Natal: June 2012

Spring Fling 2012 photos that show what it looks like in general

Spring Fling, annual Mopar car show in Van Nuys, usually March or April

The new Challengers have a big car club that shows up every year and did a great color swatch job this year

It's about the only place to see old vans

Unusual forgotten Mopars like this Mirada

or find 1950's and 60's cars with transplanted hemis like this Belvedere

You won't see old Dodge trucks in many places outside a Moapr car show

Bring cold drinks, because it's usually in the 80's and humid. There are plenty of vendors charging the usual 3 to 4 dollars a coke, 2 or 3 dollars a bottle of water.

if you want to save money on car insurance with Geico, switch to Allstate or AAA

back in 2008 I got the same car insurance coverage levels on the same car, by about 8 different car insurance companies, and Allstate and AAA came in very close to the same costs, and I got fed up with listening to the Geico ads, the ones that keep repeating how you "COULD" save UP TO 430 dollars by switching from your car insurance company... you've probablly heard it to, on radio, TV, internet pop ups, magazine full page ads, etc etc. All that advertising costs them so much, they charge more to their customers so the profit isn't hit.

I just got a quote from
AAA for $970 every 6 months,
Geico for $1030 every 6 months

And Allstate charges me $812

Now, I mentioned that AAA and Allstate charge about the same, but the above numbers are about 180 dollars apart... well, everyone seems to do one thing or another to sweeten their deal, and AAA has a dividend check, and Allstate has the customer loyalty discount, plus decreasing deductible discount, and all that stuff.

So with those factors removed, AAA and Allstate charge about the same.

the 2008 comparison is here: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/car-insurance-comparison.html and I don't have the time tonight to get quotes from the rest of those companies to see how they've compared after 4 years, but you'll notice the difference between Allstate and Geico has doubled.

the Porsche 917, 24 hours of Daytona winner, will be at the Friends of Steve McQueen car show at the Boys Republic tomorrow

The fifth annual Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show will celebrate the character of Frank Bullitt as portrayed by the iconoclastic actor in the movie “Bullitt” as cars, motorcycles and fans arrive for the display on the campus of The Boys Republic.

But it is the role of Michael Delaney in the classic film “Le Mans” that raises the pulse, and no race car is more identified with Steve McQueen than the legendary Porsche 917.

This year’s show is privileged to present one example of that legendary Gulf Porsche 917K, the overall winner of the 1970 Daytona 24 Hours.

This race was the debut of the J.W. Automotive Gulf sponsored Porsches and it was a complete triumph finishing 1st and 2nd. This particular 917 completed the race with no major problems and won by a margin of forty-six laps, a record that was intact for seventeen years.

The owner of 917-015, Bruce Canepa of Scotts Valley, Ca, is passionate about all things automotive and is pleased to share this passion with other like-minded enthusiasts by entering his Porsche in the Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Boys Republic, 1907 Boys Republic Drive, Chino Hills, CA.

Parking is free and admission is $10.00 with children under 12 free.
For those wishing to enter the car show, please visit the website for registration.

For more information: www.stevemcqueencarshow.com

Gulf colors, Porsche 917... great looking, the 24 hr of Daytona winning 917

Replica of James Garners Lola T70 24 Hour Daytona racecar, the AIR on the nose stands for American International Racing, Garners team name

for a gallery of James Garner's racing team http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/james-garners-american-intenational.html

"When I die... " a funny line from John Lewinski about the Barber Museum

I’ve since decided that when I die, I want to be cremated with my ashes sprinkled somewhere inside this museum. If that’s illegal, just dump my body on the track.

http://www.craveonline.com/lifestyle/articles/189387-visiting-the-barber-vintage-racing-museum

Bought at auction, for 3.8 million, displayed at the Techno Classica in Essen, where it was seized by police, and given by the courts to claimants of being the grandkids of the original owner... a 1937 Mercedes 500 K Spezial Roadster

A court in Hamburg ruled that the historic Mercedes, which was seized by German police in April from its display at the Techno Classica car event in Essen, is the rightful property of the grandchildren of the industrialist who owned the car before it was taken by U.S. soldiers in the final days of the war

The rare car was purchased by Dutch collector Frans van Haren for nearly $3.8 million in August from the RM collector-car auction at Monterey, Calif. After shipping the spectacular roadster to Holland, he brought the car to Germany to show at Techno Classica, and was shocked when police took the opportunity to seize the car once it was back in their jurisdiction

The Mercedes disappeared while Prym was serving a prison sentence under the Allies, and his estate in Stolberg was being used as a base for U.S. troops during their march into Germany.

Photos and info from http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-german-heirs-reclaim-ownership-of-1937-mercedes-benz-500-k
via the Vintage Racing League newsletter