Spotlight: Barry Levitan

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

Got my pilot license in Flagstaff but had to let it lapse having set some motion sickness susceptibility records when I worked as a biomedical engineer at The Johnson Space Center, where I acquired about 100 hours of zero-g flight in the NASA KC-135 vomit comet aircraft.

What is your favorite hobby?

Car stuff

What would it be if you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life?

Pizza appetizer, salad and steak and chicken parmigiana, chocolate ice cream. Or anything from Atria Restaurant.

What’s one item you can’t live without?

Trick question, only answer, wife.

Which car that you have owned has been dearest to your heart?

First car I ever bought. My 65 mustang convertible. Northeast rust bucket. Started restoration six years ago with a Dynacorn unibody convertible chassis, transplanted drivetrain and all new parts. Added power steering, disc brakes, got it back last year, gave it to my daughter.

When did you join the car club, and why?

Like cars.

What car are you most fond of and why?

2005 Ford GT. Although my 2022 Ford GT outperforms it, nothing beats the 6 speed manual, throaty roar of the no nanny controlled V8.

What do you like most about the car club, what do you like the least?

Variety we have right here locally. I’m not retired and can’t participate much.

What is your most memorable road trip or vacation from your childhood?

1963 family road trip from New York to the west in our 1956 Chevy Belair pulling a small trailer that my father fixed up after a fire. Driving up the Sedona switchbacks with my mother yelling, Bernie, you’re too close to the edge! And keeping the windows closed so that others thought we had air conditioning.

Spotlight: Jim Schubert

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

Most people don't know my wife and I had the opportunity to ride on an ocean racing hydrofoil catamaran while living in Hawaii. We were invited as guests of Masserati, the vessel's sponsor. It was exhilarating flying over the waves at nearly 60 mph suspended on an elastic net.

What is your favorite hobby?

My hobbies include constructing miniature racing cars but as I've gotten older I've taken to maintaining the vehicles I own.

What would it be if you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life?

There are many delicacies to enjoy, but I think I could live on chocolate chip cookies.

What’s one item you can’t live without?

I cannot image a life without my wife Elaine.

Which car that you have owned has been dearest to your heart?

My first European car was a 2 liter Alfa Romeo spider. I did all the maintenance except for working on the gearbox. I've owned many other cool and more powerful cars but the 15 years I owned the Alfa probably were the most rewarding for a car guy.

When did you join the car club, and why?

I joined the car club in 2020 shortly after retiring in Sedona. I was looking for other similarly interested folks to hang out with.

What car are you most fond of and why?

Currently I'm most fond of the Lamborghini Galardo Valentino Balboni edition because I've met Mr. Balboni on multiple occasions. This model was the first rear drive Lamborghini built to the honored test drivers specifications to be more "lively" on the road.

What do you like most about the car club, what do you like the least?

I'm happy to contribute to the club through the Tire Tracks magazine and hopefully spread my love for and interest in cars, especially sports cars. I was once the President of the Central Ohio Alfa Romeo Owners Club and we hosted a national convention. The experience taught me that car lovers are of all ilks but can find commonality in that love of cars in spite of the diversity of backgrounds and experiences. It's unfortunate when members forget our differences are what make the group stronger.

What is your most memorable road trip or vacation from your childhood?

When I was a child and my father was stationed in the armed forces, my mother got a speeding ticket driving us home from the military base in our VW Bus. We must have had the wind at our backs!

Spotlight: Susie Naumann

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

I am a real "Susie Q"

My maiden name is Quaranta

What is your favorite hobby?

Cooking and baking

What would it be if you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life?

Since I am Italian, that would Spaghetti and meatballs.

What’s one item you can’t live without?

My Noel and coffee. I know that's two.

Which car that you have owned has been dearest to your heart?

My 1972 Ford Mustang Grande.

When did you join the car club, and why?

Oct 2022, our friend Ray was a member and thought we'd like the club. He was right!

What car are you most fond of and why?

Our 2003 Boxster S "Bubbles", she was fun and fast!

What do you like most about the car club, what do you like the least?

The people first and then the variety of cars in the club. The events are terrific.

What is your most memorable road trip or vacation from your childhood?

My dad was in the Army, so we moved about every two years. Those moves were vacation and they were all memorable.

Susie served as 2nd Vice President last year. Thank you for your time and planning of the 2024 Sedona Car Show Car Show.

Spotlight: David and Susan Price

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

Susan: German last name but nearly no German. Scottish redhead (which got Dave's attention).

Dave: Doesn't like roller coasters and afraid of heights but became an aerobatic and OCF (out-of-control flight) expert.

What is your favorite hobby?

Susan: Reading and cooking

David: Working on old cars

What would it be if you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life?

Susan: Hellish. Can't eat the same thing.

Dave: Susan's meatloaf

What’s one item you can’t live without?

Susan: Music

Dave: Hats

Which car that you have owned has been dearest to your heart?

Susan: 1977 280Z. Currently being brought back to show-quality. Dave needs to stop working on that darn FJ40 and get back on my Z!

Dave: 1968 Torino GT sport roof, 351W, toploader close-ratio 4-speed, 411 rear end. We lived the American Graffiti scene, cruising the loop on Market and First Streets in San Jose, CA as teenagers.

When did you join the car club, and why?

Joined in 2021. Love to think about cars, love to look at cars, love to talk about cars, love to drive in cars. "Love cars, love people and love life", as Mr. K. said.

What car are you most fond of and why?

Dave's current favorite is the 1967 Tiger. Carroll Shelby designed it as a first-gen Mustang eater.

Susan's is the 280Z. Those lines are perfect. Doesn't need pinstripes, doesn't need anything.

What do you like most about the car club, what do you like the least?

Hanging out with people who love cars.

What is your most memorable road trip or vacation from your childhood?

Susan: Club trip to Yosemite every year in high school.

Dave: Route 66 through Arizona before I-40 was completed.

Dave and Susan have moved to Prescott. We probably won't see them as often as before. Their contributions to the club were invaluable. Thank you for presenting as guest speaker for the monthly meetings, sitting on the Car Show Committee, and being members of the SCC Board. You will be sorely missed.

Spotlight: Elliott Garcia

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

I enjoy strumming my Taylor acoustic guitar. 

What is your favorite hobby?

Watching sports. I'm a die hard fan of all the Boston sports teams.

What would it be if you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life?

Chicken, lots of chicken. 

What’s one item you can’t live without?

My wife. 

Which car that you have owned has been dearest to your heart?

My 1st car. A 1973 Chevy Nova SS

When did you join the car club, and why?

September 2022 when Dee & I moved to Arizona 

What car are you most fond of and why?

I really like Mclarens. As far as cars I own it's a hard choice between the 57 Thunderbird & 66 Beetle. 

What do you like most about the car club, what do you like the least?

The members & their cars. There's nothing to dislike. 

What is your most memorable road trip or vacation from your childhood?

Road trips to Cape Cod. 

Elliott Garcia

Thank you, Elliott for participating in Spotlight. You win major bonus points for that 4th answer, love that! ;-)

June 2024 - Spotlight: Phil Wadsack

Which car I have owned has been dearest to my heart?

Back in the year of 1996, I bought Suicide Suzi (1948 Chevrolet Pickup Truck) because I needed a project. After looking around for months on end, I finally found my project 20 miles from home. She was just about ready to go to the junkyard as she didn't run with her bed full of junk which included tires and a lot of miscellaneous items including but not limited to a rotted-out bed with big holes. To keep my restoration cost down, I found a second job at a small junkyard specializing in 1939-1954 Chevrolet and GMC trucks. Instead of working for money, I worked for parts for Suzi then after 3 years I had accumulated enough used parts to be able to begin the restoration of my beautiful 1948 Chevrolet pickup. I went through 3 different motors, 2 transmissions, and tons of hours. I was lucky when one of our club members recommended Mr. MacLearn as his paint/body specialist from Cottonwood. Mr. MacLearn corrected a lot of my mistakes and he did a beautiful paint job for me. Now as I drive down the street whether it’s in Sedona or even Cottonwood I get a lot of thumbs up and a lot of smiles. Thank you Mr. MacLearn.

My Favorite Hobby

After owning Suzi for 28 years, there’s always something that needs fixing as this is a never-ending hobby which leads to my newest and latest project, my 1946 Hudson Pickup which I recently had to replace the rear axles. Parts for the 1946 and 1947 Hudson trucks are very scarce as Hudson trucks were not made after 1947 by the Hudson Motor Car Company. That makes finding any parts for a Hudson truck a real challenge in today’s world.

If I had to eat one meal every day for the rest of my life.

This one is easy, it would be Sharrie’s apple pie with lots of Cool Whip and Ice Cream. Yummy!

Phil Wadsack

Thank you, Phil, for participating in the Spotlight project. I have seen your truck driving by, and with a smile, I yell, "Hey that's Phil!". Your truck is beautiful. The love and hard work you have put into it is evident. - Angela Thomas

May 2024 - Spotlight: Rachel Lombardi

This is a new feature of the Sedona Car Club website. We will be giving the spotlight to members of the club. We are looking forward to learning more about our club friends.

Rachel Lombardi

When did you join the car club and why?

David and I moved here in September 1999. Our garage was full of furnishings when we first moved in, so David's Austin Healey and Jaguar Mk I were parked in our driveway. One of our new neighbors was Bob Boydston, one of the founding members of our club. Seeing the cars, Bob knew we were car enthusiasts and invited us to attend a meeting. We joined the club shortly thereafter and have been members since then.

Which car have you owned that has been dearest to your heart? 

My first enthusiast car was a new 1977 Datsun 280 Z. David and the salesman talked me into a manual transmission. I didn't know how to shift! David taught me how to shift, but I was never comfortable driving the car. A few years ago we bought our first Porsche Cayman and referred to it as my car. That was my favorite car. I loved its comfort, speed, and good handling. We subsequently bought another one and I sold the first one to my sister. She has been driving it as her main car and loves it, as I did.

What Is your favorite hobby?

My favorite hobby is painting. I started painting a few years ago. I like to paint religious figures. A friend, seeing one of my paintings, asked me if I would paint one for a friend of hers who was quite ill, and my friend thought the painting would give her comfort. This started what I refer to as my ministry. I have been requested to paint several hundred paintings since then, each one given to a seriously ill person. I have my priest bless each painting. Seeing what I do, he asked me if I would paint pictures of saints to place in the church. I have done quite a few, and it seems he wants me to continue painting additional ones.

What's something about you that not many people know? 

Probably, most people don't know about my ministry paintings or my paintings that are now on permanent display in our church, St.John Vianney Catholic Church.

Rachel Lombardi

Thank you, Rachel, for being our first Spotlight Showcase. Expect more inquiries from me about your paintings. I'm very interested to learn more. - Angela Thomas