Simply Beautiful

If you are like me then you are going through withdrawal from the end of the racing season. This video is definitely methadone for the afflicted. Enjoy and check out The Cartorialist for awesome motorsport pics.

2010 Classy Chassis Show

Last week-end, Kate and I went to the Houston Classy Chassis Concours. The Classy Chassis is a benefit show that has grown over the years to benefit the Shriner's Hospital. The Shriners are a benevolent organization that support children hospitals and the benefits from the show support local programs. It's truly a show for cars but there were a few bikes.

Custom Featherbed 500cc racer

Best in Show- Dupont Sports Car

Cool Guzzi Combination  in Parking Lot

Check out the slideshow!!

North Houston Swap Meet

I went to the North Houston Hot Rod Swap Meet today. The advertisement mentioned motorcycles so I was a bit excited at seeing some old bikes. Well, not much in the realm of old bikes and most of the car stuff was dedicated to late 1970's era blown engines but there were a few interesting items.

1959 Cushman Eagle nicely sorted

1940 Chevy Coupe

Classic Rat Rod with Flat Head and Sportster

Model T stuff

Gear Head Still Life #1

Gear Head Still Life #2

2010 Keels and Wheels Concours d' Elegance

Kate and I went to the Keels and Wheels Concours yesterday and it was marvelous. It takes place at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook near Houston, Texas. The Concours is unique in that it features vintage boats and cars with a few motorcycles and a WWI biplane. This show ranks among the finest on the order of Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, and the Broadmoor. Here are some highlights and at the end a slide show of all my pics.

Nice BMW outfit

A Morgan Aero from the 30's

Gorgeous Runabout

Japanese Cafe Racer

Sexy lines

Lincoln Indianapolis by Boani

American LaFrance (fire engine builder) Racer

A nice variety of vehicles to suit all tastes. I focused on the vintage machines but there are sections for specific marques, muscle cars, racers, even a few military rigs. Check out my slideshow below:

How much would you pay?

1925 Bugatti Brescia Roadster

A close cousin of above

I was researching a post on an Ettore Bugatti subject related to motorcycling when I came across this story. On the 25th of January, Bonhams auctioned the severely corroded 1925 Bugatti Type 22 at the 2010 Retromobile Show in Paris. The vehicle was estimated to sell for 70,000 to 90,000 pounds and ended being the subject of a bidding war topping off at 260,500 pounds. Experts agree that it is impossible to restore the vehicle since only about 10% of the parts are usable. The new owner will most likely leave it in state as an exhibit for a new automotive museum in California.

The real value of this wonderful piece of  early automotive engineering rests in the story of this particular example. This 1925 Bugatti Type 22 "Brescia" was pulled from Lake Maggiore after 70 years of resting in over 50 meters of water. The rumor of a submerged Bugatti had been passed around until the August 18, 1967 when Ugo Pillon discovered the car laying on its side. For the next 70 years, the Bugatti was a popular dive location of the Centro Sport Subacquei Salvataggio Ascona.

Why the car ended up in Lake Maggiore is more a story of practicality than intrigue. The car was initially purchased by a gentleman in Nancy, France then sold to an architect in Paris by the name of Georges Nielly. In some manner or other it may have come into the hands of Marco Schmuklerski, a polish architect, around 1936. The legend is that the import duties were never paid  and the local taxman knew it. As was the custom, the vehicle had to be destroyed  and that is perhaps how it ended up at the bottom Lake Maggiore.

The story of its return to the surface however is decidedly more tragic. The Bugatti was raised from the depths by the local dive club to raise funds for the Damiano Tamagni Foundation. Damiano Tamagni, a dive club member, was brutally beaten to death by three youths in Ascona. The exhibition of this Bugatti is a fitting tribute to Damiano Tamagni and the proceeds from the auction will definitely help his foundation do its work.

For a more in depth version of this story go here.

Very Nice

I love all sorts of vintage vehicles but the best ones are those that are used. This lovely Porsche was just around the corner from my hotel during my trip to Paris this past October. You have to admire an owner who enjoys driving his baby so much without concern. Un vrai automobiliste!