Sunday

INDYCAR IN MICHIGAN....DETROIT, THAT IS


My hometown always looks good on television or from a distance. Roger Penske made a lot of changes to the track that had not been used for a few years. Until last year, that is. Helio Castroneves, who had been leading for about 70 laps, got stuffed by the race stewarts. He was ordered to pull over and let the man in second pass. They said that he was blocking. I came right out of my chair because it looked like normal racing to me. They say that they usually give a warning, but none was issued. The difference it made was that Castroneves will go into next week's championship round 30 points short instead of a reasonable 20. What will they pull in Chicago?

First time series winner, Justin Wilson was first, Castroneves in second and Tony Kanaan in Third.

Saturday

GENERAL MOTORS ON WOODWARD








AUSTRALIA ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER

1935 MORRIS

1946 CHEVY

1955 VINCENT


Shannons
Melbourne, Australia

www.shannons.com.au

1964 PORSCHE

1967 JAGUAR

1981 JAGUAR

HOT STUFF ON WOODWARD










FIVE MORE OF THE TOP 100

44 - AUSTIN HEALEY 100

43 - ASTON MARTIN DB7

42 - PORSCHE 356

41 - MASERATI GHIBLI

40 - LANCIA STRATOS

Friday

"PHIL'S PLACE"


During my early interest in Formula One there were quite a few American drivers. As the F-1 Circus rolled into the mid-60's there were fewer and fewer U.S. drivers. These guys all stuck in my head, even to this day, as great drivers. Phil Hill, who was the only American Formula One World Champion, has passed away at the age of 81. I only got to see him race (live) twice and both times he did not finish. Doing the trick with Ferrari in those days. He was World Champion in 1961 and won 24 hours of Le Mans and the 12 hours of Sebring three times each. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease in his last years. Up until his death he was always around the race scene. The Goodwood 'Festival of Speed' honored him within this past year. He became a first class automobile photographer and classic car collector. American Mario Andretti was F-1 Champ in the mid-70's, but he wasn't born in America.

In those days I liked all the drivers. It was a rough sport, the safety could't catch up to the cars. Many drivers died in those days. Yet, Bernie Ecclestone says that those years were when Formula One was the most fun and that today it is all about money. He should know, he made it that way.

Even Roger Penske, now living in Detroit, drove in two Formula One races. He was a great driver and the man with the Midas touch. He went on to make millions...I have always been impressed with him from the time he was just out of college to this day. But back to Phil...when I lay in bed staring at the ceiling and having those little daydreams, that we all have, I some times think that I would like to have a little bar with a Formula One thyme. There are so many great pictures and paintings of Phil Hill it would be easy to decorate. While F-1 is a European game, today's drivers are fantastic, and in all these years there is still only one American Champ. Thanks for the ride!

INDIANA ON THE 30TH

1920 STUTZ BEARCAT

1930 FORD

1936 CORD

This used to be the best, most enjoyable auction, but now there is a lot of competition and all of it good.

Worldwide Auction
The Auburn Auction
Worldwide Auctioneers' World Headquarters
Auburn, Indiana

+260-927-0000

www.wwgauctions.com

1939 CADILLAC

1948 CHEVY

1958 CORVETTE

Tuesday

MONEY, MONEY, MONTEREY


Bonhams & Butterfields, RM Auctions, and Gooding & Company, had total sales of $129.3 million according to Sports Car Market. And this is not counting Russo and Steele and Kruse. Big time bucks!!

FORMULA ONE BACK IN SPAIN


At a new street track in Valencia, Spain the maiden voyage was won by Massa. Followed by Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kobica. It didn't seem like a street track to me because it was run in the harbor/warehouse district and lacked that tall building, central park, rows of apartments and restaurants effect. While the track looked like it would lend itself to some interesting passing every time someone tried it....crunch! On to Belgium.

Sunday

INDYCAR BACK IN CALIFORNIA


Several winners in this race. Helio Castroneves was the number one winner, first place. Followed by teammate Ryan Briscoe with third going to Tony Kanaan. But the over-all winner for the day had to be Roger Penske, owner of the team for the first two finishers.

PENNSYLVANIA ON THE 23RD AND 24TH

1954

1963

A Corvette auction in Carlisle. Corvettes Galore....

Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

www.carlisleauctions.com

1972

1989

LAST OF THE DREAM CRUISE