Ken's Ramblings

Thankfully the weather has improved and we can get outside and do things... I recall the Porsche Derby weekends as we watched the weather. Glad we aren't having a PD this weekend as rain is forecasted. I recall one PD when we 'judged' the cars under the portico at the host hotel (now Sullivan University residence dorm). I recall another Concour at Farmington when it poured buckets. When the PD started we had many folks involved and the enthusiasm was strong. As the event aged the enthusiasm waned and folks burned out. We lost money on the last couple and decided it was time to let the Porsche Derby die.

Read more: Ken's Ramblings - May 2010

Interesting past few days. Won't go into details here.

Last week Betty and I went to downtown Louisville (and you know how I don’t like downtown) to see the Titanic exhibit. We found a parking place in front of the Frasier Intl. History Museum (luck was with me). We entered the Frazier and told the receptionist that we were here to see the Titanic exhibit. She said that we were in the wrong place, the Titanic was at the Science center one block over. But she did mention that they had the WWII '48 local stories that changed the world' exhibit and it was dollar day. We elected to see the WWII exhibit and see the Titanic exhibit later in the day.

Read more: Ken's Ramblings - March 2010

Winter, ice, snow, and cold really suck. But it will be only a few short weeks until we will see the trees and flowers
again. Winter is the time that we play cars indoors. Working hard to finish a ‘60 Roadster before good weather. It
should be a beauty: Heron Grey (a very light grey) and dark blue leather interior. Also working on the motor for a
1951 356 cabriolet. It will be shown at Amelia Island in early March.

Read more: Ken's Ramblings - February 2010

First, I want to comment on the 356 Registry East Coast Holiday at West Baden, IN. If you have never seen this place, you are missing one of the most amazing resort hotels ever. It was originally built in 1902 and finished in less than a year. It had the largest free standing dome in the world until the Houston Astrodome was built. The Atrium is 200 feet across and 6 stories high. An amazing engineering feat for 1902! (And we can't get a simple east end bridge across the Ohio river.)

It was redecorated in 1917 and was a high-end hotel until the stock market crash in 1929. Later it was sold to the Jesuits and used by them as a monastery for 30 years. Then it sold to the Northwood Institute as a culinary school. After the school closed, it sat empty and abandoned for 20 years and was literally falling down. It was recognized as a valuable landmark and saved and returned to its 1917 style decor at a cost of many, many millions. All the furnishings were locally made in the 1917 style. The renovation is first class.

Read more: Ken's Ramblings - October 2009