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USA 7s Track Day
Saturday, July 2 – Sunday July, 3
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As
I write, we are all ready to run our second Track Day on the
Lightning Circuit at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville
NJ. My son Ryan, a technician here at Ragtops &
Roadsters has carefully checked over our Birkin Super Seven making sure
we have done everything to have a good weekend. A Track Day is a
controlled driving event where we have our own run group of just Lotus
based Sevens. This year we expect about 20 cars to participate in this
two day event that starts off with go-kart racing on Friday. All
cars must pass a Tech Safety Inspection and all drivers must obey the
point-by passing rule. The only person you are racing is yourself!
Fun will be had. Wish us luck!
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Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Saturday, July 16 – 17
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Schenley
Park is the scene of our nation’s largest vintage race event and the
only one run on actual city streets. 150 vintage racers gather here
each July to test their skills and entertain the crowd. The PVGP
races through Schenley Park are considered by many drivers to be the
most challenging race course worldwide. The 2.33 mile circuit has 23
turns, haybales, manhole covers, phone poles and stone walls. One of the
highlights of Grand Prix Race Weekend
in Schenley Park is British Car Day on Saturday July 16th , sponsored
by the Western Pennsylvania Triumph Association (WPTA). It features 500
of England’s best sport and luxury automobiles. Jaguar is the Featured
Marque in 2016 as they celebrate the 30th year that British Car Day has
taken place in conjunction with the PVGP in Schenley  Park.
During that time the WPTA has raised well over $115,000 for the Grand
Prix charities! At British Car Day we plan to show the 1957 AC Ace
at our vendor booth on both Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t
seen this one you should plan to stop by and take a look at what our
staff at Ragtops & Roadsters and Pollock Auto Restorations can
produce!
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LOG 36 Lotus National Meet
August July 5 – 7
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 Ragtops & Roadsters is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of this national Lotus Owners Gathering. Just a little over a month away, from August 5th through the 7th over 200 Lotus cars and their  owners
will meet in Princeton, NJ. This is a multi-day event that
includes rallies, tours, tech sessions and a show at the Grounds
for Sculpture on Sunday. Organizers expect this to be very
well attended given its northeast location. If you are a Lotus
Owner or enthusiast this is not to be missed! |
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 Ragtops
& Roadsters, specialists in the restoration and repair of classic
British vehicles, is accepting applications for skilled technicians. We
have recently celebrated 26 years in business, with a growing
client base of repeat and new customers (and their cars!). The work we
perform is constantly varied, and provides interesting projects and
challenges year-round. Our reputation for top-quality work is built on
the talent of our team, and we are seeking that same high level of
excellence and work ethic in the candidates for this position.
Our ideal candidates will have recent experience in mechanical assembly,
fitting, repair and tuning. Must have very good mechanical ability and
knowledge of engines, suspension, steering and carburetors. Fabrication
and interior fitting skills are desired but NOT REQUIRED. We offer both
full-time and part-time opportunities for skilled technicians who
possess:
- Strong Mechanical Aptitude
- Great Attitude
- Well-stocked Toolbox
- 5+ Years Professional Experience
Please contact the Shop Manager or any of our management staff here at Ragtops & Roadsters – by email at shopmanager@ragtops.com, by phone at 215-257-1202, or stop by and see us! |
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British Car Calendar of Events
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| 7/3–7/17 |
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Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 7/8 |
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Collector Car Appreciation Day, Everywhere, USA |
| 7/8–7/9 |
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2016 Le Mans Classic, Le Mans, France |
| 7/9–7/10 |
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Giants Despair Hillclimb, Laurel Run, PA |
| 7/10 |
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15th Annual British Invade Gettysburg Outlet Shops, Gettysburg, PA |
| 7/10 |
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Newtown Car Show, Newtown, PA |
| 7/13–7/17 |
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NAMGAR GT-41 MGA National, Louisville, KT |
| 7/14–7/17 |
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Keenland Concours d’Elegance, Lexington, KY |
| 7/16 |
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Doylestown at Dusk Car Show, Doylestown, PA |
| 7/17 |
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British Car Show of N.E., Forty Foot, PA |
| 7/23 |
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“The Thoroughbreds of Marenello” Simeone Museum, Phil., PA |
| 7/23–7/24 |
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Misselwood Concours, Beverly, MA |
| 7/27–7/31 |
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33rd Annual Fiat “Freak Out”, Auburn Hills, MI |
| 7/29–7/31 |
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38th Annual Concours of America at St. John’s, Plymouth, MI |
| 7/31–8/4 |
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67th Rolls Royce Annual Meet, Ashville, NC |
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We
make our best attempt to provide a thorough and accurate listing
of relevant events; however, changes in the details may not always
be reflected in time. Please always double check the organizers
website as you make your plans.
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Time, Money, Quality – Pick One
by: David Jago
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 In
most things, you have choices. When choosing how to invest your
time and money, you have the choice to work quickly to save time, or
cheaply to save money. Either of these choices impacts the end
result, usually at the expense of quality. When clients bring their
cars to Ragtops & Roadsters for an initial evaluation, the remnants
of those choices are quite easy to spot. A shortcut taken here or
there, or substandard or “universal” parts in place of OEM or
high-quality reproduction parts are often contributing factors to the
current complaint that brings the car to us.
It may be obvious that you cannot truly “save” time. You can defer
it, or accomplish less or more during a period, but there is no way to
bank it to be used better later. On the other hand, you can
intelligently “invest’ your time, providing some positive return.
Likewise with money. “Saving” money by purchasing lower quality
parts often results in deferral of the cost, but not elimination of
it. In some cases, the same parts may be replaced multiple times
for well over the cost of the better quality part. The return for
the “investment” of time and money is quality, and that it the goal for
which we at Ragtops & Roadsters strive.
There is a prevailing thought that “time is money.” It
isn’t. Paying double-time to expedite a job doesn’t assure that the
work will be done properly in less time. Certain work
requires time to complete, and further time to verify. Time is
time, and money cannot reduce how much time is required. When
budgeting for the work your car requires, I would implore you to set
aside money AND time to have the work done well. |
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First Italia 2000 to Win an AACA Grand National Award
by: Al Anspaugh
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“Did I
mention Williamsport, PA?” This simple question one cold winter night
started our 1960 Triumph Italia 2000 GT heading to the AACA Annual Grand
National Meet on June 3-4. It’s said to be the first time a
Triumph Italia has gained entry to the prestigious event, billed as a
Show of Winners. The right to enter requires having won an AACA Senior
Award the prior year, which our little “Amelia” did at the end of a
whirlwind 2015 show season.
Amelia shone, earning a First Place based on points and judged among a
class that included a Mercedes Benz Gullwing and drop-dead-gorgeous
Alfas, Triumphs and MGs. A massive turnout of some 625 pristine
cars, trucks and bikes fit nicely on the sprawling grounds of the
Pennsylvania College of Technology – home to the best hands-on
automotive-tech school on Earth. The awards were presented in a
mammoth auditorium at the Scottish Rite hall in Williamsport, and Robin
and I were pleased to bring home a beautiful trophy. My hat’s off to the
Pollock and Ragtops & Roadsters, the restoration pros who each
in their own way made Amelia a star!
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Cars & Motorcycles of England
by: Dave Hutchison
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This year
our show was not as well attended as in the past. Maybe it was a cooler
wet spring. It was nice to Lou Parotta win Best of Show with his
immaculate Lotus Type 51.
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This year
our show was not as well attended as in the past. Maybe it was a cooler
wet spring. It was nice to Lou Parotta win Best of Show with his
immaculate Lotus Type 51.
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The
Delaware Valley Jaguar Club held their JCNA Concours as part of the
CMOE. This beautiful Jaguar XK 120 OTS won their Best of
Show.
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British Motorcar Festival
by: Dave Hutchison
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This year
we decided to change it up a bit and take both Italias to the British
Motorcar Festival in Bristol Rhode Island. Michael Gaetano, the man
behind the very successful British Invasion in Stowe VT, is also the
driving force at this relatively new event, now in its second year at
Bristol, the town that celebrates to Fourth of July for nearly two
weeks! This four day event started with a Hidden Highway Hundred
rally through the back water roads of small New England fishing villages
ending at the Herreshoff Museum the home of America's Cup. A good run
with lots of suprises!
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This 1910
Rover was on display and was found in its original condition near
Philadelphia. After a recently mechanical restoration the owner
gave rides around the show field. These three LandRovers were entered
into the Concours Class that consisted of 19 cars.These Concours cars
were scrutinized by three teams three Concours judges. .
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Over two
hundred cars attended this very well run event that concluded on Sunday
afternoon after a rain shortened Saturday show. We were very pleased to
take Best of Show, Participants Choice with my 21 year old restoration
of my red Triumph Italia #194. Later Al and Robin's silver Italia #122
was asked to "go around"... Could it be? YES!! They won Best of Show
Concours! Wow. It doesn't get better than that!
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Ragtops & Roadsters
is here to help out during the summer season. Maybe it's
time to take care of those maintenance, restoration, preservation, and
upgrade needs on your car's wish list? Click here
to send an e-mail to dave@ragtops.com or call us 215-257-1202 to
schedule an appointment. We are now scheduling appointments in July and
August. Click to see our Works In Progress
page on our website. Also, we have recently listed more of our client's
British cars looking for new homes, see current listings on our For Sale page.
Happy Motoring!
Dave & the Staff at Ragtops & Roadsters.
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