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I carry a camera all the time, and whenever I see a weird car, I shoot it.
In reply to the signs posted on the Hemmings blog today I had to add this. While technically not in the USA, this was seen in our neighbor to the north, namely on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia… but it certainly qualifies for weird.
It was taken during the 2001 Forza Mille.
Sunday I went for a drive in the E-type. I had an errand to do, buying a PVC elbow at a hardware store for the barn project, and the local hardware store is closed on Sunday. I drove down to the “big box” store by the freeway, which happens to be located on the Tulalip Reservation. I figured rather than drive back on the Interstate, I’d take back roads out to Marine Drive, then north to the Stillaguamish river, which I could follow home. Turning left rather than right out of the hardware store had me heading for the coast, but the roads all started twisting about. I’ve never really been in this particular area, but I have an excellent sense of direction and knew that if I just kept trending west, I’d eventually hit Marine Drive.
Sure enough I got sucked into and completely spun about in one of those new McMansion housing developments with roads all going this way and that, lots of dead-ends, and no straight paths. It was waaaaay up on a hill, which I had no idea existed, with spectacular views to the NE, towards my home and the mountains behind. Wow. I just wandered slowly, puttering about at 25 MPH through the completed and incomplete McMansions. As I crested a rise I caught sight of a bonnet, and a set of headlights that screamed “Series 1 E-type” parked on the right hand side.
As the car came completely into view, I knew that it was NOT a Jaguar. I came to halt right in front of it and I recognized the name in chrome script in the grille. This is the first time I have ever seen one “in the flesh” so to speak…
It was almost as if an Alfa Romeo and a E-type mated and had a kid… mutt though it is.
This particular one was also white, and for sale. So if anyone wants one, let me know. 😉
Here is an article Jay Leno wrote about his. Maybe he wants another one? If anyone knows him, and he’s in the market for another one, let me know, I can probably find it again.
I eventually did find my way to Marine Drive, and home. A nice Sunday drive. I love doing that… wandering off in the Jaguar, and following roads I’ve never driven. What a great way to get somewhere… in no particular hurry… and occasionaly discover something completely unusual!
Usually it is my friend Aaron Adams who writes this sort of rant… but I’m compelled to comment on this flyer sent home with my youngest child earlier this week. He attends Post Middle School in nearby Arlington, WA.
I’ve noted that this school seems to be obsessed with preparing their students to pass the WASL almost to the exclusion of all else. I understand the fear the school’s administration and teachers have of this particular test, as in many ways it is an objective assessment of their performance as well as their students. But…
HOW can they send something like this home to the parents of the community and expect any respect or support?
Seriously? I always hear educators whine and complain about lack of funding, lack of respect, lack of adequate compensation, etc. I can understand their concerns, but for every step forward, they fall two back with efforts like the above.
Yes, the heartbreak of Premature Dejackulation is what caused the leading Audi R10 to loose a wheel at Le Mans. Two hours before, in a pit stop the left rear wheel was being put on when the car dropped off the jacks too early. Obviously the hub was damaged somehow at the wheel flew off on a left-hand corner just before the “Indianapolis” curves… while the car was going 190 MPH!
Thankfully Rinaldo Capello walked away from the crash, though you could tell he was despondent!
Continue reading “An unfortunate case of Premature Dejackulation!”
The photo you see above are my craptastic failed parts from Classic Jaguar. I decided to send them back as I’m unsatisfied with them. I suspect I’ll never hear a word from them, much less a refund. We’ll see. I include the text of the letter enclosed after the jump…
One of these cars is an Auburn Boattail Speedster, and the other is a “fakey-doo” built from a VW Beetle. Can you tell the difference? 😉
Well, the K&N filters finally came off the 65E today.
However, I didn’t put the stock cannister on. Instead I put an aftermarket replacement from ITG. Paul might be having an aneurysm reading this… I don’t know.
Remember last year, when I won that photography contest from SNG Barratt? Well I looked at the filter and the parts voucher I won, and figured “what the heck… it is free” and ordered it. I actually chatted for a while with Dave Kerr in the UK about his and he seemed to like it. It is easier to work around, and weighs about 1/8th what the stock setup does.
It was very easy to install. I documented the process here for the terminally curious. The K&N’s will be going on eBay soon, unless somebody here wants them real bad. Bueller? Bueller?
The car seems to like the new setup. I doubt it is the filter so much as the trumpets between it and the carbs. The torque curve seems to not flatten out in the midrange anymore. That’s not scientific … just a “seat of the pants dyno” reading.
I can still put the stock setup on, once I manage to find all the little parts I have yet to source.
