Interview with the Star of Chasing Classic Cars: Wayne Carini

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 Introduction

I had a special opportunity to have an interview with Mr. Wayne Carini of the all too popular Chasing Classic Cars on Discovery’s HD Theater. If you are a car enthusiast and have HDTV then this is a must see show right now on television. I am truly a fan of the show and every episode is a new adventure that the viewer goes on with Wayne who is the star of the show.

In the interview you get incites into how Wayne got into cars and how he came about being the host for Chasing Classic Cars. Wayne is a passionate automotive enthusiast that also gets to work with cars on a daily basis through his company F40 Motorsports in Portland Connecticut. He is also known to have Cars and Coffee events at his business where people can mingle and talk cars.

For those who are unfamiliar with what television production company is behind Chasing Classic Cars: Essex Television in Connecticut produces chasing Classic Cars Cars and the show is in its second season.

I hope you enjoy the interview and I would like to give a special thanks to all the folks who made this happen and to Wayne himself.

Happy Motoring,

Joe De Lucca

Publisher/Editor

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 Photo” Credit: Essex Television

Where are you originally from?  

1) Glastonbury, CT but I reside in Portland CT with my lovely wife and two great daughters.

Tell us about your first experience with a classic/exotic car and how it impacted you?

2) I grew up with my father restoring cars for a living, so cars were in our family from the beginning.  

What was the first car you owned and what are some of the cars you’ve owned since?

3) The first car I ever owned was a 1914 Saxon Roadster that my father gave to me for good grades in school when I was ten years old.  I have owned many cars since including Ferraris, Bentleys, MG’s, MINI Coopers, about every type of cars you can imagine.  I love all cars.

What’s your favorite out of all of them and why?

4)  Our 1926 Bentley 3 liter touring car because I enjoy driving it so much and the family enjoys riding in it also.

 Photo Credit: Essex Television

What websites and magazines do you read and which are your favorite? Why?

5)  I enjoy reading Ebay, as well as many automobile related websites but truly enjoy magazines such as Octane, Road and Track, Sports and Classics.  I enjoy reading magazines because I can take them wherever I go and can use them as easy references — I guess I am just old school.

What car-related TV shows do you watch?

6)  I enjoy watching Mecum Auto Auction, Goodwood Festival of Speed, but my favorite car show by far is Top Gear.  

How did you end up in the car business?

7)  My father was in the car business and so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  After graduating from college, I realized my true passion was in automobiles.

Why did you pick your current location (city/state)?

8)  I grew up in CT where my roots are and where my business relationships thrive.

What’s your take on how the classic car/exotic car market soared until 2008?

9)  In the late 80′s the collector car market was driven by investors.    After the market crashed in the late 80′s, early 90′s, the market was driven by true collectors who brought us to the point where we are today.  

What do “you” think happened to the market that made it tumble for most? 

10)  True collector cars have always been a great investment but the Muscle car era brought  excessive attention to the market.

What do you do different that makes you so successful?

11)  Be myself and treat my customers like I would friends and family.

What’s your business called? Tell us about it.

12)  My business is called F40 Motorsports where we buy, sell and restore collector cars.

” Photo Credit: Essex Television

How did you get involved with TV and can you talk about your past, present and future ventures?

13)  I got involved with Essex Television when they read an article in the New York Times about a car that I had wanted to purchase since I was 16 years old.  They asked me to do a television  show about going to Monterey, as well as, showing and selling cars which has now turned into the show you see today CHASING CLASSIC CARS, on Discovery’s HD Theater.   They follow my daily routine of finding, chasing, purchasing, fixing and selling classic cars.  We would like to do many other shows relating to automobile worldwide tours, as well as the Mille Miglie.   

Where do you think classic cars/exotic cars are headed and why?

14)  With more and more people in the world, and a limited amount of vintage cars ever made, I think the market is strong and will continue to be.

How do you feel about sending our cars to overseas buyers?

15)  I think it’s great. This is a worldwide economy with worldwide collectors.  I think that it’s great that the buyers want American cars in Europe and Asian countries.

 Has your enthusiasm for classic cars/exotic cars rubbed off on any family members?

16)  My family is supportive of my work and addiction to cars.

Does your wife support your hobby/business? How? 

Photo Credit: Essex Television 

17)  We love each other very much and she helps me any way that she can.  She likes to attend Pebble Beach Concours, Amelia Island in Florida and attend other local events.    

How many events do you attend each year? What are some of them?

18)  I attend many car shows during the year.  Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook, Amelia Island, Cavallino Classic, Fairfield CT Concours as well as many other local events.

Which do you personally enter cars in? Do you ever win awards? What have you won? Where?

19)  We enter cars in many concours for restoration customers and win many awards.  Personally, I am not into awards for my personal cars, only the enjoyment and sharing them with others.

Photo Credit: Essex Television 

What are a few of your favorite events and why?

20)  My  favorite events that I attend in the United States are Pebble Beach, Quail Lodge, Amelia Island, Hartford Ferrari Concourso, Fairfield Concours, and the Newport Concours because of the quality of the cars and the deserving charities that they support.     

Have you ever raced? Vintage? SCCA? What did you run? How did you do?

21)  I raced a mini cooper in SCCA racing in the mid-70′s and have not raced since.  My dream is to go vintage racing someday. 

Do you do many rallies?

22)  I have participated in the California Mille with my 1926 Bentley and hope to participate in many rallies in the future including the Mille Miglia in Italy.

Who do you respect the most in the collector car/exotic car realm and why?

23)  There are many people that I have respect and look up to in the collector car field.   My father of course is first and foremost,  but there is one person in particular that comes to mind that loves collector and exotic cars with the same passion that I do and that I have become such great friends with, Stan Z.   Stan knows a real find when he sees it.   

What’s your advice to those who want to start collecting and investing in classics/exotics?

24)  Collector cars are just like stocks, cars or any good investment.  Always buy with your heart, but get advice from a collector car advisor.  Buy what you like, but don’t overpay.

What’s the single most valuable lesson you have learned in business? In the car hobby?

25)   Personal relationships are worth more than any car in the world.

”

Photo Credit: Bruno Ratensperger

Chasing Classic Cars on the web:

To become a fan of Chasing Classic Cars on Facebook check out:

 http://www.facebook.com/chasingclassiccars 

To check out the latest merchandise from the online store for Chasing Classic Cars please visit:

 http://www.cafepress.com/CCCars 

To follow CCC on twitter check out:

http://twitter.com/cccars

Essex Television on the web: 

http://www.essextelevision.com/main.htmll

To read more about Wayne Carini, be sure to check out Issue #8 of Garage Style Magazine which is due on newsstands February 2010.