WELCOME!

I decided to start this blog to as an avenue for me to be able to post about some of the fun things that I do from time to time. It could be a Car Show revue, what I did on Vacation, what I like about this or that automobile, my experience with a photo shoot, what I have in my Automobilia collection, or whatever I think of at the moment. I hope you like it! All feedback will be appreciated.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

VIDEO: 2011 Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV #4 - FRIDAY

OKAY! So I finally got around to getting another video edited so I can share it with the world. FINALLY! All this homework from college has been kicking my butt. I can barely keep up! Somehow though, I managed to get myself sick over the holiday weekend. But of course, I had more homework to catch up on. The problem is, when I think I need to sleep, I can't. When I need to be awake, I'm sleeping. My body clock is all screwed up now. I am awake at 4:00 in the morning, I have been awake since 10:00 yesterday morning, and I have to be at school for 13 hours today. How am I supposed to do that. COFFEE will be my best friend today. Anyways! Here is the video I got done last night, today, yesterday, OH CRAP! I'm lost! Enjoy the video! Comment if you like it. Subscribe to my blog feed. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Subscribe to a magazine. Subscribe to cable. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

SKUSA 2009 - Prelude to my Callaway SC 540 Silverado Experience

So a few weeks ago a friend of mine came through town for work. However, before I can proceed I need to explain what brought me to the point of how Mike C. and I actually met and became friends. I know it's a story of the past, but it helps explain a few things.

In November 2009 I was working at the Ferrari Store in San Francisco and a co-worker came in and proceeded to tell us that a very famous Formula One driver was confirmed to be participating in the SKUSA event that weekend at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. This driver, Michael Schumacher. I immediately called my wife and told her I was going to Las Vegas. Once I told her why, it was no contest. She knew I was going. I had tried to get some things signed back in 2005 and 2006 while attending the Formula One race in Indianapolis at the famed Indy Motor Speedway. In '05 I had my Ferrari cap signed by Rubens Barrichello and Ross Brawn. In '06, I had my 1:18 Ferrari Enzo diecast car in front of Schumy and he just went right around it signing everything except for my car. I was a little bummed out about it, but such is life right. I did however get Felipe Massa and Ross Brawn, so I was happy. Keeping that story short, let us now get back to November 2009! I made a few more calls after I spoke to my wife to a couple of friends that I thought for sure would go. One wasn't able to pull it off, but my friend Mike T. from Los Angeles was ALL IN. He said he would get the room, so all I had to do was make my flight purchase and it was all set. So, on my lunch break I got that all in line and I was already feeling the excitement of meeting (at the time) my favorite driver from my favorite marque.
Friday Morning Practice
Thursday morning came and I made the usual trek that I normally did for my work commute. But this time I stayed on the train and was on my way to the Airport. The flight was easy and when I got to Las Vegas, I just needed to kill a few hours and wait for Mike T. to show. So, I had breakfast at the hotel and since I'm not a gambling man, I did a little bit of nothing for a couple hours. After all, I was there for a chance of a lifetime, not to gamble. Once Mike T. showed and we got settled in our room, we just decided to do some sight seeing for the day. After all, we were going to be at SKUSA all day on Friday. To spare those details, I'll skip to Friday.
Schumacher signing for fans.
He signed my Enzo on the
engine cover.
Friday morning Mike T. and I got up, grabbed breakfast, then got a cab ride over to the Rio Hotel and Casino. We walked through the ground floor and out the back to where the event was taking place. Once we got in, we looked at the go-karts on our way through to where the bleachers were. I met up with my co-worker who was there to be a mechanic for his friend who was to be racing that weekend. We talked for a few minutes, and then the hunt was on to find Mr. Schumacher. We ended up finding where he was to be and waited for a bit. Throughout the day, Michael walked through the paddock to the starting grid, so he was getting hit by the fans, and I did manage to get my Ferrari hat signed very quickly. Now it had 3 signatures. Then a little later I managed to get the 1:18 Enzo signed. When I put it out in front of him, he asked where to sign it, I asked where I wanted it signed, and it was done. SWEET! 2 things signed. I had 1 more item that I needed signed before the day was to end of the day. This item was the only Michael Schumacher Ferrari hat I had in my vast Ferrari collection. Eventually it got signed.
Schumy Drift

Waiting for Qualifying 1
So, this is where the meeting of Mike C. and I comes into play. Mike C. was doing the same thing I was. Trying and succeeding to get some of his collectible items signed by the man who brought Ferrari back to their racing glory. I actually met quite a few fans. It was a great day. Everyone was being rather patient, and to make it even better, Schumy was being pretty cool as well. So this is how and where I met the friend that now works for Callaway. We talked about a lot of things throu the day, and one of them included, well obviously the fact that we were all fans of Schumacher and the great marque that he had driven for, Ferrari. Then we found out that 3 of us were all members of the same forum website that caters to the marque. Pretty interesting! Considering that is also how I managed to meet Mike T.. But, before the day was to end, we were waiting around the team tent at the end of the day for him to come out and see his fans that had been there all day long. And a couple more rare moments came into play. I was joking about getting a kart tire signed that was sitting on the ground when Mike C. was all for it. So we each grabbed a tire and got them signed. Then the moment came where I just had to get a picture with Schumy. So I asked him and he obliged. So I gave my camera to Mike T.,  Mike C. to jump into the shot, and a couple clicks later we were all happy. What an awesome day. So, obviously Mike C. wanted a copy of the shot. What fan of Schumacher wouldn't want actual proof that they had actually met the man in the flesh.

Waiting for Qualifying 2

Well, since we had had an awesome day checking out the Super Kart Nationals, and having the chance of a lifetime to meet the greatest Formula One driver of our time, the day was over. Since we hadn't had much of anything to eat all day, Mike T. and I decided it was time to leave and grab something to eat. Not knowing what to eat, we invited Mike C. and his friend to hang out for dinner, and he knew of a great burger joint in the Rio Hotel. So we went there and had some good time getting to know one another. After nearly a couple of hours of chatting, the day was done. I had to get back to the hotel and grab some sleep. I had to get up pretty early to catch my flight back home. It was Saturday, The event was still happening, and I had to get back to work since I was unable to get the day off. OH WELL! Thursday was fun, Friday was awesome. It was time to get back to the norm.

Now that I have explained how Mike C and I met, stay tuned for my write up on the next time we actually got together. And yes, it will include the Callaway SC 540 Silverado.
Michael Schumacher in action

Schumy/Kart
Off to work

Michael Schumacher in action

Helmet of the 7 Time World Champion

Thanks Schumy!

SKUSA at the RIO HOTEL

Sunday, November 13, 2011

VIDEO: 2011 Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV #3 - FRIDAY

Event Poster
I know its been a month since the event, but I have finally got 1 of my videos put together from the weekend. I have included the only photos I was able to get due to being so busy working. These pics are from my phone, so the quality isn't the best. I would have preferred to have used my Canon 40D. Anyhow, The event was awesome, and the first video of many to come is from Friday morning when I was walking through the paddock to get to where I worked the entire weekend.

So, I need to get everyone up to date as to how the weekend went, so here we go.

I had only planned on working the event on Saturday and Sunday, but as it turned out, I was able to get a ride with another track volunteer on Friday morning. I was able to get out of school for the day. Not much happens in lab on Friday anyways, so I took advantage of it and went down for the extra day. I got everything ready late Thursday and hit the sheets. As usual, from the excitement of what was ahead all weekend, I didn't get very much sleep. I was up and ready to go long before my ride even got here.


Mercedes-Benz Transporter
After stopping at a few places along the way, we arrived around 9:30 or so at the track and we got our stuff settled and off I went to my post. But, of course I pulled out the video camera and grabbed some footage of some of the cars on my way to my post. I have absolutely no complaints either about where I was. The Start/Finish gate was probably one of the best places I could have been stationed. Some great things to see from there. The day went great.

At the end of the day, I got the usual - "Go lock up the garages" and of course I couldn't say no. I had wanted to go get some photos of the cars that were in the garages for display all weekend and thought it would be the opportunity to do so. But, I didn't get to do so. I can't complain either. I was able to get a very exclusive, brief, but exclusive look at the 918 RSR SPYDER that was their for potential customer to view. I was taken into the garage, and as I walked around the corner I immediately saw it with the silk cover over it. Even with the cover it was a beautiful car. Then they pulled the cover off. WOW! Amazing! I looked it over for about all of maybe 2 minutes and I have to say, this is the best example of a modern day Porsche. I am not really to keen to liking the marque as far a the road going cars go, but this cars was sexy. So, don't get me wrong about my liking the marque though. If it's a race car, then I just can't resist seeing them hit the track. I also have to say this, I used to love Porsche when I was a young kid, about 25-30 years ago, but it just couldn't be. I have a passion for another fast marque. However, my liking has slightly been re-kindled from being at this event.

So, now that I've thrown out my experience for the day, enjoy the video and please tell me what you think by posting or liking the video on my YouTube channel. And, if you could please do so, if you like what you see, SUBSCRIBE to my channel.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

VIDEO: 1939 Lakester - THE METEOR

This was one of the many cool Hot Rods that was at the GOODGUYS 25th West Coast Nationals back in August. I know it's November, but I have so many more to go through and put togeher that I just have to figure out which ones to edit for your enjoyment. Please tell me your thoughts, and if you do like my videos, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel. THANK YOU!