This is the car that in 1954 could have “killed” the Corvette.
So, Chevrolet, being GM’s big sales and profit division, campaigned to GM to “kill” this car.
When Chevy was coming out with its 6-cyl. sports car with its 2-speed “powerglide” transmission and side curtains, here was a sports car from Olds with a big old V-8 and power windows.

So, GM said “no” to Oldsmobile on building this car.

The world’s rarest automobile: a 1954 Concept Old’s Rocket F88 – the only one in existence.

John S. Hendricks, (Discovery Communications founder) paid
in excess of 3 million to acquire this 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Convertible Concept Car ..
After spending decades as a collection of parts stuffed into wooden crates, the F-88 was reassembled.
In 1954, the F-88 was a Motorama Dream Car, and was one of only two, or an unconfirmed possible three, ever created. The F-88 seen here is literally the only car left of its kind, and was sold to John and Maureen Hendricks at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale , Arizona , for an unbelievable $3,240,000.
This acquisition made automotive history, and is the cornerstone of the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum, in its own special room in a rotating display, worthy of the F-88!

Konrad Marine Produces Strongest Stern Drive Gears in the Marine Industry with their Exclusive Total Gear Cutting System
Hudson, Wisconsin – February 16, 2012 – Konrad Marine is proud to announce the implementation of their one-of a-kind Total Gear Cutting System.
The framework for the system is the Gleason Phoenix® II, 600HC – the most modern bevel gear cutting machine in the world. Highly specialized, integrated programming makes it 1 of only 3 in the world with its unique capabilities.

Augmenting this framework and its distinctive programming with Konrad’s expertise in design, tooling, machining, and proprietary manufacturing processes, creates the Total Gear Cutting System – a one-of-a-kind,industry leader in a class beyond compare.
“Our primary objective is to have the toughest stern drive on the market,” says owner Ken Konrad. “To achieve this, we need the strongest, most powerful and capable stern drive gears in the marine industry. We started with a phenomenal new gear cutting machine. By adding our proprietary processes, specialized programs, design and tooling based on decades of successful experience, we’ve created the Total Gear Cutting System. Konrad gears are a very significant contributor to fulfilling our objective of manufacturing the toughest stern drives ever made – and I’m absolutely convinced we do just that.”
Konrad Marine designs and manufactures stern drive propulsion solutions for commercial, military, and recreational marine applications. The company is headquartered and has their manufacturing facilities in Hudson, Wisconsin, USA.
For more information, contact Konrad Marine at 800-927-3545 or visit www.konradmarine.com.

Contact Person: Julie Heifner, Director of Marketing
Konrad Marine
715-386-4203
julieh@konradmarine.com

We will be there with Shelby’s Chief Test Driver Gary Patterson waiting to get behind the wheel of the 800 HP Super Snake for a first hand experience in a car that has been 50 years in the making!

Join us for a great time and a good cause benefitting The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

BOCA RATON, FL (February 20, 2012) – The sixth annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance presented by Mercedes- Benz is pleased to announce that Emmy-award winning comedian Dana Carvey will perform on February 25, 2012 at the Black-Tie Optional Gala held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, FL. Carvey is revered for his uncanny comedic impersonations and best known for his numerous notable television and movie roles on “Saturday Night Live,”“Wayne’s World,”“Wayne’s World Two,” and more. The comedic icon’s performance is just one of the many exciting components of the three-day series of events benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

One of the country’s biggest and most influential automotive events, the sixth annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance is honoring the upcoming 50^th Anniversary of the Shelby Cobra and the upcoming 100^th Anniversary of Aston Martin with a tremendous commemoration on February 24 through 26, 2012 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, FL.

Friday, February 24, 2012, the duPont Registry Live! Hangar Party kicks off the weekend. Due to last year’s larger than anticipated turnout, this year’s celebration has expanded to include two hangars at the Boca Raton Airport, doubling both the interior and exterior space to accommodate additional guests, entertainment, restaurants, vendors and displays. Guests can indulge in libations and tastings from some of South Florida’s hottest restaurants, preview luxury vendors featuring jewelry, art and more, and peruse a display of exotic and classic automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, motor coaches, and business and private jets. This year the event is proud to feature the magnificent world-renowned collection of Michael Fuchs’ one-off exotic cars.

Saturday, February 25, 2012 features the Black-Tie Optional Gala with a live performance by Emmy-award winning comedian Dana Carvey. In previous years, the extraordinary and legendary Jay Leno, Bill Cosby, Howie Mandel and Dennis Miller graced the stage at the gala. And, this year’s performance by six-time Emmy award nominee and comedic icon Dana Carvey is sure to be just as phenomenal.

Hosted at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, guests will enjoy a cocktail hour with a silent auction, followed by a sit down dinner featuring a live auction with items such as the first in the country new exotic cars and money-can’t-buy-these luxury, one-of-a-kind packages. Guests will also enjoy the auctioning of an original painting and commissioned piece by world renowned automotive artist Bill Neale and the presentation of the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award to Carroll Shelby. The evening concludes with a stellar performance by Dana Carvey that is sure to deliver a night to remember.

The Concours on Sunday,February 26, 2012 concludes the weekend festivities with an Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition that spans all eras. Car and motorcycle fanatics from around the world will get to experience an automotive showcase featuring cars and motorcycles from the past 100 years on the brand new, expanded Sunday Concours showfield, exclusively redesigned by the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Not only has the showfield doubled in size, but it is the only golf course ever to be converted specifically for a Concours, making it the first of its kind in Concours history. The new design will permit the 2012 Boca Raton Sunday Concours to make the best presentation in the country for its judges, entrants, guests, vendors and sponsors by providing additional space for vendor tents and refreshment areas, and accommodating more antique and classic cars and motorcycles than in previous years, with additional room for sponsor vehicles.

Once the show kicks off, guests are invited to walk through a series of amazing vendor tents featuring automobile memorabilia and other luxury items. For the second year in a row, the Concours d’ Gourmet Café Pavilion will offer guests a delectable selection of gourmet foods, wine and other beverages from 30 of South Florida’s finest restaurants during the famed Sunday Concours. An expert panel of judges comprised of Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable, internationally known honorary judges, and additional judges from around the country will select the finest cars based on a preset criterion to include period, presentation and authenticity. The day concludes with an award presentation to winning entries led by Grand Marshal Ed Gilbertson.

For additional information on the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance and to see a full schedule of events please visit www.bocaCDE.com. As the event evolves, the website will provide up-to-date important information – so check back daily. All events are open to the public with tickets sold separately. Tickets can be purchased for the Friday night duPont Registry Live! Hangar Party; the Saturday Gala dinner; the Sunday Concours Automobile and Motorcycle exhibit; and the Concours d’ Gourmet Café. To purchase tickets, please call 954-537-1010 or visit www.bocaCDE.com.

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Norman Silverman 18 K White Gold Diamond Hoops, Retail: $46,200, www.NormanSilvermanDiamonds.com

Big Cedar Lodge, A Missouri Jewel

Ever wonder where all that terrific copper, wood and iron works that you see gracing the many Bass Pro Shops around the country comes from? Well, Bass Pro Fabrication group located on 40-acres in the city of Nix, Missouri, not far from the flagship store in Springfield, custom makes them. They are one-of-kind items such as lighting fixtures as large as a ton in weight and 8-feet across, to huge, artfully crafted and themed fireplace screens as well as more diminutive light fixtures for lodge rooms, restaurants and cottages, to name but a few of the places that are part of the Bass Pro business group.

Lest one think that only Bass Pro Shops and their fabulous Big Cedar Lodge have been the only recipients of the fabrication artists talents, a few friends of Bass Pro, such as Coca Cola and Disney have had some significant items and decorations made for them at Bass Pro’s Fabrication Division.
On my recent visit, I found that the details that the fabricators so artfully capture, are extremely decorative and definitely one of a kind, such as carvings of wolves, all manner of deer and moose, fish and birds, trees and flowers-actually anything, even iron and wood crafted octopi, fish, mollusks, and crustaceans for stores close to saltwater store locations, for saltwater themed displays, fixtures decorative arts, etc.
Johnny Morris is a stickler for being as close to perfection on all that he does. He wants things to be 110-percent, and like the folks at Disney, doesn’t believe that just good enough, is good enough. He wants his customers to see all of his operations to be special in every way all the time, and he makes every effort to make sure that they are.
After spending several days at Big Cedar Lodge and meeting numerous guests there, the overriding words I heard were: “WOW! Isn’t this a special experience.”? From the meals to the marina, from the cottages to the rooms and suites all were special. Every little extra touch was both visible and visceral. Imagine just walking down the stairways and at each landing an elk or wolf met your gaze carved or worked over by a taxidermist, but they made an impression nonetheless. The feeling you got was the management was really going the extra mile, turning over every rock, (they use lots of rocks in their landscapes) so to speak to see that they do.

Spending time at Big Cedar Lodge was a treat all the way. When IAte dinner at the Worman House at Big Cedar, one of several fine dining restaurants, I found memorable dining in an atmosphere that exuded Tudor splendor from this 1920’s country estate that has been meticulously restored and expanded as the setting for one of the great dining experiences you’d expect from the management teams, but this was not the only great restaurant at Big Cedar. I enjoyed a fabulous dinner of seafood and steak and made sure to try their desserts too all extra special and fabulous.

On Sunday I also brunched it at the Worman House they say it in their brochure that “it’s like no other” they are right. At the The Bent Hook Marina and Market that is thought of as the Gateway to the Table Rock Lake, I swam, took in a boat ride around Table Rock Lake and took a few pictures of the bass brought in for live weigh in, as part of a fishing tournament put on by Pond Boss Magazine’s 2nd Annual Expo.
The really nice thing about Big Cedar Lodge and all of Bass Pro’s businesses is they are all geared towards families, kids, friends doing things in the outdoors such as fishing, hunting, boating anything that includes Mother Nature in the mix. They have on-going enterprises that keep their eyes on the future too. Every child that can be introduced to the outdoors and all that this encompasses is more than likely to enter the portal of Mother Nature and never leave it-introducing and enjoying on and on again through generations, of their families.
Big Cedar also offers a lakeside spa and carriage house Fitness Center for guest’s health, beauty, strength, and fitness-it’s all part of their desire to see guests enjoying the benefits of renewing mind, body, and spirit. Add in a little fishing, golfing, walking and swimming and everyone is the better for. Wherever you went at Big Cedar people had knowing smiles on their faces.
On another evening after spending a fine day after looking over and taking photographs to show my friends in Florida all about my trip to this first class resort, I headed for the Devils Pool Restaurant. The Devils Pool is located next to a scenic swinging bridge that is over a deep gorge over a section of Table Rock Lake. It is a safe, yet awe-inspiring experience walking over this suspended, slightly swinging bridge.
I had dinner surrounded by the rustic elegance of a decades old historic log structure with beautiful fireplaces, wrought iron fixtures and hunting memorabilia. I feasted on rainbow trout and also tasted their hickory smoked prime rib. This restaurant as all the others, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and all are first rate.
I bought a gift for my wife at Collections Boutique, and spent some time viewing the interesting exhibits at the Pond Boss Expo. Big Cedar now sports a spectacular new convention center, you guessed it, all décor fits the Bass Pro and Big Cedar credo of wild and wooly, and very early American pioneer, merged with comfortable contemporary.

Later, I headed for the Truman Coffee and Café where I met a few new friends over coffee and cheese Danish on the patio overlooking the lake.
Lest you think no matter how fine this place is rooms and cottages are similar to other fine resorts. No, remember I said 110-percent. Well the accommodations at Big Cedar have the extras and they equate to each room and cottage having the finest bath facilities with full Jacuzzi tubs and multiple shower head systems, décor that truly is one of a kind and perfectly comfy beds. I really didn’t want to leave the simple luxury of Big Cedar, but reality calls!

The entire property is full of ponds, streams, waterfalls and the friendliest employees possible. Why are employees so friendly? They love their job and working conditions. That’s what each and every one from the part time clerk at the Boutique to the full time concierge, from the chefs to the waiters and waitresses-I asked many of the employees and they all told me how happy and privileged they felt working at Big Cedar. I also have the same responses at the fabrication plant. And, for sure, this is also the case at Bass Pro Shops I have visited.

In December there are several special events such as Holiday wagon light tours, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremonies and the New Years Fire Works at Big Cedar too.
Stay tuned for spring, summer and fall events as well!

Big Cedar Lodge is located at 612 Devils Pool Rd. Ridgedale, Missouri 65739
417-335-2777 or you can also go: www.bigcedar.com and take a good look at where you would want to take your next vacation. On a scale of 1-100, I rate Big Cedar at 110-plus.

Lot’s of new changes more food kiosks and a full house on the second floor. Finally, a chance to view the performance racing boats take a look!

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antique Show represents an ultimate creative effort- from the artist, to the product, to the creative presentation of the Show itself.

HDRF was selected as the Show’s charity partner and to create the ” Hope Art-Of-Design Weekend. “       www.hopefordepression.org 

• The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, traditionally held over Presidents’ Day Weekend, is the largest art and antique show of its kind in the nation. The 9^th Annual Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show will take place February 17-21, 2012 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

• The highly anticipated show is a highlight of the Palm Beach “season” and features more than 180 renowned international exhibitors from the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Turkey and Sweden.

• Showcasing an unprecedented selection of items, the show includes: fine art, sculpture, furniture, silver, textiles, bronze, antique and fine jewelry, objets d’art, porcelain, ceramics and pottery, watches, clocks, Asian art and antiques, oriental carpets, art glass, other antiquities and 20^th century design.

• Prominent dealers include: A. B. Levy, Betteridge Jewelers, Camilla Dietz Bergeron Ltd, Guarisco Gallery, Hancocks & Co., Hyland Granby Antiques, Lillian Nassau LLC, M.S. Rau Antiques, Primavera Gallery, T.K. Asian Antiquities, William Cook and many more.

• This year’s Opening Night Private Preview Party benefits Hope for Depression Research Foundation. Hope for Depression Research Foundation was founded in April 2006 by Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother, Hope, who suffered from clinical depression. The organization’s mission is to fund innovative, international research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression and its related mood and other emotional disorders with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

• The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show attracts upwards of 50,000 attendees including private collectors, dealers, interior designers, museum curators and investors from across the country and worldwide.

• The show employs a strategic marketing and advertising campaign in excess of one million dollars.  The show is advertised nationally, regionally and locally in newspapers and magazines (trade and luxury lifestyle) in addition to radio spots, billboards and banners.  Advertising is supported by an extensive direct mail campaign.

• The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show is produced by the Palm Beach Show Group – nationally recognized as the largest independently owned art, antique and jewelry show producer in the world – and is the flagship show in an all-star line-up of fine art, jewelry and antique shows, including the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show and the new Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show.