Driven World Nov/Dec 2022

A LETTER

BY DUSTIN TROYAN

Another new year is around the corner. How wonderful. If you are reading this, you made it too, congratulations. The question is, what are you going to do in this new year. What are you going to do?

I was sitting having frozen yogurt with my two daughters in Calabasas the other day. It was Christmas Eve, around 3pm. A guy with his one year old and four year old daughters. Most people walked by and smiled. The little one has chocolate all over her face and the four year old is enjoying hers by herself. The Gelson’s shopping center was buzzing as people were getting their last minute needs for their Christmas dinners. So many people walked by us. We were probably there for about an hour or so. It was nice to sit down and relax with the kids. December is a busy month.

As we were getting ready to leave an elderly gentleman, very well dressed, walks up and looks at me and the kids and says, “Enjoy every moment...” That got us talking. I always find it interesting when someone says that as I know they want to share some wisdom or a story about their kids or their grandkids. This man was no different than others. He started telling me how fast life goes and how at eighty-seven, he has kids and grandkids. How he worked in Detroit, a couple of jobs at a time. How he never told a lie and how he became successful. His memoirs in a moment, I suppose.

As his wife sat in the car and we chatted for about twenty minutes. He was very kind to share principles and stories about what he felt led to his successes. Hard work, honesty, taking calculated chances, but he kept going back to how short life is. How special it is and living a good clean life is important. His wife, sitting in the car, they had been together forever. She knew that she was going to be sitting there for a while. Sounds familiar...just ask my wife.

I find moments like these interesting. I love learning from people. He had opened with how he was in the final chapter of his life, he has had a good life and I knew he wanted to share something with me. I asked him, what is your key to success, what allowed you to get where you needed to go? He smiled and said, “Set goals and don't stop." He said that "if you fall down, get back up and keep going." "Keep going like you have no other choice. " But, he reiterated, "having goals." "You must set goals and achieve them and then set more goals."

Although he was well dressed, he was not overdressed. He was confident, yet subtle. He never went into what he did for a living but he kind of had this “air” of being very successful and understated. It was a wonderful conversation. It was perfect for Christmas Eve, sitting there with my two girls.

Success, the future, setting goals, all topics that start flying around this time of year. Something about a revolution around the sun and a lot of marketing that makes us think it is time to make a change and set a goal. The once a year... “I am going to...”

So I am sitting here thinking what am I going to do differently? Or am I on a hamster wheel and I am going to do everything that I keep doing, the same way I do it? It kind of works, but, is it enough? Simply said, the answer is that it is not. It never will be. Perhaps it shouldn't be. Enough is never enough, sounds like a James Bond movie title. But, enough is never enough. When I am that old man, will I look back in the last chapter of my life and say, I did enough, helped enough, learned enough, tried hard enough, had enough adventure, and so on.

In the evenings, I watch action sports videos with my kids. Watching these guys surf bigger and bigger waves, climb the steepest mountains, try different daring things, they all know the risks, and they are willing to put it out there..why? Because they can, because they have to and because they are pushing the edge of what we believe is capable of

human beings. If you told surfers thirty years ago someone would surf an almost 80 foot wave they would not believe it. That someone would ascend up El Capitan in just over two hours and so on and so forth. There is always someone pushing hard, going further and creating something new and innovative. That adventure that takes humanity to a higher level, that invention that revolutionizes our lives, that writer that changes the world with words or that artist that inspires us through their work, where do we, I, you, fit within the world. What are you going to do?

Theoretically, I am more than halfway through my life. I am forty-seven. I have had a lot of fun. I have been a few places, gotten hurt, escaped serious damage a few times, blessed to have a wonderful family and friends, but, I need to do more. I need to be more creative. I need to feel danger, I need to achieve. My biggest fear is looking back and saying I didn’t do this or that. And at forty-two...the clock is ticking.

I am sure that if I go back to other “letters from the editor” that I have written, there might be a similar sentiment about not doing enough. I don’t ever think I do enough. Probably comes from my mom and dad, but you never want to be that person. That person that gave up. So, 2023 is here in about a week. My kids are getting bigger, my hair is thinning, I really need to get radical in 2023..

Getting radical. That is indeed what I need. If I were being honest with myself, I am nowhere near the “getting radical” shape. I could be if I listened to that old man and set some goals and stuck to them. Not rocket science I suppose, but a choice. To be mediocre or radical. I really don't want to look back and say that I was not doing my best in every criterium.

That old man, just a week before the new year, he decided to rattle my cage. I probably needed it. I just hope that I am smart enough to recognize the gift he was sharing with me. Perhaps he thought I looked like I needed a pep-talk, or a bit worn- out or he saw the kids and wanted the best for me any my family. Perhaps decades ago, someone said the same thing to him and he absorbed, processed and then began to set goals. He went for it. Once he achieved his goal, he set a new one and like that guy surfing that big wave, he acclimated to the stress, the currents, the danger. Like that rock climber he prepared and walking up walls became second nature. Most importantly they believed it possible, they trained hard, they lived it, they dreamed it, and they did it. They had goals. To be the best, the fastest, ride the biggest, be the biggest success in their endeavors.

Well old man, two days later I am still thinking about your advice. I am sharing it. Time to set some goals. Thank you old man. Thank you for taking the time, for caring and for the push. You know this, but life is about sharing inspiration with others, a true gift. We will live on with all of those we have inspired as I am sure they too will pass on their inspiration.

Set your goals. Move toward them. Don’t stop. See you at the top.

Dustin

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

COPY EDITOR DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS

Dustin Troyan Staff

Heather Troyan

Connected Media Group

Dustin Troyan

Greg Grudt

Mike Grudt

Mark Llewellyn

Gwen Banta

Tory Herald

Steve Valline Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

Hot Rod Jay Santos

Doug Cambell

Scott Martin

Steve Valline

Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

Hot Rod Jay Santos

Ken Latka Richard Morey Richard Kratz

ADVERTISING / MARKETING

dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com

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.

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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.

On the Cover:

Heaven Photo by Steve Geldman

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

The McLaren Elva

By Dustin Troyan Photography by McLaren

A car with no roof, windscreen and windows and a price tag of over $1.7 million dollars, it just makes sense. Right?

The McLaren Elva is one of the latest and rarest offerings from McLaren. Witn only 249 global examples to be produced and what will be a multi-million dollar price tag all in, one has to understand that you can, so you do and that if you have to ask...well...

One may ask what the Elva is about....

The McLaren Elva is a true Ultimate roadster; it exists purely for the pleasure of driving, to deliver an enthralling and immersive experience born from the ultimate connection between the car, the driver and the elements. The lightest road car we’ve ever built at McLaren Automotive, the Elva is incredibly agile and ferociously fast, its 804bhp twin-turbocharged V8 engine providing breathtaking performance that heightens every sense. “

Andy Palmer, Vehicle Line Director – Ultimate Series, McLaren Automotive

It is safe to say that Mclaren built this car simply because they could. Does it make sense, sure it does. If you are one of the lucky 249 owners of this ultra-hypercar, you have a true masterpiece that will appreciate faster than most other investments. If you own one, you are truly in a rarefied category. The Elva is a study of form and function, technology and art. The elements and emotions wrapped up into a Mclaren vision that only a few will ever appreciate. Some people hang their art on the wall, others drive theirs. Most of us will never see this car in person, on the road, it is already a legend. If you happen to pick one up, give me a call, I would love to see it in person.

Well done McLaren.

For more information: www.mclaren.com

Past Events

The July issue of Driven World detailed the nonprofit, all volunteer, Solvang Wheel’s ‘N Windmills car show’s history and how it supports the local community with generous donations to various charities. Now that the August 2018 show is behind us, let’s focus specifically on this past event and why Dustin Troyan, Driven World magazine Executive Editor, and his family can’t wait to return next year. We will also share with readers a few automotive exhibitors those fine octane-thirsty machines made this writer stop in his tracks while walking the show. But first some show specifics.

For those familiar with the Velocity Channel, it’s not uncommon each year to spot a face from the auto world that you recognize at this event. This year was no different as Dennis Gage, with his famous handlebar mustache, came all the way out from Indiana to tape his show, My Classic Car. Gage disclosed he expects the Solvang episode should air early next year. Be sure to tune in and get a taste of this incredible annual motorsports event.

The Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM show was free to attend and open to the public. Wheels ‘N Windmills is growing their motorcycle section which include stock, classics, customs and those with sidecars. There were 310 stunning cars on display covering several Solvang streets that were closed to normal traffic. Although you’ll find a variety of countries representing the vehicle manufacturers on display, perhaps 95% are dedicated to the American variety. For those of you who have never attended, the show’s website reveals the high quality and types of vehicles displayed year over year.

For all vehicles that were on display this day, there were over 50 awards handed out! This is due to a lengthy number of sub-categories

that had to be created to cover the wide variety of vehicles in attendance. There are 3 main categories, Stock, Modified and Special Interest. Each of those having multiple sub-categories, such as ‘55-‘57 Chevy’s, Hot Rod Coupe ’33-’48 and Pro-Street, to name a few. In a very organized fashion, awards are presented to car owners at about 3 PM to a large crowd assembled in a relaxing park atmosphere, all hoping to hear their vehicle and name called out.

The show organizers often talk about the charities as this has always been one of the main purposes of holding the events. This year’s show raised over $35,000.00 bringing the total to over $330,000.00 since its start in Solvang 14 years ago. Wheels ‘N Windmills also holds a raffle open to attendees and exhibitors with the

opportunity to go home with a brand new V8 engine. Monies collected from this raffle go to area high school Auto Shop Programs.

Don and Barbara Wagner from Clovis CA arrived in their striking yellow 1965 Chevy Chevelle Custom. Acquired 15 years ago, the Wagner’s take this beast to many shows, but it also finds itself at the Famoso Raceway track near Bakersfield. The Wagner’s found this vehicle in Centerville CA and was followed by a 4-year major restoration in the home garage. The custom airbrushed design on each side is beautifully painted and easily turns heads. Under (and through) the hood is a 468ci V8 RAT (454ci bored out to 468ci) pushing out 620hp. There is also a NOS (Nitrous Oxide System) which Wagner is now finishing up on the final installation. Once completed, the power will increase to 745hp whenever NOS is applied. Frightening!

For the stock category, Jay and Betsy Davenport from Alhambra drove in with their mint condition Laredo Tan 1961 “6-Window” Cadillac Sedan DeVille. They found this car 16 years ago at a Pasadena Ed & Al’s Auto Sound parking lot with a 4-sale sign in the window and 40,000 miles on the odometer. The engine ran rough, but the body had no evidence of rust, so they took the risk and made the purchase. What originally was going to be a quick restoration in the Davenport garage, he and his buddy spent the next 10 years meticulously replacing with Cadillac certified parts, including all rubber down to hex bolts being removed and gold cadmium plated. This vehicle has the original 390ci V8 power plant and offers 325hp. Today the Davenport’s drive this vehicle just about everywhere including long road trips to Ohio and Oregon. On a last note, they were very fortunate to find and obtain a copy of the window sticker which shows the total sale

amount of $6,567.93. Think about it. That was a huge amount of money for an American car in 1961 when the average home cost was about $13,000!

In the Special Interest category is Stuart Hanssen from Santa Ynez. Hanssen brought his 1951 Baldwin Roadster race car. There is a heartfelt story with this vehicle. Built by Willis Baldwin of Santa Barbara, the race car was purchased and track raced by Hanssen’s father, William, from 1954 through 1957. During what turned out to be its last race in Pebble Beach, William saw his good friend Ernie McAfee, also in this same race driving his Ferrari, had

Article and Photos by Steve Geldman, Image Photo Motorsports

crashed into a tree and was killed immediately. It was at this point that William decided to hang up racing and sold the Baldwin in 1959. The roadster had disappeared for decades. Fast forward to 2010. Using the powers of the internet, Hanssen used ‘Tam’s Old Race Car Site’ (www.tamsoldraccecarsite.net) and placed an ad that he was seeking the family’s previously owned Baldwin Roadster. The owner at the time, living in Connecticut, saw the ad and contacted Hanssen. Weakened by Hanssen’s story, he was willing to sell it back to the family roots. Hanssen brought it back to California and personally restored it. Having an all-

aluminum body with a Ford chassis, its powered by a 282ci Mercury V8 Flathead block with upgraded Ardun heads and rated at 315hp. This classic racer has a weight of only 2,100 lbs. The show organizers offer something special for those exhibiting their wheels at Wheel’s ‘N Windmills and arrive a day early. For a modest fee, a private BBQ dinner is served and adult beverages are available at the Mendenhall Museum, located nearby in Buellton. The Mendenhall Museum (www. mendenhallmuseum.com) is one of the largest private collections in the west coast exhibiting antique gasoline pumps, road signs, race cars, racing

memorabilia, license plates, gas & oil items, and other miscellaneous antiques. Besides having a terrific dinner, it was an experience to walk through such an amazing collection of automotive related memorabilia. When you register your vehicle for the show, you’ll receive an RSVP to this pre-show evening event.

The 15th annual Wheels ‘N Windmills is scheduled for Saturday August 24th, 2019 and will be once again held on the streets of Solvang’s Town Center. Due to high demand and limited capacity, they often sell out exhibitor spots within 48 hours of open registration which is usually in early June. Use their

website for updated registration information. Interested Sponsors should contact the organizers in March 2019. 100% of all revenues go to charity so all Sponsorship fees are fully tax deductible. For those who are interested in becoming a show sponsor and/or to display your vehicle or motorcycle, please visit www.wheelsnwindmills.com.

We hope to see some of the Supercar Sunday regulars there in 2019. I know ‘the guy in the orange hat’ will surely be there again.

Genetics of Need-for-SpeedArticle

Agoura Hills Teen Attracted to the Track Scene

Sometimes it’s just not our fault that we are car crazy! Agoura Hills CA resident Justin Crawford is not even close as a first-generation competitive driver. At only 17, he had already participated in Autocrosses and a Driver's Education program with The Porsche Club of America at various courses, including Laguna Seca. His current racing wheels is a Triple Yellow 2015 Roush Mustang

GT. Crawford’s father, Glenn, author of this article, also competes with his Arctic Silver Metallic 2009 Porsche Cayman S. Crawford’s grandparents, Ron and Phyllis, successfully raced numerous 356 and 550 Porsches in the 1960’s. Plus if that is not enough, Crawford’s great-great grandfather, William Lee Peeler, was a mechanic, racer and promoter in Corona, CA in the early 1900’s. Wow, how is that for

racing genetics?!

by Glenn Crawford

Photos by Steve Geldman, Image Photo Motorsports

@ImagePhotoMotorsports

Crawford’s Mustang GT is a six-speed manual, 5.0 Liter naturally aspirated V-8 and delivers a very fun 435 hp with 400 ft-lbs of torque. The Roush tuned suspension and a little aero work help keep it mostly stuck to the ground. However, this is not where his vision stops. Due to the realization that good fast cars are expensive, Crawford is

planning on attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is home to this country’s number 2

undergraduate real estate program, just may enable Crawford to build an empire someday. At that point of time he’ll likely be looking for wheels such as a Koenigsegg Agera RS!

Cars & Couples

I can’t believe it’s July and all the amazing jam packed fun weeks and weekends we have been fortunate enough to share with beautiful car people and couples over the last month! Doug always says “car people are the best people,” and month by month as we journey along in this world of car enthusiasts together, this absolutely rings true.

What I love most about being a car couple is there is ALWAYS an event around the bend. I am finding living this way together keeps our car dreams alive, fresh, sparks massive creativity within, and deeper connections with others. I mean how many times do we hear or have we told ourselves, “Man, that car is my dream!” Or what about the line we hear from so many super people, “This car is a dream I’ve had since I was a teen.” Well, in my humble opinion, the events and the people keep the dreams alive.

What’s happening for us as we drift from week to week cruising to different cities along the California Coast is that we’re becoming more inspired to create and live out more of our dreams in the car world. It’s like anything you are passionate about, when you get out there and change it up and are present and grateful for the experience, magic happens. Either the person, the car, the inspiration, the idea, or sometimes just the feeling of self-love living in the moment of surrounding yourself around a bunch of heal and toe drivers and tripping out as you engage in conversation with them, thinking to yourself, “did that really happen?’

So this last month we are grateful for many of those experiences week after week, and realizing how blessed all of us are in California to have so many awesome car events and people right at our fingertips to launch into. We like to fuel our dreams with a combo of neighborhood events, people and cars mixed in with brand new experiences all across California to keep us connected and forever grateful for where we live.

We have our favorites which are local and true to us, and part of our immediate car community we love being a part of and the friendships run deep. It’s cool to see those that come from all over the world pop in and enjoy what we have in our own backyard. Keeps us in a constant place of gratitude over this amazing car culture and for where we live. Our Sunday favorites that are local and true to us and part of our immediate community, the Balboa Car Show coined as “The World’s Largest Small Car Show,” which happens every week on Sundays in Orange County, and then of course, the world famous “Super Car Sunday” in Los Angeles. Our favorite once a month car event is hands down, Malibu Wheels & Waves, every second Sunday of the month.

In a given month in our journey with cars as a couple, we then like to venture out a little further and explore some new roads. The sprinkle of keeping it fresh in the car world this month have been awesome car enthusiast events invitations to the Highway Earth Car Show in Franklin Canyon Park, and the Steve McQueen Car Show and Commerative Dinner themed from the movie “Bullitt.” We are so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of both. Friendships launched with different people around beautiful, fun, different cars is what it’s all about. Hearing people’s personal journey and how cars are weaved into creating the life of their dreams, steeped in love, creativity and passion and with elements of giving back is what true California Dreaming, Cars & Couples is all about.

Life at full throttle is about keeping your dreams alive. Super car enthusiast people get out there and show up in the car world for the experience of it all and for the inspiration. Take the month to get out there and experience a new event, give back or give in. And don’t forget to drive healthy because beautiful cars, couples, people and California is waiting for you.

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

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

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

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

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

By Dustin Troyan Photographed by Mercedes-Benz-AMG

The Black Series, wow! Well done Mercedes Benz-AMG. An instant icon and rumored to be fetching $300k over sticker (that lovely market adjustment), this is another one of those cars that if you can....go get it. As gasoline goes away and electric takes over the manufacturers are pumping out some of the most amazing combustion sports cars the planet has ever seen and the Black Series is truly incredible.

The Black Series is the pinnacle of a model range, whereby MercedesAMG pushes the car to the limits in every way. Horsepower, handling, aero, aesthetics, if you wanted the very best of the best in the Mercedes Benz offerings, this would be it. The orange and black pictured here was the “launch color,” and if you have seen it in person, it is beautiful , aggressive and mean all at the same time.

AMG redesigned the GT’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 for the Black Series, adopting a flat-plane crankshaft which produces an earth shattering 720 hp, and 590 pound-feet of torque. With a top speed of over 202 mph, there is not much that can keep up with it. Putting all the power to the rear tires, the AMG’s Speedshift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, will get you from standing to sixty in 3.1 seconds.

The liberal use of carbon fiber not only lessens the overall weight of the Black Series, but to see it in person, it proves to be a work of art. Form and function as an expression of Mercedes-AMG ingenuity and vision is on display for all to see. It is truly a mechanical work of art that performs with the finest supercars in the world.

With less than 400 for the US Market...all have been allocated, but if you really want one...bring a blank check.

For more info: www. www.mercedes-amg.com

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

By Dustin Troyan Photography by Porsche

If you are a car enthusiast, you have heard all the buzz about the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Every Porsche enthusiast wants one, every collector wants one and just about everybody else...wants one. If you are one of the lucky few who are going to be able to get your hands on it, you are going to pay a hefty premium, have something that everybody wants and own an instant classic.

What makes the 718 Cayman GT4RS so special? The writing is on the wall about electric cars and the goal of the car was to: “We want to party with this car, celebrate this engine, horsepower, RPMs before some distant day where it goes electric,” says Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche GT Cars. What does that exactly mean?

Porsche decided to throw everything it could to model the GT4 after it’s big brother and Porsche flagship, the GT3. With the same motor as the GT3, the GT4 makes just nine horsepower less, producing 493 hp and 331 lb-ft. All Porsche RS cars are fitted with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch and the GT4 continues the tradition. As the RS models are “track cars,” it is the ultimate in shifting gears, fast and precise.

The GT4 is track prepp’d. The aero updates produce about 25% more downforce compared to Cayman GT4. More suspension adjustments are offered to provide the ultimate in track tuning, with stiffer springs, new faster-reacting Bilstein’s, wider tires in the front, you will go as fast as your talent allows you.

There is so much more to the 718 GT4 RS, there is simply not enough room on this page. In any event, if you can get one, do it. Even if you don’t drive it, it may be a better investment than...

For more information: www.Porsche.com

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.

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.

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

Los Angeles based Bliss Car Wash today announced the Orange County launch of its Bliss car wash brand, an eco-friendly chain of car washes sensitive to water usage and environmental factors. In a ribboncutting ceremony yesterday with local Placentia officials, CEO and Founder David Delrahim pledged to donate a new fresh-water well to the nonprofit, Wells Bring Hope, each time he opens a new car wash. The Placentia car wash, at 600 N. Rose

Drive, is the first in a line of many car washes expected to open under the Bliss brand name in California. The brand is founded by Delrahim, a California businessman and philanthropist.

Delrahim and the Bliss company chose to work with the nonprofit, Wells Bring Hope because of its mission of drilling wells to bring safe water to rural villages in Niger, West Africa.

“Fresh water is a precious resource, especially here in South-

ern California. While our business practices at Bliss are set with water conservation in mind, our giving practices are geared toward helping people who badly need fresh water just to live,” said Delrahim.

“We are grateful to David Delrahim, who is helping us with our critical mission to save lives and empower people by bridging the gap between clean water and healthy living in Niger, West Africa,” said Barbara Goldberg, Founder and President of Wells Bring Hope.

The Bliss car wash model was conceived by David Delrahim, who is passionate about the environment and water conservation. The new Bliss car washes use technology that constantly monitors fresh water usage, using 68 percent reclaimed water. The company also only uses cleaning products that are biodegradable and utilizes low-energy consuming machinery.

David Delrahim is a Los Angeles based businessman and philanthropist and has nearly three decades

of experience in the car wash industry. Water's crucial role in accomplishing the world’s development goals is widely recognized. Africa faces endemic poverty, food insecurity and pervasive underdevelopment, with almost all countries lacking the human, economic and institutional capacities to effectively develop and manage their water resources sustainably. David is passionate about changing communities for the better and creating economic opportunities for the people of Niger by connecting them to clean potable water.

About Bliss Car Wash

Bliss Car Wash offers premium unlimited wash memberships at a great value. We are a refreshing car wash experience because we ensure that your car is cleaned responsibly, using cleaning products that are bio-

degradable and safe for the environment. We are water warriors, so we fight to protect it at every turn and closely monitor our usage.

About Wells Bring Hope

Wells Bring Hope is a 501(c)3 that was founded in March 2008 by Barbara Goldberg. To date, it has funded 568 wells and transformed the lives of over ½ million people with safe water in Niger, West Africa, the poorest country in the world. Wells Bring Hope partners with World Vision (WV), one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world for its well drilling and maintenance.

Past Events

The 2019 Classic Auto Show

The Classic Auto Show (CAS) is a car person’s delight. This year’s CAS was held March 16-17, 2019 at their new location, the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.

This year’s Grand Marshall was comedian, radio and television personality Adam Carolla who cut the ribbon early Saturday morning, officially opening the doors for spectators to enjoy the estimated 2,000 vehicles that were on display both in-

side and outside the buildings of the sprawling facility.

Some of the vehicles included rarely seen, museum quality classics, celebrity builds, as well as and hundreds of vintage and modern rides from dozens of the top car clubs in Southern California. Whether it was hot rods, low riders, sports cars, race cars, American muscle or foreign marks, the Classic Auto Show has become one of the major automotive events in the United States.

Features such as Restoration Row offered enthusiasts the opportunity to learn the latest techniques to get their build up and running. There were pin-striping demonstrations with master striper Johnny Martinez and other special attractions, including “40 Shades of Green” (a collection of green vehicles to commemorate the St. Patrick’s Day weekend on which the event was held). The organizers also introduced a new “Classic Truck Tailgate Party” with a

variety of vintage pickup trucks, set amidst a family-friendly atmosphere with live bands. To top it off, one of the most sensory overload features was the addition of several vintage, nitro burning top fuel dragsters that performed live push starts thanks to former NHRA Director of Competition Steve Gibbs and his team at Nitro Revival.

While the cars were the stars, the Classic Auto Show also attracts many celebrities from the automo-

ARTICLE BY Ken Latka Photos by Ken Latka and Richard Morey

tive world. This year attendees got to experience meet and greets with Bogi from “All Girls Garage”; Wayne Carini from “Chasing Classic Cars”; metal fabricator, Land Speed Record Holder and television personality Jessi Combs; Mike Finnegan from “Roadkill”; Dave Kindig from “Bitchin Rides”; Christy Lee from “All Girls Garage”; iconic racecar driver Lyn St. James; the First Lady of Motorsports and Miss Hurst Shifter Linda Vaughn; Mopar Guru

Mark Worman from “Graveyard Cars” and many more.

The Classic Auto Show continues to be a fantastic addition to the Southern California car show scene, and if you have the chance to attend in 2020, make certain you put it on your calendar.

Join us for coffee and donuts at Lavaggio in 2023. Space is limited to 45 cars so you must RSVP. If you wish to invite a friend pleaselet me know and I will check availability.

We expect a wonderful variety of cool cars and even cooler people. Our last event with the Television Motion Picture Car Club was a huge success and we had so many people asking us to start up our summer event series so here we go.

We hope to see you Saturday and we are looking forward to a wonderful morning!

Event Details: Monthly

For more information:

Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com

Lavaggio- The Art of Auto Detailing www.lavaggio.net 818-584-3240 30205 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills, Ca. 91301

You are invited to Cars and Coffee at Lavaggio!

Photographed by Steve Geldman | @ImagePhotoMotorsports

The 2023 Corvette Z06

The Corvette Z06, America’s answer to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and other supercars. America is back and in a big way, and the 2023 Corvette Z06 is coming to rock the sports car world.

When Chevrolet released the C8 Corvette, the new mid-engine design and totally new looks transformed the Corvette into the modern supercar era. Corvette and other sports car enthusiasts were tripping over themselves to be one of the first owners of the redesigned icon. That being said, everyone and I mean everyone was waiting to see what Chevrolet would do for the flagship Z06.

The Corvette Z06 is what the GT3 RS Porsche is to Porsche...every modern supercar has a big brother that is a bit faster, a bit lighter, a bit better handling, a bit rarer and naturally more expensive and desirable. Enter the Corvette Z06.

The Corvette Z06 has an all new and radical power plant which is a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 features a flat-plane crank that revs to a screaming 8600 rpm. The engine produces 670 horsepower and will sound more like a Ferrari or Lamborghini on steroids than a traditional American muscle car. The Z06 is both stiffer and a bit wider than the Stingray and if you so choose you can select the Z07 package which reduces weight a bit more, adds more aggressive aero features, better brakes and tires. If you are contemplating the Z06, you absolutely must get the Z07 Package. Also optional, are a set of OEM Carbon wheels which weigh an incredible 41lbs less than the standard wheels. Yea, you have to do that too. The eightspeed dual-clutch transmission puts all the power down to the rear tires and thank goodness you have a ton of race ready rubber. Hold on to dear life and be prepared for a mechanical symphony that no other Corvette has ever sounded like... this is the Corvette to own. And yes, pick every option you can, this car is another instant collectible that will only go up in value.

By Dustin Troyan Photography by Chevrolet

MoBetter MOPAR Performance

The third generation (Gen III) Mopar HEMI engine was introduced in 2003 as an option for Dodge RAM trucks (now just named RAM). Two years later it became available in LX platform cars—Dodge Charger and Magnum and Chrysler 300. The new generation of HEMI engine features very high-power output which starts with cylinder heads that flow prodigious amounts of air. The valve train is very stable thanks to the incorporation of rocker arm shafts and the bottom end features a deep skirt block and

cross bolted main caps to provide an extremely strong engine block. The engines have come in a variety of sizes ranging from 5.7L to 6.1L, 6.2L and 6.4L. While the stock levels of horsepower available from these engines since their introduction range from “fun and giggles” levels to “Hang on!” Demon levels, to all true muscle fanatics, there’s always room for more. More power. More torque. “Hang on!” power not enough for you? Do you crave “MOPAR Mayhem” power levels?

Well, if you’re looking to up your game under your hood, read on to learn about the best modern HEMI engine builder in the country, Better Built Performance. Understand that when we say Better Built Performance is the best HEMI engine builder, we’re not saying that based on press releases or marketing materials. We know because we’ve had them build us not one, but two high performance engines that proved to be strong as anvils while producing extreme levels of horsepower.

Better Built Performance is based in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Their team has extensive experience in building MOPAR engines for the street, street/track, and pure racing engines. The builders have a purebred pedigree that a Kentucky Derby race winning horse would envy. Consider for a moment Better Built Performance’s experience in NASCAR racing. Here is an environment so competitive that grams of weight and fractional horsepower improvements can mean the difference between winning and losing. A NAS-

CAR Cup engine displaces 358 cubic inches and produces around 850 naturally aspirated horsepower. To get that kind of power from a small block requires revving the engine to nearly 10,000 rpm and running at wide open throttle 90% or more of the time. But it’s not enough to just squeeze more than 2.3 horsepower from every cubic inch of the engine at extreme RPM, a Cup engine has to hold together and survive while running at WOT at almost 10,000 RPM for hour and after hour of racing. It’s not enough to make extreme

power, a NASCAR engine must have rugged durability while making this power under conditions that are trying to tear the engine apart every second that it’s running. It’s easy to make an engine that produces a lot of horsepower…for a short period of time. Likewise, it’s easy to make an engine that is very durable…as long as it’s not making a lot of power. But to make a ton of power, pushing every internal component to the razor’s edge of weight reduction while being subject to extreme RPM and load and to make that engine reliable and

durable enough to do this for hour after hour in a 500-mile race, well that is what separates the contenders from the champions. Now consider Better Built Performance’s Chris Martin, engine builder extraordinaire, who personally built all of the motors for Dodge’s four truck teams in the then Craftsmen Truck series in 2004 and 2005. Dodge won the championship those two years in a row with engines built by Chris and the boys who work at Better Built Performance. One year the engines the Better Built Performance workers made accomplished something remarkable. Dodge ran four race trucks for the full series of 26 races. One engine per truck per race. The engines that Chris Martin and team built not only won the championship, but also not one of the 104 engines they built failed during a race that year. ‘Nuff said. The first engine we had this crew build for us was for a street/strip Dodge. The supercharged engine produced north of 750 horsepower at the crank, yes, more horsepower than you get from a Hellcat. It was smooth as glass on the street, and became a race winner on the drag strip. We tortured that engine and it never complained. It was fast and consistent enough on the track that we won some big races and not once, but twice earned second place in the Premier Street Car Association’s Pro class. To place in the top two of a year’s championship racing series requires more than just lots of power, it requires durability and consistency over many races throughout all kinds of conditions. Chris and the rest of the team at Better Built Performance gave us that in spades. And note that we said this was a street/strip car. We put over 18,000 street miles on this engine, literally getting groceries, driving hundreds of miles to get to various race tracks where we’d change tires, race, and then drive home. But wait, as they say on television, “There’s more.” We didn’t just drive the car to races, we pulled a trailer weighing close to 2,000 pounds loaded with jacks, tools, race fuel, race wheels and tires, spare parts, pit gear, generator, air compressor, etc. And that’s not counting the luggage, computers, and stocked coolers we had in the car itself. And we did this over and over again for two full years. We’re

pretty sure you do not want to try this in a new Hellcat. Going up the Baker grade on Interstate 5 heading to Las Vegas is tough on vehicles in the summer, 110 degree heat and an 8% grade. Our heavily loaded car with trailer passed many ordinary passenger cars parked on the side overheating. Not only did the Better Built Performance guy’s engine never let us down, once we got to Vegas, we’d go lots of rounds and earn victories and championship points. But as all gearheads know, fast is great, but faster is even better. When we decided to make a step up to faster classes with a more powerful engine, we didn’t hesitate to trust the Better Built Performance crew for engine number two. Before building our new engine, Better Built Performance tore down our existing engine. They say the proof is in the pudding, we don’t about the pudding part, but for us proof was in the torn down engine’s condition. After disassembling and cleaning the engine parts, Chris inspected everything. After nearly 1,000 hard passes down the drag strip, and 18,000 hard street miles pulling a heavy load in all conditions, Chris pronounced our engine still good as new. All clearances were not only within spec, but still right where Chris put them when he built the engine. If we weren’t building a bigger new engine, Chris told us that we could just put our engine back together and run it for another 1,000 passes and tens of thousands of street miles. Like we said earlier, power and durability, it doesn’t get better than that.

The second engine that the crew built for us is a monster. A 426 ci (7.0L) supercharged Gen III HEMI. Brand new, the engine dyno’d at 908 HP @ 6700 RPM and 871 lb ft @ 3900 RPM. That’s big, big torque down low and yeah, 908 horsepower is getting serious. And this was before fine tuning the engine down at the track, tweaking the tune and getting the engine settled in. This engine had some big parts to spin, a full race TH400 transmission and a very heavy Ford 9” Pro gear differential. While working on a new belt configuration we ran the car on a

chassis dyno and threw down exactly 800.5 rwhp. But when we finally got to the track and started serious tuning, the engine had a lot more in it. When you drag race competitively there is a lot of data to gather and calculating to do. For data, among other things you need to know precise weight, temperature, humidity, grains of moisture, adjusted density altitude, stickiness of the track. You

also need to know how much power you’re making. Every track has its own conditions that change all day long. For handicap ET racing, whether bracket, NHRA stock or superstock, etc., you need to calculate exactly how fast your car is about to run, down the hundredth of a second. If you have all of the other data, but you don’t have a precise handle on your power output,

you’re racing blind. We use a specialty calculator program to input all of the numbers from a time slip plus all of the weather parameters which then produces an adjusted, real world horsepower number for us. Give us a couple of practice laps and we get a handle on exactly how the car is about to run.

As is to be expected, the more we tuned and ran the car, the faster it

got. We consistently ran laps on the drag strip that calculated out to 980+ horsepower at the crankshaft. And we hammered on this engine, lap after lap, year after year. It’s still running strong to this day. Which tells us two things, Better Built Performance can easily build you a 1,000 horsepower engine if you want one. In fact they routinely build 1,000 HP Hellcat motors, you

can order one from their website. It won’t only make 1,000 HP, it will be smooth and fit for daily driving. And they can build that engine to last and last. Of course, they can also build you a 600 HP engine or even an engine making well more than 1,000 horsepower. And that engine will live up to the name of the company, Better Built Performance.

About Better Build Performance.

Located in Rocky Mount, Virginia, Better Built Performance is a team of performance part specialist with a long back ground of building cars. Being from Franklin County, the Moonshine Capital, we learned how to make cars not only fast but reliable as well. Inside of the 12,000 sqft facility you will find the right tools and people neccessary to get the job done. There is an engine shop with well over 30yrs of experience assembling championship winning and record setting engines. Also an installation shop capable of anything from exhaust to full blown back half race cars. Our Technicians have the ability, knowledge, equipment, and experience to get the job done correctly.

540-384-0682 www.betterbuiltperformance.com/home sales@bbpengines.com

Past Events

The Sixth Annual Benedict Castle Concours

On March 31, 2019, Crossroads Car Show presented the sixth Annual Benedict Castle Concours. The automobiles were placed on the beautiful grounds surrounding the historic Benedict Castle of Riverside, California. The

Story and Photos b y Tommy Huth

Castle is the headquarters home of Teen Challenge. They deal with the restoration of men's lives to find a pathway and freedom from drugs and alcohol through their comprehensive Christian faith-based solutions. The shows donations

provide 100% of it's funds to this campus and its 140 students. The Concours was a marvelous array of historic and contemporary cars: Vintage, Exotic, Hot rod and new customs.

The show was a huge success!