|
|
|
|
Simeone Spirit of Competition
November 16th
|
|
 We plan to attend this annual event. The “Spirit of Competition” is the theme of the  Simeone
Foundation Automotive Museum and the focus of our annual fundraiser.
Each year a distinguished figure from motorsports is selected who has a
specific inspirational message. This year we honor Peter Brock. On
November 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm, Peter will receive the award at the
Simeone Museum during a gala fundraising dinner. Visit the Simeone Foundation website here for more details on this event and to explore the entire Simeon Collection and Museum events calendar. |
|
Before We Put 'em Away Run
November 20th
|
|
 Now
open to all antique, classic and sports cars, we will make what could
be the last run of the season. Rain or shine at 9 a.m. on Sunday,
November 20, 2016, plan to meet at Ragtops & Roadsters 203 South
Fourth St. Perkasie, PA for coffee, scones and a shop tour. Look over
our new restoration projects, then we hit the road at 10 a.m. We will
navigate the rural country roads of Bucks and Montgomery County and take
the long scenic “different route” to our sister shop in Pottstown. We
plan to arrive at Pollock Auto Restoration at 70 South Franklin St.
Pottstown before noon. More new restoration projects will be on display.
Lunch will be waiting for us and we can join the Fall Open House
already in progress. Yes… That’s a fall drive and two shop tours all in
one day! Limited space is available. Please contact Dave at 215.257.1202
or dave@ragtops.com to reserve your spot on this run! |
|
Simeone Museum Seeks ACs for "Best of Britain"
|
|
Attention All AC Car Owners!
 The
Simeone Museum in Philadelphia is organizing an exhibition of AC Cars,
that will be the museum’s annual "Best of Britain". We are looking
for owners who might want to have their cars displayed inside this world
renowned museum next winter. The Best of Britain, now in its sixth
year, will host this display from February 18 through March
12, 2017.
If you have an AC Car built in Thames
Ditton of any year, any model (in any condition) that can help tell the
story of A.C. Cars Ltd. please contact us and submit a recent photo of
the your car. We are looking for representative examples of each
model from 1904 to present day.
Pete Rohrbacher
609.298.5329 home
p.rohrbacher@verizon.net |
Dave Hutchison
215.527.1409 cell
dave@ragtops.com |
|
|
British Car Calendar of Events
|
|
| Saturdays |
|
Katie's Cars and Coffee, Great Falls, VA |
| 11/19 |
|
Cars & Coffee, Bucks County Exotics, Doylestown, PA |
| 11/15 |
|
Delaware Valley Triumphs GTR, North Wales, PA |
| 11/20 |
|
“Before We Put em' Away Run”, Bucks/Montgomery Co., PA |
| 11/20 |
|
DVJ Breakfast Social, Spring House, PA |
| 11/21 |
|
Austin Healey Sports & Touring Club Monthly Meeting, Lansdale, PA |
| 11/25–11/27 |
|
VRG Turkey Bowl XVIII, Summit Point, WV |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
In the Shop Now
by: Mike Sinback, Shop Manager
|
|
|
|
This 1953 flat rad Morgan +4 four seater just came into the
shop. Lots of patina! We will evaluate for mechanical restoration
and get into our work queue this winter!
|
|
AACA Eastern Regional Hershey Fall Meet
|
|
|
We were
very fortunate to have several nice days of weather at the AACA Fall
Meet in HERSHEY this year. We noticed a greater number of vendor
spaces were vacant and the car corral had fewer cars than past years.
Despite's a persistent light rain that moved in Saturday morning
over 600 cars were still on site to be judged!
|
|
Two previous owners of this very rare 1937 Railton Fairmile had a chance
meeting at our tent at same time! What are the odds?
|
|
|
"Art in Motion" at Monticello
|
|
Moticello New York, once famous for circle track horse racing has put a new type of racing on the map! The Monticello Motorsports Club
is a private motor club that features grand corners reminiscent of
great European tracks with 22 turns including hairpins,
increasing and decreasing radius with 450 feet of thrilling
elevation changes! With over four miles and a variety of layouts, the
course is capable of operating as three independent circuits that can
run simultaneously. With so many configurations possible, it’s almost
like coming to a new venue every time. The complex includes two separate
pit facilities in addition to a skid pad area. The design is the first
combined effort of Brian Redman, world-famous driving champion and
winner of 77 races in 12 countries, and Bruce Hawkins, the preeminent
architect of next-generation race tracks. |
|
|
I have had
the pleasure of several visits, most recently I received an
invitation to "Art in Motion" a brand new premium Concours
that was held on Oct 8-9th. The 1960 Triumph Italia 2000 we restored
here at R&R was invited along with 96 former Concours winners that
came in from as far away as California. MMC Director Paul Queally and
his team did a fantastic job at hosting this event with only 90
days of planning! When was the last time you saw five Cunningham
C3s together?
|
|
|
Roy Brod
won First Concours with his beautiful Ferrari TDF and Bruce
Canepa won First Place Racecar with one of best race cars ever
built, a 1969 Porsche 917 #4 raced by Brian Redmond at Brands Hatch in
1970. This car is capable of speeds near 240 mph!
|
|
 The
whole event was a first class presentation; a tent was erected to
hold the banquets, very impressive awards went to the owners of the cars
on the Show field as were some of the best concours quality
cars in the country. Congratulations go out to Al and Robin
Anspaugh who took home yet another award as their Italia 2000 GT
won the "Excellence in Class" of 11 motorcars in the "Automobiles
of Great Britain". |
|
At this
time, I believe that a multi-day "Art in Motion" is planned for
2017 but it will again not be open to the public. After two private
events, the word is that this could be one of the top Concours open to
the public in 2018 after a new casino/resort Montreign,
nearby opens! Currently there are no close proximity lodging and
banquet facilities. If this comes true, you can be sure that we
will be there! |
|
A Summary of
"Driving for Kids! The 2016 America's British Reliability Run"
An event synopsis by: Dave Hutchison, Operations Manager
|
|
|
On a
bright sunny Friday morning about forty British cars including and
their drivers gathered together at McKenzie’s Pub in West Chester, PA
for the start of the 2016 America’s British Reliability Run...
|
|
Read
the full event synopsis article that reveals this years award winning
teams and tells the triumphant tales of the road of many, and the
rougher road stories of a few, by visiting the Ragtops.com
website here.
|
|
|
|
The 2016 ABRR participating teams are seen here during a
photo opportunity on the Shennandoah Circuit at Summit Point Motorsports
Park!
|
|
|
Sunoco Racing was again our prime sponsor as they provided enough gas cards this year to cover the entire run for each ABRR Team! Hagerty Insurance was once again behind us to support us with their Roadside Assistance Program. Pete Cosmides from Motorcar Garage provided hats for everyone and once again Mike Engard from Ragtops & Roadsters drove the R&R chase van and trailer with a loaner car for the "just in case". So, we were ready, right?
|
|
ABOVE: Teams apply their team decals and prep for the start line of the 2016 America's British Reliability Run.
This year each ABRR Team drove 620
miles for a total of 23,560 miles covered in one weekend; and
yes we had our challenges this year as several cars failed to
proceed, but we left no one behind! In total we raised $35,538 for this year's chosen kid's charity, the Valley Youth House's (501c3) Synergy Project,
a street outreach program for homeless kids from ages 12-21
living in Bucks, Lehigh, and Northamption counties! Now that is
what I call "Driving for Kids!" |
|
ABOVE:
A couple of kitty cats stretch their legs at a Sunoco fuel
stop including a 1951 Jaguar MK VII sponsored by Ragtops &
Roadsters that was recently mechanically restored to run the Great Race
next June. This was to be their shakedown run for the saloon, as “Big
Fat Grey Cat” was driven by Ragtops & Roadsters technicians, Eugene
Toner and Ryan Hutchison.
BELOW: Sunoco Racing sponsorship provided fuel cards for everyone for the entire weekend!
|
|
ABOVE: The Birkin Boy's Super Seven team brought home some shots from the road.
BELOW:
They Synergy Project Mobile Drop-In serves youth in the communities
where they live and need assistance. ABRR teams got the low down
from Synergy Project Reps.
|
|
|
ABRR awards were given to the top three fundraisers...
Read the full synopsis article on the Ragtops.com website that
reveals this years award winning teams and tells the triumphant
tales of the road of many, and the rougher road stories of a few.
Note: You are invited to attend the BIG CHECK presentation at this years’ Before We Put em’ Away Run
at Ragtops & Roadsters on Sunday morning November 20, 2016.
Representatives from the Synergy Project and hopefully some ABRR Teams
that ran this year will be on hand. We are currently working on
more ABRR events for 2017 that will include Colorado, New England
and Virginia! Please stay tuned and visit our website at www.britishreliability.org and like us on Facebook to hear announcements about future dates of America's British Reliability Run!
|
|
Ragtops & Roadsters is
here to help out during the fall driving 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 December and January. 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. Click here to see more pictures of this 1954 Austin Healer 100-4 BN 1!
|
|
Happy Motoring!
Dave & the Staff at Ragtops & Roadsters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
