Our friend Earle just sent this to me and it cracked me up. With all the stress of holiday shopping I thought you may need a break and a good laugh. I needed this after this week. There was a story out of Texas where a Cadillac dealer dropped a 1953 Cadillac off a crane for a publicity stunt. Singer Sinead O’Connor got married in Las Vegas in a Cadillac drive thru. Needless to say I won’t link to either story. Now for a good laugh!

Just wanted to drop a note to all our loyal members and readers and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving weekend. I am grateful that we have a steady group of members that I never have to moderate and we all get along without issues. I guess everyone having the same passion and the older group we have makes it easy for us to all get along.

The past few months have ben exciting times for our club. I was just talking with Earle about how our newsletter goes out to 103 countries. I love that we have worldwide lovers of Cadillacs coming together and supporting and helping each other.

Last night I upgraded our server to make it faster, since I added the forum we got a little slow. I also decided to make the pictures larger in quality than what we had so that is taking up more space. Our members are worth the extra money it cost.

The site has grown so much in the past year due to me getting busy on social media. It was only a matter of time before I had to upgrade the server.

In the past year our site is up to over 2100 followers on Twitter, We have over 50 likes on Facebook and our newsletter list has grown by 75% this year. I find it amazing how members choose to interact with our site. If you are in social media feel free to follow the site on those links. Since adding the Cadillac Forum we have had some good discussions and I think it is over 400 members. In case you didn’t know the reason I set up the forum was for members to interact and help each other. There is also a section where you can list your Cadillac for sale and it is free. I can’t believe this section hasn’t been flooded with Cadillacs for sale yet. If you are a dealer or know a dealer let them know it is open to them also. I just want to see Cadillacs find a nice home.

This upcoming year I am going to start making some more EBooks. I have made one that we give away(you need adobe reader installed) free on 1947 Cadillac.

Just wanted to say thanks for being a member and I hope you and your family have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.

I get emails from members on our Cadillac newsletter list all the time asking how they can help out our club.  The best thing that you can do if you want to help is spread the word about the site. This site is a collaborated effort and spreading the news on each others stories helps bring in more people to share more stories. The more the merrier.

Recently I made a decision on the site to make the pictures larger. My theory is our members like to see Cadillacs in a higher resolution and this makes the pages load slightly slower.  This has caused our site to lose a few spots in the search engines since they like faster loading websites. Like a 1/2 of second is gonna matter, it is just crazy. I say heck with them our members are more important that that. My job is to make the site the best possible for our members enjoyment.

I know our readers are a little bit older than the average social media user but if you are on these sites you can help the club out. If you want to set one up and need help I can help you get started.

Do you have a Facebook account? On your about or info page there is a place called websites. If you put http://www.cadillaccountryclub.com there it will help. If you haven’t already you should give a like on our Club page.

Do you have a Twitter account? Log in and go to settings then Profile and where it says Web put in http://www.cadillaccountryclub.com This helps us spread the word on Twitter. Are you following me on Twitter? You should be I can be found at @Caddychat.

Basically any website that you comment on when there is a place where you fill out and it ask for your website or URL put http://www.cadillaccountryclub.com in that space.

Another good way to help is by leaving comments on the post. A few people do this on every post and it is much appreciated but with the amount of members we have it should be more.  If you would like to have your picture next to your comments sign up at Gravatar and upload a picture. This picture will be placed not only on our site but every site that you comment on that uses your email address. It is quite simple and I can help you if you get stuck.

If you have a website and want to link to us I highly encourage that. If you send me an email back I will put a link to your automotive site on our site.

On the bottom of every post there is some social media buttons to Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. I am asking if you like the article and want to help spread the word please do it. If you have any other ideas to help spread the word leave it in the comments section here or send me an email.

This is a guest post that I found very interesting and wanted to share it with everyone. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Very expensive lesson to learn here.

The insurance claims of rare cars with reckless owners

By: Colleen A Harding

Have you ever just been driving down the highway in your 2007 Cadillac, when you turn your head and notice that a Porsche 911 is in the lane beside you? I’ve been in this situation only a few times in my life, but with the sweat pouring off of my brow, I always say a silent prayer to myself: “Oh my goodness, keep your hands tightly on the wheel”!

Well, for the majority of the population, if we tilted that wheel ever so slightly, we’d destroy our financial future. Of course a car crash is tragic, no matter who it happens to. You have to deal with insurance claims, repairs, and maybe even personal injury attorneys—which can cost upwards of thousands of dollars. It’s tragic when really expensive, exotic cars are destroyed. Especially when you figure in how much the owner loved that car.

However, the situation is slightly more amusing when it happens to rich people who can afford to drive luxury automobiles like idiots. That’s why we thought we’d share a top 6 rundown of the most expensive car accidents in history. Now these wrecks are in a league of their own because the cars are as rare as the owners are idiotic (in most cases)…

6. Aston Martin Rapide – $207,000

Our first car crash left a tear in my eye, especially, if you can even imagine, trusting your $207,000 Aston Martin Rapide to a valet while you go play a few hands of Black Jack only to lose a few thousand dollars and the car you came with. No the driver didn’t bet it in a hand of poker; the valet smashed it. It’s OK to feel sorry for this poor owner. He lost WAY more than his shirt in that game of lady luck.

5. Bugatti EB110 – $500,000

You know these are expensive crashes when car upwards of $500,000 super-exotic is the second car on a top 6 list. Well this 1992 Bugatti EB110 was being driven by a mechanic as part of an “annual tune up”. However, the steadfast and trustworthy soul hit a slick patch of oil, which caused him to lose control and smash this rare beauty into a telephone pole. The car’s owner is a Tony Robins-like guru named Emile Ratelband, who walks on hot coals and lectures on releasing one’s positive energy.  No reports on what the mechanic had to do to make it up with Ratelband, but I bet the soles of his feet are still tender.

4. Mercedes Benz SL 300 – $750,000

With a name like the SL 300 “Gullwing”, this classic Mercedes luxury automobile represents what’s fast, swift and graceful about the world of cars. However, when you figure in a reckless owner who gets his kicks by racing it through the streets of Mexico in the annual La Carrera Panamericana Street Race—disaster is sure to ensue. Bye, bye birdie!

3. Bentley Azure – $370,000, Mercedes S Class – $111,000, Ferrari F 430 – a $200,000, Porsche 911 – $118,000 …oh and don’t forget the Aston Martin Rapide – $207,000 TOTAL:$928,348.02

This one is my personal favorite because it involves not one, but 5 luxury vehicles and an accident to the tune of a £700,000 (that’s 928,348.02 USD). This tragic situation was caused by what the Daily Mail called a “French woman” and a “hapless blonde” when she caused a five-car pile-up when her $370,000 Bentley Azure collided with a $111,000 Mercedes S Class, a $200,000 Ferrari F 430, a $118,000 Porsche 911…oh and don’t forget the $207,000 Aston Martin Rapide. The car crash, which occurred at the Place du Casino roundabout in Monaco, was called “one of the most expensive fender-benders in the history of mankind”, when the female driver of the Bentley Azure scraped the side of the Mercedes and then ran head-on into the Ferrari F430. The Aston Martin and the Porsche 911, trying to avoid the crash, unfortunately got sucked in. However, the real showstopper began as tourists swarmed and gawked at the wreck, snapping pictures. With both doors pinned shut, all the at-fault driver could do was smile for the cameras. While the total of all the cars equaled almost over $1 million the cost of the repairs was only expected to be $60,000. Only $60,000 huh, what kind of pocket change do these folks carry around?

2. Jaguar XJ220 – $1 Million

Here we are at the million dollar threshold of wrecks with the Jaguar XJ220, which at one time boasted the title record for highest top speed (at 217 mph). Along with the need for speed came the owner’s really dumb need to show off in front of his pals at the golf course. Fore! Oh no, the Jag ended up in the rough and he wasn’t able to use his pitching wedge to get it out.

1. Ferrari 250 GT Spyder – $10 Million

With a price tag of 10-million this had better be a worthwhile story. Well don’t despair, this record-priced carnage was purchased at auction for $10,894,900. I guess the new owner couldn’t afford proper, temperate storage for his new 1961 250 GT California Spyder after paying top price, so he stowed it on the beach. Who would have guessed a hurricane was about to hit?

Will Your Wife Let You Put THis In The House

I just came across a cool thing for Cadillac fans. The real question is will your wife going to let you buy this and put it in your living room. I have no connection to the people selling this, I just thought it looked cool and wanted to share it with you all.

From the description it makes me want to get one but I know Debbie would have me sleeping on it every night and that is just not a road I wish to take. Be sure to ask your spouse if it is ok before you end up in an argument.

From the site – “Looking for some cool retro furniture to fashion your game room, bar or house.  This Cadillac Sofa should do nicely.  Available in black, pink (Elvis Fans!) and red, this wacky resin creation is molded from a real classic 1959 Coupe de Ville Cadillac and has real working rear lights.  Turn on a James Dean or Marilyn Monroe movie and sit back and reminisce about the good ole days!”

Here is the link if you want to see pricing and stuff on this Cadillac Sofa.

Long Island Car Show

Tomorrow is the make up date for the NY Auto Fest car show in Port Washington because it rained last Sunday. Odds are I will be there, I don’t know if I will get there at 9am when it starts but I am going to try. Like I said last week if you are planning on attending drop me an email and we can hook up and say Hi.

Justin Bieber’s New Cadillac Escalade

Looks like another Celebrity has bought a new Cadillac as Justin Bieber was seen driving a new Cadillac Escalade.  Not that many of our members care about him but I think it is cool whenever a celebrity chooses to buy a Cadillac and help the brand. Of course I would rather spend my time talking about Rita Hayworths 1953 Ghia.

How You Can Help The Club

I often get asked in E-mails if there is anything readers can do to help the club out. If you are using social media at all, like being on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ you can help by placing a link to the site either in your profile or Just copy and pasting the newsletter on to your wall for others to enjoy.   At the end of every post on here you will see some buttons to Tweet it out or share on Facebook or even to give it a + on Google. I would appreciate any help we can get so share away.

If you need any help with this just send me an email and I will explain further, The more Cadillac fans we get participating the better the club will be.

Armor All supplied me with two car care kits for me to give away to CadillacCountryClub readers to promote their “Off Track with Tony” series. I decided to have a free contest since I know all of you like to take care of your Cadillac and keep it nice and clean. That’s right two people will win an Armor All Gift Pack. If you haven’t heard about the “Off track with Tony” series it is all about watching Tony Stewart like you have never seen him. Here is a preview.

To celebrate his genuine love of cars and “do it yourself” roll up your sleeves entrepreneurial spirit, Tony and Armor All have teamed up to give fans a unique insiders look at a side of Tony’s life they don’t often get to see.

Here is how to enter the contest:
In the comment section on this post enter your favorite car care tip, and your favorite Cadillac and year. That’s it. Our contest is pretty simple and two winners will be chosen at random. The contest ends Saturday June 21th at 5 pm EST. You can enter the contest with up to 3 entries so have fun. Each comment counts as one entry.

Example : Use Armor All it is the best
1957 Cadillac Eldorado

If you are having problems finding a car care tip visit Armor All and look one up. Told you this was an easy contest!

In addition to our contest, Armor All is also having another contest To Win a Vip Race Weekend With Tony.

Good luck and thanks for playing in our contest.

I know it has been awhile since I sent out a newsletter, I have been busy but enough about that. I am looking forward to this week.

This week I am attending the New York Auto Show and will have a lot of pictures and videos of the new Cadillac Converg. I hate the name but love the idea of a practical Cadillac. If you can call it that, to me it’s a Chevy Volt in disguise – we will just have to wait and see if it ever goes into mass production. By the end of the week I promise I will have pictures and video.

UPDATES ABOUT THE 1959

There has been some facts about my last post about the 1959 Cadillac with the tv. It seems that this Cadillac is not what it was made out to be. As you can see from the responses on the post about the 1959 Cadillac. It seems to me that the nice folks over at the Imperial Palace got wrong information also. I have been corrected about this Cadillac from a few places. One Car-nection.com Cadillac database and the Cadillac Lasalle forum also had a post about MY wrong info. I can only post what I saw on the sign. This car seems to be something else then what that sign says.

First off I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. It has been a while since I sent out a newsletter. That will change in the new year as I have a bunch of stuff being planned. One of the big changes is the newsletter system itself. We will have a new look and feel around here in a few weeks. Lots of stuff behind the scenes going on right now.

Over the weekend I was able to see the movie “Cadillac Records” and besides being a good movie I was amazed at the amount of Cadillac’s in the movie. It was fun trying to identify the years as they drove the cars around. There had to be about 50 different ones used in the movie. Lots of Cadillac’s from the mid 1950′s were used, it was fun watching the tailfins get bigger as the movie went on. I suggest you try to see the movie.

Now on to the new stuff, I just found this video on the new 2010 Cadillac SRX which looks like a combination of the old SRX and the concept Provoc.

I have been making some changes over on www.Caddychat.com also. There is a new blog/newsletter being installed. I am getting a lot of questions over there and the site is screaming for some interaction. I have added a new gallery on the site that needs some tweaks but you can go there and see some classic Cadillacs. I will be going out to Las Vegas next week on vacation and I am looking forward to visiting the Imperial Palace car show and see what new Cadillac’s are there.  Maybe they will even have a pro car there like the ones that our friend Earle sent us Cadillac Pro cars. Big thanks to Earle for sending these in. Speaking of car shows if you know of any good shows that have a bunch of Cadillacs send me an email vinny(at)cadillaccountryclub.com

I just saw the trailer for the new movie staring Beyonce Knowles that is coming out in December, you may be wondering what that has to do with Cadillac. Just bear with me for a second, the movie is called “Cadillac Records”.

Although the trailer is short there is a bunch of old Cadillacs in the movie. It looks like some late 1950′s Cadillac’s to be exact although it was hard to tell from the trailer. The basis of the movie is about musicians selling so many records you can afford a Cadillac. Since the movie is all about stars like Chuck Berry and Etta James the movie will be filled with Cadillacs from this era.

It will be worth going to see this movie just to see all the Cadillacs.

I am sure there will be a lot more interest in restoration of classic Cadillacs in the near future when the movie bring attention to what great cars these Cadillacs are.

In the next post I will have some more pictures of Cadillacs from the 1950′s as I am receiving a lot of picture request lately which is a good thing.

* On a side note I am looking for someone to take pictures at the Los Angeles auto show, If you are in the area and plan to attend please send me an email.

Every once in a while I come across a cool video. This one reminds me of another place at another time. The 1958 Cadillac sure is a beauty.

1958 Cadillac comercial

I know it has been a few weeks since I last sent out a newsletter – I am sorry about that. I promise to send it out more often. People have been sending me in a bunch of pictures. I even missed a car show in New Jersey due to being so busy. The next newsletter will have some pretty cool pictures that were sent to me from that show.

Look forward to getting a newsletter in a few days