Thursday, May 7, 2015

Classic Cars

All I know about cars is how to steer and brake.  Still, some classic automobiles fascinate me.

Incidentally, with just one exception, every car in this collection is taken out
and "exercised" at least once every year.


Packards were the patricians of the automobile world in the 1920s and into the 1930s.  The car that carried Lindbergh in the 1927 ticker tape parade down Broadway was a Packard, as was the car for President Roosevelt's 1933 inaugural.  This 1933 V-12 Phaeton can reach speeds over 100 mph.  Unfortunately, in the depths of the Depression, few people could afford them, so, though Packards continued to be built, they were a flop financially, and finally went out of business in 1958.


This powerful Targa Florio 28/95 was built for the American Mercedes Company.
It is one of only three known to exist.


A Sunbeam took second place in the 1925 LeMans race.  This 1929 Three-Liter Twin-Cam Super Sport set a new land record of over 200 mph.  Unfortunately, the compromises that made it both an elegant touring car and a winning race car drove its price so high that few could afford it.


This 1928 Stutz Black Hawk Boattail Speedster won most races it entered.
It was so well made and advanced that it still raced 20 years later, at Watkins Glen.


The Hispano-Suiza was the most expensive European car in the 1920s.  The engine is derived from an aircraft engine.  It was favored by gentlemen racers and society women.  This is a 1928 H6C Skiff.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Cars

Naples has a little known but world class automobile museum. Over the next few days, I plan to show some cars from that collection.  How to pick a reasonable number of cars from the 
100+ automobiles in the collection is a big challenge.


This is the first exhibit seen in the entry hall, three red racing cars from 1964.  There is a mid engine Porsche 904 GTS, a front engine Alfa Romeo GTZ and a rear engine Simca-Abarth.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

More Odds and Ends


It just appealed to me.


Linda's quirky friendliness also appealed to me.


Pink umbrellas to borrow if it rains.  Only in Florida.



If you paint your VW bug, don't forget to paint a flower inside the gas cap cover.



"I had a small red rose tattooed on my breast when I was young.  Now it is a poinsettia."



So 1950s.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Auto-vertising

Fort Myers had a car event recently.  I noticed some places that advertised with cars.


Capone's, a First Street bar and restaurant.



Ford's Garage, another popular bar and restaurant on First Street.



And, a tatto parlor -- Articulture StudioZ -- got into the swing of things.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Hough Street, Fort Myers

Hough Street is off the main street of Fort Myers' downtown.  It looks like a haven for people who like living in colorful, funky homes that are within walking distance of all the action.






Saturday, May 2, 2015

Potters and Pottery

I wanted to find a potter working at a wheel for the May 1 theme of "revolution,"
but I never found one.  But, I did find some potters and ceramicists.  


Clare is from the southern coast of England.  She has a Naples store (Earth & Fire) where
you can buy blank pieces of pottery and paint them.  Clare will fire the pieces and
produce a nicely glazed item for you to take home.  Lots of people do this at parties.


Jim Rice has had a pottery studio (The Clay Place) in Naples since 1974.
He specializes in making fish dishes and platters.


Jennifer is from Ghana.  She makes pottery bead necklaces and other jewelry.


And, Doris is from Austria.  Her jewelry is made in the Italian millefiori style, though most
millefiori is made from shiny glass and Doris's jewelry is made from clay and has a matte finish.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Revolution


In my lifetime, there has been no more revolutionary musical development than the arrival of the Beatles on the scene.  In turn, their 1968 song Revolution addressed the civic turmoil of the 1960s.  To illustrate this, I went to Echo Books and Records in Fort Myers to listen to Revolution 
as the 33 rpm vinyl record album revolved on the record player.
(Younger viewers:  Ask your parents.)


Click here to see how other photographers interpret the theme of "Revolution."