The 2010 automobile concours season is upon us.  The first significant concours of the year is the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, which will be held  at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Amelia Island (just north of Jacksonville) this weekend—March 12-14.  This event is popular because of the great cars on display plus the fact that it’s held at a time when many car  enthusiasts (particularly those in the northern climates) are feeling the winter blues.  The Amelia Island show attracts great antique and classic automobiles as well as vintage racing cars and some occasional unusual vehicles.  In addition to the car show the weekend also features two automobile auctions run by two of the biggest automobile auction companies, RM and Gooding & Company.  It’ll be interesting to see how these two companies do.  The results could be a barometer of the state of the collector car hobby.  I’ve noticed that many of the same high-end collector cars that appear at the Amelia Island concours (and Pebble Beach) often show up at the annual Glenmoor Gathering, held at Glenmoor Country Club in September, which proves, I guess, that you don’t have to travel 1,200 miles to see great, rare cars—although the warm weather and sunshine sure is a bonus.

Northeast Ohio has many outstanding figures in the collector car hobby.  By that, I mean not only car collectors but those special individuals who assist with the restoration of the cars.  The list includes body men, mechanics and trimmers (or upholsterers), as they’re also known).  One of those trimmers, as he preferred to be known. was Jim Roll, who operated Tailored Trim Service in New Philadelphia, Ohio.  He died February 6 at the age of 72.  Jim was nationally known for the quality of his work.  Automobiles for which he produced beautiful interiors received numerous awards at automobile concours events throughout the United States, including Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and the Glenmoor Gathering.  One of the awards presented at the annual Gathering is named for him—the James E. Roll Award for Best Interior.  The award was established in 2007 by several of Jim’s friends and was first presented that year.  Jim made the selection each year and personally presented the award to the happy car owner.  Jim’s passing is a sad reminder that we are slowly losing the craftsmen who we have depended on to maintain and restore our collector vehicles.

According to the weather report for the Canton-Akron area on www.weather.com, it seems that today and tomorrow may be the best and possibly the only days left in October to get your classic car out of the garage for a cruise.

With temperatures from the mid to high 60’s and a fairly low chance of precipitation, I hope to see many collector cars out and about today. So pull off that car cover, open the garage door and put your foot on the gas pedal to enjoy a couple more rides before winter!

I'm certain that each person has their own favorite place to drive their collector car— and being new to the area I would love for you to share those places with me. Is it to the movie theatre? The ice cream parlor? Down a long, winding road where you can take in the beautiful colors of the trees?

After reading previous posts by Autosaurus and Steven S. Brooks about the Glenmoor Gathering, I checked out the show’s website (www.glenmoorgathering.com) and found many more exciting things that will be on display—including this fully operable 4-cylinder internal combustion engine! According to the website, this working scale gasoline engine was built by George Britnell and is made entirely from bar stock, aluminum, brass and iron with a bore of .750 and stroke .875. The engine is said to idle at 1,500 rpm!

1916 Fokker Eindecker E.IV airplane model

In addition to this impressive scale engine, there will be other models on display—both vintage and recently-built— including automobiles, engines, and planes. Another featured model that will be on display is a 1916 Fokker Eindecker E. IV airplane— the best fighter plane of the WWI era. A joystick or rudder moves all control surfaces on the model and it is equipped with dual 7.92 mm Spandau machine guns!

The details of these models are exquisite—both inside and out! Don’t miss your opportunity to see these true pieces of art at this year’s Glenmoor Gathering on September 20 in Canton! You can call Glenmoor at 330-966-3600 to purchase tickets or visit their website for ticket locations. See you at the show!

OK, it's official, the controversial "cash for clunkers" program has been passed and implemented. It didn't take long for the auto manufacturers, both foreign and domestic, to inundate us with commercials and roll out special promotions around this.

 Effectively, the government will pay you $4,500 in trade towards the purchase of a new car that fits their definition of a "clunker". The catch is that it can't be anything that you can "push, pull or drag" into the dealership. It has to be a currently registered vehicle manufactured after a certain date and it has to get a certain percentage worse gas mileage than the new vehicle you are purchasing.

This has been done in other countries for many years, primarily to reduce emissions from older vehicles. The major purpose of the program just introduced in our country is to spur car sales and help stimulate the economy. My question to you is, will this law stimulate you to buy a new car?

I recently attended a presentation titled “Restoration vs. Preservation” as part of the Crawford Auto Museum’s lecture series, which focused on the value of preserving an original car compared to restoring it as well as how "original" is defined. The topic is rather controversial in the collector car industry, as there are many factors to consider. For example, some people believe that “original” is defined as the car being un-restored and only maintained since it left the factor. Others believe that if the car has been restored using period-correct parts and looks like it would have from the factory then it is still an original car. There is also the aspect of whether or not adding safety features such as seat belts and safety glass makes a difference in determining originality.

As a car gal intrigued with original cars that have survived the grueling world of transportation with just “maintenance”—such as the pictured 1928 Minerva—there is nothing more aggravating to me then seeing a so-called “all original” car at a show with gleaming paint, new upholstery, and freshly plated trim. I do, however, completely respect the addition of safety features and believe that the car is still original as long as the additions are done tastefully and with regards to the era that the car was built.

What is your view on originality?  Do you think a car qualifies as “original” even if it has been restored using era correct parts or has added safety features?

As a young adult passionate about automobiles, I strive to attend every car show and event possible. However, I have noticed that almost every car show has a weak representation of young people, primarily teens to early-twenties. I have often wondered why this is— is it because old cars just aren’t fascinating enough for the generation raised with high-tech computers, palm-sized cellular phones, and satellite radios installed in their daily driver? Or is it that “youngsters” don’t appreciate the beauty of finely detailed craftsmanship, engineering, and technology? Maybe it’s the pricy cost of admission for some shows that steer them away. Or maybe they are just too naive to recognize the true value of an automobile—new or old—beyond the paint scheme and accessories.

What do you believe is the reason for the majority of this generation to turn their nose up at or overlook collector cars? And how do we appeal to this age group? How do we get them enthusiastic about collector cars so that the industry remains sturdy and does not slowly disappear with each “old timer” that we sadly loose?

100^th Anniversary of Alice Ramsey's Cross-Country Journey

Tuesday, June 9 marked the 100^th anniversary of Alice Ramsey's tour across the United States. In the midst of an era when women were expected to tend to the house and children, 22-year old Alice Ramsey broke free of that image as she ventured from New York City to San Francisco in a 1909 Maxwell DA–becoming the first woman to drive across America.

Nearly 10-years before women even gained the right to vote, Alice Ramsey and three of her female companions pushed through treacherous weather, exhaustion, terrain, and mechanical barriers for 59-days before making it to their destination in San Francisco. Although simply a publicity act for the Maxwell-Briscoe Company, the adventure meant much more to Alice Ramsey–a monument in her life and a milestone for all women. And that momentous act still plays a role in the life of many women today. Alice's story carries with it the zeal, dedication, and inspiration that are often required for many women to be successful in any primarily male-dominated field.

Emily Anderson of Seattle, Washington was one of the women touched by Alice Ramsey's story. In honor of Alice's century-old feat, Emily pulled away from 1930 Broadway in New York City Tuesday morning in a 1909 Maxwell DA to re-create the cross-country adventure. Her father restored a Maxwell to match the original automobile and Emily will arrive in San Francisco at the same location where Alice Ramsey ended.

According to www.aliceramsey.org, Emily is scheduled to be in Peninsula, Ohio Sunday June 14 before continuing her journey. Interestingly, Emily and the 1909 Maxwell will be returning to Ohio September 18-20 as guests of this year's Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles in Canton. Two great opportunities to be a part of this historical event and support the upcoming of women in the collector car industry!

By now, most of you have heard that the legal path has been cleared for the Italian car manufacturer, Fiat, to essentially acquire Chrysler. Since it has been over 25 years since Fiat cars have had a retail presence in the United States, it might be a good time to learn a bit about the company. 

Fiat, which stands for "Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino" was founded in 1899. In a period of just a few years, it became Italy's largest auto manufacturer; a title it maintains to this day. In fact, it is Italy's largest industrial concern with 110,000 employees in Italy and roughly an equal number of employees around the world.

Fiat has deep roots in the American economy. The first Fiat automobile imported into the United States was in 1908. Within two years, they established an American assembly plant in Poughkeepsie, New York. During the ‘50's and ‘60's, Fiat had a strong import business in the United States with their sporty and economical cars which always had keen designs by some of the most famous Italian styling houses (like the Bertone designed 850 Racer I used to own). Although the Fiat brand left the U.S. in the early eighties, the Fiat wholly owned subsidiaries of Ferrari, Maserati and Iveco have had a constant and successful presence.  Fiat's other automotive brands include Lancia and Alfa Romeo.

In addition to Fiat's automotive ventures, they are the world's second largest agricultural equipment manufacturer as owners of legendary American brands Case and International Harvester. They are also a significant player in the world's construction equipment industry through their Fiat-Hitachi operations.

Ironically, in the early part of this decade, Fiat had a tentative agreement to sell its auto operations to General Motors. In 2005, GM saw the handwriting on the wall and decided not to follow through on the transaction. As a result, they had to pay Fiat $2 billion to get out of the obligation. How things change….

Last week, Autosaurus  did a post about tomorrow's Glenmoor Gathering Spring Countryside Tour. There's nothing like the feeling of taking your favorite car, new or old, for a drive on great country roads on a beautiful spring day. 

The Glenmoor Gathering tours have gained a national reputation for their scenic beauty and quality, but everyone I know has their own favorite place to take a fun drive. When I was young, the twisty two-lanes of Riverview and Akron-Peninsula Roads were my primary destinations upon acquisition of my latest old heap of a sports car. I still have great memories of zipping around there at dusk, taking in the sights, sounds and (pre-compost plant) smells while occasionally scaring myself on the curves.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to travel and discover new favorite drives throughout our country and overseas. Where are your favorite roads?