Neighbor's efforts rewarded at 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance

Before his death, one of Joe Macpherson's crowning achievements in a life devoted to buying, selling and restoring collectible automobiles, was winning Best in Class at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance for his meticulous and faithful restoration of a 1923 Miller Race car. One of our neighbors, Jerry Baker, played a key role in the restoration of this Indy 500 legend. I dropped in on Jerry in his garage on Moore Road in 2004 when he was getting started. The car was in a very early stage of sheet metal shaping. And today I revisted Jerry and learned of Joe's passing earlier this year and of the car's remarkable recognition last August at the most prestiguous concours d'elegance in the world. According to Jerry the project took two years instead of his original estimate of 4 months. Jerry devised a system, including detailed log books, digital photos and email updates, to document daily progress to a client located thousands of miles away. An international search resulted in finding parts identical to those used in the original. Many more parts were painstakingly fabricated by hand, including the sheet metal which was formed just as it would have been on the original. Archival photos from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were digitally enlarged by IMS staff to assist Jerry with original details no longer visible any other way. Surprising imperfections from the original, discovered from the photos, were reproduced in the restoration. Budgets were revised. The result is a spectacular car that may bring seven figures at auction. Our neighbor's role was significant (he even drove the car in the parade!) but his modesty prevents him from sharing so I will take the risk and do it anyway. (for more about Joe MacPherson visit http://www.joesgarage.com/ the premiere car museum banquet facility in the world.)