17 posts, newest first.
The Fourth Time’s A Charm Photos courtesy Kirk Gerbracht; click on any photo to see it full screen in high res Now in its fourth year, Gathering at the Oaks is becoming a meaningful force in the Southern Oregon classic and collector car scene. It’s a very egalitarian event, offering something of motoring interest to…
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I’m pleased to say that my latest book project, after interminable delays due to Covid, inflation, deflation, supply chain issues, a rail strike, locust, rickets, acne, heartburn, and goodness knows what else, is alive and well, in print and available in time for the holidays (shameless plug, hint hint). Factory special editions, anniversary models, uber…
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Double click on any image to see it high res and full screen Hyundai’s Tucson and Sante Fe SUVs have now been around so long, we don’t often think of them as standardbearers in the marketplace. This was my chance to drive the recently remodeled, freshened, and more sportified Tucson; nothing like a 2000 mile…
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DRIVEN: Volvo XC40 Recharge EV [Please click on any image to see it full screen in high res] As you might imagine, I get many questions about EVs these days. “How do they drive?” “How far do they go on a charge?” “Are they slow?” Or “Are they fast enough.” “What do you do…
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Among the many things I love about driving through rural communities is the surprising number of old cars I run across; yard art parked here and there, wrecking yards, small used car dealerships, barns, and other such random depositories of old tin. And of course it comes in all shapes, sizes, and conditions. Uber sharp…
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My newest baby is out of the incubator and available for order. Porsche Special Editions covers a variety of special run Porsches, produced by the factory, by outside coachbuilders, top level aftermarket companies, and others. Plus a smattering of concept cars. I’m particularly thankful to the incomparable Magnus Walker, the Urban Outlaw Hisownself, who kindly…
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Click on any photo to see it full screen in hi res No matter if it’s the next county, state, country, or around the world, when I travel I make it a goal to visit local automotive events. Of course lots of Googling helps locate and sort out these visits, and if that doesn’t yield…
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Visiting Two Iconic German Car Museums: Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Transportation museums around the world vary—from purpose built, factory backed, artistic (and often architectural) wonders to old warehouses thinly repurposed into museum or personal (or foundation) collection display (and/or storage) duty. To take in and fully appreciate some of the world’s best, a visit to Germany…
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No, I’ve not forgotten you or this blog. I’ve just been on the road and on the run gathering new material to share with you. Next up will be two of Germany’s greatest factory car museums both from around the Stuttgart area. Worth my trip, and hopefully worth your look when I get them posted…
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Special Edition cars. We’ve all heard of them; Anniversary models, Limited editions, Indy 500 Pace Car editions, some models even named SE or Special Edition, and so on…and on. After finishing up and publishing my THE IROC PORSCHES book, I still felt like I had another Porsche title in me. But it had to be…
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2,600-MILE WEST COAST ROAD TRIP IN A BRONCO SPORT ALL ‘THUMBS-UP’ The birth and product launch of Ford’s new Bronco and Bronco Sport have earned nearly as much excitement and following as have any Ford GT or Shelby models of recent history. By developing the model lines in a two-pronged product approach, the new Bronco…
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Magnus Lucian Titus Bennett Walker is an amazing individual on so many fronts. Meet him without knowing him or speaking with him, you may (wrongly) guess him to be some part rocker, another part homeless guy, and some bit of hippy. Internationally known car builder and collector? Likely not. What you might not at first…
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After 30 some years as a full time professional automotive writer, photographer, and book author, I’m often asked what was my first magazine editor’s job, which was in fact as the Quarterly Magazine Editor for POCA, the Pantera Owners Club of America. This was such great fun, and I learned so much. Made some mistakes…
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CHINO HILLS, CA — The Steve McQueen Car and bike show previously enjoyed a run of 13 successful events, up to and including 2019. You can guess of course what happened in 2020. Vowing to return, the event kept its eye on guidelines and protocols for large outdoor events, and after a reschedule or two, calendared…
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Provenance n: where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence. – courtesy dictionary.com Ask any knowledgeable automobile collector, restorer, auctioneer, or historian about what makes a car significant–and valuable–and they’ll tell you it’s all about provenance: knowing when a car was built, where, by whom, and to what specification. Originality, condition, celebrity ownership,…
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Myth: A Famous (or Infamous) Chrysler Concept car sunk to the bottom of the ocean aboard the Andrea Doria cruiseliner. Today most people refer to them as “concept cars.” By “them” we mean those one-off dream machines, mockups, design studies and turntable toys intended to dazzle us at auto shows, give potential customers and the…
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2022 FRIENDS OF STEVE MCQUEEN CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW REGISTRATION NOW OPEN The 2022 Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show reverts back to its original June dates, and registration is now open for all three events: Welcome Party – Friday June 03, 2022 Commemorative Dinner – Saturday June 04, 2022 Car and Motorcycle Show – Sunday June 05, 2022 JUNE…
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