eric davison

Peter Mullin’s Legacy

September 25, 2023 By pete

A moment to remember: Best of Show award, Pebble Beach, 2011, goes to the Art Deco 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne of Peter and Merle Mullin. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.

Peter Mullin passed away on September 20th at the age of 82.

VeloceToday has reported many times on the Mullin Automotive Museum he created, beginning with the opening in April of 2010. It was a commemoration of the art deco design era when exquisite art and magnificent automobiles were elements of an artful, futurist culture.*

Over the years, we have been fortunate to have four of the most seasoned, respected and knowledgeable automotive writers visit the Mullin and report back to us in detail. Larry Crane explained the museum’s display of Bugatti furniture; the late Eric Davison searched for something really different; Hugues Vanhoolandt was given a special tour and did his magic with his camera; finally, another museum traveler, Brandes Elitch, opined on the opulent Citroen celebration.

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Eric Davison Tribute

September 12, 2022 By pete

We have learned from his old friend Dale Powers that Eric Davison passed away on August 25th, 2022. Eric wrote many things for VeloceToday, but none so poignant as his first hand reports of the early years of Watkins Glen. I cannot think of a better tribute to him than to re-publish the first in a seven part series of his memoirs his father and Watkins Glen from the VeloceToday Archives, October 2011. —Editor, Pete Vack

By Eric Davison

The street years at Watkins Glen were magic to me. In our house the trip to “the Glen” was a yearly pilgrimage. The excitement, the fun and the life experiences that I enjoyed with my father are never to be forgotten.

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Got Shots? Visit the Tampa Bay Museum

May 25, 2021 By pete

Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

Website Opens June 1st, 2021

From the VeloceToday Archives, June 2017

Usually I am a sucker for any car museum therefore I can’t imagine how I missed the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. But, I did. Inexcusable on my part.

But, a few months ago my friend Dale Powers asked if I wanted to go to Pinellas Park, about 35 miles north of my home in Anna Maria, Florida. He was looking for a home for his DB Le Mans and there was a French car museum in Pinellas Park that we might both enjoy

Off we went and, indeed there is The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum located in Pinellas Park and, yes, it is primarily French cars. And, yes, the pretty little DB eventually found a new home and is now on display amid some pretty wonderful and beautifully restored cars. [Read more…] about Got Shots? Visit the Tampa Bay Museum

Full Circle: Powers and the Hotshot

October 27, 2020 By pete

Dale Powers in his Crosley, circa 1954. Dale Powers photo

By Eric Davison
With a sidebar on the Bandini Crosley

COVID 19 has raised hell with most lives and relationships. Too much togetherness has caused some serious family breaches. Just about every activity that you can name has been affected. Hang around at your favorite tavern? No! A round of golf with your pals? No, unless you each have a private cart. So much for the fellowship that has drawn so many to the game. Maybe trout fishing in a river in Montana is OK but fishing is a lonely sport to begin with. Football games, baseball games, basketball; they all seem a bit weird without screaming fans.

It seems that us car guys have been spared. Those of us who enjoy hands-on experiences with machines propelled by fossil fuels can still participate. Got a great car. Get in it and go. Or, go to the garage and polish it. Or, just sit there and admire it.

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Dale Powers’ Fascinating Finds Part 2

May 26, 2020 By pete

A friend of Power’s discovered this Maserati 200S at a facility in Tampa where it had been sitting and notified Dale. Reasonable offer made and accepted.

By Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Dale Powers
From the Archives, December, 2016

Read Part 1

During the course of his automotive career Dale Powers has owned so many different great cars that he cannot recall all of them. There were Jaguars, Porsches, half a dozen Ferraris including a Daytona and a 2-litre Testa Rossa, a Kurtis, an HRG, an SS100. It would be hard to find a marque that he did not at one time own and drive. A beautiful Cisitalia cabriolet was his personal chariot for a few happy miles. [Read more…] about Dale Powers’ Fascinating Finds Part 2

Dale Powers’ Fascinating Finds, Part 1

May 19, 2020 By pete

1750 Alfa: An early find was this 1750 Alfa that had been brutalized with a hack saw to create cabriolet from a coupe. Powers searched for and finally found the severed top, only to come up a week short as the top had been scrapped before he was able to purchase it.

By Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Dale Powers
From the Archives, December 2016

Those of us who claim age to be an asset will remember a time when a two-year-old Ferrari was just a used up race car that had been superseded by something newer and faster and turned out to pasture. While there were not too many of them (there were not too many Ferraris of any kind in the 50s and early 60s) there were purchasing opportunities for those who had an eye for automotive excitement and were in a position to do something about those opportunities.

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And How! Bob Temple’s Sports Car Rally Photos

June 6, 2017 By pete

And How! features open and innovative formats for notices, articles and posts.

“The Farago Fiat was a crowd stopper where ever it went. Paul was a pretty serious driver and as I recall the Michigan State Police had been advised of the event and were cooperative.”-Eric Davison. Bob Temple photo.

Photos by Bob Temple courtesy Dale LaFollette, Vintage Motorphoto

Last week we looked at the Bob Temple photos from a relatively unknown event at South Bend Indiana. This week, the Bob Temple photo file shows us another early and rare event, this time in rural Michigan called the Press on Regardless Rally. Here, we see three interesting items; another appearance of the Paul Farago Fiat 1100, the Chayne Bugatti, and, most remarkably, Eric Davison’s father with his Jag SS100. (See Eric’s article on the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum this week.) [Read more…] about And How! Bob Temple’s Sports Car Rally Photos

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

June 6, 2017 By pete

Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

Usually I am a sucker for any car museum therefore I can’t imagine how I missed the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. But, I did. Inexcusable on my part.

REVS, Cunningham, the Glen and Me

July 29, 2014 By pete

Briggs Cunningham in the 166 Ferrari at Bridgehamption in May 1953. The author would follow the legend from Watkins Glen to Costa Mesa and finally to Naples Florida. Courtesy Briggs Cunninham III.

By Eric Davison

Bruce, Eric and Mary Davison at the Revs Institute.

[The re-opening of the Revs Institute prompted Eric Davison to pay a visit with his wife Mary and son Bruce. Davison has an unusual and long history of involvement with the early years at Watkins Glen, as recounted in his eight part Memoirs of Watkins Glen for VeloceToday. For Davison, this visit to the Revs Institute brought it all together. It began when Davison’s father brought young Eric to Watkins Glen, beginning a three generation span of Davison car enthusiasts. Next week, Revs welcomes the Davisons, where the Bu-Merc and Ferrari 166 are on display once again. Ed.]

Cunningham, Colliers, and the Glen [Read more…] about REVS, Cunningham, the Glen and Me

Frank Burrell and General LeMay Part 2

July 11, 2013 By pete

LeMay, center, with Frank Burrell on his left, looking over the Warner J2X. Courtesy Barry Burrell.

By Eric Davison

In Part 1 of the Frank Burrell story, Davison tells us how Burrell was Cadillac’s secret weapon, the guy behind the scenes, modifying and supplying Cadillac engines to race car mechanics and owners. And here the plot thickens, as Burrell meets another Allard enthusiast, one General Curtis LeMay and moves on to GM.

Yet another Allard owner and friend of Frank Burrell was General Curtis B. LeMay. LeMay was an Allard owner and he was directed to Burrell after he made inquiries to Cadillac about achieving more performance in his J2X.

Burrell receives his award after placing 8th overall at Sebring in 1950 with Fred Wacker. Burrell rarely raced, but did well when he did! Courtesy Barry Burrell.

While LeMay did not drive himself, he was known to get grease under his fingernails in preparation. During his ownership period, Fred Warner drove his car in several events.

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Ain’t French or Italian but…

January 31, 2013 By pete

The Davison Lancia, the erratic Healey, and sensible transportation. Photo courtesy Eric Davison.

By Eric Davison

I couldn’t help but laugh when I read ‘Marquis of Mystery.’ Imagine, a French car that wouldn’t start: not until you blew in its ear and doused it with expensive champagne.

I can top a car that wouldn’t start. I once had an English car that would not only not start, it would not stop.
[Read more…] about Ain’t French or Italian but…

The Saga of the Caswell BNC Part 2

November 21, 2012 By pete

At left, Tony Lymber with John Gianella, who had so carefully and thankfully preserved the Caswell BNC. George Lymber photo.

A Franco-American Hybrid

By Eric Davison

No one knows how George Lymber’s BNC reached America. We do know that a legendary figure of the early days of sports car racing, Otto Linton, (who was of great help in writing these articles) was a close friend and business associate of George Caswell, who purchased the car from motorcycle dealer George Taylor sometime in the early 1940s. Since both Taylor and George Caswell have both passed along to the great racetrack in the sky, there are no details to be had about the arrival of the BNC to these shores.
[Read more…] about The Saga of the Caswell BNC Part 2