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Wet and sloppy out there today, thanks to the light snow we got overnight last night, so I guess Sarah's going to have to wait for her next manual transmission lesson (I don't want to take my Bug out on the road since our town LOVES to spread the salt). I did take Doug the '60 Bug out just a little while ago for a very small drive on a private driveway that doesn't get salted, and took a couple of shots in the low-angle bright afternoon sunlight:

Steve, I haven't seen the survey yet, but did want to respond to a couple of lines in your recent post. First, I *don't* think any VW owners were asking for more classes to be created! I believe we were (are) asking to go back to the regular production classes where we've always competed within AACA (some of us for up to 25 or more years--speaking of Diane and I with our '54 VW in Class 27A, which we've always loved doing). The 50 to 75 total VWs being shown nationally within AACA that you mention I don't think need any special accommodations whatsoever. PLEASE LET THE VOLKSWAGENS GO BACK TO OUR REGULAR PRODUCTION CLASSES, WHERE WE HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED COMPETING AND SHOWING. Thank you, as always. Steve Mierz AACA Member No. 596580J Stony Creek, CT

Like Steve Mack, we were able to get in a bit of driving with our '70 Bug yesterday in the South-Central part of Connecticut. My daughter, who has had her drivers license now for about 3 or 4 months, has been asking to learn stick shift. Yesterday was our first opportunity to get out to the local intermediate school parking lot for some initial practice. I drove there, and we passed a very cool '60s Alfa coupe on our way & exchanged thumbs up. At the school I did several laps of the parking lot riding shotgun, giving Sarah instructions and suggestions about how to make her take-offs and shifts smoother, and then it was time for her to do several solo laps. Toward the end of the session, she was doing quite well. Weather permitting, we'll try it again next weekend... Here's one photo showing Sarah inducing some body lean on a right-hander:

Just ordered a West Webster shirt for my son. <<"...All proceeds will be donated to the West Webster Fire Association to benefit all 4 firefighter's families....">> Products - WWFD Memorial Apparel

Et tu, Hyundai?

Imitation the sincerest form of flattery?

Wherefore art thou Alfa Romeo?

Love the pithy & occasionally biting comments from the staff! Very kool stuff!

Thanks for the heads up on that Pat--will check them out. We saw the Hershey Volunteer Fire Deparment t-shirts on sale right outside the Giant Center at this past fall's Hershey Fall Meet, brought him home one, and he was thrilled, ref: Hershey Volunteer Fire Department Thanks again & keep up the good work.

Glad to see you still kicking around the old car scene, Matt. God Bless You and Your Family. Onward and upward.

My son is a volunteer firefighter. 6503 petition signers are indicated on the Officer Ritter page as of this morning: West Webster Firefighter Medal Of Freedom - WBEE (and the petition links are in the paragraph right below the maltese cross). 25,000 signatures are needed--that means 18,497 still to go. February 1st is the deadline.

January-February 2013 A.A. issue arrived in little old Stony Creek, CT today (1/16/2013). Looks tremendous as usual (especially the photos, I must say--I LOVE that microcar collection panoramic shot--wow--and the cover image is a tremendous study of deco styling). Can't wait to get into reading the articles. Thanks West and company.

That's great to hear. Thanks for the update Steve.

Yes, it does matter, Jim--in my opinion anyway. Have you communicated your views directly to the VP of Class Judging yet? Don't forget that there is a National Meeting coming up in Philly next month... We are hopeful that the class 04b situation (at least as far as the VW owners are concerned) can be improved...

Used to think typing class at an all-male high school back in the mid-1970s was kinda silly... Never knew how much that skill would come in handy once we all started to use computers for "everything!"

Ever wonder who the AACA's "S.F. Edge" Annual Trophy is named after? Find out about that, and much more... FOR SALE: Soft cover book, "Moments That Made Racing History," by Rodney Walkerly, copyright 1959. Very good overall shape, slightly scuffed exterior covers. Interesting stories with illustrations, 111 pages. Printed in Great Britain, by Temple Press Limited, published in New York by Sports Car Press Limited. Book is about 8" high by about 5 1/4" wide. Price $20, which is postpaid within the United States only (no foreign sales). Payment is by United States Postal Service Postal Money Order or Cash. Click on hyperlinks for images listed below (will also attempt to insert thumbnails at the very bottom): Cover image - </SPAN>Comcast Typical open page: </SPAN>Comcast Any interest, please e-mail me (I usually check my e-mails in the evening): </SPAN>CommonGear@aol.com I am located in Branford, CT (zip 06405), by the way. Cover: Typical opened page: </SPAN>

FOR SALE</SPAN>: Two Philco Auto Radio brochures, one dated 1948, other not obviously dated, but appears probably from right around the same time period. Both brochures for $20, and price is postpaid within the United States only (no foreign sales). Plug in the hyperlinks on your computer internet browser to see images noted; list of uploaded pictures of the brochures below (and I'll also try to insert thumbnails at the bottom): fronts: http://home.comcast.net/~shorelinesteve/PhilcoAutoRadioBrochuresFronts1k.JPG backs: http://home.comcast.net/~shorelinesteve/PhilcoAutoRadioBrochuresBacks1k.JPG opened up: http://home.comcast.net/~shorelinesteve/PhilcoAutoRadioBrochuresOpen1k.JPG . Payment is by United States Postal Service Postal Money Order or Cash. Any interest, please e-mail me (I usually check my e-mails in the evening): CommonGear@aol.com I am located in Branford, CT (zip 06405), by the way. Fronts of brochures: Backs of brochures: Brochures opened: </SPAN></SPAN>

*2/15/2013 UPDATE: We are now running a HALF PRICE SALE on "Style A" Caps, as we've very recently been able to acquire more stock at a good price. *--> FOR A LIMITED TIME, "Style A" caps are $6 for five pieces--and don't forget, that's POSTPAID within the U.S.!!! <--* Don't miss out!!! ----- FOR SALE:</SPAN> “Old school” metal tire valve stem caps… For those who need to have every last detail on their car "just so"... Presenting "Vintage Details" - Cool old-style metal valve stem caps--the "finishing touch" for your correct vintage restoration--or just an "old school touch" for your favorite ride. Right now I have these three styles discussed below available, and quantities are limited, though I am working on more, and possibly different styles, "as we speak"... Here are a couple of overall pictures that compare & contrast our current offerings: Main image showing three styles of “Vintage Details” currently-available caps - http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4771084.jpg ... Same three styles, three-quarter view this time, with identification - http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4771085.jpg ... Your cost for *five* pieces (the fifth one is so you can detail-out your *spare* as well!) of any of the styles listed below, postpaid (that means that shipping and handling charges are all included in the cost shown--no extra charges apply), within the United States only (sorry I can not do foreign sales) are listed as follow: Style A = $12 for five (possible quantity discounts *on this style only* at this time); as-installed picture - http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4771086.jpg ... Style B = $15 for five; as-installed picture - http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4771087.jpg ... Style C = $16 for five (Style C is very similar to B, but with a very slight "barrel" shape to the knurled area, and also with a slightly duller, more "white" overall finish); as-installed picture - http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4771088.jpg ... Payment by U.S. Postal Service "Postal Money Order" or cash only (and if you send cash thru the mail may I suggest that you insure it for your own protection). For AACA members in good standing, I will also accept personal checks. Please contact me for information about how to make out your USPS Postal Money Order, and/or where to send funds (I usually check my e-mails in the evening): CommonGear@aol.com I am located in Branford, CT (zip 06405), by the way. Thanks for your interest! Style A, as-installed, below: Style B, as-installed, below: Style C, as-installed, below: </SPAN></SPAN>

Congrats Dave--that's positively awesome news all the way around!

Happy New Year fellow old car folks. Here's hoping I don't get hit by a drunk when I'm out on the road tonite, and looking forward to many more old car adventures in 2013! Oh, and lest we forget: Happy "Official Antique Status" to all owners and admirers of 1988 model year cars, trucks, and motorcycles!

Wow, looking really tremendous there, Ron, on page 30 (complete with AACA First Junior badge visible). Congratulations! EDIT: Oh shoot, I see that I mis-spelled "Collectible Automobile" in the subject line--sorry about that (must've happened when I was correcting "2012" to "2013").

Earlier the same day (Wednesday, December 18th, 2012), I stopped for a couple of "photo-ops" by the James Farm Road "wings" (striking adornment for the James Farm Road bridge over the Merritt Parkway) in Stratford, CT:

A couple of car friends of mine drive them and like them. Like Sky said, @Dave likes to see what kind of a rise he can get out of us old-timers.

That's a smart man right there.

Aw c'mon dude--lighten up!