Call it fact or phenomenon; car people love sport watches, particularly mechanical chronographs and diver's models. There are several makes and models that command the most popularity (and often the highest prices) but at least three kings of this road. At or near the top of this heap is the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph, a 3-dial Chrono available in all stainless steel, steel/gold "bimetal" combination, or … [Read more...]
About Matt Stone
The Impossible Dream- Restoring a derelict Citroen SM at home.
Robert Blackmon of Los Angeles is a heavy truck owner/operator and about as nice a man as you'll ever meet. His automotive passions have always leaned toward foreign cars. He loved the Citroën SM at first sight, appreciating its design and advanced features, vowing to own one someday. That day came in 1982 when he bought a '72 SM from the late Gerald Wiegert of Vector Aeromotive fame. The … [Read more...]
Legends, Heroes, and Friends – Amelia Island Concours Honors Motorsport Greats
Motorsport is a foundational element of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance events since their beginning 26 years ago. Founder and Chairman Bill Warner is a noted and notable racer and motorsport photographer and has implanted the racing DNA into his events at their inception. However, it's not only because Mr. Warner loves racing and seemingly knows everyone in the sport, but also as a definitive way of … [Read more...]
Speed Reading – The Other Side of the Fence
The Other Side of The Fence – Six Decades of Motorsport Photography By Bill Warner, with Forewords by Sam Posey and William Jeanes Professional motorsport photographers live their lives and careers “on the Other Side of the Fence” meaning that they get to walk and work several major steps closer to the racing (and pit and paddock) action than does the civilian fan. But this superior track access … [Read more...]
Amazing Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2021- Report & Photo Gallery
Not only did it happen, but it happened at the highest levels Photos by Matt Stone & Deremer Studios, LLC Please don't. Please do not think of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance as "Pebble Beach South" or any such. This at first may seem like a compliment to both events but ultimately is not because each is distinct from the other in countless ways. Yes, they are both grand and … [Read more...]
The Show Before the Show – 2021 The Amelia’s Cars & Coffee
The 2021 Amelia Island Concours Cars & Coffee is the best you’ll find anywhere. If you follow major automotive events and Concours, you know that the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is among the finest in the world. It takes place on a Sunday, culminating in a long weekend full of ancillary events: racing driver seminars, ride and drive programs, several major auctions, lots of vendors, and a high-quality … [Read more...]
Bill Warner’s 1971 Porsche 911T – The Stunning Cannonball Runner
You may recognize Bill Warner as the Founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, held each March on that charming resort island in Florida. This is true, but Mr. Warner is a man of so many more facets and dimensions: he’s a husband, father, and grandfather. A Jacksonville area businessman. A charitable philanthropist. Military veteran and reservist. An accomplished sports car racer of … [Read more...]
Raymond Loewy’s E-Type Jaguar – Can You Improve Upon Perfection?
It’s not easy in the case of a Jaguar E-Type coupe, even if you are as brilliant as Raymond Loewy. As we mark the 60th Anniversary of Jaguar’s seminal E-Type, it’s interesting to recall the story of one particular 1966 4.2-liter E-Type coupe, one of two Jaguars restyled and customized by world-renowned industrial and automotive designer Raymond Loewy (the E-Type is the only one remaining; the other was created … [Read more...]
The International Race of Champions Porsches and the Dozen Great Drivers who Raced Them
Any racing fan that lived in Southern California in the early 70s knew of the late, great Riverside International Raceway (RIR). And if you followed top-level Porsche racing during the same period, no matter where you’re from, likely knew of the International Race of Champions (IROC), and that for its first, and then-one-season only, was contested with a special batch of Carrera RSR 3.0s developed and produced by … [Read more...]
Cruising the River Rhine in Fine Style
Christian Kramer is an automotive expert of considerable note. Once an auto broker, he's since become a certificated vehicle vetter and appraiser. He can provide a full forensic and market valuation write-up on a single vehicle or an entire collection. He often does for banks that finance such things, insurance companies, and transactional and estate settlement purposes. Chris is also a … [Read more...]
The History of the De Tomaso Longchamp and Maserati Kyalami
First, let's clarify a few definitions: Hybrid: a person [or thing] produced by the blending of two diverse cultures or traditionsHalf-breed: having one purebred parentAlessandro De Tomaso: Automotive Magician who could develop cars out of thin air with practically no budget The first two definitions came from Webster's. The third most definitely did not, but you'll soon see why it's appropriate. Argentine … [Read more...]
Isky at Indy – When Hot Rod Camshafts Ruled the Brickyard
Some of you may know the name Ed Iskenderian as one of the high priests of the early days of hot rodding and the birth of the aftermarket speeds parts industry in America. It’s true: Isky’s cams for the flathead Ford and Small-block Chevy V-8s are legendary. What you may not be familiar with though is Iskenderian’s name and products are most commonly thought of in terms of drag racing or LSR racing at Bonneville. … [Read more...]
The Strange Tale of the ItalDesign Porsche Tapiro
It's doubtful that any designer or design house has done more seminal mid-engined automotive designs than has the incomparable Giorgetto Giugiaro and his (and son Fabrizio's) ItalDesign Giugiaro. Though it goes without saying that Pininfarina has created many great mid-motored Ferrari sports cars, then, of course, there's the Murray/Stevens McLaren F1, plus many edgy, uber exotic Lamborghini supercars by a variety … [Read more...]
Don Ricardo – Racer and Avid Gullwing Collector
Rene Dreyfus, great Pre WWII Grand Prix champion and world-class restaurateur, famously entitled his autobiography My Two Lives. The late Don Ricardo could have just as appropriately employed this same title for his most interesting life story. Although his background includes activities from semipro basketball to tool and die making, the Two Lives he is most known for are big band leader, and … [Read more...]
Happy Anniversary, Honey! 1958 Mercedes-Benz 180D
Stewart Reed is an American transportation designer of some note. He’s designed several significant cars, including one for dune buggy pioneer Bruce Meyers plus a Bugatti for noted art deco and French Curves mega collector Peter Mullin. He still maintains a personal design consultancy for special projects, but his main gig now is Chairman of the Transportation Design program at Art Center (College of … [Read more...]