What is your favorite piece of Automotive Memorabilia?

I consider myself a "collector" of racing and automotive memorabilia, and I always like to see what else everyone has. Here are two of my favorite pieces.

1. By far the most rare and expensive of all the items I own is a signed copy of The Unfair Advantage. It's my personal holy grail, as they are exceedingly rare. The book was published only months before his death, so very few copies were signed. In my mind, the best motor racing related book ever written, and it gets more entertaining every time I read it. This copy, I keep in a shadow box on my office wall.

The other is a rare numbered special edition Hot Wheels Camaro, as driven by Jack Baldwin in the SCCA Trans Am series. I got it from Mr. Baldwin himself during an interview earlier this spring. I wrote a piece about him for a local magazine, and it was a very fun experience. Jack is a VERY nice guy!

So, what do you have? (not a competition, I just really like telling and hearing stories.)

I have a few: New Beetle turn signal assembly autographed by Bob Varsha.

Petit LeMans poster signed by over 70 drivers from 1999.

Corvette ad signed by John Fitch.

vwcorvette wrote: New Beetle turn signal assembly autographed by Bob Varsha.

There has to be a story behind that one. Why did he sign a turn signal assembly?

I have a chunk of the original Route 66 asphalt. And while most people think that's lame, I like it.

I was working at Jim Ellis VW in Chamblee, Georgia. He was there looking to buy a new Passat. It was the only thing I had that seemed cool for him to sign. It's from when Speed was Speedvision. Of note he was not in the greatest mood having just come from the airport and not having his luggage as they had lost it or something. Let's just say the outfit he was in wasn't the best looking either. He was cool about it though. I'll get a pic of the lens.

In 94 I attended a vintage car race at Road Atlanta. Phil Hill was there to drive a number of vintage Ferrari F1 and sports cars. I managed to get a B&W photo that he signed of him driving a front engine Ferrari sports car.

My other favorite was a B&W photo of the first lap of CP at the 1970 or 71 run offs. Bob Tullius in the TR6, John Morton in the Datsun 240Z, and a pair of 914-6s were notable front runners. I say WAS because I can't find it. I know I would never have intentionally disscarded it. It was hopefully packed away in one of my many moves yet to be re-discovered on down the road. IIRC, Tullius led the early laps but blew his clutch and Morton won. That race was the high light of the week for me because I was so excited about the 240Zs and 914s.

I have a Deathrace 2000 Laserdisc autographed by David Carradine, with the matching poster. Does that count?

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"George, See you at the track, Bob Varsha, Speedvison"

Michael's, Mario's, and Mansell's autographs on their respective KMart trading cards.

Not mine, but you get the idea.

T Shirt I wore at Bathurst in 1994, signed by about 20 leading drivers including Peter Brock (The Aussie one).

Castrol Racing T Shirt signed by Larry Perkins.

V8 Supercars rulz

Just remembered I have a Corvette Trading card I had Mario autograph at an Indycar race in New Hampshire.

Previously, I would have said the brochure that I have with a picture of a 1932 datsun.

Now, however, I have something way more awesome. One of the people I have met because of my project has given me a very nice, very large model of the 1932 datsun phaeton. The model is being signed in this photo by Don Gorham. His father was one of DAT/Nissan's early engineers. The 1924 DAT Lila was named after Don's mother.

Maroon: You should have the book professionally framed, or at least swap the glass out for conservation. Fortunately, you know a guy.

I've got one of the headers from Don Prudhomme's funny car (as driven by Ron Capps). I pulled it out of the dumpster in Seattle while we were waiting for the traffic to clear.

I have a poster from the DC Grand Prix and one from B-more. I expect more B-more grand Prix but never another DC.

Datsun1500 wrote: I have the original window sticker for my Datsun 1500. I had it signed by Mr K a few years ago (along with the glove box of the car)

That's cool!!!

I have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles baseball cap autographed by Davey Allison.

I'm a monster truck nerd so my most prized possession is my photo album of my short 6 week career. I've got a bent wheel from a car accident to remind me to pay attention!

I need more stuff.

I'm a BMW nerd and my favorite racer is Bill Auberlen, so I have a bunch of signed stuff of his. My latest & favorite is the BMW Team RLL print I won at the Petit Le Mans a month ago, which was signed by Bill and Joey Hand and the other four drivers. It's hanging on the wall at work with some of my other memorabilia.

My signed copy of Brock Yates book "Cannonball". I remember the conversation a little something like this:

Me: (Shaking his hand) Wow Mr. Yates, I've waited nearly 20 years to finally meet you.

Brock: You really need to work on your goals in life.....

We then b.s.'d about cars for a few minutes

Gearheadotaku wrote: My signed copy of Brock Yates book "Cannonball". I remember the conversation a little something like this: Me: (Shaking his hand) Wow Mr. Yates, I've waited nearly 20 years to finally meet you. Brock: You really need to work on your goals in life..... We then b.s.'d about cars for a few minutes

Awesome. My conversation with him:

Brock: "So this guy blew up his honda running nitrous?"

Me: "yep."

Brock: "And you guys are going to buy the kit from him and put it in your honda?"

Me: "yep."

Brock: "Wise investment."

Lol.

I have quite a few official race posters and programs from the 70's and later. Most are from Road Atlanta events, including a poster from the '71 CanAm; I've got a copy of the '70 CanAm program, too - somewhere.

My favorites are race posters and programs from the Glen for F1 races from '75 to '79. There are plenty of decals (picked-up from F1 teams) that still adorn my vintage Coleman cooler; the patches are still around - somewhere. Plus all the photos (prints and slides) I shot at tracks across the eastern seaboard.

The best is my official Valvoline RunOffs banner, in all it's 30"x120" glory. It's more impressive in the man-cave than hanging off a fence at RA...........

I only wish I had stuff this cool. Best thing I can think of is either my early 80's FB brochure that was gifted to me by another member of here when I bought all his Mazda books, or perhaps my signed copy of Keith's book about building a Locost.

Pocketful of salt from Bonneville.

Original SCTA membership token.

Pontiac plant security cap badge from the 50's

My last name.

Shawn