Forza Amelia 2001 - Day Three

mvc-832s.jpg (53890 bytes) Forza Amelia 2001
Day Three...

As we were getting ready to line up for the start in Cedar Key, the sun rose over the hotel and started casting a nice warm light over the sensual curves of the XK140, another photo opportunity I couldn't resist... Photography is painting with light and it was clearly true that morning... An old fishery building provides a perfect backdrop...

After the start, we followed a few detours on Cedar Key's side street and then reached the open road... long stretches of straight separated by gentle curves. Little traffic make it possible to push the cars and we soon caught up with the cars ahead; again sort of a dynamic roling car show.... Russel's 140 seemed to be blowing some smoke when pushed, side effect of the track activities of the previous day and of the high speed RPM levels.

We make it to the first check point ahead of time, but I get a 1second penalty... bybye perfect score... Russel has lost quite a bit of oil but not enough to stop. While a the checkpoint, in a gas station, I ran into the editor of the Ottawa Jaguar Club newsletter ( small world isn't it ? ) who happened to drive by while on vacation and of course pulled in attracted by the display of vintage cars. What are the odds of two JCNA club editors running into each other, me hundreds of miles from home, him thousands ?

After the check point, we follow a transit stage to Tarpon Springs, a greek fishing village north of Tampa. While the ancestry of the fishermen may be really greek, the place has a distinct tourist trap flavor... Food, a greek restaurant, was good though and it was worth the stop.

We were in for a treat that afternoon as we headed to a Classic Corvettes, a Museum / Classic car dealership owned by renowed collector Al Weissman. The place specializes in Corvettes and American Muscle cars, but also include som interesting and unusual automobiles such as a presidential open tourer from the 40s and 50s, with loaded gun racks, secret service grabrails, etc... Adjacent to the large showrrom is a huge full restoration facility which we got to tour. Very impressive place capable of full restoration on any type of Classic car. Then came the second treat of the day, with an invitation to visit the owner's personal collection of great cars and memorabilia.

We caravaned a few miles to his home outside Tarpon Springs where he gave us a personal tour of a fabulous collection of rare cars which includes a turn of the century Ford Town Car which had just received an Award at Amelia Island. Other show pieces include a 1930s hybrid car, with a gas engine turning a generator to supply power to electric motors, fully restored Dusenbergs, Cords, etc... Even a soviet limo used to shower former soviet leader Breznev at the peak of the cold war.

On to a transit to a Chevron station where the last stage of the day was to be started... Unfortunately I missed the amended instructions and didn't hear that the last stage had been cancelled due to the added stop and waste half an hour hunting for a Chevron station which had been changed to a Citgo station... After hunting in traffic, I called Rich on the celular phone who told me that the stage was cancelled... I ended up runing the last section to Howey in the Hills, north of Orlando, following or ahead of his racing Stingray, a nice run !

When results were announced at diner time, I had slipped to 8th because of that 1 point penalty, with 7 cars tied for first with a perfect score. Jeff and Russel are still in the middle of the pack.