Every April thousands of fans descend on the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia to watch top golf professionals battle for the coveted prize- a green jacket. Only Tournament winners and members of the elite club may own the specialized green jacket. Many consider the Masters golf tournament the most prestigious competition in the world.
Continue reading Green Jacket Salad for a Masters Party
Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance ranks high on the list of elite car shows worldwide. In 2013 some 300 vintage autos wowed the crowd, each a prime example of its class.
Special categories highlighted the fiftieth anniversary of the Porsche 911, the Corvette Singray and the Lamborghini.
No wonder thousands attended the multiday events strewn around Amelia’s Ritz Carlton and the fairways of the Golf Club of Amelia Island. Amelia Island itself is a gem, a skinny strip of land off Florida’s northeastern coast. The isle attracts beach goers with 13 miles of uninterrupted coastline and golfers to ten top courses within ten miles.
I drove from St. Augustine to Amelia Island to meet Richard Truesdell, Editorial Director of Automotive Traveler.com Magazine. Richard had flown in from California to attend three days of the auto festival: the auction, road rally and Sunday’s spectator viewing and awards ceremony.
While I’m certainly no authority on cars, hanging with Rich made the event more understandable and fascinating. He pointed out engine and design details and why each change was significant. I could best relate to the Porsche’s since I once attended Porsche Driving School sponsored by Brumos. In addition, working as a contributor at Automotive Traveler Magazine has provided me opportunities to tour auto assembly plants, get behind the scenes at Daytona Speedway and ride in a pace car on the Kansas Speedway.
But, I’ve never had a ride in a 1908 Mercedes Benz – I suspect not many have. This serendipitous experience occurred after the awards presentation at Amelia Concours, as the vintage autos were being loaded onto transporters to be shipped home or to another auto show.
It just so happened that the trailer for the Mercedes was parked in an area near a deserted section of the beach. Richard asked Hans Wurl, the manager, to drive the vehicle onto the sand for photos. Best of all, I got a ride!
The bumpety-bump, jostling feel of the car was somewhat akin to riding a bike with firm tires down a cobblestone street. The horseless carriage engine made put-put sounds and the airy openness provided a totally outrageous view. The brief ride gave me a memory I’ll always cherish.
I have now learned that many car enthusiasts acknowledge this roadster as the world’s first sports car. How cool is that?
Like any journalist, I asked Hans about the prize-winning racer and its worth. He answered, as any good manager would, saying, “The auto, a 1908 Prinz Henrich owned by Bruce and Jolene McCaw, is not for sale.”
Yes, I said I understood, but then pitched the question in a different manner. “Suppose the car was listed in an auction, would the price start over a million dollars?”
“Absolutely,” was the answer.
So there you have it: my ride in a million dollar baby.
Please watch the video to see some of the vintage autos on display at Amelia Concours:
Florida’s documented cultural history dates back more than 12,000 years to Native Americans. The first inhabitants were hunters and gatherers whose diets consisted mainly of small animals, plants, nuts and shellfish. They learned to cultivate agriculture and began trade with other native groups in the Southeast. They developed a social organization and built large temple mounds and village complexes.
I recently visited the Florida Museum of History in Tallahassee to learn more about the state’s illustrious past. The Museum proudly presents its new permanent exhibition called Forever Changed: La Florida 1513-1821, in conjunction with Viva Florida 500. Phase 1 exhibits were opened March 3, 2013 and include three interactive galleries and artifacts showing 16th century European presence in Florida.
In the Land of Many Cultures tourists learn about the native peoples shortly before the European arrival. They have a fabulous fossilized Wooly Mammoth, life size diorama, and a recreated Timucuan house. I was attracted by a rare (and gorgeous) ceramic bowl dating from 1350-1500, and a 1593 Astrolabe used for navigation.
The second section called Meeting of the Cultures showcases Spanish explorers such as Hernando de Soto and Tristan de Luna. Stop to hear these historical life size figures tell their stories. Note to parents — kids really like this area.
The third new section, Spanish Exploration, boasts a portion of a 16th-century Spanish ship which everyone can board, plus investigate the dock area. The interactive exhibits, such as knot tying, allow guests to learn about life on the sea, navigation and what items the settlers needed to bring to the new world.
In addition to the Forever Changed exhibits, I found a fabulous collection of sunken treasures and gems discovered from Florida shipwrecks. Made me think of gold doubloons and pieces of eight! I also viewed displays on Florida’s involvement in the Civil War, WWI and WWII.
Personally, my favorite exhibits were the array of kitschy Florida souvenirs spanning many years: an orange shaped tea set, mermaid memorabilia from Weeki-Wachee Springs, early Disney bric-a brac and the artwork on Florida orange crates.
The Florida Museum of History in Tallahassee also offers a changing collection of art, alone worthy of a visit.
Best of all, there is no entrance fee.