Winter is coming

Every Autumn we like to spend a couple of days in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. This October's trip we hit our first sight of snow this season, and found a face in the mountains.

Face looking skyward. Can you see it?

Valley below, snow above

Autumn and Winter meet at Sprague Lake

Denver Zoo

We try to get down to the Denver Zoo at least twice a year. We only made it once this time around. It gets harder as the schedules start to pile up. It's a great place to stop when visiting Denver. The new Elephant Passage Exhibit is immersive and beautiful.

The animals were out in droves for Teacher Appreciation Day and to top it off we all got All You Can Eat Ice Cream from Boulder Ice Cream Company. After all that ice cream we had to go downtown and visit Rioja, one of the best restaurants in Denver. Well anywhere for that matter...

Tigers out relaxing

I dare you not to yawn.

The name is Tank.

Somali Ass... Yes, I'm not kidding.

Okapi... OK.

Still Chill.

1955 Chevy Belair Hardtop

Here's a great little 55 Chevy Belair two door hardtop with a 327 V8, 700R4 Auto transmission and power brakes all the way around. A 10 bolt Nova 3.31 Posi differential puts the power to the road. It's got all the modern cool with all the nostalgia in one place. It even sports the original factory power seats. Rare bird, this one.

The last photo I have in my stock... I'm going to have to find some time to hit a few more shows!

More style than one car is allowed to have.

Ultra Clean 327 V8

Nice Trunk

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

Summer Cleanup - BMW R1200C

For many years I watched these bikes. In parking lots, occasionally on the highway, and at the dealerships. Unfortunately, the high cost of entry kept me from jumping on one for a very long time. Then I started a slow and steady search on Craigslist. Checking the RSS feeds, looking for that perfect deal. After a couple of years I found it. A silver 2004 BMW R1200C.

I really wanted to find a Phoenix Edition bike, but something about this silver one grabbed my attention. It is a bit cleaner than stock with a couple minor mods; a Remus exhaust, the pencil beam driving lights, clear lenses, and a trimmed down seat. Truth be told, I appreciate the little bit of windshield when it is cold or drizzling and the bags turned out to be handy.

Yea, it doesn't have 200 HP or massive amounts of the twisty stuff, but it's good for 90 MPH if you need it. It turns nicely, stops fast and is reasonably comfortable for a 300 mile ride. I do wish it had a little more room in the cockpit and that the cylinders weren't quite so close to my toes in the summer, but in the winter it is nice to have a foot heater.

It's a good bike, it's solid and I like its German weirdness. It isn't exactly like the other hordes of American Iron and Japanese Speed I see everyday. Nothing against those makers at all. I still fantasize about a chopped Harley Davidson FXR and maintain  dreams of rebuilding my wrecked 1978 Yamaha SR500. The way I see it, if it has two wheels it is nothing but good.

NOW, STOP SURFING THE WEB AND GO RIDE!

1956 Mercury Montclair

Shown by Will Anderson of Fort Collins Colorado, this 1956 Mercury Montclair is as clean can be. This one features nicely detailed lake pipes and a big continental kit. Other features that stand out are the circular patterned wheels, the subtle striping and chrome that looks a hundred miles deep.

Chrome, with chrome, and a bit of extra chrome.

Lake Pipes aka Cut Outs

Continental Kit and cool wheel detail.

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

1941 Chevy 2 Door Sedan

Here's a beauty; a 1941 Chevy two door Sedan shown by Larry Horst of Windsor Colorado. The metallic red paint shows a mild patina and the stance of the car is perfect. Sure, the finish doesn't glow, but it sure shines and the ride means business. This is a driven Hot Rod; I like that. 

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

Thoroughbred Motorsports Stallion

I found this unusual trike at the Trail Ridge Road Alpine Visitor's Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. I've never run across one of these before. I did look around for the owner, but was unable to locate him (her?). Maybe I didn't look around hard enough, but at 11,796 feet I didn't want to waste the oxygen.

The Thoroughbred Motorsports Stallion is powered by a 143 HP Ford four cylinder engine with a Ford 5 speed automatic with reverse. The hand-built motor trike is crafted in the U.S. and features a long list of luxuries that are usually reserved for vehicles with doors; things like air ride suspension with an on-board compressor and air conditioning and heat. They are distributed through Motor Trike Dealerships.

Is it a convertible Mini Cooper?

Stallion? Because the front-end is equine?

Steering wheel and cup holder = 3/4 car with no roof.

Rocky Mountain National Park

It's hard to beat a stay in Estes Park at Murphy's River Lodge and a day exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. This year is particularly green with all the rain and snow we've had. Beautiful place. Have a great Independence Day!

The view from Murphy's River Lodge

Glacial valley

The western side of Long's Peak

Shadowman

1957 Chevy 3100 4x4

This 1957 Chevy 3100 Four by Four is beautifully put together. Just right in every way, it sits mildly high on its lift kit. Powered by a Chevy 350 it is just a perfect old truck. Shown by Paul Seevers from Johnston, Colorado. 

Chrome so clean it looks white

A V8 with room to work

Stepside in red

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

Typical Colorado Weather

Here's what one can count on in Colorado; random weather with no apparent reason. After a beautiful, warm, sunny afternoon... I hope all the crops made it through unscathed.

This

And this

Led to this

And 30 minutes later.... 

As if nothing happened.

Welcome to Colorado. I hope you've got full coverage on that car and roof.

1961 AMC Rambler Classic

Here's one for the AMC Guys and Gals. A 1961 AMC Rambler Classic built from the ground up. Complete with air conditioning and a picnic in the trunk. I love the Bail Out Studebaker bumper sticker too. Not original perhaps, but good. This apparently all original is shown by Ted Hollman of Windsor, CO.

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

1967 Ford Fairlane GT

One of the meanest looking Fords to ever smoke tires. This 1967 Ford Fairlane beauty is owned and shown by Allen Guffey of Fort Collins, Colorado. '67 was a good year.

2013 Windsor Harvest Festival Cruise In Car Show

Foose Stallion Mustang

I stopped in at Best Buy in Centerra the other day to pick up some parts for a client and there it is, a Foose designed 2007 Mustang! At least a 2007 is my best guess... 

In case anybody doesn't know about Chip Foose, go check this out. The partnership with Unique Performance that created the beast went south and got very ugly quite a few years ago. Too bad, it was a nice looking design. 

I don't have any specific details on this car but it is very nicely put together. I found references to the Foose Stallion here at the Mustang Forum and here at Supercars.net . I came out of the store as it drove off and it sounds as good as it looks. 

Mildly frenched headlights

Lowered just enough

Two Tone Red and Black

What's with the long face?

I snapped the shots with my Droid Ultra. Not too bad a camera for having a phone stuck to it...

2014 Exotic Sports Car Show & Concours d’Elegance at Arapahoe Community College

Exotic Sports Car Show & Concours d’Elegance at Arapahoe Community College

Coming up June 8th 2014 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Denver. The 31st Annual Exotic Sports Car Show & Concours d’Elegance



This is always a fantastic event. Go check it out! 

Volunteers are needed!  http://abilityconnectioncolorado.org/colorado-concours-volunteer/


The Exotic Car Show & Concours d'Elegance is sponsored by these great car clubs; 
Alfa Club of the Rockies; Audi Club of North America-Rocky Mountain Chapter; Colorado Shelby Breakfast Club; Ferrari Club of America, Rocky Mountain Region; LeMay Museum/Club; Auto Looking Glass Corvette Association; Colorado Car Events;Mercedes-Benz Club of America Mile-High Section; Lotus Colorado; NSX Club of America-Southwest Region; Rocky Mountain 356 Porsche Club; Rocky Mountain Chapter-BMW Car Club of America; Rocky Mountain Jaguar Club; Rocky Mountain Region-Porsche Club of America; Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing; Rocky Mountain Saab Club of Colorado; Shelby American Automobile Club; Shelby American Collection, The Cussler Museum; The Colorado Grand and Z Car Club of Colorado.

Ducati Monster S4 Corse For The Spring

A friend of a friend broke out his Ducati Corse for some springtime riding. Andrew's Ducati is a Corse edition that is near stock. The only tweaks he's made are an aftermarket Arrow exhaust and bars that sit him a little bit more upright. It's so comfortable that he rode it all the way down to Texas recently. 

The bike's unique paint scheme is an OEM feature on this Special S4 Monster. Normally I'm not a big fan of factory custom paint, but this is just perfect for this sport bike. Great bike Andrew!

Rare Ducati Checkered Flag Tank

Nice find before a business meeting at Starbucks!

Arrow Exhaust on a Ducati Monster