the appearance of any DeLorean. The problem of managing the weight of the doors was overcome with an elegant combination of gas struts and torsion bars thus allowing ease of opening, even in the tightest of parking spaces. Initially, the motor was to be a Wankel rotary engine from NSU but when the German company went into administration the decision was made to use the V6 engine
50 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
produced jointly by Renault, Volvo and Peugeot. This proved to be a reliable unit even if it did not live up to the sporting credentials suggested by the sleek coupé lines. One contemporary review of the new car suggested that the actual 0-60mph time fell almost two seconds short of the figure shown in the company literature! The pièce de résistance of the Belfast-built automobile should have been the suspension system as designed by Lotus chief, Colin Chapman. The Italian design, while suggestive of speed and lithe character, were actually laid over a GT car. The clever suspension system was compromised by the added weight of the stainless steel and as such the car never quite rose to meet the visual standards set on first sight. For this writer it is the story of the car production that strikes a cord. John DeLorean opened his factory in Dunmurry, situated just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland. The short run of around 9,200 DMC-12s constitutes the sum of car production of my home province and as such these cars are always held in high regard when seen on the
road. The British government released a vast sum of money to DeLorean to employ the unskilled workforce of a city torn apart by the Troubles. One can only imagine the stark contrast of these shining silver sports cars being hauled through a city scarred by the bombs and bullets of terrorist factions. When discussing the DeLorean it is sad that such conversation cannot be had without making reference to the scandal and embarrassment of the company chief. Despite being proven not-guilty of drugs charges he was left without the product he had worked tirelessly to produce and died in 2005 having fought over forty lawsuits over the closure of DMC. Hopefully this brief synopsis of this iconic car has demonstrated the impact a dream can have, not only upon one man, but a proud city and province stricken by civil unrest. James is a regular contributor to Black Tie. He resides in Comber, Northern Ireland. BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 51
If there is anything that can be said for Americans and American ingenuity it is that we always strive to be faster, better and basically more bad ass than ever before.
quarter mile in 14.5 seconds at 100 mph. This was pure unadulterated
2014 Corvette Stingray
for 51 years through the early 1970’s when the Corvette lost some
gasoline fueled magnificence--however, 1963 was a long time ago and it is time to get back to the now. We are racing into 2014 and Chevy has done it again; we have waited horsepower, a few Corvette Indy Pace cars, several body and engine changes, until now. The 2014 Corvette Stingray returned to center
The car, the machine, the muscle… Renewing and American Tradition in speed…
stage… With 460 V8 horsepower and 465 lb. –ft. of torque, 0 to 60 in 3.8
By: J’Rie Elliott
road. This car leaves in its tracks a cloud of dust and its predecessors.
seconds and hitting the quarter mile in 12 seconds flat at 119 mph; low and lean and light this car is designed to stay securely planted on the I had the recent opportunity to take one of these beauties for a spin— it was a definite experience in speed. On the straight away and the curves it is a thrill—the acceleration and the handling in the curves will make you forget there is a speed limit on the road. The digital touch screen read outs keeping you informed on everything from the temperature of the transmission fluid to the air pressure in the tires; it has voice recognition, GPS, text messaging, plus satellite and internet radio. Though, you must be careful not to get too distracted by all of the bells and whistles, because with the speed and power that is under the hood of this masterpiece a moments distraction could prove fatal. The interior of the car feels more like the interior of a jet; with body hugging seats and low profile windows. The dash has only one digital display that works for everything from the navigation to the satellite radio; though an interesting feature is the ability to switch the navigation screen from the center dash display to the driver’s display--this limits the amount of time the driver has to shift his view. Will the new Corvette Stingray be as iconic as its predecessor? Having already been awarded the 2013 Innovation of the year award by the Motor Press Guild, being named by Road and Track on the short list for North American car of the year award, winning the Auto123.com sports car of the year award in Toronto and even Car and Drivers places it on the annual ‘10Best’ list; being iconic seems to be in this car’s rearview mirror. Are there a few flaws? Yes--no car is perfect for every person. Is this
In 1963 a car rolled off of the assembly lines that was the cornucopia of that American ingenuity—the Corvette Sting Ray.
car a kick ass piece of the amazing history that is the Corvette Stingray?
With its 300 horsepower engine revving 5,000 rpms and pushing out 360 lb.–ft. of torque, with a 4 speed transmission and
Absolutely!
lighter frame than other Corvettes--this machine could fly down the road from 0 to 60 in a mere 6.1 seconds, clearing the 52 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
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BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 55
The Ferrari Mystique By: Chad Enez
I
have spent the last seven years intensively studying and processing all that is Ferrari. I was fortunate enough to have been hired by the late Gerald Roush and under his tutelage I went from someone who was somewhat familiar with Ferraris to one who can identify most any and all Ferrari models from as far back as the late 1940’s as well as offer specifications regarding each model. I now understand the marques history as well as have the ability to process all of its idiosyncrasies. I can't express in words the appreciation for my "baptism by fire" into the Ferrari community by Mr. Roush. Once in Gerald's "lair" one simply could not avoid learning Ferraris as anything and everything needed for this quest was readily available in his office/basement. A veritable Ferrari museum was at my fingertips. I relished this opportunity and the many resources but ended up learning more from Mr. Roush's many 56 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
and frequent Ferrari pontifications. After the unexpected passing of Gerald Roush and the subsequent challenges of working for his survivors, I later found myself unemployed. A disheartening situation--not because I was no longer working as Editor and Art Director of the publication Mr. Roush had founded--but because I did not know where I would apply this slice of Ferrari proficiency I labored so diligently to acquire. Concern set in that the footing I worked hard to gain in the Ferrari community would simply slip away-wasted along with the countless hours, notes, conversations, and research. To my relief this Ferrari journey will indeed continue due to a fortuitous meeting with "Alabama Charlie" and his realization that my abilities may help Black Tie Motorsports and their readers. Ferraris have always been exotic --no one could ever debate this. Exotic by definition means they were of foreign
origins, and moreover, have an unusual allure, beauty, or quality. For the middle-class car lover Ferraris were to be drooled over but in reality are far out of reach. Deeply immersed in the Ferrari world, I began to study not just the cars but the culture. This culture/lifestyle may be what differentiates Ferraris from the rest. Other cars bring passion and infiltrate into the ways of life of their owners, but no cars do it to such an extreme as Ferraris. I'm constantly asked, "What is it about Ferraris?" More specifically, "Why are Ferraris so popular?" Initially the answer is simply that they are the pinnacle of automotive ownership, period, but this often doesn't answer the real question into a far more abstruse query, "But why the hysteria?" It can be determined that it's not because they are Italian--but that helps. It's not because of their styling--but that also helps. It's not due to their
exclusivity--but that surely helps. It's not because they are fast--but clearly that's an integral ingredient. Moving more in-depth, maybe it's because of their commitment to Formula One racing and the fact that they always fielded both a Grand Prix racer and a production machine. In this, every car made carries with it a bit of that racing heritage. Ferrari sets itself apart here because many other manufacturers have been part of Formula One but none have accomplished what Ferrari has, with their duality race car and street cars. Names like MercedesBenz, Audi, Jaguar, Alfa Romero, Maserati and Aston Martin have put cars on the F1 grid as well as cars on the street but the only real distinction from Ferrari is they were not consistent over time in their endeavors. Without fail they put a F1 car on the track and one in the showroom and since no one else can say this it provides Ferrari much credibility. It allows every car you could buy a bit of this rich racing
heritage. Oddly, it isn't entirely this consistency in producing F1 and production cars that as the reason for their success, although that is the only real distinction between Ferrari and other great automobile marques. The simple truth is that many who drive Ferraris could care nothing about Formula One racing. Anyone can make spaghetti sauce but countless few can manipulate all the proper ingredients into perfect spaghetti sauce. Ferrari has managed to intentionally or unintentionally blend just the right elements together to make the most sought after automobile in the world. The truth is Ferrari has managed to reach the top despite some poor customer relations, poor selling practices, poor mechanical reliability, numerous poor products and at times a downright poor attitude towards those who support them. Ironically, this reality does less to tarnish the Prancing Horse than strengthen the magnetism. How many companies can make so many mistakes and yet be untested at the top? The answer is none can -- except Ferrari. Ferraris are truly an anomaly. Now to ever-so-slightly counter Ferrari's
well-known reliability woes I offer you the F430. After the 360 Modena came the F430 in 2004 and it is here Ferrari's reliability issues have managed some much-needed improvement. The elimination of the dreadful timing belts in lieu of a chain was a helpful change, another was the automation of so many steps within the assembly process, but the main surge is hopefully a culture change within Ferrari. I once told some Ferrari owners that I loved my Corvette mainly because I can drive it to a track event, beat the crap out of it and drive it home -- all of this without any reliability concerns. I call Corvettes basically "bullet-proof". I had one of those Ferrari owners who heard my "pro-Corvette" claims and come to me recently to tell me he finally owns a Ferrari that he can drive to the track, beat the crap out of and drive home in without the expected Ferrari issues -- an F430. I hear this over and over regarding the F430 and that is good news Why do I enjoy meeting so many Ferrari owners, and doing so much meticulous research and writing Ferrari-related articles? The answer is simple -- because they are one of the most interesting cars in the world and, I love cars.
Chad Enez BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 57
Chattanooga Whiskey Beer is for horses--whiskey is for women.
who takes the company’s vision and makes it a reality. Ashley’s four agreements: be impeccable with your words, do not take anything personally, do not make assumptions, and always to your best. Ashley spoke about the 1816 CASK--a 113.6 proof cask strength whiskey with a robust flavor and incredibly smooth finish that instantly appeals to the true whiskey lover. They kept the proportions the same as the Reserve at 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, because that combination is just right. A stronger whiskey than its brother, the Reserve; the 1816 Cask is still just as smooth--after a glass of the Cask, you may never go back. … And I like the taste of that.
By: J’Rie Elliott and Alabama Charlie
T
ennessee is known around the world as a place where great whiskey is not only made but is also a time honored tradition. Funny thing about whiskey companies in Tennessee--Jack Daniels is made in a dry county in the city of Lynchburg, Tennessee--and then there is Chattanooga Whiskey which is not even made in Tennessee yet, but a new home has been located. Recently, I met up with Joe Ledbetter, a self proclaimed whiskey enthusiast--and in truth I thought of the bootleggers and rum runners from yesteryear as Joe is more interested in making whiskey than fitting into society's idea of a businessman—a whiskey rebel. Joe, with his complete disregard for convention and easy laid back attitude makes me want to call him the James Dean of Tennessee Whiskey.
a 90-proof American Whiskey, aged for four years in charred American white oak barrels with a mash bill consisting of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Drink it as you like it–neat, chilled with whiskey stones, or mixed in your favorite cocktail. This 90 proof whiskey, with its golden to light amber color, the aroma of spice and herbs with a distinct rye character and nuances of strong aged wood and a distinct rye spiciness with hints of vanilla undertones will finish strong with a warm lingering spice on the palate. Ashley Danford is the creative director at Chattanooga Whiskey and Ashley enjoys the whiskey too. It will be her--the whiskey woman--
Joe does not discriminate where it comes to whiskey—it does not have to be his own brand, he enjoys all whiskies. Currently he would like to produce a whiskey that appeals to more women like the 1816 RESERVE a smooth, warm drink with a hint of spice. The Reserve is 58 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
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60 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
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Brake Fluid Comparison Chart Here is a comparison of all automotive performance/racing brake fluids showing cost per ounce, SKU unit size, compatibility with other fluids and most importantly wet and dry boiling points. Mfr AFCO AFCO Amsoil Amsoil AP Racing AP Racing AP Racing ATE Bel-Ray Brembo Brembo Brembo Castrol Castrol Comar Endless Endless Ferodo Ferodo Ferodo Ferodo Ford Fuchs Galfer Gunk Gunk Gunk Maxima Maxima Motorex Motorex Motul Motul Motul NeoSynth Pagid Pentosin Pentosin
Type DOT3 Min DOT4 Min DOT5.1 Min HTX HT Series 500 Series 600 551 Super 600 PRF Typ 200 Supr DOT4 LCF 600 HTC 64T EVO Sport SRF AdvPerf GS610 RF650 S-Four DOT 4 ESP DOT4 DOT 5.1 Supr Form C6AZ19542 Silkolene Pro Super DOT 4 DOT 3 ABS DOT 3 SYN HiTmp DOT 4 RacingFluid DOT 5.1 RBF 600 RBF 660 DOT 5.1 Sup Dot610 RBF SupDOT4 SupDOT 5.1
62 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
DOT 3 4 5.1 4 4 3 4 3 n/a 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5.1 4 3 4 5.1 4 3 3 4 4 4 5.1 4 4 5.1 4 4 4 5.1
WetBoil 284 311 356 * * 313 380 284 284 311 396 311 399 * 336 518 311 421 424 369 316 361 338 399 290 399 419 * * * 410 332 383 356 421 399 365 421 399 329 356
DryBoil 401 446 500 600 500 525 580 540 572 608 536 446 601 635 520 590 446 610 622 563 480 516 518 626 550 594 572 446 450 401 600 510 563 * 594 617 522 610 622 509 500
Mix? Oz Qty Price/Oz SKU Price Notes Yes Glycol Yes Glycol Yes Glycol Yes 16.9 1.06 17.99 Yes 12 0.50 5.99 12 0.60 7.20 12 1.13 13.60 Yes 16.9 0.76 12.79 NO 16.9 1.27 21.49 No Magnsm Prts Yes 16.9 1.72 28.99 No Magnsm Prts Yes 33.8 0.50 16.99 No Magnsm Prts Yes 12 0.75 8.95 No Magnsm Prts Yes 16.9 1.12 18.99 No Magnsm Prts Yes 16.9 1.95 32.99 No Magnsm Prts 8.5 1.18 9.99 Yes 33.8 2.07 69.99 Yes 12 0.58 6.99 Yes 16.9 Yes 16.9 2.49 42.00 Yes 33.8 1.01 34.00 Yes 8.5 0.70 5.99 Yes Not sold in U.S.? Yes 8.5 1.06 9.00 Yes 16.9 1.12 18.99 Yes 12 0.58 6.95 Heavy Duty Yes 16.9 1.59 26.95 Motorcycle Yes 16.9 0.77 12.99 Motorcycle Yes 32 0.25 7.99 Yes 32 0.22 6.99 Yes 32 0.19 5.99 Yes 12 1.17 13.99 Motorcycle/auto Yes 12 0.58 6.95 Motorcycle/auto Yes 16.9 1.52 25.75 Motorcycle Yes 8.5 1.18 9.99 Yes 16.9 1.06 17.99 Yes 16.9 1.72 28.99 Yes 16.9 0.59 9.95 Yes 16 1.56 24.99 Yes 16.9 1.52 25.75 DOT4 compliant Yes 16.9 0.59 9.95 Yes 16.9 Not sold in U.S.?
PerfFriction PerfFriction Project Mu Prospeed Repsol StopTech StopTech
Z-Rtd 3 RH665 4 G-4 335 4 RS683 4 Moto 5.1 STR 600 4 STR 660 4 The Brake Man Xtreme 6 5.1 The Brake Man Super Man 577 3
284 383 430 439 356 383 383 400 300
550 617 635 683 500 594 622 612 577
Yes Yes NO Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
16 16.9 33.8 16.9 16.9 16.9 16.9 16.9 12
0.53 1.77 1.77 1.48 0.59 1.00 1.65 1.48 1.83
8.42 Wrong boil point 29.99 59.95 Changes color @ boil 24.99 9.95 Motorcycle 16.95 27.95 25.00 Mfr-wet boil is “over 400” 21.95 DOT type unstated.
Tilton Tilton Torque Ultra Lite Valvoline Wilwood Wilwood
TBR-1 TSR-1 RT700 Hot Fluid DOT 3 & 4 EXP 570
4 4 4 4 4 n/a 3
383 383 439 * 311 417 313
590 622 683 600 480 626 573
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
8.5 8.5 16.9 32 12 16.9 12
0.92 1.40 2.01 1.09 0.37 1.05 0.66
Meets DOT 3 wet boil spc
7.86 11.90 33.95 34.99 4.49 17.69 7.89
Simply Stated What Do The Boiling Points Mean?
your fluid is boiling and your braking is
Simply put, brakes work by converting
dangerously degraded. Heavy duty brake
Wet Boiling Point
forward momentum into heat: The brake
fluid is not just for weekend racers.
This is the temperature that your brake
caliper - mounted on the vehicle's
Further complicating the above story:
fluid will boil at when its been inside your
suspension - contacts the rotor - mounted
Brake fluid is "hygroscopic" (commonly
braking system for a reasonably long time.
on the spinning wheel - and squeezes
misspelled as "hydroscopic", which is not
How long it takes to get to this saturation
it. This heats the brakes up. A lot. Heat
a real word). That means it pulls moisture
point will vary by fluid type, but a good
obviously transfers into the rotors and
into itself from the air. No matter what you
rule of thumb is the higher the dry boiling
the vehicle's hubs. It also transfers into
do you can't stop this. Once you crack
point, the faster the fluid will saturate (an
the brake pads and - from there - into
the seal on a bottle of brake fluid it starts
informal sort of standard is - not always
the brake caliper... where the brake fluid
absorbing moisture. Putting it into your
- used by fluid manufacturers: the wet
resides.
brake system does not stop this process,
boiling point is the reading taken after fluid
and since water boils at a much lower temp
has been sitting for one year in your brake
So much heat is transferred that it’s
than brake fluid does (a mere 212 degrees
lines). If you are a civilian driving on the
possible to boil the brake fluid in your
fahrenheit), the less moisture accumulated
street the wet boiling point is going to be
calipers. Once brake fluid boils, it creates
in your brake fluid system, the better as
the one you want to pay attention to since
air bubbles and, since air compresses
the boiling water in your brake fluid will
the fluid will typically stay in your brake
much better than fluid does, when you
create those aforementioned dangerous air
lines for an extended period of time.
press on the brake pedal you get a mushy
bubbles.
Fluid with a high dry boiling point is better
pedal. That pedal gets progressively worse
suited to track use. Fluid with a low wet
until - if you keep boiling the fluid lap after
Dry Boiling Point
boiling point is less suited to long term
lap - the pedal goes all the way to the
This is the temperature that your brake
street use. The trick is to pick the points
floor... while you keep going in whatever
fluid will boil when its straight out of
you are comfortable with, coupled to the
direction you are pointed in. At high speed.
the sealed bottle. When there has been
price you are willing to spend.
Typically for a passenger car you have to
effectively no time for it to absorb any
be doing something pretty extreme (as
moisture. If you are racing on a track, you
What Else Should I look For in Brake
in "crazy") to boil your fluid. However if
are most concerned with this value, since
Fluid?
you are towing a boat or trailer you can
the fluid in your lines is likely to be freshly
The information on this page is about
easily put yourself into a situation where
added.
as much as you'll need unless you're BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 63
a professional mechanic for a racing
By its nature any brake fluid resists
charts out there on the web, on personal
team. The one exception to this is
compressibility. Some fluids claim to do it
web pages and in innumerable forum
compressibility, and I'll tackle that briefly
better than others. The difference doesn't
posts (that’s how this page started out life,
in a bit. Additional variables like viscosity,
have any real practical application unless
back in 2009). Nothing on this list got here
rate of water absorption and recovery
you are at the extreme end of the hard-
unless I was able to confirm specs on at
rate after heating are all important when
use spectrum: We're talking laps around
least the manufacturer's site or, in the rare
you are deadly serious about racing...
the race track here. With that in mind
case that failed, multiple vendor sites.
but thats about it. For now this page will
you will generally find only the top-end
While I did find some fluids I was unaware
just acknowledge those things exist - and
racing brake fluids even mention superior
of on other peoples' lists, I only used them
there is very little data available to publish
resistance to compressibility after boiling.
as pointers for research and did not use the
on the subject other than a discussion
specs they printed - I found a LOT of them
of the general principles. Brake fluid
Is there a difference in the compressibility
to be inaccurate when compared to actual
manufacturers don't publish these specs as
of one brand of glycol-based fluid over
manufacturers' data.
a rule. However, a couple of quick notes:
another? There is a relationship between
Given the above this list should be the
the specific gravity (density) of a brake
most accurate brake fluid comparison
Price
fluid and its resistance to compressibility.
chart on the web. I would like to keep it
For the typical weekend mechanic
The more dense the fluid, the more
that way so if you have different information
working on a daily-driver, simply sticking
resistance it has to compression. Fluid
than I put up here please let me know what
to the DOT spec recommended by the
density is not generally reported by
you have found.
manufacturer is enough in terms of safety.
manufacturers except in marketing claims
I am not including silicone-based DOT 5
You won't need to worry about esoteric
stating they are more dense than their
fluids as they are outside the mainstream.
things like boiling points or viscosity as the
competitors... without any comparative data
Think I'm wrong? Feel free to drop me a
DOT standards ensure that whatever fluid
to make the statement meaningful. Please
line and convince me otherwise.
you choose will meet your manufacturer's
note this article is deliberately ignoring
requirements. For most people the only
silicone-based fluids as they are not
Article by
real question is how much money they are
included on the chart above at this time.
Matt Robertson
willing to pay for their brake fluid. You can
Matt is the Managing Partner at Leland-West
sort the chart on price/ounce to come up
What About Mixing Fluid Types?
Insurance Brokers, Inc. He started with the
with your best buy.
Your typical DOT3, DOT4 and DOT5.1
firm while still a college student, way back in
fluids are all glycol-based. You can
1984. According to Matt his only remaining
Viscosity
safely mix them without damaging your
hobby is Motorsport ... because its all he can
By and large, this isn't something you need
braking system or compromising your
afford ("will work for tires"). Reach him at
to worry about. However in areas subject
existing braking performance. BUT as
matt@lelandwest.com
to extreme cold, lower viscosity is better.
nearly every brake fluid manufacturer
Since viscosity is typically shown on MSDS
will state: doing so is not recommended.
sheets if you can find them, I may add
Why? Mixing good new fluid and old bad
viscosity readings to the chart above... but
fluid means you will retain the bad fluid's
by and large this is a nit that doesn't need
performance... its all mixed in together
to be picked.
and the old fluid will still boil merrily away, giving you exactly what you had in the first
Compressibility
place. You can't fortify it with an injection of
While the ordinary driver doesn't need to
the good stuff.
go here, your typical track rat knows this
So, while you won't hurt anything by
is a big piece of the puzzle. And if they
topping up your brake fluid (which you
don't... sooner or later they'll learn the hard
should do if it runs low for some reason),
way.
you aren't gaining the benefits that go with
Fluids by their nature are incompressible.
a complete flush of the system.
Gas by its nature is compressible (and since bubbles are a gas we are right
About my Methodology:
back to not wanting bubbles in the lines).
There are a lot of brake fluid comparison
64 BLACKTIE MOTORSPORT
Joe had an epiphany one day and told his wife that he was going to begin production of a magazine that catered to cigars and all that the word entails. Naturally his wife thought he was a little off his rocker; with no background in publishing or writing he decided to break into the hard industry of publication. After a rocky start and a definite learning curve his little idea had actually began bringing in money—much to his wife’s dismay. However, he began to feel restless; publication was not really his passion, cigars were. While with the magazine he was getting to talk about them and making wonderful friends along the way, he was not getting to work with them.
An idea, a magazine, some faith and a dream come true…
House of
Burgess Cigars
a Smokin’ hot success story. By: J’Rie Elliott Every person has a calling. A passion, a force that draws them to a craft or a skill set that makes their life worthwhile. Mr. Joe Baker, from northeast Ohio, had a passion, a passion that started at a young age, one that has followed him his entire life—cigars. Growing up on old westerns Joe always looked up to the male protagonist who saved the day and the girl with the smoldering tobacco clenched between his lips.
Joe sold his magazine and with his friend Silvio Palomino--from the Dominican Republic--they decided to create their own cigar company. Silvio’s family had been in the cigar manufacturing and importing business for several decades and Joe knew that he wanted to carry on the legacy of their premium cigars the first time he tasted a Palomino. With a love of tradition and a love of history they wanted their company to have a name that reflected that passion for holding on to the past while still embracing the future-- House of Burgess Cigars LTD was born. Much like their namesake, which allowed the common man the opportunity to vote and choose who represented them; Joe and Silvio wanted to produce a premium cigar that the common man would be able to afford and enjoy. A bold, flavorful line of cigars was now well under way…
House of Burgess Cigar’s current line of cigars are manufactured by the Palomino family in the Dominican Republic--a premium stick costing around $6 per cigar depending on size. However, there are other lines of cigars— new blends, in the works that will be released in 2014. So it seems that everything is coming up roses—or rather tobacco for the House of Burgess Cigars. Though I had to ask, which he preferred better the magazine or making cigars? Joe’s answer was very heartfelt and honest, “Definitely the cigars. The magazine was a great experience and I learned a tremendous amount about the industry doing it. It actually gave me a good education as I was able to watch and learn from other cigar companies without having to go through the mistakes myself. Like any business there are challenges, ups and downs but it's also rewarding. For me every day is a day to make a difference and overcome obstacles. It's a daily challenge and I love that part about it. I look at things maybe differently than some others in this way as well, I’m a pretty blessed guy. God has allowed me to be part of an industry that I love. One of the many things this country was founded on is the freedom for a nobody like me to dream as big as I want to be able to pursue it then live with the success or failure of my decisions. That to me is not only awesome its rewarding.”
BLACKTIE 2014 SPRING 65
Dion von Moltke Black Tie Motorsport Man of the year
Miami Florida— Being a three times racing champion in 2013 only brought more attention to the off-field work of Dion von Moltke, who was announced in January as the winner of the Black Tie Motorsport Man of the Year. Dion von Moltke has built his career in Grand-Am and the American Le Mans series on a solid foundation of international Karting and Formula Car racing. Dion races under the South African flag — he was born in Texas from South African parents, and having lived in Sydney and Los Angeles before moving to his current home in Miami, Dion started racing karts at 13 in Southern Florida. Dion won several championships at the local and state level before moving up to the National and International level, participating in World championship Karting events in Italy. Since then he has steadily progressed through several professional racing series, becoming a very successful and respected professional race car driver that has multiple wins in Skip Barber, Grand-Am, and American Le Mans series, including two wins at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring and a win at the Daytona 24 Hour race in 2013. Dion is also a highly popular driver instructor, focusing on all aspects of peak performance, and has developed a coaching program called “Perform 360”.
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