November 2014 Issuu of Driven World Magazine

D RIVENWORLD

Nov 2014

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D RIVENWORLD ISSUE 59, Nov. 2014

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Dustin Troyan

ART DIRECTOR

Connected Media Group LLC

COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan

DESIGN Connected Media Group WEB DESIGN

Jeff Balbien

STORIES BY Dustin Troyan Mark Llewellyn Scott Martin Brooks Smith Tommy Mansuwan Jim Hunter Mike Grudt Greg Grudt

Page 10

Contents

PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Grudt Scott Martin Tommy Mansuwan Dustin Troyan Jim Hunter Jime Stoneman

Advertising/Marketing: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com

818-516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com Page 20

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On the Cover: “Ferrari Love�

Photo: Greg Grudt www.exoticcarfotos.com

Page 22

From the Editor

It is that time of year once again... The 11th Annual Motor4Toys Charity Car Show and Toy Drive. What can we say, other than “THANK YOU”! It is truly remarkable how kind, generous, supportive and caring the car community is. I am always overwhelmed by the support we get from all of you. I do consider it a miracle. Thank you.

A miracle. What is a miracle? I can close my eyes and imagine the future. Some kid who is now a man or woman is in the position to do something kind for another kid. Maybe it is buying a toy or donating money to a cause or being a big brother or sister. I would like to believe that this once kid, now man or woman says...”when I was young, we had nothing and some strangers gave me a toy and it gave me joy. It showed that someone out there was thinking of me, that someone cared.” I hope that is the legacy that we are passing on. The legacy of hope, of love, of kindness and consideration. Some of you may say it is just a toy, but that toy is the embodiment of so much more. I truly believe it runs so much deeper than that.

Miracles do happen. I can tell you that I consider the entire Motor4Toys Charitable Foundation a miracle. I am not sure how it started other than dumb luck, but boy oh boy, with all of your help we have done something pretty amazing. The thousands and thousands and thousands...and thousands of kids that we have been able to provide toys to over the last ten years is absolutely amazing. And, it is truly all of you that make this happen.

I may have told you this story before, but I get a little sentimental this time of year.

It was the second or third year of doing the toy drive. I believe it was the week after the car show and I was at my mother’s house. We were in the kitchen, my guess is she was making me a sandwich. There is nothing like a sandwich made by your mom, but that is another story. So there we were in the kitchen and I was probably a little tired, but so elated that the toy drive was going so well... she looked at me and said she had something to tell me. The backstory here is that like a lot of people, my mom and dad both came from very humble beginnings. Although they rarely talk about their struggles...probably because they were the same struggles everyone around them had, I knew that they had some tough times that I had never known. My mom and her family were hungry poor. She went on to tell me how if it were not for the Salvation Army bringing toys to the “poor kids”, that she and her siblings would have gotten nothing. I always had toys, did you?

Motor4Toys has grown into something so much bigger than just a toy drive, it has turned into one giant miracle. Case in point: I ran into a friend, one of my “car guys” as I like to call them.... and he asked how the event was looking this year.

I explained that we are excited, but things always start slow then ramp up. He asked about our cash fundraising goal this year and I told him it was $60,000.00. He smiled, pulled out his credit card

and said, “put me down for $5,000.00”. I nearly fell over. Just like that, we were off and running.

He didn’t ask for any recognition but instead said, “you guys are doing a good thing....keep it up.”

WOW! I don’t know about you, but $5,000.00 is a lot of money to me. Thank you Jim. That to me was a miracle.

This year we have two schools on board doing toy drives, I hope more to come. Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas and Louisville High School in Woodland Hills. When I got the confirmation...yes, I considered it...(I know I sound redundant), but a miracle.

Maybe it is that I really hope with all my being that that one toy may make that kids life better. That it may light a fire in them, a fire of hope. Open their eyes to more than what they see now and understand that regardless of their situation, there is more out there for them. That people do care that they too can make the world better.

I can see my mother as a kid and my fa-

ther. I can see them hoping that they were going to get a toy. I really can. I can remember the joy of getting a toy, something that was mine. Something that made me feel special, that I could hold and keep. Something just for me.

So, as you are reading this, I would implore you...please attend the 11th Annual Motor4Toys Charity Car Show on December 7th. Please invite your friends. Please do a toy drive at your school or business, we can provide the boxes and flyers, pick up and delivery. If you can donate something to our raffle and silent auction, please do so. And if you have the means to write a big check, please do. Let us make our community better by providing hope to the children.

Thank you all for all the wonderful years in the past and years to come, Dustin and the Motor4Toys Family www.motor4toys.com

The Magic Track

Story & Photos by Jim Hunter

It’s not always easy to ascertain intent. Primitive instincts can cut the clutter of sensory overload to uncover disguised ambition, but when those faculties fail, the higher brain grapples with the endless running of scenarios and equations of probability. As the drivers gathered in the Monza paddock for what would have otherwise been another run of the mill Thursday press conference, it was clear that intentions were first and foremost on everyone’s mind.

The fallout from the Mercedes clash in the Belgian Grand Prix some two weeks prior had captivated the media and fueled conspiracy theorists. The point of contention was not so much Nico Rosberg’s ambitious 2nd lap contact cutting Lewis Hamilton’s left rear tire in as much as what was stated afterwards. Hamilton charged that Rosberg boasted in a post race team briefing that he did it

on purpose, “to prove a point.” Nico did not fully dispute this, but announced on his blog that he saw it differently, and requested that everyone respect that he preferred to keep the matter internal.

Behind dark sunglasses, a tightly lowered Mercedes cap, and quietly chatting with Williams’ Valtteri Bottas under the shadow of the massive Monza pit complex, Rosberg appeared reluctant for the media grilling which was surely imminent.

Fernando Alonso stood nearby but alone, uncomfortably looking skyward as if for guidance.

Hamilton’s conspicuous last minute appearance only further charged the already tense atmosphere as the drivers were summoned upstairs.

Prior to the teams’ arrival to Monza, Mercedes AMG Exec Director Toto Wolff confirmed that Rosberg did use the words “to prove a point” in their post race meeting, but characterized the remark as a reference to

holding his racing line, not a deliberate intent to crash. This clarification suited most experienced observers, who in fact felt it was nothing more than clumsy driving on Rosberg’s part.

The pressroom was packed, well beyond what fire code should allow. Lacking fresh oxygen from all of the heated, spent carbon dioxide, it was apparent that curiosity trumped temporary comfort for the F1 press corps. Finding a camera angle through dense layers of humanity was only slightly more challenging than not sweating all over one’s colleagues. Hamilton immediately noted, “I think this is the first time we’ve been the room for a long time that there have been so many people here.”

Unfortunately, Nico and Lewis proved seasoned enough in media relations to sidestep the most pointed questions, but seated between them, Alonso found himself unwittingly asked to serve as their “Ambassador of Peace,” a role he declined.

Fernando did offer, “they have a clear target, winning the world championship. They are in a privileged position, which is to fight for that goal.”

Yet the question remained, why did Nico say what he did? Did his remark in a heated team meeting suggest he was purposely stirring the pot, cloaking a simple mistake under fictional intent to capitalize on the moment and unsettle his title rival?

Whatever the truth, one could not help but wonder if Nico now regretted his choice of words. As the briefing concluded, Nico offered a glimpse into his understanding that the psychological is but a battle in a larger war, the fight for the world championship; “Your performance is linked to many things and your mental state of mind is always important in sport.”

Monza is magic.

Situated within the beautiful, sprawling Royal Park NE of Milan, “La Pista Magica” as it is often referred to, effortlessly laces anticipation for the present with the rich spirit of yesteryear. Grand Prix history runs deep here. Monza is the symbolic home of Ferrari and the Tifosi. The Gran Premio d’Italia serves as a checkpoint on the F1 year, closes the European season, and often signals the arrival of fall.

Monza is also where silly season rumors often grow up to become new year revelations, predicators, and glimpses to F1’s immediate

future as the major players jostle for opportunity in the paddock. This year was no exception.

Complicating questions as to whether Alonso would remain at Ferrari after yet another disappointing year, scuttlebutt filtered across the web that Marco Mattiaci was actually appointed to replace former Scuderia team principal Stefano Domenicalli by FIAT, and not Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, as the Ferrari President suggested at the time. If true, this might indicate that di Montezemolo was no

longer in control and in danger of being released.

On Saturday, di Montezemolo paid a “working” visit to the Monza paddock and called an informal press briefing outside the Scuderia motorhome in attempt to silence the rumors.

He announced that he would be with Ferrari for at least three more years. As quoted on many outlets, Luca signed off with, “if and when there will be some news about me, I will be the first - I emphasize the first - to let you know.”

Di Montezemolo’s announcement temporarily soothed suspicions that Alonso was on the move.

Addressing reporters following qualifying, F e r nando stated, “ I ’ m happy that Luca is staying. Obviously I’ve had a very nice relationship the last five years.

President Montezemolo always cares a lot in the atmosphere in the team and a relationship with all the members of the team especially with the drivers

so I talk to him a lot on telephone on the weekends and he told me yesterday, Thursday night actually, that all these rumors were not true.”

Three days later, di Montezemolo stepped down as the President and Chairman of Ferrari.

However, beyond all the speculation

over intent, 2015 contract curiosity, and political intrigue, remained the fight for the world championship. Monza was the 13th round of the 2014 season, the Gran Premio d’Italia, and the “cathedral of speed” hosts the fastest grand prix on the calendar. Pundits speculated F1’s new era turbo-hybrid cars running under Monza’s characteristically low downforce setups could break top speed records.

Although a considerable jump above recent V8 era speeds (which scarcely reached 215 mph), Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest speed trap time of a knick under 225 mph ultimately fell short of the 2005 V-10 era record of 231.5 mph, clocked

by Juan Pablo Montoya in a McLaren/Mercedes.

Both Ferraris looked unseasonably competitive in practice, thus giving the Tifosi hope.

Williams was also consistently quick, with Valtteri Bottas once again proving to hold a slight edge over his more experienced teammate Felipe Massa.

Despite suggestions to the contrary, qualifying did not produce a lot of surprises. Hamilton managed to parlay his newfound momentum to pole position ahead of his teammate. The McLarens were also well placed, locking the 3rd row of the grid.

Ferrari’s practice trend did not translate into quali-

fying, although Alonso did manage a fourth row slot.

Once the lights went out on Sunday, the field remained fairly tight leading to some pretty intense racing down the order. McLaren driver Magnussen engaged in a tight mid-race battle with Bottas’ Williams while his teammate Button took Sahara Force India driver Sergio Perez to the brink on a couple of exciting multi-corner tussles. Bottas’ race was an up and down affair. Having made a mess of the start, he made two inspired climbs through the field to eventually arrive at fourth place, some 15 seconds adrift of his teammate Massa who snagged his first podium of the year.

Ricciardo and Perez both drove great races, especially Perez who looked incredibly mature saving fuel while beating Button to 7th. Both Ferrari drivers struggled to work their way through the field. Alonso’s F14-T shut down at lap 30, and although he hung on until the end, the best Kimi could salvage was 9th.

And how did the Mercedes dual play out? Prior to the start, former F1 driver and Skysport commentator Martin Brundle offered: “the

race can be won by outbraking yourself into one of the chicanes.” How prophetic those words would prove.

Hamilton suffered a bad start due to a glitch in his race start software.

Rosberg took immediate advantage and built what initially looked to be a stable lead, but he did not pull far enough away to nullify two critical errors he was to soon make.

Out-braking himself into the first chicane, Rosberg’s first miscue kept Hamilton in touch early in the race. Nico’s more costly error came after the pit stop rotation, where he again outbraked himself into the same corner, surrendering his race lead and ultimate victory to Hamilton.

So uncanny was it for Nico to make two such errors that it prompted post race speculation that he was disguising a team ordered punishment for Belgium. However, Hamilton assumed the lead because he ignored a command to hold his attack on

Rosberg until the latter stages of the race. Hamilton’s defiance paid off with a well-earned victory, as he clearly pressured Nico into the mistake.

Hamilton had recovered brilliantly from a rough start to deliver a determined, focused drive to the top step.

Perhaps because it is the last race on the European calendar, Monza alwaysweighs heavily on the championship.

In 2010, following an up and down first season for Ferrari, Alonso mounted his charge to the title taking a commanding victory at Monza. He went on from Monza to own the rest of the season, and had it not been for a pitwall strategy misstep in Abu Dhabi, Alonso would’ve emerged the 2010 World Champion.

Flash forward to Monza 2012 and Alonso, leading in the points, and having proved quickest all weekend, surrendered 2nd place to the flying Sauber of Sergio Perez late in the race. Given that Monza was characteristically a weak circuit for Red Bull, and that the flyaway circuits would conversely favor the Austrian team, the result would prove significant. Red Bull’s resurgent Sebastian Vettel won the next four rounds, and although Alonso held close, he eventually lost the 2012 Title at the final round in Brazil by those meager 3 points.

I suspect that Nico’s errors in Italy are going to equally cost him dearly. Having failed to capitalize on Hamilton’s Belgian retirement with a victory, the Monza result further suggests that Hamilton is immune to psychological gamesmanship. The momentum that was once in Nico’s favor now appears to be fading, and the folly may prove to haunt him not only to the end of this season but for the remainder of his career.

Ferrari 60th Anniversary in the USA Celebration

Story Mike Grudt Photos by Greg Grudt

On a recent Sunday in October, Ferrari held a little birthday bash to celebrate their 60 year anniversary in the USA. Did I say “little”, I guess I meant to say “huge” birthday bash on world renowned Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. My son Greg and I were invited as well as anybody else who wished to enjoy the largest gathering of Ferraris to ever assemble in the U.S. for a single day event. According to various accounts of the event a few more (or less) than 1,000 Ferrari enthusiasts piloted their beautiful machines there to be part of the celebration. On Camden Street just west of Rodeo there was a huge Ferrari arch set up with a “clicker” to count each Ferrari that passed through.

When we left the event in the early afternoon the number was at 918 so 1,000 or more cars is probably pretty accurate. Also, remember there were the 60 or so unique Ferraris displayed on Rodeo Drive.

We arrived before dawn as the cars were being unloaded from their car haulers to be staged in their respective spots on Rodeo Drive. We wanted to insure that we got some clean pictures before the ropes went up and the thousands of expected visitors arrived. The street was closed to traffic to host this amazing array of Ferrari classics. One car hauler of note housed one each of the Ferrari supercars and also a Ferrari 599XX Evo racer. This unbelievable collection is owned by one individual.

He drove off and returned from Rodeo to stage each of his cars and then he got to his 599XX. He fired it up and the sound was unique and powerful.

The exhausts exit out the sides behind the front wheels and this car was loud. A number of photog-

raphers stood by hoping he would drive this racer.

No such luck as it was towed to the location (but he did leave it running and blipped the gas a few times to the enjoyment of the early morning onlookers).

As the remaining car haulers unloaded their valuable cargo. Greg and I made our way down Rodeo to check the cars and get more photos. There were two new model Ferrari cars to be shown at this event. A beautiful yellow with blue stripes 458 Speciale A which is the spyder version of the 458 Speciale. The 458 Speciale A will be a limited production of just 499 cars. The big unveil was staged on an elevated platform with a huge back drop at the south end of Rodeo Drive next to Wilshire Boulevard.

There was an exclusive (even before being unveiled) 1 of 10 Ferrari F60 America model which is based on the F12 Berlinetta with a removable top much like the SA Aperta model of a few years ago.

The cars are blue with white stripes and the driver’s seat and surrounding area is bright red, while the passenger side is fashioned in black. A little differ-

ent, but it looks good. These cars will be built for the U.S. market only and all had been sold prior to the worldwide unveil at this event. For the curious minded their selling price was from $2.4 million $3.6 million depending on which source you check.

At noon a police escort led a group of at least 100 Ferrari’s from Beverly Hills High School down Wilshire and through the Ferrari arch “clicker” on Camden. The lead cars were an amazing Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyder and two LaFerrari’s and then the other 100 prancing horse examples. A huge crowd lined the street to view these machines as they made their way down the street and probably became part of history by

being present at this gathering. I believe I saw just about every model and color Ferrari at this event. This is all part of the California Dream and Southern California in particular (even though our baseball teams folded early in the playoffs).

The theme for this event was “Race through the Decades 19542014”. A number of Ferrari race cars from past and present were shown.

In addition to the 599XX, there were two FXX’s (a yellow and a pearl white example), an F1 car, a rare F50 GT and an extremely rare 1967 330P4. There was a pair of Ferrari 250 GTO’s (Series I and a Series II) and then Greg’s favorite the Ferrari 250 LWB California Spyder Competizione.

There were so many unique cars I won’t be able to list each of them.

There were at least three

notable Ferraris with a “Hollywood” connection. Steve McQueen’s Ferrari 275 GTB/4, the Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum P.I. and a white Ferrari Testerossa from the Miami Vice TV show.

That show had a Ferrari Daytona or a replica of one for the first two seasons and then they switched to the Testerossa. One of my favorite cars was the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance winner for “Best in Show”.

When I saw the silver 1954 Ferrari 375 MM at Pebble Beach in August I didn’t realize it was going to be the big winner there. At this event I was able to spend some time enjoying this rare and beautiful machine. There was a “showroom new” appearing silver over blue Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Zagato and also a 1954 375 America in dark green.

I only scratched the surface here and I know I missed listing so many of the unique and rare examples we saw.

This event had an abundance of newer Ferrari models that I was more familiar with. We had the pleasure of seeing two of the new LaFerrari

950 HP hybrids. We briefly spotted one in Monterey in August and I knew we would start to see them soon. They were each painted the typical Ferrari red (Rosso Corsa) and looked identical except one had black side mirrors and the other had red mirrors. These V12 hybrids sound great and they won’t slip by silently like a Prius. We also saw a oneoff gold colored 2010 P540 Superfast Aperta based on the Ferrari 599 GTB. I don’t know much about that car except it had Florida plates and someone mentioned it cost $4 Million. A few of the Ferrari California T turbo models were on display. One was prominently displayed at the end of Rodeo ad-

jacent to Santa Monica Blvd. The car was painted by a prominent artist and was basically white, but there were small splatters of red and blue paint that appeared to be blowing toward the rear of the car to indicate speed. It definitely looked different.

Greg and I were fortunate to attend many car events this year and this show is right up there with the best. Also, according to the pedometer on Greg’s new iPhone 6, we walked over 12 miles at this show. Our feet won’t argue with that number. As always, please enjoy his photos here and others at www.exoticcarfotos.com

Motor4Toys 2014 Story by Scott Martin Photos by Scott Martin & Motor4Toys Friends

For the Kids. That’s what Dustin Troyan was thinking about when he started Motor4Toys in 2004. He had a lot of friends in the car community through his involvement with what was then called Euro Sunday (now Supercar Sunday) and he knew they were all caring and generous people. What would happen if he just asked them to get together as the Holiday Season was beginning, invite all their friends and family, and have everyone donate at least one toy for deserving kids? The immediate reaction and heartfelt generosity that everyone felt at that first gathering in the Village Coffee Roaster parking lot led to 2,500 toys being donated. That outpouring encouraged Dustin to pursue this as a yearly event.

Seemingly taking on a life of its own in the following years, individuals and businesses stepped up to volunteer and sponsor the charitable event and so helped it grow even larger.

The continually evolving Motor4Toys moved to the 1000-space parking lot at Countrywide in Westlake Village and over 5,000 toys were donated by the charity’s second year. In its third year, the toy-count doubled again to 11,000.

The fourth year (2007) witnessed a move to the much larger parking lot of the Anthem Building in Warner Center and an increase to 15,000 toys. As all the grass-roots efforts have created a successful mega-event, fast-forward to the last two years of 2012 and then 2013 (the 10th anniversary) when contributions peaked at a staggering 50,000 toys. This year, the target is an even more challenging 60,000 toys.

Donated toys have been contributed to many organizations over the years including centers for homeless kids in Central L.A. plus the Boys and Girls Clubs, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department and LA Country Sherriff. This year, the primary recipient is Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.

And yes, people have kept volunteer-

ing. It is important to note that virtually everyone helping on the day of the event or yearround are considered to be volunteers… this is one of those truly unique charitable organizations where 100% of all toys and funds collected are donated; there are no salaries associated with the Foundation. They do this because they believe in their cause and feel strongly that every child deserves a toy during the Holiday season. The other key to all this success is knowing that this is truly a community effort, not just by single people, but by the whole car community.

Another big part of the equation is communal efforts by the car clubs. Every year, clubs come from all over California and the surrounding states to join the festivities and bring carloads of toys. Local clubs make up a good percentage of vehicles as well, sometimes with long rows of cars taking up an entire parking grid.

Individual owners are also welcomed into areas with the same make and model, or many of the lineups of parked cars are mix ‘n match. But everyone is having a great time, whether chatting with their neighboring cars’ owners or walk-

ing around visiting friends or making new ones.

Every year, a lot of quality vendors are grouped together in the front area of the Anthem parking lot. All of them relate directly to the car owners and enthusiasts who are there exhibiting their show cars or coming to look at all the great vehicles on display. Many of them are already familiar to the “regulars” from Supercar Sunday but others are receiving much deserved exposure to an entirely new group of car people. There is always some food and drink on hand, plus usually free samples provided by Monster Energy Drinks. You can also always count on The Auto Gallery to bring an impressive group of exotic cars such as McLaren, Lamborghini and Ferrari’s to get everyone excited about the high-end side of the automotive world. The Dealer will also be involved with the other major advertising supporter this year, Fiat. Presenting sponsor Coastline Motorsport will also have many of their show winning exotic and custom vehicles on display.

A big highlight of the day is always the Silent Auction and Raffle. A variety of great items are always donated which creates a lot of excitement, and all the proceeds are used to purchase more toys for the kids. Adjacent to the Auction tables you will always find the Donation tables, where Student Volunteers are waiting to receive the unwrapped toys plus checks and even cash.

Don’t forget to look behind the kids… as the morning progresses, more and more boxes fill up with more and more toys which is exciting to see!

As always, Fire, Police, Swat, Emergency and Military vehicles will be featured,

including helicopters (three last year.) Of the cars, trucks, cycles and specialty vehicles on display, the mix includes every type of collector, classic, exotic, antique, hot rod and racecar you could ever hope to see. Jay Leno, Jeff Dunham, Bruce Jenner, Jerry Seinfeld and other celebrities are known to visit and bring cars from their collections. Members of the Petersen Automotive Museum will be out in force with their vehicles this year since the museum itself just closed for a complete re-design and renovation.

The sponsors of the event have really helped in the base-building grassroots efforts that have made Motor4Toys into the stable organization it is today. Several companies have supported that slow-build growth for a long

time including The Auto Gallery, Coastline Motorsports, Superchargers Online and Lavaggio.

Many others have made it a tradition to support the yearly event at a moderate but consistent level to help the organization and the kids.

As we near the 11th Annual Motor4Toys Charity Car Show & Toy Drive, it’s a good time to step back and reflect about the history of the Charity and what it means to the kids and its place in the car community. As the Supercar Sunday, Driven World and M4T families have grown over the years, so too have our own personal families. Dustin and his wife Heather have had a beautiful baby girl, Scarlett; other members of the extended family have had kids and grandkids.

The true circle of life includes giving to others which is why Motor4Toys was created. Dustin and all involved want to thank all those who have at-

tended and supported these events as well as all the clubs and individuals, the sponsors, those that make donations… Thank you so very much for being a part of the Motor4toys Team and Family!

In the meantime, be on the lookout for the third Sunday in November when a motorcade of cars is given a police escort from Supercar Sunday to ToysR Us for the Annual Toy Run. You can either bring those toys with you to Motor4Toys or they will be collected that day into a trailer to be contributed directly into the M4T stock of donated toys. You will also have an opportunity to be in the famous yearly Toy Run Group Photo with all the toys, our Police escort and a number of exotic and collector cars in front of the ToysR Us store.

Still free entry with the donation of at least one unwrapped toy worth at least $10 Sunday, December 7, 2014 6:30 am until 12:00 pm Anthem Building 21555 Oxnard Street Woodland Hills, CA 91367 For more information or to register or donate, go to www.motor4toys.com

U.S. Team Takes On The World at CoTA, With a Little Help From The Stig Story and photos by Jim Hunter

Tracy Krohn is always happy to return home to The Circuit of The Americas just outside of Austin, TX. “It is a first-class facility and we enjoy both the circuit and Austin itself. The track is very physical with all the turns and drivers really have to focus.”

Houston based Krohn Racing was in Austin for the fourth round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, the “6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas.” Tracy reunited with his 24 Heures du Mans co-drivers Nic Jönsson and Ben Collins for the much-anticipated effort.

Competing in the WEC’s ultra-competitive GTE-AM class, Krohn’s highly visible “Mean Green” Ferrari F458 achieved a 10th place in class finish at Le Mans in their skilled hands. This dayto-night, U.S. round of the championship presented Krohn Racing a great opportunity to capitalize on that momentum and challenge this magnificent circuit under the lights in front of the home crowd.

Ben Collins, better known as the “The Stig” from BBC’s “Top Gear,” brings a wealth of experience to the team in his first visit to CoTA. Ben assumed the intriguing but anonymous life of The Stig for seven years before deciding to return to

racing in 2010. Offering his impressions on the undulating circuit, “It, a little bit, reminds me of Magny Cours because the corners are very connected and you’ve got the big straight of high speed and braking very deep into slow speed corners. The first corner here is memorable because you can see it for about three miles away when you are driving to the track, and you can brake at the 50 yard board which is spectacularly late!”

Asked about the high speed downhill sweep through turn ten, “It’s a great corner, you try to gather as much speed as you can and regardless as to what you do when you crest that rise at nine the tail starts sliding. So it’s great. That’s the sort of thing that keeps you awake in the race - very alert - because it’s very easy to lose it through that corner but at the same time you can gain a lot of lap time.”

Close to Krohn Racing’s home in Houston, CoTA also served as the perfect backdrop for the team’s announcement that they would graduate to LMP2 for the 2015 season with a new Judd powered Ligier JS P2 from Onroak Automotive in France.

Collins offered his thoughts on the Mean Green Ferrari F458 GT, which would power Krohn’s final GTE AM class efforts here and in the Tudor series at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans. “It’s very different. I mean I’ve spent a lot of time in the road car, which is extremely forgiving, easy to drive,

it’s an amazing road car. The GT version has completely different characteristics, so its very unique and I would say a very rewarding car to drive but quite twitchy, definitely very lively. It throws quite a lot of curve balls when you’re pushing it very hard it’s very sensitive on the brakes, but it’s also very pitch sensitive which means that you do get a lot of rock and roll through the corners and have to filter out what’s really happening from the

car just wrapping your knuckles. It’s a lot of fun.”

Regarding the move to prototypes, Krohn offered, “we have been running with GT cars for several years now (F430 and F458), we also ran in Daytona Prototypes for a few years as well.” The Ligier LMP2 comes to us from Onroak Automotive in France. We’ve been talking to them for almost a year and half now to get this done.”

“We’ve tested the car at Magny Cours.

A popular conception (with a prototype) seems to be that it’s an easier car to drive. It’s not an

For Sale

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Custom hood by Magoo.

The engine is a Chevy 4.3L V6 fitted with a B&M Blower, Holley 600CFM Carb, GM Splayed-Valve

easier car to drive; it’s a better car to drive; fantastic under braking, fantastic down force.

There’s just a lot more confidence in it when you reach the braking zone and turn in, you know that you’re gonna have plenty of grip”

“We struggled on engine choice,” Tracy continues. “We had several different choices and settled with the Judd which is, believe it or not, out of Rugby, England. Exactly where the game started. So it’s a tough game, tough engine!”

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maintenance of Judd’s naturally aspirated V8 unit.

Thus, 2015 bodes well for the team.

“We expect that we’ll do Daytona and Sebring here in the states, and then we’ll also do some international racing. We’re trying to do a full series. We’re not sure yet whether that’ll be WEC or ELMS or a perhaps a combination of both, but the idea would be to compete for a championship . . . we’re looking forward to it.”

Collins hopes to be there. “They just announced the LMP2 program, I’d love to be a part of that because most of my career has been spent in single seaters and prototypes, so that’s very much what I do. It’s a great step for Tracy and Nick; they make a great partnership, and they are great teammates.”

It shows in the results. The trio managed a sixth place in class finish in a dramatic race momentarily suspended by a torrential Texas summertime storm. It will be exciting to follow the Mean Green Krohn Racing Machine’s move into worldwide prototype competition next year.

Car Culture A

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Mark Llewellyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Day at the Museum It was the turn of the century, Y2K and Dr. Dan Murphy was retiring from 27 years of medical practice in Ventura County. Over the years, the retired Neurosurgeon has spent his free time enjoying his family, getting in a round of golf, and collecting automobiles, particularly Packard’s.

Dr. Murphy found his car collection growing into the twenties and storing the vehicles was becoming a problem, both in cost and having the access to enjoy them. Dr. Murphy and some friends brainstormed the idea of creating their own auto museum. The cars that they owned were pristine and at that time, the Ventura area had no auto museums for the community to enjoy. Dr. Murphy thought there must be more individuals like he and his friends that had the same need for storage of their classic cars, and thus the Murphy Auto Museum was born.

Created with the auto enthusiast in mind, the Murphy Auto Museum was for both car owners and people who might not be able to afford a classic car but appreciated their beauty.

The museum accomplished both tasks. It offered car owners an affordable place to store their classic car ($250.00 per month), and made the vehicles available for the community to enjoy at just $9.00 a ticket. The layout of the museum makes it convenient for the vehicle owner to take their car out for a Saturday drive and return it after enjoying the day – no problem.

You can find cars on display from the early 1900’s up to late model Muscle Cars. What adds to the uniqueness of the museum is the addition of vintage travel trailers, motorcycles, scooters and boats. There is also a large collection of automobilia on display courtesy of Leon’s Transmissions, the museum’s first corporate sponsor. The vintage collection offers everything from pedal cars to an original “Bob’s Big Boy” statue. There’s even a life-size talking robot from the 60’s TV show, “Lost in Space.”

Another point of interest is retired movie wardrobe artist Connie Kornstein’s collection of mannequins dressed in attire reflecting the year of the automobile on display.

The museum periodically hosts themed exhibits. Most recently their “Modernism at the Murphy” highlighted automobiles from the 50’s such as the ‘Studebaker Avanti’ and featured furniture and décor form the same period. During the summer months the museum hosts outdoor movie nights, usually with an automotive theme in mind.

Due to the vastness of the 30,000 sq. ft. museum, it soon became home to the “Gold Coast Model Railroad Club.” Their permanent display is over 1,800 sq. ft. and a wonderful addition to the museum. The museum also has an independent auto shop where the classic cars can receive maintenance and repair.

You can see that this little “gem of a venue” has many things to offer. Don’t be surprised if you see foreign visitors and soldiers from the local military bases viewing the museum’s collections. The museum is located at 2230 Statham Blvd in Oxnard, and is open weekends and selected weekdays. A donation of $9.00 per person over the age of 13 is appreciated to help keep the museum going. Children 12 and under are free. For more information and photos, visit www.murphyautomuseum.org.

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United States Postal Service Unveils Hot Rod Stamps

Story and Photos by Greg Grudt

On Wednesday, August 27, 2014 the Petersen Automotive Museum hosted the unveiling of two commemorative USPS Hot Rod stamps. The two iconic Hot Rods that are now featured on the latest forever stamps were each on display upstairs in the Petersen Museum for the press and invited guests to see firsthand. The McGee Roadster (red car) is owned by car collector and Supercar Sunday regular Bruce Meyer. The Frank Rodgers Roadster (black car) is owned by car collector Mark Graham. Vern Tardel, the builder of the 1932 Frank Rodgers Roadster was also present at the event.

Barry Meguiar, Host of “Car Crazy” emceed the event and did a great job as always. The Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe was on hand to help unveil the stamps and sign autographs af-

terwards. “These Hot Rods stamps personify the beginning of America’s fascination with customizing fast cars,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in presenting the stamps. “And they’re just as popular today as they were decades ago.

Just like the cars they celebrate, these stamps are timeless in that they’re good for mailing First-Class letters anytime in the future.” Patrick also talked about the interesting process on how stamps get chosen each year by a committee.

Each of the owners spoke about their unique cars and how they acquired them. “The Postal Service honoring Hot Rods and Hot Rodding is a giant step in the long over-due recognition and appreciation of this pure American art form,” said Meyer. “Hot Rods are like jazz and base-

ball when it comes to American achievements, and the McGee Roadster is the Holy Grail of early hot rodding. Kudos to the Postal Service!” Not many people can say that they own a car that has been featured on a postage stamp. Congratulations to Bruce and Mark on this amazing achievement!

The new stamps, first day issues and other related items were on sale throughout the duration of the event and those involved with the ceremony were on hand for interviews and autographs. The stamps are available at your local post office or by visiting www. usps.com. Be sure to pick these up soon so that you can mail your letters and bills in style.

Low Range 4x4 Club Rock Supercar Sunday

Story by Dustin Troyan Photos by Jim Stoneman

One of the most amazing things about World Famous Supercar Sunday is the diversity of the enthuusiasts that attend. The event is truly a kaleidescope of just about everything automotive. You never really know who or what is going to show up!

When the Low Range 4x4 Club mentioned that they wanted to have a “Club Day” at Supercar Sunday we were hugely excited.

We have gotten many offroad vehciles over the years, but to have a whole 4x4 club roll in at the same time, well, that would be an awesome sight.

Coordinating the Low Range Club Day at Supercar Sunday was a breeze. When I spoke to Mike Duval about it and how the group should come in, he just chuckled. The Low Range 4x4 Club is one of the most active 4x4 clubs in California and when they do club events, they are always highly coordinated. Further, they are all on the same CB Channel and are always in communication. So pulling into a parking lot with 40-50 Jeeps was a simple task compared to navigating

down a narrow cliffside or up a steep mountain.

It was dark when the club rolled into Supercar Sunday. The amount of L.E.D. lighting on the Jeeps was probably enought to light up the entire West Coast. What you have to understand about Low Range is that they mean business. Their Jeeps are as tricked out and purpose built as a “streetable” vehcile can be. They are a hardcore group of Off roaders and it shows.

It was an awesome sight to see the 50 Jeeps roll in. From the latest and greatest to the classics there was an example from every genre of Jeep heritage. The “regulars” at Supercar Sunday wentt crazy . Whether it is a race car or a gnrarly offroad vehicle, we can all appreciate ability and fine craftsmanship. If it takes gas, we love it!

As the Jeeps pulled out of Supercar Sunday, they headed over to a brunch at Lavaggio- The Art f Auto Detailing in Agoura Hills. The brunch was sponsored by Shaver ChryslerDodge-Jeep -Ram in Westlake. A little secret,many of the Shaver team members are also big offroad enthusiasts and know the club well from all of the Jeeps they have sold to members and Jeeps they have customized over the years. It was a match made in heaven, an ethusiastic club with an enthusiast dealership supporting their event!

Who could ask for more!

A very special thank you to the Low Range 4x4 Club for a spectacular event! Hope to see you out on the trail someday!

Route 66 Reunion

Story & Photos by Jim Hunter

Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion Weekend 2014 in historic downtown Ontario, California, was a smashing success by anyone’s standards. Michael Krouse, President and CEO of the Ontario Convention Center & Visitors Bureau estimated the three-day event attracted over 200,000 attendees, or 44% more than last year.

He expects the numbers to keep increasing based on the turnout and enthusiasm of all involved.

Since 1990, the City of San Bernardino had been host to the Stater Bros Route 66 Rendezvous Classic Car Cruise where the old Route 66 had gone through the area. After financial problems developed for the city, the Route 66 celebration was graciously hosted by the Inland Empire’s City of Ontario in partnership with the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau starting last year.

Yes, we’re talking about the same Route 66, “Mother Road” or “Main Street America” that helped a huge part of the American population escape the Dust Bowl during the 1930’s and connected much of the country for 2,500 miles from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA. The lost highway known as Route 66, established in 1926 and officially decommissioned in 1985, continues to live on in the imaginations of millions of people around the world.

It looks like a pretty good percentage of the population will continue to descend enthusiastically upon Ontario from as far away as Australia and Japan. They go there to reminisce, to share stories, to teach their kids, to enjoy each other’s cars, and mainly, just to have a good time among a group of people that share a common bond.

Cars began arriving Friday morning September 19th for the new annual Reunion cruise, but the event did not officially begin until the ribbon cutting at 5:00 pm for the new Ontario Town Square and Amphitheater. Mayor Paul Leon did the honors, along with City Council members and special guests Rick and Kelly Dale of History Channel’s “American Restoration” series.

Live music by The Little River Band kicked off the festivities following the ribbon cutting, but by that time, the Cruise was already going full-blast on the streets.

Historic Euclid Avenue was blocked off to traffic for 9 blocks, which led to over a two mile total cruise. Since there is a median down the center of Euclid that meant a total of 36 blocks were lined with classic vehicles, 1975 and older. Many of those were set up as “Cruisers” with amazing paint and interior detailing plus, of course, crankin’ sound systems. There was a constant stream of every make, model and pre-’75 year of customized and restored vehicle cruising around the “circuit” and cars kept leaving their parking spots to join the cruise and re-parking to take a break.

The weekend featured hundreds of cruis-

ing and spectator’s cars, vendors, model car contests, family entertainment, every type of food and drink, and all the people-watching you could imagine. There were also two stages for live music including “Von Hot Rod’s Shindig” which was

Story and Photos by Scott Martin right next to his Pin-striping Circus. The 50th anniversaries for both the Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO were celebrated, and the models were definitely represented on the streets.

One of the highlights of the weekend that only happened on Friday night was the “World’s Largest Neon Light Cruise”, with dozens of cars tricked out with special “Cruising Lights” including some neon add-ons just for this event.

Whether parked on the streets or cruising around the marked lanes by day or night, it looked like the thousands of car enthusiasts and their families had a really great time. Everyone I spoke with said they would definitely be back next year and expected it to be even bigger and better.

For information on next year’s event and photos from 2013 and 2014, go to: www.route66cruisinreunion.com

8

www.drivenworld.com

That’s our Brooks

by Brooks Smith

So, hybrids and electrics; yuck, right?

Right? Honestly, I don’t know anymore. There was a time that I knew. There was a time when there was the Prius, and the Prius was terrible to drive, and terribly dull, and there was no hope for the future. Honda had tried to make something neat with the original Insight, and been rewarded for their bravery with perhaps the ultimate oxymoron, a hybrid with an emissions warning sticker. Sure there was the Venturi Fetish (You remember the Venturi Fetish, right? Of course you do.), and the Tesla Roadster. Both of them were electric, and both were “sporty,” and both were excruciatingly expensive, and not really all that much fun.

And so, for a long time it was easy to dismiss green cars as occupying an expensive piece of real estate where fun went to die. Meanwhile we enthusiasts were looking to a future of pariah-hood. Strangely, people driving around in three-ton, hybrid, luxury SUVs were somehow seen as socially responsible.

Of course, the situation has become more complicated. Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren have recently pushed every boundary there is in their quest to make green technology sexy, including the boundary of the color green. The P1, and especially LaFerrari, have put their emphasis squarely on using batteries and electric motors to boost performance. Porsche have gone the much

Hybrid Anyone? braver route, and created a car that could be used all week as an electric commuter, then do a passable impression of an endurance racing car on the weekends.

The major problem is that fewer than 2000 people, all of them by necessity incredibly wealthy, will enjoy the fruits of these labors.

Further down the price lists, the emphasis has been on increasing the efficiency of the internal combustion engine, and, less frequently, on dropping the weight of the cars they propel. Only Honda, with the CR-Z, has made any real effort at an enjoyable hybrid, and its failure may have done more harm than good. This situation cannot continue indefinitely.

There has of course been a car on the horizon for some time which promised to address the situation, at least for those of us who are merely “quite wealthy.” In 2009, BMW debuted an eye popping concept car, reminiscent of their M1 supercar of the late 70s; the Vision Efficient Dynamics. At the time there seemed little chance of it ever seeing production, but over the next few years BMW kept wheeling out updates, and progress was clearly and steadily made. Better still, the progress didn’t really dilute the things that made the car special. It retained its low, angular styling, its turbocharged inline-three, its beetlewing doors and sophisticated hybrid drivetrain.

Heck, it even gained a carbon chassis! It also got

more efficient, and faster.

And now, here we are in 2014, and the Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept has become the i8, and the i8 is about to go on sale. It has already eclipsed the aforementioned hyper-hybrids, as well as more conventional sports cars like Alfa Romeo’s 4C as the current “it car.” It throws a lot of traditional ideas of what a sports car is out the window. As a result it’s slightly troubling, but it isn’t boring, and I find myself suddenly very excited about it. On the surface this is a little odd because in practical terms I’m no closer to owning an i8 than I am a Koenigsegg One:1, but it’s what the i8 represents that’s so important. It shows a way forward for driving enjoyment. Along with Tesla’s equally pricey, M5-humbling Model S P85, it gives us options, and sets a template to follow.

It’s already being followed. The Tesla Model 3 will bring electric performance even further downmarket. I’d be amazed if no one follows BMW’s lead with a sub $50K hybrid sportster.

These cars are ,after all, just the beginning. I think that’s what makes them so exciting; we’re watching history unfold. At the moment, the future of driving looks interesting, stimulating, and enjoyable. BMW has cracked the code, and right now, there isn’t a new car I want more than their three cylinder hybrid.

And that is not something I ever expected to say.

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Much More Than a Friday Driver Susie Wolff is a racing driver. In scarcely the time it takes to pleasantly say hello and sit down to chat about her role at Williams F1, this confident, focused, but pleasant professional commands attention with the lightest touch.

The F1 paddock, however, is not always the easiest place to keep one’s less contained emotions intact. No matter who you are, the company you keep, nor what you've accomplished in motorsport, someone will invariably, without warning, cross your path who has done it faster, better, bigger. Someone you've probably admired whole of your professional life.

As I greet Ms. Wolff at Williams’ hospitality, such a personality steps in. Patrick Head. His eyes cut straight to Susie, his face lights up, yet he politely turns to me to ask that I excuse his interruption. "Susie, I thought you did a fine job at Hockenheim. I was very much impressed", he says. Ms. Wolff smiles with unflappable, relaxed composure, thanks the legendary engineer, and returns her attention to our appointment. To remark that these individuals are professional to the core of their being would be an understatement.

In her role as a development and reserve driver at Williams, Susie is provided under F1's stringent testing rules to drive the car during free practice at race weekends throughout the season. Wolff had her first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the very impressive Williams FW-36 at Silverstone. Indeed, hers was one of the first cars on track as the session went green. Unfortunately, Wolff’s first experience in the car ended almost before it began. Wolff had only just gotten the car up to temperature when an oil pressure problem arose, leaving her no choice but park the FW-36 at Club.

When one considers the time, effort, discipline, determination, and patience required to reach this this lofty perch in motorsport, it definitely draws contemplation on just how tough that moment must’ve been. F1’s current model limits testing as a manner of keeping expenditures in check, and in doing so creates unique challenges for those aiming for the opportunity to show what they can do.

Wolff, however, is philosophical; “F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and to get to the pinnacle of any sport is very tough. Where F1 is even tougher is that there are only 22 cars on the grid of which let say six are top teams, and with the testing ban coming in, of course time in the car is the hardest thing for a rookie driver to get.”

“Hamilton, before he did his first race, did over 20,000 kilometers testing. These days you would never have a driver, a rookie driver, getting that much time in a car before their first race. It’s changed the way young drivers come into the sport, but we have simulators now which are fantastic preparation tools.”

“I could have never done the Friday sessions without all my work in the sim which got me ready for it. I think it’s incredibly tough for rookie drivers to get into F1 but I think that’s just part of the challenge, just now and there’s no point in complaining about it, because you can’t change it.”

Williams has been on the upswing this year. It’s been an exciting rebirth for one of F1’s most heralded teams, a team who once dominated the sport but have endured tough and challenging times over the past ten years.

“I think the big reason behind our comeback this year has a lot to do with the new technical regulations. Whenever you have a big technical regulation change in the sport it gives you a clean slate to start again and I think fundamentally we didn’t get the blown floor right with the old regulations. We switched to Mercedes Benz power, which without a doubt has given us an advantage this year, and we built a very solid car.

The FW-36 is indeed very competitive. Not only have Williams made use of the Mercedes power advantage, the FW-36 is clearly one of the two or three best chassis this season. Wolff has played a big role in developing the car, and considering that the car is clearly getting better, that’s impressive.

“We have very, very talented people within the team and we have new people joining. Without a doubt Pat Symmonds brought a lot to the team and I think all these factors combined meant that we were able to start the year from afresh and really make an impact and get back to scoring good points.”

Indeed F1 has become a game of development arcs. No team, no matter how strong they are at the start of the season, can afford to rest on their laurels. Not even for one grand prix. The technical war is never stagnant, with each car essentially a working test bay until the season is complete and the new chassis is debuted.

Relaying greater specificity on her role, Susie makes it easy to appreciate that being a development driver is much more demanding than simply driving the car.

“One of the main reasons I was doing the Friday session is because I do a lot of work in the simulator, and my work in the simulator has to be relevant and valid. If I haven’t driven the car, then how could I know what it’s really like compared to what’s in the simulator?”

Beyond simulator data, it is therefore the driver’s visceral on track impressions, and how they fit into the team’s objectives, which are most important.

“With all the sensors and analysis on the car, the engineers and team already get a lot of information, but it’s one thing reading figures, graphs, and tables and it’s another thing as to how the driver feels in the car, because the driver needs to have confidence in the car before he or she can push to get the maximum. So of course the feedback the driver gives it has to relate to what the data says but it has to be the first point of information that the team take in order to improve the car.”

Susie adds, “on a Friday morning when you have a driver in the car that’s not the race driver, you very much need that driver to bring the same data back as your race driver would, because otherwise you lose a session, you end up on the back foot trying to catch up.”

“I was very much on Valtteri’s program (at Silverstone and Hockenheim) and I knew what I had to do for the team so it

Story and Photos by Jim Hunter

wasn’t a case of going out and doing a quali run getting the best lap time. It was a case of doing what Valtteri would have done to give the information back to the team.”

Susie’s appearances in the FW-36 made her the first woman to participate in a F1 weekend since 1992. Her resume is impressive, with several seasons in the German Touring Car Championship, the British F3 Championship, and Formula Renault. She joined Williams in her development role in 2012, but the seat time did not come until this year. That said, she has clear insight on the challenges 2014’s F1 cars bring.

“The throttle pedal is a lot longer, because there’s so much more torque in the car. You need to be able to feed the power down much more sensitively than you did in the past and without a doubt that for me was the biggest difference between driving this year’s car to last year’s car.”

She elaborates, “Last year you would’ve just hit the power exiting a corner, this year you have to feather it in so slowly, upshift early, because as soon as you start to get too much power down you immediately get oversteer in the rear.”

Like all racing drivers, attention to fitness is critical and Wolff spends much of her energies focusing on those aspects that specifically benefit an F1 pilot. “I do a lot of heat conditioning. The main fact is that you can’t afford to bulk up and you can’t afford to put on extra kilos and muscle weight. It’s about being very strong but also staying very compact, which means you can’t bulk up. It’s a lot of neck and upper body, and I do a lot of Pilates and yoga just to open up my shoulders – I sit all the time like this – so all the muscles here become very strong, but the muscles in the back, to actually keep you upright, become weak because they’re not being used as much as the ones in the front, so (in training) it’s more a case of trying to balance out.”

F1 drivers rarely have the luxury of spare time, so we keep our meeting brief. In the span of less than ten minutes she’s relayed incredible detail about what it really means to serve as a development driver in F1 and the enormous responsibilities the role brings. Susie’s positive outlook serves as a good example for all, no matter how tall our challenges might be, “I think as much as people may think my role is frustrating that I’m not in the actual race car I’m also incredibly proud that I’m in the F1 paddock because there are many drivers that would love to be here and love to be driving an F1 car. I’m part of a brilliant team, a team with an incredible heritage which is on its way back to the front and to be part of that journey is something quite special.”

And her favorite circuit? “Silverstone! I love Maggots, Beckets in an F1 car, it’s phenomenal.”

Larry’s First Car...1968 Charger

Photos by Greg Grudt

When Larry brought his 1968 Charger to Supercar Sunday he had quite the story to share. The original owner, his passion for his Charger goes back to it being his dream car and spending time with his father, who suggested that a car is not an investment and loses money... and lots of it. Fastforward forty-six years and Larry’s pride and joy is pretty valuable...but the value is not in the car itself, but the memories it has created. Larry’s story....

My story unfolds this way:

In 1967 I ordered from the “sales manager” of Foothill Dodge, in Tujunga, a new Dodge Charger (1967 model).

He proceeded to steal my deposit. He kept lending me new cars off the lot to drive while I was waiting (in-vain) for my new car to arrive.

After about a month, the owner of the dealership asked me why I was hanging around all the time. I told him that I was waiting for my new car to arrive. He responded, “what new car?” I showed him my order form receipt. That got the sales manager fired and arrested (he also stole 3 other people’s deposits). It was too late in the year to special order a 1967 Charger the way I wanted it equipped. He offered me the same low offer on the 1968 Charger that hasn’t come out yet. All he had was a picture of it. Of course I said “ok”. When my car arrived in Long Beach, the owner of the dealership had it picked up and brought to me right away.

I was in possession of my 1968 Dodge Charger for two weeks

before any of the local dealerships received any. It was very exciting when I would drive into a Dodge dealership with it, literally about half the employees would come running to check it out.

I was earning $1.35 hour when I purchased my 1968 Dodge Charger and my payments were $55.00 a month for the three years until it was paid off.

I knew that cars were built for speed, not punishment. That was my reasoning for ordering my car with a 383 cubic engine with only a two barrel so I would not be tempted to race any and every one. That was the same size engine that the police were using that year and that made me feel that it would be a very reliable engine. I didn’t consider the 318 because I was towing my 18 foot cabin cruiser boat and I felt I needed a stronger engine.

My father tried to discourage me from buying a new car because he said that they lose $1,000.00 in value when you drive them off the show room floor. I told my dad that I would keep it until it went to “junk yard” to make sure I got all of the value out of it. Happily he lived long enough to see the long term value. I lost my father in 2011.

Larry, thank you for sharing! I am certain we all can appreicate those amazing memories you have with your Charger and your family! Well done on keeping a car since new and restoring her to perfection!