Now in NYC. Car Spotting.

There's owning and driving a Ferrari engined Fiat.

Then, there is doing the same in New York.

Then, there is letting some parking attendant park it. Cue the Ferris Bueller now.

But, that is what I saw walking along Hudson Street this fine morning.

Hats off to you, you bold fellow. Keep the V6 revs high and your eyes open for cabs.

So Long High Plains Raceway. Hello Lime Rock. Moving Back East.

I'm two weeks into my new job in NYC.

Hence the lack of postings.

But, as of March 3rd, the family and my family of cars will be on a truck headed to the East Coast. We plan to live in CT while my job is a long-ish commute to SOHO. But I need the garage space.

So, looking forward to racing at NJMP, Lime Rock and all the other old east coast tracks. The above pics are quite evocative of Lime Rock. They are on this site. They show some racing in the early 60s.

Brilliant.

New Article. Drop Top Vignale.

I don't recall if I told everyone about this fantastic 1-of-a-kind Vignale bodied car I wrote about for Classic Motorsports.

But, the article is finally on newsstands and it is fantastic. If you like hearing about remarkable cars owned for decades by one family, you'll love this story.

Sure, it made the cover, barely, of the mag, but it is still the cover.

Enjoy.

Those Crazy People in The Netherlands

So, these guys have been around for a while. The Huet Brothers that is. The HB in HB coupe. But this is the first I have seen of a new coupe they would like to produce.

It is simply stunning.

Check out more here.

Best. Sports Car. Documentary. Ever. 1965 Targa Florio

That you can watch this gorgeous 40 minute documentary about the 1965 Targa Florio for free is one of the bonuses of the internet. This is spectacular stuff with which to while away the post-NFL time.

In it you see up close, unvarnished racing action. Interviews with drivers. In car footage of dogs scampering across the roads. Why were these types of races outlawed again?

All the racing legends are here. Graham Hill, Paddy Hopkirk, Vacarella(sp?). The latter the Sicilian born schoolmaster who wins the Targa. A school teacher driving a factory Ferrari! Only in 1965.

Love it. Love it. Love it.

And that sign I screen grabbed - does that mean that mom's should hold onto their babies or watch out so the driver's don't sully their daughters?

Watch it here.

So, the official review from Octane came out. And it was good. They liked it. Which is saying something because they usually eviscerate fiction.

BUT, man are they picky about the Brit vs. UK thing. This is a car book and they pick on what they thought was an error. I did mean 'sauce' not 'sausage'. The dish is from a high-end hotel and is a modern interpretation of a traditional breakfast. Come on guys. Comment on the cars, not the food. Which was as I wanted it anyway.

And, for any one who doubts there is a 'black pudding sauce' just google it. Or check out the menu here or the recipe here. And anyone who has been to Blumenthal's restaurant has probably had a 'black pudding sauce' as well.

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers

May be it is a corruption to use a speech from a play about a battle of the few against the many to describe the cold Cars & Coffee this morning, but hey, sometimes I feel a bit dramatic.

We wheeled the MK2 out of hibernation at 7am and rolled up to Boulder/Lafayette. A gorgeous sunrise of pinks and purples over the Rockies and no traffic. We arrived to find no one else. But soon about twenty hardy souls brought out their cars.

A nice 80SC in arrow blue was present. Love the color. I should have painted my race car that shade. Also a cool driver GTV and even a brace of Ferrari's. I don't know which models. They were new ones.

Do check out the pic of the rear of the 996 GT3 and the 928. Similar proportions.

Finally, a pic of my son hamming it up in the back of the MK2. We have to take off his shoes as he likes banging his feet on the small, wood seat-back tables. If only he knew...

My P!g Works for a Living.

The truth is, I love my Cayenne.

I really do.

And the nastier the weather or the harder the towing and work, the more I like it.

On a sunny day, with no traffic and open road it is at its worst. It is just a fast truck. But on days you actually use it as a hard-working SUV, it shines.

And I love the looks I get from people when I load up the P!g with sheetrock at the Home-D. A week off has me knocking out a long list of small jobs.

I do admit, my right-side view was a bit compromised with this load. But oh, well.

And, for those who don't go to Rennlist forums. There is a brilliant nickname for the Cayenne.

P!g.

It is the word pig with the i spelled with an exclamation point. A reference to the codes that the early Cayennes often threw, very often.

Help...I Am Stuck in My Jaguar

Nothing quite as embarrassing as having to climb out the passenger seat of your classic car in a crowded area.

'Ah, look at that poncy fellow over there, not so show boaty now!' You can imagine the crowd saying.

But, that was the situation I was in when my MK2 driver's side door didn't want to release from the inside. So, take it apart.

Removing the wood door caps was simple. Messing with the spring-loaded roll pins of the window winder and door handle less so. But, after a few nicked fingers, it all came off.

Inside, the mechanism looked fine, but it was 'hanging up' and grating. With no obvious broken parts I slathered the device in WD40 and went to go look for a replacement online.

After a few weeks of searching I could only find mediocre used items. No one reproduces the item. Oh, well. I went to go take off the release mechanism when lo and behold it worked. I guess the old part just needed some lube. So, I greased it up proper and buttoned the door back up.

Got to love free repairs.

AC/DC's Brian Johnson a Fan of Faston

I nearly fell out of my bed last night when I was reading through the newest issue of Octane when I came across Brian Johnson's column.

In it, he launches into a discussion of high-end automotive recreations by praising my book, Hunt for the Blower Bentley.

I am usually nonplussed about such things. I've had commercials run during prime time sports and television. Seen a billboard of mine in Times Square. Even had dozens of articles published in magazines. But something about unsolicited praise from a true automotive enthusiast was just so awesome. Don't tell my wife, but no Christmas present could top this.

Well, maybe a 993 C4 in white would.

But, if you are on the fence about picking up or downloading a copy, don't hesitate now. A man who races a Lola loves it. You will too.

Whoa, baby baby Thunderstruck...