Get set for a year of great motoring events in 2013

A SUMMER of motoring fun is just a few months away, if the list of exciting events across the north west and further afield is anything to go by.

Fans of classic cars and bikes will be spoilt for choice when a host of events get underway, with draws including the Ormskirk MotorFest - now in its third year - on August 25, the Lydiate Classic Car Show on July 7, and the Bank Hall show in Bretherton on July 28 among others.

Its also hoped that the Woodvale Rally, a longstanding favourite with car and bike fans, will return to its traditional home at RAF Woodvale for 2013, after concerns about asbestos at the site prompted a change of venue to Victoria Park last year. The shows organisers are still awaiting confirmation, but the event is provisionally set for the weekend of August 3 and 4 so keep an eye on their website at www.woodvalerally.com for any further announcements.

A little further afield theres the return of the North West Indoor Classic Car Show, after the inaugural event proved to be one of last years surprise hits. This years show takes place at EventCity in Manchester - a stones throw from The Trafford Centre - so make sure youve got the weekend of April 6 and 7 in your diary.

A couple of other big draws to make a note of are the Classic Car Spectacular, due to take place over the first weekend of June at Tatton Park in Cheshire, the Classic, Vintage and Sports Car Show at the same venue on August 17 and 18, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power between June 14 and 16, the Gold Cup at the Oulton Park race circuit over the August Bank Holiday. Theres also word that CarFest - a motoring event organised by Radio 2 DJ and Ferrari nut Chris Evans - will get the green light for a 2013 event, so while theres no official dates yet dont bet against it being hosted at some point in August or September.

Theres also - if youre prepared to hop in the car and venture even further - all manner of national events being held at Goodwood, the NEC, Beaulieu, Silverstone and Santa Pod to name just a few, but even if you cant it looks set to be a vintage year for automotive outings.

If youre organising a motoring event or show why not share it with Life On Cars? Get in touch with David Simister, our motoring correspondent, by sending an email to david.simister@hotmail.co.uk or leave a comment below.

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some of the dragsters I found interesting in Dragster Alley Bldg 4 at the Grand National Roadster Show

and its the newest Rodders Journal cover

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On The Second Day of Christmas

 ... a lot of people are recuperating, or something.  There were just three diehards in the woodshop: Henry Vincent, John Faulhaber, and Paul (the new guy) Cronin.  And one lonely misanthrope over in Barn 8. 

The three guys in the shop were all working on the Lake Shore Electric freight trailer #810.  When I happened to pass through, John and Paul were producing long lengths of poplar tongue-and-groove boards for the roof.  It looks just like the product of one of the old-time car shops.

And Henry was painting pieces of tack molding.  I should point out that there are very few interurban freight trailers in existence, and none of the others are in good condition.  The 810 is the only one being restored, and George and the others are doing a very thorough job.  This will be a restoration we can really be proud of!

 Having said that, I cant let some lowly freight car get the better of me.  I spent most of the day sanding the next ceiling panels in the 319, and then applying first primer, as seen here.  The center panels, the molding strips, and the lower panels were done.  I also started reinstalling one of the molding strip above the car cards, as seen last time, but didnt take a picture.  With two space heaters going, the main compartment gets up to a nice temperature for painting and woodwork.

Notice something missing?  When we got these cars from Cleveland, the wreck tools and first aid boxes had been stolen.  In the 319,  I had found some replacement wreck tools and installed them, but CA&E first aid boxes are scarce.  Im willing to offer a reward for their return.

Since we will not actually need to break the glass for access to first aid supplies, a false front should be good enough as a replacement.  I have made another front of such a box, as I did on the 308, and tried it out.  It now needs to be painted and lettered.

Just so you wont worry, let me point out that every car in revenue service will have a large plastic emergency box with a fire extinguisher and nice new first aid supplies.  This will usually be stored under a seat or in some out-of-the-way location -- the crewmen will know where it is.  So theres never any need to break glass to get to an old first aid box, and it might be empty!  Phil Stepek of the Coach Dept. provides these boxes and their supplies, and keeps track of them so everything is ready for use.  Thanks, Phil! 

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Confessions of a Recovering Car Dealer

I’m excited and proud to announce the publication of my first book, Confessions of a Recovering Car Dealer! If you’ve been reading my blog or my Hometown News column for the last 7 years, I know you will really enjoy this book. Some subjects may be familiar, but I also have added tons of new information as well as lots of historically interesting pictures, dating from 1937 to the present.

Before you get mad at me for using this column to sell books, be aware that 100% of the selling price of my book is going to charity. Not only am I not making a nickel off this book, but I’m also including my cost of publishing in the amount I’m donating to charity. My purpose in writing this book is the same as my purpose in my Hometown News columnand blog, to help you through the hazardous process of buying, leasing, and servicing your car. You can buy this book at my dealership, Earl Stewart Toyota of North Palm Beach, or you can buy it online by going to www.EarlsBook.com. You can charge it to your Visa, MasterCard, American, Express, Discover card, or use PayPal.

If you’re curious about my title, it goes to the fact that I wasn’t always a consumer advocate for car buyers. I’ve been a car dealer since 1968 and I used to be a lot like the very car dealers that I criticize today. Frankly, my advertising and my sales practices back in the day are things that I’m ashamed of now. I refer to myself as “recovering” in the sense that a drug addict or alcoholic is recovering. This column, my blog, and my radio show are like parts of the “Twelve Steps” of a recovery program. People ask me all of the time “What made you change?” but I can’t give them a simple answer.  It wasn’t an epiphany or an instant revelation, but more of an evolution. It might have begun when I sensed how much smarter and more sophisticated and demanding my customers were becoming. I know that my sons coming into the business had a major effect as did my second marriage.  My oldest son told me that he chose to come into the business with me because he could tell his children, my grandchildren, how proud he was to work at Earl Stewart Toyota. Fighting a successful battle against colon cancer several years ago also was a factor. There’s nothing like the realization of one’s mortality that puts the important and unimportant things in life in perspective. Lastly, I would chalk it up maturity. I’m one of those that believe we truly get wiser as we age. Notice I said “wiser” not smarter. There are a lot of young, very smart people but, in my opinion, they lack the wisdom of their elders. 

My book is divided into six sections. The first is “Research” which explains how you should go about deciding what type and make of car you should buy and how to select the right dealer from whom to buy it. Section two gets into the actual buying process. One chapter is entitled “Emotion is Your Enemy When Buying a car” and another is “Holdback is Holdup for Consumers”. Section three is “F & I (Finance and Insurance). Two of the best chapters are “Buying a Car When You Have a Credit problem” and “Should You Buy an Extended Warranty?” Section 4 is “About Used Cars”. If you read the chapter “Ten Tips for Buying a Used Car”, you’ll be forearmed and forewarned against making a huge mistake. Section Four is “Leasing”. More people get taken advantage of when they lease a car than when they buy. Read this section very, very carefully. Section six is “Service”. This is the longest section of my book because you spend a lot more time buying service and repairs for your cars than you spend buying the car itself. This section also addresses the body shop which you hopefully use very seldom but which can be very hazardous if you don’t understand your rights.

If you have a friend or relative who you would like to do a favor, why not consider making a gift of Confessions of a Recovering Car Dealer? It would make a great present for a son, daughter or grandchild. Most of the complaints on car dealers that I hear from callers on my radio show or read on my blog could have been avoided if the victim had been better educated on the car buying and servicing.  

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