http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/autoblog-at-the-7th-annual-wings-wheels-and-rotors-show/

For its 27th iteration, Orange County's most prestigious classic car show returned to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, and finally dropped the "Newport Beach" from its name. No longer would it be known as the Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance, instead adopting the Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis moniker. The title may have changed, but the quality of the entrants didn't. Still benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the CSP Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the field of classic cars at this concours was once again stunning.

This year's featured marque was Mercedes-Benz, which was represented by some truly spectacular models, aided in no small part by the show's proximity to the Mercedes Classic Car Center, the factory-backed restoration shop for vintage Mercedes vehicles. Besides the beautiful Benzes, the roughly 3,000 attendees got to see about 300 other classic and exotic vehicles spread out around the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and the adjacent Dana Point Sea Terrace Park.

Although this is pretty much a local show, it manages to attract some really impressive machinery every year. Heck, we saw a few cars that we remember seeing up at Pebble Beach. Top shelf cars from nearby museums and collections like The Petersen, The Nethercutt Collection, the William Lyon Estate, the Mercedes Classic Center, the Simon Collection, the Caballeriza Collection, and the Marconi Museum were on display, alongside some superb machinery from local collectors like David Sydorick and Peter Mullin.

This year's gathering featured 14 familiar classes of classic, vintage and exotic vehicles along with a new category for supercars. Needless to say, we quite enjoyed seeing some of the youngsters joining their ancestors on the green. Besides those judged and display-only classes, the organizers also allowed local car clubs to park in specially designated car corrals for each marque for the first time this year. Those cars occupied space in the neighboring parks around the resort. That meant a good bit more walking this year than in years past, but it was more than worth the effort.

Just amongst the featured Mercedes-Benz vehicles you could find a Gullwing, a preservation-class 1923 Mercedes-Benz 28/95, a recently restored 1936 Mercedes-Benz 230/W143 Cabriolet, the 1909 Blitzen Benz and a 600 Pullman known as the Red Baron. New car lovers might have preferred the B200 Turbo, SLR Roadster, 722, SL65 Black, or even the new 2010 Maybach Zeppelin.

Personal favorites out of the non-Benz groups included the copper and green 1941 Chrysler Le Baron Thunderbolt, the 1954 Pegaso Z102 Spyder, 1951 Delahaye 235, 1937 Cord 812C, 1973 Porsche 911 RS, 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, 1936 Talbot-Lago T-120 Baby Sport Cabriolet, 1937 Lincoln Model K V12, and a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition. Of course there were at least another dozen or so supercars that we would have loved to have been handed the keys to as well, starting with one of the two Bugatti Veyrons, the Reventon, the Enzo, F50 and F40. The event is settling into its new home nicely and keeps attracting an incredible array of A-List classics. We can hardly wait for next year.

would it be known as the Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance, instead adopting the Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis moniker. The title may have changed, but the quality of the entrants didn't. Still benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the CSP Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the field of classic cars at this concours was once again stunning.

This year's featured marque was Mercedes-Benz, which was represented by some truly spectacular models, aided in no small part by the show's proximity to the Mercedes Classic Car Center, the factory-backed restoration shop for vintage Mercedes vehicles. Besides the beautiful Benzes, the roughly 3,000 attendees got to see about 300 other classic and exotic vehicles spread out around the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and the adjacent Dana Point Sea Terrace Park.

Although this is pretty much a local show, it manages to attract some really impressive machinery every year. Heck, we saw a few cars that we remember seeing up at Pebble Beach. Top shelf cars from nearby museums and collections like The Petersen, The Nethercutt Collection, the William Lyon Estate, the Mercedes Classic Center, the Simon Collection, the Caballeriza Collection, and the Marconi Museum were on display, alongside some superb machinery from local collectors like David Sydorick and Peter Mullin.

This year's gathering featured 14 familiar classes of classic, vintage and exotic vehicles along with a new category for supercars. Needless to say, we quite enjoyed seeing some of the youngsters joining their ancestors on the green. Besides those judged and display-only classes, the organizers also allowed local car clubs to park in specially designated car corrals for each marque for the first time this year. Those cars occupied space in the neighboring parks around the resort. That meant a good bit more walking this year than in years past, but it was more than worth the effort.

Just amongst the featured Mercedes-Benz vehicles you could find a Gullwing, a preservation-class 1923 Mercedes-Benz 28/95, a recently restored 1936 Mercedes-Benz 230/W143 Cabriolet, the 1909 Blitzen Benz and a 600 Pullman known as the Red Baron. New car lovers might have preferred the B200 Turbo, SLR Roadster, 722, SL65 Black, or even the new 2010 Maybach Zeppelin.

Personal favorites out of the non-Benz groups included the copper and green 1941 Chrysler Le Baron Thunderbolt, the 1954 Pegaso Z102 Spyder, 1951 Delahaye 235, 1937 Cord 812C, 1973 Porsche 911 RS, 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, 1936 Talbot-Lago T-120 Baby Sport Cabriolet, 1937 Lincoln Model K V12, and a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition. Of course there were at least another dozen or so supercars that we would have loved to have been handed the keys to as well, starting with one of the two Bugatti Veyrons, the Reventon, the Enzo, F50 and F40. The event is settling into its new home nicely and keeps attracting an incredible array of A-List classics. We can hardly wait for next year.

September 19, 2009 would have been Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche's 100th birthday and to celebrate his centennial, the Porsche Club of America's Long Beach Region (PCA-GPX) threw a little party. And what better way to honor Ferry than with a drive in one of the most iconic Porsche's of all: the 356. About 30 of them showed up for a drive that started at Pacific Porsche in Torrance, California and ended at the San Vicente Lighthouse in Palos Verdes. However, it wasn't all 356s -- there were a few 911s, 912s, 914s, 928s and Boxsters, and an apparently lost Lotus Elise.

About 40 revelers met up at Pacific Porsche where bagels, donuts and coffee helped to get the cobwebs out. It was also nice to get a glimpse of the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 - all 3.8-liter, 435-hp, $135,000 of it. And even though the GT3 grabbed almost all of the spotlight, it was hard to miss the cool carpet in the showroom too. It was made of old interior leather samples that had been passed through the shredder. Now that's some recycling we can get behind. After lunch orders were placed and turn-by-turn directions handed out, we hit the road.

Driving a Porsche 356 is a bit like walking a puppy. Passersby smile and want to talk to you, but it's slow going because they want to play but they pull you in every direction at the same time, and of course, you have to mind the leaks. It's also a whole lot of fun.

Keeping a group of 30 such cars together on a 40 mile drive can be extremely difficult. Throw in a route that includes approximately 493 turns, other motorists who could care less about your convoy, an insane number of cyclists, and narrow, winding mountainous roads with grades that strain the plausibility of mounting them in a conveyance that had barely enough horsepower to attempt the feat when it was new some 40 years ago, and it all adds up to a memorable day.

The route took the group up through the streets of Palos Verdes, California, one of the wealthiest towns in the world. Looking at some of the houses along the way it becomes pretty obvious what all those statisticians are talking about. Mansion is an overused term, but these houses can wear the title well. A wonderful mix of old and new, modern and classic, we could easily imagine ourselves commandeering one to act as AB HQ West. And did we mention the view? That clinches the deal.

We were lucky enough to land a seat in a 1960 T5 356B Cab, so we were able to soak it all in as we followed the parade of humming and belching rolling anachronisms. While the T5 was a great steed, one of the newer cars also caught our eye. It was a 928 S4. Not that it isn't a handsome car, but what had us drooling over it was the wonderful sound booming out of its headers. Sounding all the world like a Trans-Am racer, we suspect that it was hiding a few horsepower secrets under its long bonnet. The cars, roads and people were all incredible and in the end it was a great way to toast Ferry, without whom none of it would have been possible.

better way to honor Ferry than with a drive in one of the most iconic Porsche's of all: the 356. About 30 of them showed up for a drive that started at Pacific Porsche in Torrance, California and ended at the San Vicente Lighthouse in Palos Verdes. However, it wasn't all 356s -- there were a few 911s, 912s, 914s, 928s and Boxsters, and an apparently lost Lotus Elise.

About 40 revelers met up at Pacific Porsche where bagels, donuts and coffee helped to get the cobwebs out. It was also nice to get a glimpse of the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 - all 3.8-liter, 435-hp, $135,000 of it. And even though the GT3 grabbed almost all of the spotlight, it was hard to miss the cool carpet in the showroom too. It was made of old interior leather samples that had been passed through the shredder. Now that's some recycling we can get behind. After lunch orders were placed and turn-by-turn directions handed out, we hit the road.

Driving a Porsche 356 is a bit like walking a puppy. Passersby smile and want to talk to you, but it's slow going because they want to play but they pull you in every direction at the same time, and of course, you have to mind the leaks. It's also a whole lot of fun.

Keeping a group of 30 such cars together on a 40 mile drive can be extremely difficult. Throw in a route that includes approximately 493 turns, other motorists who could care less about your convoy, an insane number of cyclists, and narrow, winding mountainous roads with grades that strain the plausibility of mounting them in a conveyance that had barely enough horsepower to attempt the feat when it was new some 40 years ago, and it all adds up to a memorable day.

The route took the group up through the streets of Palos Verdes, California, one of the wealthiest towns in the world. Looking at some of the houses along the way it becomes pretty obvious what all those statisticians are talking about. Mansion is an overused term, but these houses can wear the title well. A wonderful mix of old and new, modern and classic, we could easily imagine ourselves commandeering one to act as AB HQ West. And did we mention the view? That clinches the deal.

We were lucky enough to land a seat in a 1960 T5 356B Cab, so we were able to soak it all in as we followed the parade of humming and belching rolling anachronisms. While the T5 was a great steed, one of the newer cars also caught our eye. It was a 928 S4. Not that it isn't a handsome car, but what had us drooling over it was the wonderful sound booming out of its headers. Sounding all the world like a Trans-Am racer, we suspect that it was hiding a few horsepower secrets under its long bonnet. The cars, roads and people were all incredible and in the end it was a great way to toast Ferry, without whom none of it would have been possible.

The Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance returned to its picturesque setting at Trump National Golf Club this Sunday and we're glad to say we once again made it out there for the event. Thankfully the recent Southern California wildfires missed this area of Palos Verdes, so the 17th installment of this annual concours went off without a hitch. Well, it was cloudy all morning, but that hardly dampened everyone's spirits. This classic car gathering is one of our favorites not only for the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the well manicured golf course setting, but because of the quality of cars on hand. It's like a scaled down Pebble Beach, with several of that show's alumni in attendance.

This year's featured marque was Maserati, but all of the Italian brands were extremely well represented. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Iso, Bizzarrini, De Tomaso and Lancia all had strong fields, as did Italian motorcycles, which were a new class this year. There were even a few Cisitalias, Fiats, Oscas and Siatas on display. On the non-Italian side of things, there were customs, horseless carriages, brass era cars, British luxury cars, American luxury cars and a lot of other stunning vehicles.

Personal highlights included the Italian race cars - Maserati Birdcage, Monopostos and 200 SIs, Iso Griffo A3/C, and the legendary Lancia Stratos (a genuine HF team car done up in Alitalia colors). The Moto Guzzi Lodola and Vespa GS160 stood out in the bike field, but it was really nice to see all of the Maserati, Ferrari (not related to Enzo), Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Benelli cycles as well.

Other 4-wheeled stunners included the Pinin Farina Series I Cab, ATS 2500, Lancia Flaminia Zagato, Cisitalia Nuvolari, Ital Design Manta, Alfa 1900 CSS, Luigi Chinetti's old Lamborghini Silhouette, '50 Merc, '54 Chrysler and Plymouth Ghias, Rolls Woodie, Vauxhall, Delahaye and Lagonda sports cars, Franklin, Wills and Panhard pre-war cars, and Steve Tillack's display of everything from a barn find and bare bodies to a glorious Ferrari formula car.

recent Southern California wildfires missed this area of Palos Verdes, so the 17th installment of this annual concours went off without a hitch. Well, it was cloudy all morning, but that hardly dampened everyone's spirits. This classic car gathering is one of our favorites not only for the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the well manicured golf course setting, but because of the quality of cars on hand. It's like a scaled down Pebble Beach, with several of that show's alumni in attendance.

This year's featured marque was Maserati, but all of the Italian brands were extremely well represented. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Iso, Bizzarrini, De Tomaso and Lancia all had strong fields, as did Italian motorcycles, which were a new class this year. There were even a few Cisitalias, Fiats, Oscas and Siatas on display. On the non-Italian side of things, there were customs, horseless carriages, brass era cars, British luxury cars, American luxury cars and a lot of other stunning vehicles.

Personal highlights included the Italian race cars - Maserati Birdcage, Monopostos and 200 SIs, Iso Griffo A3/C, and the legendary Lancia Stratos (a genuine HF team car done up in Alitalia colors). The Moto Guzzi Lodola and Vespa GS160 stood out in the bike field, but it was really nice to see all of the Maserati, Ferrari (not related to Enzo), Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Benelli cycles as well.

Other 4-wheeled stunners included the Pinin Farina Series I Cab, ATS 2500, Lancia Flaminia Zagato, Cisitalia Nuvolari, Ital Design Manta, Alfa 1900 CSS, Luigi Chinetti's old Lamborghini Silhouette, '50 Merc, '54 Chrysler and Plymouth Ghias, Rolls Woodie, Vauxhall, Delahaye and Lagonda sports cars, Franklin, Wills and Panhard pre-war cars, and Steve Tillack's display of everything from a barn find and bare bodies to a glorious Ferrari formula car.

The final gathering at Nick Alexander's Huntington Park facility gave us a chance to see his magnificent Woody collection one last time before it is broken up and auctioned off in Monterey in August. Eminent domain is turning the location into a Costco so we are almost as sad to see these wonderful old buildings go as we are to see a lifetime of collecting and restoring coming to an end.

Eminent domain is turning the location into a Costco so we are almost as sad to see these wonderful old buildings go as we are to see a lifetime of collecting and restoring coming to an end.

My girlfriend just bought a new car, her first new car that wasn't a company car. She was excited about the prospect of a cute new vehicle parked in her driveway, something that would get better mileage and would better reflect her personality than a 4-year-old Mercury Sable ever could. The early shopping process was fun - narrowing down the field, discussing wants and needs, test driving the short list contenders - but when it came time to get some real numbers, we learned a few things about dealership practices in the new millennium.

New car shopping has changed a lot since I was selling cars in suburban Chicago 17 years ago, but some things are still the same. The internet has revolutionized the industry. Customers have access to more information than ever before and so dealers have to think of new ways to battle for every available dollar in the deal.

Between AOL Autos, Carfax reports, Edmund's True Market Values, Consumer Reports buyers guides and the like, it can't be easy. Most shoppers come in with MSRP, invoice and true cost numbers in hand. Most sales reps have figured out that the best way to secure a deal, therefore, is through good customer service. Price is important, but when you can call, email, text, or tweet 10 other dealers in the area for another quote, it's more about treating people right and getting them what they need at a fair price. Unfortunately, some salespeople still resort to the shenanigans that have given car sales a bad name for the past 50 years. Take a look at three dealers we visited during the process and you'll see what I mean.

Some background first. She wanted a car that was smaller than her Sable, a car that got good mileage, a car that was cute, and a car that would get her a payment of no more than $300 on a five year loan. No leases, no down payments. The car had to have an automatic transmission, Bluetooth for her cell phone, and a moonroof. While checking things out online, she decided to look more closely at a Honda Civic Hybrid, a Mazda3, and a Ford Fusion Hybrid. She did some calculations and found that the non-hybrid Fusion SE and the Honda Civic EX might be more manageable than the hybrids, but if the prices were reasonable, she might be able to stretch a bit for the hybrids to get the better mileage. She emailed a few dealers to get some quotes as a starting point. A nearby Honda dealer sent some very aggressive quotes on the Civics, quoting at least two thousand off sticker. The local Mazda dealer got back to her right away too and told her they had some leftover 2009 Mazda3 sedans she might like. When she wrote back for more information, it was the owner of the dealership himself who personally worked with Kristen when her original salesman wasn't available, phoning her and emailing back and forth with her several times. We decided to go out and drive the cars to see what she really thought of them.

The first place we stopped was OC Mazda of Huntington Beach. Actually Kristen went alone. They gave her a 2009 sedan and let her drive to a few errands. She came and picked me up in it. I was a bit shocked to see her driving a new car already, but she explained the situation and we headed back to the dealership. We talked with Dan, a big, jovial guy. He was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He showed us everything we asked to see and pointed out some options that we might not have considered. He introduced us to Brian, a sales manager, and John, the owner. Everyone was glad we stopped in and assured us that they would do everything they could to earn our business. They didn't push or try to make us feel like we needed to buy on the spot in order to get a fantastic deal. After discussing colors and options, we realized she would need to look at the 2010 models, but we didn't have time that night. We told them we had to make a few other stops over the next few days and they jokingly booed when we mentioned a Honda dealer was on the list. We told them we'd be in touch.

Our second stop was Ford of Huntington Beach the next day. Although pricier than the Mazda3 she was also considering, the Fusion Hybrid held a certain appeal for being a grown-up car with a green edge and a feel-good Patriotic nameplate. Todd came out and greeted us and showed us the few Hybrids they had in stock. The dealer was having a red tag sale for the 4th of July. Of the five hybrids on the lot, most were marked down about $2,000, but one was marked at $5,000 off sticker. That made it $25,990, or about five grand more than the Mazda3, which at $18,000-$22,000, was right in the sweet spot of my girlfriend's budget. It was the right color and had the right options even. Perfect.

We drove the car around town and Todd was great. He knew the car and the area well and we immediately hit it off. The car was nice, but it didn't push the same hot buttons that the Mazda had. Sure it was economical to operate, but the price meant it was quite a stretch. It would depend somewhat on the appraisal of Kristen's trade, a 2005 Mercury Sable GS with 70,000 miles and a clean bill of health. We went inside and waited for a manager to give us some figures.

When Todd returned, we realized that the $3,000 they were offering wasn't going to close the gap enough to make it work. Todd brought in his manager, Frank. A really energetic guy with an Italy tattoo peeking above his collar, Frank gave us the straight scoop and said he couldn't get the numbers anywhere near where she wanted to be. She needed to put some money down to bring it into her range. As almost an afterthought, he mentioned that a regular Fusion might be a better option. It was significantly cheaper and still got really good mileage. He mentioned that the regular Fusion was a steal, at "Seven or eight grand off," which he told us was doable right then.

It wasn't a car that was on Kristen's short list anymore, because she wasn't even that impressed with the hybrid after driving it. We said we'd consider it, though. After all, seven grand off a Fusion with the options she needed would run around $13,000. That would be one hell of a deal, but only if she actually liked the car. We thanked them and said we'd keep them in mind as we continued shopping.

We left and stopped at Norm Reeves Honda just down the street. Two different salespeople approached us and after talking to them for a few minutes we realized that they didn't have any Hybrids. They tried to show her every other car on the lot, but when she ended up telling them the options she wanted, the one guy said she had to get a Civic EX if she wanted a moonroof. Nothing else had the roof, including the hybrid. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. The guys weren't very friendly and were saying "No" a lot. We told them we'd go to their sister store in Cerritos to check out the hybrids anyhow. After all, if the price was right, maybe the roof wasn't really that important.

When we got to the Cerritos location, a helpful rep named George came over and welcomed us. We got to the heart of the matter pretty quickly and said we'd like to drive the hybrid to see if it was something she wanted to consider further. We weren't so concerned about price because we already had a pretty good quote to work off of already, and I happened to know one of the service writers at their sister store down the street who could give us pricing as well. George immediately grabbed some keys to give us a test drive, but when Kristen reached for her license, she realized she had left it at the Ford dealer. We both searched frantically to no avail. As the initial alarm subsided it was replaced by anger.

Nobody from the Ford dealer had contacted her to say the license was there. She immediately called to ask about it they said they didn't have it at the front desk. They also informed us that the salesman we had talked to wasn't there and neither was the manager. They would leave a message for both of them. This was Saturday, July 4. They didn't seem to think it was a big deal. Kristen was a bit shaken and concerned about not having her ID, but the gal at Ford said it happens a lot and they would track it down.

Meanwhile George said it was no problem and let her drive the Hybrid anyway. She composed herself long enough to drive it but found the driving experience kind of odd, what with the engine cutting out and restarting occasionally as hybrids do. The car didn't impress her that much so it would come down to whether or not she could get some fantastic pricing. George basically said that they weren't dealing, which seemed odd because we already had a quote well below sticker. We left telling George we would check with our friend and get back to him if the numbers lined up. For now we wanted to get to the Ford dealer to check on her license.

We weren't able to get to the Ford dealer that night, but we did go first thing Sunday morning. We stopped by and saw Todd, who said it was the first he was hearing of it. He checked at the front desk and in his files but found nothing. He said it might have been mailed out when it was first discovered but the gal at the front desk couldn't confirm that. He said he would talk to Frank when he got in on Monday morning. He told us he'd get back to us one way or the other. When she didn't hear anything Monday morning Kristen called back. Todd wasn't around and Frank wasn't answering his page. I decided to call myself and told them to connect me with Frank. They said he wasn't picking up his page so I said it was an emergency. He picked up right away and when I asked if he had found the license he said it was the first he was hearing of it but he would check and get back to us. I told him I'd rather wait while he checked. He checked and said it wasn't there. He recommended Kristen go to the DMV and get a replacement. He never offered to pay the fee for the replacement but did apologize.

A couple of days later we were at the Mazda dealer driving two different versions of the Mazda3. Although Dan wasn't there he had his associate Joe prepped to work with us. Joe did a great job too, letting Kristen drive two different 2010 Mazda3 models. The question was whether the hatch with its larger engine and slightly better amenities was worth an extra two grand over the sedan. After driving both of them Kristen decided it wasn't. She picked the sedan and we wrote up the deal. Francisco handled the paperwork and we were relieved that through the whole process, none of the numbers changed. Everyone was just as friendly as the first time we had gone in, and although they didn't have the car that night, they promised it would be there from their Tustin location the next day. It went quickly and smoothly and we walked out feeling glad that we had met these guys.

The next day, just as they had promised, Kristen's new car was all set by the time we got there. It had been driven over from Tustin, filled with gas, and fully detailed. Dan handled the delivery and did a great job of explaining all of the features and controls. He even pulled out all of the books and entered all of the pertinent information. He showed us around the rest of the dealership and pointed out the service department, the Wahoo's counter being built, the free gourmet coffee stand and the free wifi workstations. It's a brand new facility and it is very impressive. It's the kind of place you wouldn't mind hanging out in if you had to bring your car in for service. Back at the car Dan even helped Kristen pair her Blackberry to the car's system. Now she can just say "dial" and the stereo volume lowers as the car asks for a number to call. It's really an amazing system. Kristen absolutely loves using this feature so don't be surprised if you get a call from her as she shows it off to everyone in her phonebook.

One last thing Dan handed me as we headed out was a sticker for MY car. It's just like the one Kristen has in her window. It allows us to stop in any time to get a free carwash. I think Mazda, and the HB guys in particular, really have this whole modern-day selling thing down pat.

mileage and would better reflect her personality than a 4-year-old Mercury Sable ever could. The early shopping process was fun - narrowing down the field, discussing wants and needs, test driving the short list contenders - but when it came time to get some real numbers, we learned a few things about dealership practices in the new millennium.

New car shopping has changed a lot since I was selling cars in suburban Chicago 17 years ago, but some things are still the same. The internet has revolutionized the industry. Customers have access to more information than ever before and so dealers have to think of new ways to battle for every available dollar in the deal.

Between AOL Autos, Carfax reports, Edmund's True Market Values, Consumer Reports buyers guides and the like, it can't be easy. Most shoppers come in with MSRP, invoice and true cost numbers in hand. Most sales reps have figured out that the best way to secure a deal, therefore, is through good customer service. Price is important, but when you can call, email, text, or tweet 10 other dealers in the area for another quote, it's more about treating people right and getting them what they need at a fair price. Unfortunately, some salespeople still resort to the shenanigans that have given car sales a bad name for the past 50 years. Take a look at three dealers we visited during the process and you'll see what I mean.

Some background first. She wanted a car that was smaller than her Sable, a car that got good mileage, a car that was cute, and a car that would get her a payment of no more than $300 on a five year loan. No leases, no down payments. The car had to have an automatic transmission, Bluetooth for her cell phone, and a moonroof. While checking things out online, she decided to look more closely at a Honda Civic Hybrid, a Mazda3, and a Ford Fusion Hybrid. She did some calculations and found that the non-hybrid Fusion SE and the Honda Civic EX might be more manageable than the hybrids, but if the prices were reasonable, she might be able to stretch a bit for the hybrids to get the better mileage. She emailed a few dealers to get some quotes as a starting point. A nearby Honda dealer sent some very aggressive quotes on the Civics, quoting at least two thousand off sticker. The local Mazda dealer got back to her right away too and told her they had some leftover 2009 Mazda3 sedans she might like. When she wrote back for more information, it was the owner of the dealership himself who personally worked with Kristen when her original salesman wasn't available, phoning her and emailing back and forth with her several times. We decided to go out and drive the cars to see what she really thought of them.

The first place we stopped was OC Mazda of Huntington Beach. Actually Kristen went alone. They gave her a 2009 sedan and let her drive to a few errands. She came and picked me up in it. I was a bit shocked to see her driving a new car already, but she explained the situation and we headed back to the dealership. We talked with Dan, a big, jovial guy. He was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He showed us everything we asked to see and pointed out some options that we might not have considered. He introduced us to Brian, a sales manager, and John, the owner. Everyone was glad we stopped in and assured us that they would do everything they could to earn our business. They didn't push or try to make us feel like we needed to buy on the spot in order to get a fantastic deal. After discussing colors and options, we realized she would need to look at the 2010 models, but we didn't have time that night. We told them we had to make a few other stops over the next few days and they jokingly booed when we mentioned a Honda dealer was on the list. We told them we'd be in touch.

Our second stop was Ford of Huntington Beach the next day. Although pricier than the Mazda3 she was also considering, the Fusion Hybrid held a certain appeal for being a grown-up car with a green edge and a feel-good Patriotic nameplate. Todd came out and greeted us and showed us the few Hybrids they had in stock. The dealer was having a red tag sale for the 4th of July. Of the five hybrids on the lot, most were marked down about $2,000, but one was marked at $5,000 off sticker. That made it $25,990, or about five grand more than the Mazda3, which at $18,000-$22,000, was right in the sweet spot of my girlfriend's budget. It was the right color and had the right options even. Perfect.

We drove the car around town and Todd was great. He knew the car and the area well and we immediately hit it off. The car was nice, but it didn't push the same hot buttons that the Mazda had. Sure it was economical to operate, but the price meant it was quite a stretch. It would depend somewhat on the appraisal of Kristen's trade, a 2005 Mercury Sable GS with 70,000 miles and a clean bill of health. We went inside and waited for a manager to give us some figures.

When Todd returned, we realized that the $3,000 they were offering wasn't going to close the gap enough to make it work. Todd brought in his manager, Frank. A really energetic guy with an Italy tattoo peeking above his collar, Frank gave us the straight scoop and said he couldn't get the numbers anywhere near where she wanted to be. She needed to put some money down to bring it into her range. As almost an afterthought, he mentioned that a regular Fusion might be a better option. It was significantly cheaper and still got really good mileage. He mentioned that the regular Fusion was a steal, at "Seven or eight grand off," which he told us was doable right then.

It wasn't a car that was on Kristen's short list anymore, because she wasn't even that impressed with the hybrid after driving it. We said we'd consider it, though. After all, seven grand off a Fusion with the options she needed would run around $13,000. That would be one hell of a deal, but only if she actually liked the car. We thanked them and said we'd keep them in mind as we continued shopping.

We left and stopped at Norm Reeves Honda just down the street. Two different salespeople approached us and after talking to them for a few minutes we realized that they didn't have any Hybrids. They tried to show her every other car on the lot, but when she ended up telling them the options she wanted, the one guy said she had to get a Civic EX if she wanted a moonroof. Nothing else had the roof, including the hybrid. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. The guys weren't very friendly and were saying "No" a lot. We told them we'd go to their sister store in Cerritos to check out the hybrids anyhow. After all, if the price was right, maybe the roof wasn't really that important.

When we got to the Cerritos location, a helpful rep named George came over and welcomed us. We got to the heart of the matter pretty quickly and said we'd like to drive the hybrid to see if it was something she wanted to consider further. We weren't so concerned about price because we already had a pretty good quote to work off of already, and I happened to know one of the service writers at their sister store down the street who could give us pricing as well. George immediately grabbed some keys to give us a test drive, but when Kristen reached for her license, she realized she had left it at the Ford dealer. We both searched frantically to no avail. As the initial alarm subsided it was replaced by anger.

Nobody from the Ford dealer had contacted her to say the license was there. She immediately called to ask about it they said they didn't have it at the front desk. They also informed us that the salesman we had talked to wasn't there and neither was the manager. They would leave a message for both of them. This was Saturday, July 4. They didn't seem to think it was a big deal. Kristen was a bit shaken and concerned about not having her ID, but the gal at Ford said it happens a lot and they would track it down.

Meanwhile George said it was no problem and let her drive the Hybrid anyway. She composed herself long enough to drive it but found the driving experience kind of odd, what with the engine cutting out and restarting occasionally as hybrids do. The car didn't impress her that much so it would come down to whether or not she could get some fantastic pricing. George basically said that they weren't dealing, which seemed odd because we already had a quote well below sticker. We left telling George we would check with our friend and get back to him if the numbers lined up. For now we wanted to get to the Ford dealer to check on her license.

We weren't able to get to the Ford dealer that night, but we did go first thing Sunday morning. We stopped by and saw Todd, who said it was the first he was hearing of it. He checked at the front desk and in his files but found nothing. He said it might have been mailed out when it was first discovered but the gal at the front desk couldn't confirm that. He said he would talk to Frank when he got in on Monday morning. He told us he'd get back to us one way or the other. When she didn't hear anything Monday morning Kristen called back. Todd wasn't around and Frank wasn't answering his page. I decided to call myself and told them to connect me with Frank. They said he wasn't picking up his page so I said it was an emergency. He picked up right away and when I asked if he had found the license he said it was the first he was hearing of it but he would check and get back to us. I told him I'd rather wait while he checked. He checked and said it wasn't there. He recommended Kristen go to the DMV and get a replacement. He never offered to pay the fee for the replacement but did apologize.

A couple of days later we were at the Mazda dealer driving two different versions of the Mazda3. Although Dan wasn't there he had his associate Joe prepped to work with us. Joe did a great job too, letting Kristen drive two different 2010 Mazda3 models. The question was whether the hatch with its larger engine and slightly better amenities was worth an extra two grand over the sedan. After driving both of them Kristen decided it wasn't. She picked the sedan and we wrote up the deal. Francisco handled the paperwork and we were relieved that through the whole process, none of the numbers changed. Everyone was just as friendly as the first time we had gone in, and although they didn't have the car that night, they promised it would be there from their Tustin location the next day. It went quickly and smoothly and we walked out feeling glad that we had met these guys.

The next day, just as they had promised, Kristen's new car was all set by the time we got there. It had been driven over from Tustin, filled with gas, and fully detailed. Dan handled the delivery and did a great job of explaining all of the features and controls. He even pulled out all of the books and entered all of the pertinent information. He showed us around the rest of the dealership and pointed out the service department, the Wahoo's counter being built, the free gourmet coffee stand and the free wifi workstations. It's a brand new facility and it is very impressive. It's the kind of place you wouldn't mind hanging out in if you had to bring your car in for service. Back at the car Dan even helped Kristen pair her Blackberry to the car's system. Now she can just say "dial" and the stereo volume lowers as the car asks for a number to call. It's really an amazing system. Kristen absolutely loves using this feature so don't be surprised if you get a call from her as she shows it off to everyone in her phonebook.

One last thing Dan handed me as we headed out was a sticker for MY car. It's just like the one Kristen has in her window. It allows us to stop in any time to get a free carwash. I think Mazda, and the HB guys in particular, really have this whole modern-day selling thing down pat.

Unlike last year's event that was characterized by sweltering heat, this year's Summer Jam was blessed with cooler temps under overcast skies. Just like last year though, thousands of people turned out to support this incredible Orange County school in its annual close of session celebration. Besides the awesome F-18 flyover, students and family members were treated to a free concert and car show, as well as a whole row of food and fun booths.

As we told you last year, there aren't many schools that would draw this large of a crowd, but Weaver's unique position as a choice school, it's wonderful Principal Erin Kominsky, and its excellent teaching staff make it one of the most beloved schools in the county.

Besides the In-N-Out truck, Valentino's Pizza coach and assorted other vendors who donated proceeds to the school's coffers, Summer Jam attendees were treated to live music by several groups, including the Principal's son Maxx and his band playing the Dick Dale classic, 'Misalou.' The Skinny Little Twits provided the bulk of the entertainment and had the crowd dancing into the night.

The car show was a bit lighter than last year, but featured everything from a 3/4-scale NASCAR stocker to an Autobianchi Bianchina that won the people's choice award. Teachers' Choice went to a lightly modded 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo.

Other highlights included a gorgeous lilac Karman Ghia, a Panther Pink Dodge Challenger T/A, an adorable Isetta 300, a classic early Beetle, and a MASH-worthy Willys military Jeep. A classic Vespa and Ariel Square 4 were joined by some non-motorized Schwinns on the two-wheel side. About 20 cars and bikes altogether.

So great to see a community pour its heart into their local school.

out to support this incredible Orange County school in its annual close of session celebration. Besides the awesome F-18 flyover, students and family members were treated to a free concert and car show, as well as a whole row of food and fun booths.

As we told you last year, there aren't many schools that would draw this large of a crowd, but Weaver's unique position as a choice school, it's wonderful Principal Erin Kominsky, and its excellent teaching staff make it one of the most beloved schools in the county.

Besides the In-N-Out truck, Valentino's Pizza coach and assorted other vendors who donated proceeds to the school's coffers, Summer Jam attendees were treated to live music by several groups, including the Principal's son Maxx and his band playing the Dick Dale classic, 'Misalou.' The Skinny Little Twits provided the bulk of the entertainment and had the crowd dancing into the night.

The car show was a bit lighter than last year, but featured everything from a 3/4-scale NASCAR stocker to an Autobianchi Bianchina that won the people's choice award. Teachers' Choice went to a lightly modded 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo.

Other highlights included a gorgeous lilac Karman Ghia, a Panther Pink Dodge Challenger T/A, an adorable Isetta 300, a classic early Beetle, and a MASH-worthy Willys military Jeep. A classic Vespa and Ariel Square 4 were joined by some non-motorized Schwinns on the two-wheel side. About 20 cars and bikes altogether.

So great to see a community pour its heart into their local school.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/ab-visits-the-24th-annual-huntington-beach-concours/

http://www.surfcity-hb.org/Government/Departments/Library/support_hbpl/hb_concours_car_show.cfm

Last night we got the chance to live out a lifelong fantasy of sorts, when we attended The 15th Annual Petersen Automotive Museum Gala. The theme this year was California Dreaming, and along with several woody's and Cal-cool hot rods, there were tons of Hawaiian shirts around to support the cause. This year's fundraising event honored Tom McKernan of the Auto Club of Southern California (aka AAA), with a private concert by Brian Wilson and his band. While the party was being staged upstairs, we were free to wander around the downstairs exhibits in near isolation. It was almost like that childhood dream of being locked in a museum overnight by ourselves. Fortunately Ben Stiller never showed up, but we did get a chance to say hello to Ashley and John Force, Rita Moreno, Tom Selleck and Billy Gibbons, among others. Follow the jump to read the rest of the story and don't forget to check out the gallery as well.

The Petersen is a great museum for anyone with even a passing interest in the automotive world. Situated right smack dab in the middle of L.A.'s museum district, it offers a unique look at the history of the automobile and its impact on the shape of our cities, in a very entertaining way. The museum has several hundred cars, but only a hundred or so are on display at any one time. On the first floor, most of those cars appear in vignettes that perfectly depict some aspect of motoring culture. Others are circulated through the second floor in rotating groupings by theme. The rest are locked inside the vault, which only opens to release a select few cars throughout the year.

After checking out the gold-plated DeLorean, the Bugatti EB110, the evolution of the Indy car, and the '39 Bugatti 57C by Vanvooren, we headed upstairs to find the centenary tribute to Morgan, a sampling of Treasures from the Vault, a bunch of oddball and alternative vehicles and a selection of movie cars too. That's also where we found the silent auction items, which ranged from jewelry and movie props, to autographed sports jerseys, guitars, albums and various other bits of flotsam and jetsam.

After cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, we had dinner inside a giant tent, during which a live auction of a half dozen items brought tens of thousands of dollars to support the museum and its outreach program. And then the evening really kicked into high gear when Tom McKernan received his award and Brian Wilson took the stage for a two-hour set of Beach Boys classics. That's when we got to dance with West Side Story's "Anita," the Oscar-, Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-Award winning Rita Moreno. Well, she was dancing solo and so were we, so... A little deeper into the night, Ashley Force graciously declined a twirl, perhaps after seeing us nearly trample Rita.

It was a really fun night filled with stars, cars, and bars, all to support a wonderful L.A. institution. If you're ever in Los Angeles, be sure to check it out. We plan on heading back to get more coverage of the 100th Anniversary Morgan exhibit and their new Sounds of Speed wall of some 160+ album covers that feature cars in one way or another. We also want to get a closer look at Greased Lightning, the Batmobile and that wicked Skeleton Bike. The Petersen website is petersen.org.

several woody's and Cal-cool hot rods, there were tons of Hawaiian shirts around to support the cause. This year's fundraising event honored Tom McKernan of the Auto Club of Southern California (aka AAA), with a private concert by Brian Wilson and his band. While the party was being staged upstairs, we were free to wander around the downstairs exhibits in near isolation. It was almost like that childhood dream of being locked in a museum overnight by ourselves. Fortunately Ben Stiller never showed up, but we did get a chance to say hello to Ashley and John Force, Rita Moreno, Tom Selleck and Billy Gibbons, among others. Follow the jump to read the rest of the story and don't forget to check out the gallery as well.

The Petersen is a great museum for anyone with even a passing interest in the automotive world. Situated right smack dab in the middle of L.A.'s museum district, it offers a unique look at the history of the automobile and its impact on the shape of our cities, in a very entertaining way. The museum has several hundred cars, but only a hundred or so are on display at any one time. On the first floor, most of those cars appear in vignettes that perfectly depict some aspect of motoring culture. Others are circulated through the second floor in rotating groupings by theme. The rest are locked inside the vault, which only opens to release a select few cars throughout the year.

After checking out the gold-plated DeLorean, the Bugatti EB110, the evolution of the Indy car, and the '39 Bugatti 57C by Vanvooren, we headed upstairs to find the centenary tribute to Morgan, a sampling of Treasures from the Vault, a bunch of oddball and alternative vehicles and a selection of movie cars too. That's also where we found the silent auction items, which ranged from jewelry and movie props, to autographed sports jerseys, guitars, albums and various other bits of flotsam and jetsam.

After cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, we had dinner inside a giant tent, during which a live auction of a half dozen items brought tens of thousands of dollars to support the museum and its outreach program. And then the evening really kicked into high gear when Tom McKernan received his award and Brian Wilson took the stage for a two-hour set of Beach Boys classics. That's when we got to dance with West Side Story's "Anita," the Oscar-, Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-Award winning Rita Moreno. Well, she was dancing solo and so were we, so... A little deeper into the night, Ashley Force graciously declined a twirl, perhaps after seeing us nearly trample Rita.

It was a really fun night filled with stars, cars, and bars, all to support a wonderful L.A. institution. If you're ever in Los Angeles, be sure to check it out. We plan on heading back to get more coverage of the 100th Anniversary Morgan exhibit and their new Sounds of Speed wall of some 160+ album covers that feature cars in one way or another. We also want to get a closer look at Greased Lightning, the Batmobile and that wicked Skeleton Bike. The Petersen website is petersen.org.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/30/26th-annual-newport-beach-concours-delegance/

To celebrate its 26th year as Orange County's most prestigious classic car show, this year's Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance moved from its recent home in Irvine to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. Still not Newport Beach, but much closer to the ocean at least. Benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the event featured Cadillac as its honored marque to commemorate GM's 100th birthday this year. Besides the gorgeous 1931 Cadillac Sport Phaeton V16 Fleetwood poster car, there were at least a dozen other notable Caddys, as well as about 150 other beautiful classic and collector cars, of which you can see most of them in our high-res gallery below.

Although a notch below the premier events like Pebble Beach, some of the most beautiful and significant vehicles around show up for this concours. Representatives from The Petersen, The Nethercutt Collection, the William Lyon Estate, the Mercedes Classic Center, the Simon Collection, the Caballeriza Collection, and the Marconi Museum were on display, alongside some superb machinery from local collectors like David Sydorick and Peter Mullin. Altogether there were about 150 cars in 14 classes. Ferraris, Porsches, Jaguars, Aston Martins, Packards, Lincolns, Cadillacs, Delahayes, Mercedes, Rolls-Royces, Duesenbergs, Woodies, race cars and even a horseless carriage or two were visible through the fog around the links.

Personal favorites included the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Sport Coupe, 1939 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet, 1908 Niclausse D971B, 1961 Abarth 1000 GT Bialbero Berlinetta, 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Berlinetta, 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Jota, 2006 Saleen S7R, 1959 Ferrari 410 Super America Series III, 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione, 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Shooting Brake Woody, 1933 Duesenberg J Speedster and the blue Ferrari 550 Barchetta in the parking lot. Another great show for a wonderful cause.

d'Elegance moved from its recent home in Irvine to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. Still not Newport Beach, but much closer to the ocean at least. Benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the event featured Cadillac as its honored marque to commemorate GM's 100th birthday this year. Besides the gorgeous 1931 Cadillac Sport Phaeton V16 Fleetwood poster car, there were at least a dozen other notable Caddys, as well as about 150 other beautiful classic and collector cars, of which you can see most of them in our high-res gallery below.

Although a notch below the premier events like Pebble Beach, some of the most beautiful and significant vehicles around show up for this concours. Representatives from The Petersen, The Nethercutt Collection, the William Lyon Estate, the Mercedes Classic Center, the Simon Collection, the Caballeriza Collection, and the Marconi Museum were on display, alongside some superb machinery from local collectors like David Sydorick and Peter Mullin. Altogether there were about 150 cars in 14 classes. Ferraris, Porsches, Jaguars, Aston Martins, Packards, Lincolns, Cadillacs, Delahayes, Mercedes, Rolls-Royces, Duesenbergs, Woodies, race cars and even a horseless carriage or two were visible through the fog around the links.

Personal favorites included the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Sport Coupe, 1939 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet, 1908 Niclausse D971B, 1961 Abarth 1000 GT Bialbero Berlinetta, 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Berlinetta, 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Jota, 2006 Saleen S7R, 1959 Ferrari 410 Super America Series III, 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione, 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Shooting Brake Woody, 1933 Duesenberg J Speedster and the blue Ferrari 550 Barchetta in the parking lot. Another great show for a wonderful cause.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/16th-annual-palos-verdes-concours-d-elegance/

The 16th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance was held this Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes, California. Like a half-scale Pebble Beach, the PV Concours offers visitors a golf course setting above the Pacific that produces a beautiful backdrop for viewing some of the greatest classic cars around. This year's event celebrated 100 years of General Motors, as well as Cadillac, and alternative fuel vehicles among its dozens of classes. Highlights included a 100-yr-old electric car, a Ferrari short wheelbase, a Miura Jota, a '69 Trans Am, 427 COPO Camaro, '48 Delahaye, '54 Fiat 8V, and some great Corvairs and Cadillacs.

Besides the cars, concours are always fun for celeb spotting, especially around L.A. KNBC's Dave Kunz, Parnelli Jones, Barry Meguiar, Bobbie 'dine Rodda, Paul Moyer, Bruce Meyer and even Deepak Chopra were among those who made it out for the show, which benefits the Palos Verdes Art Center and Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Foundation. We assembled a huge gallery of some of the entrants, all labeled so you can identify some of your favorites.

California. Like a half-scale Pebble Beach, the PV Concours offers visitors a golf course setting above the Pacific that produces a beautiful backdrop for viewing some of the greatest classic cars around. This year's event celebrated 100 years of General Motors, as well as Cadillac, and alternative fuel vehicles among its dozens of classes. Highlights included a 100-yr-old electric car, a Ferrari short wheelbase, a Miura Jota, a '69 Trans Am, 427 COPO Camaro, '48 Delahaye, '54 Fiat 8V, and some great Corvairs and Cadillacs.

Besides the cars, concours are always fun for celeb spotting, especially around L.A. KNBC's Dave Kunz, Parnelli Jones, Barry Meguiar, Bobbie 'dine Rodda, Paul Moyer, Bruce Meyer and even Deepak Chopra were among those who made it out for the show, which benefits the Palos Verdes Art Center and Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Foundation. We assembled a huge gallery of some of the entrants, all labeled so you can identify some of your favorites.

Just as March marks the return of the swallows to Capistrano, it also means the Annual Spring Event at Symbolic. The high-end dealer and restoration shop throws open the doors to its Sorrento Valley facilities and allows the public inside for tours, a car show and some free food and entertainment. This year's show featured several new models from Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Bentley, Lotus, Spyker and Lamborghini, as well as some great cars on loan or just driven in by participants. Check out the gallery to see everything from a David Pearson NASCAR stocker to a Porsche 962, from a Koenigsegg CCX to a BMW 507, from a Ferrari Daytona prototype to a pair of Bugatti Veyrons.

facilities and allows the public inside for tours, a car show and some free food and entertainment. This year's show featured several new models from Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Bentley, Lotus, Spyker and Lamborghini, as well as some great cars on loan or just driven in by participants. Check out the gallery to see everything from a David Pearson NASCAR stocker to a Porsche 962, from a Koenigsegg CCX to a BMW 507, from a Ferrari Daytona prototype to a pair of Bugatti Veyrons.

European Collectibles had an open house with dozens of great Porsches on display and some of the most adorable little servers passing around trayload after trayload of great food. Wonderful group of people came out to celebrate with these 356 specialists.

http://www.europeancollectibles.com/

people came out to celebrate with these 356 specialists.

http://www.europeancollectibles.com/

BMW tuner Vorsteiner, in conjunction with Oakley, held a customer appreciation event at Oakley's Foothill Ranch HQ. Besides the hundreds of tweaked BMWs on hand, a few dozen Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis also showed up for the party. Complimentary In-N-Out burgers, Starbucks coffee and Monster energy drinks kept the crowd energized, tours of the facility were available, and there was even a drawing for parts and services, all free to anyone who showed up. Pretty cool event at a really sweet locale.

Lamborghinis also showed up for the party. Complimentary In-N-Out burgers, Starbucks coffee and Monster energy drinks kept the crowd energized, tours of the facility were available, and there was even a drawing for parts and services, all free to anyone who showed up. Pretty cool event at a really sweet locale.

Steve Saleen and the team from SMS celebrated the launch of the new Signature Series SMS 570 Challenger

The inaugural Enderle Concours brought together about 50 classic European cars, along with honored guest Maurizio Corbi, a 20-year designer for Pininfarina. Great collection of vehicles and a fun event.

event.

The seventh annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. Hundreds of cars plus dozens of planes, jets and copters. Even a Goodyear blimp flyby!

The 100 degree temperatures kept most people inside until dusk, but then they came out in swarms to support this incredible Orange County school in its last day of session celebration. About 1,000 students and family members made it down to the school's fields to enjoy the party. Not many schools would draw this large of a crowd, but Weaver's unique position as a choice school, it's wonderful Principal Erin Kominsky, and its excellent teaching staff make it one of the most beloved schools in the county.

Besides the In-N-Out truck, Taco Bell coach and assorted other vendors who donated proceeds to the school's coffers, Summer Jammers were treated to live surf classics by The Elm Street Band and a car show that featured everything from a Lotus Esprit, to a '71 Vette, from a Porsche 356 to a new Turbo, from a 1942 military bike to a wild custom 1959 Buick. About 30 cars, trucks and bikes all together.

So great to see a community pour its heart into their local school.

students and family members made it down to the school's fields to enjoy the party. Not many schools would draw this large of a crowd, but Weaver's unique position as a choice school, it's wonderful Principal Erin Kominsky, and its excellent teaching staff make it one of the most beloved schools in the county.

Besides the In-N-Out truck, Taco Bell coach and assorted other vendors who donated proceeds to the school's coffers, Summer Jammers were treated to live surf classics by The Elm Street Band and a car show that featured everything from a Lotus Esprit, to a '71 Vette, from a Porsche 356 to a new Turbo, from a 1942 military bike to a wild custom 1959 Buick. About 30 cars, trucks and bikes all together.

So great to see a community pour its heart into their local school.

Kind of a light showing, numberwise, but wow there were some stunning cars. That Dubonnet was outrageous. Reminded me of the Cat in the Hat car. Of course the F-car turnout was incredible, with Tenney's F40, the California Spyder, Bruce Meyer's Testa Rossa, the GTO, Superamerica, Lusso, et al, plus the Miura S, Lancia Aurelia, Zagato Maserati, Veyron, Shelby Daytona...I could go on and on.

Tenney's F40, the California Spyder, Bruce Meyer's Testa Rossa, the GTO, Superamerica, Lusso, et al, plus the Miura S, Lancia Aurelia, Zagato Maserati, Veyron, Shelby Daytona...I could go on and on.

A visit to several garages around SoCal where everything from trailers to movie props to hot rods to sports cars were on display.

Annual gathering of gearheads on Thanksgiving Day brought out some sweet machinery.

20-something classes at this 25th annual gathering of classics to benefit the Assesment and Treatment Services Center ( www.atsc4kids.org ). A perfect day and a gorgeous setting on the driving range at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine, California.

More info here: http://www.newportbeachconcours.com/

at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine, California.

More info here: http://www.newportbeachconcours.com/

http://www.artcenter.edu/carclassic/