Home Sweet Home Safe and effective home security is a fundamental component of every homeowner’s experience. Below are some tips to help you think about your own home needs. Install an alarm system: Whether wired or wireless, in today’s technically savvy market, there are a wide variety of options. Place security signs and stickers in visible locations. Your homeowner’s insurance may offer you a discount for an approved alarm system. Secure your doors and windows: Insure your door frames are strong with protected hinges. Install deadbolts and/or upgrade
to smart locks. Reinforce your sliding glass doors and windows with door sensors or glass break sensors. And, if your door has a mail slot, make sure an intruder isn’t able to reach through to unlock the door. Plant prickly and thorny bushes and hedges: This is an especially good idea underneath first floor windows. Holly, flowering quince ( Japonica), Whitethorn (hawthorn), and thorny climbing roses/briars that can be trained to grow up walls and gates are all great ideas. Keep plants and trees close to the home trimmed so as to avoid places that could be used for “cover.”
Light everything up: Ample outdoor lighting is a great deterrent. Place motion detector lights, flood lights, lights on timers, solar powered lights or a combination of these near the garage, along pathways and/or any other exterior structures. As Kathleen Norris, the poet an essayist, so elegantly wrote, “Peace, that was the other name for home.” We hope the above offers a few practical options to help honor this sentiment.
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FROM THE EDITOR A
L E T T E R
B Y D U S T I N T R OYA N
Help. I don't really like asking for help. I hate it actually. I do ask for help here and there. Things like, "Can you give me a ride to pick up a car?," or "Can you help push a car?," or simple little things. But, asking for help, not my strong suit. I guess I can be very stubborn at times. I probably get that from both my parents and it is a trait that is also found with my wife and has been passed to my daughters. Stubborn like an oak tree. I think it is easier for me to ask people for help when it is not about myself, but I still hate it. Case in point is the Motor4Toys Charitable Foundation (www.motor4toys.com). Over the years, we (Motor4Toys) have asked you to help the less fortunate by bringing toys for kids during the holiday season. And most of you have responded and helped. We have asked you to invite your friends, to do toy drives at your work to maximize the amount of toys being brought to the show and to invite your car club to join us. The response has always been incredible. Collectively, what we have all accomplished during a couple months has really made a tremendous difference for children. It is something that I am so proud to be a part of as well as so grateful to all of you who have helped to make it happen. It is important to give back and to also share the lesson or illustration of giving back to those around you. It could be that you are sharing the illustration with your own kids, your neighbors, anybody really. But, the by-product is that you have changed the world. The hope is that you do it simply to do it. For no other reason than altruism. In a perfect world we would all realize that if we help someone, we are actually helping ourselves and that if we decide to do something, we do not need acknowledgement. The joy and the hope means more than anything else. All this being said, this year for the 16th Annual Motor4Toys Charity Car Show and Toy Drive, I am going to ask for your help. I am going to see who can open doors, pull some strings, make some magic happen...and probably get absolutely nothing out of it other than knowing that some kids somewhere in California, who might not of otherwise been acknowledged or given any hope, well, you changed that. It may sound silly, something as simple as a toy brings a child joy and hope. But it is something very much bigger than just a toy. If you read last months letter from the editor, you know that my father has not been doing well. My father, the greatest man I know and have ever met, well he grew up in an orphanage outside of Detroit. I suppose I have thought about his early years quite a bit, but I have no real concept of what his childhood was like. Nor could I probably ever imagine it. It was probably pretty awful. But, hey, he made it out and became one hell of a man. My dad has been in a real bad way for a little while now. A bit of touch and go. A time to rally around the family and keep everybody tight and close. It got to the point where I called Brother John who runs Rancho San Antonio Boys Town, an orphanage in Chatsworth. It is operated by the same group of people that ran the orphanage that my father was in all those years ago. Brother John, who is in his eighties, knows of and had visited the orphanage my father was at. In any event, I called Brother John to ask him to say a prayer for my dad and for the family. He responded that if I liked, he would come out to visit my dad
and say a prayer in person. Subconsciously, I was hoping he would, albeit a reality I was running from. My father had come home from the hospital the day before Brother John came to see him. We met and drove together to my parent's house. When we got there, my mom greeted us at the door and we went to my dad's room. Imagine waking up to see a priest standing before you, white collar and all. My poor dad...for a tough guy like him...waking up to a priest, I could only hypothesize what was going through his mind. My dad got up and we all chatted for a bit. Brother John said a lovely prayer. I started asking about the orphanage my dad grew up in. Brother John painted a picture of desperation. "There was no love, there was not enough food, it was bare bones." He carried on about how the kids were always cold and hungry and there were "no extras", it was basically survival. A cold, drab, place that was devoid of love (my interpretation of his description). I told him that my father said when he was ten years old he had to take care of the "unwanted" babies. Brother John responded that that was probably the first time he (my father) ever felt anything resembling the emotion of love and or a connection to another human being. He continued that he as amazed about the stories I told about my father's compassion towards others and how he always took care of people and coached kids year round. He said he was amazed because my father would have never had that experience or illustration. My poor dad, a man who never complained, must have really gone through hell on a daily basis. Cold, hungry, lonely, afraid, angry. I could go on and on. And here is where you come in. If you think about that kid, all alone in the world, feeling totally unwanted. Totally forgotten. Feeling utterly irrelevant, you can change that. You, yes you, reading this right now. I am asking for your help. I am asking you to dig deep. I am asking you to think about how you can help us raise the awareness about what Motor4Toys Charitable Foundation is and does. I am asking you to call everyone you know. That if you are in the media, if you are an influencer, if you have the ability to spread the word, to mobilize people, media coverage, I am asking you to do so for our 16th Annual Motor4Toys Toy Drive. I am asking to to give until it hurts. Give until you say to yourself, "I can't believe I am giving this much money, buying this many toys for kids. " I am asking you to put some work in , put some skin in the game and to make a difference. Not only could I use your help, Motor4Toys could use your help and most importantly the kids need your help. Give, give, give and then give a little more. I don't know if this will resonate with you, I don't know if I have conveyed my message in a way that I might stir your soul to hopefully take the blinders off and realize that it is so important to give and to give generously. But, this is our world. Those kids might not be your kids or your problem. But, they are our kids and they are a blessing and they are the future. Somehow my father made it out. Somehow he beat the odds and became the best man that I know and the only reason he had the slimmest of chances is because people donated to keep those unwanted kids a little warm and a little fed. From the bottom of my heart I am asking you to do as much for this year's Motor4Toys Charity Toy Drive as you can. We need to all step up. Please make a difference. For more info: www.motor4toys.com Dustin
drivenworld ISSUE 138 JAN/FEB 2022 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dustin Troyan ART DIRECTOR Staff COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group CONTRIBUTORS Dustin Troyan Mark Llewellyn Gwen Banta Tory Herald Steve Valline Steve Geldman Tommy Huth Hot Rod Jay Santos Ken Latka Richard Morey Richard Kratz
ADVERTISING / MARKETING dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053
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Driven World Magazine is published twelve times per year by Connected Media Group LLC. It is distributed at upscale locations and events all over California. It is also available online and distributed electronically to highnet-worth individuals as well as members of the car community at large. All rights 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. Connected Media Group LLC, Driven World Magazine, and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, and publisher accept no responsibility for the errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. Connected Media Group LLC does not assume liability for any products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers or editorial information.
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On the Cover: Vette Steve Geldman @imagephotomotorsports
Springfest Car Show 2018
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.
STORY & PHOTOS BY JAMES STANLEY
AUTOCROSS
AIRSTRIP Vista Ford Racing treated their VFR Customers to a day at the Speedlimit Racing Autocross
ne by one, the parking lot just outside the back gate at the Camarillo Airport filled with one fast Ford after another. Mustangs including the GT350 and Ford’s smaller but capable Focus RS and Fiesta ST’s filled the spaces. Security at airports is tight, and this airport is no different. What is different is that these muscle cars and hot hatches were lining up to tear up their tires and test their driving ability around an autocross course setup on an active runway. With the head of Speedlimit Racing at the front, the cars made their way, single file at single digit speeds, to the course on the airstrip. Once in their assigned rows, the event was underway. Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard created this event as a customer appreciation day for all of their Vista Ford Racing (VFR) vehicle owners. The morning started with a brief introduction of the VFR staff and event sponsors including: Speedlimit Racing, Wilwood, Vortech, Borla, Horsepower for an Hour, Quicklane, and Powerstroke Diesel, each with a display of their products, and vehicles to show off what they can do. For those that were interested in how some other Ford’s handle the track, Vista Ford brought out four brand new VFR vehicles to test out on the track. First in the lineup was a brand new VFR Focus ST in Tricoat Yellow that was lowered and had aftermarket wheels. As always, the Focus ST had a long list of names signed up to drive it. This hot hatch with its 250+ horsepower makes it blast to take around the course. The second vehicle in the lineup was a brand new VFR Ecoboost Mustang. Perhaps the most popular vehicle among Mustang GT owners to test drive to see if the 4-Cylinder could keep up. “You can definitely feel the difference in the corners without so much less weight in the front” said one Mustang GT owner. The third in line was the small, but deceptively quick VFR Fiesta ST. With some sticky tires, stiffened suspension, and a Borla exhaust, this car was arguably the most fun car to drive on the track. You could take it to the limit but still feel very much in control. The saying ‘it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow’ is very evident in the Fiesta ST. Just one problem, it’s not slow, just the slowest of the bunch. Nevertheless, the car is right at home on the track. Last but not least is a newcomer to the Ford lineup. A brand new 2017 VFR Ford Fusion Sport featuring a brand new prototype Borla exhaust. I know what you’re thinking... It’s a family sedan, a mom-mobile. This has got to be one of Ford’s more underrated current vehicles. This car boasts a twin-turbo V6, all-wheel-drive, and well over 300 horses under the hood! This was hands down the most driven car at the event and produced the biggest smiles. The styling of the Sport isn’t that much different from any other daily-driven Ford Fusion you see in a grocery store parking lot which makes it that much more of a joy to drive and feel it be so capable around the cones. If only it were a manual transmission, it may have produced the fastest time of the day. For LA Traffic and as a daily driver, the automatic transmission makes sense. continued->
During the event, lunch was provided by Vista Ford for all that attended from West BBQ. Massive plates of bbq ribs, pork, beef, beans, potato salad were enjoyed by all. With as much as everyone ate, it’s a surprise that times didn’t slow down due to the extra weight of a stuffed driver. Delicious as always. Towards the end of the event, timed runs began to determine the fastest cars and drivers of the day. The expectation was that the three Mustang GT350s would take the top three slots was upset by two other cars. In third place was a GT350 with a lap time of 42.585. In second place, besting the GT350 supercar was a completely stock Ford Focus RS with a lap time of 42.386. In first place was a highly modified Mustang BOSS 302 with a best time of 42.080. Less than a second apart, these three vehicles took the podium and took home trophies as well as gift certificates to Lavaggio for a free detailing. There wasn’t a disappointed person at the event with how well it went. From the younger drivers that had never participated in an autocross to the track veterans, a good time was had by all. This event is a private event for Vista customers only and their guests which made it that much more fun. Everyone had plenty of sun, food, track time and fun! If you’re interested in a VFR Vehicle, or would like to learn more about the benefits of being a part of this exclusive group, contact David Wyckoff at Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard. Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard - VFR Instagram: @VistaFordRacing Facebook: /vistafordracing www.vistafordracing.com 805-983-6511
Can One Click of a Butt ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY HOT ROD JAY SANTOS
There are significant times in our lives that create incredible memories or change the direction in which we go. Such as the birth of your first child, reaching a lifelong goal, completing something that you never thought you would or simply finding peace within yourself. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience these amazing moments and always continue to search out new challenges and memories. My passion and involvement within the car community has brought me countless new friends, associates and experiences. As we come to the end of another year, I can’t help but think, “How did I get here?” Was it by luck, a big life plan, or simply fate? As I contemplate these questions I’ve come to one simple explanation, it was one click of a button. Let me explain… My mother was born in Arizona and my father in Colorado. They were introduced by my dads best friend Ernie. Ultimately Ernie became my uncle after the both of them returned from serving in the Army during the Korean War. From what I remember, I can only recall my father talking about his experience in the war one time. He showed me the scars on his lower stomach and legs that he received from shrapnel from a hand grenade. I asked him if it was painful and what it was like in Korea. He
simply said, "It burned a lot and the weather was very cold!" I must thank my father, brother and all the women and men who have, are and will be serving in our military. Without all of you, all our lives would surely be different. Thank you. My mother and father were always planners. They looked at the big picture and planned accordingly. My dads first and only job was working at McDonnel Douglas Aircraft doing chrome plating. He got the job right after returning from Korea by luck. His sister was the secretary for the president of the company and she was able to get him right in! (He ended up working there for over 40 years before retiring) My mom took care of my oldest brother, and they all live in Santa Monica right down the street from my dads work. They were planning on having more children and started looking in the surrounding areas as well as a new area called the San Fernando Valley. Because my dad would be commuting to work with their only car, they needed to find a house that was centrally located to schools, stores and a hospital. Welcome to “Woodland Hills”. My parents bought the second house built in a housing development that is now know as “Carlton Terrace”. Woodland Hills, which
was originally named “Girard”, was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1945, offered everything that my parents were looking for. When my parents purchased the house, there were only two houses on the street. (to give you a better perspective, there’s now 50 homes on the street!) My oldest brother was the only child at that time and would wander off behind the house into the empty fields. Luckily he would be brought back home by the sheepherders. Funny now to think of that because the sheepherders always knew where he lived – of course they knew where he lived! There were only two houses on the whole block. If you read my articles frequently, then you would know that my parent’s decision to move to Woodland Hills would ultimately shape my car obsession. Our soon to be neighbors, “The Wagoner’s” were the spark towards my love of cars. As I said earlier, my parents were planners. As I got older and actually paid attention to them, they had a spontaneous side as well. It wasn’t uncommon that on a Sunday night they would announce to my brother, sisters and me, “Everyone start packing clothes, because we’re going to Yosemite tomorrow!” I’m happy to say that I’ve inherited a lot of their traits. About 11 years ago I was sitting
at a computer just like the one I’m sitting at right now. At the time, I was heavily into Harleys and was a member of a well-known motorcycle club. I also had a great passion for speedboats. Ironically, I really wasn’t even interested in cars anymore. I still owned my 1967 Mustang, but I never attended car shows. Unfortunately, I was just burned out. Then unexpectedly, everything would change. I really don’t know why, but I was being drawn towards Rat Rods. There was something that was so intriguing about them. Maybe it was the stripped down look or the custom fabrication. Maybe it was the simple fact that you didn’t have to wash it, or not having to worry about getting scratches or chips on the paint. Whatever it may be, I was hooked! Over the next year I searched online for the right one to buy. Now don’t get me wrong, we’ve all bought, sold and hung on to various cars throughout our lives. But I could never imagine how much this one vehicle would drastically change “my life”. Right from the very first day that the soon to be named “30 Rat” arrived on a flatbed, cars that were driving by stopped and admired the Model A. I’ve never owned anything like it, so it was quite shocking. I have to tell you, I wasn’t used to all the attention. Opportunities have a way of presenting themselves whether we
ton Change Your Life? ask for them or not. From that day on, they just kept coming! The first is quite memorable because it brought me to Supercar Sunday where I met the infamous and very likeable Dustin Troyan. Now let me ask you, “How is it possible that Dustin ended up living right around the block from my girlfriend Lisa’s house?” He had seen my various cars parked in her driveway but didn’t put two and two together. It wasn’t until one afternoon he came screaming by in his Mustang and I just happen to be outside in the front yard. He slammed on his brakes and yelled out of his window “Hey!” Once again at Supercar Sunday, I met my now good friend DJ Von Zell. He was the only other person there that had a Rat Rod. This chance meeting snowballed into some incredible opportunities. The first was a phone call I received from DJ, it went something like thisDJ -“Hey Jay, its DJ. Do you wanna be in a movie? I got a friend who needs some cool cars and we’ll get paid. Me - “Ok!” We ended up shooting for one day on a fun YouTube movie called “The Boss 2 – More Boss Than Ever”. Look it up, it was a blast! I met some great people and was offered multiple movie appearances because of it. Next, since DJ and I were the outcasts to some of the car clubs that
went to Supercar Sunday, I ended up starting my own car club, “Rock n’ Roll Hot Rods”. The birth of this club led to meeting countless great people across the U.S., Canada and Switzerland. Things just kept rolling along! Next, DJ and I attended “The Mooneyes Christmas Car Show
One night at the dragstrip, I was spotted for a T.V. commercial for Lucas Oil Products. “Lucas Oil TV Commercial, Grandma Lost”, look it up. That was a fun shoot and it aired regularly on the Fox Sports Channel. The actress that played the “Granny” role was as sweet as she looks!
and Drags” at Irwindale Dragstrip. Little did I know, this innocent event would send me in another direction it got me hooked on drag racing and every god forsaken thing that goes along with it! I’ve been competing in “The Summit Drag Racing Series now for 5 years. I have to say that my knowledge and skills involved in owning, building and racing a drag car have multiplied tenfold.
At that time, Rat Rods were pretty uncommon in Woodland Hills. So as you could imagine, wherever DJ and I would drive, it was literally a rolling circus. People yelling at us, taking video and pictures at stoplights and a few marriage proposals…ok, just kidding – no proposals! As a matter of fact, the regular readers of my articles may remember that I met “Barry, The Hat Buchanan” while driving
the “30 Rat”. If I could name all the people that I’ve met at Supercar Sunday it would surely fill an entire page. Redline Johnny, Electric Mike, Angie, JJ, Tim, Ritchie, the crew from The Hollywoodz, Len, Frank, Ronnie and Alan etc. etc. etc. It’s just amazing what a four wheel vehicle can do! As you can see, the opportunities and changes in my life have been quite astounding. Could this of happened if I bought an import? I think you know the answer to that. The point here is actually rather simple. I’ve always believed that everyone has a story. - The lady in front of you in the coffee shop. - The guy that’s next to you putting gas in his car. We all have a story. Get out there and follow your dreams. Our lives go by so quickly. Take a chance to give yourself the opportunity to experience something new. Take that trip you’ve always wanted to go on. Get that degree that you’ve thought was out of reach. Help that friend that could use a little help. Get on your computer and search out that amazing car that you’ve been dreaming of. You really just don’t know how much one click of a button can change your life. Wishing all of you a wonderful Holiday Season and a Fantastic New Year! See ya on the road!
W W W. S U P E R C A R S U N D AY. C O M
PHOTOS BY STEVE GELDMAN & TOMMY HUTH
W W W. S U P E R C A R S U N D AY. C O M
STORY & PHOTOS BY TONY DeFRANK
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 BY PETER BROCK
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
RoadStr App
Article & Photos by Stephen Kneubuehl
We’ve all been there. You just purchased your long-awaited car, the one you’ve been dreaming of for years, that one you’ve been saving towards, that you’ve aligned your personal goals towards acquiring. You head to the dealer, or the private seller, or the auction where you’ve purchased it, or maybe the garage where you’ve built it. You take the keys and the excitement builds in your chest as you open the car door and get in. You grasp the steering wheel, turn on the engine, and drive off into the sun. You push it hard, or for some of us, gently care for it and not dare leave a scratch. It’s a moment and feeling you don’t want to let go of. You want to drive that passion forward, share it with friends, and find others who held a similar feeling. But after a few congratulations from friends and some photos shared on Instagram, where do you turn to next? The RoadStr app was built to drive that same passion and level of excitement forward. It creates genuine connections in local communities, bringing new ways of interacting that
aren’t available on other apps or platforms. Spontaneous meetups, events and groups discovery, and high-quality car content come together in one unique place, on a social networking platform built 100% for car enthusiasts with a beautiful and simple design. And best of all, it enables real connections between real people like you and me. One of the most exciting features of the app, called RoadSharing, allows users to share their vehicle and location information in real-time on an integrated map. With a simple notification or a quick glance, users can see whether their friends, fellow group members, or the local RoadStr community are willing to meetup or are going for a drive nearby. Ad-hoc meetups can be created through a simple RoadSharing request process, and more participants can join on the fly. Cruising local routes, meeting club members, or making new friends who share a common passion was never so easy. The map feature is further enhanced with nearby events taking
place in the upcoming days, and with quality local automotive businesses waiting to be discovered. RoadStr raises the standard even further through its high-quality content generated by its users, groups, and businesses, all packaged in an easily discoverable manner through automatic suggestions tailored to your interests and favorite car brands. And it’s all encapsulated in a beautiful, simple, and familiar design. The idea for the app stemmed from the lack of a robust and comprehensive social platform focused on the auto enthusiast community. Currently as auto enthusiasts, we have to visit multiple websites, check out YouTube videos, join chats on various platforms, find events by word-ofmouth, and post on complicated forums often without any local emphasis, making it difficult and time-consuming to follow your favorite auto topics or to meet other enthusiasts. Generic platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer plenty of methods to share, but they lack the depth of features like
groups, events, and spontaneous meetups that bring us together as auto enthusiasts in the real world. “The auto enthusiast community is a very social group”, said Alberto Moreno, Co-Founder and CEO of RoadStr. “The best moments often occur in person, when randomly spotting your favorite car on the street, at local auto shows, or getting a coffee with your local car club” RoadStr is free and was just launched for iPhone and Android devices. You can download the app today and start driving your passion forward. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play: RoadStr – For Car Enthusiasts Website: www.roadstr.io Email: hello@roadstr.io Instagram: @roadstr_app
Rare Among the Rare ARTICLE BY Sandy Bettelman
SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL Manufacturer
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.
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
Tips
For 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.
Keep your Ferrari ready for your next drive. SKID PLATES 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. BATTERY MAINTINENCE 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. "STICKY INTERIOR TRIM" 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.
Mattioli Automotive Group’s service centers are happy to help with any inquiries about these and other services offered to help protect and maintain your Ferrari. Ferrari South Bay Service 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 Los Angeles Service 7051 Hayvenhurst Ave. Van Nuys, Ca 91406 (888) 545-4385 service@ferrariwestlake.com www.ferrariwestlake.com M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm
Ferrari Silicon Valley Service 2750 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA (888) 875-8963 service@ferrarisiliconvalley.com www.ferrarisiliconvalley.com M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm
The New Location
California Car Cover Simi Valley
ARTICLE and PHOTOS by Tony De Frank
After 30 years in the San Fernando Valley, California Car Cover relocated to its new home in Simi Valley, Ca in January. The new headquarters has some improved office space for our employees, plus some space for a showroom and our distribution center. We had been seriously looking for a new location in Simi Valley the past two years, so when the opportunity came up on Voyager Ave we jumped at it. Over seven weeks at the end of 2019 we gradually transitioned the operations of both our companies, California Car Cover and California Car Duster, to the Simi Valley community. It was a few weeks of around the clock work, so our staff is definitely glad to be settled into the new location now. Our team did an amazing job to sort, stack and pack 25 years of stuff we had accumulated on De Soto Ave. We chose Simi Valley based on its proximity to the San Fernando Valley for our long time customers and employees. We didn’t want to venture too far from our SFV roots. The new location is just off the Tapo Canyon Blvd. exit, so it is a 15 minute drive from our last location. It was tough to say goodbye to the West San Fernando Valley, but we are excited about the opportunity in Simi Valley. Simi is a close knit community filled with plenty of classic car and muscle car enthusiasts. Quite a few of our regulars have made the drive to our new location. Our new showroom is smaller that our Chatsworth location, but we have still outfitted the store and offices with the California Car Cover flair. In the hallways you will find some of our vintage gas pumps and nostalgia. The offices are decorated with some of the original trade show signs that we used to take to car shows in the early 1990s. One wall is dedicated to the history of our companies and the DeFrank family, so there are plenty of funny and unique photos on display here. Our monthly cars and coffee events, the Saturday Socials, will start up again in April. We will start to work with the city in the coming weeks to coordinate an open house/car show to let the Simi Valley community know more about us. Details for all of our events can be found on calcarcover.com or our Facebook page.
Aventador SVJ ARTICLE BY DUSTIN TROYAN @guyintheorangehat
The Fastest and most powerful Lamborghini ever produced, The Aventador SVJ. The ‘J’ stands for “Jota,” the most extreme version of any Lamborghini model. Lamborhgini pushed the limits in every way taking the flagship Aventador to the highest level. With 770 horsepower, all wheel steering, the naturally aspirated V12 Hypercar has redefined Lamborghini once again as a leader in hypercar category. With boutique hypercar makers like Pagani and Koenigegg leading a charge to redefine what exotic, super exotic or hyper cars are, the ”big boys” in this segment (Ferrari, Lamborhgini, Porsche, McLaren) are pushing the envelope further and further to answer the demand of rare works of art that only the wealthy can own and drive. It has become an all out race to produce the fastest, rarest, most comfortable hypercar that you can actually drive dialy if you wanted to. Crazy as it may seem, daily drivability of your hypercar has become a badge of honor. I recently recorded a Pagani Huayra with 40,000 miles for a client. True Story, forty thousand miles!
I have driven every variation of the Lamborhini Avantador with the exception of the SVJ. I remember the first time behind the wheel of the Avatandor, the Lamborghini representative warned me that the shifting was “violent” in Corsa mode. I shrugged it off, until we used the “Launch Control” setting and not only did I have whiplash, but I did see stars for a few seconds. And yes, every shift is violent. You can search back a few years and find the review, back then the car blew me away, and now after years of refinement, the Aventador has been perfected in the SVJ. Fully loaded the car is estimated to be in the $600,000.00 range, a drop in the bucket compared the contenders from the other Hypercar brands. With only 900 examples to be produced, it is an instant collector piece and is believed to be sold out. If you can get your hands on one, well, you have become part of a truly exclusive club. The Aventador Superveloce Jota boasts the fastest lap for any production automobile at Germany’s i Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Luxury Meets Eco-Friendly in Today's Homes Our individual tastes and lifestyle choices are often reflected in our home decorating decisions. As the world moves forward in environmental consciousness, many people are searching for natural, eco-friendly products to aid them in creating sustainable homes. It is projected that the market for green materials will increase to 80+ Billion over the next several years, so we’d like to highlight several popular environmentallyfriendly materials that can be incorporated into your home’s design: Wood Re-claimed wood and old wood are very sustainable choices for cabinets, wood flooring or cladding. To locate
wood that is guaranteed to be sustainably sourced and, ideally, sourced locally, google the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Bamboo and Cork Cork has always been a staple in the green world, and both bamboo and cork are classified as ‘rapidly renewable materials.’ They grow quickly so that once harvested, they replenish naturally and swiftly. Hemp Hemp is one of the fastest growing plants in the world and requires few pesticides or herbicides. As a result, hemp is a leading resource for envi-
(323) 252 1700 (310) 985 2719 Connecting the Worlds of Real Estate www.LosAngelesLuxuryHomesForSale.com
ronmentally friendly, colorful textile furnishings including sofas, curtains, bedding and pillowcases. Linen, wool, jute and organic, unbleached cotton are also excellent eco-friendly choices. Glass Glass is ideal for kitchen surfaces, tables and tiles because it is resistant to scratches and quite versatile. Glass is also one of the only materials that can be recycled indefinitely without losing its strength or purity. Lastly, think about incorporating plants into your interior design choices – they provide oxygen, natural beauty, and often omit lovely
fragrances. When remodeling your home, remember that luxury is its own reward as we make smart, ecofriendly choices in stunning home decor. Gwen Banta & Tory Herald Connecting the Worlds of Real Estate DRE# 01362887 & 01920423 Sotheby's International Realty 310 205-0305, 310 985-2719
Charles McClendon's 57 Chevy
Photos by Michael Breeding
When Charles arrived at the show, everyone went crazy. There was a crowd around the car immediately. The 57 really stopped the show! We requested a few photos to share with our readers as this is truly a stunning example. Well done Charles! Enjoy the photos! - LS1 with Custom Engine & Radiator Covers - Tremec T-56 Magnum 6 Speed Transmission - McLeod RST Hydraulic Twin Disc Clutch - RideTech Level III Shockwave System - Chromed RideTech Control Arms, 4 Link, & Sway Bars - Dakota Digital HDX Gauges - Flaming River Tilt Steering Column-Polished - Flaming River Power Rack & Pinion Steering - Billet Specialties Stiletto Steering Wheel - Billet Specialties Polished Pedals with Chromed Pedal Arms - Power Windows & Power Door Locks - Pioneer 7” Touch Screen, Navigation, Apple CarPlay - Customized Belair License Frame With Back Up Camera - JL Audio 1000W 5 Channel Amp & 12” Subwoofer - JBL Front & Rear Speakers - Custom Pressed and Powder Coated Speaker Grilles - Custom Leather Upholstery – Front and Rear Bucket Seats - Full Length Leather Console – Rear Deck to Dashboard - Custom Leather and Suede Headliner - Custom Leather Upholstered Trunk - Oracle LED Multi Color Halo Projector Headlights - Digi-Tails Sequential LED Tail Lights - Dual Trunk Mounted Optima Red Top Batteries - Eddie Motorsports Billet Hood & Trunk Hinges - Complete DynaMat Lining - Powder Coated Viper Red Frame - Vintage Air - Wilwood Power Disc Brakes – Front & Rear - Rock Valley Polished Fuel Tank - American Racing VF498 Polished Forged Wheels - 18 x 9 Rear & 17 x 8 Front - Moser GM 12 Bolt Tru-Trac Rear End - Polished Stainless Exhaust - Polished Magnaflow Mufflers - AV System, RideTech Suspension, Dakota Digital
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