Yes, for 2011 the Palm Beach Supercar Weekend has been relocated to Miami Dade county. Renamed the Miami PanAmerican Concours, the Supercar Weekend will take place March 19th and 20th
Known as Supercar Experience, the show is considered to be the worlds largest gathering of classic and exotic supercars in one place. Everything from a classic Corvette to a Formula 1 Ferrari can be seen at this event.
Since 2007 the show featured a regular park and show event one day and a track day event at Palm Beach International Raceway on another. The original location of the show and shine was the grounds of the International Polo Club in Wellington. It was then relocated in 2008 to Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.
This year the event is being held in Miami at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens on Saturday, followed by a members and VIP track day on Sunday at Homestead Raceway.
Ticket prices for the show and shine are $55 per person which may seem steep. But trust me on this one, its worth it. I personally have attended the event over the past four years. In that time I have gotten close to, and inside of, some of the most exclusive cars you can buy today. I’ve even come within inches of the fastest supercars in the world, such as the Bugatti Veyron and the Ultimate Aero SCC.
If you love supercars, this is the chance of a lifetime. Need proof? Check out my photo coverage of the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 events.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
AMG Heaven
Now working most of my shifts in a parking lot I often spot really nice cars and sometimes even more than that. On a recent occasion I managed to spot and photograph 3 AMG Mercedes Benzs in the same shift.
We start with these two SL convertibles. The lead one is a late model SL65 with the AMG engineered 661 horsepower 6.0 liter V12 BiTurbo engine. The car behind it is an earlier SL55 with a 5.4 liter 510 horsepower supercharged V8, the same engine featured in the Mclaren Mercedes SLR Supercar.
Here is a perfect example. It’s a Mercedes G Class SUV that has the same 5.5 liter V8 from the SL55 AMG. The classic G Series is by far the most noticeable vehicle in Mercedes’s line up, thus making this AMG version extra special. Here is a car that’s makes a Hummer H2 look streamlined and yet can go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds!
Now Mercedes Benzs are pretty common in the area of Palm Beach I live and work in. I see tons of them at work. But very few times are they the AMG versions. For those not in the know, AMG is the in-house race and tuning company for Mercedes Benz that takes their line of luxury cars and gives them a bit more muscle, from the SL convertible to the S Class sedan.
These are the Mercs one would expect to get the AMG treatment. However AMG, has been known to tune cars in its line up that people do not expect.
Here is a perfect example. It’s a Mercedes G Class SUV that has the same 5.5 liter V8 from the SL55 AMG. The classic G Series is by far the most noticeable vehicle in Mercedes’s line up, thus making this AMG version extra special. Here is a car that’s makes a Hummer H2 look streamlined and yet can go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds! If you want an AMG Merc be prepared to shell out a lot as AMGs are noticeably higher in price than the regular Mercs. The G-Wagon alone set my wallet on fire.
When Aspiration meets Impatience....
This is an interesting find. I have seen this car before but I definitely feel that this deserves to be posted here.
Now not everyone has the ability, financially, to afford the car of their dreams and thus have to settle for something else. Yet they still aspire, to own that special car. However, it seems the owner of this car got a little impatient...
... What we have here, is a mid 90s Subaru Impreza sedan. Nothing unique so far. Except when you look at this one, you might think that its owner had somewhat higher goals in mind. The car, has clearly undergone an attempted transformation into a Mercedes 420 SEL....or is it a Merc that’s become a Subaru?
Now of course the difference between an S-Class Mercedes, and a Subaru Impreza, is obvious, the former, a German luxury mobile, and the latter being a Japanese sport sedan from the world of rallying. Its clear in this case, what the owner wanted and what he or she ended up with.
So has the transformation worked? Well if you sit in the car and look down the hood at the Merc emblem it certainly has the right view. However if you compare it to an actual 420 SEL, its clear this person has a long way to go. My advice? Start with a car that already slightly looks like a Mercedes.
Now not everyone has the ability, financially, to afford the car of their dreams and thus have to settle for something else. Yet they still aspire, to own that special car. However, it seems the owner of this car got a little impatient...
... What we have here, is a mid 90s Subaru Impreza sedan. Nothing unique so far. Except when you look at this one, you might think that its owner had somewhat higher goals in mind. The car, has clearly undergone an attempted transformation into a Mercedes 420 SEL....or is it a Merc that’s become a Subaru?
Now of course the difference between an S-Class Mercedes, and a Subaru Impreza, is obvious, the former, a German luxury mobile, and the latter being a Japanese sport sedan from the world of rallying. Its clear in this case, what the owner wanted and what he or she ended up with.
So has the transformation worked? Well if you sit in the car and look down the hood at the Merc emblem it certainly has the right view. However if you compare it to an actual 420 SEL, its clear this person has a long way to go. My advice? Start with a car that already slightly looks like a Mercedes.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Get Your Pimp Shoes On It's The Solid Gold 70s
I was walking out of the Publix Supermarket by my house heading to my truck when i couldn't help but notice that someone had parked this pimpmobile in the handicapped space. Now i had cold stuff in my cart and i needed to get it home quickly, but since im a sucker for classic luxury liners i elected to check this car out more.
It was a 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, painted in a rich gold metallic color, and in pristine condition. Of course it didn't take me long to notice the modifications made to it. One was the hood ornament. Normally the Cadillac crest and olive branches stand proudly over the grille. This car had a more detailed version of what i like to call the "Rocketeer" flying man ornaments which were implimented on pre-post war Cadillacs.
Another noticable mod was the Continental Kit on the rear, which was most likely fake, the real spare being in the trunk. Finally the most noticable mod was the metal Carriage straps on the trunk. I inquired to the driver, who had come out as i was admiring it, about where he got them. He told me he was able to get it from Cadillac as a special extra.
This car was one of the more unique Cadillacs ive seen living in South Florida. And it was my first up close look at a pimpmobile. Heck all it needed was hydraulics and curb feelers.
Even Ferrari Owners need Groceries and Coffee
When im at work and 50 percent of my workspace is a shopping plaza parking lot, its not surprising that every so often on shift I lay my eyes on a really unique car whether it be a classic car, muscle care or a rare exotic supercar. Now I’ve seen Ferrari’s in my lot once in a blue moon, but never twice in one week, nor the same type.
The first sighting was this Ferrari F430 Spider, the convertible version of the recently defunct mid engine sports car. This one had be brought down from Canada, which made me wonder how you could drive a 483 hp Ferrari up there in any kind of snowy weather.
The 430 is a beautiful machine like almost all Ferraris are, even from the back with its Enzo supercar inspired taillights. The engine is also beautiful and served under glass. It’s a 4.7 liter V8 engine with 483 hp, more than enough to get it to a top speed of 196 mph.
The second sighting came later in the week in the form of this F430 Berlinetta Coupe, which I found parked in front of the Starbucks in the plaza.
Like the Spider the Coupe is a real Italian stunner, made even more so by the lack of a black convertible top breaking the monotony of the red bodywork.
This interior shot allows you to see one of the more techy aspects of the F430. The starter button is located on the left side of the wheel hub. The dial on the right of the wheel allows the driver to change the setting of the engine and the driver aids, from winter handing to full race mode
While the new Ferrari 458 Italia may be the new kid on the Maranello block, I still like the 430. Like most Ferraris it still manages to look good and make people want to own one.
The first sighting was this Ferrari F430 Spider, the convertible version of the recently defunct mid engine sports car. This one had be brought down from Canada, which made me wonder how you could drive a 483 hp Ferrari up there in any kind of snowy weather.
The 430 is a beautiful machine like almost all Ferraris are, even from the back with its Enzo supercar inspired taillights. The engine is also beautiful and served under glass. It’s a 4.7 liter V8 engine with 483 hp, more than enough to get it to a top speed of 196 mph.
The second sighting came later in the week in the form of this F430 Berlinetta Coupe, which I found parked in front of the Starbucks in the plaza.
Like the Spider the Coupe is a real Italian stunner, made even more so by the lack of a black convertible top breaking the monotony of the red bodywork.
This interior shot allows you to see one of the more techy aspects of the F430. The starter button is located on the left side of the wheel hub. The dial on the right of the wheel allows the driver to change the setting of the engine and the driver aids, from winter handing to full race mode
While the new Ferrari 458 Italia may be the new kid on the Maranello block, I still like the 430. Like most Ferraris it still manages to look good and make people want to own one.
Racing Cars Ain't Just For Racing.
Now im sure you would be as astonished as I was when I saw this car pull in. No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is a real racing car in a Publix Supermarket parking lot. It IS however street legal, otherwise it wouldn’t be on the road let alone in my lot.
The car is a BMW M3 that has been stripped of every bit of unnecessary weight. The interior has be given most of the diet. Only one seat remains for the driver, while the other seats, carpet and center console are completely missing and replaced with a roll cage.
The engine has been tuned and given a raspy sounding exhaust. It looks the part on the outside as well with the BMW racing stripes and numerous sponsor decals. The owner of the car tells me he does race it at Palm Beach International Raceway from time to time.
This is by far one of the more unique cars I’ve seen in my parking lot. Its also the perfect kind of race car, one that you can drive to the track in, race in, then drive it home or in this case, to get a gallon of milk. Hope he doesn’t break the eggs.....
The car is a BMW M3 that has been stripped of every bit of unnecessary weight. The interior has be given most of the diet. Only one seat remains for the driver, while the other seats, carpet and center console are completely missing and replaced with a roll cage.
The engine has been tuned and given a raspy sounding exhaust. It looks the part on the outside as well with the BMW racing stripes and numerous sponsor decals. The owner of the car tells me he does race it at Palm Beach International Raceway from time to time.
This is by far one of the more unique cars I’ve seen in my parking lot. Its also the perfect kind of race car, one that you can drive to the track in, race in, then drive it home or in this case, to get a gallon of milk. Hope he doesn’t break the eggs.....
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