So Floor will be looking for another one to restore because he so enjoys the process. He worked on this car for nine years, with heightened rigor the past four. Helping him out is Juan Villarreal of Campbell, a Ferrari specialist, who also helps Reggie Jackson with his car restorations.

The idea is to restore the car as closely as possible to its original state. "This is the car I would have loved to own when I was 14," says Floor. And, more than three decades later, he does. The Italiano features strictly high-end Italian cars. There were 500 Ferraris alone in the show, to say nothing of Lamborghinis, Maseratis and Alfa Romeos.

Interest seems to have surged in the last few years: an estimated 20,000 attended to view the cars, ensconced throughout several holes of the Blackhawk Golf Course. The event is held over the same weekend as the Laguna Seca restored-car races and the Concourse d'Elegance at Pebble Beach.

When he isn't restoring finely crafted cars, Ted Floor is a dentist with offices in San Jose. Sounds like a fit blend of finely tuned molars and finely tuned motors, but he laughs when asked if there is any connection between dentistry and car restoration. "No, none."

HISTORY PROJECT PAYOFF: The History Project, a joint effort of Friends of the Library and the Museums of Los Gatos, made $2,700 during the weekend of booksignings by local authors at Borders. The weekend was the brainchild of Ira and Barbara Spector, in collaboration with Borders and Library Director Peggy Conaway.

The Spectors' book, about their adventures renting a French villa, is A Month of Sundays. Other authors featured were Dick Lake with Nuts from Hazelhurst, a collection written by his grandmother, a Burrell School teacher; and Marco Zecchin with Spirit of Northern Italy, his book of photographs of Northern Italy.

Conaway's local history book, Images of Los Gatos, was also previewed, with a presentation given of historic local photos. The book is a result of the History Project, the digitizing of historic town photos so that they can be safely kept for the future and can be viewed over the Internet.

Fifteen percent of all sales at Borders that weekend went to the project and 500 people used the vouchers to that end. It was the most successful fundraiser the LG Borders has had, said marketing manager Scott Vancil.

The Spectors said it took them one year to write their book and two years to edit each other's copy. Along the way they managed to alienate some of the regulars at Marcella's, where they did much of their editing and held their lustiest disagreements.

A BIRDER'S PLIGHT: Reuben, the pet bird of Laurie and Rick Roberts, flew away recently, but through the miracle of classified ads was returned after four days. The rescuer, Ashley Kinney, who lives on the same street, read the Roberts' ad and called.

Reuben actually landed at Ashley's grandmother's house, two streets away. She, knowing Ashley had birds of her own, took it to her granddaughter. The good news is both bird lovers now have handy bird sitters close at hand. However, regular wing clippings will be the rule from now on, vows Laurie.

Reuben is hard to miss: he's a golden-mantled Australian rosella with red head, white cheeks, gold chest, green and black back and blue tail and looks like a small parrot. Since he is sassy, talks a lot, and is not easy to handle, the Roberts were pessimistic about his return.

The day after Reuben flew away, a male, sharp-shinned hawk flew into the Roberts' garage and stayed for six hours. He finally figured out how to fly down and out the open garage door. Reuben would have made him a tasty meal, but was the hawk actually hoping to be a replacement pet?

ART TO CLASSROOMS: The Art Docents of LG will hold an informational tea Sept. 14, 9:30­10:30 a.m., at 17000 Roberts Road. Docents receive in-depth training, bring art to elementary classrooms. The phone is 408.335.2366 and the website is www.artdocents.com.

NEW MEMBER: This Kerry wasn't elected, but appointed. She's Kerry Dickie, assistant administrator at the Museums of LG. Dickie also works part time at the Campbell Museum. This latest staffer is getting her master's at SJSU in history, has a B.A. in English Lit for a fine museum fit.

NEW AT TOLL HOUSE: Tom Beedon is the new general manager of the Toll House. He has been general manager of Santa Barbara Inn, board chairman of the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission.

Paul Zech is new director of sales and marketing. He helped found the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

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