BARONE'S C&CM

Scott Utter of European Motorcar Studio shares the merits of this 1974 Lamborghini Espada with me at the Scottsdale Jet Center reception during Arizona Car Week.   My week began by hosting with a fundraiser for the RPM Foundation with president Diane Fitzgerald (left). My friendship with IndyCar racer Lyn St. James (right) inspired me to make a multi-year financial commitment to the foundation in her honor. Two of my good friends and traveling companions, Jim and Sandi Weder, who share my passion for fantastic cars. We connected through the Ferrari Club ofAmerica – Desert Region , and attended the Monaco Grand Prix in 2016. This replica Porsche 917 sports racer was a standout favorite of the week. Tagging along with the RPM Foundation students at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction, and witnessing the power of mentorship firsthand. My Sophia had plenty of company from her cousins down the road in Maranello. Sometimes the week ...

In all aspects of my life, I strive to be the best. Whether it’s my career as a Financial Advisor or my personal time as a car enthusiast, I always try to apply the hard-learned lessons of others to improve my practice. So, when it came to maximizing the enjoyment of Sophia – the pet name for my 2016 Maserati Gran Turismo Sport – I sought out the advice of experts. I’m fortunate to call former IndyCar racer Lyn St. James a friend, and she encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and re-learn the basics of driving. Lyn’s career has been an inspiration in many ways – besides being one of the few women to participate at racing’s highest level, she did so in mid-life, winning the 1992 IndyCar Rookie of the Year award at the age of 45. Lyn still races cars but finds a lot of enjoyment from passing on her knowledge to novice drivers and encouraging vocational education in the automotive restoration fields through her role as an ambassador for the non-profit RPM Foundation.   I...