Never Stop Driving #122: Honoring Those Who Served
Since we honored our veterans this week, allow me to share a couple of fine articles by our resident WWII buff, Aaron Robinson, who has driven his own personal military vehicles during annual D-Day remembrances on Normandy beaches and never fails to return with engrossing tales. In a recent Never Stop Driving podcast, as he and I chatted about his visit to France for this year’s 80th-anniversary commemorations of the allied landings, he explained in enthusiastic detail why that week in early June is “the world’s best car show.” Robinson was also on the Normandy coast five years ago, in a 1944 Willys MB Jeep, for the 75th anniversary events. This year, he traded the Jeep for a 1943 Dodge WC-52 weapons carrier; both pieces are great reads and a fine way to recognize those who have served.
Like most of Robinson’s work for Hagerty Media, the articles first were published in Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, which is just one of many benefits you get by joining the club and supporting this newsletter.
Last week several Hagerty editors roamed the halls at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the incredibly energizing Las Vegas extravaganza that’s packed with custom-built cars that show off the craftsmanship and taste, or lack thereof, of their creators. I jest—my hat is off to the passionate people who fill the Las Vegas Convention Center each fall with the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous machines you can imagine—check out our photo gallery. SEMA is also the place to see the latest and greatest new products, including a good selection of fresh tools!
We also used SEMA to announce a new video series, “Back on Track,” which follows actor Patrick Dempsey, aka Dr. McDreamy of the TV show Grey’s Anatomy as he returns to racing. The first of four episodes launched this week on our YouTube channel, and we’ll soon be rolling them out on Hagerty Samsung TV Plus. As a huge motorsports fan, I’m super excited for the opportunity to share Dempsey’s passion for driving and racing and grateful for our partnership with Mobil1 that makes it possible.
Speaking of racing, Joey Logano won the last race of the NASCAR season and was crowned the 2024 champion. The race was largely uneventful except for the final ten laps when Logano’s Penske teammate Ryan Blaney chipped away at Logano’s lead. Logano’s championship is the third in a row for Roger Penske and his stable of Ford Mustangs. NASCAR’s playoff system immediately came under fire because Logano had a so-so season that switched into overdrive for the playoffs. His win was like an NFL wildcard team winning the Super Bowl. Personally, I like the drama and potential mayhem of the current system. There’s also some handwringing about the finances of the other teams, which some say lack competitiveness because they don’t have the resources of the Penske juggernaut. That’s one of the arguments at play in the antitrust lawsuit brought by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin against NASCAR. A judge recently denied their request to operate under the current charter agreement while the lawsuit plays out.
We’re also busy preparing our 2025 Bull Market List, which will debut on December 9. This annual list highlights just how affordable the classic car hobby can be by showcasing cars that the data geeks on the Hagerty Valuation team have deemed likely to appreciate. This is our eighth year doing this and now others are publishing their own versions. In this video from the U.K., prominent auto writer Harry Metcalfe reflects on the harsh depreciation of many new performance cars and makes the case for lower-cost-to-own classics. Preach it, Harry!
I’ve read the Brit car magazines since I was a teen and I’ve long perceived that U.K. car folks dismissed America’s sports car, the Corvette. Back when I was at Car and Driver, I pitched my boss, Csaba Csere, on an idea to challenge his U.K. counterparts to a battle between Brit and Yank performance cars. He’d bring a Corvette for a lap-time showdown with a British car of their choosing. My caper never got off the ground, but it made for some fierce water cooler discussions back at the CD offices on Hogback Road in Ann Arbor. As for the Brits? They are now fully embracing the Corvette and Top Gear readers even voted the ZR1 the performance car of the year. Good for them.
Before I sign off, here’s some other stuff lingering this week in my browser search history:
- SEMA show cars rarely trade hands, but this custom Mustang is available on Hagerty Marketplace.
- Is there a more powerful luxury brand than Ferrari? The company sold fewer cars in Q3 but increased revenue.
- I love infographics and here’s a terrific one that shows how Ferrari makes money.
- Rumors suggest Mazda will actually build this fetching show car.
Have a great weekend!
Larry
P.S.: Your feedback and comments are welcome.
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I never liked the new system. The old system years ago where the best driver won usually was 1-3 drivers in the last race fighting it out. No play off needed. The Year Elliot, Allison and Kulwicki was great.
The other year Mark Martin and Earnhardt was a magic mind game. Both were testing so Childress put the tires on the opposite sides. They broke the track record in 3 laps. Loaded up and went home. It spooked Roush so much he borrowed a Yates car and it never ran right.
The worst year was when Kyle Bush sat out half the year with a broken leg. He wins one race gets in the chase and wins a championship. That is wrong.
Not sure who the true points champ was but they got ripped off.
“Is there a more powerful luxury brand than Ferrari? The company sold fewer cars in Q3 but increased revenue.”
Does “luxury brand” even apply to Ferrari? The Ferrari ethos is so over the top (Deservedly so) the brand is clearly in a class of one.