My cousin won an expensive charity auction that granted him 4 passes to a semi private tour of Jay Leno's garage and car collection. Yesterday, my cousin, his son, and I went. It is located adjacent to Burbank (Bob Hope) airport in the San Fernando Valley, and is made up of several buildings. There were a lot (approx. 180 cars and maybe 100 motorcycles. In his Jaguar section he had several XK120s, a couple of E-types. a Daimler, and maybe one other that I can't remember. John, his long time friend and employee, gave a detailed description of most of the cars and had many humorous stories. The tour lasted about 2 hours. Probably for me, the most impressive part was the huge service and restoration shop which was like what you'd find at a dealership with a full staff of mechanics, and absolutely immaculate. You're not allowed to take photos, but we were given the opportunity at the end to take a couple of shots in front of some of the cars in the first garage. The one attached has my old body standing in front of Jay's Pantera which sits next to his half dozen Lamborghinis (including 2 Miuras), and across from his collection of McLarens. We had a very enjoyable morning that was also quite informative.

 

What do you mean "old body"? You don't look like a couch potato with a beer belly, so maybe it's how you see yourself with a white beard. Shave it off and see if you feel younger. If not, you can grow it back. Bottom line is that if you think you're old, you will be. Age is not chronological; it is a state of mind. It's mind over matter. If my wife doesn't mind, it doesn't matter. Boys stay young having fun with their toys. And a man is only as old as SHE feels!

Didn't walking through Leno's garage make you feel younger?

 

Ted, its great to put a face after your many posts!
I hope you told them you'd be available for the next time they shoot a story on Panteras or one of your other cars.
Lucky guy for sure!

 

/stuart,
You're right, of course, but I find that now I think a lot more about how much effort and energy a task will take and that that will sometimes stop me from doing it. That has never plagued me before. I'm still very active, play golf a couple of times a week.still work, etc. just everything creaks more than when I was 30 years younger. And as for the beard, it grows so quickly that even if I take it off, it's back the next day. If I could figure a way to grow my beard hair on the top of my head instead of the bottom, I wouldn't have that big bald spot for very long.

 

Ted you look younger than Jay

 

Lucky Duck. I'd love to take that tour. Ted, you look young enough to me. From Toby Keiths song in "The Mule", "Ask yourself how old would you be if you didn't know the day you were born.... Don't let the old man in."

 

Sounds like lots of fun. Ted, thanks for posting. Hope you have your XKR problems sorted out. Regards,

 

Thanks Ralph. XKR is fine with the new water pump again. Let's have lunch again soon. Pantera's in the shop with busted tranny. Hopefully will have that sorted soon.
Ted