2025 Update to ALL Robb Collection Articles in All Categories Audio Music Cameras Diecast Cars and More

 January 01, 2026

#532

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Gentle readers,

To start off the New Year, I decided to write an updated LIST of all articles I have written since my last INDEX OF ARTICLES update of October 24, 2024. 

This gives you a chance to catch up on articles that you might have missed or to take another look at ones you enjoyed.

The view, if I stand up, from my desk. Since this photo, another row of 1:32nd scale cars has joined those seen. And the speaker drenched in sunlight is long gone.

Here is a link to the list of categories of ALL articles I have written since beginning:

Here is a link to the previous Audio-Specific list of articles: 

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2020/03/revised-03-31-2020-every-article-stereo.html

What follows are AUDIO articles written since the above date. Starting with the OLDEST to the NEWEST:

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/01/are-worlds-best-cables-truly-best-i.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-wbc-worlds-best-cables-rca-and-xlr.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/02/wbc-worlds-best-cables-7-gauge-speaker.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/02/monster-cable-doesnt-make-speaker.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/02/review-of-marantz-mm7025-their-last-two.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/03/is-physical-media-based-home-stereo-two.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/04/wounded-b-components-st1400-power.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/04/resurrected-1993-b-components-st1400.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/09/world-premiere-review-of-douk-audios.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/10/douk-audio-class-dj587-tube-power-amps.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/10/i-made-my-own-audiophile-power-cable.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/10/upgrading-your-ac-audio-power-cables.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/10/having-friends-who-are-neighbors-is.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/12/trying-tube-rolling-with-my-4wpc.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/08/skylabs-audio-featured-my-image-in.html

Obviously, I have spent more time doing audio equipment things than any other of my hobbies.

Next, alphabetically is: 

Camera Articles, Digital and Film Since 10-24-2024

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/05/fifty-year-old-time-capsule-found-rare.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/07/ritz-cameras-quantaray-branded-lenses.html

Next on the list is:

I built this shelf more than fifty years ago with the guidance and help of my then-girlfriend, Linda's awesome father. It is made from the wood of a walnut tree which fell on their property in the 1970's.

Linda, circa 1975. We are still friends to this day.

Music Collecting Since 10-24-2024

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/07/atlanta-rhythm-section-lp-records.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/08/kenny-loggins-1991-cd-release-leap-of.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/12/collecting-beethovens-9-symphonies-in.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/12/pablo-cruise-1970s-us-bands-1st-lp-made.html

Continuing with:

Diecast and Slot Cars Since 10-24-2024

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/12/cadillac-racing-brief-history-and-their.html

And concluding with:

Miscellaneous Articles Since 10-24-2024

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-tale-of-two-vintage-philco-transitone.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2024/12/why-are-american-and-other-countries.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/10/cpap-machines-torture-machines-which.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/04/how-you-can-get-landscape-mulch-to-stay.html

https://therobbcollections.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-long-slow-death-of-cars-sold-new-in.html

When I started this blog in early December, 2008(!) it was simply something new to try. I had no idea that anyone, let alone over 600,000 of you would be the least bit interested in what I have to say or photograph. A lot has happened in the world in those seventeen years. Much has changed in almost every country on this planet. Much of it for the worse.

However, I choose to continue to be positive in my outlook. I pray that things around the world WILL get better. We humans have endured far worse over time and we are still here. This US scientist has tried to figure out just how MANY of us have inhabited this beautiful planet since we first appeared. I leave you with this interesting video:

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this extensive list. I prayerfully ask that you catch up on the articles you have missed and perhaps explore some of the others. You never know when something new may become something you too are passionate about. Feel free to leave comments below or on Facebook.

Scott Robb
Northern Virginia, USA
January 01, 2026
#532

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Pablo Cruise, a 1970's US Band's 1st LP made into CD in 2004 in the UK Japan owned CD Travelled the World!

 December 31, 2025

#531 Updated

Gentle reader,

Sometimes things just work out. I am in my 70th year and come from a large family. There was always music playing in the house, thus all five of us siblings love to play music and sing. 

I began my journey to build a good stereo system in 1975 after seeing and hearing my new friend Philip's system with the enormous speakers he built which had 18 inch woofers. What good is a stereo without music to play? 

This is US band Pablo Cruise's first record. It is self titled and is one of many rock albums I began buying fifty years ago. They made many albums, some of which I bought, but this, their very first has always been my go to for some "Cruising". It was never released on CD. Or, so I thought. 

This is the story of how a CD created and sold in the United Kingdom (England) that somehow made it's way all the way across Europe and Asia to Japan and found it's way more than twenty years later to a music collector/seller in Tokyo who chose to sell his wares to the entire world via eBay.

An eBay seller in Tokyo, Japan called: golgo131969 had this copy. It was released by Lemon Recordings, a UK music label in 2004. He wanted $35US for it, plus $23US for air shipping it to the United States. I had seen others selling it for much more money and they went quickly. Thus, I jumped on this one and bought it on December 20th of this year (2025). It was shipped on the 22nd in Japan and arrived in New York on Christmas day, three days later.
eBay had predicted that it would reach me around January 8, 2026. I was happy to wait, while I have Pablo Cruise's Best Of CD, I really wanted their entire first album on CD.
Today, I received an email from Uniexpress showing me photos of my house, front porch and the above package sitting atop our cat's food bowl. I realized that it had to be the CD from Japan! As you can see, it arrived in pristine condition. The bubble package is very robust and the tape is thick and strong. Bravo golgo131969!
Inside, between two layers of Japanese cardboard was the CD, which was within more bubble wrap, even a small piece in front of the CD to keep it in place during it's long:
The air distance from New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport) to Tokyo (Narita International Airport) is approximately 6,744.6 miles (10,854.4 kilometers). If flying to Haneda Airport, the distance is about 6,772.4 miles (10,899.1 kilometers). journey halfway around the world.
Remember that this CD was created in the United Kingdom. And at some point in time it journeyed from England to Japan: The flight distance from London to Tokyo is approximately 5,939 miles (9,558 kilometers). Actual travel distances may vary depending on the flight path taken.
Therefore, it has travelled during it's twenty one year life so far, at least 12,685 miles (not including from New York Customs to northern Virginia) or 20,458 kilometers. 
The CD, the case, the "liner" notes and the Cd itself are in pristine, might-as-well-be-new, condition. For which, I am very happy!
I am curious when "liner notes" first became common, Wikipedia thinks this: Liner notes began with the introduction of long-playing vinyl records (LPs) in the early 1950s, evolving from program notes for musical concerts. They became more prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, providing detailed information about the music and artists involved.
I love it when CD makers make their wares look like 45 RPM records or LPs.
The CD's playing surface is completely free of any damage.
For more on the maker of this series, this #41 0f 41 released, go here: Buy Lemon Vinyl, CD's & Box Sets - Cherry Red
CD "cover" is identical to the LP.
I am including all the liner notes for your enjoyment, for the chances of your finding one of these CDs is small.
When I originally posted the liner notes, I had not yet read them. When I DID read them, they made no sense. A closer look revealed that they have to be read like a newspaper column. Thus, I have posted them in the correct order.
And the final part is below:
As stated in the liner notes, the band is still together, much to my surprise: Pablo Cruise Band | Official Website | HOME

Below is the liner notes unfolded which recreates the back cover of the LP.
And, for comparison's sake, here is the LP's back cover:
So, fifty years after their first record hit the shelves of record stores, I finally have a digital copy of it. The funny thing is, I could make my own CD of it, but it would include fifty years worth of surface noise.
Now, perhaps you are thinking, "If you already have the record, why go to the trouble and expense of buying that CD? See below to understand:
These are my forever cars. Both have CD players AND 6-speed manual transmissions.
Both are loads of fun, having turbocharged engines and Pirelli Cinturato P7 tires, which makes for exhilarating acceleration and fantastic handling.
Had I bought them new, each would be painted red.
I bought the 2005 Volvo V50 in 2014 when it was nine years old with just over 80,000 miles on it. The other car is a 2013 Cadillac ATS Performance 2.0T (that's it's official name). We bought it in 2023, with 150,000 miles on it for $8,000.
Passive theft prevention.
I like to do research into things I am into. This is what I came up with two years ago:
Note that they both have the identical top speed of 149MPH or 239KPH.
A replica of the window sticker for the Cadillac. With turbocharging small engines, vehicles can perform as well as larger engine-equipped siblings yet still have very good fuel economy.

Okay, since I am so happy to get this CD and so quickly, I could not wait to tell you about it. I have already played it in the listening room:
And again via the stack of components I have here in our home "office". That tells you how long it takes for me to make one of these articles.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story. Feel free to comment below or via Facebook.

Scott Robb
December 31, 2025
#531

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Cadillac Racing A Brief History and Their V-Series.R LMP HYPER Car GTP WEC and IMSA Racing Cars in Miniature

 December 27, 2025

#530

Gentle reader,

Longtime readers (thank you!) know that I have been a car guy at least 68 of my 69 years on this Earth. And that includes being a fan of car racing. Specifically, of endurance sports and prototype car racing, at such events as the: 24 Hours of Daytona, Sebring 12 Hours and France's 100-years-old, 24 Hours of Le Mans and more held in north America's IMSA series and at the rest-of-the-world's WEC series. Cadillac Racing: IMSA, WEC, F1 News & More | Cadillac

Image courtesy of carscoops.com
The photo above is of all three factory Cadillac V-Series.R cars as of 2023 as prepared for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida, USA. 
A little older image taken with the photographer having set the lead car's rear facing camera level while on the 31 degree  banking of Daytona International Speedway. The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is the first race of every year in the world or IMSA and WEC endurance racing. The trifecta back in the day being, in calendar order, Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans in January, March and June respectively.

"The world of NASCAR centers around this 2.5-mile tri-oval. NASCAR races have been held here since 1959 and it is the host of the renowned Daytona 500. What makes this track appealing are the 31-degree banking on the corners and the 18-degree banks on the tri-oval. Put this steepness together with a track width of 40 feet and an extremely difficult challenge emerges."

Cadillac fields a three-car team, although the #31 red car, is the most successful of the three cars here in the United States (and in WEC in which just the blue was raced in addition to Le Mans) which is sponsored by Whelen Engineering, a company which makes products for the Data Center industry. 
Additionally, Hertz Team Jota, today races these two cars purchased from Cadillac in the World Endurance Challenge aka: WEC. In 2023, HTJ raced a car in the LMP2 class and did very well. The next year, 2024, HTJ showed up to race with two brand new Porsche 963 LMPH top-of-the line racers. To the surprise and delight of Cadillac fans, for 2025, they raced the two Cadillacs shown above. At the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans these two cars qualified 1st and 2nd to start the epic race. Proving that naturally aspirated (no turbocharging or supercharging)  American V8 engines in top-level racing have the speed and power to show the rest of the field their taillights. That was no fluke because they showed epic speed the entire season. The US Cadillacs could not match HTJ's speed or high finishing order with their cars at Le Mans or other WEC races.
Cadillac began racing internationally in 1950 when American Briggs Cunningham prepared two Cadillac sedans to represent the United States car makers at France's legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race. One with the stock body and interior and the other with his idea of streamlining. The #3 sedan finished 10th and #2 "Le Monstre" finished 11th. 60 cars entered the race that year, but only 29 finished 24 hours later. For more on this and more photos of these two cars go here: A peek inside the LeMans Cadillacs - Old Cars Weekly
Years later, Briggs Cunningham with some of his race cars.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cadillac's first (and last) foray into international endurance racing, they produced this LMP race car running a race-prepped Cadillac Northstar V8 engine. The cars were not competitive, however.

I was able to attend the 2002 Inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. The following for images are from that race. Which was the one and only race held there. The site was built on one of the parking lots of Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.  

WMATA (metro) Subway Car Tracks emerge from the ground inside the circuit.

Image inside the Cadillac pits prior to the race shows just how small and low the LMP class of race cars are.
Aerial image of the RFK stadium complex (former home of the Washington Redskins football team) from the race program. It was a wonderful facility. The track was forty feet wide which allowed for far more passing the most circuits. Sadly, the neighbors complained of the noise and it was the last race held there. The stadium has since been demolished. There is no sign of the race circuit other than the race circuit's asphalt surface.
I'm glad that I brought the program and this polo shirt. 
I did not know it then, but one of my readers, who became friends with Nancy and I, Bruce W., was there too! He was working as a Corner Marshal at the race. Small world.
Two old buys, Bruce and I, attempting to make a selfie.
Street car-based Cadillacs were also raced, such as this 2011 Cadillac CTS-V coupe, but nothing top-level until the current Cadillac V-Series.R cars of which I now have three amazing miniatures in 1:64th scale.
There are a number of these beauties built by MINI GT under license from General Motors and IMSA. They sell for around twenty dollars US on eBay which is where I bought these.
At a glance, they look just like the real cars. The detail is incredible and I am delighted to have these added to my collection. 
The gold #01 is from the 2024 IMSA season Sebring 12 Hours race. Previously, the color was yellow with the same #01. The blue #2 is from the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans race in which the car finished 3rd overall. The #311 (#31 in IMSA) is from the same race. There already was a WEC car registered to race at Le Mans which uses #31. 
I just cannot get over how amazing these cars look in these images. They are, of course, made in China. 
I don't remember which Le Mans race it was, but on the very first lap, the red #311 Cadillac, after leaving the first chicane on The Mulsanne Straight, ["(French: Ligne droite des Hunaudières, "Straight Line of Les Hunaudières") is the name used in English for a formerly 6 km (3.7 mi) long straight of the Circuit de la Sarthe around which the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race takes place."] when it suddenly snapped to the left and crashed into the safety barrier on that side of the circuit, ending that car's race when it had just begun. 
The "before" image, below.
IMSA GTP livery, below.

Amazing amount of detail on these little gems.
They even included the little tow ring on the rear of the cars.
Hot Wheels made an all-carbon-fiber version of Cadillac's V-Series.R LMPH GTP race car. The real car is seen above.
Prior to fielding the car, it practiced and was developed with no livery. "Livery" refers to the colorful plastic wraps put on race cars over their bare bodies.
There is no comparing it to the MINI GT models. Both seen in profile below.
Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this article. I am truly humbled that anyone does so, let alone that over 650,000 of you do so blows my mind! Plus, two real friends, Bruce and Bob B. are part of our lives now, is truly a blessing. 

Feel free to leave comments below or on Facebook. 

Scott Robb
#530
December 27, 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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2025 Update to ALL Robb Collection Articles in All Categories Audio Music Cameras Diecast Cars and More

  January 01, 2026 #532 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Gentle readers, To start off the New Year, I decided to write an updated LIST of all articles I have...