On Sunday, August 29, my wife, Peggy, and I attended the 25th "Day On The Farm" at a new venue - the beautiful home of Bob and Joyce Byers. The Delaware Valley Region of the AACA and the Olde Tyme Car Club put on this event, which benefits the Salvation Army’s New Kroc Center in North Philadelphia.

 

A beautiful day, lots of cool cars, a great setting, many good friends, and all this fun supports a worthy charity...life is good! There were lots of fabulous cars in attendance and skilled musicians provided entertaining music. Drinks were available at several locations about the expansive grounds as well as homemade ice-cream made with a hit-and-miss engine running the blender! Blooming Glen Caterers provided a delicious meal and excellent service for everyone who enjoyed lunch on the covered tennis courts. 

 

Bob Byers' collection, housed in a new garage, was the finishing touch for a wonderful social event that will continue to be a highlight on my car show calendar.

--Mike Engard
 

 

 

 

As usual, the Delaware Valley Triumph club held its annual summer picnic.

"Where was it this year?" you may ask.

Oh yeah, it was in my garage in late August.  About 50 club members showed for an afternoon of fun  -- or at least I was told they had a good time.  

Parking always works out well as our home is on a cul-de-sac.  Nice to see everyone enjoy the live band we had in the garage, thanks to some of my old school buddies who brought their guitars and to Steve Grimsley for the drum kit and sound system.

--Dave Hutchison 
 

 

Sunday, September 12 began with a lot of green (rain) on the weather map.  Tow vehicles and trailers gathered at the 100 Motorcars of Radnor with gloomy expectations.  Barb Plant, Mike Engard and I reported to the judges meeting first thing.
 

After our meeting, the rain slowed and cars came out of trailers.  I judged the closed Sports Car class, a very tight class with tough competition. A beautifully prepared Goodwood Green 1960 Aston Martin DB 4 GT Lightweight (below) won the class and the Debutant Award.  It’s a truly stunning car with a great story.

One of only six factory lightweights, it was owned by Peter Linder, who raced it in Europe for several years before he was killed in an accident in an E-Type. Now, the car has been restored to the original condition it was in when Linder received it as a holiday gift in 1960. 

The 1916 Biddle freshened by the crew at Pollock Auto Restorations for the Boyertown Museum won the Veterans Award.  A beautiful 1932 Packard owned by Frank Buck went on to win a well-deserved Best of Show as 88 cars made it to the field out of 100 invited. 

As always, the Radnor Concours continues to produce a top shelf event, one not to be missed.

Go “Car Crazy” at the Elegance of Speed Automotive Collectible and Memorabilia Show, October 16 and 17 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. The show will feature vendors offering something for everyone from the most discerning collectors to holiday shoppers looking for the perfect gifts for their car lover(s). The show is free with museum admission.
 

Vendors will be selling die cast cars, books, prints, literature, models, antique toy cars and slot cars, art, videos, photographs and historic objects. Signings are scheduled with race car drivers and authors. Racers of all ages will have the opportunity to rev their engines and compete on a large slot car track provided by show co-sponsor Carrera, a leading manufacturer of model slot car racing sets. On Sunday, a radio-controlled model race car demonstration with some of the hottest R/C cars in the region will take place on the back parking lot.

The Simeone Foundation Museum, which is conveniently located off I-95 in South Philadelphia, features 65 of the world’s most famous race cars. Several cars that are popular with model collectors - such as the Grand Sport Corvette, Daytona Cobra Coupe and the ‘Hippie’ Porsche 917 -  are on display in the museum.

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Specialty Insurance for
Your Collector Car
 

 

If you're an automobile enthusiast, you've probably lusted after some special car for years. The recent economic turmoil has demonstrated that while stock prices were falling, classic automobiles held their own and, in some cases, even went up in value. Here are a few common-sense tips to help you have and hold the car of your dreams.

 

Fall is the best time to shop for an old car. It's the time of year when a lot of cars are changing hands, and the market is more for the buyers than the sellers. 

 

When shopping for classic and vintage cars, the local newspaper is not the place to look. Pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News  or Sports Car Market for listings and excellent advice. Car shows, and club events are also great places to find classic cars. The auction companies have regular events around the country.

 

Before buying check on the car's value in a price guide such as the Standard Guide to Cars & Prices, NADA Appraisal Guides or Hagerty’s "Cars That Matter." Even so, have the car checked out by an experienced classic-car appraiser or restoration shop. Such shops usually do a complete inspection, including making sure numbers match, for a few hundred dollars. Sometimes, only the experts will be able to tell a poor restoration from a good one.