What happens when a group of car enthusiasts embarks on a month-long journey across California and Europe in pursuit of motorsports nirvana?
You get Drive-Thru Episode 59 – a whirlwind recap of garage tours, concourse docenting, rental car misadventures, and the unforgettable spectacle of Le Mans Classic.
William Ross (from the Exotic Car Marketplace, and host of The Ferrari Marketplace Podcast) and I kicked off our summer vacations from behind the microphones, starting in San Francisco with a visit to the Hillsborough Concours and a behind-the-scenes tour of a nondescript restoration shop that turned out to be a treasure trove of multimillion-dollar classics.
From BRMs to Wanderers, we stumbled into a nexus of motorsports history, including a chance encounter with a former Mirage employee (Brian; above) who shared stories of Harley Cluxton and Bob Wallace.
We then set off to a clandestine garage near Sonoma Raceway filled with Shadow F1 cars, James Hunt’s McLaren (below), and the Camoradi Birdcage Maserati (above).
We had a visit to motoring historian Jon Summers’ motorcycle-packed lair.
And then docenting at the Concours, where we tag-teamed a tour for a financial investment group, blending money talk with motorsports trivia.
But no trip is complete without a wardrobe crisis. We suited up in khakis, white shirts, blue blazers and the infamous docent straw hats (below) – some of which barely survived the suitcase. Despite the fashion faux pas, the Concours experience was a hit, with engaging storytelling and a captivated audience. Are we bound for Pebble next? Time will tell.
From California, the we jetted off to France for the legendary Le Mans Classic. After battling airline delays and rental car issues (moving from a gutless VW Jetta to a three-cylinder Peugeot 2008), we arrived in downtown Le Mans, which felt more Baltimore than Burgundy.
Some of our arrival, museum and paddock highlights include:
- Chronological walk through Le Mans history at the ACO Museum.
- A paddock tour featuring 8,000 club cars and priceless race machines.
- and VIP access to BMW’s hospitality suite and Sportif Module (Club de l’Automobile), with panoramic views of the Ford Chicane and Start/Finish.
One of the trip’s crown jewels was a hot lap (video above) in a BMW M3s with a pro driver – tires cold, adrenaline hot. William’s grid walk during the Plateau 4 start offered a humbling view of 90,000 fans and priceless cars lining up for battle.
Meanwhile, Jon Summers along with his best friend and co-host of The Motoring Historian Podcast, Mark Gammie shared their tips for visiting Le Mans; all while William and I were embarking on our adventures. Their episode (below) includes humorous stories from Jon’s past experiences, detailed insights into camping options, practical travel advice, and highlights from attending the famous 24-hour car (and Motorcycle) race.
Mark provides additional commentary, discussing travel logistics, camping hacks, and the unique culture of Le Mans. Both emphasize the significance of driving through France, exploring small towns, and soaking in the local atmosphere, all while sharing personal anecdotes and travel recommendations for motorsport enthusiasts, so be sure to check it out.
Rental Car Roulette: From Le Mans to Paris on Fumes
The “mighty” Peugeot 2008, with its 75 hp and diesel-like hum, barely made it back to Paris. We coasted into the rental lot with 10 miles left in the tank, but this was only compounding our rental car woes, which started with that pathetic VW Jetta in San Francisco, then a Nissan Quahqai which ended up with cracked windshield held together by Loctite. Meanwhile, Tania’s Citroën C3 Aircross tackled Italian mountain roads like a small mountain goat with a wrench light glowing ominously. I’ll say it again… No one aspires to own rental cars.
The Sojourn Continues: Imola, Ferrari, & Family
My post-Le Mans leg of the trip took me to Italy, where I visited the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and the solemn Ayrton Senna memorial at Imola. Tania joins this part of the story, also vacationing in Italy, with tales of navigating hairpin turns and dodging Final Destination-style woodpile trailers in her rental, and so much more.
Bonus Round: Miami, Garage 26 and Barry Skolnick’s Collection
Back in the States, William joined David Beattie of Slot Mods for a tour of Miami’s elite car collections. From Barry Skolnick’s art-filled garage to Garage 26’s multi-story Ferrari haven, the trip ended with a bang – and a few million dollars’ worth of automotive eye candy.
From straw hats to pit fires, from Paris traffic to Porsche paddocks, its hard to capture the essence of this trip and all its motorsports culture – its history, its people, and its passion, in just a couple thousand words.
Whether you’re a concours docent, a vintage race fan, or just someone who loves the smell of race fuel in the morning, we have so many videos, photos and stories to share with you.
BUT THERE’S MORE TO COME… As we set off for VIR, PETIT LEMANS, Watkins Glen and PRI during the fall months, so stay tuned for more adventures. And be sure to tune in to Break/Fix podcast for all the latest updates, and fantastic stories.
