EAFB   ... View more

Edwards Air Force Base - AF Test Flight Museum. 34.912454, -117.920508 Google Maps > https://goo.gl/maps/DhGTBedMmkEbqXSU6 ... View more

Laguna Seca IndyCar (Sept 2021) Laguna Seca Velocity Invitational (Nov 2021)  Laguna Seca Velocity Invitational (Nov 2021)    ... View more

Eagledriver I apologize for the very late response - I just saw you post & questions. Unfortunately, I have never been to these locations nor witnessed the flybys. I was curious about where the flightpaths were and figured out the locations & directions from analyzing the pictures. For the first location, it looks like you should be able to see the jets fine from along the road and not have to hike to a higher position. From the road to the location is about 450-foot elevation gain - short, but not an easy hike/climb. I would imagine/hope that there are some websites that discuss these flights, the routes, and possible times. It does seem like there could be a lot of waiting around seeing nothing unless one had some usable intel. Sorry for not having any detailed info. ... View more

Sorry I tickled the tinder nerve of disdain for all those real estate developers & trust fund babies who happen to spend large quantities on cars.  I am not defending the “mega-rich” - as if they, whoever they are, needed my assistance. I was simply questioning why the people buying these cars are constantly being criticized/condemned for spending their own money on such high-end cars.  Judging the cars they choose is one thing, but questioning their intelligence (the omnipresent “more money than brains”) for how much they were willing to spend seems silly. Meanwhile…how did you come up with the concept that I must somehow be sucking up to these mysterious wealthy people, with the desperate hope that they might invite me into their magical illuminati car club?  Seriously?  Perhaps that model of thinking works in your mind and the world you inhabit. And congratulations for having such wonderful, car loving friends.  The car community is large and full of fascinating people and characters from across the human spectrum - whether they be rich, poor, or somewhere in-between. ... View more

Welcome to the latest instalment of resentful, bitter, geniuses who would never spend such money for a particular car. There has always been and will always be somebody who can afford to buy things more expensive than you. And these richer than you people will always find something they want to spend their money on. Houses, airplanes, art, furniture, books, shoes, food…on and on. Do you think buying a modern F1 car or a Le Mans winner is going to be cheap? Are these cars going to appear on Craigslist or eBay? This site and its articles are for the automotive crowd. Maybe the article’s subject or topic is not of interest to your tastes…fine…move on. But to take the time to bravely swing your sad little swipes at those who can and are willing to purchase cars such as these is simply weak. I’ll never be able to afford such cars, but I am not going to condemn those who can. I would rather be grateful that these cars still exist instead of being scraped or rusting away in a field. ... View more

Just because one will never be able to afford buying such a car doesn’t mean you shouldn’t/wouldn’t want to learn more about them. The world is full of cars that I can afford to buy, but could care less about or have no interest in. I could say the same about some of the cars I’ve owned. Would I rather read about authentic, in-era Cobras or mid-90’s Honda Civics and 00’s VW Golfs? A very easy choice. Being priced beyond my eternal reach is not a disqualifier for interest, fascination, adoration, or possession of a longing desire that will forever go unfulfilled. ... View more

Well…I did see the person who is the head of M1 Concourse was at this event. ... View more

I attended both events - 2019 Sears Point and 2021 Laguna Seca. They were nicely set up, presented well, and had fantastic cars. The standard ticket prices for Velocity’s Laguna event were on par with the August Historics ($135 vs. $120 for 3-day GA pass). Spending $$$ for parking was unnecessary - free parking was centrally located in the old lakebed. I don’t care about the wine & cheese stuff - I’m just there for some awesome cars & racing. The Mini vs. Mustang night races were a blast! McLaren’s participation was impressive - from Zac Brown’s motorhome (frequent flyers of BaT know the one) to their squad of F1 cars. There were six 917, a cluster of Ford GT race cars, four 1960’s Gurney cars (one being his Spa winning F1 car!), along with all the cars present for racing…and only one electric car 😉 The only real issue I had was the small field sizes. Attrition caused problems for the Sunday races, reducing some of them to only a small handful of cars lapping around. I do believe Velocity’s Laguna show did raise the bar…it will be interesting to see if/how Laguna’s August Historics/Reunion team reacts. The Revival is one of my bucket list events. Unfortunately, I probably will never be able to get over to Goodwood, so I greatly appreciate anyone willing to try bringing a bit of Goodwood to the US. ... View more

For $5700 that would be an awesome, affordable love shack on wheels. Yeah, the shipping is a deal killer. But you know…someday someone will bring them over to the States, start selling them on Bring-a-Trailer (hee hee), and the price will shoot through the tin roof. Bye-bye sweet, odd ball fantasy. ... View more

I love the "Please do not touch" sign next to the quilt! In some ways, the quilt & car worlds may not be that far apart. ... View more

The new head of M1 Concourse, Tim McGrane, had previously run the Blackhawk Auto Museum and Laguna Seca. Blackhawk always had great car events & fantastic speaker series year-after-year. I was thrilled when he came to Laguna Seca and hoped he could expand the track’s program beyond having races. Unfortunately, local political games cut his time short. It will be interesting to see what can happen at M1. For a young, small facility, this looks like a good start. ... View more

Long Beach has so many lasting memories for me. It was my first GP in 1976 (I was 10)…walking up to Shoreline Drive and hearing the glorious sound of a V12 Matra screaming by. Getting to meet my heroes - Colin Chapman, Mario Andretti, James Hunt, Gilles Villeneuve, and others. In those days, spectators were separated from the team’s work areas (inside the Arena) by only a four-foot-tall railing. One could watch teams working on the cars just a couple feet away. In 1977, my dad and I got to listen to Chapman & Andretti discuss race strategy and spring set-ups (the year they won). How things have changed since then. I lived in Long Beach for several years (mid-1990s), four blocks from the track. Every spring, there was a sense of giddiness as the walls & fences were being put up. Coming home from work, late at night, I would drive down Shoreline buzzing along close to the walls as I dared…and trying to pretend/imagine that my little Honda Civic sounded like that beautiful Matra. ... View more

In case anyone is curious where this is: 45.296019, 6.571029 https://goo.gl/maps/aLodhVi4N2Hxrd5E7 ... View more

For those geographically curious…here are some approximate locations. Picture 2 & 13 35.934316, -118.482809 Looking south-west https://goo.gl/maps/a5eGcPCQ1nfUY66y6 Picture 3 37.123899, -118.055122 Looking west/south-west https://goo.gl/maps/38rB5kSJUaZxEjwr5 ... View more

To borrow from the Godfather…“Leave the girl, take the Esprit” ... View more

Does anyone know what happened to the hero Sprite? Did it find its way in to a museum, someone's collection...or has it been lost to history? ... View more

Taking my dad for a spin at Disneyland (c. 1970-71).   ... View more

2006 Lotus Elise I adopted her in November 2006 - I am the first & only owner.  Sense then we have traveled a bit & had countless days of fun.  I grew up a Lotus kid - my parents auto-x a Lotus 7, Elan & Cortina.  Buying this little one was my first true step into the wonderful world Chapman built. Adoption day!  Beverley Hills, CA Crater Lake, OR Chandelier (drive through) Tree, CA The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, CA and two for Memorial Day, Edwards AFB, CA           ... View more

Edwards AFB (CA) - Air Force Flight Test Museum. I have seen two SR-71s at Edwards; the one outdoors (shown above) and another for special display/events (I believe it will be placed inside the new museum currently under construction). About 40 miles south, the Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale has an A-12 & SR-71. ... View more