For example this Ferrari 250 GTO restored by MPI

MPI has given The Motoring Journal a sneak peak of the activities happening at the Cavallino Classic, “A Convention of Automotive Enthusiasts”.

Here in the paddock drivers are preparing to race with a 1954 Ferrari 250 Boano

If you are attending The Cavallino you can find the MPI crew at the following functions:

Saturday, January 21

• Concorso d’Eleganza at The Breakers- 4 Cars on Display by MPI
• Borrani Americas display at The Sponsors Automotive Products area

Racing every year MPI offers transportation and pit crew service to their clients during the Florida Trophy at the Palm Beach International Raceway. In 2012 six cars will compete.

• 1959 Ferrari TDF- Red w/yellow (Chuck Wegner)
• 1962 Ferrari Lusso- Selver and yellow (Peter Giddings)
• 1984 Ferrari BBLM- Red (Jim Fuchs)
• Ferrari 308M- Yellow (Stephen Dudley)
• 1954 Ferrari 250 Boano- Blue w/silver top (Jack Thomas)
• 1952 Ferrari 212 Spyder- Red (Mark Lindman)

Apparently several exotic car owners were on a drive and dine when one Ferrari driver changed lanes into a guard rail. This sent him into a tailspin, taking out 2 other cars. 10 more car’s were damaged in making an effort to avoid other out of control cars, making a total of a 14 car pile-up. It appears all of the cars were Ferrari’s.

Though No one was seriously injured, I think we can guess who is now banished from club drives…

This 1953 NSU/Lambretta shown by Bob and Mitzi McNabb was a real sweetheart.

Here is a 1953 Cushman Sprint Eagle 752

There were several European and Japanese bikes on display

1967 Honda Dream

This classic Indian had such a great sound and a gorgeous sidecar to match!

This 1931 Series 3, R-11 BMW was stunning. It utilizes a pressed steel rather than tubular chassis. The 745cc sidevalve engine made 18hp. It was an excellent tour and had enough displacement  to power a sidecar.

The top speed was a modest 60mph but it made an economical 50mpg. The front suspension was an undamped leaf spring trailing link and the rear was rigid.

This 1923 R32 is the oldest in existence!

How about this Trumpy! Can you say clean?

Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance top honor, “Best of Show”, was awarded to a 1937 BMW 328 Roadster owned by Lothar Schuettler of Darnestown, MD. First owned by famous German race driver Baron Fritz Huschke von Hanstein, the original cost was $2,792 US equivalent. It is one of only 18 painted black. With the baron at the wheel in 1938-39, this car saw many wins at famous race tracks such as the Nurburgring, Hockenheim, Le Mans and the Gorssglockner Hill Climb. The cars history is unknown until it resurfaced in 1953 as a white car and was sold by a German national to a US GI who brought it to the States and owned it for the next 40 Years.

Other significant awards on Sunday included “Peoples Choice” awarded to a 1936 Auburn 852 Boat Tail Speedster owned by Charles and Diane Mistele of Bluffton, SC. The car, which can go from 0-60 in 15 seconds, was delivered with documentation on dash tested to exceed 100+MPH. The car has been in the Mistele family for 49 years. “Most Outstanding car” went to Peter Boyle’s 1928 Isotta Frashini Type TIPO 8A55 Boattail Speedster, Hilton Head Islands Concours’  Best of Show winner from 2007. “Most Outstanding Car” (Post-1948) went to a 1967 Shelby GT-500 owned by Michael Stickney. Philip Capossela, Event Chairman for the Hilton Head Festival, said, “We had an exceptionally tough field this year. Becoming fully subscribed earlier than in years past, we actually had to turn down a number of wonderful candidates. Needless to say, this year’s top honors were well deserved. We are extremely proud to add them to Hilton Head Islands Concours d’Elegance, stated that “Because of the depth of vehicles participating over the past few years, we have added additional top honors to better shocase the breadth and quality of vehicle the event is now attracting. We’re proud that selecting a single ‘Best of Show’ has becoming nearly impossible.”

Additionally, on Sunday, The Lee Lacocca Award given for “Dedication to excellence perpetuating an American automotive tradition” was awarded to long-time Hilton Head exhibitor J.C. O’Steen.

Saturday’s top honors for the Car Club Jamboree were the “Peoples Choice Award” given to a 1954 MG 1500 MGTF owned by Geoff Wheatley of the Low Country Oyster and Motorcar Driving Society, The Chairman’s Award presented to Fran Hughes of the BMW Car Club of America for a 1990 BMW Z1, the the Honorary Chairman’s Award selected by Dennis Gage awarded to a 1970 BMW 2800CS owned by Avery Wise of the BMW Car Club of America and the Best BMW Award given to a 1976 BMW 2002 owned by Wayne Long in honor of this years Featured Marque.

More than 500 automobiles made their way to Hilton Head Island, SC and the Savannah, GA Lowcountry this weekend to participate in the 10th annual Festival. Dennis Gage, the mustachioed host of Speed Channels “My Classic Car” served as the Honorary Chairman and participated at events on Hilton Head Island. Boris said, the ‘road course ringer’ of Nascar participated as the Grand Marshal during the Festival’s Savannah Speed Classic. Other noted appearances during the 10th annual event included were, Bobby Rahal, Hurley Haywood, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand on-site for the Savannah Speed Classic.

Carolyn Vanagel, President for The Motoring Festival remarked, “The event was better than it’s ever been- higher quality, more variety and larger exhibits. The crowds were engaged with our wide variety of offerings – presentations, guided walking tours, parade of cars – and I think we have had a record year. There was incredible energy on the show field.” Vanagel stated that the combination of the four signature events, the Savannah Speed Classic, the Motoring Midway, the Car Club Jamboree and, of course, the pinnacle, the Concours d’Elegance, as well as the variety of sponsors and the continuation of Motoring Festival Week this year, all contribute
d to the excitement.

Motoring Festival Partners, the events key sponsors, for the 2011 Festival included BMW, Porsche, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Hargray, The Westin at Hilton Head and Savannah, Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce, the Savannah Convention and Visitors Bureau, Savannah Morning News, Adventure Radio, WSAV and Classic Party Rentals.

The 2012 event is already generating excitement amongst its organizers. The dates have been set for October 26-November 4, 2012 with Ford Model T designated as the events Honored Marque. More information to follow at  the Hilton Head Concours webpage.

To see more photo’s and conversation of the event and many others like TMJ on facebook.

What I found fascinating about the Gar Wood boats is that Garfield Wood himself grew up only 15 miles from our farm in Minnesota. The story goes that on Lake Osakis, Garfield known as “Gar” as a boy would help his father ferry everything from covered wagons to cattle and other goods across Lake Osakis. With a love for speed Gar began building his own small single man boats to zoom over the blue Minnesota waters. His passion for speed was a lifelong affair. Gar was very clever and a smart businessman as he grew into his twenty’s. He designed crane like devices for lifting heavy items off of the boats and loading trucks with them. He soon implemented the boom lifts onto the back of trucks and relocated his operations to Detroit, where the trucks where being built.

He built an empire with his business and always had boat building in his sights. The “Upper Brass” of the 1920′s heard of his impressive boats and approached him to build a Sports Car for the water. The “Baby Gar” was born… And Bolo Babe was delivered to her owners in New York.

Summer of 2011 was a special one for her. Bolo made her way back to the waters of Lake Champlain where over 50 years ago, she was fitted with an 800HP powerplant and beat everything on the water! Here are a few more pictures we captured before her departure out East.

The Jaguar Club of North Florida host’s this all British Concours d’Elegance annually at World Golf Village near St Augustine, FL. The show always brings an interesting display of British cars from the Southeast and a handful of one-off racers thrown in.

TMJ Contributor Connie Schmitt  gives us a sneak peek with some photo’s here.

This 1936 Supercharged Austin Seven really stood out among the cars shown. It has character traits similar to Streamliners of the era. What a work of art.

Stay tuned for more event information over the coming months!

With almost 800 Parade entrants in the 2011 Porsche Parade, the city of Savannah was swarming with Porsches.  The Convention Center on Hutchinson Island  provided air-conditioned comfort and camaraderie for Concours preparation.  After running out of Q-tips and prep time, the sparkling cars moved to the beautiful Forsyth Park in the historic district for the Concours.

The Time-Speed-Distance rally provided scenic and spirited driving mostly through South Carolina back roads.  Other competitive events included a gimmick rally, autocross, and tech quiz.  There were many other activities, including an art show, technical sessions, local driving tours, tours to Brumos, banquets, kids activities, and shopping at the goodie store.

On the final day, the “Parade of Porsches” was a commemorative Centennial Driving Tour, where participants experienced the original route of the Great Savannah Races.

Despite the dog-days of August, the Porsche Parade was very cool!

To view our full photo album check out The Motoring Journal on Facebook Here!

Click to Enlarge.

This gala event, scheduled for November 5th, is strictly for Alfa Romeo and Fiat automobiles of every year, make and model.

The purpose of the event is to strengthen bonds of fellowship among all participating Alfistis and Fiatistis, to recognize those who have striven to maintain autos of rare design or condition and to provide a venue where we may display the virtues of our autos to the general public.

The site will be Market Street in the heart of downtown Celebration, FL. The town has agreed to cordon off the main block as the show site. Celebration has been highly publicized and draws visitors from around the world. The location is ideal for attracting a large number of spectators during the entire exhibition. Following the show, the cars will be driven along a parade route through Celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Click the following pictures for more information!

Registration Form.

Exhibitor Forms

AutoMotorPlex are private garages located in Chanhassen, MN. The garages look like a nicely designed storage complex from the outside but you know what they say “It’s whats on the inside that counts”. The garages vary in size and design but every one seems to have something special. Along with the garage owners opening their doors for all to view, hundreds of cars show up and line the lots making it a really great venue. Check out our photo’s below and share your thoughts!

You can also view our entire album on Facebook by clicking here. Make sure to like The Motoring Journal!