In connection with the "Allure of the Automobile" travelling exhibit (originated in Atlanta), Portland's Art Museum has been having a Saturday morning, "show and shine" exhibit on closed park streets in front of the museum. Local car clubs have been selecting member "cars of interest" for the showing and they've had Saturdays for Italian Cars, Porsche's, Fords, Chevys, Hot Rods, American Classics, etc., etc..
AudiClub NW (chapter of ACNA) had a slot in this Saturday's show. They had 2 R8's (my '10 v8 coupe and a '10 v10 coupe from the Seattle area). I was disappointed that there was no Spyder or GT, but apparently none in member lists yet to invite (dealer JUST got his first GT). Compared to some places in this country, Oregon is a relative "desert" for exotics and "near exotics" (a better designation for the R8).
Standing around for 6 hours, as requested, to schmooze with people browsing the cars, I was interested to see that our 2 R8s were like magnets, constantly being looked over and photographed. More than any other late model production cars that I could see from where I was standing.
early in the day & late in the day (and all day long!)
Of course, there was some very interesting stuff, even on this day of "miscellaneous" marques. Your taste is probably not my taste, but the two older Audis that caught my eye the most were:
An immaculately restored, swb, "ur-Sport Quattro" with composite & alloy body parts, full race/rallye kit, etc.. THIS is the car that really started it all for Audi and led eventually to the R8.
A '92 "ur-S4" owned and tracked (a lot as you might imagine) by a local tuner, who told me it's 2.5 l 5 cyl. dynos over 600 hp! Only external clues were the clear finished carbon fiber hood and HUGE brakes lurking behind his race wheels.
Other than the R8's, the "car I'd most like to own" in the exhibit (outside the museum cars of course!), was an amazing 1962 MkI "ur"-AC Cobra (if you will accept the German prefix!). This car was ORIGINAL, totally unrestored, just lovingly cared for and driven, much of the time daily, ever since '62!
AudiClub NW (chapter of ACNA) had a slot in this Saturday's show. They had 2 R8's (my '10 v8 coupe and a '10 v10 coupe from the Seattle area). I was disappointed that there was no Spyder or GT, but apparently none in member lists yet to invite (dealer JUST got his first GT). Compared to some places in this country, Oregon is a relative "desert" for exotics and "near exotics" (a better designation for the R8).
Standing around for 6 hours, as requested, to schmooze with people browsing the cars, I was interested to see that our 2 R8s were like magnets, constantly being looked over and photographed. More than any other late model production cars that I could see from where I was standing.
early in the day & late in the day (and all day long!)
Of course, there was some very interesting stuff, even on this day of "miscellaneous" marques. Your taste is probably not my taste, but the two older Audis that caught my eye the most were:
An immaculately restored, swb, "ur-Sport Quattro" with composite & alloy body parts, full race/rallye kit, etc.. THIS is the car that really started it all for Audi and led eventually to the R8.
A '92 "ur-S4" owned and tracked (a lot as you might imagine) by a local tuner, who told me it's 2.5 l 5 cyl. dynos over 600 hp! Only external clues were the clear finished carbon fiber hood and HUGE brakes lurking behind his race wheels.
Other than the R8's, the "car I'd most like to own" in the exhibit (outside the museum cars of course!), was an amazing 1962 MkI "ur"-AC Cobra (if you will accept the German prefix!). This car was ORIGINAL, totally unrestored, just lovingly cared for and driven, much of the time daily, ever since '62!