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Greetings!
There's some great news we'd like to share, but first let us say thanks for all your holiday cards and letters! Your stories and photos made the season very bright indeed. It is wonderful that so many of you took the time to share such treasures with us (and even some coffee cake!). We can't respond to everything we receive but be assured we enjoyed every single piece (-:
We also enjoy and appreciate you allowing us to be part of your holidays. The orders we receive, with shared stories from gift givers (and recipients) are very special to us. Below is an update on what items were hot this season and what's coming up.
One of the items we received for review is absolutely the best book I've ever seen on the Shelby Mustangs. Written by one of the authors of the SAAC Shelby Mustang registry, Greg Kolasa, it has every possible detail beautifully illustrated and he's gotten it all right. I was fascinated by it and highly recommend it for anyone's library as it conveys perfectly how cars of that era evolved year-to-year and what those changes were, so you can become as expert as Kolasa in identifying them.
We hope your holidays were also enjoyable and that your 2013 has started out well. In moving to NV, we've found our, now annual, trip to Scottsdale every January for auction week is a beautiful four hour drive south. We were involved in quite a few activities there last week, which we share with you below.
Last but not least, last evening in Daytona I was honored, at the annual RRDC (Road Racing Drivers' Club) dinner, with their prestigious Phil Hill Award, recognizing me for all my contributions to motorsport. I was really humbled by this very special tribute (presented to me by Bobby Rahal as seen above) as it has special significance to me, which I explain below, along with what we're doing to commemorate the occasion and contribute to the future of automotive design.
Enjoy,
Peter (& Gayle) Brock
BRE |
| Phil Hill Award
Prestigious RRDC makes Daytona week extra special |  Every year during their annual Daytona gathering, the RRDC (Road Racing Driver's Club) presents the Phil Hill Award to the person the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to motorsports. This year I was selected to join an illustrious group of past recipients that include Juan Manuel Fangio II, Danny Sullivan, Brian Redman, Bob Bondurant and Roger Penske.
 The award holds special significance for me. At an impressionable 14 years of age at my first Pebble Beach Road Race, I watched as Phil took the checker in his black Jaguar XK120. To put an eclamation point on the accomplishment, Phil would again win the race the following year in his Alfa Romeo MM Racer. Years later when I was attending the Art Center College of Design, I worked in a music store in Santa Monica that Phil frequented. We got to know each other, talking not only about racing but sharing our love of music, especially Phil's interest in the classical genre. Phil was a true gentleman and a man I have admired for over 60 years. |
Peter Brock Lifetime Achievement Artwork
Limited, numbered and autographed prints to be made available
 To recognize this prestigious honor, a limited number of prints will be made available of the Peter Brock Lifetime Achievement Award artwork made for the Art Center College of Design in 2011, by famed illustrator Dennis Brown. Only 100 prints will be offered, which will be numbered and I will autograph. A substantial share of the proceeds will go back to Art Center to further the success of their transportation department. Print details are being worked out now. A subsequent communication will be sent when they are available to order.
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Orders were brisk during the holidays
What did you get? | |
 Products most in demand were:
- Books always seem to be the perfect gift and understandably, this year the Carroll Shelby bio was in most demand. SAAC Registries were also a big hit, especially with European buyers. Giving/getting a registry is truly a lifelong gift of pleasure with all the amazing data they contain. And now that we're offering the new Shelby Mustang book we expect to see them become quite popular.
 The next most popular gift items were a wide variety of posters, especially our favorite Shelby Museum poster showing the Daytona Coupes in the Sebring garage in 1965. The detail shown in this piece is what we all talk about remembering of those days... the tools, the people, the apparel, the cars...
 Speaking of apparel, many of you stocked up on apparel during our holiday special. It's been so great to see you get warm with our Cobra pullover or long sleeve t-shirts, or prepare for summer with short sleeves, that we're going to extend the special thru the end of January. We can't help ourselves. But 1/31/13 it will be over!
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Trans-Am Legends Panel at Scottsdale
Schwarz, Follmer, myself and Morton engaged in a fun show
The week of the Scottsdale auctions every January has evolved to be much more than just cars being bought and sold. It's become a great gathering place for friends and acquaintances and even seminars/talks are now being held during the week.
One such event last week was the Trans-Am Legends seminar, held by Hagerty Insurance at the Penske Museum (it's a great service that they do for us automotive enthusiasts). Panelists were John Morton and myself, representing the 2.5 class which were the Datsuns, Alfas, BMWs, etc.
Representing the Over 2.5 class which included the Mustangs, Camaros, etc were George Follmer and Jerry Schwarz (an amazing crew chief and fabricator). Moderator Jonathan Stein queried us on the personalities and action of the factory backed teams and what made the racing some of the most exciting in motorsports history. We'll let you know when Hagerty posts the video. |
| The Definitive Shelby Mustang Guide
1965-1970 book has all the details |  This book is amazing! Author Greg Kolasa has all the details on these cars, including how various parts and components changed from year-to-year. One tiny example is an easy-to-understand description and great photos of how the lettering on the valve covers changed from the outlined letters I had designed in 1965 to the solid letters used in 1966.
This book sets a new standard for all single marque books. Greg also co-authored the massive SAAC (Shelby American Automotive Club) Shelby Mustang Registry, which documents the history of each car. However, this new 191 page book covers all the main points of the Shelby pony cars as well as the most arcane details of that epic era. I'm impressed and highly recommend it here for any automotive enthusiasts collection. |
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More Scottsdale
Interviews and great cars | |
 In addition to the Trans-Am panel at Scottsdale, there were interviews (we'll let you know when/if anything gets posted) and cars being auctioned. It's great fun to just walk through all the great pieces.
 There was one car I had taken special interest in months ago. With my interest in how we bring the next generation into our industry, I became aware of a real talent in Nebr (now living in CO). A 22 year-old kid, Johnny Sparks, that took a stock 2011 mustang and without clay models or computer aids, had a clear vision in his head of the car it could be.
 The end result is spectacular. This kid has it. He made the car that Ford should have, more streamlined and reminiscent of the elegant Mustangs of 1968. In fact, he took the car back to Ford in Detroit and emptied the building as everyone came out to see his amazing design and craftsmanship. Keep track of this name. He could be the next Chip Foose.
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Down to the last two Bartell Pen & Ink Cobra lithos
We actually thought we were out but found two more
 You know what we think of George Bartell's art (unique and spectacular). This high quality lithograph of George's Shelby Cars pen & ink art shows the entire Shelby American story from roadsters to coupes to GT40s. You can sense the passion George has for these cars in this piece (he's been the owner of a Cobra roadster for decades).
This piece is signed by both George and myself. When they're gone, they're gone (we're tempted to squirrel these two away but we won't. We'll give you the opportunity to have them). Don't wait! (And if you have waited too long, when you go here to order, you'll know they're gone because the link will no longer be active).
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My Involvement in the Corvette Sting Ray to be Recognized
Another exciting seminar just around the corner! | |
 It's been a great start to the year. With our change in schedule (no flying to a race every other week), we're planning more great activities to follow, such as celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Corvette Stingray at the Amelia Island seminar March 8th.
I will talk about the sketch I drew at GM Styling in 1957 which became the Sting Ray Racer (seen here) and later evolved into the production Stingray in 1963. I will be joined by current GM VP of Design Ed Welburn to talk about the evolution of the Corvette (which will include some of the other sketches I drew at that time of alternative sport car designs).
It's going to be another great seminar! We hope to see you there. |
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Happy Birthday Phil Remington!
 Seen here to the left at age 91, yesterday was Phil Remington's 92nd birthday (if you don't know already, he was the wizard fabricator and technical problem solver at Shelby American. He's directly responsible for many wins and has been working for Dan Gurney at American Eagle for decades now). He's doing well and spending most of his time at home, which is where I reached him today to wish him well and shoot the breeze for a while. What an amazing talent. It's always great to catch up with this amazing person and to hear him sounding so well.
Happy Birthday Rem!! And best wishes to you all for a wonderful 2013!
Peter & Gayle Brock
BRE
342 Sunpac Ct
Henderson, NV 89011
702-558-3374 |
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