The A-10 Warthog: Loved by pilots and loved even more by troops on the ground. It’s kinda slow, bulletproof, and very deadly. Let’s keep it.
Paying Attention: America goes to war on a regular basis and goes to irregular wars and confrontational situations constantly. Sometimes we go because we are asked to, sometimes we go because we feel like we have to, and sometimes we go because no one else will take up the challenge. Wars are now fought in the air, in space, in and under water, and in cyberspace, but, in the end, wars are still won, lost, or finalized on the ground. Of the many tools the military has at its disposal to win on the ground is a 30 year old airplane called the A-10, nicknamed” The Warthog”. It’s does not have the sleek beauty of an F-15 or the stealthy, mysterious look of the B2. It is not, in purely aesthetic terms, a beauty, but, as Mies van der Rohe once said,”Form Follows Function”, and to troops on the ground, tank commanders, and those in (often desperate) need of “close air support”, the A-10 is the weapon of choice: it can flow low and slow, it’s packed with all kinds of deadly weapons, and it can take a punch or a ground-to-air missile and keep flying. It is perfect for what it does and, once again, despite continuing attempts by bean counters to put it out of service (old, hard to maintain, expensive), it’s going into battle, this time back to the Middle East where it will introduce it’s unique set of “special skills” to ISIS. WIRED magazine pays attention to such things, and they produced a great piece, complete with video, on the A-10 Warthog and why it’s one of the great planes of all time. It is the plane that refuses to retire and everyone associated with it–from pilots to ground troops–agrees with the decision.
The Fine Print: Photo of the A-10 Warhog taken by and copyright (c) Justin Connaher, taken on 21 August 2014 with a Nikon D700 (F10..1/250th..ISO 800..70mm, for the techs among us). Used under Creative Commons license. The photo has not been altered. We thank Justin for sharing.
Gloria Steinem on dreaming
“Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning..”
The Paddle Economy 2015: A Pebble Beach Shopping List, Part I
Paying Attention: The cars listed and noted below are from the Pinnacle Portfolio, a collection of twenty-five (25) extremely desirable modern collector’s cars which will be auctioned off at Pebble Beach by RM Auctions/Sotheby’s. This is only a sampling. Complete information is available at the RM Auctions/Sotheby’s Site. You are encouraged to view the entire collection by clicking here.
The auction takes place on Thursday night, 13 August 2015 at The Portolo. Click on the link to the RM Auctions/Sotheby’s site above for more detailed information. As always, you are highly encouraged to download and/or view the catalog for this very special collection of amazing cars. We will post final sales results for the entire portfolio when available.
Lot No. 101
Chassis No. SAJJEAEX8AX220707
Estimate $275,000-$375,000
SOLD $462,000
Lot No. 103
Chassis No. ZFFCZ56B000141920
Estimate $4,000,000-$6,000,000
Note: This is “the Pope’s Enzo”…please click the link to read the story.
SOLD $6,050,000
Lot No. 105
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
Chassis No. 4906
Estimate $2,200,000-$2,600,000
SOLD $2,475,000
Lot No. 106
Chassis No. ZFFTG46AXS0104063
Estimate $1,600,000-$2,000,000
SOLD $1,980,000
Lot No. 113
Chassis No. 6105
Price available upon request
SOLD $17,600,000
Lot No. 124
1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
Chassis No. 1773GT
Price available upon request (Catalog Estimate )
No Selling Price Listed
The Fine Print: Please read the official Auction catalog for complete description of the cars and the transaction process and terms. All photos from the RM Auctions/Sotheby’s site. All rights belong to their respective rights holders. Information subject to change without notice. Special Thanks to RM Auctions/Sotheby’s.
The Paddle Economy 2015: A Pebble Beach Shopping List, Part IV
Paying Attention: Bonham’s stages an auction each year in conjunction with the very exclusive Motorsports gathering at The Quail. Tickets for the The Quail are very hard to come by (there is a waiting list and attendance is capped) but no ticket is required to to preview The Bonham’s Auction at The Quail (which is held in front of one of the motoring world’s most desirable audiences). Details on Bonham’s event are below, along with a listing of select and very interesting automobiles that will cross the block. You are encouraged to visit The Bonham’s site for the auction, download the catalog (it’s in PDF form), and attend or follow the auction via the internet.
Cars selected have estimated sale pricing on them. A follow up post will display the actual sold price.
Carmel, Quail Lodge & Golf Club
AUCTION TIME
Quail Lodge Auction
Friday, August 14th 11am
PREVIEW TIMES
All preview days are open to the public:
Wednesday, August 12th 10am-6pm
Thursday, August 13th 9am-6pm
Friday, August 14th 9am-11am
ADMISSION TO PREVIEW & AUCTION
Registration Fee – $150: (for attendees only) includes one Auction Catalog set, one Gallery Guide, and entry for two people.
All Bonhams auctions are open to the public. The Quail Lodge Preview and Auction admission fees are:
– $100: Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction Catalog Set (allows two people entry)
– $20: Gallery Guide (allows one person entry)
The 18th annual Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction will be an historic event in auction history. Scheduled for Friday, the 14th of August, during the famous Monterey Peninsula / Pebble Beach Car Week, Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction in Carmel, California, boasts another remarkable line-up of automobiles, particularly of sports and racing cars, and more than a dozen examples from Ferrari.
As always, Bonhams is pleased to hold its 18th annual Quail Lodge Auction in conjunction with
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2015. Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Co-Chairman, adds, “it’s been a pleasure to partner with The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, one of the world’s premier collector car events, and bring a truly blue chip selection of motorcars to Carmel.”
Please note that Bonhams’ preview and auction does not require a ticket to The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
A Selection of Vehicles on Offer at Bonham’s Quail Lodge Sale.
Lot 3
1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster
Vin No. WP0EB0911KS173142
Estimate $175,000-$200,000
Sold for $165,000
Lot 8
Vin No. ZFFGT61A650142572
Estimate $350,000-$380,000
Sold for $355,000
Lot 23
Chassis No. 001
Estimate $450,000-$550,000
Sold for $396,000
Lot No. 32
Chassis No. ZFFPA16B000054243
Estimate $2,500,000-$3,000,000
Sold $2,365,000
Lot No. 57
Vin No. 1FAFP90S45Y400055
Estimate $260,000-$320,000
Sold for $297,000
Lot No. 56
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Competizione Alloy Berlinetta
Chassis No. 1519 GT
Estimate $9,000,00-$12,000,000
Sold $8,525,000
Lot 104
Estimate $450,000-$550,000
Sold for $599,500
Lot No. 68
1952 Cunningham C4R Continuation
Chassis No. R5220
Estimate $750,000-$1,100,000
Not listed as Sold
The Fine Print: Please read the official Auction catalog for complete description of the cars and the transaction process and terms. All photos from the Bonham’s site. All rights belong to their respective rights holders. Information subject to change without notice. Special Thanks to Bonham’s.
The Paddle Economy 2015: A Pebble Beach Shopping List, Part III
Paying Attention: The Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach Auctions are always a great source of very carefully curated collector cars. Gooding & Co. stages their auctions on Saturday and Sunday, and so potential buyers have plenty of time to view the offerings. The schedule and other key information for their 2015 Pebble Beach program is listed below.
Location:
Pebble Beach Equestrian Center
Corner of Stevenson Dr. and Portola Rd.
On-Site Contact Information:
Telephone: 310.899.1960
Fax: 310.526.6594
Email: info@goodingco.com
Mailing Address:
Gooding & Company
1120 Forest Ave., Box 101
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Viewing
[table “” not found /]
Auction
[table “” not found /]
Lot 140
Chassis No. 020
Estimate: $2,000,000-$2,400,000
Sold for $2,090,000
Lot No. 144
Chassis No. WP0ZZZ99ZYS692067
Estimate $400,000-$600,000
Not Listed as Sold
Lot 031
Chassis No. CSX 2315
Estimate $900,000-$1,000,000
Sold for $858,000
Lot No. 034
Chassis No. 036
Estimate $2,600,000-$3,400,000
Sold for $2,310,000
Lot No. 050
Chassis No. 956-003
Estimate $7,000,000-$9,000,000
Sold for $10,120,000
Lot No. 129
Chassis No. 3095 GT
Estimate $16,000,000-$18,000,000
Sold for $16,830,000
Lot No. 141
Chassis No. WDB2093421F144126
Estimate $400,000-$600,000
Sold For $451,000
Lot No. 142
Chassis No. ZAMDF44B000015440
Estimat $2,000,000-$2,500,000
Not listed as Sold
The Fine Print: Please read the official Auction catalog for complete description of the cars and the transaction process and terms. All photos from the Gooding & Co. site. All rights belong to their respective rights holders. Information subject to change without notice. Special Thanks to Gooding & Co.
The Paddle Economy 2015: A Pebble Beach Shopping List, Part II
Paying Attention: It’s that time of the year again: Pebble Beach Concours Week. To the automobile enthusiast, this is the best week of the year (or at least one of the best) and for collector’s the world over, it’s the week in which pricing trends and new highs are set for the collectibles that go on auction. This survey piece, now something of a tradition, focuses primarily on European post-war models along with a few select American automobiles.This year, there will be, again, some blockbuster sales. RM Auctions/Sothebys has a stellar lineup of cars, highlighted by what could be considered a “sale within a sale”, The Pinnacle Portfolio, an amazingly well-curated collection of modern collector cars. The Pinnacle Portfolio has its’ own post this year, so please check that one as well. As with each of these surveys, you are encouraged to click each link to review the specs and provenance on any automobile you’re interested in and also to download and go through the full catalog. The goal with the survey is always to point out interesting cars (or trending cars) and to educate about the market and market direction. Even better advice: get a nice glass of wine (or a Scotch) and roll through various auction catalogs. Time very well spent. No need to have all your investment accounts tied up in stocks, bonds, or even cattle; collector automobiles have been performing very, very well over the past few years and this year should see another set of records set at Pebble Beach, both for the auctions themselves and specific models of cars. It was at Pebble when we first noticed that Aston was starting to move up. Who’s going to start to move this year? Although the trend is already up, Porsche and Porsche race cars certainly have lots of room to appreciate. Lots to see (and yes, the pun is intended) so let’s get to it. We will follow up after the auctions with a revised post that contains the selling price of each of the featured models.
LOCATION
Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center
2 Portola Plaza Monterey, California 93940
SCHEDULE
Auction
Thursday, August 13, 2015
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday, August 14, 2015
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday, August 15, 2015
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Preview
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday, August 13, 2015
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, August 14, 2015
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 15, 2015
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Lot No. 202
1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe
Chassis No. 67111
Estimate $110,000-$140,000
Sold for $101,000
Lot No. 203
Chassis No. 0T02G109687
Estimate $90,000-$140,000
Sold for $85,250
Lot No. 209
Chassis No. AR1426330
Estimate $140,000 -$180,000
Sold for $110,000
Lot No. 210
195 Facel Vega FVS Series 4 Sport Coupe
Estimate $200,000-$275,000
Sold for $187,000
Lot No. 211
Chassis No. 12407
Estimate: $850,000 to $1,100,000
Not Listed as Sold
Lot No. 212
Chassis No. CSX 3259
Estimate $1,200,000-$1,400,000
Sold for $1,210,000
Lot No. 216
1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Litre Roadster
Chassis No. 1E 13575
Estimate $250,000-$300,000
Sold for $319,000
Lot No. 217
195 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta
Chassis No. 0030MT
Estimate: $7,500,000-$10,000,000
Sold $7,975,000
Lot No. 219
1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray GM Styling Coupe GPV-57
Chassis No. 40837S101311
Estimate $700k-$1.0M
Not Listed as Sold
Lot No. 221
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon
Chassis No. BC25A
Estimate $1,000,000-$1,200,000
Sold for $1,210,000
Lot No. 229
2013 Aston Martin Centennial DB9 Spyder Concept
Chassis No. SCFFDABM1DGB14756
Estimate $380,000-$450,000
Sold for $693,000
Lot No. 233
1968 Maserati Ghibli Spyder Prototype
Chassis No. AM115/S 1001
Estimate $1,200,000-$1,800,000
Sold for $993,000
Lot No. 235
1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight
Chassis No. XKC 052
Estimate $9,000,000-$12,000,000
Sold $13,200,000
Lot No. 242
1964 Ferrari 250GT/L Berlinetta “Lusso”
Chassis No. 5607GT
Estimate $2,300,000-$2,600,000
Confidential Sales Price
Lot No. 245
SBM12ABA5FW000292
Estimate $1,900,000-$2,100,000
Sold $1,980,000
Lot No. 308
1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000QV
Chassis No. ZA9CA05A4JLA12214
Estimate $425,000-$500,000
Sold for $368,500
Lot No. 309
Chassis No. 08517
Estimate $3,600, 000-$4,200,000
Sold for $3,960,000
Lot No. 331
Chassis No. 0220
Estimate $800,000-$1,000,000
Sold for $935,000
Lot No. 332
1956 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione “Tour de France”
Chassis No. 0557GT
Price available upon request
Sold for $13,200,000
Lot No. 347
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet
Chassis No. 110110
Estimate $1,700,000-$2,100,000
Not Listed as Sold
The Fine Print: Please read the official Auction catalog for complete description of the cars and the transaction process and terms. All photos from the RM Auctions/Sotheby’s site. All rights belong to their respective rights holders. Information subject to change without notice. Thanks to RM Auctions/Sotheby’s .
Eames on pleasure
“Take your pleasure seriously….”
Trailer: Man From Uncle 2
The Art of the Movie Trailer. The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a movie remake/update of the very popular 1960s TV series, didn’t spend as much time in the movie theaters as the producers had hoped. Why is a bit of a mystery. The film was directed by Guy Richie (Madonna’s ex and one of the best action directors working today–he directs the Sherlock Holmes films) and starred Jim Cavelle ,Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, and Alicia Vikander, with a very sharp script by Sergio Pizzorno. Critics were surprised by the light touch, sharp script and acting, and a mood that referenced the past but was not slavishly absorbed by it. So, the question is…why this movie trailer now? The movie has been in theaters ($45M gross vs. $75M shooting budget) and wasn’t a big hit. But films have a second life and this one is coming back, to Cable, DVD, streaming and any other form of media that can handle a feature length high def film. If you missed the first time around…don’t miss it the second. You’ve been given advance notice–there is no excuse.
How to start an ETF
Paying Attention: Did you miss out on starting your own hedge fund? Not to worry (we’ll have an article on that coming up soon)…you can go in a different direction and start your own ETF. No, it’s not quite as glamorous as having an entire floor of a skyscraper in NYC full of computers and MBA/PHDs crunching numbers and sorting investment options, but, it’s just as sophisticated, a lot more streamlined, and you can run it from just about anywhere. Want to get into the fastest growing segment of the investment industry? Here’s precisely what it takes to start your own ETF, from the Journal of Indexes (thank you, guys).
Annals of IP: Egyptian Music meets Hip Hop
Music: The production of music today often involves the process of sampling, a technique for copying a portion of a song (a chorus, a beat, a bridge) and blending that “sample” into a new piece of music. It’s not a new technique, but it’s far more widely used now than ever before and the reach for elements to sample is a longer longer. Almost every producer uses sampling (in some form or another) and some use it as a predominant technique. The key is in creating modern, hit music is to develop a “hook” that will move the listener and push the song (and artist) up the charts. How far producers will go to find the right hook depends on time, budget, and creative constraints. When dealing with the work of other creative people–and in particular with the work of artists who created their work in a different time, place, and legal system–a producer/artist must be careful about intellectual property rights, because sometimes, even if the producer thinks he’s tied up all the rights through the correct channels, IP issues can arise. Here’s a modern day story of what can go wrong in these cross-cultural/cross-era/cross-continent times, from Bloomberg.com.
The Fine Print: Photo (C) by ROCOR, taken 6 October 2010. Used via Flickr under a Creative Commons license. This photo has not been modified for use in this post. Thanks to ROCOR for sharing.