Gorgeous.

Panny GX7, 45mm Zuiko.

Worth every penny.

A recent study disclosed that migration within the United States has nothing to do with low state tax rates. Indeed, the states with the highest internal emigration are the ones with zero taxes – Alaska and Wyoming – while those with the highest retention include New York and California, both very high income and sales tax rate states. As the study goes back to pre-Depression years, some 9 decades, it’s not like the data are a flash in the pan.

The reasons, of course, are simple. The coastal states provide the highest income opportunities, though as a Wall Street refugee myself, I confess to wondering why anyone would want to stay in the blighted hole that is New York, with its foul climate.

But California is pretty easy to understand. No guns, few nuts and those mostly found on trees, and the secret ingredient. Sunshine. Such were my musings enjoying a glass of cool Chardonnay yesterday in Palo Alto’s Fish Market, which serves up some truly splendid piscine delights. My choice was a butterfish, gently flavored with a touch of paprika, with sun dried tomatoes (how else?) with a hint of basil, all enjoyed on the open air patio in picture perfect 76F weather. Worth the occasional ‘quake or two in my book.

iPhone 5 snap.

On vintage machines.

Fettling a Sunbeam Tiger.

You need two Jags – one to drive, the other in the shop.

Tire jockeys.

A Morgan three wheeler.

“It was this big ….”

“Are you sure of that?”

The dying art of carburetor tuning.

All snapped in the Laguna Seca paddock at last week’s vintage races.

Panny GX7, 17mm and 45mm Zuiko lenses.

The 935 K3.

Few privateers have won the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race, one of the last being the Kremer brothers with their Porsche 935 K3 with twin turbochargers and air-to-air intercoolers – one of the many modifications made to the factory car, which used water cooling.

A car similar to this one won Le Mans in 1979; today it makes the rounds of the classic racing circuit. The engine may sound like a bucket of bolts at idle, but with 800hp on tap, it takes a real man to drive the car at speed.

Here the owner’s wife looks on in the paddock of the Monterey Historic Races. This car belongs to technology entrepreneur Ranson Webster.

Old farts rule.

At the 2014 Monterey Historic Races, Laguna Seca, CA.

Panny GX7, 45mm Zuiko.