Conversations With People We Value #60

Herb Benkel loves cars. Herb loves driving. Herb loves Susan whom he married on November 9, 1968. All would be impacted one week after the wedding when he was diagnosed with cancer. Though ultimately losing his right leg to osteonecrosis Herb never wavered in his commitment to leading a full life that would include a highly successful career as an endodontist, mentoring for the Amputee Coalition and an undiminished enthusiasm for driving.

Meet Herb Benkel

A Car Guy Offers Life Lessons in Taking Misfortune in Stride

His handsome and immaculate triple black BMW 440i pulls into the parking lot. The driver’s door swings open filling the added space available in the handicap parking spot. Slowly and deliberately Herb Benkel swings his left leg out of the car. With his left leg firmly planted on the ground, he spins his body to the left and manually guides his prosthetic right leg from the car. A marvel of medical technology, it features the world’s first motor-powered microprocessor knee and cobalt chrome construction. It boasts a level of technical advancement on a par with the BMW he drives.

Using two canes for stability as he stands, Herb greets me with a broad smile and laughing eyes. He authentically projects the visage of a man who never has a bad day. In this case the day offers a festival of autumn glory.

Herb’s prosthesis leaves Long John Silver far in the dust with a mobility solution sporting a heavy dose of Schwarzenegger’s Terminator cyborg. He says, “You can hear the device when I am approaching. If you watch the original Terminator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger, you hear the Terminator machinery going Zip, Zip, Zip, Er, Er, Er. Now that’s me. You can hear the motor when I walk. At first, it was really annoying but then I got used to it.”

The leg’s microprocessor delivers a powered motion to actively replicate lost muscle function. State-of-the-art sensors detect his movement thus equipping the knee to anticipate his needs. A powerful motor delivers active extension when standing and controlled resistance when rising. Herb says, “The sophistication of the Ossur Prosthetic is a blessing.” With the Ossur unit, a motor responds to provide active bending and straightening of the leg when walking. Thus the unit automatically returns the lower leg to the natural stance position to promote a more natural gait. Herb explains the challenge faced with his leg amputated up to just below the hip saying, “Without the motor facilitating the normal motion of the lower leg it would be hell for me to try to move just with the small stump. It would be like, trying to write your name with a full-sized pencil, just holding the eraser.” Just like other electric conveyances the leg needs to be charges every night. Because of Herb’s needs, his driving experience demands a greater integration of man and machine. Yet for the most part a simple solution provides an ideal interface connecting Herb and his BMW.

Herb says, “I discovered that there are companies that do adaptations for amputees. When they took off my leg I had first intended to get rid of my 440i and buy something else. But then, I learned I could drive my BMW using my left foot with a device available locally. What a great device.

Herb says, “My right leg is amputated and the gas pedal is on the right. That is a problem demanding a solution.” The solution starts with a shield that covers the gas pedal. Herb rests the right foot of his prosthetic leg against the shield thus rendering the right leg immobile. A roller assembly affixed to the back of the shield and connected to the gas pedal attaches by way of a rod to a gas pedal on the left side of the foot well. Motion initiated on the left gas pedal translates by way of the connecting rod to motion on the real gas pedal on the right. Herb says, “My left leg has no problem reaching the relocated gas pedal and I can easily move my foot to the right to get to the brake.” Herb took three classes at Kessler Rehabilitation to become comfortable, He says, “Now it is second nature just like the way everybody else drives with the right foot. History has shown that Herb has significant experience with the go-pedal. He has earned tickets for doing 120 mph on both coasts: Highway 1 in California and Route 17 in New Jersey. With a glint in his eye Herb says, “Those tickets were before the amputation. I don’t speed like that anymore. If they took me to court I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.” A final and important consideration concerns the car that Herb prefers to drive. For the last 40 years the answer has always been the same, a BMW.” With the amputation the choice is more specific.

“I have to have a 2-door coupe, like my 440i,” says Herb. He explains why saying, “You need a big door when you have a prosthetic leg. In my case, it’s my right leg, and I’m sitting on the left side of the car. I have to lift my right leg with my hand, slide it out and then slide my body. In order to do that, I need a big door and automatic seat settings.” To exit the car requires Herb to have the seat all the way back. Herb says, “I couldn’t drive a car that didn’t have electric seats because without a memory seat, it would be a nightmare every time I got in and out of the car.”

While a stretch of 50 years spanned the period between Herb’s bout with cancer and the amputation of his right leg, an extricable link connected the two events.

Herb says, “One of first things I gave my wife after a week of marriage was a diagnosis that I had osteosarcoma, bone cancer.” In the 1960s the choice of treatments consisted of radiation or amputation. Chemotherapy did not exist. They made the decision to treat it with radiation. Herb says, “Unfortunately in those days radiation treatment was poorly delivered.”

Decades later, on the coldest day in New Jersey in 35 years, while walking up his driveway, Herb’s right leg simply crumbled. He collapsed in a heap. No one could see him from the street. He feared freezing to death. Luckily, he could find his cell phone and called Sue. She placed the 911 call. The ambulance took him to the hospital. While the damage had had its roots in 1968, 2019 saw him lose his leg up to the hip.

In reflecting on this difficult time Herb says, “The job of getting through an amputation is the job of taking one moment at a time and trying to find something decent in that one moment and then starting to link those individual moments together. It’s easier said than done, but it’s the only way I got through it when I was in the hospital and I lost the leg before they made the prosthetic, I found Exercise bands. And I started doing exercises in the bed that gave me a sense that I had some control over my body; with everything else that was going wrong. I had control.”

When asked if the driving experience changed with the prosthetic device, Herb says, “Yes and no. I have always loved driving, however, all my cars had been stick. However, because of what happened I can no longer drive stick. But considering that pretty much all brands have stopped making them, it seems an inevitability. I don’t like the paddles. Not the same, not even close. So that’s where it’s changed. But I got used to it and I still love to drive. I mean, I get relaxation. I love being surrounded by my music. I love the quickness and toss-ability of my BMW. I rejoice in tracking on a serpentine back road. Yeah, I still take exit ramps at 60 miles an hour, you know, just to feel how the car holds the road.”

In discussing driving as an amputee Herb notes that one terrible problem plagues all amputees to some degree. That problem is phantom pain. He says, “Phantom Pain can attack you at any time and that’s a little nerve-racking. No one can really explain it adequately, that’s why they can’t treat it, but phantom pain is your body feeling that your foot is still there and sending pain signals to that foot.” In describing phantom pain Herb says, “So I don’t feel the pain in any part of my body. My stump is not irritated. Nothing is irritated, but there’s a horrific burning feeling and shocks of electricity that go to my toes and my foot. The sensation makes me feel like that foot is fully there and being tortured or ripped apart or burnt. Sometimes it feels like it is being put in hot oil. Phantom pain attacks can last between four hours and four days.”

I asked Herb what role Susan, his wife, played in dealing with his misfortune. Herb with hesitation says, “I would never have gotten through this without her. This goes all the way back to when we married in 1968 and I was diagnosed with bone cancer. She could have stayed, she could have left. I mean, the marriage could have been annulled in a minute but she didn’t do that. She stuck through it all. It was a crazy time, but we did it together.

When asked his greatest challenge Herb’s says, “To make the best of the one life God gave me.”

By Burton Hall|2025-11-12T16:55:34+00:00November 12th, 2025|4 Comments

You never know what you will discover at the Fall Carlisle Swap Meet. In the case of this year’s event, Elaine and I stumbled across a real find. While seated for breakfast at the historic Carlisle House B&B we found ourselves across the table from Jim Freda and his wife Kim. In a matter of moments Jim and I were confirming a lengthy list of common acquaintances populating the list of respected members of the tri-state classic car community.

Over breakfast in sharing images of custom vehicles he created in his off hours, I recognized both a possible friend and a visionary artist worthy of a Drivin’ News story.

Meet Jim Freda.

Intuitive Genius Wielding a Hammer and Chisel

Jim’s 1962 Cadillac 4-dr. Sedan deVille

I found it inconceivable that of all the completed and striking one-off fabrications arrayed about the courtyard none had come to life with the benefit of so much as a sketch on a napkin. Yet, Jim Freda, in his 60s, retired and a full time artist with old cars as his medium, would have it no other way.

His most recent creation started as a 1962 Cadillac Sedan deVille. His initial vision centered on slicing off the roof and creating a full 180 degree Plexiglas bubble top concept. However, early on, with the roof freshly removed and hanging on straps above the Cadillac’s open cockpit, Jim lowered the roof onto the car to facilitate moving it to another part of his shop. The visual effect stunned him. The impact of the cut roof’s sinister slit-eyed glare sitting low upon the Cadillac’s lengthy swept fin body electrified Jim. With fluid ease, he pivoted to a completely new visual concept that would showcase the chopped Cadillac’s serendipitously discovered alluring menace. More about the 62 Cadillac will come later. This impromptu re-imagining reflects an intuitive genius that Jim employs as a matter of form in all of his creations. Unencumbered by any commitment to a predetermined outcome, Jim simply follows his muse to achieve a final design that pleased him.

As in Jim’s case, intuitive genius describes an innate ability to capture a desired solution in a manner that seemingly supersedes conscious reasoning. For Jim his application of this creative gift comes with the benefit of a personal build philosophy that demands that as Jim says, “If you make a mistake, you got to figure out how to cover it up and make it look, right.”

Jim’s 1965 Ford Galaxie Gasser

Born into a car family, Jim grew up in Lyndhurst, New Jersey where his father, Lou Freda, owned a used car lot next to the family home. While the car lot has passed into history the fully equipped two-bay workshop remains active in serving as the incubator for Jim’s unique creations. In his early years Jim and his pals had Camaros and Novas but it was not until Jim reached his 40s that he turned to building cars of his own design. He says, “It was not like I was 22 years old and ripping stuff apart.” He credits Richie Conklin owner of the famous Hot Rod Farm in Montville, New Jersey with seeding his fascination with fabrication. He says, “I went over to Richie’s Hot Rod Farm. It was filled with jacked up straight-axle gassers. It was the coolest place. I knew what you could do to a Camaro but everybody’s got that. But at Richie’s the gassers I saw were something very different.” And what exactly is a gasser? Primarily built around older production cars from before 1970, a gasser’s signature traits include high-raised front end, stripped-down body, and powerful engine. The distinctive high and downward sloping stance functions to more effectively transfer weight to the rear wheels for better traction during the launch from a standstill. Jim loved the look.

So about 20 years ago a motivated Jim Freda left the Hot Rod Farm went home, found a 1965 Ford Galaxie for $500 and started his first build. To guide his project Jim, for months to come, went back and forth to Richie’s farm just to get ideas and learn techniques.

In Jim’s transformation into an obsessed practitioner in the art of custom car creation; he set about turning the Galaxie into a gasser. Its reinforced chassis hiked up over the solid front axle cradled a supercharged 454 cu. in. Chevy big block stroked out to 496 cu. in.. Dyno tested at a thundering 710 horsepower, it delivered power through a 5-speed transmission to a rear end with 389 gears. For the following 20 years it provided effortless one elbow out the window, one hand on the wheel highway speed reliability in compiling significant miles around the Mid-Atlantic States. However, while a source of pride, Jim’s Galaxie gasser only whet his appetite for creating far more radical expressions of his very personal driving dreams. Over the ensuing decades of tear-down and fabrication adventures Jim’s friends anointed the fruits of his efforts “Hammer and Chizel” Kustoms. Now we will take a closer look at two Kustoms born of Jim’s sublimely radical expression of intuitive genius. We start with the 1962 Cadillac referenced earlier in this story.

This custom design started as a forlorn 1962 Cadillac Sedan de Ville left moldering in a field. Jim says, “I was just looking for something with fins. Then I was going to develop an idea around the fins.” Jim found and trailered his donor car home on January 30^th 2023. Once in the shop Jim embarked on the major surgery that had resulted in the realization that his original bubble top concept referenced earlier had been supplanted by a far more compelling design. That the more striking concept had resulted not from Jim’s personal insight but from happenstance bothered Jim not a bit. Jim says, “That was fine with me.” With the visual solution revealed to him, Jim took another year and a half to bring it to fruition. Over those subsequent months Jim pursued every opportunity to refine the handsome malevolence of his Cadillac concept’s rebirth. He massaged design elements to enhance features contributing to the cars character such as its long low profile, sharp lines and muscular stance.

While the car looks a city block long, the body is actually six inches shorter than the donor Cadillac. Contributing to this lengthening effect is that Jim re-positioned the chopped roof a foot to the rear while transforming the design into a 2-door coupe. He accomplished this by integrating the front doors into the front fender panels. Even though six inches were removed from the door width, its repurposing significantly contributed to the impression of a lengthened car. An interesting rule of thumb in automotive design states that the greater the distance between the back of the front wheel opening and the fire wall increases the perception of greater stature. Jim, of course, did all of this by eye.

To further enhance the look, Jim cleverly integrated the rear fender skirts into the body while repositioning the rear wheels further back towards the rear bumper. He did this by extending the wheelbase. He extended the wheelbase by personally fabricating a new chassis. Jim says, “It’s not a real big deal. I’m not building a formula 1 car here. I use 2 inch by 4 inch, 3/16^th inch rectangular tubing. Front and rear suspensions are available in the aftermarket.” For this Cadillac, the front suspension came from Speedway Motors. Jim went to Quick Performance for the rear suspension for the narrowed rear. Jim says, “You measure the dimensions of the rear you need and they make it for you.

Jim’s designs frequently feature the absence of a hood. His choice and presentation of an engine often elevates its presence from muscular power source to visual design feature. In this case the hood-less Cadillac features a Corvette 350 cu. with dual quads.

The finishing touch to complete the visual presentation of Jim’s creation came courtesy of his go-to pinstripe legend Mr. J from Paterson, New Jersey. And, now, for something completely different.

Jim’s 1963 Pontiac Bonneville 4-dr. hardtop

Six years before the 1962 Cadillac Coupe deVille, a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville 4-door hardtop captured Jim’s attention. Metamorphosis best describes Jim’s transformation of a classic 1960s Detroit iron land yacht into what best can be described as a sleek purple Star Wars 2-seat X-wing fighter sans wings that would stun the crowd at any Cars and Coffee. Standing before his creation Jim matter-of-factly explained the end result saying, “This was a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville four-door hardtop.

The side of the car now consists of the front fender, the rear door and the quarter panel. The front door has been eliminated. Seated inside you are technically sitting in the trunk below a Plymouth Barracuda rear window that functions as a windshield. The roof features a “flying buttress” from a 1970s Corvette. The vehicle’s width is full-size in the back narrowing to about three feet wide in the front.” Clearly this Hammer and Chizel Kustom enjoyed an ample dose of intuitive genius. When questioned about the car’s proportions Jim says, “Think of it as a slice of pie.”

It all started when Jim homed in on the rear window glass of an early 1970’s Buick “Boattail” Riviera. He says, “I decided to build a car using the rear window for a windshield.” While inquiring about a boattail window at an automotive glass store, the salesman told Jim he had something better. Jim says, “He steers me to a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda rear window, you know the “Hemi under glass” rear window. And he says it offers more side to work with. I was sold.”

Like the other Cadillac Jim fabricated a custom chassis with the axle for the half width front end from Speedway Motors. Power comes courtesy of a 350 cu. in. Chevy V8.

The custom interior features air conditioning, heat and stereo. The windshield/roof/exit employs gas struts for effortless operation. As with all of Jim’s creations, super pinstriper Mr. J got the call to place the special touches on the paint. That all of Jim’s builds enjoy street legal status pays tribute to the quality of Jim’s work.

In reflecting on his passion for hands-on car creation Jim says, “Most of my found happiness is probably through my father. He owned the used car lot that colored my early life experiences. He had the passion for cars. He is gone now but his spirit lives on through the life my work brings to his garage.” As an added bonus Jim says, “Ours is a neighborhood of close friendships. Even after my father passed, his old friends and, now, my old friends like Big Bill, Mike and Bob stop by the garage regularly to check in and maybe lend a hand on my latest project.” Jim has even continued hosting what was once his father’s annual Christmas party at the garage.”

In reflecting on what drives him Jim Says, “I have become aware that my work with cars is really about people and relationships.” Jim loves to create designs that fire people’s imagination. Jim says, “When going to car shows I have come to realize that it is more about the people I meet than the cars I see.” For Jim, each unique Hammer & Chizel Kustom car produces a vehicle (double meaning intended) that brings people together.

Jim smiles at the thought that it would make his father smile.

By Burton Hall|2025-11-12T16:40:27+00:00October 20th, 2025|4 Comments

Likely the only car event of its kind in the nation, the second annual Collectible Car Fair for Kids and Teens kicked off on Sunday September 21^st in Park Ridge, New Jersey. Once again students 18 and under could get up close and personal with automotive history from behind the wheel of landmark vintage cars spanning the 20^th century.

One-of-a-Kind Car Show for Kids

Guaranteed, the likes of this handsome white time machine had not traveled this suburban street in close to 100 years. Chugging proudly down the tree lined lane it serenaded the surrounding neighborhood with a deep throated rumbling mechanical chorus common in an earlier century. This 1908 Brass Era Pope/Hartford automobile made a striking entry onto the show field to take its place next to a 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile. Much like the Dawn Parade at the Amelia Island Concours, the crisp early morning light showcased an eclectic array of milestone vintage cars as they arrived.

To spark interest in a younger generation in advance of the show, local school systems were lobbied. The effort succeeded in generating the opportunity to deliver a presentation to middle school students on the significance and excitement of vintage automobiles. The effort’s intent resided in motivating children to take advantage of the coming event to experience historic vehicles first hand. In so doing they could better appreciate the character, beauty, and excitement of the iconic vehicles that revolutionized individual lives and forever changed global culture in the 20^th century. The effort proved successful.

In addition to the Oldsmobile and Pope/Hartford, the curated field of 30 milestone cars included a 1915 Ford Model T, 1929 Ford Model A, 1934 Packard, 1943 Willys Jeep, 1956 Cadillac Coupe deVille, 1957 MGA, 1963 Porsche 356, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1967 VW Beetle, 1970 Pontiac GTO, 1982 Ferrari 308GTSi, 1983 DeLorean, 1988 BMW E30M, and 1996 Dodge Viper.

Offering far more than a passive viewing experience, the event provided children who registered in advance the opportunity to learn the basics of judging classic cars. The class, conducted on-site the morning of the show, was taught by experienced concours judge and past Director of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club, Bob Austin. Students, benefiting from Austin’s decades as an automotive industry icon, worked with techniques for assessing automobiles revered as generational standouts that propelled design and engineering into the future. With class work completed, students immediately would put their freshly acquired knowledge to work by judging the cars on display.

A primary interactive feature of the show and considered by many as the secret sauce for facilitating student involvement, the “Fun Hunt for Car Facts” challenged all comers with an information scavenger hunt. Centered on car specific questions, this 20-question quiz encouraged children to interact with the classic cars on display and the car owners.

The presence of Mr. Jeff Mason, President of the non-profit Piston Foundation offered special benefit for high school age attendees and parents. Mr. Mason was there to discuss scholarship opportunities and apprenticeship programs in fields related to classic car restoration. The Piston Foundations stated mission is to bring more people into the collector car industry and help them build rewarding, successful careers.

By 8:30 am the show field had taken shape with cars arranged around a central array consisting of the Oldsmobile, Pope/Hartford, Model T, Cadillac Coupe deVille and 1956 Continental MkII. The site offered excellent spacing for students to view, photograph and sit in all vehicles. And a wealth of viewing, photographing and sitting would take place.

By 9:00 am the judging class participants had taken their seats. 9:30 am saw the service window of the Pop Empanada food truck rattle open freeing mouth watering smells to perfume the air. 10:00 am show time, the display field came alive. For me, a most rewarding experience presented itself when a child approached with an adult in tow. Yes adult in tow, I mean that and not the other way around. Each adult, a parent, would introduce themselves and explain that their child had attended my presentation and insisted on being here. Parents expressed delight at the opportunity to share an experience driven by their child’s curiosity. And curiosity of young minds fueled the high energy character of the event. Fertile imaginations inspired by new experiences seized opportunities to create adventures of their own.

With the show running from 10 am to 2 pm, 11:00 am found the children darting about the show field like bees in a flower patch.Newly minted judges with clip boards circled individual cars as they studiously carried out their judging responsibilities. Mostly grouped in twos or threes, children clutching pens and answer sheets crisscrossed the open field in an honest quest to discover answers. By day’s end Over 50 students got all 20 questions right to earn the Collectible Car Fair “Genius” badge.

At 11:00 am with the energy of the crowd setting a nice vibe, it seemed a good time for the national anthem. The previous week I had attended a car show and with the singing of the national anthem, I commented to myself that this rendition certainly ranked as one of the finer recordings I had heard. It was then that I glanced at the A-V tent and saw that a young woman was delivering the anthem live. She was great. After that show a town official asked if I would like her to sing at the Collectible Car Fair. Absolutely! A week later, on the show field poised with the microphone in her hand, the A-V tech informed her that no music was available to accompany her. Her response, “All good, I’ll do it a cappella.” She nailed it. A big shout out goes to songstress Viana Harley, a student at Park Ridge High School.

Now with the event in full swing, I watched a bevy of students drawn to the Model T. Sitting tall and proud children fired questions at Glenn, the knowledgeable owner. They found the need for a hand crank start especially fascinating and the squeeze bulb horn proved irresistible. My Corvette drew admirers but my favorite asked if he could sit in it. Once in, he gripped the wheel with both hands and made the best “I am doing 100 mph and loving it” face. Interestingly a major source of comment in the Corvette was the dashboard mounted location of the rearview mirror.

Whether a VW Beetle, Porsche 911, Chevrolet Greenbrier or Corvair Corsa, the rear engine air cooled configuration drew significant attention. Actual more attention grabbing than the engine in the rear, was that lifting the hood revealed no engine in the front.

The 1958 Isetta with it unusual front opening driver’s door, the DeLorean with its gullwing doors and Doc Brown connection, and the Mini because of its, well, Mini-ness all drew much attention for their quirkiness. Plum Crazy drew rave reviews from those for whom color mattered.

As the day moved on the tabulation of the results from our battery of rookie judges came in with admirable results. They performedextremely well considering the stiff challenge presented by the very broad field of cars they faced. Apparently Chief Judge Bob Austin had a bright class with whom to work. At that point all of the young judges received a certificate of accomplishment before Bob announced the judging tally.

Group 1 – The Early Years

1^st – 1956 Continental MK II

2^nd – 1915 Ford Model T

3^rd – 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Group 2 – The Swinging 60s

1^st – 1956 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa

2^nd – 1965 Mustang

3^rd – 1961 Corvette

Group 3 – Cars that Defined the Driver

1^st – BMW 850CSi

2^nd – 1996 Dodge Viper

3^rd – 1988 BMW E30M

With all attendees now gone and a hot sun still high in the sky, car owners and event volunteers convened one last time before slowly gathering themselves in preparation to depart. All there shared smiles and stories derived from the day’s events. All agreed that it was worth it.

Interactive classic car events such as the “Collectible Car Fair for Kids and Teens” represent the extension of a critical lifeline to a future clearly in question. Will tomorrow enjoy a healthy collector car experience? Will our passion transfer to our progeny? The answer resides in what we do today to invite and entice the future to share our joy.

Unfortunately, I have found that some collector car gatherings are a sedentary affair with too many guys my age circled like covered wagons in lawn chairs and shooing kids away from the cars. At this point in time such a defensive mindset serves to “protect” the future from embracing what we love. We as car enthusiasts derive our passion from experiencing our cars. To quote Dr. Fred Simeone, “The greatest gift of the Industrial Age is the automobile.” It is imperative that we share our passion with the generations to come. Unfortunately, many among us view that thought with trepidation.

Possessing a rightful concern that kids will damage a treasured car can inspire a certain protective instinct. Having worked the big new car shows such as the New York Auto Show, I know the damage inflicted by bad kids with evil intent. That unsupervised environment differs profoundly from the local events most of us populate. Experience from Collectible Car Fairs 1 and 2 has shown kids to be respectful and appreciative. Do they need to be monitored? Yes. They may not know how to interact with a classic car. That is certainly something we as car enthusiasts can share in a friendly manner. For my 2 Collectible Car Fairs and the Autism event described in the last Drivin News story (Classic Autos and Autism, A Shared Journey to Betterment) I have brought the 1961 Corvette that I have had since 1967. After 50 years of ownership, I conducted a major restoration. It has been featured in Hemmings publication Muscle Machines. I am very protective. I have also realized my greatest gift as an automobile enthusiast is to employ my car as a vehicle (Double meaning intended) to engage those who will carry on my passion when their turn arrives.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS BELOW

Images Courtesy of Burton Hall and Keli Dougherty

By Burton Hall|2025-09-29T16:42:35+00:00September 29th, 2025|2 Comments

You never know what good a new day will bring. On that day it came in the form of an email. Sent by my friend and fellow car guy Ira, it explained that he had recommended me to a facility that served the needs of young adults on the autism spectrum. Why me? Because they wanted to do a dedicated classic car event as an enhancement to their program for treating the needs of their clients. He included the organization’s contact information. I called.

Classic cars have always been recognized as a source of worth, pride, pleasure, excitement and entertainment. Could they, as well, be a source of healing? We were about to find out.

Classic Autos and Autism: Sharing a Journey to Betterment

Photos: Courtesy of Kayleigh Gorman, Good Talking People, LLC

Three months after Ira’s email arrived, a 1915 Ford Model T rolled into the tree rimmed parking area of the “Good Talking People” care facility in Teaneck, NJ. Soon the early Ford would be followed by a 1986 Porsche 911, a 1976 VW bus, a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 and eight other classic cars, the event and the idea behind it had come to life. Good Talking People Owner/Director Arlene Rubin and Office Manager Kayleigh Gorman welcomed the car owners as the vehicles came to rest.

This Wednesday evening represented a new twist in the facility’s ongoing effort to promote comfort in social situations. At these monthly socials young adults on the spectrum can enjoy the opportunity to come together with their community of peers and practice their social skills. Arlene says, “They look forward to seeing the people that they have developed relationships with. It’s a comfortable place for them to be able to just be them.” Historically these events have included bowling, trivia night, dancing, costume parties, karaoke, crafts, etc.

The “Car Show” represented a unique activity in the ongoing effort to create engaging monthly social events. In this setting these young adults could engage with the classic cars and the owners in a social setting with familiar faces. In so doing they could develop the social skills necessary to improve their quality of life.

On this beautiful early evening in mid July a cluster of adults enveloped in a cloud of excited anticipation blended, hesitatingly at first, into the display of signature vehicles from the golden age of the automobile. The gathering’s predominantly male composition reflected the roughly 4 to 1 male to female ratio of the American autism population. According to the CDC, since 1970 the incidence of autism has increased from roughly 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 31 (Depending on the source these numbers vary significantly). As to why, many reasons come to the fore, not the least of which being a recent broader interpretation of what qualifies as autism as well as modified assessments and knowledge.

As the event came to life all the car owners chose to wait for the clients to initiate interest and then owners would gently enter into a social interaction. Much to the delight of Arlene, Kayleigh and the car owners the presence of the cars and the freedom to sit in each car generated a very positive dynamic that inspired even the less outgoing clients to engage.

As to the actual definition of autism, Arlene made clear that limitations in socialization skills towers as the defining criteria marker for autism. Arlene says, “You can have really very bright, strongly cognitive individuals who are very socially awkward. They don’t really read the room. They don’t really pick up on cues. They don’t understand the social world around them in the same way as others. Some very famous people that we view as highly intelligent believe they would have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a child. Bill Gates being one.”

One great example of the conflicting cognitive versus social abilities of clients occurred with Peter, the owner of an especially nice 1986 Guards Red Porsche 911 Carrera and a knowledgeable car guy. One of the clients approached to view Peter’s Porsche. Peter invited the client to take a seat behind the wheel. “Oooohhh nooo,” the young man replied as he retreated from the interaction. A while later the young man returned to ask if he could, indeed, sit in the Porsche. Peter guided him behind the wheel while taking his place in the passenger seat. Peter in delightfully describing his shock says, “This young man spoke so knowledgeably about Porsches I was completely blown away. I never expected that.”

As the energy level of the event built fueled by clients asking questions and photographing cars and being photographed with cars and in cars, Arlene explained that autism cannot be cured or reversed; it is a lifelong neuro-developmental condition. Instead the therapeutic goal focuses on helping clients manage challenges, develop skills and improve their quality of life. She explained that Good Talking People provides therapy to assist in the development of pragmatic language, social communication and social learning. Here they teach strategies for understanding social rules, what is expected in social situations, ways to increase social comfort and how to communicate and connect with others.

This evening’s “Car Show” represented a unique activity in an ongoing effort to create monthly social events. These gatherings provide a safe environment where clients can interact in a social setting with familiar faces to develop the social skills necessary to improve their quality of life.

With the event in full swing, hoods opened, horns blew, engines started and clients seemed more comfortable in their own skin. One young man approached me, looked me in the eye, presented an outstretched hand and stated confidently, “My name is Micah.” We shook as I gave my name. Apparently satisfied with the exchange Micah smiled and moved on.

Car-centric activities engaged the clients throughout the evening till the summer sun sank to the horizon. Long shadows signaled that the time had arrived for the show to end. Illuminated in the golden glow of the sweet light cast by a setting sun, the eclectic collection of classic cars individually departed to the cheers of the clients as they gathered to wave goodbye to their new friends.

In reflecting on the success of the event Arlene said, “Our clients had a great time. When we spoke with the group directly after the event, they wanted to know if we could do it again the following week. There are some of them who I see for therapy; weeks later they were still talking about the classic car event.”

When asked if this event achieved her goals more effectively than other events, Arlene expressed the belief that indeed it did in the sense that it opened up a new experience for the clients. Arlene says, “When they came back inside after the event and, again, in later therapy sessions clients continued to ask questions about the classic car experience.” It clearly also promoted communication between clients. Both Arlene and Kayleigh witnessed clients asking questions among themselves. Arlene says, “They were discussing the different cars and having conversations among themselves about the cars.” The experience provided a focal point for them and it equipped them with a brand-new experience to explore. Arlene and her staff made it clear that the power of the event to make a difference extended well past the cars.

Both Arlene and Kayleigh praised the owners. Arlene said, “Your people were so patient. I watched and saw how some of them kind of stood back and observed. And when a client approached close enough to indicate interest that’s when the owner would slowly make his way over. He would casually go up and say, ‘Do you want to see it?’

If the client offered no questions but by his or her continued presence expressed interest, some of the gentlemen were so very intuitive they just started to talk about the car in a non-threatening way. When the owner started to talk, you could see the client listening. It was really beautiful to watch.” Kayleigh, who had organized the event said, “It was really wonderful for us to see. The owners were amazing.”

In reflecting on the total classic car event Arlene said, “This was just a brand new experience for them. It expanded their horizons. We at Good Talking People really believe in the healing power positive experiences possess. This was truly wonderful for them.” When asked if she would do it again Arlen answered without hesitation, “Absolutely!”

By Burton Hall|2025-09-05T00:09:20+00:00September 5th, 2025|4 Comments

Rosell’s Auto Repair’s tidy but unimposing workshop situated on a quiet woodsy intersection in River Vale, NJ appears to project a compelling gravitational force. This extraordinary power seems to exert an especially attractive draw on forlorn classic cars left abandoned but not unloved. Most of these once tantalizing treasures have for decades silently developed unmolested shrouds of dust. A hoary patina grows as these ever more weary beauties remain overshadowed by life’s greater demands, until each forgotten treasure’s place in a family’s history, like a good-natured telltale heart, could no longer be ignored.

The following offers six joy filled tales celebrating rediscovery and rebirth at the hands of Al Rosell.

Every Car Tells a Story, Here are 6 Good Ones

When asked, Al Rosell, owner of Rosell’s Auto Repair, makes it clear that he loves what he does but he does not go looking for vintage car resurrection candidates. The cars seem to find him. Al says, “I don’t have a website. I don’t advertise.” He relies on the power of third party testimonial. He references one customer who like many of Al’s loyal clients went to a car show looking for recommendations. We will call the customer, Carl. Carl came to Al saying, “I was at a car show and asked four different people where to bring my car. All four said go to “this guy,” he will take care of you. Well, Al is “this guy.” All of his business comes by word of mouth. Al sums up his successful marketing philosophy saying, “People talk.”

As of late, Al has observed a new trend developing. He says, “A guy or a guy and his son will come in to talk about a car that has sat in their garage for 30 years, 40 years or longer. Dad flat out says, ‘I’m getting old. I want to get this car going.’ Al continues saying, “I can’t tell you how much that has started to happen in the last two years. My God they are coming out of the woodwork.” Interestingly, people are not looking to sell the car. They want it to be enjoyed by the next generation and the generation after that. Al, with a mix of incredulity and resignation says, “I have six of them here right now.” So let’s take a look at the resurrection stories of 4-wheeled family treasures residing inside Rosell’s Auto Repair.

1970 Plymouth Duster

1970 Duster with Al Rosell

The story begins in 1970. Bobby, not his real name, not yet 18-years old wanted a car to race. He needed around $2000 plus to buy a new Plymouth Duster. He had half the cash. The other half he borrowed from his parents. Al says, “The day in 1970 that he got the Duster he ripped out the motor, tore out the transmission. He converted everything to accept a 426 hemi.” The upgrade included a 4-speed trans and a Dana rear.” Al continues the story saying, “He laid the green color right over the brand new Burnt Tan factory paint and, then, he raced it for the next three years until it blew up.” Bobby then pulled the blown hemi and the 4-speed to sell them for parts. Al says, “The car was never registered over the first few years. It was just raced. I think it only has about 14,000 miles.

Then, as young men did at that time, Bobby got married. As for the Duster, for the next 50 years it sat in various family member garages. For that subsequent half century, when it came to revisiting the Duster, well, life would just get in the way. Ultimately Bobby would move to South Carolina. The Duster did not make the trip with him.

Then one day Bobby’s older brother came to Al with a plan. The brother wanted to surprise Bobby on his 72nd birthday with the restored Duster. Game on.

Al recalls, “The brother brought me the engineless car in about a million pieces.” Installing a 360 cubic inch Mopar motor that Al rebuilt, a 4-speed and a new rear end, brought the old Duster back to life. They retained the vintage American Racing wheels from 1970. Al says, “It is going to be one heck of a shock for Bobby. We built him a real ‘time machine’.”

A few months later word came back to Al from South Carolina. Birthday boy Bobby is reliving some of the best days of his life. Al smiled.

1961 Corvette

1961 Corvette with 1962 parking sticker

Every time Al picks up the phone there is a good chance the caller has an old classic car and a story he wants to bring to Al’s Shop. This time a 50-year-old man explained that his 84-year old father bought a 1961 Corvette new and still has it, in storage. From new, his dad drove it to college. He took it to work. It wore snow tires for the winter. He relied on it as his everyday car. Then life got in the way. In 1973 with 76,000 miles on the odometer dad stashed it in the garage. This part of the story is the kicker. Al says, “The son told me his dad tried to sell it for $400 but got no takers. Then the son said, my dad just let it sit.” First it sat in the father’s parent’s garage. After the parents died his dad moved the car to the his sister’s garage. Recently, after 32 years, the sister passed. At that point and with no garage, the father decided to either sell it or fix it. They decided to fix it.

The son explained that the car is in good shape. An all numbers matching survivor, it retains its original 270 horsepower 283 with solid lifters, dual four-barrel Carter WCFB carburetors and Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed transmission. The original paint scheme, Roman Red with Ermine White cove, has rough spots and the bright work appears not too bright.

Mechanically the father wants to do the whole car over. For the interior he wants new seats and carpet. For the exterior they intend to have the original paint buffed out. As to the interior, they understood that new seats, new carpet and a thorough cleaning were in order. The father made it clear, he does not want a concours show car. He wants the Corvette refurbished back to where it would be a respectable driver for him and more importantly his son.

With the father and son having visited Al and his shop, the Corvette arrived by flatbed a few days ago. The Corvette’s arrival at Rosell’s Auto Repairs provides a lesson in perspective as to the meaning of the descriptive phrase “good shape.” Did this car possess a vast majority of its original parts and paint? Yes. Did the condition of said original parts provide a sound basis for an affordable return to original condition? Doubtful. Could the car be refurbished to a grade 3 quality good driver? Absolutely.

1963 T-Bird

1963 Thunderbird with Rutgers sticker

The original owner ordered this 1963 Thunderbird just the way he wanted it with black exterior and red interior. He owned it for a long time. During which time a man we will call Jerry, not his real name, started dating the T-Bird owner’s daughter. Ultimately Jerry married the daughter. By the 1980’s the original owner, who really liked his son-in-law Jerry, gave him the T-Bird.

During that time Jerry first used it as his everyday driver as a Rutgers college student. Note the Rutgers sticker in the back windshield. As time passed the T-Bird saw less and less road time until Jerry left it to sit for the past 15 years. Now Jerry has decided to make the T-Bird road worthy and pass it on to his son with the hope that it will keep being passed on to the subsequent generation.

Al observes that with the T-Bird only having 46,000 miles on it, his shop had a lot to work with. Al affords the T-Bird his ultimate compliment when he calls it an “Honest” car. For Al, “Honest car” ranks as a high accolade. He says, “It means a radio swap was never done. The bottom of the car is rock solid. The key turns smoothly. Nobody did body work. It has never been repainted. Wires haven’t been cut and spliced. Nobody put stupid antennas on it.” For Al to be an honest car means it remains the way it was from day one. With an approving grin, Al says, “This Thunderbird is an honest car.”

Once in the shop they subjected the car to a thorough inspection of all systems and structures. This resulted in a total rebuild of the brake system; a complete replacement of all fluids, replacement of the gas tank and installation of an electronic ignition system as part of a comprehensive tune-up. New tires and new shock absorbers as well as suspension bushings returned the Thunderbird to full road worthiness.

In reflection Al says, “To work on an honest car like this transcends the skillful wrenching of nuts and bolts. It means bringing back to life personal connections that span generations. Our work not only returns a classic vehicle to functionality, it revitalizes a life connection that dates back to the day this car left the showroom over 60 years ago.

Al offers a half smile and says, “The son-in-law came here yesterday with his father-in-law who is now 90-years-old. He looks 70.” In their comments and expressions you sensed the future joy they envisioned ahead like going to kids’ baseball games, out to dinner or just driving to drive. Clearly the money spent represented a wise investment destined to return significant dividends in contributing to a life well lived.

1931 Model A

The year 1951 saw this 1931 model A cabriolet along with a 1929 Model A pickup truck purchased by the owner of DeAngelo’s Farms in Dumont, New Jersey. The pickup worked for a living making deliveries for De Angelo’s. The cabriolet enjoyed a more leisurely existence. However, as time passed both cars aged out of usefulness and took up permanent residence in a barn on the farm. Years passed and in 2013 the local and beloved DeAngelo’s farm sold to feed the court imposed affordable housing monster devouring New Jersey’s last open space and character. Ultimately the granddaughter came into possession of both vehicles. With the pickup truck, which had suffered over its years of service sold, attention turned to the cabriolet.

About three years ago the 1931 Model A cabriolet arrived at Rosell’s Auto Repair in the hope of getting it running. With the engine and manual transmission in poor shape, Al chose to replace it all with an inline 4-cylinder engine and automatic transmission drivetrain from a late 1970s Ford Pinto. When asked why a Ford Pinto drivetrain Al says, “It was the smallest Ford 4-cylinder. We then converted the car to a 12-volt system with electronic ignition, put all new 12-volt lights and horn in it. We upgraded the mechanical brakes to a hydraulic system.” As to the exterior it looks 100% original from the outside, but it’s modern now on the inside. When asked as to the exteriors originality, Al says, “I think it had one repaint in the 1970s. Certainly the top is not original.”

In reflecting on what the refurbishment achieved Al says, “It’s a great rumble seat car. Turn the key, it fires right up like a modern car and drives effortlessly. You can comfortably cruise at 50 miles per hour.” The granddaughter is now in her 50s. She has no intention of letting it go. Seventy five years after her grandfather bought it, it continues to bring joy to the family.

Al says, “It’s just a great multi-generational story.”

1955 Cadillac

Mike Valentino the owner of the 1955 Cadillac says, “The first time I saw this Cadillac, I was riding my bicycle on Abbott Boulevard in Fort Lee, New Jersey. It was the 1960s, I was 11-years old.” Back then owning a Cadillac was a big deal. The General Motors price ladder in those days went something like this: Chevrolet sat at the low end with the Cadillac perched at the top. In 1955 when this Cadillac was new a new Chevrolet cost $2,000, Pontiac $2,500, Oldsmobile $3,500, Buick $4,000 and Cadillac topping $6,000. Around that time the average middle class working man’s salary fell in the area of around $3,500 a year. No doubt owning a Cadillac was a big deal indeed. A source of pride and the subject of affection and attention, that 1955 Cadillac not only brought joy to the life of the owner but, as well, to the young boy who would pedal by.

Time passed, Mike then 17-years old learned that ‘his” Cadillac had been sold to a man in Leonia, NJ. It would be another twenty years before Mike would see that Cadillac again. Now the 1990s, Mike, appearing in a Memorial Day Parade in Cresskill, NJ with his 1964 Cadillac found himself positioned in line behind “his” 1955 Cadillac, now driven by its third owner. Mike says, “Over the subsequent 20 years or so he and the third owner would serendipitously see each other in random encounters.”

Mike says, “In 2018 the son of a good friend who lives in my town and knows my interest in old Cadillacs mentions that his next door neighbor has an old Cadillac in his garage.” He believed it was a ’57 or a ’58. Anyway he thought Mike should stop and take a look. One morning while driving down the friend’s block Mike saw the neighbor’s garage door open. The car inside while covered in blankets did have its front exposed. Mike says, “I pegged it as a ‘55.”

Mike says, “I stopped and introduced myself to the owner Lou.” When Lou pulled off the covers it revealed to Mike “his” 1955 Cadillac that he first saw as an 11-year old. I gave Lou my whole back story and my affection for the car. Lou had purchased it from the estate of his uncle who had lived in Leonia. Mike says, “At that time I gave Lou my card and told him to definitely call me first when he decided to sell.”

Five years later Mike’s phone rang. The caller said, “Mike, it’s Lou with the Cadillac. I think I am ready.” So was Mike. And here Al enters the story.

Mike has relied on Al to maintain the Cadillac since he purchased it. Al says, “Mike has brought it here now to refresh the motor and transmission.” The car in Al’s opinion stands pretty much original. He says, “The paint is original. Mike wants to repaint it. I try to discourage that. I love the patina on it.” Al backs up his assessment saying, “Look, all the door panels and all around them are original. He just re-did the front seat.” Whatever the outcome, a half century after young Mike first set eyes on ‘his” 1955 Cadillac, it is now officially his.

1980 Corvette

Unlike all the previous stories of old abandoned cars brought back to life, this 1980 Corvette time capsule brings a significant twist to the prevailing theme. This one never left.

In 1980 a woman in her mid-30s told her husband that she wanted a Corvette. Nothing on a dealer’s lot could satisfy her. She wanted a burgundy car with a four-speed, the T-tops, air conditioning, and cruise control. She wanted the rear window defogger. She wanted every option she could get. She opted for the bigger tires. It had the L48 350 cu. in. V8 with 190 horsepower.

She had to special order the car. After a six-month wait the car arrived. From day one she only drove it on Sundays. She emphasized that it had never seen a drop of rain. Her husband never drove it. None of her kids ever drove it. No one else ever drove it. She washed it, she took care of it and she only drove it here and there. She made sure she satisfied its every need. Looking at it now after 45 years and only 17,000 miles, immaculate best describes its condition.

Al says, “I have been servicing this car for ten years. The interior looks like nobody ever sat in it. You know, she would put a towel on the seat when she drove. The original tires were replaced 2-years ago. I replaced the fuel gage when the float rotted, It has a new battery. I have changed plug wires and things of that nature.

While the Corvette still looks like 1980, the 37-year old woman is now 82 and a realist. Al says, “She really hasn’t driven it much in the last couple of years. It’s hard for her to depress the clutch.” In speaking with Al she mention that maybe the time had come to pass it on. Al could not resist. He responded to her saying, “Well pass it on to me.” So she did. Al says, “I couldn’t turn it down.”

The gravitational pull of Rosell’s Auto Repair not only seems to heal cars after long term abandonment but, as well, bring joy to the lives who endured the separation.

**I will be taking the next few weeks off for vacation. Drivin’ News will return after Labor Day.**

By Burton Hall|2025-08-11T01:57:54+00:00August 11th, 2025|4 Comments

From a young age old photos from Italy’s famed Mille Miglia taken in the 1950s had captured my imagination. My fascination clung to the classic black and white images showing spectacular period sports cars departing from the elevated stage area on the viale Venezia in Brescia. Dramatic in a film noir kind of way, they evoked an earlier time and place, both heroic and romantic. It always seemed that the face of an elegant Grace Kelly should be close-by overlooking a departing open sports car with a Moss or Fangio or some rakish European playboy at the wheel.

Now, I had signed on with Grandstand Motor Sports a British motorsport travel specialist. More about them later. My time had finally arrived to experience the Mille Miglia, called by many “The most beautiful race in the world.”

2025 Mille Miglia; Hot Town, Summer in the City

Blue skies and soaring temperatures welcomed me to Brescia, the traditional launch point for the Mille Miglia. Mille Miglia translates to “1000 miles” in Italian and commemorates the roughly one thousand mile length of a grueling round trip race on public roads from Brescia to Rome and back. Starting in 1927 and for the last time in 1957 the treacherous route had often been run by teams combining the greatest drivers accompanied by skilled navigators. Death of teams and spectators alike loomed as a constant possibility.

Teams faced treacherous back roads that twisted through the rugged narrow mountain passes of the Italian back country that challenged both driver and navigator. Each race witnessed head to head competition between some of the most dominant performance vehicles from companies such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Maserati, Aston Martin and Jaguar. In 1957 one of those vehicles, a Ferrari 335S driven by Alfonso de Portago had a front tire burst causing him to somersault through a crowd of spectators by the tiny village of Guidizollo. Eleven people including de Portago and co-driver Ed Nelson died. The dead included 5 children. This catastrophic accident outraged the Italian public to a such a degree that it ended the Mille Miglia as a competitive race and indeed pretty much ended all racing on public roads in Italy.

In a 2012 interview racing great Stirling Moss, who held the Mille Miglia record with an average speed of 98.5 miles per hour and a total time of 10 hours and seven minutes, when asked to describe the race said, “Imagine going up a large incline towards a village and going at 185 miles per hour without knowing which way the road goes. It is the only race that frightened me, actually.” This from one of the greatest drivers ever.

How then does the modern Mille Miglia differ from the very dangerous race of 1957? That which helps make the modern version so attractive resides in the fact that only cars eligible to compete in the races between 1927 and 1957 can participate. The event, however, does not require nor reward high speed. The new Mille Miglia bases victory on the ability to maintain a specific average speed with the maximum average speed allowed being 50 km/h (31 mph). Competition involves timed stages where competitors must pass through checkpoints within set time windows. The resulting level of danger plummets while the challenge remains and the fun factor multiplies.

Walking through Brescia under cloudless skies and a blazing sun on the morning of Mille Miglia Day 1 finds a beautiful juxtaposition of timeless Italian architecture with ancient stone paved byways populated with examples of classic 20^th century automobile design. Beautiful, athletic, and even some quirky vehicles of all stripes adorn the ancient city. Though many cars feature dated technology all have arrived boasting their best fighting trim. All have come to face the challenge of conquering a thousand miles fraught with inhospitable back roads in a sweltering summer heat.

Cars of prized lineage filled the often narrow side streets. Throngs of admirers milled about the spectacular examples of period technology and historic authenticity. While brilliant sunshine bathed the city, that was not the case the days before. In speaking with American Mark Fitzgerald by his open 1939 BMW 328, he described how the previous two days were spent driving to Brescia in a steady downpour. Starting with Day 1 rain would never be an issue. Heat would be.

Priceless vintage cars from the 1920s through the 1950s in motion brought the cityscape to life. Race tuned engines could be heard approaching, then suddenly appearing as they wheeled around ancient corners with full-throated vigor. Smiling and waving to spectators, goggled drivers and navigators projected an eager anticipation for the awaiting adventure. As the day moved towards the scheduled 12:30pm start more and more cars came to life to make their way to the Piazza Vittorio for scrutineering and the sealing ceremony.

Scrutineering refers to the technical review of an automobile to ensure it conforms to regulations. In the days of the competitive race placing the seal on the engine sought to avoid substantial modifications. Today the sealing ceremony is symbolic with the lead seal being placed on the steering column. Thus the term “sealing ceremony.”

Crowds packed the barriers lining the sides of the viale Venezia, the major avenue where each entry clocked in at the traditional elevated stage. With 462 entrees a fair estimate of the length of the line approached two miles. Imagine an announcement at the Amelia Island Concours calling out to the cars on display, “Gentlemen (and ladies) start your engines.” Lined up according to registration number, each entry stops on the stage to enjoy its moment in the sun and collect its starting time. Roaring off to the cheers of the crowd the entrant’s clock now ticks. I found the throaty note of the old Bugattis especially appealing.

At the start, Andrea Vesco & Fabio Salvinelli in their 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS and subsequent winner

As the early stage of the Day 1 route would travel through some nearby towns, I accepted an opportunity to visit the tour route in the lovely peninsula village of Sirmione on Lake Garda. I found crowds along the route enthusiastic and engaged. The vibe imparted the feel of one very long and happy American Fourth of July Parade. Even early on in Day 1 the heat made itself known. For the first time in my life I saw the notoriously hot Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing driving with its doors open. Quite a sight. Seeing the breathtaking array of Mille Miglia entrants driving through the countryside brought to mind vibrant blood flowing through a body and with it bringing life and vigor.

Adventures experienced by the participants during the magical and sunlit days along the figure eight route forged indelible memories to be enjoyed forever. Upon their return on Day 5, the somewhat weary and very warm entrants rejoiced in their accomplishment. These were a few with whom I spoke:

Car #318: Lara Imberti Radici (R) and Martina Masoero Grattarola (L), Italy 1954 Porsche Speedster

Lara’s second and Martina’s first Mille Miglia, Martina said, “The experience was challenging, beautiful and glorious because, best of all, it provided a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with a dear friend after too much time apart.”

Car #133: Mark Fitzgerald and Craig Loucks, Denver, Colorado, 1939 BMW 328

It was Marks first Mille Miglia and Craig’s second. They agreed saying, “The Mille Miglia is an unbelievable experience. Yes, a lot of driving, a lot of sweating, a lot of heat, but visually magnificent. Like the roads. We drove through parts of Italy, We witnessed so much beauty. The problem is you’re going so fast you miss half of it, but it was amazing.”

Car #105: Neil Walker and Ian Walker, Great Britain, 1935 MGPB

Brothers, this was their second Mille Miglia. They said, “Very hot by comparison with last year but the weather was much better. It was a great experience.”

Car #96: Rob and Kim Goedmakers , Netherlands, 1934 Lagonda M45 Rapide

It is their first Mille Miglia. They said, “First no sleep. No time to eat. The whole experience was amazing. Italy was beautiful. The people are loving. A lot of waving from people. We felt like royalty. Considering everything. The car ran pretty good.”

Car #156: Henk & Marieke Van der Kwast, Netherlands, 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS

It is Henk’s fifth Mille Miglia and Marieka’s first. Laughing Henk says, “There was a driver who apparently did not listen to one of the event marshals and nearly bumped him. So the marshal kicked the front of his car. Puts in a big dent. Just five minutes ago. Other than that the whole experience was very very nice.”

Car #232: Jeff Lotman & Tom Phillippe, USA, 1954 Lincoln Capri

This is their 11^th Mille Miglia, All in the same 1954 Lincoln Capri. They said, We had many memorable experiences. We also had some brake problem but we had great weather and it was dry, thank God.”

Car #233: Paul & Susan Haggar, Great Britain, 1950 Jaguar XK120

It is their first Mille Miglia. As to lasting memories Paul called attention to the wicked blister on his foot that he had endured for three days. Susan pointed out that after five days on the road they are still talking to each other. Paul went on to say, that his XK120 had been driven by Paul Salvidori who had won LeMans in 1959 at the wheel of an Aston Martin.”

Car #115: Daisy Chu and Ping Hsu, Taiwan, 1937 BMW 328

Both agreed they had a glorious bucket list experience saying, “This has always been a dream. The scenery was breathtaking. Maybe best of all the Italian people were so welcoming.”

To say all the drivers returned to a warm welcome ranks as a gross understatement, in more ways than one. Temperatures had reached well into the 90s during a brutal heat wave. While cars faced challenges thanks to the mountain roads and heat, the last mile subjected both cars and occupants to the greatest test.

Being the owner of a Jaguar XK120MC, I appreciate the intolerance for heat engineered into every XK120. As Day 5 approached conclusion, cars had to wait for an extended period idling in a queue under a blazing sun. As minutes ticked by and temperature gauges pegged, Many decided to simply shut down before damage occurred. I have noted that few photos of the 2025 Mille Miglia, if any, show incredibly credentialed and valuable vintage automobiles being pushed to the foot of the elevated stage. That said, I can now claim that while I never ran in the Mille Miglia, I did walk, as I helped Daisy Chu and Ping Hsu push their BMW 328 towards the finish line.

Though I did not experience the grand journey of “The most beautiful race,” I have experienced being in the presence of glorious and historic performance cars prepared to honor their heritage. With that in mind and a solid 1953 XK120MC in my garage, I paused to consider “What if?”

Indeed, what if. Though I had my suspicions, I did a cursory review of the costs involved to gain entry to the ranks of those allowed to mount the stage on viale Venezia.

One package I found included all the accommodations, food, technical and customer service support excluding a list of extras. The package also included a route book, Mille Miglia decals and a goodie bag. The cost of the full package and entry fees came to a total of £82,000 ($109,988). This did not include a Chophard Mille Miglia watch at £6,600.

Like the blazing summer sun above Brescia, considering the cost to run the Mille Miglia made me break out in a sweat.

Grandstand Motor Sports promotes itself as the UK’s leading motorsports tour operator specializing in tailor-made motor racing holidays worldwide. My experience was that they did a splendid job of doing what they promised. Tia our event coordinator was an extraordinarily capable delight.

By Burton Hall|2025-07-21T14:32:32+00:00July 20th, 2025|10 Comments

The coldest winter in memory had clamped a frozen grip upon all life in Estonia. Mihkel while battling the bitter cold knew that the record cold would ironically be the key to his plan’s success. The following morning in pitch darkness he, accompanied by his son Jack, would depart the Royale’s hiding place. From there they would drive the it across the frozen edge of the nearby Gulf of Finland with his sights on reaching Finland and freedom. Through all of this Mihkel knew his journey would be haunted by a well connected Soviet army officer obsessed with having the Royale for his own.

FINAL EPISODE – In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 20 – A Snowball’s Chance)

Soviet Icebreaker “The Lenin”

ESTONIA 1987

Petrov felt in his bones the Super Auto hiding somewhere near Neeme. He just had to get back to that desolate village. His intuition rewarded him. What he found set his Super Auto passion on fire. It also befuddled him. Right in front of him, fresh tracks in the snow. First tank tread tracks, then marks of tires with snow chains. Maddeningly he realized it had just been there. His mind raced with “how could this be?” themed thoughts. He also realized the “why” did not matter if he located the “what”. He followed the tire marks to the edge of the Gulf. He scream out loud and to no one in particular, “This is crazy.” Then, in the distance he saw it. A spot of light. He jumped in the car and together with the three soldiers attempted to chase the dot of light. Immediately the car just spun like a top.

Soviet MiG-23

Now, acting like a wild man, a frantic Petrov had the soldiers push the sedan back towards the shore. In a comic scene the soldiers slipped and fell and pushed as, all the while, Petrov screamed. Finally the car gained traction at the shore line. With frozen soldiers shivering in the car, Petrov raced back to the house of Peeter Oja. Banging on the door he demanded entry to use Peeter’s phone. Having lost control of his better judgment, he pulled every string he had. He called in every favor owed him and mentioned every story that someone did not want told. He woke his friend the admiral together with the admiral’s girlfriend. Petrov passionately sold him on an opportunity to do something big and get the promotion the admiral so richly deserved. All the admiral had to do was order a plane to bomb the ice to stop an “enemy of the people” from escaping across the frozen Gulf of Finland. Unfortunately, the admiral, half in a sleepy fog with the young woman snuggled on his chest, advised Petrov that a dangerously low ceiling had grounded all flights. “Damn it,” screamed Petrov, “Send an ice breaker and cut him off.” “Interesting,” replied the awakening admiral. “And who is this enemy of the people?” Trust me pleaded Petrov, “You will be famous.” “Okay Yuri, replied the sleepy admiral, “I have a husky older ice breaker ‘”The Lenin”’ close by. I can send it.” Pleased with his success, Petrov set about assembling the men and resources needed to retrieve “his” Super Auto. By now, Petrov had lost any command of rational thinking. He had become Captain Ahab and the Bugatti his white whale.

GULF OF FINLAND 1987

An ominous cracking sound emanating from the ice beneath the Bugatti’s chain wrapped tires sent shivers through their spines. Mihkel and Jack comforted themselves by noting that cracking did not necessarily mean breaking through. The words “I hope” went unspoken. Mihkel drove at a slow deliberate pace. In light of the dense cloud cover and barren landscape, navigation had to rely solely on Mihkel’s and Jack’s orienteering skills, which were considerable. Jack, armed with his compass and map applied his best “Kentucky Windage” to charting a path to a shore line in some part of the free world.

For Mihkel, vivid memories of his beloved and noble dog team and his escape across this same frozen expanse in the bitter winter of 1940 flooded back. At times the triumphant recollections of the past adventure overshadowed the very real and deep concerns presented by the present one. A kind of calm conviction had fallen over both father and son; Or it might better be described as a fatigued numbness born of the months of relentless emotional strain and, now, the inevitability of a fast approaching conclusion. However mixed their emotions, their focus never departed from the challenge of successfully traversing this frozen desert of ice. Then they saw it.

In the distance, a hulking Soviet ice breaker named “The Lenin” haltingly smashed the unusually thick Gulf of Finland ice as it plowed across from the east with its spotlights slicing the darkness as it scanned its surroundings. Continuing on its present course it would cleave the line Jack had plotted for the Royale’s escape route. The Lenin, a 440-ft. nuclear powered ice breaker usually patrolled the arctic ice that presented greater challenges than the normally more moderate ice cover in the Gulf of Finland. For a number of years it had been the pride of the Soviet Northern Fleet. However, chance would find The Lenin in the Gulf and, now, it towered as a powerful force determined to frustrate Mihkel’s plan. Clearly, It would be a race, plain and simple. Mihkel had to pass to the west of the ice crushing Soviet juggernaut before it cut a channel preventing his escape to Finland and freedom.

Mihkel could not safely increase his speed considering the enveloping darkness, the limited range of his spotlights and the frequent irregularities in the ice surface that needed to be avoided. Worse, it seemed impossible that the Soviet ship had not yet sighted the running lights of the Royale. Locating the escaping “enemy of the people” would considerably improve the Soviet ship’s ability to plot an optimal interception course. Mihkel observed that the attack angle of the ice breaker had changed to shorten the distance that the ship would have to travel to cut off their escape. With their chances for success clearly diminishing, both Mihkel and Jack felt the time had come to break radio silence. Jack reached for the Nokia mobile phone. He punched in Valentina’s number. She picked up on the first ring. Jack as calmly as possible briefed her on their situation. Clearly the ice breaker had been a game changer. He let her know their intended course had not changed from what they discussed when planning, but now everything had become fluid. Suddenly the phone signal started to break up. The Soviets had been listening in and had heard enough. Valentina’s voice signal deteriorated into incomprehensible static. The Soviets had succeeded in jamming the signal leaving father and son truly on their own. With no other option, Mihkel continued on the course Jack had plotted.

As the great ship loomed ever larger, its searchlights swept ever closer towards the point where it would pass across the Royale’s path. Then it happened. A great rift in the ice opened up ahead of the Royale. Like a crack in a windshield it literally ran across Mihkel’s field of vision from east to west. Spanning the distance from the icebreaker’s bow it cut off any path to Finland. “Game, set, match,” observed Jack with dejected resignation.

Just then an odd sound came from the Royale’s dashboard. “What the hell is that?” snapped Mihkel. With a bemused incredulity Jack responded, “I think it’s the police phone.” Jack remembered Viktor’s fascination with it. Jack recalled considering whoever outfitted this car in the late 1930s had really thought of everything, but then gave it no more thought. Jack picked up the hand set and heard Valentina’s voice. No time to explain she instructed. Jack gave a quick update describing how the Soviet ice breaker had cut off their escape. Basically he and Mihkel had run out of options. Valentina replied, “I disagree.” She continued saying, “Do you have your lights on.” Jack ever the wise-ass responded, “You bet we do. Wouldn’t want that big Soviet ice breaker to miss us.” Valentina continued saying, “Do you have a flashlight?” “Yes,” answered Jack. Valentina with the conviction of a drill instructor said, “I know it is brutally cold but stand outside and, shortly, you will hear something coming toward you. Just wave your flashlight at it. No questions. Just do it. Trust me.”

Jack stepped outside. In a few bitingly cold moments he heard a loud rhythmic sound coming in low and fast. Looking towards Mihkel, Jack uttered in disbelief, “Jesus.” Stirring up a bone chilling swirling storm of snow a Sikorsky Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter hovered, then, it set down a short distance from the Royale. Sliding back the cockpit window Ed “Wonderfalk” Sikes yelled to hook up the car as the helicopter’s side door opened and John Taylor brought out rigging cables. The biting cold made it too difficult and painful to talk. Talking could wait. Jack knew exactly what to do. This Bugatti had been designed with four jack points to facilitate rapid tire changes during a race. Each jack point consisted of a 10-inch long high strength steel bar attached between two gusseted chassis mounts. With a cable affixed to each of the four jack points everybody scrambled on board except Jack. He remained on the ground to make sure the load hung properly. With the grace of an Olympic gymnast the Super Stallion with Wonderfalk at the controls lifted the Bugatti. With the Royal suspended from the cables and hanging flat and steady a few feet off the ground, John tossed down a rope ladder which Jack climbed. Now sealed up and airborne the big chopper turned north and, with its priceless cargo firmly secured, headed across the frozen international waters towards Finland and freedom.

ESTONIA 1987

“What? What helicopter? Shoot it down! No, don’t shoot it down! No, Shoot it down!” spit flew out of Petrov’s mouth onto the mouthpiece as he screamed uncontrollably into the phone at the admiral.

Ripped from the joy of arranging the capture of these pirates absconding with his Bugatti, Petrov could not believe some helicopter had snatched away this treasure from closing grasp. He fumed. While he bellowed at no one in particular, he stood amidst the Soviet Army detail assigned to him. He drew numerous uncomfortable glances as he ranted saying, “Our planes are grounded yet some “Buck-a-roo” zooms in under our noses and snatches this prize. What kind of cowardly Soviet pilots do we have who fear a few clouds?” Soldiers in his detail, first imperceptibly then more obviously, began putting distance between themselves and Petrov.

FINLAND 1987

As a bottle of brandy circulated through the helicopter warming faces produced the jubilation of great victories and the raucous laughter born of death defied. Naali, the Arctic Fox, and Wonderfalk, clearly, had added to their legends. Shortly the coast of Finland came into view greeted by the hearty cheers of all on board. Suddenly the helicopter slowed to a hover. A forest clearing came into view. Out from the woods emerged a large truck with a canvas topped bed. Four men jumped out of the truck, pulled back the canvas cover and removed the metal ribs that supported the canvas. Wonderfalk skillfully hovered above the truck. He positioned the Bugatti squarely over the truck’s bed. Then, like placing a baby on a blanket he gently lowered the 7^th Bugatti Royale onto the truck where the four men each released one of the cables. Then Mihkel, Jack and John quickly hauled in the cables and by the time the chopper had turned to leave, the truck had disappeared.

After a matter of minutes, the helicopter with Wonderfalk at the controls approached the far end of a quiet snow topped meadow. Once there he put down near a waiting car. John Taylor directed Mihkel and Jack out of the helicopter to the car where Valentina waited. With a quick exchange of warm hugs mixed with Valentina’s tears the three departed quickly with Valentina at the wheel. She explained that all would meet up after Ed had returned the helicopter to the Finish National Geological Survey facility upon completing John Taylor’s “government approved” aerial review of various geological features.

After driving through a forest to the end of a meandering country road, they pulled up to a small but handsome stone cottage. It belonged to a retired General in the Finish Defense Forces. The General’s service to his country dated back to the Winter War of 1939 to 1940. From firsthand experience the General held Mihkel and Ed in the highest regard. Nothing would be too much to ask if requested by the legendary Wonderfalk and Naali, The Arctic Fox. Like the General, a legion of senior and influential members of Finish society felt the same way about Mihkel and Ed. That deep reverence had helped facilitate the favorable and expeditious treatment of a number of accommodations made in the name of Wonderfalk and the Arctic Fox. The availability of a heavy lift helicopter, the off-loading and disappearance of an unregistered car flown onto Finish soil and confirmation of Mihkel’s and Jack’s legal entry into Finland represented but three examples.

The five co-conspirators; Mihkel, Ed, Jack, Valentina and John seated near a very warm and welcoming fire in the cozy cottage, hosted a recounting of everyone’s role in the Great Escape. Stories of heroism, close calls and lucky breaks filled the air like a dense flock of birds. The magnificent cooperation of their valiant Estonian and Finish co-conspiratorial accomplices, some free some not, resided at the heart of much of the retelling.

Amidst the exhaustion and exhilaration reality slapped Jack in the face. “Where’s the car?” Jack bellowed. Ed’s response froze all in stunned silence. “I doubt you’ll ever see it again,” said Ed. “What?” they responded as one. “I sold it,” said Ed, suddenly assuming his persona as the savvy classic car broker. The room dithered like a bee hive that had lost its queen. Ed continued explaining, “I reached out to two quite secretive Swiss car collectors, brothers actually, with a passion for Bugattis and anonymity. Quite an appealing combination I thought considering our circumstances. I had dealt with them previously. Anyway, as I suspected, Hans and Fritz, their last name is Schlumpf, jumped at the chance.” Ed continued, having correctly read the troubled looks swirling about the room, “What you have achieved has been a great accomplishment but the challenge of selling a car, one that, let’s be honest, has been pilfered from behind the Iron Curtain, is fraught with many serious problems. Some involve the authorities who despite how much Mihkel is loved and respected, may not view this situation in the kindest of lights. Selling to the Schlumpfs eliminated all of these potential problems.” After a painful silence Mihkel spoke, “I have and continue to trust Ed with my life. Whatever he has done I support. My goal has been to contribute to my father’s dream of creating a technical trade school in a free Estonia. I hope this will help. How did we do?” Ed responded by explaining that the Schlumpfs were known as shrewd negotiators. He explained how they knew well the precarious situation in which his client, Mihkel, found himself. He added that the Schlumpfs, who had lost their Bugatti collection, desperately wanted this car and the secrecy that surrounded it. So Ed said, “We settled on a price that we agreed would be fair to both sides.” Ed paused for effect. He then said, “How does $8.5 million sound.” Outside the cottage a sudden explosion of screams and joyous laughter echoed through the otherwise silent snow trimmed woods. A startled Siberian Jay took flight from a nearby tree.

EPILOGUE

MOSCOW 1987 – The Soviet Union denied published reports of a maritime incident in the frozen Gulf of Finland during the “Big Freeze” OF 1987.

MOSCOW 1988 – Intense and classified scrutiny by the badly embarrassed Soviet Politburo focused on what had internally been described as unauthorized use of the People’s ice breaker “Lenin.” The admiral responsible received the significant amount of intention that he craved; unfortunately, all of it bad. He was subjected to a humiliating demotion which could have been far worse. However, he defended himself by declaring to have been following the directions of Colonel Yuri Petrov who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Soviet KGB hierarchy.

SIBERIA 1988 – Colonel Yuri Petrov was reinstated into active duty in the Red Army. Assigned to the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, he would oversee troops guarding the Northeastern Siberian labor camps. He would do so until the collapse of the Soviet Union 1n 1991.

ESTONIA 1991 – Estonia departs the Soviet Bloc to become a free and independent nation.

FINLAND 1992 – Because of their past financial problems and fear of the Royale’s seizure by the French Government, the Schlumpf brothers hid their newly acquired 7^th Royale at an isolated location in Finland known only to them. Hans Died in 1989. Fritz died in 1992. Neither brother ever revealed the location of the Royale. To this day no one knows of its location. That remains a story to be told another day.

ESTONIA 1993 – Mihkel Oja together with his wife Beth and son Jack were joined by Valentina and John Taylor and Ed “Wonderfalk” Sikes for the ribbon cutting to open the OJA Technical Training Institute in Tallinn. Viktor Karmään was announced as its Director.

With the this the conclusion of the “The Lost 7th Royale,” I would greatly appreciate any and all comments as to the quality of its content and its ability to hold your interest.

By Burton Hall|2025-07-02T22:38:55+00:00July 1st, 2025|6 Comments

Mihkel refused to accept defeat. He committed himself to selling the Bugatti in the non-communist world of the West. His goal being to fund an Estonian technical school honoring his parent’s name. To succeed, he would resort to a new plan that called for revisiting an old solution. Confronted by an extraordinarily bitter Baltic winter, Mihkel recognized a rare opportunity. He would take advantage of the severe cold by driving the Bugatti to Finland and freedom across a frozen Gulf of Finland. With the mechanically revitalized Bugatti now stashed in an isolated fishing village by the edge of the frozen Gulf, Mihkel stood poised to face the greatest challenge of his life. Certainly he had no intention of allowing some corrupt Soviet military officer to stop him.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale (Part 3, Episode 19 – Frozen Freeway to Freedom

ESTONIA 1987, JANUARY 9th

An hour after learning of a possible sighting of the mystery Bugatti, a frenzied Yuri Petrov hustled to a waiting military vehicle joined by three Soviet soldiers. “Go, go, go,” snapped Petrov. Leaving Tallin, they headed for the eastern part of Harju County to where the informant had reported seeing the big fancy car. Here deep in Estonian winter the sun would set at 15:45. Petrov hoped to get there before dark. His driver had his doubts.

FINLAND 1987, JANUARY 9th

Before departing for Helsinki Valentina had been thoroughly briefed by Mihkel. She knew he intended for the Bugatti to depart in darkness on the morning of the 10^th. She felt greatly relieved that her husband John had equipped them with a Nokia Cityman 450 mobile phone. She did not understand much about these newly introduced portable phones, but she felt greatly relieved that Mihkel had one. The thought that there might be a way to communicate with them during the Great Escape comforted her.

Ed “Wonderfalk” Sikes had arrived well over a week ago. He immediately endeared himself as if a distant but beloved family member. She somehow wanted to call him Uncle Ed. She found great solace in his warmth, confidence and abilities. As a diplomat Valentina had experience with many powerful people. Somehow “Wonderfalk” seemed different. With her diplomatic experience, she marveled at how he managed his global connections like a chess master skillfully moving pieces; sometimes calmly, other times aggressively but always with a plan. With a magician’s ease, he seemed capable of making doors magically open. Soon it would not be a door that challenged him but an Iron Curtain.

ESTONIA 1987, JANUARY 9th

Considering the flimsy fabric of any realistic expectations of success, all preparations had been completed to the degree possible. Tomorrow would be the day. The sight of a low thick cloud cover over the frozen Gulf of Finland heartened Mihkel. Thankfully Salamander space heaters had been brought to warm the small warehouse concealing the stashed Bugatti. The Royale, now calmly idling, stood fully prepped. Tomorrow morning Jack intended to have it at operating temperature and ready by 6:00am. Here in the far north daylight would arrive at 9:18 in the morning. Mihkel estimated the distance across the Gulf to be roughly 60 miles. How long would it take? Hopefully less than the three hours when dawn would arrive, but no one really knew. Mihkel and Jack would be together in the Royale. Reminiscent of the early pre-WWII days of auto racing, Mihkel would drive and Jack would be the riding mechanic.

Thiokol Snow Cat

Viktor, driving the Thiokol 601 would clear the way to the Gulf’s frozen edge. He, then, would return to Eesti Energia to return the borrowed equipment. At that point committed to reaching the distant shore Mihkel, Jack and the beautiful beast would be on their own. For enhanced visibility, 12-volt spotlights had been affixed on the front of the Bugatti. The Nokia Cityman 450 mobile phone would be in the Bugatti. Viktor looking at the Bugatti’s 1938 police phone joked that if Mihkel and Jack needed help they could always call the police. Interestingly, a while back Viktor during a rare break from resurrecting the Royale had taken the opportunity to mention the police phone in the car to John Taylor. Viktor found it fascinating that cars in the 1930s could have 2-way communication. While technology had moved on he believed that that police phone could still communicate with someone using a shortwave radio dialed to around 3 Megahertz. Geologist John had a mind that liked science and numbers. He never forgot that discussion.

The approaching afternoon darkness muted the fading daylight of the frigid January 9^th. All that could be done had been done. Jack had just shut down the Bugatti when everyone heard a car pull up. A car door opened. A voice called out. At the front door of the nearby house, the owner of the warehouse could be heard responding. The owner, Peeter Oja, an older Oja family member and great admirer of Mihkel, had been pleased to contribute the use of his warehouse to what he viewed as Mihkel’s patriotic effort.

A man speaking in Russian with a commanding tone, identified himself as a Colonel Petrov. Despite his best efforts to intimidate the old man, Petrov experienced no success in communicating with Peeter. Peeter understood Russian but, apparently, had chosen not to in this instance. Meanwhile peeking through a crack in the warehouse wall, Viktor saw four men in uniforms standing by the four open doors of the car. He gasped upon recognizing the one speaking and clearly in charge. It was the Soviet officer he had misdirected at the train station. He felt a chill; one that had nothing to do with the sub-zero temperature.

Frustrated with the stupid Estonian who did not understand the language of his Russian occupiers, the officer called upon one of his accompanying soldiers, an Estonian who spoke Russian, to translate. Like a schoolyard bully the soldier gruffly demanded to know if the old man had seen any unusual activity involving a big fancy car. The normally sharp Peeter, acted confused, even baffled by the questions. He deferentially apologized for his inability to help. Finally, Petrov, clearly frustrated and with the sun setting, said he would return tomorrow. Four doors could be heard shutting. The sedan spun its tires in the loose slippery gravel and pulled away from the village heading in the direction of Tallinn. Peeter shuffling past a warehouse window cast a sly and knowing smile to those inside. Relieved but alarmed, Mihkel, Jack and Viktor knew they had to be long gone by tomorrow morning.

Shortly after departing Neeme and while passing the residence of the informant, Petrov decided he did not like the idea of traveling the distance back to Tallinn. He sensed that he should not leave: that his Super Auto lay hidden somewhere within his grasp. No, he would not return to Tallinn. He would honor the local informant responsible for sighting the car by allowing him to house Petrov and his soldiers for the evening.

ESTONIA 1987, JANUARY 10^th

The three awoke to an outside temperature of -24°F. Luckily their parkas, sleeping bags and the space heaters made the little sleep they got sufficiently comfortable. Looking out a soiled window Mihkel, upon seeing a very low hanging sky, nodded to himself. Then offering his comrades a clenched lipped half-smile, set about explaining how the low ceiling would be their friend. Viktor, ever the eager student, had asked Mihkel why the low sky pleased should please them.

Mihkel described how a low cloud ceiling over the Gulf of Finland can be thick enough to interfere with radar. As well, such a low cloud cover especially when combined with a deep freeze could seriously degrade flying conditions much to the benefit of their Royale’s Great Escape. The low temperature would likely mean that all military aircraft concerned about icing on the wings would be grounded and anything in the air could never see through the dense cloud cover. In all, winter weather conditions producing seriously impaired radar tracking and grounded military aircraft would significantly improve their chances for success. To be more specific Mihkel comforted the team saying, “Now, we do have a snow ball’s chance in hell.” Michael laughed heartily and warmly cuffed a clearly concerned Viktor on the shoulder.

Serenaded by the throaty rumble of the idling and, now, warmed Royale the three completed a breakfast consisting of cold sandwiches and hot coffee. As Jack opened the carburetor choke, the engine smoothed out. The resulting transition of the massive 12.7-liter engine’s note to a brutish hum seemed to signal a call to action. With Peeter joining in, handshakes and hugs prefaced everyone’s retreat to their stations: Viktor to the Snow Cat. Mihkel and Jack to the Royale and Peeter to clearing his warehouse of any telltale debris.

Petrov had barely slept. His watch showed 5:30 am. Though black as the dead of night, 5:30 found him shuffling about while mustering a cup of coffee. The house offered nary a sound save for the light snoring of one of the soldiers. “How wretchedly bitter,” Petrov mused as he looked into the empty blackness.”

Viktor, his face illuminated by the Snow Cat instrument cluster, lead the way into the pitch darkness of the early morning. The Snow Cat’s bright headlamps and rooftop spotlights carved a tunnel of light ending at the surrounding desolate forest in the distance. Elderly Peeter, his breath billowing like a cloud encircling his weather lined face stood at the open warehouse door as the Royale eased out like a great ship departing port. Accompanying the movement of this grand Bugatti like some great mechanical musical instrument, the snow chains wrapped about each tire accompanied each rotation with a husky rhythmic rattle, clink and clatter. Mihkel in pulling out had just begun to get a feel for the Royale. On the light dusting of fine snow, the brutish torque of the engine spun the wheels and threw a chain free. Mihkel gunned the engine in frustration and hopped out of the car together with Jack to ensure once and for all the chains would remain in place. The lights of the Snow Cat bathed the big Bugatti in welcome illumination as Mihkel and Jack labored in the cruel cold.

Petrov’s head snapped to alert, his right side ear tilted up as if to enhance its acuity. “Did you hear that?” barked a wide eyed Petrov. All in the kitchen, each muddled in a post sleep fog, expressed a variant of the same response, “hear what?” “Shut up and listen, do you hear it?” bellowed Petrov. And they did. The sound clearly emanated from a serious engine. Petrov knew it had to be the racing engine of a great Bugatti. “Get dressed. Get dressed. Let’s go. Let’s go!” yelled a frantic Petrov. For Petrov, moments that seemed like hours dragged by as the young soldiers hustled to depart. One of the soldiers and been smart enough to leave their car running over night. They stumbled through the light snow cover and fumbled with their thick gloves and clumsy door handles. One of the doors seemed frozen. Petrov near apoplectic shoved both soldiers in through the one operative rear door. They headed north towards Neeme.

Their frigidly painful task completed, Mihkel and Jack knew the snow chains could now be trusted. Mihkel, as well, with greater respect for the Bugatti’s power, eased in behind the Snow Cat. The sound of the Snow Cat’s tank treads together with the Bugatti’s huge V8 driven chain wrapped wheels made what Mihkel acknowledged as one God awful noise. He crossed himself and prayed that the “The Good Lord” would keep the cloud cover low and dense.

Viktor nosed up to the edge of the frozen Gulf and backed off to make room for the Bugatti. Viktor, Mihkel and Jack exchanged waves and thumbs up. They did not dare to leave their vehicles. They had said enough goodbyes. Mihkel eased the beautiful beast onto the ice. His concern for controlling the Bugatti on such a hazardous surface caused Mihkel to move slowly and deliberately. He would most likely remain in second gear for greater control. While staying in the lower gear might consume more fuel, Mihkel and Jack agreed that the Bugatti’s full 200-liter gas tank would hopefully eliminate fuel as a concern.

Viktor choked up as he watched the two greatest men he had ever known slowly disappear into a frozen unknown. As much as he just wanted to watch their journey for as long as possible, he knew he should leave immediately lest Communist soldiers who had not been bribed come by on patrol. As a snow had started to fall and cover his tracks, Viktor chose to take a longer path back before returning to the main road. While approaching a clearing where in daylight Peeter Oja’s old warehouse could be seen, Viktor caught the flash of an approaching car’s headlights in the far distance. Unsure as to who would be out here in the early morning, he turned his lights off, shut down the Snow Cat and waited silently in the dark.

THE CONCLUDING EPISODE OF THE LOST 7^TH ROYALE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON JULY 1. I AM GOING TO ITALY FOR THE MILLE MIGLIA:)

By Burton Hall|2025-06-12T11:44:33+00:00June 12th, 2025|2 Comments

Though discovered and freed from its 45-year confinement in Jaak Oja’s barn in rural Estonia, the fabulous last 7^th Bugatti Royale remained a captive behind the Soviet Iron Curtain. Mihkel Oja’s plan to spirit away this long lost treasure, had been dashed. Colonel Yuri Petrov a high ranking and highly connected Soviet army officer had stumbled upon the Bugatti’s existence. Petrov, like his mentor, past Soviet Premier Leonid Brehznev, enjoyed a very uncommunist-like passion for exotic cars. Petrov by following the Bugatti’s trail to Estonia had unknowingly foiled Mihkel’s plan to surreptitiously ship the car out of the country. Now, with a harsh winter fast approaching and the team’s legitimate window for leaving Estonia quickly closing and the mounting threat of discovery by communist authorities, Mihkel had to act now or never.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 18 – End Game)

ESTONIA, 1986

St. Lucia’s Day 1986 found Mihkel, in looking ahead, recognizing an oncoming weather pattern. He had seen it once before in the cruel winter of early 1940. Only this time the signs portended an even more brutally punishing Arctic freeze. In light of this observation, he had an idea. Mihkel’s Plan “B” did not even enjoy the slim odds of success associated with the “Trojan Horse” plan that had failed. However, it did have one great advantage. He had made it work once before.

Upon hearing Mihkel’s plan his team of Valentina, Jack, John, and, now, Viktor, new to the leadership role, screamed “absolutely not.” Though Viktor did not yell as vigorously as the others. “That’s insane,” barked Valentina. Mihkel just calmly raised his right hand, palm out, like a policeman stopping traffic. “I have done it before,” Mihkel quietly said attempting to quell their concern. Then, Jack spoke up saying, “Yes and you did it as a young man with a team of huskies and a dog sled, not a 2-ton Bugatti.” Mihkel’s plan focused on prepping the Bugatti to drive across a frozen Gulf of Finland to Finland. With a gently expressed feigned confidence Mihkel attempted to lighten the mood saying, “What could possibly go wrong?”

After a discussion consisting of pretty much equal parts heated disagreement and pleading, Mihkel’s team unanimously rejected the idea. However, Mihkel’s vote would be the only one to matter, and he voted yes. The dissenting but ever loyal team fell in line. They would do everything possible to make the plan work. Though he did not let on, Viktor who had come to revere Mihkel on a level bordering worship, felt a powerful inner burst of pride in witnessing Mihkel’s determination.

The Gulf of Finland had not frozen over since 1940 when Mihkel escaped across the ice to Finland. However, a wicked and unusually severe arctic cold wave had swept over the Baltic region with daily temperatures hovering around 0°F. Mihkel’s instincts afforded him the confidence to basically bet his life that the “Big Freeze” would linger; and it did. For the first time in 47 years the Gulf between Tallinn and Helsinki would freeze. While the “Big Freeze” gave Mihkel what he wanted, it deprived much of the local population of what they needed. As temperatures plummeted producing record lows reaching -24°F. Local power outages left people without heat or electricity, some shops had empty shelves, and inflation soared as the value of the Russian Ruble fell. Rationing of bread and milk products resulted from interrupted supply chains. The inability of the Estonian government to function effectively created an overall shock to the public. The only silver lining of this freak weather crisis came in how it would benefit Mihkel’s escape. The American dollar, of which Mihkel’s team had a stash, became even more desirable, as the Estonian populace found itself with a desperate need for basic supplies, supplies that could purchase on the black market with the more valuable American dollar. Effectiveness of Estonian border security forces and repressive communist policies in general had declined in the face of the punishing weather conditions compounded by a growing Estonian pro-independence movement. If ever there existed the perfect bad storm enabling a clandestine Iron Curtain border crossing this was it.

Compared to the group that undertook the unsuccessful “Trojan Horse” effort, the team in Estonia dedicated to undertaking this ice bound “Great Escape” would look very different and be much smaller. With time quickly running out on the Estonian government sanctioned stays of Valentina’s Dance troop and John’s Geological Research team, both groups would have to depart for Helsinki as planned by December 18th. However, neither Mihkel nor Jack would be with them. Here the team prayed for the persuasive power of the American dollar in a country where a bribe of $500 could significantly improve a local person’s life for a year. Now in the “Big Freeze” its value as an incentive had significantly increased.

So much could go wrong it seemed hardly possible that the plan could succeed. There existed no doubt that faith played a major role. Valentina’s and John’s groups would depart for Helsinki before ice blocked the ferry. Customs officials had accepted life changing bribes of $1000 each to approve passage of Mihkel and Jack through customs “in abstentia” so to speak. Mihkel, Jack, and Viktor intended to remain in Estonia where, supported by the Forest Brothers and Sisters, they would work feverishly to bring the Royale back to an operational state. Amidst the chaos swirling around this last minute (no one wanted to use the word “desperate”) plan’s implementation, thinking negatively had no value. Everyone simply had to believe. Mihkel’s best estimate placed D-Day, (Departure Day) at around the 10^th of January depending on more variables than any team member care to acknowledge.

By the morning after being misdirected by Viktor, Petrov now accompanied by a few Soviet soldiers had finally located the warehouse deep in the dense Estonian forest. It triggered a distant memory. An overnight dusting of snow had obscured any tire tracks around the structure. However, once inside, evidence of a flurry of very recent activity could be seen everywhere. Empty Tartu Õlletehas brand beer bottles collected in a barrel. Mugs still held some coffee, though now frozen. However, most perplexing to Petrov, could best be described as a great timber monument. Dominating the warehouse floor resided a giant horizontal log stack. A dumbfounding anomaly, it made no sense until Petrov walked around to the other side to discover that the great stack formed a hollow space large enough to conceal an automobile. Petrov’s pulse raced. Then, his jaw clenched with frustration as he ruminated on what he would have found if he had only gotten here a day earlier. “Damn that stupid truck driver and his stupid directions,” he thought. However, his mood quickly swung to that of a great hunter on a warm trail. He felt a glorious prize within his reach. Still, he would have someone keep an eye on the warehouse.

With time melting like butter on a hot skillet, Mihkel had to make two quick decisions. First he had to detail for Valentina and John their roles and responsibilities. While their dance and geological groups would return to America, they would stay in Helsinki and coordinate activities on the Finnish side. For Valentina that meant taking vacation time from her United Nations work to open up channels available to her through her diplomatic contacts and to immediately enlist the support of Ed Sikes. Apparently “Naali, the Arctic Fox” and “Wonderfalk” would have one more long shot mission to face. Secondly, Mihkel no longer felt safe housing the Bugatti on the Oja farm. The urgency of relocating the Royale could not be overstated. On December 16^th the Dance Company and Research team braving 0°F temperatures and biting winds had departed for Helsinki. December 17^th saw Valentina depart for Helsinki having confirmed that Ed Sikes would be arriving in Helsinki in two days. During that time “Wonderfalk” would be busy reconnecting with friends across the Baltic region. His exploits over the past 40-some years had earned him a rightfully earned hero’s stature across the region among senior members of the government and military alike. Any conversation expressing the possibility that the legendary Wonderfalk and Arctic Fox would reunite once again in Finland, would bring all other discussions to an abrupt and reverential halt.

John Taylor worked feverishly to arrange the technical support needed to provide any hope for Mihkel’s plan to succeed. Using his authority and some financial incentives he established Viktor as an approved source of technical support for Eesti Energia. This allowed the young Estonian access to the portable generators, welding equipment, space heaters and gasoline that had proved so helpful at the warehouse. Viktor would also have access to the motor pool as well as benefiting from the latest Nokia Cityman 450 mobile phone that would allow him to connect with John in Finland. The motor pool access and mobile phone addressed critical needs for transportation and communication necessary for Mihkel’s idea to have any chance of success. December 18^th saw John join Valentina in Helsinki. In that pivotal two-day period Viktor played the web of the Oja family underground like a virtuoso violinist. In that brief period he had arranged what he and Mihkel believed to be an ideal site in Harju County to relocate the Royale. In searching for a new work space Viktor had located an abandoned brick kiln very appealing on numerous counts especially its remoteness and proximity to the Gulf of Finland from where Mihkel would launch his escape. Its roomy interior and still functional fireplaces would provide an acceptable space to prep and stage the Bugatti for its planned midnight run to Finland and freedom.

Estonia’s northern coast bordering the Gulf of Finland provided the closest proximity to Finland, roughly 50 miles. The area had brick factories as its main employer. Poverty gripped a large part of the population. The state of the local economy would see the presence of Mihkel’s “Great Escape” effort provide a selective and desperately needed infusion of money into the hands of those that needed it most. Needless to say, the local community proved to be resoundingly supportive of and stonily silent about, whatever that very generous Viktor and his friends do in that old abandoned brick kiln.

In the setting sun of the crumbling Soviet empire young conscripts yanked from distant homelands proved equally open to cash incentives. In this case, the 18 to 20-year old soldiers responsible for raking the beaches to show any footsteps approaching the water, would, now, rake over any tire tracks when directed to do so.

Snow crunched under the tank treads of a trusty old Thiokol 601 Snow Cat as it left the Eesti Energia motor pool. Pulling an empty flatbed trailer, it moved quickly along the lonely country roads in a jerky sort of way. Its destination, the Oja farm. Reaching the farm it circled in the open yard kicking up a cloud of snow driven by a bitter wind. Jack opened the doors as Viktor deftly backed the trailer into the barn. The two together with Mihkel worked quickly. The Royale yielded its ground with surprisingly little resistance as the Snow Cat winched it on to the trailer. Fighting the cold and wind, the three men affixed and anchored a large tarp about the Bugatti’s sculpted contours. It transformed the beautiful beast into a shapeless cargo not worthy of a second look. With a burly groan accompanied by the rattle of trailer safety chains the big cat departed the garage: now towing a treasure. Before leaving, all three men did their best to remove signs of activity. They dropped hay and dragged rakes. They did their best to leave no trace. Mihkel, then, closed the barn doors and set the lock. Without looking back, the three men tossed suitcases into the Snow Cat, climbed in and left. While not yet under its own power, the big Royale had none the less begun its uncertain and irreversible journey to Finland and freedom.

December 20^th found Petrov having dinner with an old friend and senior navy officer in a command position with the Soviet Baltic Fleet. Petrov’s friend over many vodkas described the tedium of his responsibilities overseeing a fleet of old ice breakers. He bemoaned how a man of his skills and capabilities belonged in command of a Soviet warship. He resented his relegation to managing “old tubs that the Russian navy probably commissioned when Lenin was alive.” He viewed his situation as wrongful punishment for having taken advantage of opportunities that higher ups freely enjoyed. He explained his maltreatment saying, “Some greedy Stalin types did not like him drinking from their trough.” He dreamed of the opportunity to do something dramatic that would elevate his stature. “That,” he said, “Would force Moscow to reward him with an assignment suitable for a man of his abilities.” Petrov feigned sympathy for his drinking buddy’s situation though saw little hope for its improvement. That said, his friend from the old days could hold his liquor, enjoyed reliving stories and Petrov trusted him. In the Soviet hierarchy it is always important to nurture good friendships. One never knows when they will have value.

While Petrov rejected any Christian beliefs, a prerequisite for membership in the Communist Party, each winter holiday time (Christmas and New Years) he would return to his native Ukraine to enjoy holiday festivities and parties. He would do the same this year. He reasoned that in this frozen Estonian lock-down, no one would be doing anything, much less smuggling a Bugatti.

ESTONIA 1987

Everyone dearly missed their loved ones as they labored on the Royale bathed in the shadowy light that filled the abandoned Brick Kiln. Despite its age and decrepitude, its open wood burning fire places shielded them from the worst of the Hellish Estonian winter. For the first two weeks of the new year temperatures never rose above 0°F. Working through the forbidden Christmas holidays of communist Estonian, they entertained each other by signing joyous Christmas carols and songs. Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ around the Christmas tree” and the WWII classic “I’ll be home for Christmas” being two favorites. Viktor took special delight in learning the American songs. The fact that he had a great singing voice brought good cheer to all as they labored, and labor they did.

As skilled automotive troubleshooters they consistently marveled at the quality of the workmanship evident in the Royale. Chosen by fate to resurrect this pinnacle example of 20^th century Olympian automobiles each man worked in awe of its technical and aesthetic genius. It provided the team with a uniquely rugged mechanical jewel that their considerable technical skills could polish into a functioning automobile despite its near half century left in a barn. Working in their favor this last Royale had originally been designed and prepped to function optimally in a punishing long distance race through a harsh northern winter.

On January 7^th, Mihkel sat behind the wheel of the beautiful beast pulled out the choke and cranked the powerful starter motor. Much like a young child new to the challenge of walking, first attempts faltered. However, with technically astute Jack (Mihkel called Jack the car-whisperer) adjusting, tweaking and massaging the great 12.7 liter, 8-cylinder, the Royale roared to life. Exhibiting a truly human expression of achieving instantaneous freedom from unrelieved stress and a profound team accomplishment the three, to a man, cried as they cheered. Serenaded by the basso profundo exhaust note of the big V8, the men affixed snow chains to each tire for greater traction. The 52 gallon (200-liter) gas tank would hopefully feed the beast for long enough to reach Finland. They estimated 6 miles per gallon at best and 1.5 miles per gallon under full acceleration.

The morning of January 8^th welcomed the team with a -20°F slap in the face. Mihkel putting a good spin on the God-awful cold noted that the long spell of frigid weather ensured that the ice would be thick enough to support the Bugatti. He added that it could also kill them if not given due respect by dressing properly. Today, on this dark morning, they would transport the Bugatti to the small quiet town of Neeme by the Gulf coast. Victor had arranged for a warehouse where the Bugatti would be unloaded and fine tuned in preparation for the Great Escape on the 10th. On that day handsomely bribed young Soviet soldiers would be looking the other way when that time came.

Viktor backed the Snow Cat up to the abandoned vine wrapped brick kiln. With the doors open the Arctic wind caused the warming fires inside the kiln to dance within their brick enclosures. The men heavily bundled in white parkas struggled to wrap the Bugatti as before. This time the wind had other ideas and swept away the heavy tarp leaving it pinned to the top of a large nearby pine tree. Mihkel made the call, “Never mind, let’s go.” With the temperature so cold and the area so isolated, Mihkel’s hopes rested on the belief that no one would see the Bugatti on this dark morning. Even if they did, Mihkel and the Bugatti would soon be gone. He chuckled a fatalistic half laugh to himself thinking, “Guaranteed we will be gone, one way or the other.” The Snow Cat’s tracks dug into the snow covered ground. Again with a groan and the clanking of trailer chains the Royale moved yet closer to Finland and Freedom.

Through the holiday season Petrov had been unable and, admittedly, unwilling to free his mind from thoughts of the Super Auto that he believed waited just beyond his grasp. On January 5^th he had returned to Tallinn to continue his search. There he had reached out to the local communist authorities asking for any information that might relate to a “missing” special classic automobile. He explained it had been stolen from a politburo member and the KGB believed it might be in Estonia. He emphasized that the details of this matter should be kept confidential. He made a point of noting that any assistance would be greatly appreciated and rewarded.

Much to Mihkel’s mistaken relief, he believed that no one had seen them on the road that dark morning of the 8th. Even better, a winter mist had further obscured the Bugatti. None the less, everyone involved felt great relief upon seeing the Bugatti unloaded and sequestered in the warehouse at the small village of Neeme. Over the next day, Jack would conduct a final and detailed inspection which would conclude with firing up the beautiful beast to confirm all would be ready tomorrow, the 10^th. Viktor pulled the Snow Cat into the woods and unhooked the trailer.

Around noon on January 9^th Petrov’s phone rang. The caller, an Estonian communist party official had heard from a local Russian informant of a big fancy car being seen the day before on a trailer in Harju County.

By Burton Hall|2025-05-29T12:08:39+00:00May 29th, 2025|Comments Off

A fabulous race prepped 1930s Bugatti Royale had been unearthed in Estonia in 1986. For forty-five years it quietly sat secretly sequestered in a barn on the farm of Mihkel Oja’s just deceased father Jaak Oja. It’s discovery has inspired the grieving Oja retinue from America to devise a wild scheme to smuggle the car out of Estonia. Because they envisioned an independent Estonia in the not too distant future, their intention called for selling the Bugatti in the west to fund an Estonian technical trades academy. It would serve as a magnificent memorial to honor the patriotism of Mihkel’s deceased parents. At the same time sneaking this “Mona Lisa” of vintage cars out from under the repressive Estonian communist government’s nose would serve to celebrate Jaak Oja’s antipathy to Estonia’s communist regime.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 17- The Best Laid Plans)

ESTONIA 1986

All men selected by Valentina to bring the Bugatti plan to life, called themselves the “Forest Brothers.” The name would honor the roughly thirty thousand native Estonian men who in WWII chose not to submit to the Germans nor subsequently the Russians. These thousands of men instead armed themselves and melted into the dense Estonian forests. From then on, these Forest Brothers conducted a brutal guerilla war against first the Nazis, then the Soviet occupying forces. They continued to fight for years even after the end of the War.

WWII Forest Brothers

Viktor Karmään joined by loyal extended Oja family members Roman, Andrus, Peeter, Aleksander, Margus and Madis formed the core of the new Forest Brothers. In the suppressed but patriotic native Estonian culture the sacrifices of those who came before were held in the highest esteem. Unspoken but understood, these new Forest Brothers, like their WWII namesakes, would give their lives rather than betray a comrade. Not alone, the Forest Brothers had the support of women from the extended Oja family; all no less dedicated than their brethren. Olga, Katrin, Marina, Helen and Elena would call themselves the Forest Sisters. Together as a clandestine assemblage of righteous co-conspirators, they formed a resourceful and fearless ad hoc network dedicated to a single purpose. They would make Mihkel Oja’s plan a reality. Consisting of craftsmen, local police, dock supervisors, port administrators, town officials, loggers, warehouse managers and a doctor, all involved had an important role to play.

Led by Mihkel and Valentina all understood they had to move with speed and precision as winter fast approached. All bore the burden of being entrusted with creating and delivering the hollow log “Trojan Horse” containing the Royale. Though eager, the Forest Brothers and Sisters faced a daunting task subject to a fast moving clock. Two major choke points loomed over the work schedule. First the visiting Americans’ mandatory departure time in Estonia rapidly approached and secondly punishing Arctic winds already portended a harsh winter.

With little time and scarce resources they toiled tirelessly to fabricate the “Trojan Horse.” A rugged Ural 6X6 flatbed truck “borrowed” from a logging camp would provide the muscle to haul the Trojan Horse to the docks. As fabrication proceeded respected team members discretely dispensed bribes to smooth access to the docks and facilitate passage and approvals through the port to the awaiting Liberian flagged cargo ship.

Finding seasoned logs reduced the weight of the Trojan Horse by almost half compared to fresh cut lumber. Finding a site with little chance of discovery unwittingly brought the story full circle as the warehouse built deep in the woods 1n 1938 to prep the Royale still existed. Though gutted it remained sound. There would reside the platform upon which the Trojan Horse would be built. Generators and Salamander space heaters on short term loan “appropriated” by John from Eesti Energia transformed the open space into a somewhat tolerable work space. And work they did.

Back in the Oja barn Jack and Viktor had made significant progress. Farm tires had been found that would accommodate the Royale’s wheels. Suspension components and the steering box experienced resurrections courtesy of recently developed silicon grease. Surprisingly the rejuvenation process moved along quite smartly resulting in a more than acceptable rolling chassis. Realizing that they had brought the Bugatti’s chassis to life and knowing that the team at the warehouse needed more time to complete the Trojan Horse, Jack and Viktor turned their attention to the powertrain. Not that they thought they could get it running, they simply wanted to know the beautiful beast better.

In navigating the wonders of the Royale’s unique supercharged engine Viktor wanted to explore how to refine the integration of the supercharger. He dared not try anything with the existing set-up but, he thought, if he could get a second carburetor to play with, how grand that would be. In a bolt of inspiration he researched and found the address and phone number of the Bugatti Club of Switzerland. They had been around since 1935. On a whim he went to the local train station for a phone and called. A poised and very formal gentleman man answered. Viktor asked for any information as to where a carburetor for a Bugatti Royale might be found. The man chuckled and said the last one he saw was strapped to a unicorn. The man did say Viktor could leave his phone number; which Viktor did, and if the man ran into that unicorn he would call him. Viktor laughed, thanked the man for his time and returned to exploring the magnificent beast without giving the call a second thought.

MOLSHIEM, FRANCE 1986

Wizened by the off-putting effect that his aggressive tone had on his elderly Aunt Yvonne, Yuri Petrov would not make that mistake again. Having flown to Molsheim, France, the revered home of Bugatti, Petrov placed himself in the company of his Aunt Yvonne and her colleague from Pre-War Bugatti Jacques Moreau. Jacques had been a young and skilled apprentice at Bugatti in the late 1930s. With the three seated at Yvonne’s dinner table, Petrov presented himself as a classic car aficionado with a love of all things Bugatti. Reaching for an open bottle of Chateau Margaux Bordeaux he had brought and set aside to breath earlier, Petrov gushed about his admiration for the brilliant craftsmanship of artists and visionaries such as Jacques. After Petrov filled the wide mouthed stemmed glasses Yvonne had set out for the three seated at the table, he raised his glass in a toast to the elderly man in the dark beret, checked shirt and heavy duty work pants. He toasted the great men such as Jacques responsible for creating such breathtaking beauty. Eagerly refilling Jacques’s glass, Petrov with almost fawning obsequiousness lavished praise on the great men of the automotive Golden Age such as Jacques. Petrov’s voice radiated warmth and congeniality as he began to explore Jacques’ memories of the “Old Days” at the Bugatti factory. Despite his best efforts to project a warm and a conversational ease, Petrov’s words, increasingly acquired the feel of an integration. He could barely restrain himself from clawing to the facts for which he hungered. fortunately for Petrov, the fine wine and feigned adulation had lubricated Jacques’ recollections of the factory while dulling the old man’s desire for compensation.

Bugatti Factory 1930s

Much to Petrov’s liking, Yvonne initiated talk of the mystery car by recalling how Jean Bugatti had made such an issue about the hush, hush nature of this “special Bugatti. Being the office manager she saw big invoices come in and go out. However, none matched the size of those going out to some rich Romanian playboy. Jacques, wishing to capture the dominant role in the recollection of past events, jumped in recalling sneaking into the off-limits “quarantaine” special projects workshop. What he saw then, he described, now, as “fantastique.” He related how this project funded by some rich guy named Antonescu with an odd first name had the shop bustling. As, apparently, cost had been no object to this rich Romanian, Jean Bugatti dedicated himself to its perfection. In this troubled pre-war period, such a considerable infusion of cash could not have been more welcome.

Jacques went on to provide details of what he had seen. Even when he tried to embellish his recollections, his efforts fell short of doing the actual Royale justice. Petrov consumed this confirmation of his wildest hopes with a ravenous appetite driven by his dream of possessing the ultimate Super Auto; a dream fed by his early experience with the Nazi Silver Arrows.

Petrov drilled down into Jacques’ memory always lubricating the probe with copious doses of adulation and praise. In so doing he had succeeded in coaxing out a tantalizing mother lode of information. Yes, the original bespoke 7^th Royale had been built. He had a witness who saw it quietly loaded onto a truck. It had headed north for a 1939 Monte Carlo rally starting point. It would have been either Stavanger, Norway or Tallinn, Estonia.

Petrov’s journey to Molsheim had paid great dividends with a rich but incomplete trove of information. He immediately called upon all resources at hand to fill in critical blanks. With surprising speed Petrov discovered that a wealthy, egocentric Romanian, auto racing aficionado named Archimedes Antonescu had registered for entry in the 1939 Monte Carlo Rally. The Romanian’s intended starting point had been Tallinn. However, Antonescu never showed up for the rally. Apparently, Antonescu along with three respected racing mechanics had died in a violent railroad crossing accident near the Estonian/Polish border in 1939.

Based on his research, Petrov concluded that, as best as could be discerned, the mystery Bugatti Royale had never been seen since leaving the factory for Estonia. For Petrov a jaw-dropping reality began to take shape: Antonescu’s racing Bugatti Royale has sat in some dark corner of Estonia waiting for Petrov to find it. The thought of some Super Auto grander than a Silver Arrow being lost in time and hidden waiting to be found, elevated his level of interest to a ten on the frenzy scale. He frantically explored every avenue to narrow his search without betraying his objective. Then he got lucky.

One of the 6 original Bugatti Royales

In reaching out to a contact in the Bugatti Club of Switzerland, he asked about special Bugattis, like a Royale for instance. The friend laughed saying “There are only six Royales, yet in one day I have gotten two inquiries.” Doing his best to appear to be making idle conversation Petrov halfheartedly asked about the second inquiry. His friend pooh poohed the other call referring to it as just some guy with an accent asking about getting a carburetor for a Royale. With a smirk he said, “There are only six Royales it’s not like he had a seventh one with a servicing problem.” Petrov did his best to laugh nonchalantly. Then he asked matter-of-factly as to the caller’s accent. His friend responded recalling that the accent sounded like it came from Latvia or Estonia, one of those little Baltic nations.

Cleverly, Petrov followed up by asking the caller’s phone number. Sometimes a little luck can go a long way. Petrov knew he was on the scent. He would go to Tallinn to employ his connections within the Estonian communist hierarchy.

ESTONIA 1986

Muuga Harbor, Ribbon Cutting

Mihkel surveyed the nearly completed log stack “Trojan Horse’ with its hollow center revealed. He cast a smile across the warehouse floor that warmed the assembled Forest Brothers and Sisters charged with bringing his plan to fruition. As in every step of the process, time cracked an unrelenting whip over all involved. The feast of Saint Lucia on December 13^th fast approached and right after that on December 16^th would come the huge celebration recognizing the opening of Muuga Harbor. Muuga Harbor would be the main cargo harbor for the Port of Tallinn and Estonia. Mihkel’s plan called for the truck transporting the Trojan Horse with its precious cargo to take advantage of the frenzy of activity surrounding Muuga Harbor’s opening. Lost in the swirl of activity, the truck with the aid of incentivized customs and security police would be loaded on the Liberian flagged freighter arranged by Mihkel’s American father-in-law and shipping big wig Johnny Santucci. Valentina and her dancers including Jack Oja would depart Tallinn for Helsinki during the flurry of activity on the 17^th. John, her geologist husband, with Mihkel and his team from Lamont-Doherty would follow shortly, after seeing the freighter depart the port. All seemed in order, or so it seemed.

Part of Valentina’s UN responsibilities involved being present for the Muuga Harbor festivities that began on the 14th. Even in proper business attire Valentina, pretty, blonde, slim and athletic presented a striking visage. One that could elicit undiplomatic comments from a diplomat. So it was at a party attended by numerous members of the Estonian communist government, Baltic region officials and members of the military that she was approached by a gentleman in military regalia who introduced himself as a Colonel Petrov. While seeming a bit full of himself, Valentina felt no threat in talking for a few moments before moving along. As part of the American diplomatic corps that comprised part of her responsibilities. Making small talk Valentina asked this Russian Colonel about his presence in Estonia. Petrov seeking to impress this very attractive diplomat responded with a story that froze Valentina. She did her best not to gasp. Her diplomatic skills served her well. Petrov told of his efforts to track down a mystery Super Auto that he believed had long ago been hidden. Valentina much to Petrov’s delight seemed fascinated by his adventure. It seemed she could not get enough. Petrov was more than willing to keep this striking beauty hanging on his every word. When the time came that Petrov had exhausted the tale of his search for the Super Auto and moved on to Valentina’s plans for later, Valentina diplomatically excused herself.

Trying to hurry as slow as she could to leave the gathering to return back to the Oja farm without attracting attention, Valentina entered the farm yard skidding to a halt. Winds swept across the field with a bitterly cutting intensity thanks to unseasonably cold temperatures. Against the stiff wind she muscled open the sturdy farmhouse door. While closing the door her words tumbled out. Mihkel, Jack and Viktor stared with a shared concern. Catching her breath Valentina related the horrible news that someone else, an arrogant Russian military man, had come to Tallinn to track down a mystery Bugatti lost for fifty years. No one could believe the timing. Mihkel spoke first with the calming voice of one who had faced more than one devastating surprise. “Does he know enough to defeat our plan,” Mihkel asked. Valentina laid out everything that he said and she surmised. They concluded that though a potential irritant this Petrov did not know enough to be a problem. Left unexplored but on everyone’s mind rested the question, “how did he know?” Three days remained before the Trojan Horse would be delivering the Royale to the docks.

The next morning Petrov called the phone number given to his contact at the Bugatti Club of Switzerland. The station master answered and informed the caller that no one lived in the train station. Having identified the station location, Petrov sped to inspect, in his mind, this first tangible clue to locating the ultimate Super Auto. As Petrov raced towards the railroad station, Viktor had fired up the muscular Russian Ural 4320, 6×6 flat bed truck that would carry the Trojan Horse. His path to the warehouse would take him by the train station.

Petrov parked by the front door of the station. He had purposely worn his uniform in the belief that it would serve to intimidate anyone he questioned. The elderly stationmaster had seen plenty of uniforms over his considerable lifetime, first Nazi ones, then Soviet ones. He was not impressed, but he was smart enough to be respectful. He explained that from time to time people used the phone. He did not keep track.

Overhearing the conversation, a man with a Russian accent motioned to draw Petrov’s attention. A relieved stationmaster quickly shuffled away. The exchange between the two men quickly settled on the question of where a large car could be hidden locally. According to the man, other than the Eesti Energia facility and the Soviet military base, both a long ways off, the only structure relatively near the station was an old abandoned warehouse. The man, looking up and to the left as if to recollect something, said he had passed near it recently, though not exactly sure where, and thought he saw a light inside. Petrov started to hyper ventilate as suddenly distant memories from the depths of his past filled his mind’s screen. Like yesterday he recalled a boring day in his youth when as a very young Soviet officer in 1939 he stumbled upon a warehouse of relatively, then, recent construction. It had some tools and parts strewn about and specification sheets. Petrov momentarily froze as the fog of a distant memory cleared. He clearly remembered the spec sheets, emblazoned with the logo of Bugatti! Could it be, Petrov immediately discarded the man when he could not provide any further help in finding the warehouse. Luckily for Petrov, he thought, a large truck rumbled up the road towards the station. Flagging the truck down Petrov asked the driver for directions to an isolated warehouse buried in the woods. The driver, one Viktor Karmään, remembering Valentina’s encounter, immediately went on red alert. Fast on his feet, Viktor apologized for not knowing the back areas well, but did offer his best guess as to which direction. Viktor hoped he could get this Russian sufficiently lost to allow Viktor to get to the warehouse, warn his Brothers and clear out equipment that could be traced.

Petrov escaping the bitter cold wind jumped into his Russian Lada and while spewing a small rooster tail of loose gravel sped off, in the wrong direction. Unfortunately for the Forest Brothers, the limited number of roads through the forest ensured Petrov would find the warehouse in relatively short order.

Ural 4320

Navigating the back road like an ungainly bull on a tear, the big Russian flat bed with Viktor at the wheel plowed through the underbrush hugging the road. Snorting and creaking, the big Ural 4320 came to rest facing the warehouse. Viktor exploded through the warehouse door. His firm and urgent tone effectively communicated the crisis at hand. Details he assured would follow. What ensued consisted of a frenzied but thorough gathering of generators, space heaters, tools, wrappers anything that could be traced. With everything loaded on to the truck and into the three cars that had transported the Forest Brothers, everyone departed with the urgency of firemen responding to an alarm. Sadly the “Trojan Horse” had to remain.

Plummeting temperatures reaching -18°C (0°F) and a punishing wind gloomily complemented the mood inside the Oja farmhouse. Confusion and defeat hung in the air like a suffocating cloud. The murmuring, swearing and many softly spoken versions of “How could this be?” ceased as Mihkel stood up to face the roomful of crestfallen Forest Brothers and Sisters. What words of comfort could the noble “Arctic Fox” offer in light of the inexplicable and devastating failure of this mighty and righteous effort. Mihkel scanned the distraught faces around the room and said, “I am profoundly in your debt. You should take great pride in what you have accomplished and the bond you have forged as the new Forest Brothers and Sisters. You have honored those who have come before you. Know that we could not have reached this point without all you have accomplished.” It was then that Viktor in a room thick with emotion respectfully asked, “What now?” Mihkel answered, “I have an idea.”

By Burton Hall|2025-05-15T12:04:44+00:00May 15th, 2025|Comments Off

12 Next

Yearly Archives: 2025

cars we love & who we are

enjoy a new story every week

Yearly Archives: 2025

Meet Herb Benkel

A Car Guy Offers Life Lessons in Taking Misfortune in Stride

Over breakfast in sharing images of custom vehicles he created in his off hours, I recognized both a possible friend and a visionary artist worthy of a Drivin’ News story.

Meet Jim Freda.

Intuitive Genius Wielding a Hammer and Chisel

One-of-a-Kind Car Show for Kids

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS BELOW

Classic cars have always been recognized as a source of worth, pride, pleasure, excitement and entertainment. Could they, as well, be a source of healing? We were about to find out.

Classic Autos and Autism: Sharing a Journey to Betterment

The following offers six joy filled tales celebrating rediscovery and rebirth at the hands of Al Rosell.

Every Car Tells a Story, Here are 6 Good Ones

I will be taking the next few weeks off for vacation. Drivin’ News will return after Labor Day.

Now, I had signed on with Grandstand Motor Sports a British motorsport travel specialist. More about them later. My time had finally arrived to experience the Mille Miglia, called by many “The most beautiful race in the world.”

2025 Mille Miglia; Hot Town, Summer in the City

Grandstand Motor Sports promotes itself as the UK’s leading motorsports tour operator specializing in tailor-made motor racing holidays worldwide. My experience was that they did a splendid job of doing what they promised. Tia our event coordinator was an extraordinarily capable delight.

FINAL EPISODE – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale Part 3 (Episode 20 – A Snowball’s Chance)

With the this the conclusion of the “The Lost 7th Royale,” I would greatly appreciate any and all comments as to the quality of its content and its ability to hold your interest.

In Search of the Lost 7th Royale (Part 3, Episode 19 – Frozen Freeway to Freedom

In Search of the Lost 7th Royale Part 3 (Episode 18 – End Game)

In Search of the Lost 7th Royale Part 3 (Episode 17- The Best Laid Plans)

cars we love & who we are

enjoy a new story every week

**I will be taking the next few weeks off for vacation. Drivin’ News will return after Labor Day.**

FINAL EPISODE – In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 20 – A Snowball’s Chance)

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale (Part 3, Episode 19 – Frozen Freeway to Freedom

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 18 – End Game)

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 17- The Best Laid Plans)