Up from the doldrums...
Nothing like interesting activities to thwart further doldrumism.
I spent most of the afternoon, visiting with a recently relocated developer who has been in the local news lately. Things look to be brewing for me there. Bill is a new neighbor whom I met on my dog walks in the last months. We've become friendly and more than just talking business, he is a sports car racing enthusiast. Something I had guessed at by the really sweet Nissan NSX [top speed 165+ mph] he has had parked in the driveway occasionally. I found out today that among other "toys" he also has a Ferrari, soon to arrive.
Today while we talked business Bill, his wife and I drove down to Chaparral Racing to look around with my buddy Jim who manages the operations. Bill was impressed that the Chaparral Racing facilities have changed little from the glory days of the 1960's and that inside the nondescript buildings sit $5-7 million dollars worth of vehicles; the personal collection of owner Jim Hall. From a $1.2 million Ferrari Monza to a 1909 Cadillac to a classic 1957 Mercedes Gull Wing. All in mint condition. And like discovering King Tut's tomb, another whole room arrived at through a darkened old shop contains a Pennzoil Indy car, a 1963 Lotus Formula One car and a prototype racing Chevrolet Corvette that Jim Hall tested as well as a myriad of historic autos from the teens, 20's and 30's, like a Locomobile and a Whippet.
However the highlight of the tour was taking several laps around Rattlesnake Raceway, the test track. Bill was impressed, I loved doing that again, but his wife kept yelling, "slow down" so I'm not sure she liked it as much. I only got up to 90 mph.
Along on the tour were our soon to be County Judge and two members from a state transportion agency who may further our goal of having the Chaparral site be designed an historic area....and to have cars driving there again.
And....I've been wanting to do just a photo related Blog and here it is: Eclectic Photography
Nothing like interesting activities to thwart further doldrumism.
I spent most of the afternoon, visiting with a recently relocated developer who has been in the local news lately. Things look to be brewing for me there. Bill is a new neighbor whom I met on my dog walks in the last months. We've become friendly and more than just talking business, he is a sports car racing enthusiast. Something I had guessed at by the really sweet Nissan NSX [top speed 165+ mph] he has had parked in the driveway occasionally. I found out today that among other "toys" he also has a Ferrari, soon to arrive.
Today while we talked business Bill, his wife and I drove down to Chaparral Racing to look around with my buddy Jim who manages the operations. Bill was impressed that the Chaparral Racing facilities have changed little from the glory days of the 1960's and that inside the nondescript buildings sit $5-7 million dollars worth of vehicles; the personal collection of owner Jim Hall. From a $1.2 million Ferrari Monza to a 1909 Cadillac to a classic 1957 Mercedes Gull Wing. All in mint condition. And like discovering King Tut's tomb, another whole room arrived at through a darkened old shop contains a Pennzoil Indy car, a 1963 Lotus Formula One car and a prototype racing Chevrolet Corvette that Jim Hall tested as well as a myriad of historic autos from the teens, 20's and 30's, like a Locomobile and a Whippet.
However the highlight of the tour was taking several laps around Rattlesnake Raceway, the test track. Bill was impressed, I loved doing that again, but his wife kept yelling, "slow down" so I'm not sure she liked it as much. I only got up to 90 mph.
Along on the tour were our soon to be County Judge and two members from a state transportion agency who may further our goal of having the Chaparral site be designed an historic area....and to have cars driving there again.
And....I've been wanting to do just a photo related Blog and here it is: Eclectic Photography
