One Two Three Two Three

Of course, today’s post title refers to today’s date. I’m still an OCD-afflicted math nerd.

 

Welcome to cold and snowy Arizona. It’s not snowing at our house, but not too far away.

 

 

The blue patches represent radar-indicated snow. Our forecast high temperature today is just 44° and the area is under a Freeze Warning for tonight. The average high here for this date, remember that we do not live at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, is 65°.

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I was originally going to title today’s post “Arizona Concours,” but OCD. My wonderful wife and I attended that event yesterday in the cold, but clear, Arizona morning. We splurged for VIP tickets, which meant we could be admitted 90 minutes before the general public. As such, we were actually able to see the cars arrive at the venue. (The VIP tickets also entitled us to lunch “on the house,” but we didn’t stay for lunch. More on that later.)

It was an awesome field of cars, everything from a 1901 Duryea to a 2020 Ford GT. Another highlight was meeting and briefly chatting with Donald Osborne, probably best known for the “Assess and Caress” segment on Jay Leno’s Garage, but someone with impeccable automotive credentials. He is currently the CEO of the renowned Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island.

I’m sure you want to see some pictures. I could have taken many more photos than I did and published 50 in today’s post. I always have an informal limit to the number of pictures I’m going to show in a post. Anyway, let me start with what was probably my favorite car in the field, a 1961 Ghia L 6.4 coupe.

 

 

Like most such events, the cars were grouped by category. This year’s theme was aerodynamics. I must confess I know nothing about this car other than its looks just blew me away.

A quick Internet search revealed that just 25 of these were produced from 1960 to 1962. Like the Dual-Ghia and the Chrysler Ghia ST Special, these were powered by a Chrysler V-8 engine, although since the first-generation Hemi was no longer being produced, these had a 383 cubic-inch wedge head motor. The output was rated 335 HP/410 LB-FT of torque.

One car literally stood apart from the rest of the field, behind ropes. It was a 1953 Alfa Romeo BAT coupe, number 5 to be specific.

 

 

I hesitate to call the Alfa Romeo BAT cars sui generis because more than one of them were built, but they are certainly very different.

Here are just a few more assorted photos.

 

 

Although it was not the first time I had seen a modern Alfa Romeo 8C, I was almost overwhelmed by the beautiful proportions. I think the move to a mid-engine design has ruined the look of the Corvette. I almost always prefer the long hood, short deck layout.

The way the cars were parked often made it difficult to get a full side shot or even a decent three-quarter view. For example:

 

 

I don’t know what car was named Best In Show; we didn’t stay long enough. Remember, we didn’t even stay for lunch. Yesterday’s event was marred by the fact that I just did not feel well. I know my labs are normal, except for a slightly elevated lipase level, but I do not feel well. I still have to wait 17 days for more imaging. I know I am not an innate optimist, but in the back of my mind, maybe not that far back, I have a nagging feeling that something is seriously wrong. The fact that I have lost 10+ pounds in the last month cannot be entirely attributed to cutting out fried foods, cheese and egg yolks. Wish me good luck because I have a strong feeling I am going to need it.

 

#OneTwoThreeTwoThree

#ColdAndSnowyArizona

#ArizonaConcoursd’Elegance

#GhiaL6.4

#WishMeLuck

#somanyCARSjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

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