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.

Monday, December 31, 2012

My World Famous Ferrari Gumball Machine

I just wanted to share this little story of how I this came together since I am packing it away to get ready to sell my home and move. I'm not moving too far, but still need to get the office de-cluttered to get the house ready to sell. Now for the story of my "World Famous Ferrari Gumball Machine".

Several years ago I had an idea in mind to find a gumball machine at a reasonable price for this project. It took a while, but one day while doing my usual thrift shopping for automotive related items I found it. It was the right color, red, and for a more than reasonable price. I got it for a mere 5 bucks! So I brought it home, cleaned it up, and started going through my Ferrari Hot Wheels that I had extras of. That wasn't hard to do since I had recently shut down my automotive collectibles shop and had several cases of Hot Wheels to pick through. And, I had been saving them for this project. As I went through them, I just couldn't get the thing filled. It took a little over 100 of these little suckers to get it filled up. I didn't have enough different models to fill it, but I had a ton of extras. So I filled it up.

As I get a new one in red that I don't have in there, I remove the extras and put in a new one. I do have a few non red ones in there just to break up the color. They can't all be red! Anyways, once it was completed I took the 4 photos below and posted them on the Ferrari Chat Collectibles Forum. Hence, the reason whgy I call it the "World Famous Ferrari Gumball Machine". I'm not sure how many people have actually seen it, but I like the name, so I keep it at that. This was I can't remember how many years ago, but I wanted to share it with the world once again since it is being packed away for an unknown period of time. I also have another project idea that still has yet to come to light, but when I move, and get the skills to get it accomplished, It will be done. I have more than a thousand Ferrari Hot Wheels for this project. Not sure how many it will take, but I figure it's better to have way more than I need than to be short. Thanks for reading, and if you like it, please give me some feedback, or share it with your friends.

If only it was this easy to buy a real one.




Saturday, December 29, 2012

VIDEO: Shelby Cobras at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Some footage of the Cobras that were all parked out in the Yamaha Marketplace at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Shelby Cobra was the Marque this year.
CARROLL SHELBY - YOU WILL BE MISSED!
THANK YOU FOR SO MANY YEARS OF GREAT
AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY.

VIDEO: Turn 2-3 Action on Saturday at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Just a short video with some great racing action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion back in August.

VIDEO: Ferrari 250 LM at Andretti Hairpin

A short video of some Racing action of a Ferrari 250 LM and a Chevrolet Corvette.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Bo Huff Rockabilly Extravaganza 2012

I had been planning on heading down to Southern California to visit my parents since they had moved back recently from Lake Havasu, Arizona. And as it turned out, there was going to be another car show somewhat close by when I was to be there. I just had to take the opportunity and make sure to be able to attend, as I had wanted to anyways, but was not sure if I would actually be able to make the event. Why? I had known about the event for several months, and just wasn't sure if I would be able to get there due to not having a reason to go. Then, about a month or so earlier, my parents had to make a quick decision to move back since my fathers health had landed him in the hospital when he was visiting my younger brother. Three of my brothers had to run out to Lake Havazu and pack up all of their things and bring them to the house my parents had rented. The weekend my father ended up in the hospital, they were actually looking to move back anyways, and had signed an agreement for the home. I was unable to go down that weekend to see him in the hospital due to things beyond my control. So, knowing that the 4 day holiday weekend was coming up, I decided it was time for my wife and I to head down for a visit.

My wife and I had decided to make the drive on Tuesday evening, rather wait for the traffic that would be on the rode Wednesday evening. So we got our extra day off and headed down. Now for the downside! My father was in the hospital yet again. So when we arrived at their house at 1:00 am, we hit the bed. We had to get up somewhat early and go to the hospital. I spent the next three days there visiting him. Most of the time we all just sat around in the waiting room since other members of the family had been coming off and on. My wife actually spent 4 days there with my mother since she didn't want to go with me to the car show. So on Saturday morning I woke up, got myself ready and after my wife, mother, brother, and sister took off, I decided to head out to the show. But, when I was in the driveway, one of the neighbors opened up their garage and their dog went running up the street. So I tried to help them out and keep it from running out into the main road. The dog was running around behind the homes, and since I really couldn't do anything, I decided to drive around through the neighborhood just to see where it actually had run off to. As it turns out, I lost track of the dog when driving by a yard sale and noticed a small item on a table with White Wall Tires on it. So I turned around and went to see what it was. I walked up to the table, which was in the back of the carport, and as it turns out, it was not only one, but four little pedal car planters. 2 Ford Trucks, a Fire Truck, and a Hot Rod. So I bought all four of them for a really good price, and got an old Model T wall hanger for free. Then I was off again. I dropped the stuff off at the house and left for the show.

At this point of the morning, it was already 11:00 am, and I was hungry. So I hit the closest In-N-Out Burger drive through and hit the road. The drive was about 45 minutes to the Riverside Municipal Airport where the show was to be this year. I arrived at the entrance and waited approximately 30 minutes just to get to the guy at the front to pay for my entry. Of course, as things tend to go, when I got to the front they appeared to finally get their heads out of their butt and get the attendees through a lot faster. They needed to do something! The cars were three wide, and out onto the main drag. The guys on the motorcycles were getting pretty pissed that it was taking so long to get in. But when I got to where I was able to park, all the waiting didn't matter. I was at the show and my mind went to what was waiting on the inside. But as expected, I had to stop for security for the man to search my camera case. No big deal! Nothing there but camera equipment. I finally walked through the gate and stopped to get my cameras ready. Then it was time to check out some cool rides that I never see.

As I walked around the show I was admiring the pinstriping and the cool custom work when the WWII Marine Fighter plane was flying by no more than probably 50 feet off the ground. It was cool to see this plane! I never go to air shows, so this was a cool thing for me to see. So I went over to where they were loading up the passengers for the rides and watched it for a little while. Of course I had to get some shots of it flying by a few times. Once I was done with that, I went back to checking out the Kool Kustoms. I walked around and checked them out, took some photos, and chatted with some of the other attendees, as well as a few vendors. Then I went to look for Bo Huff, John D'Agostino and George Barris.

It didn't take long to find them. I ended up hanging out with John and George for the rest of the afternoon, having a good time talking and just having fun. I was able to get the three of them to sign my vintage Race Track jacket that I had gotten Gene Winfield to sign earlier this year at the Sacramento Autorama when I did my interview with him. Besides Jon and George, I was also able to meet quite a few others, including Johns cousin and his two boys from Australia. After a little bit, John and I went over to a warehouse latter that was along the fence so we could get an overhead shot of the show. While doing so we checked out a few more of the rides. If you, the reader are wondering why I am writing this like I am friends with John, well as it turns out, over the past month or so I have run into John while on my lunch break from work. It's been cool too. He has been setting up shop across the street from the shop I work at. So it's going to be cool checking out some of the Kustoms that will be coming through. I CAN'T WAIT!

Anyhow! To get back to the show, I ended up leaving around 6:30 PM as I needed to head back to see my dad in the hospital before I headed home the next morning, So I helped John pack his stuff up, I put my camera equipment back in the case and headed out. I had a fun day and can't wait for the next event to write about. THANKS for reading!
MAD SKILLS!
SWEET CHEVY
LIGHTS!
A VIEW FROM HIGH
LOOKING DOWN!
THE KING AND I!
HANGIN OUT WITH THE GUYS
HASSLE THE HUFF!

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT -
CLICK THIS LINK - http://razzi.me/albums/21642-2012-bo-huff-rockabilly-extravaganza