ELKS LODGE 613: GROOVIN’ IN THE GROVE

Posted on August 1, 2021August 3, 2021 by MartynL

This annual gathering of car enthusiasts - ELKS LODGE 613: GROOVIN' IN THE GROVE - reaps big rewards for Santa Barbara area veterans and their families. CGC's Jim Palam brought his support and camera to capture some of the good things that can happen when Car Guys with a Cause gather in The Grove! The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was founded in New York City in 1868. Part of their stated mission is "To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity – and to...

ZIPPY BRITS: CALIFORNIA HEALEY WEEK!

Posted on October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 by MartynL

Zippy Brits beautify Solvang during California Healey Week 2018. British car and bike enthusiast Jim Palam was on the scene. It was just a green dot when I first spotted it moving rapidly towards me, flickering in and out of the Cedar shadows along Highway 246 in Solvang. As the throaty British roadster whooshed by me the driver shot me a big smile and I in-turn shot him a thumb’s-up. “Nice!” I thought, “…an early Healey 100, maybe ’57 or ’58. Man, I wish I had bought one of these beauties w...

WEEKEND GET-AWAY: CAR GUY STYLE!

Posted on September 27, 2018September 27, 2018 by MartynL

You don’t need much to motivate a Car Guy. Just say the words “Car Show” and we’re off packing ice chests, gassing our rides and hitting the long pedals, blogs Jim Palam, our man on the Left Coast.When I realized that there would be two cool shows within 50 miles of each other right here on the Central Coast, I set the alarm and hit the road – for the first of my weekend shows – the VW Veteranentreffen Weekend in Solvang, CA. Truth be told, I could have walked to the VW show, just blocks away f...

GARAGE STYLE: IN THE GARAGE W/ JIM PALAM!

Posted on August 8, 2018August 8, 2018 by MartynL

Our man on the Left Coast spends some time in front of the camera in his garage while Cindy Meitle profiles him for Garage Style magazine. I first met Jim Palam more than a half-century ago when he was a kid on the pit crew of the legendary “Astoria Chas” Snyder’s ‘67 Corvette powered by an L88 engine, below. The car was KO-MOTION, it was built at Motion Performance, Baldwin, NY, raced by Chas, and I was Editor of Hi-Performance CARS magazine. CARS was one of the Corvette’s sponsors. Chas becam...

HOT CARS, HOT SALES, HOT PANTS!

Posted on October 25, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Jim Palam delivers some auction sizzle from Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas, 2016. With more than $32.5-million in total sales, the Barrett-Jackson 2016 auction machine, October 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, was cookin' with high-octane. If you missed the show or the extensive television coverage, here's a look at some hot picks from Car Guy Chronicle's correspondent on the Left Coast. Originally a Shriner's Parade vehicle, this restored ‘23 Dodge Graham chemical fire ...

MONTEREY MADNESS: SALES DOWN; EXHILARATION UP!

Posted on August 29, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Here are Jim Palam’s top ten picks, just a fraction of the magnificent exotica that populated the Monterey Peninsula during Car Week. 1953 Ferrari 250MM Vignale Spider ‘Pebble Car’ on Ocean Avenue in Carmel. If you were among the many thousands of automobile enthusiasts zipping around the auctions, races, shows and events in the Monterey Peninsula this August, you may have been struck by this of many befuddlements: $49 hotel rooms renting for $549! Plus Lengthy hikes from your car to e...

BENT AXLES: SHOWTIME IN OLD TOWN!

Posted on July 22, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

The 36th Annual Bent Axles Car Show is all about cool cars, BBQ and raising money for local charities, blogs Jim Palam. Established in 1980 to showcase the Bent Axles Car Club's love of hot rods and Santa Maria-style barbecue, this casual and fun, small-town show draws spectators and participants from all over California. This year, approximately 150 cars were on display in the heart of Old Town. Proceeds from the show are generously donated to local charities. According to Ford's brochure, ...

WEST COAST NATIONALS: KRAZY KOOL KUSTOM CARS!

Posted on June 6, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Our man on the Left Coast, Jim, Palam, brings us highlights of the 2016 West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals. This head-turning annual three-day spectacular in Santa Maria, CA honors the vision and skills of West Coast Kustomizers. Beginning with a Friday night City Cruise and motoring on through Sunday, this popular show featured hundreds of pre-1961 Kustoms and Cruisers. It attracted thousands of visitors to the Santa Maria Fairpark. They enjoyed great food, live music, a swap meet, ...

BARRETT-JACKSON SCOTTSDALE: CARS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED!

Posted on February 5, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Our man on the Left Coast, Jim Palam, blogs about some two and four-wheel machines you may have missed while binge-watching the hobby’s premier auction. While overall auction totals at Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale showed a decline from the big numbers in 2015, there was little evidence of a downswing in enthusiasm for sellers, buyers and attendees at the self-proclaimed, "World's Greatest Car Auction" in 2016. Our West Coast contributor Jim Palam looked for vehicles that were less in the med...

MOTORS, NOT MANSIONS: MONTECITO CLASSIC!  

Posted on October 2, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

The 4th Annual Montecito Motor Classic on Sunday, September 27th, lived up to its promise and delivered a tantalizing display of vintage, classic, custom, sports and race vehicles, celebrities from the automotive world, a special salute to the Ferrari Dino, lots of sunshine and throngs of thrilled spectators. How do you get a hard-to-get BMW i8? You win one – like Tim Tremblay did – working hard for his financial services company clients. This revolutionary plug-in hybrid features twin-turb...