A Shared Memory of Tim Considine 1940-2022 - Journalist

Tim Considine pictured in one of his favorite summertime activities and elements - observing and photographing the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2018. Tim was being honored for his historical connection in having owned and raced in this car ... that was later awarded first place in Class N-2 for OSCAs 1955-1960. This car,  S/N 1168 Morelli-bodied MT4, is a more streamlined version of the previous MT4 designs. It was especially built for an American customer in late 1955. Considine wrote to Jodi Ellis (good friend and assisted Tim in designing his published works) after the event. “The OSCA I bought new in 1957 – I was 16 – and sold and lost track of in the early ’60s, won its class at Pebble, restored beautifully by the current owners in my livery. Note that two of the judges were Derek Bell and Tom Kristensen!” Image Credit: Albert Wong - Motor Press Guild (2018)

A Shared Memory of Tim Considine 1940-2022 - Journalist 

By: James E. Groth - Founding Member, Motor Press Guild - March 5, 2022

Like most young boys of my era, I watched Tim Considine, the young actor, faithfully portray Andy Hardy of The Hardy Boys and I identified with him as Spin in The Adventures of Spin and Marty . However, I know him because we were both charter members of the largest professional group of automotive journalist and public relations professionals. In 1983 our group was known as IMPA West. We didn't like being ruled by IMPA so we split from them to form The Motor Press Guild.  As a board member, Tim’s direction added to the positive and most productive era MPG had on behalf of both members and manufactures. 

At the time I was West Coast Advertising & Public Relations Mgr. For Jaguar Rover Triumph, so I would loan Tim cars from my press fleet for his articles. Tim would show up in his Mini Cooper and  conversations would ensue primarily on British cars or the Industry.  Tim proved to have extensive knowledge of both historic and current facts and his spin on things added a bit of humor and wit.

Moving to 1999, enter David E. Davis journalist, publisher, editor and founder of Automobile Magazine. A man who’s size and girth was only overmatched by his lifestyle and personality. He had just retired from the business to promote his book. He is about to do his first book tour and I am told he is nervous about this side of the business. The book is titled “Thus Spake David E. The Collective Wit & Wisdom Of the Most Important Journalist of Our Time”.

I am now at Hornburg Jaguar / Land Rover as Director of Marketing & Public Affairs and Jaguar Cars Inc. has partnered with David E. to promote his book.   Given that "LA is the Car Capital of the World” yes, it's a natural to have the launch event on Sunset Blvd with the original west coast importer of Jaguars. I get call saying they are sending over books, have a nice event.

LA competes nightly for peoples attention with unique events so you need an edge to gain audience. I decided that the book signing would be more interesting  to attendees if they knew of its contents and David E’s makeup. And this would be best accomplished by having David E. interviewed by a journalist that grasps David E. place in the industry. I made one call to Tim as the guy for this role.  I explain the formate as drinks and hors d' oeuvres followed by his interview of David E., Q&A, coffee and desert to take place during the book signing.

Tim liked the format, read the book and structured questions. To get everyone settled in before hand I had a dinner for David E. with Tim and Bruce Meyer President, Petersen Automotive Museum. We were at Overstreets, Beverly Hills in a private room enjoying fine dinning, wine and cigars. We were living like it was 1999, exactly as David E would write it.  David E. was in a fine spirits and the night was full to storytelling…

For the event I cleared the Sunset showroom floor and placed an XK 150 along side of my Series I E-type Coupe and adding seating.  Hornburg Jaguar was a member to the Petersen Checkered Flag so Bruce Meyer spread the word of the event to members. As a result we had nearly a 100 attendees for the evening including Carroll Shelby and his wife. 

Attached is the personal letter David E. sent saying “if I get another book written, I’ll call you first” - signed “Freedom & Whiskey”.

Document, as shared by James Groth

Tim was his masterful relaxed, professional-self with questions giving David E. space to entertain with his answers and style. This was a truly memorable evening for the auto enthusiast attending and an opportunity for me to get to work and know Tim on a different level.  David E. later wrote me about how much he  appreciated everything saying …"your program was nonpareil”.  

The news mostly covered Tim's passing regarding his extensive acting career but there was a whole other professional career Tim excelled at too, that, as a Journalist. 

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: Tim Considine, IMDB, David E. Davis, Automobile Magazine, Bruce Meyer, Carroll Shelby, James Groth, Albert Wong, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, The EDJE

Dr. Porsche Appointed As Its First Honorary Board Member Of The Petersen Automotive Museum

Petersen Automotive Museum's Founding Chairman Bruce Meyer pictured along side of Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. Image Credit: Ted7 Petersen Automotive Museum (2018) 

Dr. Porsche Appointed As Its First Honorary Board Member Of The Petersen Automotive Museum

Nearing its 25th anniversary as a world leader in automotive thought, the Petersen Automotive Museum today announced that Dr. Wolfgang Porsche will be its first honorary board member. Dr. Porsche has accepted the unanimous invitation of the Petersen Board of Directors to serve alongside Founding Chairman Bruce Meyer, Chairman Peter Mullin, Vice Chairman David Sydorick and other industry dignitaries.

The grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Dr. Porsche has a lifetime of experience with one of the world’s most respected automotive brands. He will be an invaluable asset to the Petersen Board of Directors, exchanging ideas, offering advice and fostering discussions about future plans for the museum.

The First Production Porsche - 1949 Porsche - 356-2 "GM0ND" Coup - may be the last one built in Austria. This is the first car on display as one enters "The Porsche Effect" first floor display. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

“The relationship between the Petersen and Dr. Porsche began two years ago when the Porsche Supervisory Board held a meeting at the museum. He had a chance encounter with Bruce Meyer, and together they envisioned the 70th anniversary Porsche tribute now known as ‘The Porsche Effect,’” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “Since then, this relationship has blossomed into a wonderful friendship resulting in the first-ever honorary leadership role on our cherished Board of Directors and the most expansive exhibit in our almost 25-year history.”

Dr. Porsche has served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG since 2007. During this period, Porsche has increased annual deliveries from less than 100,000 to around 246,000 last year and more than doubled in size to over 30,000 employees. Continuing his family legacy of success, he also sits on the Supervisory Boards of Volkswagen AG and Audi AG and is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE.

In addition to Dr. Porsche’s long list of distinguished accomplishments, he was most recently honored with the “Petersen Icon Award” at the museum’s 24th Annual Gala on October 5, 2018. The event commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Stuttgart marque and celebrated the immense success of “The Porsche Effect.”

“I was truly honored to receive the 2018 ‘Icon Award,’ and I will never forget the kindness and hospitality of the Petersen team,” said Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. “Although the honor was presented in my name, I consider the recognition to be a celebration of the Porsche brand’s relationship with California, which is one of the foremost Porsche markets in the world. The public’s admiration of ‘The Porsche Effect’ exhibit is a testament to that, and I’m thrilled to continue our valued partnership and personal friendship for years to come!”
(ht: PAM Press Release)

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Icon Award, The Porsche Effect, Honorary Board Member, Petersen Board of Directors, Bruce Meyer, Peter Mullin, David Sydorick, Porsche brand, 70th anniversary of the Stuttgart marque, The EDJE

Celebrate 70 Years Of Porsche History With "The Porsche Effect" At Petersen Automotive Museum

1939 Type 64 - 1939 Porsche Type 64 60K10 - The Porsche Type 64 60K10 is the progenitor of all Porsches and the foundation of the Porsche aesthetic. It was built to compete in the 1939 Berlin-Rome endurance race, which was canceled due to the outbreak of war. A mere three identical cars were built, each of which used a Volkswagen platform and a streamlined aluminum body designed by Erwin Komenda and crafted by Reutter. This car was reconstructed of major components from the second Type 64, which had been dismantled after World War II. Collection of Automuseum Prototype, Hamburg - Engine: 1.1-Liter Flat-4 - Horsepower: 40  - Top Speed: 90 Mph - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

Celebrate 70 Years Of Porsche History With "The Porsche Effect" At Petersen Automotive Museum

Opening Saturday, February 3rd, 2018, “The Porsche Effect” in the Mullin Grand Salon will feature the German brand’s most historically significant street and racecars along with artifacts and historical documents, accompanied by an all-new Porsche Vault Tour showcasing some of the marque’s rarest vehicles.

Celebrating the worldwide impact of Porsche’s legendary machines, the Petersen Automotive Museum will present “The Porsche Effect” to the public on February 3rd. The new exhibit—organized in partnership with Porsche Cars North America and staged in the Mullin Grand Salon—will represent the most comprehensive Porsche display outside of Stuttgart. Museum guests will have a chance to see 50 of the brand’s most iconic cars both in the exhibition and in an all-new Porsche-dedicated vault tour in the museum’s underground treasury.

As one enters the main foyer of the Petersen Automotive Museum to attend "The Porsche Effect", one is greeted with side-by-side Porsche GT1-98s with the street version (here) on the left and race version on the right. The first ever presentation where both of these cars appear at the same venue let alone are this close together. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

In the Vault, the bright orange Jägermeister Porsche 962C -117. The car left the Porsche Wessach factory in 1985. Brun Motorsport—a Swiss racing team that competed as a Porsche privateer team—purchased it as a chassis to replace another Porsche 962 that had been damaged. Once chassis number 962C-117 was assembled and put into service, Brun Motorsports raced the car in the World Sports Prototype Championship from 1986 to 1989. The car finished second in its class at Le Mans, and later was victorious at Spain’s Circuito Permanente de Jerez. It was also famous for an overall win as number 17 at Belgium’s 1000-km Spa-Francorchamps in 1986. After the 1989 racing season—and a very respectable career of 36 races that earned 23 top-ten finishes—the car was retired.Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

For seven decades, the Stuttgart based automaker has been overwhelmingly successful on racetracks and in dealership showrooms around the world, thanks to a combination of innovative engineering, an evolutionary design and the resulting dynamic brand that has inspired diehard fans for generations. “The Porsche Effect” features a collection of cars, historical documents and artifacts that will showcase the vehicles as kinetic art and illustrate the evolution of the brand itself—from early in the company’s engineering house beginnings through its modern-day road and race cars.

“Over a year in the making, ‘The Porsche Effect’ will capture the innovative and iconic spirit of Porsche, showcasing the marque’s many contributions to automotive engineering and the motorsports world,” said Peter Mullin, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Petersen. “We are thrilled to share this incredible history with the public in an experience that both passionate enthusiasts and casual fans will surely appreciate and enjoy.”

Porsche Design Lounge and Stereo Display entertainment during the CRT television era. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

Penthouse for your Porsche: This luxe Miami high-rise comes with a car elevator so you can drive right into your living room. A new skyscraper in the Miami skyline is a Porsche lover's nirvana. It's called the Porsche Design Tower and every inch of this Sunny Isles Beach high-rise is inspired by the sleek German sports car. It's even been described as a Porsche piston rising from the shoreline [ht: CNBC - video vignette HERE]. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

From ‘The Porsche Effect’ poster display. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

The showcase also features explorations into Porsche Design, Identification, and Culture ... complete with audio/visual presentations for one to immerse themselves in.  Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

"Within my responsibility I have at Porsche, none is greater than the commitment of looking after our great brand,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “With that, of course, comes the compulsion to support and honor our rich heritage. When the Petersen Museum first suggested we work together on what has become “The Porsche Effect,” I immediately saw the mutual benefits to both.  We are looking forward to sharing the story of Porsche through rare and seldom seen artifacts and display elements, in addition to some of the most iconic cars or all time.”

Some of the vehicles on display include the 1939 Berlin-Rome Type 64 race car, a 906 race car, the 919 endurance racer, the Petersen Collection’s 901 and Continental, a rare model “X83” Turbo S Flachbau 964, a rally-spec Type 953 911, the world-beating Gulf 917K, the Jägermeister 962, the legendary Porsche 935 K3 Le Mans winner belonging to Petersen vice-chairman Bruce Meyer and more. On exclusive loan from The Porsche Museum will be the 928 H50 study, a rare four-door prototype of the 928.

The back sweep wall showcase that features some of the most winning and iconic racecars produced by Porsche combined with music and moving graphic display that highlights the accomplishments of each of the platforms displayed. Breaking up the string of cars are engines as they evolve through the ages. Image Credit Edmund Jenks (2018)

VIP ticket holders may receive access to the museum’s exclusive Penthouse Lounge. VIPs may also be offered a limited-run poster, copies of limited-edition Porsche literature, and a tour of the Porsche vault.

The exhibit will run through January 27, 2019. Those interested in attending - purchase tax-deductible general admission and VIP tickets on www.petersentickets.org. For more information on “The Porsche Effect” or about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit www.Petersen.org.

###

The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California, 90036. Admission prices are $16 for general admission adults, $13 for seniors and students with ID, $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Active military with ID, personal care attendants and children under three are admitted free. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For general information, call 323-930-CARS or visit www.petersen.org.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Petersen Automobile Museum, The Porsche Effect, Dave Engelman, Bruce Meyer, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, Porsche Cars North America, Inc., The Vault, Porsche Design, culture, The EDJE

‘Comments From The Canyon’ - The Inaugural ‘Classic Auto Show’ Los Angeles January 27-29, 2017

1962 First Production Shelby Cobra “Best of Show Grand Boulevard’ owned by Bruce Meyer.

Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

‘Comments From The Canyon’ 
The Inaugural ‘Classic Auto Show’ Los Angeles January 27-29, 2017
By: James Groth for The English Car Company

Internationally known classic car owner and Founding Chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Bruce Meyer opened the media event for the inaugural ‘Classic Auto Show’ at the Los Angles Convention Center. Bruce’s narration covered the history of each of the stunning black automobiles on display in the ‘Winners Circle’ many from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Automotive Museum.

1925 Rolls Royce Phantom Aero Coupe by Jonckheere of Belgium from the Petersen Museum. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

1932 Ford “Roller Coupe” owned by Bruce Meyer. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

Bruce shared personal stories as well. The most memorable story was about the three thousand trip he and his wife of forty-eight years took in his 1932 Ford “Roller Coupe” from Beverly Hills to Victoria, Canada.This hot rod is truly a period build of the early 1950’s and is without the amenities of a modern hot rod.

Interior of Bruce Meyer’s 1932 “Roller Coupe” hot rod. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

Light weight materials and design were garnered from World War ll aircraft for this custom built 1932 Ford, even the seats are out of a military plane.  The interior is comfortable per the Meyer’s, but in the sense of early off road vehicles, great for any true enthusiast. The hot rod also has a large enough trunk to carry everything for their adventurous trip.

Gurney Toyota GTP at the Petersen Museum, a similar one was on display at the Classic Car Show. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

An All Star Team from Velocity TV was in full force at the Classic Car Show LA to hold a number of seminars with Q&A on collecting, restoring, detailing and valuation of collector cars. A number of the Velocity Team also attended the Petersen Automotive Museum event to honor race car driver, designer and team owner Dan Gurney.

Foose Design 1956 Ford F-100 Pickup. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

Among the Velocity Team I had a word with were ‘Overhaulin’ design legend Chip Foose of Huntington Beach, CA, Car restorer and host of ‘Chasing Classic Cars’ Wayne Carini was in from New England as well as Englishman, Mike Brewer co-host of ‘Wheeler Dealers, all were there to honor the legendary career of Dan Gurney and enjoy the remodeled Petersen, their exceptional collection of Gurney race cars.

1929 DuPont Model G Speedster by Merrimack. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

1929 DuPont BoatTail Rear End. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

1941 Chrysler Barrowback Woodie with Chris Craft Canoe ‘Best of Show Grand Boulevard’ owned by Mike Malamut. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

Custom Built Cross Continental Racer. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

This is one of two cars built on a fire truck chassis designed for and having competed in cross continental endurance racing. The vehicle weighs 8,000 pounds and has a 14 liter motor. Given the lack of gas stations on these endurance runs the team had to carry five extra fuel cans on the vehicle.

People Choice Award 1956 Austin Healey owned by Bill Hoyt. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

Number 1 Shelby Cobra owned by Bruce Meyer. Image Credit: James Groth(2017)

The number 1 Shelby Cobra was on display looking better than new. This car did not have a race history but is truly significant by the fact that this 1962 is the first ever production built Shelby Cobra. It’s now is powered by a Ford 289 cid rather than the Ford 260 cid motors installed in the early Cobras. The 1962 Shelby Cobra won ‘Best of Show Grand Boulevard’ for collector Bruce Meyer.

1932 Ford Ray Brown Dry Lakes Racer in Sherwood Green owned by Petersen Museum. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

A 1950’s Mercury ‘Lead Sled’, one of the many spectacular custom cars from the LA Car Clubs on display. Image Credit: James Groth (2017)

From an attendee experience this first time show put on by Sr. VP Mike Carlucci and his team was a success in terms of the high quality of the show cars and the impressive list of guest speakers from Velocity’s cable shows. The Los Angeles car clubs turned out in full force enabling for an exceptionally diverse collection of European, Asian and American customs and hot rods. The planned date for the 2018 show per Mr. Carlucci is expected to be in March. I wish them continued success and appreciated all who presented their cars or organized this quality event.



TAGS: Comments From The Canyon, James Groth, Los Angeles, Inaugural, Classic Car Show, Velocity, Overhaulin, Chip Foose, Bruce Meyer, Petersen Automotive Museum, Chasing Classic Cars, Wayne Carini, Wheeler Dealers, Mike Brewer, Mike Carlucci, Dan Gurney