CARBONE AUTO GROUP & THE CAR THAT STARTED IT ALL.
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SUMMER 2016 ISSUE
GULFIN’ IN
STYLE
A BEAUTIFUL FORD GT HERITAGE THAT BEGAN LIFE AS A SUPERCAR, BUT SOON BECAME A SUPER HERO.
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A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM Well, it’s finally here.. summer in Central New York. The car show season is in full swing, and our team could not be more excited to bring you the next edition of the magazine in time for the infamous Syracuse Nationals. Since the last issue, we’ve met several new folks at car shows who are just discovering our publication and it’s always refreshing to hear how much they enjoy it. We’re trying hard to bring the local car scene together and highlight all the area has to offer - it’s no easy task. We’re delighted to announce that we will be continuing our new partnership with NAPA that allows us to distribute to many of the part stores they serve - as many as 90+ locations in the CNY region alone. This means we’ll have a much wider presence in the area on top of the higher concentrated Utica/ Syracuse markets. We thank them so much for this amazing opportunity and hope that you stop into your local NAPA store to inquire about a copy of the next issue. We’ve also brought on Syracuse designer Marc Stress of StressDesign to help assist in the graphic layout of the magazine. Splitting the workload amongst two designers now has us working more efficiently.
Managing Editor Kevin Crandall
Creative Directors Justin Palmer Marc Stress
Account Manager Director of Photography Matt Wilson Chris Penree Photography Jordan Polizzi John Zachary
Thomas Sblendorio
Contributing Writers Justin Palmer John Zachary Kevin Crandall Brian Coupe Bob Sblendorio Bill Sauve John Cannizzaro Marc Stress Proofreaders Denise Crandall
Esther Gray
Website MPW Marketing // Damon Maldonado Proudly printed locally by Kenyon Press Inc. Special Thanks Richard Aversa, Nanci McCraine, Northeast Classic Car Museum, Robert May, Al Carbone, Josh Fay, John Cannizzaro, Ed Suchon, Joe Patrick, Atomic Wraps, Dan Cassinelli
Advertise with us!
We look forward to continue meeting new folks throughout the remainder of the car show season. We’ll be at several shows including Syracuse Nationals, Street Scene, and a number of others in between. Come say hello if you happen to spot our booth!
Apex Automotive Magazine is the only publication of its kind in CNY. Each issue contains articles featuring custom builds, local car shows, area custom shops, auto enthusiasts, unique car stories, and everything else automotive.
Thanks so much for reading. If you like our publication, please consider a subscription to get new issues delivered directly to your door (if for some reason there isn’t a NAPA nearby). We very much appreciate your support and continued readership.
We appreciate all of our amazing advertisers, without them this publication would not be possible. Please give them a chance to earn your patronage and tell them you saw them in Apex Automotive Magazine.
— The Apex Automotive Magazine Team
To find out more about advertising in Apex, visit apexautomag.com or call 315.280.8305
Subscribe Today. Apex Automotive Magazine is published four times per year by Seven Horsepower Publishing, LLC. To subscribe, please send $10 to the below address. Magazines will be delivered via USPS.
We sat down with Brett at Brewerton Speedway for a look at what has made Hearn one of the best Dirt Modified drivers.
Apex Automotive Magazine PO Box 148 Clinton, NY 13323 We welcome feedback, story suggestions, reader contributions and anything else you might like to share with us. Send us a note to info@apexautomag.com. All contents copyright 2016, Apex Automotive Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without consent. Apex Automotive Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, photos, or artwork.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS // FEATURES 7
24
2017 CADILLAC XTS
CARBONE AUTO GROUP
REVIEW
We test drive the Cadillac XTS twin turbo Vsport to experience American luxury with a kick. by JUSTIN PALMER
CARSHOW PHOTO ALBUM
GREENWICH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
30
DIRT TRACK YOUNG GUN A local 12 year old that’s running with the big guys. by BOB SBLENDORIO
by KEVIN CRANDALL
MOTORCYCLE RACING
FEATURED LOCAL CAR SHOW
EUROPRIDE
The variety of European rides at the annual Eurocar show in Cazenovia doesn’t disappoint. by MARC STRESS
16
FEATURED LOCAL RIDE
GULFIN’ IN STYLE
Dan Cassinelli shows us his amazing Gulf Livery Ford GT40. by JUSTIN PALMER
34
THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF FLAT TRACK
Square Deal Riders - where some of the best get their start. by JOHN ZACHARY
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RACE LIFE
BECOMING A DRIVER
We continue covering Bill’s journey as a new driver in the APEX sponsored Sportsman car. by BILL SAUVE
41
LOCAL SHOWS & EVENTS
COVERAGE THRU CNY
21
LOCAL CAR STORY
WINNING DEUCE 24
by BOB SBLENDORIO
We head out of state to cover some of the nicest cars in the country.
12
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The history behind one of the area’s biggest auto dealers.
DIRT TRACKIN’
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LOCAL CAR HISTORY
We hit up several shows from Morrisville to Syracuse.
Robert May’s 1932 “Deuce Coupe” is a trophy winning show stopper.
50
by MARC STRESS
Learn how to use this detailer’s trick to make your car shine right.
TECH HOW TO
CLAY BAR CLEANUP
by JOHN CANNIZZARO
34
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CNY AREA EVENT CALENDAR
A complete listing of car shows, driving events, motorsports events, swap meets and more.
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READERS RIDES // LET’S SEE THOSE RIDES! EACH ISSUE WE SHOWCASE AREA RIDES SUBMITTED BY OUR READERS. THESE ARE THEIR PRIDE AND JOY AND WE’RE HELPING TO SHOW THEM OFF!
2010 DODGE CHALLENGER “MOPAR 10” Steven Brody, Sr., Morrisville, NY - It is Number # 594 of 500 produced and is one of 160 with blue stripes and automatic transmission. It is equipped with Mopar Performance Springs, Mopar Supertrac-Pack Suspension, Wilwood “Big Brake” System, Mopar Flowmaster “Cat-Back” Performance Exhaust, “Functional” T/A Hood Scoop, Diablo Tune, and Katzkin Leather interior. With only 13K miles I enjoy driving to car shows and cruise-ins in Central N.Y. Also Mopar events across the Northeast.
2006 350Z Emrah Latic, Utica NY - I purchased this 350z about 4 months ago from a dealership in Connecticut. The moment I saw it online I knew it was the one for me. One owner and completely stock, I had to get it. From the rare Interlagos Fire Red metallic color to the smaller things like the navigation and 6 spd, it had it all. I plan on repainting it soon and touching it up but I will wait until schools over and then ill get into it some more.
Do you have an awesome ride you want us to share? Email high-resolution, clear photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com. Please include your name and hometown. All of this issue’s Reader’s Rides features are getting 2 FREE Admission tickets to the Northeast Classic Car Museum! We want to thank the Museum for sponsoring this section with this great prize package. If you haven’t been there lately, go check it out!
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READER’S RIDES
1972 CHEVELLE Mikey Nowak, New York Mills, NY - Found in a field in Salisbury NY, 12 years ago, while delivering for UPS. This car had been left for dead and he wanted it. It had a small beat up 350 & a 350 trans. With A LOT of hard work and help from a few close friends and family we were able to bring it back from the dead. Rick and Bill, Thank You...you saved me on more than a few occasions. I appreciate it! The color is now Electric blue. It has a 383 small block with a M21 4 Speed Muncie pushing it. The rear end has 410 gears with a newer Moroso center. This is a past time that myself, my wife and 3 year old daughter really enjoy. We look forward to many more years with the Chevelle.
WIN! Tickets: $5 per ticket, 5 for $20, 15 for $50, 35 for $100 or 200 for $500
1965 Mustang Convertible Drawing: October 7, 2016 Last year’s winner: John Baranowski, Oneonta, NY!
ADS
289 V-8; 4 speed; chrome tipped dual exhaust; restored new interior, top and paint.
I am Purchasing ______________Tickets for $_______________ Total order $_____________ *Please return my ticket stubs by mail. I have added or authorize an additional $1 to cover mailing materials and postage. (Stub not necessary to claim prize.) Name________________________________________________Address___________________________________________ City_______________________State___Zip Code______Phone_____________________*Email_______________________ *optional Card #_________________________________________________________________
Proceeds benefit Northeast Classic Car Museum, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.
Exp. Date_______________CVV #______________ Mail this form, or copy of this form, along with check, money order or credit card information to NECCM, Department APEX, 24 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY 13815. Also order online at www.classiccarmuseum.org or call 607-334-2886.
Tickets/orders must be purchased/postmarked by 9/30/16.
NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN RAFFLE. Open to U.S. Residents age 18+. Void where prohibited. Runs 3/1/16 to 9/30/16. Prize: 1965 Mustang Convertible ($21,000 ARV). Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. To view complete Official Rules visit www.classiccarmuseum.org or send self-addressed stamped envelope to: NECCM Rules, 24 Rexford St, Norwich, NY 13815.
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DEALER SPONSORED TEST DRIVE // CARBONE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC
2017 Cadillac XTS New Vehicle Review
photography Chris Penree words Justin Palmer
Since the first Cadillacs rolled off the assembly line, the brand has been synonymous with supple riding, luxurious and sometimes even powerful, sedans. During the last ten or so years, Cadillac began to change from being the long distance cruiser that attracted senior citizens to transforming into BMW challenging performance vehicles aimed at making great numbers at the race track. Cadillac’s main sporty contenders have been the ATS and CTS, which proved they mean business with their powerful engines, magnetic ride dampening, and even 6-speed manual on certain trims. But Cadillac has strayed from its identity a bit over the last few years and it’s original target audience (seniors) may prefer the gentle giants of the past. Cadillac’s answer? The XTS. The XTS in its base trim is powered by a lackluster naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 304 hp and 264 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is standard. All-wheel drive is available and can be identified by the moniker “XTS4.” Our test car wears the Vsport premium badging which means it gets the goods--a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter V6 that produces 410 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It requires premium-grade gasoline. All-wheel drive is standard with the turbo
seemed to cause the car to upshift and downshift at all the right times. Off the line the twin-turbocharged V6 V6, as is a six-speed automatic. pulls strong and feels a lot like the older v8 At first glance there is no mistaking this cars with plenty of thrust behind the pedal. car as a fully modern Caddy. Its clean, crisp The engine has a pleasant note and builds and bold design language (dubbed ‘Arts and power smoothly through the rev range. If Sciences’) is all Cadillac but it does seem to I was to purchase this car the twin-turbohave a less sporty look than its leaner, meancharged version would be my choice. er brothers, the ATS and CTS. However, that The interior is plush with a soft touch makes sense given that this car’s mission dash, high quality trim, and great fit and is to be a super comfortable land yacht. finish everywhere you look. The seats are Although, don’t get me wrong, this car still very supportive with plenty of bolster and has decent feedback. Upon turn-in, the body the dash is completely digital which allows feels fairly controlled for such a large car. you to switch between three different layouts However, there is a good amount of body depending on your preference. lean, and the steering is decent but lacks the The center of the interior is based around feedback of the ATS and CTS. the CUE infotainment system. While I found The ride is very soft and manages to the menus easy to understand, I found their cancel out rough surfaces very well. The touch sensitive array of auxiliary buttons very paddle shifters are neat in theory but the touchy and difficult to use, especially while gearbox really lags to respond to upshifts driving. However, the display does give the and downshifts. I found myself preferring to interior a clean, futuristic look. drive in auto mode most of the time which The back seats are extremely roomy making you quickly Cadillac’s CUE realize that this is a car to be system is the ridden in rather than to drive. focal point of Passengers are provided with the XTS’s beautheir very own set of radio and tiful interior climate controls. and manges to move most of Overall I was very impressed typical controls with this car and feel it is a true to one central value in the world of high-end area. luxury sedans. Just make sure you get the twin-turbocharged v6. APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 7
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special metal CARSHOW PHOTO ALBUM // GREENWICH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
photography Jordan Polizzi words Kevin Crandall
GREENWICH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT 1982 LANCIA 032 COUPE, 1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 EVO2 HOMOLOGATION SEDAN, 1967 FORD GT40 MK IV
While Apex strives to keep things local to the CNY scene, we occasionally venture out of the area for a show or two--and figured we would share some of these amazing rides with our readers? On the weekend of June 3-5, we sent Apex staff to the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance for their 20th Anniversary in Greenwich, Connecticut.
is something for every serious car collector to admire.
The Greenwich weekend is broken into segments” the Concours Americana is staged on Saturday and the Concours International on Sunday. Depending on what type of car you are interested in, there
For instance, it happened to be the 50th anniversary of Ford’s 1966 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; James Glickenhaus’ 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV that Mark Donohue and Bruce McLaren
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THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT A CARROLL SHELBY SIGNED 1965 AC COBRA ROADSTER, 2014 PAGANI HUAYRA, 1921 STUTZ BEARCAT, WAYNE CARINI INSPECTS THE FIELD, A PAIR OF PORSCHES 1960 WHITE PORSCHE 356 SUPER 90 ROADSTER, 1958 BLACK PORSCHE SPEEDSTER
steered to fourth place at Le Mans that year drew quite the crowd. BMW’s 100th anniversary was celebrated at Sunday’s Concours International with a display of spectacular historic examples, including a rare 1937 BMW 328 MM Bügelfalte. Stunning and fast, this high-performance roadster competed at such
venues as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Mille Miglia. One car that drew our particular attention was the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 1961 Ferrari 250 TRi/61 Spider. It’s certainly not something you see every day. “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” was the motivation for the production of homologation specials, street-legal racecars sold in limited quantities by manufacturers to qualify for competition; APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 9
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significant examples, such as a 1975 Lancia Stratos Coupe, 1980 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport, 1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution and 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo2 Sedan were also on hand for Sunday’s lineup. The Greenwich Concours D’Elegance is one of the premier events in the United States, spotlighting the design, elegance and performance of automobiles, motorcycles and boats. Next year’s show is June 2-4, 2017. Visit their website greenwichconcours.com to see the full list of 2016 winners and other show news.
ABOVE 1950 CISITALIA 1100 COLOMBO SPORT RACING RIGHT 1963 FORD MUSTANG III CONCEPT SHOW CAR COUPE
BEST IN SHOW George Vassos’ custom-built 1932 Studebaker President Convertible Sedan is the only extant example of this model. Found in Mexico, the car made its post-restoration debut at the Greenwich Concours. George clinched the Concours Americana’s highest honor - Best in Show.
APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 11
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FEATURED LOCAL CAR SHOW // EUROCAR
photography Jordan Polizzi words Kevin Crandall, Marc Stress
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EUROPRIDE
R
Eurocar is presented by the MG Car Club of Central New York on the lawns of Lorenzo State Historic Park in Cazenovia, NY. It prides itself in featuring classic and contemporary European motorcars and motorcycles. As one of the largest European Car and Motorbike events in Central New York, the turnout never disappoints.
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The show featured a diverse range of vehicles dating from Prewar through current day luxury sport models. There were MG’s, Triumph’s, a slew of old Volkswagens, and more from British, German, and Italian auto manufacturers.
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Hundreds of vehicle entries and spectators showed up for the 13th Annual Father’s Day tradition in Cazenovia. With free admission, this is a show you should put on your calendar for next year. MG and Triumph were in good showing, thanks to the club’s membership, but attendee’s got to see dozens of popular European maquees. At Eurocar 2016, manufacturers represented include Jaguar, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Fiat, Volvo, Audi, Austin Healey, Mini,
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Volkswagen, Saab, and Land Rover. On the green this year, there was also a great showing of some two-wheeled European classics including motorcycles from Triumph and Rickman. With Eurocar gaining more popularity each year, show organizers added a larger big top and better signage to keep things organized for 2016. We expect Eurocar to continue be more popular each year. For information about 2017’s show and to see highlights from previous years, visit their website http://cny.mgcarclub.com.
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Delivering Joy Since 1929
www.CarboneCars.com
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GULFIN’ IN
STY
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TYLE
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photography Chris Penree words Justin Palmer
Since the original MK I was introduced to in the early 60’s, America has had a fascination with its Ferrari-beating hero, the Ford GT40. It’s no surprise that Syracuse, NY’s Dan Cassinelli shared the same love as a child for America’s champion as many of us. In fact, proudly displayed on his mantel, Dan still has the same toy GT40 in a Gulf Livery scheme that he played with as a child. “I’ll never forget getting the model of the Ford GT Heritage.
APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 17
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The blue and the orange stripes and the number on the side kinda reminded me of speed racer, a cartoon I was watching when I was a kid. It was just something that stuck in my head for years and years and was something I always wanted and after 50 plus years it finally came to fruition.” In 2005 Ford reintroduced the beloved GT40 but only built the retro supercar for two years. As a fairly rare and sought-after car these days, when one comes on the market, it goes fast. They also go fast literally with a 0-60 time under four seconds and with modern supercar style and power to boot. Many actually prefer this newer generation to the originals because, while still a great performer, the car is much nicer to drive and live with. If he wanted to, Dan said he could drive this car everyday; the shifter and clutch are like butter, the seats are perfect, and the interior is squeak and rattle free. The opportunity to purchase a GT40 finally came to Dan when he acquired a company from a gentleman who owned the car. The man was the original owner, and the car had only 2,000 miles on it. While the car was originally red with white stripes, after a few years Dan had an itch for the exact GT40 he always wanted--a Gulf Livery schemed GT40 just like his childhood model. Dan heard about a company in Detroit called GTG who not only specialized in customizing specifically Ford GTs, but were also part of the original design team that worked to bring the Ford GT to market. He trusted GTG completely to tear apart his dream car because for the last 11 years, GTG has worked on nothing but Ford GTs. The GTG team left not one nut or bolt untouched on Dan’s GT. “At one point they had the whole car apart and on the floor like an erector set. It was an unbelievable sight, but it showed me they did everything the right way. They painted everything inside and out and they just did a tremendous job on it .”
I’LL NEVER FORGET GETTING THE MODEL OF THE FORD GT HERITAGE. THE BLUE AND THE ORANGE STRIPES AND THE NUMBER ON THE SIDE KINDA REMINDED ME OF SPEED RACER.
Upon close inspection the details of GTG’s work is obvious. The decals and stripe package was meticulously painted, not stickers like on the original car. The interior was reupholstered in gorgeous alcantara with orange stitching to give it a nice pop and to match the exterior. The wheels were powder coated a dark grey that really set off the car’s attitude. It is impossible to miss this amazing looking ride. We struggled to get footage of the car because people wouldn’t stay away from the damn thing. It brings out the inner child in men and women, and children love it because it’s such a ‘cool car’. There is no denying the awesome energy of this car. Dan takes the car out every weekend and loves to go to car shows. He really enjoys seeing the reaction from people when they see the car. Dan shares the same view as the Apex crew--cars are meant to be driven and should be enjoyed by all. A car like this is a functional work of art, and a special piece of history. I’m glad Dan is willing to share it with us all!
APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 19
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LOCAL CAR STORY // 1932 DEUCE COUPE
WINNING DEUCE photography Chris Penree words Marc Stress
We all have one—an “it” car. We see it out of the corner of our eye on a summer two-lane, we see it in the movies, and we dream and scheme about how to make it ours. This car haunts us and won’t let us rest. That’s what happened to Bob May when the ’32 deuce coupe rolled on the screen of American Graffiti. In the film, the coupe becomes a character of its own and an icon for the rod scene. That coupe is chopped and has some chrome work in the engine bay, but luckily for us, that’s about where the similarities end. APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 21
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The ’32 Coupe owned by May is one of those cars that grabs you. It doesn’t matter if you’re into ’rods or not. We had been talking about the Deuce for weeks at Apex meetings; it was becoming a legend. A few of the crew had seen it either in person or online, and they couldn’t stop talking about it. I was stoked to get assigned to the story, and couldn’t wait to see it in person. The night came and I headed to our location to meet the Apex crew, Bob, and The Deuce. Some of the locations we scout are tricky, not completely unknown, but not exactly on the GPS either. My own GPS was putting in a field only about a mile from our meeting point, but there was no one IN THE PAST 5 YEARS BOB in sight. Photographer MAY HAS SHOWN THE Chris Penree sent me a map pin. I caught CAR AT MORE THAN SIXTY up with them just in EVENTS AND HAS COME time to see Bob pull up in a big Dodge RAM HOME WITH JUST AS MANY towing a suspiciously AWARDS INCLUDING unmarked trailer. Like mythology that had TWO FROM SYRACUSE the built up around this car NATIONALS. over the previous weeks, trailer kept me IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY. the guessing. It was a perfect spring night. Even at 6p.m., the skies were still clear and temperatures in the 70s. It felt like a West Coast night from Graffiti. When we were planning the shot with Bob, we all kind of assumed he’d want to stick close to his Syracuse area home. During one call, Bob said “Hey my Grandfather was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base during World War II. Could shoot there?” The Apex team knows this particular area pretty well, and we knew it would be a great backdrop for the car. The roads we drive to the set are solid, unmarked stretches of tarmac that don’t seem to have an end or a beginning. Even though much of the enormous tract has been modernized and now known as Griffiss Business and Technology Park, you can feel the ghosts of the place. When you are on the property, one is a bit more aware of
the surroundings. The security vehicle seems to roll by a bit slower, weeds around a fire hydrant look like an unflinching sniper in a ghillie suit. Your mind can play tricks on you out here. Bob rolls his rig around and points the exit-end of the trailer in a spot that looks runway ready. He works his setup like a practiced surgeon—flipping levers, releasing catches. Each click gets us closer to the reveal. As the meticulous trailer opened, the plain exterior reveals a pristine rolling home for the black coupe. Before we realize it, Bob has got the car unstrapped from its anchors and the straight pipes let out a loud brrrap, settling into that rolling, gurgling slopelobe V8 stutter, as the car inches down the ramp. It was 2009 when Bob finally decided he couldn’t live without the car. After 6 months of searching he found his Deuce. Just like the car in American Graffiti, this Coupe was found in California. He knew the car was well loved and had it shipped to his Liverpool, New York home. The car came loaded with a long list of top notch components. Mechanically, the car had Winter’s polished quick change rear axle, Kugel independent front suspension. These were a great start to a custom rod build, but Bob knew that he had to give it more to push it over the top to make it a winning show-car. With the help of his brother Bill and two nephews Brian and James, they removed the original power plant and installed a Chevrolet 355HP ZZ4 crate motor that cranks out 405ft. lbs, thanks to the Holley 670 Ultra four barrel feeding plenty of gas and air.
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To get the power to the wheels, Bob worked with Professional Transmissions of Utica to build a 200R4 four-speed overdrive transmission. Bob says the transmission is a perfect fit for the motor. This car will get rubber in three gears, but on the highway, it’ll just purr along at 2,100 RPM at 70 MPH. In the five years Bob May has owned this car, he has shown it at more than 60 car shows and has come home with more than 60 awards including two from Syracuse Nationals, and a host of Best of Show awards from events like the Syracuse Motorama. It’s easy to see why. When you first see this car, you don’t know what to take in first. Chrome sparkles, then the sun glances off the paint, like a pool of water. The paintwork on the chopped 3-window is deep, black, is flawless. Schott’s Americana wheels and Wilwood polished four wheel discs provide perfect contrast to the bodywork. On the hood is a custom louver with true-flame laid-down by Jason Barron at JT’s Custom Paint Garage in Moravia. The paint is an inkling of the level of detail in the rest of the car. As we get the car setup for our first couple of shots, Bob goes through some of this to us. With the hood propped open, the secrets are out and
the car gets shinier and shinier. There’s a saying “it goes fast, or it gets chromed.” Well this coupe, I’m afraid, does both. The engine compartment is a study in billet finishes and polishing--lots of polishing. From the custom firewall to the march pulley system, to the polished Kugle independent front end...looking at this, we are all like kids in a candy store. The door handles are shaved with power openers which removes any visual interruptions down the shoulder line to the deck-lid. On the interior, the custom leather upholstery by Gabes in Los Angeles is one of the few elements that Bob left untouched from when he took delivery. The dash has more billet with a flamed steering wheel connected to an Ididit tilt steering column. Vintage air conditioning and heat keeps the cabin comfortable for cruising.
plate, and rear axle via custom install by Pete DeFazio. Looking at this car it’s hard to imagine that this was once what Henry Ford intended for the masses in the early 1900s America. It’s barely even reminiscent of the car that inspired this project for Mr. May, that Coupe from American Grafitti. In the movie, we never really know who wins the race. So far, Bob takes first every time he shows up.
As the sun begins to sink on the horizon of our historic set, Bob’s got more tricks up his sleeve. A flip of a couple switches and we’ve got new sparkles in the form of LED lighting under the hood, license
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photography Thomas Sblendorio words Bob Sblendorio
THE CARBONE AUTO GROUP
& the car that started it all. With just a third grade education and $40 saved from working on the family’s dairy farm, Joe Carbone, son of immigrant parents, started a car service garage in 1929 that has grown into a multi-million dollar network of dealerships and other businesses.
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The Carbone Auto Group is a classic American story of the entrepreneurial spirit of risk, determination and hard work. Recently, I had the pleasure to talk with Al Carbone, son of the founder Joe Carbone, about the history of the company, and about his 1937 Graham Convertible Coupe, a car that has a lot of sentimental meaning. Al Carbone explained that his father, Joe, was born shortly after his parents emigrated from Italy to the United States. At the age of six, Joe’s father passed. To survive, his mother had to work so Joe and his siblings were sent to an orphanage. Joe’s mother eventually re-married and the family was reunited. They lived on a dairy farm known as Beach Grove Dairy in East Utica, near the present day Masonic Home. Joe, the oldest of the children, worked hard to earn money
delivering milk with a horse and buggy. He saved his money and at age 19 along with his friend and partner, Phil Sacco, Joe opened a service garage called C & S Garage. The garage offered body and mechanical work, all of which was self-taught. Al said, “his father would read every night and was as well-educated as any college kid.” The partnership was “short-lived” and as sole owner of the business, Joe changed the name to Carbone Motor Sales. Initially, he bought and sold used cars, but by 1933 he accepted his first franchise from Graham-Paige. The business was moved to a larger facility on Bleecker Street in Utica and by 1938, a Studebaker franchise was added along with International Truck. Joe did it all--buying and selling by day, and at night, the repairs and servicing. When asked how
the business survived in the midst of the Great Depression, Al responded that “his father worked really, really hard, sometimes around-the-clock.” Joe would take a train to Detroit to pick up cars, and with a tow-bar, bring cars back through all sorts of inclement weather. Al’s mother also worked at the business as the bookkeeper as well as many other administrative tasks. As a child, Al and his brother Don were always around cars, familiar with them inside and out. Initially, they did a little bit of everything around the shop, including mopping and waxing floors. As time went on, they would do the prep work which was needed before the cars were delivered and as their experience continued, they learned to do body and paint work, mechanical work and finally parts and sales.
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What Joe Carbone started back in the early ‘30s continued to grow and Joe continually referred to the company as “a family business.” The business expanded under the next generation lead by Al and his brother and “best friend,” Don. By the ‘80s and ‘90s, a third generation of the Carbone family (children of Al and Don) had entered the business and it continued to grow to the current 14 dealerships in The Carbone Auto Group. In addition to the dealerships, they have added a number of other enterprises such as auto leasing and rental, realty, auto parts, auctions and a management company. As the business and legacy continues to grow, there will continue to be opportunities for the future generations of the Carbone family as well as others from the community, for years to come. Currently, The Carbone Auto Group employs hundreds of people at their dealerships in the Utica and Troy, NY area as well as in Bennington, VT. Beyond business, both Al and Don have been deeply involved in many charities over the years. In addition to being in the Marine Corps, Al’s brother Don, is especially well known throughout the Utica area for his community service. 1937 Graham Supercharged Convertible Coupe Since the Graham car franchise was the first that Joe Carbone accepted in 1933, it is emblematic of The Carbone Auto Group’s legacy. Al said that he has always wanted to own a Graham. That chance came about 20 years ago. While waiting in a Florida airport to fly home, he read in an antique car magazine that a 1937 Graham was for sale and happened to be close-by. Unfortunately, he was already on the plane and the door was closed or he would otherwise have changed his plans and stayed to see the car. He really didn’t want to leave because he was fairly certain that was going to be the car he was going to purchase. Once home, he quickly followed up with the seller and was able to purchase the car. His long “hunt” for a Graham was finally over. The car Al purchased was a 1937 Graham Supercharged Convertible Coupe, with an inline 6-cylinder. A supercharged engine was a very unique and innovative feature for a car of that era. During the ‘30s there were many different car manufacturers--more than exist today. To compete, many makers offered a greater choice of body styles, color combinations and special options, but Graham-Paige went for performance as a way to stand out from the competition. In Al’s 26 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE
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words, “the Graham cars were really among the forerunners to the current muscle cars of today.” The cars have very good acceleration and top-end speed, especially considering the age. Al has personally had his 1937 Graham north of 90 mph! The inline 6-cylinder engine in his Graham is a 217.8-cu in with 116 hp. In 1936, Britain’s respected car magazine The Autocar, tested a Graham Supercharged 6-cylinder and recorded a 0 to 60 mph in 14.5 seconds, which was impressive when compared to the competition at that time. The magazine went on to say the Graham has “thoroughly exceptional performance…”. In addition to performance, the Graham cars had above average gas mileage. They were the winners of the Gilmore Yosemite Mileage Run, an annual gas economy test, three years in a row. The 1936 Graham Supercharged 6-cylinder averaged 26.67 mpg--quite good for a car of that generation. The Graham was known for performance and economy…attributes that are no different for cars made today. The 1937 Graham is just one in Al’s beautiful collection of cars… and certainly one of his favorites.
History: Graham-Paige The Graham-Paige Motor Corporation was a car company founded by the three Graham brothers (Joseph, Robert and Ray). In 1927 they purchased The Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company, makers of Paige and Jewett automobiles. After the purchase, the first series of cars were known as Graham-Paige until 1930, after which cars were known as Graham only. (The corporate name of the company continued as Graham-Paige, however.) Automobile manufacturing continued until September of 1940, at which time it was suspended due to poor sales. The automotive assets were ultimately acquired by Kaiser-Frazer in 1947. Graham-Paige dropped the “Motors” from its corporate name and branched into the real estate business. The Graham-Paige Corporation continued to exist and do business until 1962.
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1604 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13502 (315) 735-0131
7/10/2016 10:34:01 PM
DIRT TRACKIN’ // DRIVER STORY
DIRT TRACK
YOUNG GUN photography Thomas Sblendorio words Bob Sblendorio
With over 200 go-kart victories and countless championships, Charlie Tibbitts is a driver’s name to remember! Charlie is only 12 years old and already has had an incredible racing career, and he is just getting started. He has moved up this season, this time to the 602 Sportsman Division. Recently I had the pleasure of talking with Charlie and his proud parents, Chuck Tibbitts and Kim Scheri.
powered by engines that put out 20 hp. His mom, Kim, said the go-karts were “a little scary at times” because of the speeds and the limited protection around the drivers. She described a very scary crash on an asphalt track in Ballston Spa that happened when the wheels from another go-kart touched Charlie’s. The result was that his go-kart f lipped over many times, but fortunately he was not injured.
It all started when Charlie was just five years old and his dad, who had owned a race car for a while, asked his son if he wanted to race go-karts and his response was “I guess so...”. Charlie explained that his first year racing was “not too good” and he only won a few races. As the years went on, however, he started to win races at many different tracks throughout New York State. His dad, Chuck, pointed out that Charlie also won many “big” races like the King-of-Karting Series and the NY Dirt Kart Series. In addition, he won the Northeast National at the Turkey Trot Speedway in Fort Edward, NY for three years in a row. Charlie raced go-karts until he was ten, winning a lot of races and championships at many different tracks, adding that once he won $300 for a race and purchased a trampoline with the winnings.
When Charlie turned 11, he moved up to the Xcel 600cc Modified series. The Xcel Modifieds are a scaled down version of a full-sized DIRT Modified car. The cars are powered by a 600cc, 4-stroke motorcycle engine that puts out 110 hp. The cars weigh 900 lbs. He raced at the I-88 Speedway in Afton, NY and at the Thunder Mountain Speedway in Lisle, NY. His dad pointed out that, “He didn’t race for points last year, but just to gain the experience and skills necessary to move up because his ultimate goal is to race in the Modified [big-block] Division someday.”
The go-karts were fast, reaching top speeds of 60 mph,
This year, at 12 years old and in 6th grade, Charlie is racing a 400 horsepower 602 Sportsman car at the Utica-Rome Speedway. With only minimal experience driving the car (in a field near the shop), Charlie’s first chance to really drive was opening night at the speedway. Kim explained that he was very nervous that night,
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which made her very nervous too; “I wasn’t used to seeing him so nervous because normally he is just so confident driving.” By the second week at the track, he was much more focused and less nervous. She also explained that in some ways, even though the car is much more powerful and much faster, it has safety features that didn’t exist in the go-kart series--such as a complete roll cage, the use of a HANS device (head restraint), and other safety features. Charlie attends a school very close to the Utica-Rome Speedway. He recently told some friends that he would be racing at the Speedway and now his friends want to come watch and cheer him on. In addition to racing, he is an accomplished wrestler, competing in wrestling competitions throughout the Northeast. Just to name a few, Charlie is a two-time NYWAY State Champion, a NUWAY National Champion, a two-time Ohio Tournament of Champions place winner, an eight-time AllAmerican and a four-time All-State. He also mentioned that he would like to play modified football at school in the future. Chuck explained that, for the most part, Charlie will be racing this season at the Utica-Rome Speedway in the 602 Sportsman Division. The 602 Sportsman has a standard GM crate
motor, which per the rules for that division, cannot be modified. The purpose of utilizing a crate motor is to keep the overall cost of the car down...at least somewhat. A crate motor costs $4,000, which is much less than the motors used in the Open Sportsman Division. Even with that, it is very expensive to assemble AT 12 YEARS OLD AND and fully prepare a car for the race track, HAVING JUST COMPLETED requiring sponsors to 6TH GRADE, CHARLIE IS help defray some of the cost. Chuck also went RACING A 400 HORSEPOWER on to say that the 602 602 SPORTSMAN CAR AT THE Sportsman is becoming very popular. The UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY Utica-Rome Speedway has several cars in that division, which makes for some exciting racing. So what does it take to put a race car and race team together? Chuck explained that it requires many talented and highly skilled people that volunteer countless hours to make everything happen. The team includes Mike Walton, Mason Olmstead, Brett Rounsville, Chris Tibbitts and others. There is also the financial APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 31
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aspect of running a race team. The cost of building Charlie’s car was about $60,000 and there are about 18 sponsors that help with the cost. Primary sponsors are Fastline Performance, Extreme Speed and Performance, and Land Designs Custom Graphics. If you would like to check out all the sponsors and follow the team activities, go to Charles Tibbitts Racing on Facebook.
Folks in the CNY area are very fortunate to have several race tracks available within a relatively short drive. The drivers and teams compete every week in a display of some amazing talent and skill. If you would like to see Charlie at the Utica-Rome Speedway (in Vernon, NY), racing is every Sunday evening.
KEEP UP
Follow Charlie Tibbitts on Facebook FACEBOOK.COM/CHARLES.TIBBITTS See race schedules and results at UTICAROMESPEEDWAY.COM
1/2 MILE SHORT TRACK: Plan drawing of the storied Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York where Charlie Tibbitts runs his 602 sportsman.
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MOTORCYCLE RACING // FLAT TRACK
THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF FLAT TRACK
In 1932, the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) sanctioned a class called the Class A Dirt Track Championship. Class A meant that motorcycle manufacturers could build prototype bikes and race them against each other for a championship. During the depression, Class A motorcycles were replaced by Class C bikes that were streetlegal. This allowed manufacturers to stay in the sport with a more affordable racing budget. In the early championships, Harley-Davidson and Indian became intense rivals, creating some great battles on the track as well as in the showrooms. In the late 40’s and early 50’s, the Championship was based solely on one event held in Illinois at the famous Springfield mile. Later in the 50’s, the Championship became more interesting with riders competing in four types of motorcycle racing. Teams were required to prepare motorcycles for their riders that would be cooperative on the ultra fast mile tracks, half mile short tracks, and the always fun to watch, TT courses (Tourist Trophy, which is a course that has left and right turns and small jumps) . The monkey wrench in the Championship was the Road Racing part of the season. Harley’s Joe Leonard won the first ever AMA Grand National Championship . In the 60’s, British motorcycle manufacturers entered the sport looking for exposure to help sell bikes at their dealers. BSA won the first ever championship in 1963, with Triumph getting some props, as well with Gary Nixon winning two in a row (in 1967 and 1968), and the Gene Romero again in 1970. The AMA built a great sport for fans and riders alike, with the help of corporate sponsors, and TV coverage providing fans with a glimpse of this fast, dangerous, and exciting sport. By 1983, Grand National Dirt Track had become the most attended form of dirt track racing in the United States. Unfortunately, within a few years, it became tough for the Grand National Series to
find a series sponsor which slowed the growth of the sport severely. For instance, nowadays, northeast motorcycle fans only have one chance to see live flat track racing in Hagerstown, MD. Recently, flat track racing has enjoyed a revival with the emergence of fanschoicetv.com and the X-Games. Flat track motorcycle racing premiered at the X games in 2015 and again this June, putting the sport in front of an entirely new group of fans. With this kind of exposure, the younger generation can now enjoy this great sport that has been around for a long time. While all of this was happening with motorcycle racing, eight guys and their wives gathered at Saxon’s Restaurant on Front Street in Binghamton, NY to start the 79-year-old Square Deal Riders Motorcycle Club (SDR). Back in 1937 when you entered the city of Binghamton, you would pass a sign that said “Home of The Square Deal.” The founding members did not want to start up a “biker” club; they wanted a family-friendly club for the betterment of motorcycling. For many years the members would road ride as a group; later came running of endures/scrambles. When SDR joined the AMA, their charter membership was 809--a very low number compared to today’s members of the AMA. In 1962, the club purchased a piece of property in Port Crane, NY, that became what is now the home of SDR. Soon after the group closed on the property, they began construction on a beautiful TT course which would host events for many years. In the early 80’s the AMA approached the club about holding the AMA Amateur Nationals at their track. At that time, the Amateur Nationals consisted of three phases of Flat Track with the overall point leader becoming the
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photography John Zachary words John Zachary
OPPOSITE Steve Bromley of Trevose, PA on his No 1 Suzuki ABOVE LEFT Future National rider Tyler Scott ABOVE RIGHT 80 year old Mel Brown on the inside his son Former National #50 on the outside
Amateur National Champion. Afton Fairgrounds held the half-mile event for the Championship, with SDR running the TT portion of Championship. The final race of the series was held again at Afton on their quarter-mile track. With the ever-growing popularity of Grand National Motorcycle racing, the club decided to take out their TT track and build a quartermile pea gravel oval. This was definitely the right move to make at the time! They built a jewel of a track that still produces some of the best racing in the country week-after-week. Forty-five National Riders have competed at SDR and a lot of them cut their teeth on the quarter gravel track. Grand National Champions such as Jay Springsteen, Chris Carr, Jake Johnson, Jared Mees, Kenny Coolbeth and Nicky Haden have participated at Square Deal Riders in their careers. It is crazy how many household names in motorcycle racing have graced the small town track in Upstate NY. Not only have National Champions raced at SDR, but SDR has produced a great many of the national riders in the past, as well as the present: #51 - Craig Estelle, #64 - Aaron Creamer, #85 - George Richtmeyer, Jr., #1 - Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., #99 - Tom McCrane, #61 Shawn Clark, #13 - Jake Consantine, and #20 - Matt Weidman. Those are just some of the national numbers that have cut their teeth at SDR. SDR holds one round of the AMA Vintage Nationals each year as well, which has had nine-time Grand National Champion #1 - Scotty Parker, Jay Springsteen, Bubba Shobert and National Champion Mert Lawwil on hand for autographs and a few laps around the track for the fans.
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What I’d like to emphasize is that this place breeds champions as well as life-long Motorcycle Flat Track fans. As a young boy, I watched Flat Track racing on TV and lived at local dirt tracks in the area. Each year the AMA Championship would invade upstate NY for three or four races. My father and I would try and hit all of the races from the Syracuse Mile to the short track event at Weedsport Speedway. These guys were my boyhood heroes. I loved everything about the sport-the close racing, the danger, and the life of these modern day “Dare Devils.” The movie, “On Any Sunday,” is what made me a lifetime motorcycle lover and race fan. Whenever I rode my bicycle or dirt bike around the yard, I was pretending that some day I would be a pro rider of some kind. In 2010, I had the WHAT I AM SAYING IS pleasure of being asked to attend a race at SDR THAT THIS PLACE BREEDS by club member and Flat CHAMPIONS, AND LIFETrack race promoter for the club, Mike Williams. LONG MOTORCYCLE FLAT I talked to Mike while TRACK FANS. AS A YOUNG covering an indoor ice race in Binghamton, NY. BOY, I LOVED WATCHING Mike told me about this FLAT TRACK RACING ON TV, track that still raced flat track motorcycles during AND LIVE AT LOCAL DIRT the summer months so TRACKS IN THE AREA the next spring, I made my way down to their first race of the season. I remember pulling into the track thinking, wow, this place is how I remember flat track racing from my childhood. SDR is nestled in the woods like a well-kept secret.
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Like I said, it is how I remembered the flat tracks in my younger days. Club members were selling tickets to you from your car, guiding you to a nice parking spot behind the awesome club house. Vans and trucks were in the pit area with beautiful bikes on stands behind them, ready for action. As far as I’m concerned, this place is how all tracks should be. The smell of BBQ chicken is in the air, along with the hint of race fuel to get your juices flowing. As you walk through the pits, you will see riders as young as six years old, all the way up to YOU CAN SEE THE SAME guys in their 70’s and with a steel shoe DETERMINATION IN A 80’s, clunking from their FOUR-YEAR OLD RIDER, ALL left foot. (A steel boot a piece of steel that THE WAY UP TO THE SENIOR has the rider straps to his RIDERS IN THE FIELD. THIS left boot, which allows SPORT IS BRINGING THE KID his boot to slide across the track surface when OUT IN EVERYONE. going through the corners.) Soon after the riders’ meeting, the air fills with the sounds of small bikes for youth practice. After the future stars run their heat races, the “Big Bikes” take the stage for their practice runs. I still get goose bumps every time the riders come onto the track from the pits in turn one.
These guys and gals fly around this well-groomed pea gravel track. There is no way to accurately describe the excitement of Flat Track Racing; you have to be there in person. Spud Williams, a SDR member and an all-around great guy, told me that the nonstop excitement for fans, both young and old, throughout the event keeps fans coming back year-after-year. Spud said that you can see the same determination in a four-year old rider, all the way up to the senior riders in the field. This sport is bringing the kid out in everyone. Each race the SDR club members do a fantastic job with track prep, making for great close racing in all classes. Most race nights they have close to 200 entries or more in the pits. Along with motorcycles, SDR is a premier place for quad racers to run as well. Square Deal Riders is one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in America. SDR is home for the longest running off-road series in the country, with their mud and snow scrambles each winter. Furthermore, SDR is a non-profit organization and their members are very active in the local community, supporting school functions, scholarships and helping the Colesville Fire-department purchase an ambulance. SDR has helped raise over $3,000 per year for breast cancer with their “Scooters For Hooters” race. They donate this money to a local organization named Tracie’s Hope. Gina Livingston, or “Calamity Gina,” a long-time member of SDR, has her own radio show about flat track racing on the east coast. Gina spends a lot of her summer traveling the east coast attending national and local flat track events. You can check out Calamity Gina’s show every week at www.bikerradiostation.com.
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OPPOSITE 2006, 2007, and 2008 AMA Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth Jr TOP RIGHT Scott Parker, holds all-time record Grand National Dirt Track Championship of 94 race wins. MIDDLE RIGHT GNC2 Racer Dalton Gauthier BOTTOM RIGHT Corey Texter, half of the first ever brother and sister duo.
SDR has become a summer home for me. I attend the races, shoot pictures and write blog posts about the racing that goes on at this incredible club. It is great to watch how this AMA “Club of The Year” is able to continue putting on good races each year while also raising money for charity and providing future racers a family-friendly place to race. Every year the club makes improvements to their facility, from replacing the front stretch wall, to a new transponder scoring system. They just seem to continue to do it right, year-after-year. As a fan, you will love the racing, food and fellowship with other fans, but what happens behind the scenes is a full-time job to the club members. They spend countless hours at the facility preparing the place for their next event. If you like racing, motorcycles or are just looking for something to do on a Saturday night, please make a trip to Square Deal Riders. I highly recommend it! You will see that there is still a place where you and your family can enjoy a night of awesome racing close to home. Admission is only $10 per person ($5 if you are on a motorcycle), and kids 12 and under are free. Visit their web site at www.squaredealriders.com for the full Flat Track schedule. Where else so close to home can you see national riders compete for a ticket price of $10 or less? You can walk through the pit area and see your heroes up close. Furthermore, unlike some other forms of motorsports, at SDR you can walk right up to the riders and have a conversation with them.
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RACE LIFE // BECOMING A DRIVER
SO YOU WANT TO BE A RACECAR DRIVER?
It was May 6th, the Friday before my first race. My father and I worked into the night buttoning up small details--body supports, the last few dzus holes, and finally installing the under tray. Around midnight, we went through a full dress rehearsal. I was in the car, complete with all the safety gear, we double-checked the belts and neck support, and oriented my makeshift crew with the pre-race routine. I worked on climbing in and practiced getting out in a hurry a few times. It was by no means smooth at first, but after some repetition, I began to get more comfortable getting into the cockpit and, more importantly, getting out. I would have thought it would be impossible for me to sleep that night, but I recall that I was I WOUND IT DOWN so physically and shot, I was THE RAMP, RIPPED THE emotionally asleep in no time. I spent most of the SHIFTER BACK, AND WAS morning organizing INSTANTLY REWARDED WITH tools that we would A VISCERAL KICK IN THE need to bring as well as PANTS. I WAS LIKE A KID IN making sure we were well-prepared for the THE CANDY STORE. night. I gathered hand tools, drills, specialty tools, impact tools, jacks, the generator, the compressor and the list goes on. I tried to keep as busy as I could to keep the nerves from setting in, but it was inevitable. When I saw the trailer backing down the driveway, I think it finally hit me that this was actually happening. With rain in the forecast, the program at Fulton would be moving far faster than a typical Saturday night. In what seemed like no time at all I was in the pits warming up the car and getting strapped in. I scrambled to get my radio put in properly, and had only heard garbled
radio transmissions that hot laps were underway. The good news was that the car actually rolled when we put it in gear and I didn’t stall it once. The bad news was that as soon as we got the car heading to the staging lane, the track was getting prepped and hot laps were over with. It was official: my first laps in the car would be in a heat race. Things happened so fast it seemed like I was climbing back in for the heat race just as soon as I had climbed out. The next attempt at strapping in went much better, though I was still having issues with less than stellar earbuds on my radio. With literally zero practical experience on the track, I knew I needed to hear the tower clear for instruction, and I was freaking out a little that I was having trouble with just that. As task-saturated as I was, it was incredibly comforting to have familiar faces and voices helping me get ready to go out there. I flipped the helmet blower on, double-checked that the alternator was on, and quickly scanned the gauges. It was a huge relief as soon as the car started rolling in low gear since, to this point, we really had no idea if it would shift or not. As I made my way down pit lane, I saw the car of an old friend pull ahead of me, and took some comfort knowing that I was not the only one making their first start that night. I had last seen Pat LaPage maybe 17 years ago when we raced R/C cars at the local hobby shop. Turns out he decided he had been putting this racing thing off a bit too long as well, and put a car together in cooperation with 911 Restoration. Though we did not run together in heat one, I would run with him in the feature later in the evening. I watched the cars ahead of me slowly make their way to the ramp and I followed suit. I wound it down the ramp, ripped the shifter back, and was instantly rewarded with a visceral kick in the pants. A quick enthusiastic foot full of throttle later, I was catching up with the pack and bunching up to let it rip. I was like a kid cut loose in a candy store. I was barely back to planet earth when I heard the tower say we were
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photography John Zachary words Bill Sauve
going green. My first laps were tentative, trying to feel out the bottom, middle, and a small taste of the topside of the track. I started to build comfort, and almost every lap I could drive the car in longer, and get back in the throttle sooner. A wave of relief washed over me as I pulled off the track, having run my first session keeping full command of the racecar, and not tearing anything up. Before I climbed out, I checked vitals, and the car never broke 190 degrees. The car had passed its first mechanical test, and I was loving every second of it. The rain just kept moving in on the radar and Fulton responded with what I can best describe as the most efficient show I had ever seen. I had not made the redraw position so I would fall into the back of the field for the feature. What I had expected to be a field of maybe 6-8 cars of rookie drivers wound up being a solid 15 car event. I tailed Pats #34 machine for the early laps and eventually carried enough corner speed to make a pass. My excitement was short lived, however, as the lead pack had made its way around and was ripping back through to lap us both. I did what I have always been taught to do in heavy traffic - held my line. I was passed cleanly by two cars, but as a third came up on me he took a gamble to the outside and wound up coming back down on me pretty good. The hit upset the car and sheared half the beadlock bolts off the right rear tire (Insta-Flat). With about 5 laps to go, I didn’t realize the tire was flat; my inexperience led me to believe I had overheated the tire or the track had gone away that fast. The car was a mess on three tires and I faded fast, coughing up at least two positions in the last corner. When I pulled it back into the pits, I was a bit confused when I was told the tire was flat, but a quick survey of the damage and it was fairly obvious why the car was behaving the way it was. In total, the damage done to the car was about $5, a handful of bolts and some spray paint. I had managed to cut nearly a full second from my lap time from the first time I strapped into the car in the heat to the feature, with just over
a second separating my times from the lead drivers at the end of the night. I joined the rest of my crew at the fence to watch the big block race, beyond happy. I had gone from literally sitting in the cheap seats in turn one, seven months ago, to finishing my first race on the track. To see the look on my father’s face after the race was priceless. He had put in so much wrench time with me and it was all paying off. Laura, Ian, Adrienne, Quentin, Melinda, Jay, Chris - you guys were great to have around the pits and I really appreciated all the help! I would also like to thank all of my sponsors for their ongoing support - Apex Auto Magazine, Atomic Wraps, Amsoil, C&B Automotive, Detective Coating, Eco Electrical Contractors, S&G Motors, Veteran Construction and Syracuse Auto Finishers! I’m looking forward to the rest of the season!
APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 39
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2016 MOTORSPORT EXPO. //
EVENTS
THE MOTORSPORTS EXPO IS ALWAYS THE FIRST SIGN THAT SPRING IS ON ITS WAY. Fans support this show in droves each year. We get to see firsthand the beautiful creations before they hit the track. This year was a little different, as we didn’t attend just as race fans, but as a vendor. We spent the weekend handing out copies of magazines. After all, we do cover quite a bit of Central New York’s racing action. All forms of motorsports were being represented at this year’s show. From gokarts to 3000hp Pro Mod drag cars. Sprint cars seemed to be the most popular form of cars on the floor of the Center of Progress building. We also noticed more Late Models on hand this year as well. We love seeing these two classes becoming more popular in NY State. Most of the Big Block Modifieds were participating in an event out of state, but that did not take away from the quality
of show by any means. During the show this year, they had a special “The History of the Moody Mile” presentation. Show goers could attend this presentation on both Saturday and Sunday. Last October was the final race on the famed mile track at the fairgrounds. This was a
great way of closing the chapter and recapping all the history on that track. We met a lot of nice people that told us they love reading APEX and were able to introduce the magazine to several who hadn’t come across it before. Overall, it was a great show as usual. Until next year race fans! APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 41
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SYRACUSE MOTORAMA //
EVENTS
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SYRACUSE MOTORAMA SHOW NOT JUST AS SPECTATORS, BUT ALSO AS A VENDOR. For those that don’t know, or perhaps have forgotten, this is the largest indoor special interest vehicle show in central New York. It is held every year in the Center of Progress building at the New York State fairgrounds in the city of Syracuse. While it’s an indoor show that typically kicks off the early part of the car show season, some late season snow did hamper the turnout a bit on Sunday. Overall the turnout through the weekend was good though and we were happy to talk to our loyal readers and introduce ourselves to some new ones. It’s always nice to hear everyone’s car stories and get their opinion on the magazine’s progression since we started. If you haven’t been to this show, we recommend putting it on your calendar for next year. It’s inexpensive to attend, is nearby, and it’s a perfect excuse to get out of the house after a long and depressing winter season to check out some cars. 42 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE
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PEPBOYS CARS AND COFFEE //
CAR SHOWS
THE FIRST CARS AND COFFEE MEETUP TURNS OUT TO BE THE BEST TO DATE. April 16th marked one of the best car show turnouts to date at Pepboy’s in New Hartford with well over 140 cars in attendance. That’s more than 30 cars than last years record with cars overflowing into neighboring parking lots not leaving much room for customers. There was a nice mix of Euro, Tuner and Muscle with everything from big block Chevelles and Challengers, to heavily modified tuner cars such as WRX STi’s and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions. One of my favorite cars at this show had to be the white Bricklin pictured to the very right. Briklin’s where not produced for very long and it was definitely a rare pleasure to see one in person. This example was a driver but was in decent overall condition and really fun to checkout. Another pretty special ride to make it to the show was a F335 Spider, it’s not everyday
you see a Ferrari in New Hartford, NY. The car was pretty well surrounded and for good reason, it was gorgeous in its Ferrari red and tan interior color scheme. Cars and Coffee at Pepboys in New Hartford is always a great way to kick off car show season and this years show didn’t let us down! APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 43
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SUNY MORRISVILLE CRUISE-IN //
CAR SHOWS
THE MORRISVILLE STATE COLLEGE AUTOMOTIVE CLUB HELD YET ANOTHER FANTASTIC CRUISE-IN THIS SUMMER THAT ENDED UP WITH AROUND 180 CARS SHOWING UP. If you haven’t checked out their Automotive program and you love cars you really should take a visit. We were really impressed with the size of the facility and the high-end tools and diagnostic equipment the students learn to work with at the school. They even had a dyno room setup with a crown Vic that anyone could do a full throttle pull in for one dollar and test there reaction time. We really enjoyed the diversity of cars and bikes that showed up this year. Lots of
imports and domestics along with custom street rods and race cars where in attendance. We setup a booth and handed out over 150 magazines. We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of people there that either already were subscribers or signed up to receive Apex at home. Always nice to feel the love! APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE // 45
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CANTECH CARS & COFFEE //
CAR SHOWS
CANTECH STARTS THE SUMMER OFF RIGHT WITH YET ANOTHER HUGE TURNOUT FOR ITS BELOVED CARS AND COFFEE. Over 250 cars were in attendance at this show, and the numbers continue to grow with every event. The show is becoming widely well known for wild exotics that typically show up. Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Porsche’s, you name it and it’s usually at these awesome events. Coffee and donuts are always on hand along with plenty of Cantech Automotive merchandise to purchase. Cantech is an awesome shop and we featured them in our last issue and if you are into serious automotive performance you should most definitely take a trip out to visit this Syracuse based shop. Many people are just blown away at the fact that many of these cars even exist in our area. Looking forward to the next show!
46 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE
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VEHICLES FOR VISION INVITATIONAL //
CAR SHOWS
A SUCCESSFUL FIRST VEHICLES FOR VISION WITH C.A.B. FOUNDATION Sunday, June 12, the C.A.B. Foundation invited the public to the first ever Vehicles for Vision Invitational Car Show presented by Tallman’s Tire and Auto Repair at the Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford. “The vehicles in the show are the best of the best,” explained Barton Rasmus, event chair and member of both the C.A.B. Foundation and CABVI boards of directors. “The automobiles showcased are all award winning pieces. We are honored that their owners are willing to share this experience with us.” The show offered 25 cars in three vehicle categories: pre-war, post-war, and modified. Vehicles shown included a 1910 PopeHartford Model “T”, a 1908 International Harvester Original Autobuggy, an Auburn Boattail Speedster, and a 1972 American
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Motors Javelin AMX 2 door. A fundraising dinner event, with live auction, was held after the car show with proceeds from the event supporting programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired through the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI). CABVI is a not-for-profit agency that serves people who are blind or visually impaired, from newborns to the elderly, generally free of charge. The staff of professionals offers comprehensive vision rehabilitation, employment, and technology services personally tailored to meet an individual’s needs. “Since 1986, Vehicles for Vision has raised money, primarily from donated autos, trucks, boats and real estate, to support the vision rehabilitation programs of
CABVI,” said Hon. Michael Misiaszek, Chair of the C.A.B. Foundation Board of Directors, the governing of Vehicles for Vision and its sister program, Valuables for Vision. “We hope to gain more exposure for the good work of CABVI while, at the same time, promoting Vehicles and Valuables for Vision.”
7/10/2016 10:35:55 PM
CNY EVENT SCHEDULE //
ALL EVENTS LISTED ARE IN NY STATE.
Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event l Trade Show/Vendors l Swap Meet
Date
Event Name
Venue
City
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July 2
Bayside Cruisers Car Show
S. Lake St.
Fair Haven
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July 9
CNY SCCA Solo
Cayuga Community College
Fulton
July 9
BMW Vintage At Saratoga
Saratoga Auto Museum
Saratoga Springs l
July 9-10
Z Car Club of Rochester Motorfest
Damascus Shrine Center
Webster
l
July 10
Triple Cities Street Rods Cars In The Park
Hickories Park
Owego
l
July 10
CNY American Truck Historical Society Truck Show
Longbranch Park
Syracuse
l
July 10
CNY SCCA RallyCross CNYRPM Inaugeration
Central New York Raceway Park
Central Square
July 15-17
2016 Syracuse Nationals
NYS Fairgrounds
Syracuse
l
July 16
Pep Boys Cruise-In
Pep Boys Auto Parts
New Hartford
l
July 16
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
July 16-17
Malone Auto club’s International Auto Show
Malone Rec Park
Malone
July 17
Cars and Coffee
Bul Auto Sales & Service
Albany
l
July 22-24
Trucks Gone Wild
Maximum Power Park
Poland
l
July 23
Cars in the Vines @ Goose Watch Winery
Goose Watch Winery
Romulus
July 23
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
July 23
4th Annual Car Show & Picnic
Former Collins Center School Grounds
Collins Center
July 24
CNY SCCA Solo (Enduro)
Cherry Valley Motorsports Park
Lafayette
l
July 24
CNY MazdaMeet 2016
Seneca Lake State Park
Geneva
l
July 30
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
l
July 30
Pistons and Pigs, A European Cars Show & Pig Roast Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum Canandaigua
l
July 30
NYS Veterans’ Home Car Show
NYS Vetrans’ Home
Oxford
l
July 31
Vettes at the Beach
Sylvan Beach
Sylvan Beach
l
July 31
Seaway Festival Car Show
International Bridge
Ogdensburg
l
August 4-7
Cheez-It™ 355 at The Glen
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen
August 6
Hemmings Sports & Exotics Car Show
Saratoga Auto Museum
Saratoga Springs l
August 6
Rumble at the Niagara Car and Bike Show
Gratwick Waterfront Park
North Tonawanda l
August 6
Lizard Charity Car Show
Lebanon Resevoir Campground
Hamilton
August 6
CRUISE NITE 2016
Angelo Canna Town Park
Cairo
August 6
Tom Bronson Memorial Car Show
Remsen Town Park
Remsen
August 6
Fox Dealerships Custom Car Show
Fox Toyota Scion Subaru
Auburn
August 6
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
August 6
Longley Bros Dodge Annual Car Show
Longley Bros Dodge
Fulton
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August 6
Lookin’ Back Car Show & BBQ
Sidney Elks Lodge
Sidney
l
August 6
Carz-N-Coffee
Marcy Field
Keene
August 6
Brennan Beach Resort Car Show
Brennan Beach Resort
Pulaski
l
August 6
Checkered Flag Auto Center Car Show
36793 State Route 37
Theresa
l
August 6-7
Spiedie Fest Antique Car & Truck Show
Otsiningo Park
Binghamton
l
August 7
Ticonderoga Area Car Show
Ticonderoga NY Bicentennial Park
Ticonderoga
l
August 7
Richfield Springs Lion Car Show
Spring Park
Richfield Springs
l
August 7
Tappet-Twirlers ROCKIN’ IN THE PARK
Lee Town Park
Rome
l
August 7
CNY SCCA Solo (FLR Solo #6 (CNY OOR)
Monroe Community College
Rochester
August 13
Jaguar Car Show
Saratoga Auto Museum
Saratoga Springs l
August 13
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
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LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND? Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event l Trade Show/Vendors l Swap Meet
Date
Event Name
Venue
City
l
August 13
History On Wheels Car Show
Downtown Auburn
Auburn
l
August 13
Wings & Wheels
Masonic Care Community
Utica
l
August 14
Tuners In The Park 2
Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Springs l
August 14
Salt City VW show
Oneida Shores
Brewerton
l
August 19-21
Rats Nest Run-In Rockabilly Rendezvous Car Show
Blackthorne Resort
East Durham
l
August 20
Street Scene
Long Branch Park
Syracuse
l
August 20
Pep Boys Cruise-In
Pep Boys Auto Parts
New Hartford
l
August 20
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
August 20
Elbridge Fire Company First Annual Car Show
Elbridge Fire Station
Elbridge
l
August 21
7 Valley Street Rods
Cortlandville Citizens Park
Cortland
l
August 21
AMC Fest 2016
Onieda Shores County Park
Brewerton
l
August 21
Tioga Region AACA Car Show
Hickories Park
Owego
l
August 21
CNY SCCA Solo
Cayuga Community College
Fulton
August 27
ADK Shelby-Mustang Club Dealer Day Car Show
Metro Ford
Schenectady
August 27
NECC Motorsports High Performance Driving Day
New York Safety Track
Jefferson
August 27
Hot August Days ADK Show & Shine Car Show
1 Cunningham Ln
Wilmington
August 27
Field of Dreams Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show
Chemung County fair Grounds
Horseheads
August 27
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
l
August 27
CNY SCCA Solo
Cayuga Community College
Fulton
l
August 28
CNY SCCA RallyCross Summer at the Wheels #1
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Elbridge
l
August 28
South Butler Nostalgia Drags & Cruise-In
South Butler Nostalgic Dragway
Savannah
l
September 3
Wegmans Liverpool Cars & Coffee
Wegmans
Liverpool
September 4
Fillmore Auto Club Show
Fillmore Glen State Park
Moravia
l
September 9-11
Adirondack Vettefest
Ramada Inn
Glens Falls
l
September 9-11
Adirondack Nationals
Fort William Henry Resort
Lake George
l
September 9-11
U.S. Vintage Grand Prix
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen
September 9-11
Old Time Gas Engines, Tractor, and Truck Show
Rt. 26
Constableville
September 10
Saratoga Wine, Food & Concours d’Elegance
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Springs l
September 11
CNY SCCA RallyCross Summer at the Wheels #2
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Elbridge
September 11
Mohican Model A Ford Club Antique Car Show
Wampsville Fireman’s field
Wampsville
l
September 17
Cruisin At The Downs
Tioga Downs Casino
Nichols
l
September 17-18 Vintage & Classic Street Meet
Village of Clayton
Clayton
l
September 23-25 Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance
Saratoga Auto Museum
Saratoga Springs l
September 24-25 Dover Drag Strip Nostalgia Drags & Car Show
Lebanon Valley Dragway
New Lebanon
September 24
Cruisin At The Downs
Tioga Downs Casino
Nichols
l
September 24
Eastern Grass drag Nationals/Eastern MRA Nationals Excell Raceway Park
Bouckville
l
September 25
Time Tunnel Rod & Custom Show
Lebanon Valley Dragway
New Lebanon
September 25
South Butler Nostalgia Drags & Cruise-In
South Butler Nostalgic Dragway
Savannah
October 1
Herkimer College Annual Car Show
Herkimer College
Herkimer
l
October 8
Fall Car Show @ the Windmill
The Windmill Farm & Craft Market
Penn Yan
l
October 15
CNY SCCA RallyCross 24 Hour NEDIV Double Header
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Elbridge
November 4-6
The Albany Auto Show
Times Union Center
Albany
December 11
CNY SCCA RallyCross Holiday’s at the Farm
Walczyks Farm
Weedsport
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SPONSORED TECH HOW-TO // DETAIL JOHHNY
Do it yourself Clay Bar Cleanup
photography & words John Cannizzaro
PRODUCTS NEEDED Mild clay bar (Meguairs Professional Clay (blue)) Quick Detail Spray (Meguiars Final Inspection diluted to 50/50, NanoSkin Glide) Iron Removing Cleaner (Optimum Ferrex or Carpro Iron-x) Microfiber mitt Bucket with Grit guard High quality shampoo (Meguairs Shampoo Plus, Griots garage car wash) Microfiber waffle weave drying towels
PREPARING YOUR PAINT FOR A FLAWLESS MULTI-STEP PAINT CORRECTION If you’ve never used a clay bar to remove contaminants on your car’s paint, now is the time to start. This is actually such an easy and painless way to get rid of minor scuffs, bird droppings, tree sap, etc. Just about anything that is sitting ON TOP of your paint surface that won’t come out with regular cleaning. First step, rinse your car down and work in a cool out of the sun area. Start at the stop spraying with Iron X Cleaner, waiting 3-5 minutes for the color to change to a purplish color. I suggest doing one panel at a time. After you decontaminate the entire vehicle from iron particles, follow-up with a high quality soap to wash your vehicle, starting at the top and working your way down. Take your time and make a mental note of any issues you see. Rinse the vehicle well a couple times to make sure all the residue has been removed. Now you are ready to clay the paint. Open your package of clay, tear off about a quarter of the block and kneed it into a ball. Pick a panel and start from the top down. Using your quick detail spray, mist the clay ball and panel and start work-
ing from left to right, taking your time and working the paint. No need to rush, or put any crazy pressure on the clay. Let the clay do the work. Keep the area wet with detailer and kneed the clay from time-to-time. Look for any area that needs additional attention. I recommend taking the time to tape up areas such as door handles, trim, etc. This is a simple step that can make things a lot easier and efficient. After you clayed your entire vehicle, start with a clean bucket of soapy water and wash your vehicle completely. This will remove any remaining detail spray, dust or debris. Rinse from the top of the vehicle and
BEFORE
IF THE CLAY FALLS ON THE GROUND, TOSS IT. DO NOT USE. YOU CAN AND WILL SCRATCH THE SURFACE WITH ANYTHING THAT HAS EMBEDDED INTO THE CLAY. let the water rinse down. Grab a few waffle weave drying towels and dry the surface off. If you have a leaf blower, vacuum with an exhaust, blow off the vehicle and pay attention to the molding, jams and area that water collects. If using an air compressor, make sure the nozzle has a plastic/rubber tip so that you don’t accidentally scratch anything. DO NOT use high pressure. A nice gentle stream of air with a drying towel is all you need.
AFTER
50 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGA ZINE
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