Vintage Motorsport

Vintage Motorsport Newsletter 10/15/2015 by John L. Stein  

 

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Lime Rock Park Needs Your Support -- Now!
 
Lakeville, CT -- An important Salisbury Planning & Zoning public meeting regarding Lime Rock Park will take place on Monday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. The location is Town Hall, 27 Main Street, Salisbury, CT, 06068. The message below is an edited version of a Lime Rock Park appeal for support.
 
Photo: Lime Rock Park/Casey Keil

The Salisbury P&Z Commission's goal is to take control of regulating Lime Rock Park; however, regulation is already properly maintained by Litchfield Superior Court, as set forth in the still-in-place 1959 Injunction. For local government to take control of Lime Rock Park can only be bad for the facility. To support Lime Rock's position, write a letter as soon as possible (email and post office mailing addresses below) stating that Salisbury P&Z control of Lime Rock operations is a mistake.
 
With the state of motorsports, the automotive industry and automotive recreation wholly and dramatically different compared to more than a half-century ago, Lime Rock has recently filed papers with the Court asking for modifications to the existing Injunction to reflect those changes.
 
The people in opposition to Lime Rock have issued statements, letters, faxes and advertisements that grossly mislead, misrepresent, obfuscate and exaggerate what the requested changes entail, going so far as to claim it will mean the ruination of Trinity Episcopal Church across the street and cause "irreparable harm" to Music Mountain -- they've even accused our spectators of regularly trafficking in drugs. (To quote one of the scare tactics used in an opposition's solicitation for support and also sent to P&Z: "... will likely prompt increased 'trafficking' of alcohol and drugs between the community and race crews, spectators and campers." Irrespective of anything else, this is abhorrently insulting to our fans and competitors.)
 
The letters needn't be long or eloquent, but rather your concise, sincere support that Skip Barber and Lime Rock Park are not out to "ruin" the community. Speed of communicating is of the essence. If you send Salisbury P&Z an email, use the subject line: "Regarding Lime Rock." Additionally, if you have time to attend the meeting, that would be very helpful.
 
Here are the contact options:
  • Email to Michael Klemens, P&Z Chairman, care of Nancy Brusie at nbrusie@salisburyct.us 
  • Send a letter to Michael Klemens, P&Z Chairman, via U.S. Post Office or overnight delivery to Town Hall, Attention Michael Klemens, 27 Main Street, P.O. Box 548, Salisbury, CT 06068-0548. You should cc: Nancy Brusie, P&Z Administrator.
The staff at Lime Rock Park thank you for your support during this important time.
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Petersen Museum Set to Reopen in December
 
Los Angeles, CA -- In culmination of a 13-month total transformation, the Petersen Automotive Museum is set to reopen for directors and partners on December 3rd. Renovation results include 25 new galleries with multi-media technology, a Pixar kids' display, cars as art, movie cars, "talk-of-the-town" quality building architecture, and more than $350 million of cars on display ("Some hoods might still be warm," warns the museum).
 
  Culminating a 13-month total transformation, the Petersen Automotive Museum 
in Los Angeles is set to reopen. (photo: Petersen Automotive Museum).
 
The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution. After reopening, the museum will continue the mission set forth by its founder, Robert E. Petersen, to showcase the automobile's role in art and culture, both locally and globally, while celebrating Southern California's place as the epicenter of the automotive landscape.
 
The museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. For general information, call 323-930-CARS or visit the Museum's website,  www.petersen.org. For membership information, go to http://www.petersen.org/membership-and-support/.
Auctions America Joins Hilton Head Concours on October 31
 
Hilton Head Island, SC -- Auctions America has announced it will join this year's Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d'Elegance for the first time, bringing a mix of blue-chip automobiles and the excitement of a live, high-end collector car auction together on October 31.

Above: Auctions America will join this year's Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d'Elegance for the first time on October 31. Highlighted cars include a well-sorted 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, a restored 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code, and this 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 
certified to have been raced by Jimmy Johnson (photo: Auctions America).

The event is expected to provide a strong finish to Auctions America's 2015 calendar, lifting the gavel on a hand-picked roster of more than 100 quality vehicles and select automobilia. From American classics to European sports cars, the offering comprises some of the most sought-after collector cars extant, shining a spotlight on a broad variety of automotive styling and engineering.
 
Highlighted consignments include:
  • A well-sorted 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, a wonderful example of one of the marque's classic 12-cylinder touring cars, offered from four decades of California ownership. Presented in classic Rosso over a black leather interior, it is accompanied by its tool roll, spare, jack and original operating handbook, as well as a comprehensive history file showing invoices and receipts dating back to 1976 (price estimate $650,000 to $725,000).
  • A restored 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code. Presented in its original color of Raven Black and loaded with factory accessories, this F-Bird is equipped with a 312-cid supercharged engine and accompanied by a copy of its original build sheet (price estimate $175,000 to $225,000).
  • A 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo certified to have been raced by Jimmy Johnson during the 2003 through 2006 NASCAR seasons, never placing outside the top 10. Besides winning the 2005 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, this car holds two additional top-five finishes. Restored with the collector in mind, it comes complete with a long list of VIP experiences, presenting an opportunity to acquire a genuine piece of NASCAR history (price estimate $150,000 to $175,000).
For more auction info, please go to www.auctionsamerica.com.
 
For more information on the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance, visit www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.
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"Evolution of the IndyCar" Exhibit to Enhance 2015 PRI Trade Show
 
Laguna Beach, CA -- Some of the history of the Indianapolis 500 will be on display in this year's 28th Annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, taking place December 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The exhibit will be open all three days of PRI 2015.
 
Above: Some of the history of the Indianapolis 500 will be on display during this year's Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, taking place December 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The IMS's Hall of Fame Museum is contributing an exhibit of six cars that were raced in the Indy 500 
during previous decades (photo: D. Randy Riggs).
The Hall of Fame Museum, located on the grounds of the Speedway, is contributing an exhibit of six cars that were raced in the Indy 500 during previous decades. The cars will provide a dramatic perspective on the evolution of the IndyCar in design and engineering. The museum also will display historic IndyCar motors. In addition, the famed Borg-Warner Trophy will make a one-day appearance on the first day of the PRI show.
 
"We're thrilled to work with the Hall of Fame Museum team to make this special exhibit an important part of the worldwide racing industry's trade show," said PRI Trade Show Producer John Kilroy. "The Indianapolis 500 has been at the heart of innovation in the racing world since its inception, and we're excited to have some of that history on display at PRI, the epicenter of new racing technology, as they close in on the 100th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
 
The PRI show is regarded as the world's premier tradeshow for motorsports professionals, with buyers coming from throughout the U.S. and 70 countries. At this year's show, approximately 1,200 racing industry suppliers will occupy 3,200 booths to exhibit the latest developments in auto-racing technology.
 
Admission to the Indianapolis 500 exhibit, which is titled "Evolution Of The IndyCar," is free of charge. However only attendees and exhibitors with trade show credentials will be admitted.
 
For additional information on the 2015 PRI Trade Show, or hotel and travel information, visit www.pri2015.com.
Mecum's Chicago Auction Clears the $13 Million Mark

Chicago, IL  -- The Mecum Chicago 2015 auction held last weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center achieved $13,267,564 in total sales as 494 cars changed hands over three days, Oct. 8-10.

Muscle and horsepower ruled on the Chicago auction block with the top 10 sales dominated by both classic and modern American muscle cars. A red-on-black 2005 Ford GT (Lot S177.1) with 6,941 miles claimed the top sales honors at $230,000, and a four-speed 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV (Lot S99) from the Scott Shaffer Collection came in next with a $160,000 sale. In fact, another vehicle from the Scott Shaffer Collection followed in top sales with his 1969 Pontiac Trans Am (Lot S98) hammering at $127,500. A Bloomington Gold-certified 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Fuelie (Lot S161) found its way among top sales with a $115,000 sale and a 1966 Batmobile Replica (Lot S139) with functioning smoke screen and flamethrower turbine hammered at $110,000.

1961 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Fuelie (Lot S161) (photo: Maggie Pinke, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions).

Complete auction results are available at www.mecum.com Mecum's next classic and collector car auction will be a 750-car auction in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 12-14 followed by the Dec. 11-12 Austin, Texas, auction to close out 2015.  
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Simeone Museum to Hold Inaugural "Preservation Workshop"
 
Philadelphia, PA -- The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum invites vintage racing fans, and especially enthusiasts of the Cobra marque, to attend its first-ever "Preservation Workshop" on December 12. This one-day symposium will focus on the preservation efforts and long-term stewardship of the museum's 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe. Dr. Fred Simeone will host a presentation consisting of a lecture and a photo slideshow, while the car is displayed on the main stage. The live presentation will include never-before-seen photos and materials.

Above: The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will hold its first-ever "Preservation Workshop" on December 12. This one-day symposium will focus on the preservation efforts and long-term stewardship of the museum's 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe (photo: Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum).
 
The life of CSX2287 is well documented, dating back to when it was built at Shelby in 1963, all the way up through its life at the Simeone Museum. However, the public has never seen photographs from its preservation efforts, which were recently rediscovered in the Museum's library. This collection consists of hundreds of photos including before and after, hidden sections, rotisserie shots, individual components, close-ups of serial numbers, and exciting discoveries of previously unknown features. After discussion with noted experts and historians, it was decided that the car would undergo a mechanical restoration in early 2007. This consisted of partial disassembly and preservation of original finishes and markings. All original parts were put back into commission unless it would be unsafe to do so, and the car was made to run as effectively as it did during its competition life.
 
The never-before-seen materials from the museum's archives include documents and vehicle parts. In celebration of the car's 50th anniversary of running at the Bonneville Salt Flats on November 4, 1965, the museum will also have some original "Bonneville salt" on display, which was cleaned off various parts of the car.
 
The Preservation Workshop will begin promptly at 12 p.m. in the Main Space at the museum. At the conclusion of the presentation, guests will see the car on stage for photographs and inspection. Seating will be limited, so don't wait to reserve your tickets at http://www.simeonemuseum.org/purchase-tickets.

VIDEOS FOR THIS WEEK
 
1963 British Grand Prix


Cobra Daytona Coupe Wrestled 'Round Goodwood 
 

Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Historic Rally Car
   
 
Check Out the Sept/Oct 2015 issue of Vintage Motorsport !
 
The Sept/Oct issue of Vintage Motorsport is in the mail and on sale at newsstands. Don't miss the Porsche 962C Track Drive with editor-in-chief D. Randy Riggs and VM's salute to the Rennsport Reunion V at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. More Porsche features include a road drive by well-known auto author Tom Cotter in a '63 Carrera 2 Coupe while William Edgar profiles the Kilpatrick Speedster and Pete Lyons focuses on Porsche's killer giant, the 917. The 7-page Salon features the 1968 Penske Camaro Trans-Am driven back in the day by Mark Donohue. There's also a tribute to the late Denise McCluggage and the Life and Times of Indy car driver and team owner, Dick Simon. Part 2 of Pontiac's FIA Endurance Racing Tempests tells of an interesting chapter in Pontiac racing history and Gil de Ferran talks about his Favorite Race -- the 1995 CART GP of Monterey. Vintage race coverage includes the Goodwood Festival of Speed, The Hawk at Road America, HMSA's Mont Tremblant, the Pittsburgh Vintage GP, VARAC's Canadian Vintage GP, SVRA's Brickyard Invitational and SOVREN's Pacific Northwest Historics.
 
To subscribe or order your copy, go to:  www.vintagemotorsport.com or call 800.626.9937, or visit your local newsstand.