1940 Mercedes Benz 770K - W150

This is one of 88 Model 770 K’s built by Mercedes Benz. It was originally commissioned to General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst and delivered to him in Oslo, Norway in November 1940. Falkenhorst orchestrated and commanded the Nazi Invasion of Norway and Denmark in April of 1940. He was then installed as the de-facto leader of occupied Norway and this was his official vehicle.

In May of 1945, during the liberation, the car was confiscated by the Allied mission, under the command of U.K. General Thorne. When the Norwegian Royal Family made their official return, in June of that year, the Allies presented the car to them. It was made an official parade vehicle and remained in the Royal Garage until 1963. It was the acquired by a member of the Norwegian Royal Guard who lovingly maintained the car until it was sold to a U.S. collector in the late 1970’s. The current owner acquired the car in May, 2000.

1931 Alfa Romeo 1931 6C 1750 Zagato Spyder

This 6C 1750 is a Zagato Spyder from the fifth series of production.  With a 1752 CC supercharged inline sic-cylinder 6C twin cam engine, dual overhead camshafts and a 4-speed manual gearbox, it has good mid-range torque and 85 peak horsepower at 4,400 rpm. An excellent chassis and strikingly beautiful alloy Zagato coachwork made it one of the most desirable sports cars of the 1930s. Alfa Romeos dominated the Italian sports car racing in the 1930s including a win by a 6C 1750 Zagato Spyder at Mille Miglia in 1929.  The car was first registered in August 1931 in Southwest France to Baron Philippe d Gunzbourg.  The current owner purchased the car almost 25 years ago, and appreciating its unique originality, has stored it untouched in the condition you see it today.

Taken at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Purchase a Print of the Picture Here!

Ford 1967 GT40 MK IV J-6

Ford, not satisfied with the 1966 GT-40 MK II win at LeMans, set out to develop a new lightweight chassis of honeycomb aluminum.  Considered an experimental car, the new GT-40 was simply known as the ‘J-car’, referring to Appendix J, on the regulations to which it was constructed.

To leave nothing to chance, four completely new chassis were constructed for LeMans, 1967, Two (J-5 and J-6) were handed to Shelby American for drivers McLaren/Donohue (#2) and Gurney/Foyt (#1), and two (J-7 and J-8) were entered by Holman and Moody.

The qualification sessions were dominated by the McLaren/Donohue J-6 clinching the pole.  Unfortunately, the J-6 lost time in the pit after the rear body panel blew off down the Mulsanne Straight.  The Gurney/Foyt J-5 (#1) finished 1^st with a trouble free race and the Ford MK IV J6 (#2), driven by Bruce McLaren and Mark Donohue finsished 4^th overall at this 1967 LeMans.

The J-6 is the only Mk IV that finished LeMans that is still running and remains totally original as last raced.

The current owner James Glickenhaus has put over 40,000 road miles on the MK IV J-6 since 1990.

Taken at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Purchase a Print of the Picture Here!

1927 Cooper-Miller

This Indy car was built by Earl Cooper and Harry Miller under the sponsorship of the Buick Motorcar Company and is known as the Cooper-Miller.

Its first Indianapolis 500 race was in 1927 where it was piloted by Peter Kreis to a 17th place finish. Between 1927 and 1950, the car would compete in 19 of the 23 Indy races. The most successful finish was 10th place in 1930 when it was known as the Gauss Front Drive driven by Joe Huff.

The car also participated in the 1927 Italian Grand Prix where it finished 3rd driven by Earl Cooper and Peter Kreis.

The car is powered by a 91 cubic inch 8-cylinder engine breathing through four Miller Dual Throat carburetors. It produces 167 horsepower powering the front wheels. There are mechanical drum brakes and live axle suspension.

Taken at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Purchase a Print of the Picture Here!

1922 Miller 122

This is the first Miller 122 ever built. It was one of two 122’s belonging to Tommy Milton and was built to his specifications, in 1922. There were seven low radiator chassis built by Harry Miller and this body is the only one surviving in its original configuration.

The car sat on the pole of the 1923 Indianapolis 500, with a qualifying speed of 108 MPH. It went on to win the race and was Harry Miller’s first win as a builder, the first for a single seat car and made driver Tommy Milton the first ever two-time champion.

Milton also broke the World Record for a one mile dirt surface track at Syracuse, New York with a time of 42.28 seconds.

Taken at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Buy a print of this picture here!

Evanescent Trawlers of the South was Funded!

When starting this project plan I was not ever really sure that it would make the Kickstarter funding requirement in 30 days, I was very surprised and excited when it did on 31 March!

What is next? First a big, big thank you to all those folks that are supporting the project, these very generous folks have been listed below and will also be listed in the Book/Ebook. I am planning to make the first Trip in June when the heat and drama of the southern skies really start to kick in on a consistent basis. As I travel and add more works to the online Gallery hosting the works for the project I will send out updates to all backers as soon as they are posted. My goal is to have the travelling and processing wrapped up, including the book by this August. The Exhibitions will be an ongoing work, I plan to print a number of the best images on 24-30 canvases for display in various locations in the Jacksonville area to start, and my first stop will hopefully be the Gallery at Jacksonville International Airport.

Evanescent Trawlers Supporters
Al Letson		Kymberlie R. McGuire
Allston B Leland		L C Grubb
Bill Hutchins		Lewis Hay
Blake Lipthratt		Lissanne from Sydney, Australia
Bobbie Rose		Lois Swoboda
Carol Lee Adams		Louise Graff
Chad Nordstrom		Lynne Grinold
Clare Berry		Martin Zuther
Taylor and Cynthia Tarvin		Michael Matthews
David McNair		Michael Spicer
Debby Moran		Mike Seale
Derek Schwartz		Nancy Blackmer
Donna Efhan		Nelson Citta
Elizabeth W Stiles		Norman McNair
Erin Price		Paul Matzerath
Ervin A Williams		Penny Haviland
Fabio Costa		R Laube
Ferrell McCollough		Raul A Sinclair
Gene Bowker		Richard Michael
Ginnie Lerch		Robert Warner
Joanne McNeely		Susan and Robert Haney
Julie Fagout		Wendell R. Verret
Kelly McGowan

Thanks Port of Delcambre!

A special shout out to the wonderful folks over at the Port of Delcambre, Louisiana for promoting my Kickstarter project!

Hope to see you this summer!

Getting so close sitting  at 77% this morning -;0)

Cheers!

John

7 Days To Go!

7 Days to go on my Kickstarter Project, made it to 62% funding! The local paper is running a story on it this week, hopefully it will help push it over the top -;0)

If you have not seen my Kickstarter project yet please visit and share with your friends -;0)

1920 Miller TNT Race Car

The 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance was amazing (always) got some great stuff to work with for the next few months!

Henry Miller was intrigued by metallurgy; in 1919, he decided to build a racecar that was conceived as a tour-de-force of his foundry work. The body consisted of aluminum panels and the engine was encased by an alloy carapace so that no hood was necessary. The car is shown in its final design with a normal hood, in reality took over from the concept.

The original design called for a four cylinder with 166 cubic inches, but was never successful. The car failed to qualify at Indianapolis, in 1920. The Owner Eddie Maier, a Los Angeles Brewer was embarrassed he put the car in storage at the brewery along with its failed engine. That engine was given to a wartime scrap drive and an unknown engine was fitted.

The car was purchased by Bob Sutherland and a Miller 183CID 8 cylinder installed in the 1980’s. This is one of only three Miller 18.3 engines existing. The TNT has been raced competitively since then and continues to compete at the annual Miller Club events in Milwaukee.

Purchase a Print of this image here!

1/2 of the way there!

Dear backers,

I'm writing to say one thing: YOU. ARE. AWESOME.

You helped me raise over $955 in less than a week! Unreal. Thank you so much! 

Stay tuned for more exciting updates soon. 

VR, John - in the middle of the Okefenokee and Cumberland Islands!

If you have not seen my Kickstarter project yet please visit and share with your friends -;0)

Evanescent Trawlers of the South - Book and Photo Exhibit

My project, Evanescent Trawlers of the South - Book and Photo Exhibit, was accepted and is officially live on Kickstarter any support will be much appreciated! 

In The Winds

This was in the archives for a few years, finally inspired to add a finishing touch this week.

You may purchase a print of this Eddie Trotta Bike image here!

1951 Ferrari 212 Export

This 1951 212 Export, #0086/E, was one of 27 built.  Its inaugural race was at the Giro di Sicilia, meaning the tour Sicily where it came first. It crashed and Vignale was tasked with removing the "Sicilian cart" body and constructing an export spider body for the car. It was re-bodied by Fontana as a spider at the close of 1951. It was campaigned heavily including the Giro di Sicilia and Mille Miglia where it caught fire and the body was destroyed.  It was again fitted with the body was destroyed.  In 1953 it was again fitted with a Fontana body and raced in lesser events.  It was then sold to a US Owner.

Tedious historical research and old world technologies are responsible for the Fontana body you see on the car today.

Saint Peters Gold

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. 

Jack London 

You may purchase a print of this Eddie Trotta Bike image here!