Watkins Glen Six Hour Weekend Photo Gallery 2024

 Here's a bunch of photos I took at Watkins Glen International race weekend June 21-23, 2024. You will see my bias toward the Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars.  I'm a staunch believer in the Elantra N, having owned 2 of them. So here's a sample of what I saw and I hope you enjoy it:

Hope you liked this sample of the weekend. There were so many cars, classes, races and series it was mid boggling. A real treat to see everything. 

Brought to you by Paul Ziegler, Publisher Carcamerastory.com.  Follow on Instagram@wownowpics.

Soon, I'll be back in NY to catch a race or two, like supermodifieds at Oswego.  That's always a good show.

Cadillac, Cadillac

 I've been away from this desk for a few months.  Guess I've been busy traveling, spring cleaning, doing chores and car buying.  Yes buying another car!  Bring a Trailer strikes again! 

I can't blame BaT for luring me to this latest find.  I was minding my own business one day checking my email and up pops a notice that a 2006 Cadillac DTS just went live on BaT. Of course I look and I'm immediately grabbed by the image of one of the more attractive DTS's I've seen. This time it's a Green Silk over Cashmere leather interior, crowned with a dark green linen top and dressed with a hand painted pinstripe. WOW. 

I immediately asked my wife if she would be interested in buying this to replace her aging 2002 Deville she bought new all those years ago. Her response, why? My car still runs great. (161,000. miles) My answer- cars don't last forever.  She said I'll worry about that when my car dosen't run anymore.

Shot down and disappointed I let it go; for a day.  Then I thought, why not buy it for myself? So I go into auction prep mode. The car is in Allentown, PA, not far from our Rochester, NY home. Interesting.  It is also no reserve and being sold by a dealer. Very interesting.  

I call the selling dealer and offer a deal- if I am the winning bidder, would they be interested in taking my 2022 Hyundai Elantra in on a trade.  That would save me the sales tax and with the proximity of Allentown to Rochester, I could fly up to Rochester, drive my Hyundai to Allentown and return with the Caddy.  Makes sense.  Everything is now lining up.

The auction ends on a Friday, May 10th and I'll never forget that day.  I get up early to see where the bidding is and it is still in very reasonable territory.  The auction ends late that afternoon and I settle in for a day watching the computer, refreshing my browser regularly.  As usual the bidding heats up and the numbers slowly climb. As we approach the last hour the bids have gone up to a level that's still Ok but approaching my mental stop. With 5 minutes to go it is apparent its me and one other guy duking it out to take this beauty home. The auction ends and we are in OT. Two minute chunks of one upmanship first $100. then $250. at a time. A right hook, a left hook, a body blow it keeps going for 20 minutes but I'm not giving up.  The other guy finally gave up at $15,350.  The price is fair and the fact I can trade my car in, saving on sales tax AND I can pick the car up saving on shipping makes this a great deal for me.

I'm happy and I'm sure the seller- R H Kressley's Auto & Truck Sales is happy too. By the way they were super to deal with. A wonderful family owned business.  A good deal for both which is all you can ask for.  Fast forward 4 days and I get up at 4:00AM drive to Allentown, swap cars and I'm headed back to Rochester, NY with my new ride.  

Here's some pictures of my new luxury car, in a rare color and in like new condition. A one owner beauty with a V8 reminding me of the good old days. Life is good.

                                   Incredibly beautiful example of Cadillac's icon DTS. Only 21,000 miles

                                                          Looks good next to the 2002 Deville

                                                 

Ultra clean !

 

                                    Join the family- 2017 CT6, 2006 DTS and 2002 Deville

  I'll be updating you on my journey with the new DTS. I fly up to Rochester next week to pick her up     and drive her back to Florida.

Brought to you by Paul Ziegler, Publisher Carcamerastory.com.  Follow on Instgram @wownowpics

Author of "Echoes From The Glen" 

Sunshine Baby's First Showing- St. Petersburg Motor Classic

 

It was a perfect day for the St. Petersburg Motor Classic in beautiful Straub Park next to the yacht club downtown St. Petersburg, FL.  Ray Gassner's Sunshine Baby IV raced here in the 1960's and after several years, she has returned to her home port. Ray was a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club so it is fitting she's back home.  This is her first big event on her journey to being on display at various shows and a running exhibition at select boating events.

Here are some pictures from the show along with a few pictures taken off site.

                             Jim Aid, 2.5 liter Mod champ and captain of the Sunshine Baby project.

                                   Tom D"Eath, one of the few to have raced the Sunshine Baby

          Memorabilia from past races including race suits, blown pistons and even a propeller.

Fans were taking a lot of pictures!

                                1,200 Horsepower from a Chrysler 392 Hemi and Potvin Blower

       Talking about the 'old days' of hydroplane racing.  Brent McLean of original pit crew on right.

                                             Tom D'Eath's race helmet from the '70's

                                                  Some of the history of the Sunshine Baby

                                               Important facts about the Sunshine Baby

                                       Best Presentation Award-Not bad for her first show.

         Watch this site for more information about the Sunshine Baby as we get her ready to run again. 

                     Carcamerastory.com  Publisher  Paul Ziegler, Author "Echoes From The Glen"

                                          Follow on Instagram @Wownowpics

Famous Racing Hydroplane Sunshine Baby Comes Home To St. Petersburg

 Yes, the Sunshine Baby that was originally home to St. Petersburg, Florida in the '60's and '70's has come home with the help of racer, Jim Aid who made the arrangements for its return. The plan is to do a light restoration and put it on display at various events and do a demonstration run or two at vintage boat races. 

The story about the Sunshine Baby is facinating and will be the subject of a future, detailed history. The story of the return to 'home' decades later will be documented on this blog over the winter.  Suffice it to say the 'Baby' was one of the winingest, fastest boats in the country with its Chrysler Hemi built by none other than Big Daddy Don Garlits. It holds the straight line speed record for its class at 173 MPH!

I made the trip to Lake Michigan a few miles north of Detroit in October with Jim to pick up the boat and trailer it back to St. Petersburg. We stopped along the way to visit the Don Garlits drag racing museum and even got a chance to show Don the boat still housing the Hemi he built in 1960!  Don was impressed as well as surprised by our visit.

So here are some pictures with a 'preview' showing at a Tampa Bay Cafe' Racer's lunch. Breaking news on the 'Baby' - it will be on display at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club's annual car show February 4th, 2024.

Here she is from the several shots I took while bringing her back home with Jim Aid.

                                                               The End - For Now

                            Watch for updates after the Holidays-  See you in 2024!

Brought to you by Paul Ziegler, Publisher  Carcamerastory.com   Follow on Instagram @Wownowpics