Jay (Average Joe) Leno...
 

It's good to be driving down the 101 at the 134 split this morning, and see Jay Leno in his Yamaha-powered silver Ford Festiva, flared at all four corners, stuck in the same messed-up traffic as the rest of us. It sort of brings a sense of togetherness and fairness to the life we waste on the freeway.

Jay's all right, though Johnny was much funnier.

Jay has better cars, though...SmileWavy

I used to see Leno at a house in Pasadena, a guy named Dean Hensley had a pre 15 motorcycle gathering there and Jay would show up with something. Always something exotic. He would always clown around and let women have their pictures taken with him. He was always cool and you could talk to him. I even went to his place once to see all of his cars and bikes, it was impressive.

There is a mythical pole barn near me that is allegedly stuffed to the gills with all sorts of interesting motor vehicles. Two and four wheel sorts. A friend of mine sort of got to know the owner, allthough it's still unclear as to what this guy's got. Well anyways, it's been told Jay Leno showed there once and I guess the guy kicked him off his land. I'd love to know what this guy's got that made Leno show up.

I walked next to him over the bridge at Laguna Seca a few weeks ago. No entourage, carrying his own shopping bag just like everyone else. I like the guy for his nature and personality, although I don't find him (his writers' material at least) very funny.

He showed up to a new-years hangover run a few years ago in his 1000 hp twin turbo toronado. Doing burn-outs, having fun, he's a real car nut and a regular guy. He's just doing what we would be doing if we had the money. He drove that thing like he stole it.

I saw him at the festival of speed at cal speedway several years ago standing next to his tank-engine powered hot-rod. You have no idea how big that thing it until you see it in person. It is giant. He told he he got 1/2 mile to the gallon in it, but that was before he had Gale Banks install a twin turbo system on it. Something like 2500 ft. lbs. of torque and 1600 hp now.

He actually wrenches on his cars too. He has a full time staff but dives in and gets his hands dirty when he gets the chance. Working for him in his garage would be a dream job for me.

He's not a big Porsche fan tho. He has a carrera GT but AFAIK that's the only Porsche he owns.

Having him work for me in his garage would be even better.

Ah, the Sho Gun.

Yep. With lots of cam.

In the early 90's I was helping to push a real GT-40 up on the auction block and I heard somebody come up behind me to offer a hand, it was Jay Leno.

I thought that was pretty cool of him.

I was lucky enough to meet him at the Tonight Show and then go tour his car and motorcycle collection after. He is one of the good guys.

I think Carson I was much funnier also. I think Leno is funnier then Conan too.

The guys working for him seem to be pretty happy.

Leno is the real deal. I've run into him a few times around LA, and he's always been cool.

I never cared for his show, but he's one of the few in show business that I would genuinely like to meet.

I've never been a big Leno fan as far as TV goes, but I've never been a big late night TV fan either.

That said, when I was given the choice between Leno and Letterman, I chose Leno hands down. He's a car guy and I have no problem supporting his habit. It is well-established that he's a nice guy in person.

Letterman on the other hand is condescending d***, both on the air and in person...

It's nice to see someone of his stature show up at a place like Mid-Ohio a couple years ago and rummage around in that enormous garage sale they have during the vintage motorcycle days. The only thing that was different about him than the regular schmoes was the fact they put him in a golf cart to get him around the swap meet. But hey, the danged thing is about 40-freakin' acres so I don't begrudge him his ride!
I was on a scooter, so what about it?

Jay is great (and pretty funny too). I've met him a couple of times on various drives. He always had something truly exotic and interesting (I forget offhand what the models were, but they were NOT things you see everyday, that's for sure...)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252157016.jpg

Leno with his Buick in Pasadena

I love the story of Jay picking up the kid in his Lambo and taking him to school because the kid wrote Jay in desperation explaining he told all his friends he knew Jay and his friends were calling it all BS. Jay picked the kids up, drove him to school and dropped him off right in front of the school and the kids friends. How cool of Jay to take time out of his fast paced life to do something like that.

Speedy:)

another Leno shot, great looking valve covers

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252157630.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252157650.jpg

Cool guy, gotta meet him sometime.

Love that he wears that Canadian tuxedo everywheres...

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/images/SHOgun/Leno2.jpg

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/images/SHOgun/Leno5.jpg

At coffee with the guys the other day; was told Jay lives off the money he makes from stand-up (which he never stopped doing and apparently works about 160-170 nights a year) and just banks the money from the Tonight show.

Impressive. It seems to check out:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-07-16-leno-cover_N.htm