Larry Edsall
Barrett-Jackson kicks off the collector car auction season
Just like other sports, the collector car game has a season. Usually, that season opens in Arizona in January and runs through August and the various auctions held on California`s Monterey Peninsula. But this year--well, actually, I guess it`s next year--starts early when the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company stages its inaugural Las Vegas auction, October 15-18 in the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
A partial list of star-quality vehicles rolling across the auction block include:
* Carroll Shelby`s first racecar, a 1949 MG TC;
* The 1973 De Tomaso Pantera owned and customized by Tom Tjaarda, designer of the Pantera and other sports and concept cars;
* a 1957 Ford Thunderbird `F` convertible formerly owned by Robert McCulloch of the McCulloch/Paxton Supercharger;
* the 1918 Le Bestioni, a huge boattail speedster with a 14-liter, 6-cylinder engine;
* a 100 Years of GM lineup that features 20 vehicles, including seven Indy, NASCAR and Le Mans pace cars;
* the Thunderous Cyclops, called the world`s largest three-wheeler, this two-engined Honda trike is 10-feet tall;
* three custom cars by the late Boyd Coddington;
* a 2008 Barrett-Jackson Edition Shelby GT autographed by the host and judges from American Idol;
* gobs of Detroit muscle cars, including a 36,500-mile `70 Ford Mustang Boss 429, a `69 Mustang Mach I known as ``The Sin City Shaker,`` a pair of Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 convertibles, and many more;
* and for good measure, there will even be an interesting non-car: a scale model Union Pacific 484 Baldwin Engine, four Pullman-style cars and a half-mile of railroad track (the coal-powered train, constructed by Daniel Boone VI, stretches 52.5 feet and can carry 36 people).
There will be live, nightly coverage on cable television channel Speed, and there`s sure to be all the Vegas glitz and glamour you'd expect from Barrett-Jackson.
But look beyond the circus-like atmosphere and check the prices being bid. In an interesting irony, collector car prices often climb when the stock market declines. With that market running on empty, look for some real Vegas jackpots to be paid out.
Tom Nagle
Category: Shows
Posted by Tom Nagle on Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 11:17 AMU-M SAE chapter hosts car show Sunday
Seeing as how I just got back from 30+ days on the road from California to Michigan and back, I will not be in the area this weekend for this show, but I wanted to pass along the details:
4th Annual MSAE Car Show
Sept. 14
Elbel Field, 336 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104
11 a.m.-3 p.m. with judging at noon
Awards will be given for each class of cars and Best-in-Show
Free admission, open to all
Register you car at www.engin.umich.edu/soc/sae/carshow/2008/index.htm
Displays by Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, SAE Student Teams and Solar Car
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 6:37 PMDay 35: Last day of trip is sluggish
While the overall trip seemed to go by fast, the miles seemed very slow on this last day. Typically, the California desert environment is hot and dry, but this day it was hot and humid; more of what you might expect in the Midwest and more southern areas. We only had two days of rain over the five weeks we've been on the road. Temperatures were in the mid-80s and there was no humidity to speak of. This day in California made the time outside the car uncomfortable. As we crossed the Colorado River it was time to fuel up in Needles.
Along with the hot sticky weather while fueling up I was paying $4.99.9 a gallon for maximum octane premium, which is only 91 octane. To contrast this to what we had experienced in the Midwest we typically found 94 octane premium for about $3.79 a gallon.
This was not the welcome home I hoped for. We also found ourselves in a massive traffic jam as this was the Friday before the holiday weekend.
Oh well, the trip memories are great.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 6:24 PMDay 34: Farewell to Blue Swallow, on to Arizona
This day we say goodbye to Bill Kinder at the historic Blue Swallow Motel. He tempted us to stay by offering bacon and eggs for breakfast but we had already had our breakfast snack and were ready to move on.
We learned of an upcoming new "Cars" movie that is being prepared for 2012 release by Pixar.
We got Bill to be in a picture with each of us to start the day. This would also be our last day with Leonard and Carol who would head to Phoenix when we would leave from Flagstaff the next morning.
The adventure continues to be enjoyable.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 12:02 AMDay 32: Corvette gets new tires in Oklahoma; first sighting of Kwik Stop
During very heavy rain I notice a serious loss of rear traction on the Corvette. I later inspect the rear tires and find the tread is worn to the point there is no longer a run-off path for water. I make a rush trip from our hotel at the end of the day to Oklahoma City and a tire dealer makes a great effort to get the needed run-flat tires and mount them. Now we should be able to continue with confidence.
As we make a gas stop at the end of the day I notice the Kwick Stop. I had never seen a real Kwick Stop before. It is mentioned in several old songs.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 11:49 PMDay 33: Route 66 stops include MidPoint Cafe and Blue Swallow Motel
We leave early so we can reach the MidPoint Cafe for lunch. We had to get through Oklahoma and much of Texas to reach the diner, which is 1,139 miles from where Route 66 starts on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago and 1,139 miles from the Santa Monica Pier in California where Route 66 ends.
Fran has owned the diner since 1992 and has a steady flow of visitors from around the world. Yesterday, a large motorcycle group in from Norway were at the diner and she is expecting a large group from Sweden tomorrow. Today it was just us and a couple of others. The food is great as is the conversation.
Fran is the person on which the character Flow was based in the movie "Cars." Fran has two young helpers upon whom the two Miata cheerleaders character were based. Fran also has a great gift shop that Willie actively supports. After an extended lunch break we were ready to go.
We left Fran and the MidPoint Cafe and Texas as well. Our overnight stop is planned for the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. The Blue Swallow is owned and operated by Bill Kinder who we have met several times staying at the Blue Swallow. I have never seen a book about Route 66 that does not have a picture of the Blue Swallow. Bill and his old VW bus were used by Disney and PIXAR pictures to create Fillmore the hippy VW in "Cars." Bill shares pictures of his 1957 Chevy he is building. We enjoy ice cream at Ken's in Tucumcari and prepare for tomorrow's trip to Flagstaff.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 11:04 PMDay 31: In Kentucky, we enjoy Somernites show
Many car magazines and the SPEED channel have carried stories about a cruise know as Somernites. The purpose of our visit is to see if one of the Somernites shows would be worth a a trip there on our next adventure. Somernites is not another Dream Cruise, but then there is no show like the Dream Cruise. The Somernites cruises run the fourth Saturday of each month from April through October and get between 800 and 1,000 cars at each show. The show consists of a static car show in downtown Somerset and is followed by a cruise on Route 27 for the evening and night. The city has a nice town square, which pays tribute to a John Sherman Cooper. The city closes Main Street and uses the street and the square for the show.
After exploring Somerset, we continue to travel west and leave Kentucky, go through Tennessee and end up in Arkansas.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:59 PMDay 30: After quick award pickup, it's on to Kentucky
We take another trip to the fairgrounds for Corvettes at Carlisle and I pick up the Celebrity Choice award.
Today is a long driving day so I need to depart Carlisle, Pa., as soon as I can. We have 600 miles to cover to get to Somerset, Ky., before nightfall. The drive is long and hard but thankfully uneventful.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:43 PMDay 29: Carlisle show brings lots of recognition
At Corvettes at Carlisle, the showgrounds are nearly full before 8 a.m. The day starts overcast, which is good to keep down the impact of sun and heat. Spectators browse the cars and the special display. A car magazine photographer asked if I would go with him to a park-like setting to get some good car photos. He is very detailed in his selection of photos.
After a break for a free massage, we look at the displays and various cars at the show.
Returning to my Corvette, I find another photographer waiting by the car because he builds die cast model. Then I learn my car has been selected as a celebrity choice vehicle. This creates confusion in planning tomorrow's departure because we need to get out early because of a long day ahead. But we are able to work everything out.
Back at the hotel the Corvette Club is preparing for our regular Saturday night events including dinner and games. The dinner is great. I avoid the creeper race but readily participate in the fan belt toss. Going into the end of the game I am in a 3 way tie for first place only to have the last person beat us all. We finish that and move on a Corvette Trivia game. The results here also end in a 3 way tie but this time Willie is the one tied for first place. But as in the fan belt toss there is no first place for Willie. After talking and listening to music it is time to get some sleep and prepare for the next day's drive.
Tom Nagle
Category: Tom Nagle's Dream Cruise road trip
Posted by Tom Nagle on Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:38 PMDay 28: Corvettes at Carlisle puts us back into swing of automotive world
We are out early to secure a strategic place on the parking field for Corvettes at Carlisle in Carlisle, Pa. With several thousand Corvettes planned to attend, good parking helps provide bearable walking distances around the show. Being near the front gate allows us easy entrance and exit as well. We are set for the show.
