Driven World Feb/Mar 2024

drivenworld

FROM THE EDITOR

I just spoke with a friend who many years ago was flat broke. Now, he is doing very well. I always enjoy conversations with him because he is always so positive and upbeat. We were talking and he said something to the effect that he always does things 100%. Not 80% or 90% but 100%. He said that when he goes to bed at night that he sleeps well knowing that he did his very best. Otherwise, he says, he could not sleep at night. I like that. He is a really cool guy.

In talking with him and other people I find inspiration. I find it to be contagious. People like him are magnets that pull you towards them with their positive energy and their “get it done” attitude. I would like to believe that I have some of that in me as well, but at times I know that I do not go 100%. I have in the past, but it got me thinking, am I doing that now?

Our conversation was about cars and life and talking about people who create things. Craftsman, builders, artists. He was talking about how for him, it is about the journey. The journey that led him to his first supercar and then his second. It was not about the price or actually having it, but his journey to get to a place where he could buy them and enjoy them, for him. He did it, he really did. Two of the most desirable supercars in his garage. Well done sir.

100%. I wonder, do we all live at 100% and what exactly does it mean. I remember one day when I was cycling with a friend, we were racing each other up a section of Mulholland Hwy, we were going so damn hard racing to the top of a hill. Neither of us would back off. I beat him over the top and then almost passed out! It was the hardest I had ever gone in a sprint. I remember it well. I am proud of that moment, but in retrospect, I wonder if that is the hardest I have ever gone. I have dropped in on big waves, and passed on others, but, did I drop in the biggest waves I could have. I know there were times where I thought I was going to possibly drown if a huge wave broke on me, and yes, I have kissed the sand after getting out of the water during a huge swell so happy to be alive. And yes, you do feel alive.

There is something about being all in. 100%. When you just can’t stop what you are doing. For me it was always sporting activities. I remember surfing at one of the islands off of Tahiti. I was surfing out at the reef which was about 400 yards out. A long way out. If you had to paddle to the reef it would be about 45 minutes. I would pay a local guy to give me a ride on his boat and then have him pick me up 5 hours later. I was surfing with this british guy when he saw a 15 ft shark and then paddle to his sailboat and left me there all alone. Shark bait. I was all in that day. For sure. I had four more hours of surfing and a shark swimming back and forth. That day was 100%. There was another time as well, circled by sharks in the South Pacific, boy you really feel alive and hope you live.

I can recall conquering fear, riding down a hill on my mountain bike or road bike, being 100% in. That if you crash, you are going to the hospital or... even worse. To make that commitment and go for it. Go for it.

Being alive, that is when I felt most alive. When I had skin in the game. Knowing that if you crash there will be serious consequences. Or if you drop in on that huge wave....man, what could happen? To drown or break a neck, that would suck. And surfing big Zuma or surfing a reef, can have serious consequences.

The journey. My friend likes the journey. It is funny, I have another friend that talks about the journey. He too is very successful, works very hard and I can say is always 100%. The Journey. Let’s think about that. The first guy I am mentioning said, 25 years ago I was broke, now I have two of the rarest supercars in my garage at home. What a journey!

The Journey. Do you think about the steps you have taken to get where you have gotten or the road that you are on. Do you enjoy the journey? I don't often think about the journey. Oddly, I had another friend that I ran into the same day within the same couple of hours. He is a car collector, he is friends with guys like Jay Leno. I was telling him how I was present when Jay Leno took delivery of his McLaren P1. That I had no idea how I was invited there, but it was such an honor. And that at one point Jay walked over and knew my name and asked how my family was. I never knew he knew my name...just figured he thought I was the guy in the orange hat at the car show. Jay then asked if I wanted to be a “double” sitting in the car while they set up the shot. I was stoked. What an honor. Sure to some it might just be sitting in a car, but to me, I thought, how did I get here, Jay Leno knows my name and I am sitting in the 1st McLaren P1 delivered,

and it is Jay Leno’s car. I had no idea how I got there, how this moment in time worked out, but,it was a journey indeed.

A journey. I have never really given much thought to life being a journey. I do reflect quite a bit and I know that our experiences shape us, people in our lives shape us. I think about what I could have done better or differently. But most of the time I see to be running around in the “now” concerned about the “today” and not the journey. I don’t know if I am driving the journey or it is driving me. Or if that is just life, you are on a ride and you better hold on.

So who is driving your journey and are you running at 100%. I think that I need to reflect on that a bit more. What has my journey been about? Where is my journey going? Am I running at full speed or am I at half-mast missing opportunity, experience and fun. Am I accomplishing my dreams or am I just dreaming? It is not a success, these guys say, it is a life thing.

The journey of life. I am always trying to figure out what I am meant to be doing. While I am trying to figure that out, I am doing what I know. I do try to do my best, but 100% am I at 100% daily? The honest answer is no. I could pour more effort into everything that I do. I think that I am a good husband, father, community member, business man, but I do feel that I am lacking in different areas. I suppose I could make any amount of reasonable excuses, being tired, being busy, not having enough free time, but, I do remember getting up at 4:30am to ride my bicycle, something now that seems unfathomable. Unfathomable, because with two kids, we don’t sleep a lot. And my work schedule. But, there are tons of athletes that do get up that early to train and earlier. I could turn off the TV and go to bed an hour earlier, but I don't.

I suppose I could plan better, with business, with vacations rarely taken. There are so many things that I could do better. I would say that I am about 75%. Maybe 80. Higher for father and husband, but, I could still do better there.

The other thing these guys talk about is detail. They love detail. They love craftsmanship. They love the time and energy that goes into a product or service. They are willing to pay any amount of money for something if they feel that someone poured their heart and soul into it. They love being at the cutting edge, redefining trends and thinking outside of the box. You may say that it is easier to do with money, but these guys didn't always have money. What they had was a ton of heart, motivation and a belief in themselves. And they never gave up. They kept going and going until they became successful and their own success offered greater opportunities and they had the ability to jump on them, the experience to know that it was a great opportunity and the courage to go for it. Maybe that is the journey part.

I wonder where I would rate on a journey level? The other day I was at a potential client and Laird Hamilton walked by. If you know surfing, you know that he is arguably the best “waterman” in the world. He has surfed the biggest waves, has defined and redefined surfing trends, has defied death many times and the guy is all out awesome. Now that guy has a journey. Traveled the world following his passion, doing things in the water that are deemed impossible and providing inspiration for millions. For many he is a living legend. The only other times I have seen him were surfing in Malibu and riding his bike on Kanan. I wanted to walk up to him, shake his hand and say “thank you.” Why? Because the guy is awesome. That guy is in charge of his journey for sure and he is definitely 100%, 100% of the time. He has to operate at his level and to stay alive. I bet he makes a conscious decision every day to do the best in everything he does. Again, his life depends on it.

Your life depends on it... I wonder if it is possible to 100% all of the time. It seems that the people that are at the forefront of what they do, the people that really excel and grow are pushing that hard. Maybe harder. They are always looking for something else to do, a different approach, a different direction, a better way, more efficiency and more fun. Somehow they have found a way to take what they do and make it fun. And the fun drives their passion to excel and succeed. I think it becomes natural for those that chose to run at 100%. Maybe it is actually harder for them to run less than 100% that it is to run full bore all the time. 100% becomes like breathing for them, it is what defines them, motivates them and sets them apart from those who decide just enough is enough. I suppose mediocrity is the acceptance of average and average doesn’t inspire. Average is easy. Too easy. I guess at the end of the day, when you are laying on your deathbed, did you get 100% out of your journey, out of your life?

Be inspirational!

“Imagine the perfect drinking water found in nature, tumbling down rocky mountain streams and rivers, flowing through pristine subterranean aquifers, chilled, pure and delicious.”

Dustin Troyan

Greg Grudt

Mike Grudt

Mark Llewellyn

Gwen Banta

Tory Herald

Steve Valline

Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

Hot Rod Jay Santos

Doug Cambell

Scott Martin

Steve Valline

Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

Hot Rod Jay Santos

Ken Latka

Richard Morey

Richard Kratz

Mark Llewellyn

Steve Valline

Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

at large.

All

reserved. Driven World and Supercar Sunday are registered trademarks of Connected Media Group LLC. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or any other materials or advertisements herein may be reproduced without permission of copyright owner. Driven World Magazine and Connected Media Group LLC, do not take responsibility for the claims provided herein.

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster

By Dustin Troyan Photographed by Lamborghini

The Lamborghini SVJ Roadster may just be the ultimate convertible. A very limited edition with only 800 units being produced for the global market, this is the roadster to own if you mean business.

From Lamborghini: The Aventador SVJ Roadster inherits all the power, performance and ground breaking aerodynamic technologies of the coupé, but with its own iconic presence and prowess,” says Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, Stefano Domenicali. “It is as fundamentally exciting to drive as the Aventador SVJ but with an added exclusivity: the option of the open air. With the same extraordinary performance roof on or off, the Aventador SVJ Roadster incorporates the dynamism of the coupé with the unique spirit of a Lamborghini roadster.”

The SVJ Roadster, beyond it’s aggressive looks and incredible presence also has the heart to back up it’s SVJ name. The SVJ stands for Super Veloce Jota. Super Veloce means “super fast” in Italian. Jota was a name first given to a one-of-a-kind extreme performance version of the classic Lamborghini Miura back in 1970. Translation, this is a track prepped street racing machine that has the best of Lamborhgini’s heritage and technology. It is “the package.”

The SVJ boasts the most powerful series production V12engined car produced by Lamborghini, outputting 770 hp at 8,500 rpm. Lamborghini technology is at the cutting edge of handling, breaking, safety and acceleration and the SVJ Roadster is the very best option for those who demand exclusivity, performance, art and innovation. The SVJ Roadster is perfection.

Past Events:

Panterapalooza DeTomaso

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY JAMES STANLEY

May 6th, 2018 was the date that all Southwestern Pantera owners will remember for years. It was the date of the annual Panterapalooza gathering in Irvine, CA. More than two dozen incredibly rare DeTomaso Panteras and other DeTomaso models were on display for all to see. Car after car made its way up onto the park lawn and were carefully positioned to create a fantastic display. The owners and spectators alike crowded each vehicle as its made its way to its show spot to see it up close. There were several Panteras that were modified wildly, and others that were closer to stock that were still just as beautiful. Some were ready for a Concours event, and others looked like unrestored daily drivers, but all were incredibly impressive. It was really amazing to see the variations of these cars and how different they all looked from each other. Perhaps I should start saving my pennies now!

The 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

By Dustin Troyan Photographed by Lamborghini

Lamborghini is Lamborghini. Bold, awe-inspiring, loud, exciting and... Electric! Say it ain’t so? Lamborghini has gone hybrid? The big, bad V12 that screams like no other engine on the planet is complimented by three electric motors that will help this hyper-car reach an astounding 1001 horsepower. Lamborghini is once again proving that they are truly at the cutting edge of well, everything automotive.

The Lamborghini Revuelot as it is Lamborghini’s first foray into the hybrid market segment will be an instant collector’s item that only the ultra A-list owners and collectors will be able to get their hands on. It is estimated that this revolutionary Lamborghini will be somewhere in the high $800k to low $900k for a starting price. And if pricing of hypercars are as they have been the past couple years, there will definitely be a market adjustment and I would not be surprised to see this car instantly sold out with a price tag of over $1 million. If you have to ask...

If you are a car enthusiast, you have been crossing your fingers and saying prayers that Lamborghini would not, nor ever get rid of the iconic V12 engine as there is truly nothing else like it. To pay homage to the legendary masterpiece, the V12 in the Revuelot is naturally aspirated, 6.5 liters and it is a symphony of hell-fire that screams up to a 9500 -RPM redline. Now that my friends is a sound dreams are made of. The V12 pushed out 814-hp on its own and again with the integrated electric motors, it is over 1,000 horsepower!

To the dreamers, engineers and innovators at Lamborghini, well done and thank you. Keep it Lamborghini and keep innovating.

For more info: www.Lamborghini.com

By Dustin Troyan Photography by Steve Geldman

Past Events:

Porsche Corral Day at Supercar Sunday

Just another day in California. If you know anything about the car culture, you know that California is the mecca. What happens in California resonates around the world. We have been and always will be at the leading edge of what is cool in automotive. On any given Sunday, you can see an example of just about every make and model cruising Pacific Coast Highway or Mulholland. Roads made famous by movies and the stars they featured, the passion for everything on wheels only grows.

Supercar Sunday is a great example of the passion for all things automotive. For almost twenty years, Supercar Sunday has been a staple in the car world that is hard to ignore. What has made the show truly incredible over the years is not only the consistency of the weekly event, the support from the community, but most importantly the variety. The variety of cars and people.

Supercar Sunday is a weekly event presented by Porsche Woodland Hills.

The event is every Sunday at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

You are invited to Cars

and Coffee at Lavaggio

Join us for coffee and donuts at Lavaggio this Spring! We will be kicking off our Cars and Coffee Season in March and hope you will join us!

You must RSVP as space is very limited.

For more information/RSVP: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com

Lavaggio- The Art of Auto Detailing www.lavaggio.net

818-584-3240

30205 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills, Ca. 91301

Photography by Ken Latka - TMPCC.ORG

Supercar Sunday

Article by Dustin Troyan Photos by Steve Geldman | @ImagePhotoMotorsports

The Supercar Sunday British Marque Day was a huge success. It was the last Supercar Sunday event prior to the weekly car show having to go on “hiatus” due to the Corona Virus Pandemic. As many of you know, Supercar Sunday began in the El Camino Shopping Center almost twenty years ago at the Village Coffee Roaster coffee shop.

As the event grew overtime, it became one of the preeminent weekly car shows in the United States if not the world. This was also before social media was driving event participation and event coverage. The event was, is and always will be something special and we can’t wait to resume the event.

The British Marque day brought British Cars of all types to Pierce College in Woodland Hills. The event Sponsored by KeyesCars.com once again kept to its reputation of offering the most amazing cars and diversity of any event around. Here are just a few examples of the British Cars in attendance.

For more information:

www.supercarsunday.com

The McLaren 765LT

By Dustin Troyan

The McLaren 765LT is spoken for... Sold out. With 765 examples made, this rarefied supercar for the streets is one of those products only a few people may claim ownership to. The “LT” stands for “longtail”, which pays homage to McLaren’s racing heritage at Le Mans and one of the most iconic race cars of all time, the McLaren F1 GTR. To make it a bit clearer, “LT” is to McLaren as “RS” is to Porsche, “ZR1” is to Corvette and so on and so forth. Basically implying that this is the limited edition, lightest weight, fastest, best, and most exclusive model of the line-up. Those that can do.

McLaren produces amazing cars. Period. If you have never driven one, it is really hard to explain how special they really are. On paper the stats are very impressive, but behind the wheel, the symphony of racing heritage sings to the heavens as the driver is only limited by their own abilities. One might compare a McLaren to a Ferrari, Porsche GT2 RS, and similar supercars, but, it has a personality all to itself. Mclaren is Mclaren and the only way to understand that is... to drive one.

The 765 LT boasts 755 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque from twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This enables the 765 LT to an earth shattering 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds; 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds; 0–124mph in 7.0 seconds and 0-186mph in 18.0 seconds. I dare say there are few on the planet who could drive this car to its limits, but to be a passenger when they did would be a story for life.

If you can, you should, why wouldn’t you. For those that know, that understand the legacy of McLaren, this car will be hard to beat and over time...well, Google what a McLaren F1 goes for...

For more info: www.mclaren.com

Photographed by McLaren

Rare Among the Rare

ARTICLE BY Sandy Bettelman

Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd was a British manufacturing company in Coventry from 1919 to 1967. Alvis cars were a quality build equivalent to a Bentley. In addition to automobiles designed for the civilian market, the company also produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armored cars and other armored fighting vehicles. In 1968, a buyout of the car operations was finalized and all the Alvis car design plans, customer records, stock of parts and remaining employees were transferred to Red Triangle of England (still in existence today).

The Alvis TB 21 was a two seater open car (right-hand drive) based on the running gear of the TA 21 saloon and made only in 1952. Alvis contracted AP Metalcraft, a Coventry coachbuilder, to produce the TB 21 body to fit on the TA 21 chassis. Alvis, records show that 31 TB 21 Sports Tourers were produced. Only 8 are in the USA.

This Alvis TB 21 chassis #25133 (one of the 31 built) was conceived as a factory prototype in order to have a left-hand drive, 4-seater roadster for the American market in the lineup of Alvis Cars. The project was discontinued because of the high cost of production (making this car a one off). In 1952 this car was sold to the Alvis dealer in New Zealand. Since early 2000s, this one of a kind car was in Southern Germany. In 2017 this prototype car came to America, as was originally intended.

SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL

Manufacturer

Alvis Car and Engineering Co. Ltd.

Location

Coventry, England

Model/Year

TB 21 Sport Tourer 1952

Production

30 (RHD, 2-Seater)

Prototype

1 (LHD, 4-Seater)

US IMPORT 8

Original MSRP

21 £1,598 = $4500

DIMENSIONS

Length

177.5in

Wheelbase

111.5in

Width

66in

Height

58in

Weight

2844lbs

MECHANICALS

Engine

3.0L In-Line 6 Cylinder

Power

95 HP | 150 lb-ft tq

Transmission

4-Speed Manual

Suspenion

Independent Coil Spring Front

Beam Axel, Semi-Elliptic Leaf

Spring Rear

Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Brakes

Drum

Performance

Top Speed

95 mph

1st Gear | 31mph

2nd Gear | 47mph

3rd Gear | 69mph

4th Gear | 95mph

TipsFor Maintaining & Protecting Your Ferrari

From the Mattioli Automotive Group

DETAILING

In addition to keeping a car looking its best, consistent detailing is an important step in protecting a vehicle’s finish. Contaminants such as dirt, pollen, tree sap, and bird droppings can scratch and deteriorate painted surfaces if left over long periods. Given the value of a Ferrari, It is important to ensure that “best practices” are followed when performing a car wash; here are just a few from Mattioli Automotive Group’s (MAG) very own detailing specialists.

• Use the proper products: Ensure that the soap and other cleaning products being used have been formulated specifically for automotive use. Excessively strong chemicals and detergents will not only strip the wax off but can also dull the finish on paint and trim.

• All Towels are not equal: Microfiber towels offer low friction and can absorb more than seven times their weight in water, making them less abrasive and more effective than other towels. It is best to use a separate towel for each function (i.e..washing, drying, applying chemicals, etc). Also, towels should never be used if they are contaminated or have fallen on the ground; washing your towels often will help ensure that they are free of debris.

• Two bucket Technique: To help prevent the re-introduction of dirt and contaminants It is best to employ the “two bucket technique” when washing your car. One bucket should contain the diluted soap and a second bucket should have clean water. After each pass with the soap, rinse contaminants off of the sponge in the clean water before re-introducing into the soap solution again.

• Nooks and Crannies: Dirt and water can gather in the seams of the doors, trunk, and hood. It is important to clean and dry these areas thoroughly to prevent dripping onto clean surfaces.

• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Water evaporates quickly in direct sunlight which can result in watermarks.

Is your Ferrari in need of a thorough and professional cleaning?

Feel free to reach out to one of the MAG’s four service centers to schedule a complete detailing service.

PROTECTIVE FILM

Stones, road debris, chemical stains, and UV damage are all potential dangers when exposing your prized Ferrari to the road and the elements. But owners can save themselves from headaches and costly refinishing bills simply by installing protective film over their immaculate finish. This nearly invisible film can be applied just to the most vulnerable surfaces or the entire vehicle depending on your needs and driving habits.

Protect your Ferrari against road hazards and the harsh elements before it's too late. The Mattioli Automotive Group contracts several of the top protective film installers to perform the service in our facility and can guarantee timely turnaround and flawless results. To learn more about protective film options for your Ferrari, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers.

CERAMIC COATING

Ceramic Coating is another popular option for protecting paint and other vehicle finishes. When compared to protective film, it can be a more comprehensive and economical alternative. Ceramic coating is a special chemical compound that is applied to various vehicle finishes to form a permanent bond with the surface. The result is a 9H+ hard coating that repels water and offers protection from UV rays, chemicals, oxidation, and corrosion. It can be applied to paint for protection against light scratches, wheels to prevent the build-up of brake dust, and glass for increased visibility in wet weather.

The MAG contracts several of the top ceramic coating specialists to perform the service in our facility and we can guarantee timely turnaround and flawless results. To learn more about ceramic coating, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers.

The most common dangers for Ferrari owners are steep driveways and parking curbs. Even with the optional lifter, which is available on newer models, there are still some obstacles that are too big to maneuver over unscathed. To add protection against marring the underside of the front bumper, many owners elect to install a skid plate.

This sacrificial piece of durable plastic polymer is precision cut to fit precisely on to the underside of the front bumper. The result is a nearly invisible layer of protection against costly paint and autobody repairs.

To learn more about skid plates for your Ferrari, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers. Each MAG location stocks an extensive inventory of skid plates for various models and can complete the installation in a matter of hours.

The phrase “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” has never been more accurate than with regards to automotive batteries. When a battery is in a discharged state for an extended period of time the lead sulfate crystals inside the battery begin to increase in size. The bigger the crystals get, the harder they are to dissolve which ultimately blocks the chemical reaction that allows the battery to charge, and eventually leads to battery failure.

For this reason, Genuine Ferrari offers Battery Re-conditioners which are designed to maintain a battery’s charge and combat the growth of sulfate crystals. A Battery Re-conditioner should be utilized any time a vehicle is parked for long periods of time. This is especially vital for new vehicles which contain more electrical components that put a drain the battery.

For specific questions regarding the use of the Ferrari Battery Re-conditioners or to order one for your vehicle, feel free to reach out to one of Mattioli Automotive Group’s four service centers.

Over time, environmental factors and harsh chemicals can take a toll on the interior components of a mature Ferrari resulting in sticky buttons, controls, and trim pieces. The only remedies to this condition are to replace the deteriorated components or have them re-finished. Either way, the process is very involved. Thankfully, the Mattioli Automotive Group’s service centers are very experienced with this issue and can help advise owners of their options when restoring their interior to like-new condition. If your Ferrari is in need of interior trim restoration, we invite you to reach out to one of MAG’s four service centers to learn more or schedule a service appointment.

Ferrari

23305 Hawthorne Blvd

Torrance, CA 90505

(877) 887-9183

service@ferrarisouthbay.com

www.ferrarisouthbay.com

M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Ferrari Beverly Hills Service

2110 Cotner Avenue.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(888) 849-9726

service@ferraribeverlyhills.com

www.ferraribeverlyhills.com

M - F 7:30am - 5:00pm

Ferrari

Ferrari

2750 El Camino Real

Redwood City, CA

(888) 875-8963

service@ferrarisiliconvalley.com

www.ferrarisiliconvalley.com

M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm

he L A Roadster Show & Swap has a longtime tradition of bringing out hundreds of the finest pre 1936 Roadsters in the land, so this was a must see show for me. The LA Roadster Show and Swap is held over the Father’s Day weekend every year at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the show hosted by the Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club who is celebrating their 60th year of service.

Past shows have generated 800 or more pre 36 Roadsters with an additional 1500 pre 72 Specialty Cars on display plus 100’s of vendors and swap areas for the public. I attended Sunday’s show only to find 200 or less pre 36 Roadsters on display throughout the grounds surrounding building four and only a handful of pre 72 Specialty Cars, but what cars that were on display where well sorted, beautiful and showed the owners personal touches tastefully. I just

wish more cars had been on display, like the numbers I stated earlier from the 2010 L A Roadster Show and Swap. Forty seven vendors attended this year’s show offering everything the modern day hot rodder could ever need or want.

The temperature was near triple digits so walking around outside was a constant search for shade whether checking out a car or a vendors wares. The vendor selling straw hats was rumored to have made a small fortune by 3PM on both Saturday and Sunday. In spite of the uncomfortable heat, there were lots of fathers with sons and daughters enjoying dad’s love of hot rods and everything that goes with them. Thanks, Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club for another memorable show.

he LA Aircooled Volkswagen Club hosted its first ever show and shine meet at California Car Cover in Chatsworth, Calif. on Saturday, May 6th, 2017. More than 75 vintage Volkswagen Beetles and Buses took over the California Car Cover headquarters for the Seis de Mayo Hang Over Show.

LA Aircooled opened the event to several Volkswagen clubs in the Southern California area. Attendees drove from all over the Southwest to attend the inaugural event. The casual meet and greet brought out a variety of custom and finely restored Volkswagens. From the perfectly restored to the rusted patina, styles spanning the spectrum came together for this show. Highlights from the event include a raffle, delicious food from the ‘Richeeze Grilled Cheese Truck’, and on-site event t-shirt screen printing courtesy of Hot Rod LA.

LA Aircooled is a Los Angeles based Volkswagen Club founded in 2015. For more details on the club and future events, check out la_aircooled on Instagram.

STORY & PHOTOS BY TONY DeFRANK

s we reach the midway point of 2017. I’ve done something I thought that I wouldn’t do – I bought another vehicle. Now if you know me you’re probably scratching your head and asking WHY? I have four, make that five vehicles and a Harley, so you would think that would be enough. Well, you’d be wrong! This latest purchase was really about necessity - honestly. Let me explain…

As you all know by now, I’m a drag racing car freak. I’ve been towing my drag car “30 Rat” for four race seasons with my 1987 Chevy R10 truck. The truck originally belonged to my twin sister Jody, who bought it from the grounds keeper of a cemetery. To answer what you may be thinking, and depending on whom you talk to, this truck may have been used to transport caskets for burial at the cemetery. Well, apparently my Dad didn’t care either because he ended up buying the truck from my sister once she was done with it. After he had it for a few years he stopped using it so I bought it from him. It’s served me well taking me to the beach to surf and towing my drag car to the strip, but it was lacking a little bit in power. I knew that I needed something a little newer, with more power, and a bit more comfortable if I wanted to continue to race. So the search began..

I started looking at new trucks but they were just way over my budget, so I started looking at used ones. One particular early morning at SuperCar Sunday I was talking to the infamous Dustin Troyhill about his cool looking red Ford truck. You would all agree that it’s probably one of the nicest one’s around. Well after he finished harassing me for next months magazine article I let him know that I was looking for another truck. He looked at me in the eyes and said, “I’ll never buy another new vehicle”, then walked away. Well that statement stuck with me over the next week and made me very curious as to why he would say that.

At the next SuperCar Sunday once again I approached Dustin and asked him what he meant about the comment he made the week before. Well, apparently Dustin had already had a bunch of coffee and the caffeine was just kicking in because for ten minutes he explained to me why. Like a lot of us, priorities change with our age and where we are in life. His main focus is his family and the quality time he spends with them. As Dustin stated in last months editorial, “I’m not so worried about the material stuff. I want more experiences for my family and myself. I think about those pivotal movements in

my life and I want to help to provide them for my girls, my wife and myself”. I totally respect Dustin’s statement, because being a father myself, that’s where the focus should be.

The comparison of new vs. classic cars has been around for quite a long time. On one hand you have the complete reliability of a new vehicle – clean, smell’s new, looks new, sounds new and of course costs new. The engines may be smaller in size but because of the advancement in technology they produce a substantial amount of more power and torque then its predecessor. The way they drive and handle is no comparison as well. If well maintained, these cars can last forever, literally.

Case in point, a friend of mine recently sent a picture of his odometer in his truck. Now I’ve heard the stories and I’ve seen the commercials about people getting a ridiculous amount of miles on their vehicle, but I’ve never personally known someone. The mileage was over 500,000! He ended up selling it to a friend of his who was extremely ecstatic to get it. Think about it, all those miles and it still has a long life left. Very cool in my book!

Now on the other hand with an older classic car, you have something different than the norm. A classic car demands respect. Not only from the people that see it but also from the owner. They require regular care and maintenance much more frequent then a new vehicle.

I’ve only owned 3 brand new vehicles in my life and this is all by choice. I’ve always enjoyed working on older vehicles then new ones. There’s a satisfaction fixing something that is broken or worn with your own hands. I’ve been fortunate to carry those skills throughout my entire life.

So as my search for another truck continued, I definitely kept all this in mind. I wanted something newer and more comfortable than what I have now. After an exhausting few months and looking at hundreds of vehicles I finally found and bought a used 2000 Chevy truck. It was previous owned by another “Car” guy that did extensive work on it. I was happy to listen to him explain everything that he had done to it. It just meant I wouldn’t have too!

So where do you stand? Are you a person who likes a new vehicle every few years or one that likes to find a good deal on an older car? There’s no right or wrong answer. Personally, I dig the sound of a group of cars with old V8’s cruising down PCH after SuperCar Sunday on a sunny afternoon.

CARS & CONNECTIONS

have been seriously active in the car community now for about twelve years and am amazed at the people and connections I have made over that time. The car community never ceases to amaze me with the quality of people who make it up.

When I first ordered my Cobra Daytona Coupe from Superformance, I had no idea how to go about things so I joined an online forum to get advice. As things progressed, one guy was incredibly helpful and offered some seriously valuable and credible insights to help me get the car just right. On these forums you went by a moniker. Mine was “CoupedUp” and the person who was helping me went by “Badger.” He advised me on everything from side mirrors, paint and engines to registering the car in California. He even knew the process of importing the cars from the factory in South Africa. Eventually, Badger started to Private Message me through the forum and then, one day, he emailed me. When he sent the email through the forum it came up under his actual name – Peter Brock. I will never forget opening that email and seeing his name. I am pretty sure I went numb for about ten minutes…

For those of you not so familiar with Peter Brock, allow me to provide my perspective on his background. As a young man, Peter wanted to be a racing driver and car designer. He attended the LA Art Center studying automotive design for two years until he ran out of money for school and had to get a job. He ended up getting a job at General Motors through a friend as a designer in 1958 and at age 19 became one of the youngest designers ever hired by GM. One of the first projects he did for Bill Mitchell at GM was the 1958 XP87, also known as the Stingray Racer concept car which eventually morphed into the 1963 Corvette Stingray. Many have seen the Stingray Racer in the “Precious Metals” exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Peter was still pursuing his dream of being a race car driver and left GM to become Carroll Shelby’s first paid employee

in 1961. He was hired to run both his driving school and Goodyear Racing Tire distributorship for the 11 Western States. Peter thought this would be a great way to get his foot in the door and show Carroll what he could do behind the wheel of a car. As the Cobra began to obliterate the Corvettes and other competitors on the US circuit, Carroll set his sights to take on Enzo Ferrari and beat him in his own back yard on the tracks in Europe. One of the hurdles Carroll faced was the longer tracks in Europe. The Cobra was not as aerodynamic as the Ferraris and about 20 MPH slower on tracks like Le Mans with the three mile long Mulsanne straight where Ferraris were running 180 MPH. Peter shared with Carroll that he could design a more aerodynamic body for the Cobra that would allow them to beat Ferrari. Here is the story of the development of the Cobra Daytona Coupe in Peter’s own words:

“My suggestion to build the coupe was based on the aero studies done in Germany in the late ‘30s. Because of WWII no one over here had ever seen anything that looked like what the Germans had figured out. This “Kamm tailed” shape was far more efficient that the long existing belief that a “raindrop” shape with a long tail was the most efficient shape for an automobile. Since no one had ever seen such an “ugly shape” on an automobile almost everybody in Shelby American was against my concept….including Phil Remington, who I had the utmost respect for and was hoping he’d back the project! When he told Carroll he wouldn’t work on this stupid idea Carroll was really undecided as to whether to continue. Only Ken Miles, who had almost as much stature within Shelby as Rem’ believed in the project because he was from England and had seen what the Germans were doing prior to WWII. Ford also refused to back the idea, as they had their own project, the Eric Broadley Lola MK 6, which they had bought to redesign into the Ford GT. So with no money Carroll had nothing...no options! It cost almost nothing to draw up the design and with a couple of quick sketches I’d done he went to Goodyear and they put up the money! With still continuing opposition from Remington almost everyone in the shop refused to work on the

project, so...just Ken, myself and John Ohlsen built the buck on which the first panels were formed. Once those were back in the shop a couple of the good guys like Donn Allen and Jack Lane offered to help. Even when we went to Riverside to test there was still little interest, as they knew it would fail. Ken broke the Cobra roadster’s lap record by 3.5 seconds and pushed the speed up to 180 …this on a standard Cobra race chassis as required by FIA rules. That test changed everything! You know the story at Daytona…lap record and fire, so it wasn’t until Sebring, where MacDonald and Holbert won that Ford finally agreed to back us for Europe. (The GT40 was way behind schedule.) CSX 2299, the second Daytona had its body built in Modena and it won Le Mans, which put us in the lead for FIA points.”

“The rest of the story” is that the Daytona won the GT class at Le Mans its first year out in 1964 (despite an oil cooler failure while leading the overall race) and became the only American car to ever beat Ferrrari for a world GT Title in 1965. While at Shelby American, Peter also designed the now famous Cobra logo, Cobra stripes and other design elements and liveries of the cars.

Peter went on to build his own race team after the Shelby days, Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE). BRE became the west coast Datsun factory race team and competed in 1969 in the SCCA DP class with Datsun 2000 roadsters, in 1970 and 1971 in the CP class with the 240Zs (SCCA National Champions ‘70-’71) and in 1971-72 the 2.5 Trans-Am Series races with the Datsun 510s (National Champions ‘71-’72).

a continuation version of the Cobra Daytona Coupe to compliment their existing line of 289 and 427 Cobra Replicas. They consulted with Peter who also brought Bob Negstad (chassis designer of the original Daytona Coupe) on board to design the car, giving it some of the original coupe’s DNA. Peter and Bob get to design the car they would have done in 1964 if they weren’t limited to the existing 289 Cobra chassis and a 90 day design deadline. Superformance has now produced almost 200 of these Shelby CSX9000 series continuation Daytona Coupes.

Peter’s design skills were not limited to the racetrack. In the early 1970s, Peter founded Ultralite Products which he built into the largest hang gliding company in the world and even developed the sport of competitive long distance hang gliding.

Fast forward to the early 2000s… Superformance decides to manufacture and sell

Peter is also a photographer, author, and just about anything else you can imagine. He is a true renaissance man and an incredible talent. And he’s still going! One of his latest projects is design and manufacturing of the most beautiful car hauler ever (to call it a trailer seems like an insult) called the “Aerovault.” Peter manufactures Aerovaults in Henderson, Nevada right next to his Brock Racing Enterprises facility. Peter is now also officially a jewelry designer! Baume et Mercier just launched a limited edition Shelby Daytona Coupe watch for which Peter did the design.

Those who know me know I love my Daytona Coupe. I always will. But it is much more than the feel of the car, the sound of the exhaust from the side pipes, or the feel of the car at speed on a track day. It’s also about the fact that it connected me to Peter Brock, a very special man with a rich history who means a lot to me. It’s a hard thing to explain, but the car connecting me with Peter really led to me connecting back to my true self - someone who is passionate about life and driven to make the most of every day. Just like Peter has and continues to do today.

o commemorate the 100th anniversary of founder Ferruccio Lamborghini’s birth, and in honor of him, Lamborghini has built a very special, limited edition, hyper-exotic car, the Centenary. With only 20 coupes and 20 roadsters being produced this V12 Lamborghini is on every collectors list and is fetching a very hefty price tag of over $2.3 million dollars. And as it is so rare, collectors are speculating that it will only go up and value and will be a great investment.

ARTICLE BY DUSTIN TROYAN

LAMBORGHINI CENTENARIO

Beyond scarcity, what makes the Centenario different from every other Lamborghini? First and foremost is the 770hp. Just shy of the 800hp mark, the car is designed so radically and uses some of the most complex, expensive and sophisticated carbon fibre composites ever developed. Many consider the Centerario to be one of the most advanced designs to date and the extensive use of carbon and the types of carbon, for a production car, it is truly very special. Keeping the Centenario stuck to the ground and the driver safe at 217 miles per hour, the carbon fibre monocoque body and aerodynamics are cutting edge. A zero to sixty time of 2.9 seconds, the Centenario is as fast as or faster than just about any other production supercar on the planet.

Will you see it on the street? The first one was delivered in Beverly Hills and being the mecca of the car community that it is, we expect you will. After all it is California and we do love to show our cars off. If you happen to see a Centenario on the street, you will be very lucky as it is in the rarefied of being a unicorn in the car world.

by Mark Llewellyn

And The Hits Just Keep Coming…..

The modernization of the automobile has brought great pleasure in using a car as a mode of transportation. Many creature comforts have made the automobile the first chosen mode of travel.

Improved ride, heating and air conditioning were great advancements, but the most appreciated achievement was the car radio!

The Galvin Manufacturing Company (today known as Motorola) introduced a commercial car radio in the 1920’s. They weren’t inexpensive, about $130.00 back then, but they sold like hot cakes.

1952 saw the FM radio birth, but AM kept the high profile with top 40 stations like 93 KHJ and “Hit Radio 11, KRLA”! FM made its break thru with album rock in the 1970’s, and then surpassed AM radio in popularity.

1953 saw the creation of the “Search Function”. This was the beginning of the “luxury” options in automobiles. You could press a button on the radio or on the floor by the dimmer switch, and the radio would advance to the next station.

To boost the popularity of car radios the aftermarket and the manufactures introduced 8 track and cassette players.

The 1980’s saw the demise of tape players, and the introduction of the CD player by Sony. Today the radio is in competition with downloaded music and internet information. The radio can entertain with music, educate on PBS stations, and inform us on traffic and news, all in the comfort of our automobile. What’s next, televisions when we have driverless cars? The future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades!

ARTICLE BY SOTHEBYS

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