Random Thoughts From A Random Person

Happy Thanksgiving…

The President and CEO of the two major league teams that I worked for in a full-time capacity had a saying he would use to criticize someone he thought had not performed due diligence on a topic. (He was an attorney by training.) He would say, “Often wrong, but never in doubt.”

I think many people are often wrong, but never in doubt. To paraphrase Isaac Asimov, a democracy doesn’t mean that Person A’s ignorance equals Person B’s knowledge. Just because we live in a democracy and have freedom of speech doesn’t mean that uninformed opinion has value.

I believe that communication is like currency and that our communication currency is finite. Wasting it commenting on topics we don’t understand or don’t know means we have less to spend on other topics or, in other words, such waste is analogous to devaluing one’s communication currency.

Don’t be often wrong, but never in doubt. It’s OK to admit you don’t know something and not to offer commentary on something about which you know nothing or next to nothing.

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This is the 55th anniversary of the assassination of John Kennedy. I was less than four years old at the time, but remember the day. Perhaps I will tell that story at length some other time.

Do I have a theory as to “who done it?” Yes, but I’ll save that for later as well.

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Yesterday my wonderful wife and I took a long drive to the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA. It is literally a former shopping mall (with an area of 336,000 square feet) that has been turned into a place to show and to sell cars. I really think they should charge admission; if you’re anywhere near here (Exit 298 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike) and you’re into cars you should stop by.

Here are some photos from yesterday:

This car gave me goosebumps and almost moved me to tears. (Hey, I’m a mess. What can I say?) This is a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk. It looks like an original, unrestored car. As I wrote in this post a small part of me wants to use a GT Hawk as the basis for a restomod instead of a C2 Corvette.

This is a 1940 LaSalle convertible. The LaSalle gained some notoriety long after it ceased to be as it was mentioned in the song used in the introduction to each episode of All In The Family. (“Gee, our old LaSalle ran great.”) This was the last model year of Cadillac’s companion make. The LaSalle was also the car that was Harley Earl’s first contribution (of many) to General Motors. Notice that the LaSalle is parked next to a Bradley GT kit car. The eclectic nature of the auto collection here is wonderful.

This is a 1985 TVR Tasmin. TVR cars are not common in the US. I believe these cars were assembled with internals from other companies and given a sleek exterior, which is the only thing unique about them. I think later TVR models like the Cerbera did have an engine developed by TVR.

According to the sticker on the car this is a 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C. Only 500 8C coupes and 500 8C spiders (convertibles) were produced. Rumor is that Alfa will bring back the legendary 8C name to replace the current 4C model.

The 8C of this vintage was powered by a Ferrari 4.7 liter (286 cubic inches; Happy Thanksgiving, Bill Stephens!) V-8 that produced 444 HP/347 LB-FT of torque. In person it is quite a stunning car.

I suspect I will return to the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA.

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings