Well, we just got back from the big show at Amelia Island in Florida. The Amelia Island Concours is a charity show benefitting a local hospice near Jacksonville. About 250 cars are invited each year, everything from the brass era on up, and a heavy helping of race cars. RM conducts an auction on site and the big show on Sunday is held on the golf course at the Ritz Carlton.
We had planned to take the Ramo Stott Superbird to the show for months, and left the car at the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alabama over the winter. Tim Wellborn was nice enough to let me keep the car and trailer there and took great care of it. It's only 350 miles to the show from there, so it really cut down on the inbound tow distance.
Our crew was myself, Chuck Porter, his son Jeff and DSAC stalwart Mike Borkowski. Chuck provided the tow vehicle, his 2004 F150 Super Crew. We left Milwaukee at 6:30 PM last Tuesday not knowing how far we'd get. Turns out, we had decent weather and ran straight through arriving to Alexander City and heavy rain Wednesday morning just before the museum opened. Tim and his guys had the car already removed from the showroom and placed by the exit door. Since we were there early and could not check in to the hotel, we took the time to clean up the car a little.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100467.jpg)
While we were at the museum, we asked Phillip the manager, "Hey did Tim get that K & K Daytona sheet metal?"
"Yes", was the answer.
We then asked, "Can we see them?"
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100479.jpg)
Note that the DAYTONA letters are hand painted!
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100480.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100481.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100488.jpg)
Note that the door panel is covered indicating that the roll bars do not extend into the door. That would make this car a 1969 or earlier build as new cars for 1970 have bars that extend into the door cavity. Older cars were grandfathered on this.
By early afternoon, we had the Bird shined up pretty good and ready to load.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100519.jpg)
Jeff Porter decided to play pit man with the chalkboard.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100515.jpg)
Believe it or not, this simple trailer hauled the K & K Daytona around the country.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100529.jpg)
A surprise on the day we visited the museum was that the K & K Daytona is leaving for the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. While we worked on the 7 car, Phillip and Jerry pumped the remaining fuel from the tank of the #71 as the car is being mounted on a simulated banking. The car will be there for the next two years.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100509.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100535.jpg)
Talk about a lucky guy - for his 17th birthday, Jeff Porter got to steer the K & K out of the building and onto the hauler. Jeff is fully aware of how lucky he was to be able to fart in the same seat as Bobby Isaac.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3100542.jpg)
Jeff is still in the car and they are just about to push it inside. The other cars in the trailer were an Earnhardt Monte Carlo and a Bobby Allison Buick.
Well, we had our car loaded, said goodbye to Phillip and Jerry, and headed to the Jameson Inn for some sleep. Thursday morning we were out the door headed for Valdosta Georgia to visit Chuck's daughter Caitlin stationed at Moody Air Force base. Caitlin had arranged for us to stay on base at the visitors hotel. We had a 2 bedroom condo with kitchen and laundry for $42. What a deal! That offset the fuel economy of the F150 which was pulling low 8's in the MPG department. But I knew that going in. The truck actually did a fine job pulling.
Friday morning we were on the road to Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville. We arrived just about 2:00 PM and dropped the trailer at the secured site for single car trailers. A little paperwork and we headed over to our hotel, the Seaside Amelia on the north side of town. The island is about three miles wide by five miles long, so it's not real big. Checking in, we then went back over to the Ritz Carlton to pick up our credentials.
My girlfriend Miss Sue was flying in from Milwaukee on Friday through Atlanta. In talking to friends who flew down the day before, the story at the Atlanta airport was not pretty. Both people I spoke to ended up renting cars in Atlanta when their flights were delayed or cancelled because of weather. The word from Sue was not good that her Milwaukee flight was delayed because Atlanta was closed. She ultimately took off 2 hours late, then got stuck in Atlanta. Finally, her flight from ATL left for JAX at 11:30 PM. Talk about a long day. I picked her up at the airport and returned to the hotel just before 2 AM.
Satrurday morning we headed over to the Ritz for "The Three Greats" seminar. Scheduled to attend was Richard Petty, the weekends guest of honor, Don Garlits and Stirling Moss. Unfortunately, just days before, Stirling who is 80 years old, fell down an open elevator shaft three stories. He was in his flat in London, speaking to someone behind him. The elevator door opened and Sir Stirling walked in not realizing the elevator car was not there! He broke both ankles and a whole lot of other stuff.
I was not sure who would replace Stirling, and did not put 2 + 2 together when I saw Carroll Shelby pass me in the hallway when we entered the hotel. Turns out that was who it was. Here is the Petty Superbird and Garlits dragster in the ballroom.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130566.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130564.jpg)
Something about the Petty Superbird looked different to me, but I couldn't put my finger on it, just yet...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130569.jpg)
Sam Posey at far left was the moderator. Here are Shelby, Garlits and Petty telling stories to a packed house. Garlits was probably the best of the three with a great story about being frustrated with the 426 Hemi when it was initially forced on him to run it. Petty was very candid about his road rage encounter running a guy off the road some years back. "I just tapped his bumper and he got all squirelly." Shelby through various answers indirectly gave us his standard line about how much the cars he built are worth today.
I am speechless. Without speech. :drool5: :drool5: :drool5:
You must live right. :cheers:
Walking out of the Ritz, here is a Duesenberg dropping off passengers at the front door.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130581.jpg)
A Bugatti Veyron on display just off to the side of the front door. Mercedes, Aston, Maybach, Tesla, Jaguar, Porsche, Bentley, Spyker and Lingenfelter all had stuff out front on display for people to check out.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130584.jpg)
Most cars are driven on the public road about a mile to the show field. Race cars have the option of unloading much closer. Saturday afternoon after the seminars, we hooked up the trailer and brought it over to a site about a 1/4 mile from the field. Here it is coming out of the trailer.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130590.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130600.jpg)
We have just lit the car off and after warming it up a little, are ready to drive onto the show field. That is the Atlantic Ocean in the background.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130620.jpg)
Although off the public road, we drove the car past a bunch of condos rattling the windows and onto the show field. We have just put the front spoiler on. We would cover the car and leave it overnight as the field is patrolled constantly by security. Cars are beginning to get staged on the field, with more cars coming Sunday morning at 7 AM.
WOW !! Thanks for sharing Doug. Fantastic story.
Saturday night, we went to the Gala dinner featuring Richard Petty as the speaker. Below are Mike Borkowski, Sue and I.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130671.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130654.jpg)
Bobby Unser and Peter Brock, designer of the '65 Cobra Daytona Coupe.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130657.jpg)
Mike Joy was the emcee, interviewing Richard Petty
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130659.jpg)
This was a huge chocolate sculpture. We wanted to break off a piece for ourselves. Think anyone would notice?
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130665.jpg)
Giant telegram from Andy Granatelli.
Sue getting her program autographed by The King.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130663.jpg)
Mike gets to meet The King too...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130667.jpg)
After things wound down, we try on The King's throne for size...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130673.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130679.jpg)
Sunday morning came REALLLY early, especially losing an hour to daylight savings and being out late the last couple nights. We were off to the show at 8 AM.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140689.jpg)
We got the car uncovered by 8:45, and the show opened at 9:30. It was COLD for Florida with sun and a brisk wind. Our car was in the shade, so we walked around in the sun for a while to try and stay warm. While we did this, there was the sound of a Hemi awakening in the distance (not ours!). Around the corner came Richard Petty in a 1971 Road Runner to open the show.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140731.jpg)
The King looks pretty happy driving his old car through the crowd...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140732.jpg)
Here are some of the cars we snapped walking around, in no particular order.
GM 1951 Lesabre dream car - one of my all time favorites
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140728.jpg)
Davis 3 wheeler
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140729.jpg)
GM Firebird III turbine car
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140733.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140806.jpg)
Hudson Italia
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140807.jpg)
300 SL
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140804.jpg)
Rolls
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140821.jpg)
A different kind of Aero Car...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140701.jpg)
Wood bodied Rolls - incredible...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140710.jpg)
Talbot Lago
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140713.jpg)
Cord
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140720.jpg)
Maserati race car - check out the individual panels welded together. This is how it was done...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140722.jpg)
Ex-Stirling Moss Birdcage Maserati - beautiful...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140723.jpg)
Stunning Cal Spider Ferrari
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140725.jpg)
410 Superamerica Ferrari in black. This car is reference original with 19k miles on it. One of the most original old Ferrari's on the planet. Words cannot describe.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140726.jpg)
Huge crowd and the Cars of Petty class to the right.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140828.jpg)
Petty Magnum appears to be a real honest original car. It sounded horrible limping onto the field on six cylinders. I had no idea there were any real Petty Magnums left in original livery. These four shots below are all of the Magnum. The hood up shot is when they were playing with it trying to get it to run a little better. I really liked this car.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140849.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140751.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140753.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140754.jpg)
Porsche 917 was also a featured car. The silver car was an all original as raced car with 1971 paint on it.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140735.jpg)
#23 was the 1970 Lemans winner.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140746.jpg)
Gulf 917 with nice race patina.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140741.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140913.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140923.jpg)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Superbird is looking good. The judges have already come through. Ray Evernham was one of the guys who judged the Superbird. The judging criteria favored freshly restored "pretty" cars versus originality.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140908.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140911.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140919.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140927.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140928.jpg)
Porsche 907 - this car was the 1968 Sebring winner
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140909.jpg)
Jaguar XJ13 - the only one built - it would have been Jaguar's race car to compete with the GT40 type cars.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140910.jpg)
The Hemi McKee Can-Am car
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140758.jpg)
GT40 Mark II
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140864-1.jpg)
Barn Find Sprint Car
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140867-1.jpg)
Sam Posey Challenger T/A
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140866-1.jpg)
Garlits dragster
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140879-1.jpg)
Paul Goldsmith Indy Roadster
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140881-1.jpg)
Carroll Shelby Ferrari
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140886-1.jpg)
Barn Find Cobra still with the dirt on it.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140903-1.jpg)
Petty 1957 Oldsmobile. This car is a replica. The top is bolted on and could be removed to run the car in a convertible race.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130624.jpg)
Petty 1967 Plymouth from the RP Museum. I think this is the real deal, but what is going on with the rear track being so much narrower than the front?
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3130627.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140944.jpg)
Another shot of the 1971 Road Runner.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140785.jpg)
1969 Torino - Although Ford records say that all four Petty Torinos were scrapped at the end of the season, two exist today...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140841.jpg)
From the "Cars You Never Knew Existed" class, comes this Graham Locomotive car.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140895.jpg)
I don't know what it is, but it was HUGE and very original looking.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140890.jpg)
Coming back after getting a ribbon.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140929.jpg)
We had Stott Racing Team shirts made up for the event with the #7 logo on them. Here is a group shot of our gang from Milwaukee. We also met DC.com member Ghoste at the show on Sunday. It was nice to meet him in person.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140799.jpg)
Mike and Sue chilling at the back of the car (literally as it was not what you would expect for "Florida warm").
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140905.jpg)
As mentioned the Petty Superbird looked a little different to me when I saw it in the ballroom. On Sunday, it was all explained when the owner tag said the car belonged to Hugh Hawthorne of Richmond. This is the car he got from Richard and stored inside his house for 30 years. This is the first time it's been out in public. The cut of the wheel openings are what looks different from the Petty Museum Superbird. Otherwise, it seems almost identical.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140760.jpg)
Stock looking nose openings.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140768.jpg)
The fender scoops use stock studs and have threads sticking down 1/2" below the fender.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140783.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140770.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140772.jpg)
Drivers side torsion bar adjuster.
More on the Petty Superbird.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140765.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140764.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140778.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140787.jpg)
Underhood details of the Hawthorne / Petty Superbird:
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3141006.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3141004.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3141001.jpg)
Note the fender scoop mounting studs sticking down below the fender!
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140945.jpg)
Still more of the Petty Bird...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140954.jpg)
Strut rods and sway bar
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140950.jpg)
Underside of nose
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140951.jpg)
Front frame rails looking up at the underhood area
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140952.jpg)
K-Frame and dry sump pan
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140953.jpg)
Whow so many great pictures.
Thank you for sharing.
Mario
Doug... Those pictures are simply amazing.. What an HONOR it must have felt like to be; 1, just to be in attendance and 2, to be invited !!! The car looked great.. Sue look great and must say, pretty darn glamorous in her digs next to you in your tux. The smile on Petty's face in the one picture of him driving the '71 Road Runner is priceless.....
Again, WOW !!!!
Troy
PS: Hope to see you soon in Houston.......
Wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing!
Looks like you had a blast and how cool to see all of the super rare cars
Quote from: hemi68charger on March 18, 2010, 08:21:36 AM
Doug... Those pictures are simply amazing.. What an HONOR it must have felt like to be; 1, just to be in attendance and 2, to be invited !!! The car looked great..
Troy, you are right. For me, it probably was a once in a lifetime chance to show a car there. Tim Wellborn helped open the door to get the car in as he had displayed cars there before. The head of the show, Bill Warner, is really in tune with old race cars. It also helped that he knew the car and that he had seen it race at Daytona in 1970.
Awesome pictures thanks for sharing :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
More pics...
Smokey Yunick 1964 Capsule Indy Car. The driver sits on the left side hanging out in the breeze.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140932.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140707.jpg)
I loved the color on this Gullwing.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140941.jpg)
New Maserati something or other...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140943.jpg)
Alfa Romeo 8C2300 - mind blowing performance from a 1931 car.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140967.jpg)
McLaren M8F Can-Am
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140978.jpg)
Another shot of the Posey Challenger.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140979.jpg)
wow great story and pictures :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
Quote from: Aero426 on March 18, 2010, 12:51:10 AM
The fender scoops use stock studs and have threads sticking down 1/2" below the fender.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140783.jpg)
Remind me again how the fender scoops were just intended for tire clearance?
:smilielol:
AWESOME pictures, Doug!!! Very cool honor to be invited to that show, and the #7 car fits right in with that collection of incredible rides... as it should...
:cheers:
Quote from: hemigeno on March 18, 2010, 09:47:57 AM
Remind me again how the fender scoops were just intended for tire clearance?
Thanks Gene for the kind words!
On the fender scoops, not to open that can of worms, but I simply was pointing out that you would never see a period race car with that small of an opening in the fender. It would never use the production car scoop mounts, and would never have the metal threads exposed down towards the tire. It is pretty obvious that car was built up after the fact sometime in the 1970's.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140945.jpg)
Doug,
You and the #7 cleaned up real well for this royal event! First pictures I've seen of Sue pretty gal :2thumbs:
Thanks for all the pictures!
Duesenbergs - there were a pile of them there...
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140694.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140696.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140699.jpg)
The show wound down about 4PM and cars began to leave the field. After the initial rush of cars leaving, I took the #7 Superbird down to the Petty car display and slotted it in for some photos.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3141011.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140991.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140995.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140999-1-1.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140992.jpg)
Doug, Super Pictures!
The Porsche 917 to me is simply the greatest racing car of all time. All those together, WOW!
I've seen other old Maserati's without paint and I love the craftsmanship too.
The Ferrari 410 Superamerica in that body style always reminds me of a 1953-54 Studebaker coupe in the back 3/4 view. I had a '54 Stude for a few years, so I guess I like it.
I really appreciate your thoughts on the Hugh Hawthorne Superbird. After all the years of a line or two in a magazine about it it finally surfaces. Even if it wasn't built in 1970, to me what it shows is the thinking of the period 1972-1978 or so. Now that you have the Stott car,have really looked over the K&K car, closely looked at the Marcus car, and more I'd guess that you have a new feel for how the different teams built things up.
what great time , buy the looks of it :yesnod: thanks for sharing the awesome pictures (Aero426) :cheers: :2thumbs:
intresting about the 43 superbird :scratchchin:
What a Classy thread! Excellent everything! Thanks so much... :drool5:
BTW: Number 7 looks to be lower then the 43 or is that an illusion?.. :popcrn:
Anymore pics?.. :2thumbs:
To go fast the car wants to be low. On a B-body one of the first things is kicking up the rear of the tunnel so the rear end will fit better.
Awsome gathering of cars. Simply incredible.
The #7 fits right in there with the other cars. Great photo's as well Doug.
:drool5: :yesnod: :drool5: :yesnod:
Quote from: Redbird on March 18, 2010, 11:15:36 AM
The Porsche 917 to me is simply the greatest racing car of all time. All those together, WOW!
I really appreciate your thoughts on the Hugh Hawthorne Superbird. After all the years of a line or two in a magazine about it it finally surfaces. Even if it wasn't built in 1970, to me what it shows is the thinking of the period 1972-1978 or so. Now that you have the Stott car,have really looked over the K&K car, closely looked at the Marcus car, and more I'd guess that you have a new feel for how the different teams built things up.
The 917 was my favorite Aurora HO slot car as a kid and the display was awesome, that's for sure. The Hawthorne Superbird certainly warrants its own thread for discussion.
Porsche 917-10 Can-Am Turbo Panzer
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140860.jpg)
Martini 917 Longtail - the "Hippie Car"
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140858.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140857.jpg)
The #20 car in the background is McQueen's car from the movie Lemans.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Amelia%202010/P3140738-1.jpg)
Quote from: 69_500 on March 18, 2010, 04:17:35 PM
Awsome gathering of cars. Simply incredible.
The #7 fits right in there with the other cars. Great photo's as well Doug.
Doug's car fits in even better since
it is real.
VERY COOL DOUG! Thanks for sharing. Love the pic's of your car next to The King's.
Wow, this was an awesome post! Great narration of the pics (for those of us that don't know all the cars) :thumbs: Definitely a once in a lifetime event.
With all those historic race cars I knew I shoulda went . Buddy of mine and his wife were there.
He has the 3rd bird built ( 1st one released for sale )
Excellant pictures , thank you , thank you, thank you :cheers: :cheers:
:drool5: :drool5: :drool5: :drool5: :drool5: :drool5: :drool5: :drool5: cool
you always wonder where all those old racecars go. and now we know. I hope someone is smart enough to stash away some modern cars today and theyll pop up someday in 2050 .
Great thread. Thanks for sharing the pics. :2thumbs:
WoW !!! :o great picks, I would need to pintch myself after attending that event.
Nice deal Doug! From Tim's all the way through! :2thumbs:
P.S. Dave Snyder will be probably be contacting you on another show.
Nice pics! Do you know who owns the Hudson Italia? I've worked on a few of those. Unique cars...
Quote from: 73rallye440magnum on March 25, 2010, 09:29:39 PM
Nice pics! Do you know who owns the Hudson Italia? I've worked on a few of those. Unique cars...
Yes, in the program, it lists the owner as Adrienne Pschirer of Grenville SC. Cool car, didn't they only make about 25 of them?
Also, thanks to everyone for the nice comments. It was a great opportunity to attend the show.
24 or 25. We are finishing our second one at work right now. Nice to see some wing cars thrown into the mix. Looks like all of the automotive generations were welll represented at Amelia island.
Doug,
Outstanding story and photos. What an adventure! Thanks so much for sharing all that incredible history. Those Porsche 917's are my 2nd favorite race cars of all time. I watch that Steve McQueen movie "LeMans" all the time just to see & hear those cars running.
What really blew my mind is that Stirling Moss fell 3 stories at 80 years old and survived? That's a tough old man!!!
I'm a bit biased of course but I really appreciated the Petty Bird detail pics (more things I need to add to my car). I remember that car being mentioned before in some old posts. Could you refresh my memory? Was that a real race car?
One more question, I forgot to ask you at Talladega. Why do you prop open the hood with the stick? Are those A-body hinges worn out or they never really supported that huge extended hood that well to begin with?
Phil
Hi Phil, my impressions of the Petty car was that it was built around 1976-77 with any prior history unclear - but underhood details do not match the 1970 race cars at all.
Yes, we were looking forward to seeing Moss at the event. At the dinner, they played a video of him extending well wishes from his bedside. I can't imagine falling three stories at any age and living to tell about it. All those 917's at the show were incredible. One of my favorite race cars as well. I missed the 917 drivers seminar on them, but heard it was really good.
On the 7 car hood, the A-body springs are not strong enough to hold it up. In fact, here is a photo from 1970 at Milwaukee with the hood being propped up even back then.
Quote from: Aero426 on March 28, 2010, 05:23:42 PM
On the 7 car hood, the A-body springs are not strong enough to hold it up. In fact, here is a photo from 1970 at Milwaukee with the hood being propped up even back then.
But they did actually do the job, right? I don't remember seeing Tim's #71 car or any old photos using a prop stick.
Yes the #71 hood stays upon its own. I do not know whether the #7 hood springs could be adjusted in some way, or if they are just weak.
Quote from: Aero426 on March 29, 2010, 08:30:36 AM
Yes the #71 hood stays upon its own. I do not know whether the #7 hood springs could be adjusted in some way, or if they are just weak.
With it not having as much re-enforcement as stock hoods , I would think it would be a good idea to prop it anyway , especially out side .
I talked to a friend of mine late last week, He's a former judge+ car recruter for the Ault Park concurs show here in Cincinnatti OH
He said this was the BEST show he's ever been to bar none, hats of to the organizers and participants of this event.
Outstanding pictures and commentary, Thanks again
It was good to meet you there too Doug. The Amelia show is always strong on the vintage race cars and it's one of my favorite auctions for that reason. Would it make anyone jealous to know that a fair number of the race cars were stored inside the same garage as our auction cars so I may or may not have had some very private and up close time with several of them. :icon_smile_wink:
There was a very good technical seminar on the 917's a couple of days prior to the concour's as well. I didn't get to hear all of it but what I did eavesdrop on was interesting.
Quote from: Ghoste on April 02, 2010, 10:03:51 PM
It was good to meet you there too Doug. The Amelia show is always strong on the vintage race cars and it's one of my favorite auctions for that reason. Would it make anyone jealous to know that a fair number of the race cars were stored inside the same garage as our auction cars so I may or may not have had some very private and up close time with several of them. :icon_smile_wink:
There was a very good technical seminar on the 917's a couple of days prior to the concour's as well. I didn't get to hear all of it but what I did eavesdrop on was interesting.
Good to meet you as well. Do you know why the Mark Donohue 917-30 was inside for the Friday seminar but not on display Sunday for the show?
I don't. I was lucky enough to get a few pics of it during the seminar but I never saw it after that. It never came down to the garage so my only guess would be that it was taken back home for whatever reason.
I wish we had taken more pics along the way so we could have done like you did.
We had the Posey Challenger and the Petty kit car Challenger at the show. I think we talked to you during the day. It was a great show and we got second with the Posey car. Just being there is winning. We stayed with friends about 5 mins from Moody AFB. My friend Jack works as a civilian worker at the base. I just got back from there this week. I will be going back at the end of January on the way to Daytona for the Rolex 24 hour race.
I went to Ramo's house a few years back. We were looking at the 2 Petty kit cars he had. Way in the back of his house we found some 71 Road Runner Nascar front ends that had been cut off. I sure wish we could have taken some of them home. We did find a Street superbird under some junk but all that was left was the rear fenders and the front end had been folder up over the interior. The top was gone and none of the bird parts was left. It was Hemi Orange and had the faded out Plymouth still on the fender and the holes for the wing and the imprint where it was. The braces under the wing were still there. It was too far gone to be restored but the Vin number should have been on the radiator support.
We have a stock bird (Petty Blue 999) that is on the rotisserie right now and it will be a couple of years till it is done.
I have always liked the Ramo bird. Glad it is out and being shown. Maybe we will cross paths again some day.
Thanks Dave
Great pics and fantastic story telling. I really enjoyed it. Thanks. :cheers:
I agree. Great history there.
Hi Dave, welcome to the board. It was nice to meet you at the show. The weekend really was a blur. You are right that just to be invited was an honor in itself. Both of your cars looked great.
I wish I could have seen Ramo's stash from back then. He mentioned he bought the orange Bird as a parts car. The only replaced panel on the race car is the right lower valance - the one on there now has undercoat, so it came from a street car, probably the orange one. They damaged the original in the shop when they let the car down off the jack and a support stand was under the valance.
Awesome thread! I really enjoyed all the pictures thanks! :2thumbs:
Do you have any pictures of the front suspension on the race Superbirds? I always was curious on what they used as far as spindles and lower control arms?
There are some photos to give you an idea in this thread here:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,69965.0.html (http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,69965.0.html)
Upper control arms are a fabricated piece. They had at least three different set of upper arms to achieve the right caster and camber. L1 (left 1), L2 (left 2), L3 (left 3) and R1, R2, R3.
The spindles are a special part dedicated to race only.
Ball joints are unique to the application as well.
The lower control arms are a modified big car or Imperial type piece. The lower arm is the only piece that has any relationship to a Mopar street car.
Doug I'm not sure if your aware or not but your car was on a TV show here recently. There is a show called "Chasing classic Cars" and they were down at Amelia Island and there is a good 45 seconds if not a minute of footage in the episode of your car.
Quote from: Aero426 on January 25, 2011, 04:58:04 PM
There are some photos to give you an idea in this thread here:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,69965.0.html (http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,69965.0.html)
Upper control arms are a fabricated piece. They had at least three different set of upper arms to achieve the right caster and camber. L1 (left 1), L2 (left 2), L3 (left 3) and R1, R2, R3.
The spindles are a special part dedicated to race only.
Ball joints are unique to the application as well.
The lower control arms are a modified big car or Imperial type piece. The lower arm is the only piece that has any relationship to a Mopar street car.
WOW That was very educational! Thanks very much I really enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing! :yesnod: :2thumbs:
Quote from: 69_500 on January 25, 2011, 05:19:43 PM
Doug I'm not sure if your aware or not but your car was on a TV show here recently. There is a show called "Chasing classic Cars" and they were down at Amelia Island and there is a good 45 seconds if not a minute of footage in the episode of your car.
I've heard of the show but have not seen it. Maybe the episodes are available on DVD.