by Tom Smith
Sports Car Market - March 2015
It began, as many adventures often do, with a phone call.
My great friend Don Polak was on the line, asking if I'd seen that morning's "Bring a Trailer" email. It seems a 1961 Volvo PV544, with long-term ownership, was on offer and the price was right.
"Wouldn't this be a perfect car for the Argentine 1000 Millas?" Polak said. I said I thought it would, so a few eBay clicks later we owned it.
It's been my great privilege to enjoy some of the world's great automobile events with Don Polak. We've driven on two Italian Mille Miglias in our Siata 1100TV Vignale. We enjoyed the 2014 Austrian Ennstal Classic in our 1947 Healey Elliott Saloon and, together with our wives or children, have enjoyed countless New England 1000s, Mountain Milles, Copperstate 1000s and Texas 1000s.
I've also had the opportunity to drive an Aston DB2 in the always-terrific Colorado Grand and California Mille. So, it was time for another adventure. After doubling our investment in the Volvo in preparation for the rally, we were ready to go!