MERCEDES MUSEUM, STUTTGART:

I visited the Mercedes Benz Museum, Stuttgart in 2009 and learnt a great deal about the evolution of the Mercedes Benz product and their future plans.

Mercedes have done it all really, the first 'engine powered' motorcycle and the latest creation I have seen, the SLR McCLAREN 'STIRLING MOSS'' a massively fast motor car full of the latest technologies, except a decent windscreen!

MERCEDES 125th, BROOKLANDS:

I attended Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands, England for the Mercedes Benz 125th Anniversary Celebrations. There was a marvellous array of cars on display, however the real highlights for me were outside!

On the Mercedes Benz World entry plaza I was delighted to meet Sir John Surtees OBE and view a magnificent display of SL300 Gullwing cars.

PORSCHE MUSEUM, STUTTGART:

The Porsche Museum was opened in 2009 and I was lucky enough to visit the museum within months of the official opening. Everything I viewed and read only reinforced my extreme interest in all things Porsche and their constant refinement of a classic design.

From Ferdinand's early days at Mercedes, the 'Peoples Car', huge successes at Le Mans, the Panamera, the Hybrid Cayenne and Super High Performance 918 Spyder Hybrid, it's all happening at Porsche.

PORSCHE - 60 YEARS IN AUSTRALIA:

Porsche Australia celebrated their sixtieth year in Australia in March 2011. Amazingly Australia was Porsche's first right hand drive market and one of their first export territories in 1951.

The first two cars were imported by Norman Hamilton in 1951, subsequent years have witnessed a steady growth in sales, Porsche Cars Australia is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Porsche AG with current Australian sales exceeding 1,300 vehicles per annum.

THE HONDA COLLECTION HALL:

The Twin Ring racing circuit at Motegi includes a somewhat plain looking building called the 'Honda Collection Hall'. The contents, truly magnificent, the car exhibits cover the full spectrum of Honda's achievements in car racing including Formula 1 and a vast array of production machinery.

HONDA NSX:

I have a huge admiration for the Honda product, mainly the motorcycle range and the golden years of Honda's Racing Motorcycles.

One Honda Car continues to retain my interest and that car is the Honda NSX, the shape, the finish, the uncomplicated day to day functionality of the vehicle. Quite an achievement given it was basically Honda's 'first' attempt at a true supercar.

DICK'S CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS:

Every Museum Exhibit at Dick's is world class, the vehicles are kept in pristine condition.

LONE STAR STREET ROD STATE RUN, TEXAS, 2013:

The Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, Fredericksburg, Texas hosted the 39th running of the LSSRA Annual Street Rod Event, a wide range of Hot Rods and some wild Hot Rod creations took part.

LAS VEGAS, THE AUTO COLLECTIONS:

Claimed to be the 'World's Largest Classic Car Showroom', where else but the Las Vegas Strip, The Auto Collections includes a wide variety of vehicles, some are very exclusive one-offs, and quite a few are for sale!

THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM:

Founded by Margie and Robert E. Petersen on 1994, the Museum Exhibits cover a vast range of automotive history. Veteran, Vintage, Racing, Drag Racing, Land Speed Record, Cars of the Hollywood Stars, they are all well represented.

SHELBY WORLD HQ, LAS VEGAS:

I started developing my Shelby World Headquarters coverage on the very date of Carroll Shelby's 'reported' 89th birthday and the month appropriately coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra and Shelby American.

ST JUDE'S CAR MUSEUM, NEVADA:

A collection of cars and motorcycles located within the Saint Jude's Ranch for Children. The collection is owned by local car collector and enthusiast, Mr Richie Clyne.

SAN DIEGO CAR MUSEUM:

A diverse range of cars and motorcycles including custom rods, speedway cars, cruisers, even a custom VW Kombi Van.

BEAULIEU NATIONAL CAR MUSEUM, BEAULIEU, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND:

Located on Lord Montagu's Beaulieu Estate, the Museum hosts a wide range of mainly British vehicles honouring British road cars, land speed record cars and Formula 1 cars. The Museum setting and the grounds, truly magnificent.

The 'clickable image' depicts the front of a 1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM, COVENTRY, ENGLAND:

Located in the city centre of Coventry, the Museum display includes a wide range of British Vehicles.

The 'clickable image' is the frontal intake area of the World Land Speed Record Holding Car of 1983, Thrust 2.

GAYDON - HERITAGE MOTOR CENTRE, WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND:

The Heritage Motor Centre located in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England houses a wide variety of vehicles linked to the history of British motoring with over 180 exhibits. The Centre has many displays clearly defining the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to present day.

Many unusual exhibits are included not the least of which is Ford's version of the Lady Penelope's 'Pink' Thunderbirds Limousine.

The 'clickable image' is the front end of Timo Makinen's 'AJB 44B' Morris Mini Cooper S that won the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally.

THE NATIONAL 'MOTOR RACE MUSEUM', BATHURST, AUSTRALIA:

Location, Location, Location... at the bottom of Conrod Straight in Bathurst, New South Wales. The Museum has very high quality exhibits of Motorcycles and Cars. There is a huge display of mainly Bathurst 1000 Race Cars including some marvellous reminders of the vehicles raced by Peter Brock.

The 'clickable' image depicts arguably the most famous colour scheme and racing number in Australian Touring Car history, Peter Brock's '05'.

ORMEAU LIONS FAIR, CLASSIC CAR SHOW, 2013:

The 7th Annual Ormeau Lions Fair was held in Ormeau, Queensland. The Fair included a Classic Car Show, of particular note were the collections of Corvettes and Cadillacs on display.

The 'clickable image' depicts part of the Corvettes display.

STREET ROD NATIONALS, 2013:

The 21st Anniversary Australian Street Rod Federation (ASRF) 'Street Rod Nationals' were held at Parklands on Queensland's Gold Coast. The Nationals included a massive display of Street Rods, Hot Rods, Motorcycles and Trade Displays, the Nationals had it all.

The 'clickable image' depicts the air intakes of a 1936 Ford Street Rod.

REDLANDS AUST'. DAY RALLY, 2012:

In conjunction with the Redland City Council and major support from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland and Pure Oil the originally scheduled 'Australia Day' event which was washed out due to heavy rain still attracted over 350 entrants some two weeks later.

A wide variety of cars faced the judges and ultimately entered the Annual Run through the Redland Shire.

The 'clickable image' is the imposing front end of a Chevrolet.

MOTORCLASSICA 2010, VICTORIA:

The inaugural 'Motorclassica - Australian International Concours d'Elegance and Classic Motor Show', was a truly a magnificent event in an equally magnificent location, the Royal Exhibition Building at Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Victoria.

Sir Stirling Moss was the guest judge, suffice to say this must become an annual event on the Australian motoring calendar, absolutely tops!

The 'clickable image' is the front end of a 1934 Riley Nine Imp Sports.

MUSTANG 30th ANNIVERSARY, 2011:

The Mustang Owners Club of Australia celebrated their 30th anniversary with a Concours D'Elegance at Parklands on Queensland's Gold Coast in April 2011.

The cars were judged in various categories including original, modified and display sections. I was amazed at the amount of Shelby Cobra Mustangs, irrespective of class they really looked and 'sounded' the goods!

The 'clickable image' is the Shelby GT500 'Super Snake' grille badge.

GARTERBELTS & GASOLINE - HOTROD FESTIVAL, 2013:

The Hotrod Carnival was again held at the Tamborine Showgrounds at Mount Tamborine, Queensland. The Event is well established guaranteeing a huge turnout of magnificent vehicles.

The 'clickable image' depicts a very well presented Hot Rod.

GARTERBELTS & GASOLINE - SOAP BOX DERBY, 2013:

The Vintage Soap Box Derby was again held on Curtis Road at Mount Tamborine, Queensland. A tremendous annual event offered a wide range of classic Soap Box Derby entries.

The 'clickable image' depicts Brenton Hill's latest creation taking the win from his 2012 Vintage Soap Box.

GARTERBELTS & GASOLINE - HOTROD FESTIVAL, 2012:

The Hotrod Carnival was held at the Tamborine Showgrounds at Mount Tamborine, Queensland. An annual event, festivities stretched over four days.

The 'clickable image' depicts a gorgeous Ford Hot Rod.

GARTERBELTS & GASOLINE - SOAP BOX DERBY, 2012:

The Vintage Soap Box Derby was held on Curtis Road at Mount Tamborine, Queensland. An annual event, festivities stretched over four days.

The 'clickable image' depicts #56: Brenton Hill racing his Vintage Soap Box.

GARTERBELTS & GASOLINE, 2011:

The Garterbelts and Gasoline Nostalgia Festival was held from April 29th to May 2nd, 2011 at Mount Tamborine, Queensland. The Festival was a celebration of the Cars, Music, Art and Culture of the 1940's and 1950's.

All manner of events included Carnivals, Art Exhibitions, a Vintage Soap Box Derby and a Kustom Hot Rod Show!

The 'clickable image' depicts one of the many 'low rider' cruisers on display.

MACLEAN'S BRIDGE AT LAKESIDE, 2012:

A 'Sports and Classic Car Festival' marking the 37th year of displays. Classes included a Concours d'Elegance, a somewhat unique Concours d'Facsimile and various Club and Marque displays.

The 'clickable image' depicts the stunning front end of a replica Jaguar XJ13, rear engined masterpiece.

THE GOLD COAST STREET RODDERS, 2012:

The 18th anniversary Annual Show and Swap Meet was held for the first time at Skilled Park, Robina on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The 'clickable image' depicts a Street Rod with superb flames paintwork.

THE NATIONAL VETERAN TOUR, 2012:

Organised by 'The Veteran Car Club of Australia (Qld.) Inc.', Ipswich, Queensland hosted a week of 'driving, riding and displaying' a massive collection of Veteran Cars and Motorcycles. The highlights for me were the 'Gas Light Parade', the Willowbank Raceway Drag Racing and the Ipswich Showgrounds Display on the main oval.

The 'clickable image' depicts one of the most popular Veteran Car marques, the Ford Model T.