Great Things, Great Cars

I love Southwest Florida. It has things I really love. Great weather, great shopping, great beaches, great boating, and best of all great cars. As a listing agent, great cars are great. 

Here are my two latest listings:

1951 Custom Ford Business Coupe. Truly a work of love. A meticulous twenty year project, not a bolt or screw left untouched. To get the full impact of this car it's a need to see to believe. PPG Lacquer Paint "Winter Mint Green" ~ Frenched Headlights & Taillights ~ Shaved Door Handles ~ Hood & Deck Lid ~ No Exposed Wires ~ Air Compressor Lines Ran Through Inner Fender ~ New Radiator and Hoses ~ interior is White Roller & Tuck ~ Engine is 1979 302 bored 30 over ~ Headers ~ Carter Carb. 600 CFM ~ Cam ~ Transmission is C-4 ~ Rear End is 8" 300 Gear ~ Hanline Gauges ~ Pioneer Radio mounted in the trunk with Remote control ~ Vintage Air-Heat ~ Rack & Pinion ~ 2 1/2 Dropped Spendles ( Fat Man) ~ Ididit ~ Lokar Shifter ~ Moser Axels ~ This car is so beautiful, it is a true stunner!

Only $55,500 

And Then 

1936 Dodge DeSoto Airsteam~ Convertible ~ acrylic paint like new ~gorgeous cowhide leather interior ~ wood grain dashboard ~ new convertible top and boot ~ wide white wall new tires fronts 16x650 and rears 16x750~ working original Desoto radio ~ all mirrors, trim, windows, carpet, rubber running boards and rubber gasket are in next to new condition ~ all gauges except heater gauge are in working order~ 6cyl 242 DB ~ 3speed on the floor ~ 6volt system.... This car is like new and because of meticulous care of this owner is probably in better condition than when it came off the assembly line in Canada. There are only 12 known examples of these cars and this is the only Windsor ( Canadian ) known. This is Art Deco at its best. It might miss the # 1 mark but it is very very close. It belongs in a museum and when you buy it you are certain to draw a crowd anywhere you park it.

Only $65,000

If you find these great, like I find them great, you should come to my Facebook Page where you can learn more about these and others like them. 

https://www.facebook.com/AllAboutDetail.ClassicCarBrokers. Make sure to hit the "like button while you are there. 

Who founded the Greatest Luxury Cars in America's history?

Henry Leland founded the Cadillac Motor Car Company, turning out his first automobile in 1903. In 1909, he sold the company to General Motors.

1909 Cadillac Model 30

He was turned down by GM to build Liberty aero engines during World War I. 

His favorite President had been Abraham Lincoln. Thus, in 1917, at the age of 74, Leland founded the Lincoln Motor Company to build those engines.  This was the birth of the second of America's greatest luxury cars. After World War I, Henry Leland resumed building cars. He had his first Lincoln model on the road by 1921.

1921 Lincoln Model L

Thus Cadillac and Lincoln were founded by the same man.

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Classic Car Buyers Beware!

6 indicted in Internet-based car-selling scheme

 This is off the Los Angeles AP 12/29/11

I found this article and wanted to share it with my Classic Car friends: 

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A federal grand jury indicted six foreign nationals on charges that they defrauded hundreds of customers out of more than $4 million in bogus Internet car sales, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

The 24-count indictment returned Wednesday alleges a scheme in which vehicles were offered for sale on legitimate websites that deal in auto trading, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

The six defendants — from Germany, Russia, Romania and Latvia — are accused of collecting payments from hundreds of would-be buyers nationwide, siphoning millions of dollars to Europe and never delivering a vehicle, the indictment said.

Authorities identified the alleged leaders of the scam as Corneliu Stefan Weikum, 37, a Romanian national, and Yulia Meshina-Heffron, 23, a native of Yekaterinberg, Russia. Both are in federal custody in Nevada on charges related to bulk cash smuggling.

Weikum monitored the fraudulent bank accounts to determine if funds had been deposited, the indictment said. The money was then withdrawn — primarily in cash — and delivered to Weikum and Mishina. The two then allegedly wired the money from the United States to other countries, mailed the funds in concealed packages to Berlin, or concealed the funds in personal carry-on luggage while traveling to Germany, according to the indictment.

At least 110 bank accounts were opened to fraudulently receive the funds, according to the indictment. From September 4, 2007 until October 5, 2010, victims deposited at least $4 million into the accounts.

"This case demonstrates our ability to track down even the most sophisticated fraud artist who attempted to hide behind false identities and the perceived anonymity of the Internet," said U.S. Atty. André Birotte Jr.

The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, each could face sentences totaling hundreds of years in federal prison.

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Name That Vehicle

Guess the make and model year of this mystery car for a chance to win a free gift from the Historic Vehicle Association.

The rules are simple: All you have to do is head on over to the HVA’s Facebook page and log your best guess on the make and model year of the car featured in this photo.  Guess correctly and you have a chance to win a free HVA ballcap. This is the same cap available here, in our online store: basic black, fully adjustable to fit any sized melon, and featuring the HVA emblem on the front and the FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) emblem on the back. One winner will be randomly drawn from the pool of correct Facebook responses on Friday, December 30.

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Get the Lead Out! And While you are at it, Get the Asbestos and Bromine Out!

Do you work on vintage cars? 

A few years back I shared this and thought a re-run would be good.

Toxic Hazards In Vintage Cars! 
by Brian Turner  brian.turner752@gmail.com  -- Wed, Dec 21, 2011


Many people have a genuine passion for classic cars and vintage automobiles. Most people have an appreciation for old cars, and for the history and nostalgia they represent. Classic car owners often go to great lengths to restore and preserve the appearance and function of their automobiles. Many are unaware, however, that their automotive treasures harbor hidden dangers: numerous toxic hazards that can negatively impact their physical and mental health.

Asbestos Exposure

When it comes to toxic hazards in classic cars, an asbestos threat is the most obvious concern. A natural fibrous mineral known for its heat- and fire-resistant properties, asbestos was used for decades as an industrial additive in the manufacturing of automotive parts. Brake pads, brake linings, clutch components, hood liners, gaskets, valves, and other automotive parts commonly contained asbestos.

The United States federal government began regulating and banning asbestos use in the late 1970s, when asbestos was deemed a toxin. While most manufacturers stopped using the substance by the early 1980s, many older vehicles still contain asbestos. This is especially true for vintage automobiles, like antique cars and classic models.

Prolonged exposure to asbestos poses a serious health concern. The toxin is linked to the development of numerous respiratory diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Classic car owners, automotive service technicians, and auto body restoration specialists are especially vulnerable to illness. While the latency period is significantly long, even decades, the mesothelioma survival rate is extremely low.

Lead Exposure

Lead is another common toxin hidden away in classic automobiles. Formerly used in automotive paints, lead may still be present on the body of classic cars. Hobbyists and body shop repair workers must use extra caution when stripping old paint from old cars.

If lead in the paint dust becomes inhaled or swallowed, or if it comes into contact with skin, it can cause serious health problems. Memory and thought impairment, along with other central nervous system disorders, are commonly associated with lead exposure. The toxin can also affect muscles, joints, blood pressure, and reproductive function.

Bromine Exposure

Classic cars can also hide toxic bromine, a chemical usually found in car interiors. The plastic and vinyl parts inside the cabin -- on the seats, headrest, armrests, floor, and dashboard -- may contain bromine and other dangerous chemicals. Short-term exposure can cause nose, mouth, and throat irritations. Prolonged bromine exposure is linked to memory impairment, learning disabilities, breathing difficulties, and kidney damage.


https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/mesothelioma-lawyer/



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Saab, Saab, Saab

UrSaab

Saab 92

Saab Sonnet

Saab 99

Saab 900 Turbo

 

 

 

We will be singing "Where have all the Saab's gone, along time passing, Where have all the Saab's gone, a long long time ago"

Goodbye good little car it was nice knowing you. You will be missed. 

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A Bull Story

Thanks to a Utah convenience store's contest, Frito-Lay truck driver David Dopp won another set of wheels last Saturday: this lime-green, 631-hp Lamborghini Murcielago LP-640, worth at least $200,000. Such an awesome car that will...oops, he already wrecked it.


Just a few hours after getting the keys to the V-12 powered Italian supercar named for a famed Spanish fighting bull, Dopp took to the roads around his home in Santaquin, Utah. According to In Santaquin News, police were called about dusk after a witness spotted the all-wheel-drive Lambo bass-ackwards in a field, with skidmarks from where it left the road.
Dopp -- who had apparently already taken one call from the local police about takin' it easy before going off-road -- says he was going about 40 mph to 50 mph on a 35-mph road when he hit a patch of what he called black ice or gravel. The police report says the car went over a curb, off the road and 75 feet into the field, calling the accident "speed related."

The Murcielago is now bound for Las Vegas, where mechanics will calculate a repair estimate on the busted oil pan and damaged bumper. Dopp, who has insurance, says the day was "an emotional roller coaster." If you mess with a bull, don't be surprised when you get the horns.

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The Jensen Revival

19 December 2011

A Bridge to Jensen: historic workshop acquisition consolidates the marque’s revival

Gama Cars Limited, the Oxfordshire-based company which has been playing a pivotal role in the resurgence of both the Jensen brand and one of its best known models, the Interceptor, has recently acquired Cropredy Bridge Garage.

The high standards of mechanical, bodywork, servicing and restoration work carried out by Gama Cars on the top-of-the-range Interceptor R model now apply to the whole Jensen range, thanks to Cropredy Bridge Garage’s forty years of specialist expertise, history and enthusiasm for the Jensen marque.

Whilst Gama Cars has been building a modern interpretation of Jensen’s grand tourer of the ‘70s by upgrading original Interceptors on behalf of Jensen International Automotive, Cropredy Bridge Garage has been the UK centre of excellence for straightforward restoration work on all Jensen cars (including Interceptors, C-V8s and 541s) since 1972.

‘We already had a close relationship with Cropredy Bridge Garage, because of the workshop’s facilities and skilled staff,’ says Matt Watts, Managing Director of Gama Cars Limited. ‘When the opportunity arose, it made sense to incorporate it into the business and offer the entire range of services, larger facilities and combined expertise to our Jensen customers.  We look forward to ensuring we are the marque’s beacon in the UK and abroad.’   

Cropredy Bridge Garage is well known to both Jensen owners and marque enthusiasts. Apart from catering for all mechanical, bodywork, servicing and parts needs, it also offers a selection of carefully maintained Jensen models for sale, as well as providing concierge service to those who wish to acquire a specific Jensen. Alternatively, one can be built to individual specifications, thanks to a close partnership with JIA, the company which launched the Interceptor R in January 2011.

Gama Cars Limited is a specialist in modernising and restoring prestige cars: skilled technicians carry out engine enhancement, brake and mechanical upgrades, bespoke bodywork and restoration services. Now with extra heritage.   

Photo credit: Mach V Photography  

For more information contact

 

Angie Voluti PR    Cropredy Bridge Garage The Studio  Riverside Works Forest Road, Hartwell  Cropredy, nr Banbury Oxfordshire                                                                                                                                                                      Ox17 1PQ NN7 2HE Tel. 01294 758159 Tel: 01604 863 044 Mob: 07415 095 543 E-mail: sales@cropredy-bridge.co.uk E-mail: angie@angievoluti.co.uk  www.copredy-bridge.co.uk www.angievoluti.co.uk

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Do you love Classic Cars? What about the Jaguar?



1953 Jaguar C Type

 The Jaguar C-Type was produced from 1951 to 1953 with an estimated 54 being produced. After a team of Jaguar XK 120C, the 'C' representing 'competition', vehicles had an excellent showing at LeMans, William Lyons commissioned a car to be built that could contend for the overall victory. Malcom Sayer designed the aerodynamic body and Bob Knight was responsible for the lightweight, multi-tubular, and triangulated frame. The body panels were constructed of aluminum. The mechanical components borrow heavily from the Jaguar XK120. Under the bonnet was a modified twin-cam, straight six engine. Horsepower had been increased from 160 to 205. All non-essential items were removed in an effort to reduce the overall weight. Nearly a thousand pounds was shed.

Later versions of the C-Type received extra modifications including disc brakes, reduced weight, and engine improvements. The engine was fitted with twin-choke Weber carburetors and high-lift camshafts.

The Jaguar C-Type made its LeMans debut in 1951. When the checkered flag dropped, it was a C-Type driven by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead in first place. This is an astonishing accomplishment and a true testament to the capability of the car and drivers. The legendary Stirling Moss was also driving a C-Type but unfortunately was forced to retire prematurely due to mechanical difficulties.

In 1953 a modified C-Type repeated its accomplishment by winning again at LeMans. It was driven by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt.

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What do you know about Fuel Additives?

November 17, 2011

View larger images

Last month, an HVA e-news article entitled A Comparative Evaluation of Prevention of Gasohol Phase Separation by Fuel Additives generated a significant number of questions from readers interested in finding out more about how they can protect their engines from ethanol fuel damage.  We put some of these questions to the author, Benjamin Kellogg, who offered his response.

Benjamin Kellogg of South Texas became interested in historic vehicles through his family’s collection of old cars, which include a 1943 WWII Jeep and 6x6, light armored 1943 M8 Greyhound.  Regular maintenance and engine repair has long been a hobby for Kellogg and his father, who last year began wondering if fuel additives might help combat the inherent problems attributed to the ethanol fuel that had arrived at local gas stations.  With an equal passion for chemistry and access to a lab at his school, Kellogg decided to find out. 

With the help of a local high school chemistry teacher, Kellogg designed a simple water titration study to objectively test the effect of the additives on phase separation.

Last month, HVA e-news republished the resulting article from those tests, which originally appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of Army Motors.  If you didn’t catch the piece, A Comparative Evaluation of Prevention of Gasohol Phase Separation by Fuel Additives, click on the story link and then take a moment to see Benjamin Kellogg’s answers to some of the most frequently asked questions sent in from HVA members.

What is the baseline dehydration (life) for the gas we used five years ago?
Kellogg: How long pure gasoline can be stored varies from a few months to a few years depending on the type of gasoline—aviation gas, for instance, is supposed to last longer—and the storage conditions (cooler is better). Predicting how long it will “last” is difficult because it is hard to know how long the gasoline has been stored at the gas station.  The biggest problems with storing pure gasoline are: evaporation of lighter hydrocarbons; hydrocarbon oxidation; and ultimately formation of “varnish-like” gum deposits.  It is difficult to tell if evaporation has happened by simple inspection of a gasoline sample, but gasoline turns progressively darker as it oxidizes.  When gum forms, small pieces can be seen in a sample.  Gasohol is less stable than pure gasoline because ethanol will absorb water from the air, thus gasohol can be contaminated much more easily than pure gasoline. It is said that gasohol can be stored for up to six months, but I have not tested this.  Water absorption by gasohol is the problem addressed by the Eastwood fuel additives that I tested.


What is the impact of other fuel stabilizers (i.e. Sea Foam, Sta-Bil, Sta-Bil Marine, etc.)?
Kellogg: While I have not tested these products, they are supposed to reduce the risk of phase separation in the same way as the Eastwood products in my study.  Sta-Bil claims to have the same effects on phase separation that the Eastwood products have but, again, I have not tested Sta-Bil.  Both Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are mixtures of different hydrocarbons than the Eastwood product I tested.  Sta-Bil contains only one active hydrocarbon agent, while Sea Foam and the Eastwood products each contain three active hydrocarbon agents (although they are completely different agents).  Since the three products are all chemically unique, knowing which is superior would require a new comparative study.
What do your results show if the amounts of fuel additive are exceeded?
Kellogg: If the recommended amounts of fuel additive are exceeded, it seems likely that the amount of water that could be retained in solution before phase separation happened would increase in direct proportion to the excess amount of fuel stabilizer used.  I suspect that the recommended amount of stabilizer is based on the amount of water that would be expected to be absorbed in six months of storage.



 At what point would increased dosage become ineffective?
Kellogg: When the concentration of the additive became so high that the combustibility of the gasohol was decreased, the additive could be considered to be ineffective at preserving the fuel. Also, if the concentration of the additive in the gasohol ever exceeded the ability of the gasoline to dissolve the additive, the additive might phase separate from the gasohol and become ineffective.  But since they are both hydrocarbons, I doubt that would happen in actual use.



Can you reference any studies about whether hot weather has any impact on fuel component performance?
Kellogg: I live in south Texas, so doing something with heat and gasohol stability would be useful; however, my chemistry teacher and I decided heating gasohol in the chemistry lab could have a bad outcome so we only cooled it.

Reader note: What’s your experience?  Have you tried fuel additives in the engine of your historic vehicle and, if so, did they work?  Please share your experience with  All About Detail-Classic Car Brokers on our Facebook page.

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Are there any other studies you are working on?
Kellogg: I started a project for the Military Vehicle Preservation Association’s Army Motors magazine to look at the effect of DOT 3 versus DOT 5 brake fluid on natural rubber and synthetic rubber that has been going on for almost a year.  I have not yet analyzed the data, but results will be coming soon.If the two additives [tested] are chemically identical, why didn’t you continue with your test to determine if doubling the dose of each additive on its own resulted in the same increase of water retention as the combined effect revealed?
Kellogg: Doubling the concentration of each additive would be a logical follow-up experiment, but as this was not tested, a direct conclusion cannot be reached; however, based on chemical principles, doubling the amount of fuel additive should double the amount of water that could be absorbed before phase separation happens.  But, again, the experiment has not been done so one cannot be sure.
If doubling the dose resulted in increased retention of water in E10, would increasing the dosage continue to increase the effect?
Kellogg: Based on principles of chemistry, there should be a direct relationship between the amount of additive used and the amount of water retained so that doubling, tripling, etc. the amount of additive should double, triple, etc. the amount of water retained.

How do I Export my Classic Car?

Classic Car Export Expands Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Leawood, KS

November 7, 2011

1948 Anglia English Ford

Classic Car Export is pleased to announce the expansion into import and export services for several major shipping lanes.  These lanes are scheduled to be available for booking on December 1st, 2011, to coincide with the opening of our Brazilian services.  Classic Car Export expects to offer container service for both importing and exporting through US ports to Jebel Ali, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Genoa, Bremerhaven, Paranagua, Santos, Tilbury, Durban and Melbourne.  DAP, DAT and Ex Works are available at all ports.

“It made sense for us to move in this direction,” said Bill Cunningham, Shipping Manager at Classic Car Export.  “We had years of experience working with many agencies world-wide, so bringing more of the import and export elements in-house as a forwarder was a natural development.”

Classic Car Export is a one-stop source for personal and business importing and exporting of motor vehicles.  For Exports from the US, we offer complete and insured door-to-door service to our clients, including ex works, customs, ocean freight and DAP.  For imports to the US, we manage ISF filing, DOT & EPA certification, ocean freight, import customs processing, dock fees and delivery anywhere in the US or Canada.

Classic Car Export offers multiple services that include locating, acquiring, transporting and exporting automobiles for our clients. Classic Car Export has over 27 years of experience, delivering five star services in the automotive industry, coupled with more than 18 years of that in the vehicle location-acquisition-brokerage industry.

GET A FREE DOMESTIC QUOTE  | GET A FREE INTERNATIONAL QUOTE

Joe Weinrich, Presidentjoew@classiccartransport.com


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Go away Ethanol, Go Away

Kernel Knowledge: One man on a mission to show how ethanol is wrecking your engine

August 24, 2011

To leave one of Ed Syrocki’s standing-room-only ethanol education seminars is to go home amazed, enlightened, and probably a little upset. Syrocki doesn’t just claim ethanol destroys fuel lines, wrecks fuel pumps and clogs accelerators—he lets you see the damage for yourself. Find out why Syrocki is on a one-man grassroots campaign to educate historic vehicle owners about the damage ethanol fuel is doing to their engines.

Ed Syrocki just might be the only mechanic in America who’s tired of getting paid for his work.             

“It about my reputation—my ability to fix an engine,” says the owner of EMS Classic Car Care of Warren, Michigan. “It’s being called into question because of things I can’t control.”

What Syrocki can’t control is what ethanol-blended fuel does to his customers’ engines. Since 1998, Syrocki has specialized in repairing and maintaining all types of historic vehicles.

“From Corvairs to Lamborghinis,” he says. “We don’t specialize in restoration. We specialize in making these cars run, and run well.”

1930 Model A - For Sale

Syrocki is plain-spoken and modest about the quality of his work, but the constant parade of customers who travel far and wide to his Warren, Michigan, garage are testament to his integrity and reputation. Since founding EMS Classic Car Care in 1998, feature stories have appeared in a number of automotive magazines and national newspapers. Customers have gone on to present cars at the Meadow Brook Concours and other top shows and concours.

Despite the wheelchair and crutches he has used since contracting polio in 1957, Syrocki can be found working under the hood almost every day of the week. But these days, he says, most of his hours seem to be spent diagnosing engine problems caused by ethanol-blended fuel.

More Time, More Repairs

Ethanol—a blend of ethyl alcohol and gasoline (usually 10 percent ethanol, known as E10)—acts as a solvent that is believed to cause problems for older cars with engines not designed for this type of fuel.

“In the past three years, work on fuel-related repairs has more than doubled,” he says. “Gas tanks, floats going bad, fuel pumps, carburetors—where it used to be that most of our work was related to other mechanical problems, now three days every week is spent working on cars with fuel systems damaged by ethanol-blended fuel.”

Since founding the company, Syrocki has always made follow-up calls to customers after their car left his shop to see how the vehicle was performing.

“But people started calling me and saying the same problem was back,” he says. “And it wasn’t just after a long winter ‘sitting period’ when the car was left in the garage. I found that E10 damage to a vehicle’s fuel systems can begin if the car is left to sit only a few weeks. Based on what I seen, I believe that with E15 the damage would be almost instantaneous.”

In the Trenches

For the last three years, Syrocki has collected cracked and damaged fuel system parts. He’s conducted his own fuel tests. When a customer would reappear complaining of the same engine trouble over and over again, Syrocki took the time to show them gas samples so they could see ethanol fuel separation. He tore apart gas tanks and cut open damaged fuel lines to show the effects of ethanol. Then he also told customers what they could do to prevent the damage in the future:

“Use a soy-based fuel additive,” he says (Syrocki recommends Shaeffer Oil’s Soy Ultra, which encapsulates the damaging water molecules ethanol fuel attracts).  “Never let the vehicle sit without topping off the tank and keep your fingers crossed.”

Finally, one Saturday this past July, Syrocki decided to take his findings and his message to the masses. He opened his garage and on the night of his first free slide show and three-hour presentation, every one of the 200 chairs in the place was full.

Ethanol Show-And-Tell

“I’m just a mechanic who fixes this stuff,” he says. “I’m not a scientist, but people were spellbound. The seminar is like a show-and-tell.”

Syrocki does for a room full of people what he used to do for customers, one at a time. He’s conducted three ethanol education seminars for historic vehicle enthusiasts this summer and is planning more.



“I’m volunteering all my time because ethanol is just wrong,” he says, adding that he has yet to find a sure-fire cure to help historic vehicle owners completely protect their investment. “I tell people to contact their senators and demand that we just get rid of it.”

With government subsidies and farmers making money on corn grown for fuel, Syrocki understands that ethanol might never go away. In the meantime, he’d be happy to see states be able to opt out of using ethanol fuel or simply to see a lonely pump in the corner of every filling station that serves up pure unleaded fuel.

“I understand the market of those in the business of ethanol.  I have a market for repairs,” says Syrocki. “I just don’t believe in letting damage happen on the backs of others. And I don’t like having to do the same job twice.”

The Historic Vehicle Association has already assisted Ed Syrocki in providing ethanol education materials, information on how to contact lawmakers, sample letters from individuals and clubs to congress and direction on how to sign our EthaNo Petition.  To find out how you can attend the next ethanol education seminar hosted by Syrocki should contact him through his website http://emsccc.webs.com/.

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Read our latest News?Blog and get a chance to vote on Classic Car Lug Nuts photo of the year.

Classic Car Lug Nuts - The Photos

 If you love Classic Cars Like we love Classic Cars you will love our group's photos album.

Most of the photos have been submitted by Darryl "the car man" Jones.

Please Click here to view the show


                                                                               

All About Detail Classic Car News Photo of the Year


Please comment below and let us know which one is you favorite. 

Women's Spirit of Competition? You don't say.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 August 2011

Not just on the circuit: Brooklands celebrates speed in the sky

Women’s spirit of competition lives on at ‘100 years of Women in Aviation’ event      

The home of British motorsport hosts a weekend celebrating human endeavour and achievement with its ‘Women in Aviation’ weekend at Brooklands, on 20-21 August.

Fittingly, for a venue rich in both aviation and motoring competition history, Brooklands is the backdrop for the centenary of the first British woman, Hilda Hewlett, gaining a pilot’s licence: as well as being the most famous race circuit of the time, Brooklands also had the first Flying School (founded by Hilda Hewlett and Gustav Blondeau in 1910) and saw many exciting races taking place with women at the wheel of powerful machinery both in the air and on the circuit.

Hilda Hewlett



From those pioneering days to WWII and all the way to modern times, women have played their part, matching their talents to aircraft and race car speeds. It was indeed at Brooklands that both sexes built their impressive racing history: the very first person to drive on the brand new circuit was in fact a woman: Ethel Locke-King, in her Itala. Motor racing records, such as Gwenda Hawkes’ double-12 motorcycle endurance in 1922 and the Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce, who raced in Brooklands’ first women race in 1927 in an aluminium AC, achieving 17 world records overall in cars, boats and aeroplanes, were as eagerly sought-after as aviation firsts. Perhaps Hilda Hewlett could have competed with women such as Kay Petre and Gwenda Hawkes for the true "Brooklands Speed Queen" title.

In recognition of such records and achievement, the ‘Women in Aviation’ weekend hosts a new exhibition using original material from the Museum Archive, tracing some of the history surrounding those early days of flying at Brooklands.

Air Cadets’ and Astro-Sim’s state-of-the-art Flight Simulators will be there for those not brave enough to try the real skies. Inside the iconic Edwardian Clubhouse, the Blue Bird Room will host a display of career opportunities from the LAA (Light Aircraft Association), Brunel University, Air Cadets and ‘Red Letter Day’ charity Fly2Help. Automotive PR consultant Angie Voluti will be there with her brand new début novel, ‘Clay Ghosts in Sicily’, based on a true story about a Cypriot pilot and women’s contribution to the war in Sicily. Seminars and talks about flight and aerodynamics will be an added bonus.

ENDS

For more information and relevant photos, please contact:

Paul Stewart,                                                                                     Angie Voluti

Marketing and PR Manager                                                             Angie Voluti PR

Brooklands Museum                                                                        The Studio, Forest Road

Brooklands Rd, Weybridge                                                             Hartwell

Surrey                                                                                                Northants

KT13 0QN                                                                                          NN7 2HE

Tel: 01932 857 381 Ext 249                                                               Tel: 01604 863 044/07584 306014

Email: paulstewart@brooklandsmuseum.com                             Email: angie@angievoluti.co.uk

Note to editors: admission prices for either day are: Adults £10, Seniors £9, Children (5-16 yrs) £5.50, Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £27. For full details of events, directions and general Museum information, please visit http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ or telephone 01932 857381. The Museum is open daily from 10am – 5pm (4pm in winter).

Angie Voluti PR

The Studio

Forest Road

Hartwell

Nr Northampton

NN7 2HE

Tel. +44 (0) 1604 863 044

Mob. +44 (0) 7584 306 014

Website: http://www.angievoluti.co.uk/

Twitter: angievoluti

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Did you get an opportunity to read our last News/Blog "Chasing Classic Cars VI"

What will you be driving when your are 101 years old?

Barbara Dunning, 101 years old,  from Plymouth Michigan is still driving her , 1930 Packard Straight 8 747. Join her here at New York Times video "Two Classic one Car". 

APPRAISING YOUR CLASSIC RACE CAR CAN BE IMPORTANT

Written by Bobby Bennett


Ray Allen’s SS/E Automatic 1970 Chevelle selling for over $1 Million dollars at the Barrett-Jackson auction sent a message loud and clear – old race cars have a
value. A similar 1972 Chevelle, also powered by a Truppi-Kling Competition engine, sold for $121,000, confirmed the statement.

Having an appraisal on your special car can be the difference in your special edition model raking in a fair market value and someone taking advantage of you or your estate.

Jon Lundberg, who made a name for decades as one of drag racing’s premiere live track announcers, is doing his part to ensure the classic cars get their just due on the auction block.

“An appraisal is a snap shot of value taken at a particular place in time,” explained Lundberg, who got into the auto appraisal business after buying Southwest Valuations from Don McReynolds.

Lundberg’s firm is plenty busy these days traveling to various parts of the country putting a price tag on rare vehicles. 

“We have a specific pattern that we follow,” Lundberg explained. “We come to where the vehicle is, whether that’s a racing event where I can do a bunch of cars and save the racers having to have the traveling expense, or if it’s individual racing car – I do both. it happens as well. We show up, we take somewhere in the area of 100 digital photographs, and we ask before we come that the car owner complete for us two forms that we have developed to help us identify the particular vehicle; one is called 'Unique Attributes' and the other is called “Provenance.”

Both documents are exclusive and copyrighted through Lundberg’s company.

The Unique Attributes form follows the dictates of an art object identification program developed originally by the Getty Museum, and approximately 1,000 companies worldwide, to quantify and very carefully identify art objects which might be stolen or criminally duplicated. This form very painfully asks the owner, driver, crew chief or - whoever fills it out - to identify almost every operating facet of the vehicle and becomes part of the report.

The Provenance is a race car’s resume, a history of its accomplishments back to its build date

 “If you have the front cover of HOT ROD Magazine, that’s a value-adder,” Lundberg added. “If you won a major national event or a significant independent event like the Super Stock Nationals or the Popular Hot Rodding Magazine Meet then that adds value as well because that means the car ran an open competition and was a winner. Those two elements are significant value-adders.”

With the Unique Attributes and Provenance forms filled out, and an in-person inspection, Lundberg returns to his office and begins the long and tedious chore of homework. For an unlicensed competition race vehicle – literally - these forms become its birth certificate.

“It proves that the vehicle existed, it operated and is known, and it has a physical identity and a fair market or actual cash value,” Lundberg said. “What we tell the owner to do for insurance,  and estate planning purposes or IRS charitable donation purposes is to give one copy to the significant person for whom the appraisal is being done and put the second one in a safe deposit box along with the title to their house so that if anything happens at anytime to that vehicle you have a document that states those things clearly and in a quantified manner.”

This process can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days, depending on how much information is provided at the project onset of the process and when the actual inspection is conducted.

These 30 to 90 days can be crucial to your family with a rare and/or vintage relic sitting in your garage if you should unexpectedly pass away. In another scenario, he’s in the midst of completing an appraisal for the family of a race car owner suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“We find that in a predominate number of cases, second generation family members of a racer who dies aren’t really that much interested in the physical vehicle,” Lundberg admits. “What it allows for the remaining widow to do is to either, auction it off, charitably donate, or physically sell the vehicle hopefully  understanding what its value is in a real world sense, because lacking this information -  in all too many cases - somebody gets taken advantage of.”

How much does it cost to get a car appraised? According to Lundberg, those interested in retaining his firm, can visit his website at www.autovaluz.com.  You can either contact him via email or any of the phone numbers there; they have a nationwide toll-free number. 


Once Lundberg’s firm is contacted they will do a 15 minute interview in which they determine what it will take to investigate and draw a value on the project.   The potential client may then evaluate Lundberg’s process as each receives a Scope of Work Proposal containing all relevant details and fees.

“The most economical way for these kinds of things to be done if there is a considerable distance between our homes involved is for the individual car owner to join a collection of cars at a major event,” Lundberg explained. “We do four to six major events per year. We always state where we are going and when we are going to be there so that car owners who are interested in having this done can assemble themselves. What we do then of course is split the transportation costs among the clients.”

Finding the cars and getting to the point of actually inspecting the car isn’t the toughest part of Lundberg’s challenge. Believe it or not, the most complex task is in getting those two important and basic documents filled out.

“If you take two vehicles that are built exactly the same, had exactly the same power train, two different crews, one wins a significant number of national events and open competition drag races, and the other smokes the tires and is the leading oil leaker, which one of those do you think is going to be worth the most money?” Lundberg offers.

Even though getting those documents can sometimes be a headache, just embarking on the process can be rewarding for Lundberg, much like announcing on the microphone at a drag race has been for decades.

“My role as a color [commentator] is to give back to the sport that gave me so much satisfaction for 46 years,” Lundberg explained. “And now I have an opportunity as well to contribute to the safety and value retention of this marvelous group of restored and re-created vehicles that are coming to the sport.”

And that, Lundberg adds, is priceless, no matter the appraisal.

SOURCE

Southwest Valuations
783 West Clear Creek Way
Oro Valley, Arizona 85737-6954
1-877-427-7249.
http://www.southwest-valuations.com




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