Jay Leno and Porsches

[Plecostomus]

I was reading up on Jay Leno's stable of cars and found this quote from him:

"People ask me why I don't have any Porsches. I've never liked the looks of their engines although my brother had a Speedster. And I never liked that tinny ching, ching sound. Why would you want that when you could get a car that sounded like varrooooom, varrooom?"

Isn't it an inanity to not like a car because of the way the engine looks or sounds? Some of the cars he owns sound like a printing press or a die-stamper. I've seen his horrible-looking tank-engined car before. Doesn't seem like he's too sophisticated to me.

[Oh Haha]

I just read an article in a UK mag where he expounds the virtues of Porsche cars. He has a C-GT and a new Turbo in his collection.
What's his deal? Does he like them or not?

EDIT: New Total 911 issue

[SandyI]

I wouldn't say he isn't a sophisticate because he doesn't like the sound of a Speedster engine. This is a guy who put a 650 HP Nascar crate engine in a Chevy Bel-Air (or some other generic GM product) that he drives on the So Cal freeways! So the fact that a 60 hp Speedster engine doesn't get him excited shouldn't be too big a surprise.

[Plecostomus]

Hmmm. I had the impression it was the flat-6 in general. Why then would he assume that all Porsches are the equivalent of a Speedster? A purist he certainly isn't.

[87coupe]

You guys have some misinformation. Leno is a Porsche fan, I have an episode of Rides where he buys a spyder replica, & talks about how amazing the C-GT & Turbo he already has are.

[87coupe]

You guys have some misinformation. Leno is a Porsche fan, I have an episode of Rides where he buys a spyder replica, & talks about how amazing the C-GT & Turbo he already has are.

[Dixie]

Isn't it an inanity to not like a car because of the way the engine looks or sounds?

Yes, and it's even prevalent on this BBS. Ever notice how many dislike the Corvette simply because it's a cam-in-block motor?

[lvporschepilot]

Jay just did a run at Taladega with his GT. It was just a promo run to try and break the track record of 227.??? set by a 917/10 I believe. Jay seems like the type of guy who wants a car he (or his team of mechanics) has to work on all the time. Not a Porsche man.

[Plecostomus]

How fickle human nature is. From Porsche denigrator to flag wavin' zealot.

[Jack Olsen]

By all accounts, Leno was initially mostly into American muscle cars and quirky early behemoths (doesn't he have a steam powered car in his collection?). He's a big guy, and Porsches initially probably seem a little odd if you're into big American cars and are not so compact yourself.

But by all accounts, the Carrera GT opened his eyes. He spent a fair amount of time with the 911 crowd at the last two New Year's Day Hangover Rallies in Malibu. From what I've seen, he seems like a genuine car enthusiast, but not necessarily an avid DIY-er.

He also wasn't a track guy, although working with our own Hayden (Wevoid) and David Donohue at Talladega might mark the beginning of a change in that arena, too.

[SandyI]

Originally posted by Plecostomus
How fickle human nature is. From Porsche denigrator to flag wavin' zealot.

Denigrator? Zealot?

Yikes. The guy's a comedian, not a politician. Give him some slack. So he changed his mind about a car brand.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally posted by Jack Olsen
He also wasn't a track guy, although working with our own Hayden (Wevoid) and David Donohue at Talladega might mark the beginning of a change in that arena, too.

If my memory serves me correctly, didn't he spin the GT at Talladega on the back straight?????

[emcdan]

Ever notice how many dislike the Corvette simply because it's a cam-in-block motor?

I dislike the vettes because of the owners, they all seem to wear alot of hairspray and gold chains ...he he

I'll pay for that...I live in the home of the vette.

[Plecostomus]

It's obvious to me he's always been a meat and potatoes guy.

[Wrecked944]

Originally posted by Jack Olsen
But by all accounts, the Carrera GT opened his eyes.

Leno writes a regular motorhead column in Popular Mechanics. I have the issue in which he heaps unqualified praise on the CGT. IIRC he devoted most of the ink to his love affair with the CGT clutch and even had a pic of him posing with a CGT clutch plate. Apparently the CGT rocked his world and made him a believer.

[SandyI]

Originally posted by Plecostomus
It's obvious to me he's always been a meat and potatoes guy.

His comedy definitely ranges from political to "meat & potatoes". But if one old quote in some article makes you think he's some lowest common denominator "Bubba", you've really underestimated who and what he's about. His column in OCTANE is very entertaining.

But what's the real deal? He steal your date at the prom?

[Zeke]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
If my memory serves me correctly, didn't he spin the GT at Talladega on the back straight?????

I believe it was on the front side in the tri-oval. There is a lot of room there and fortunately he didn't hit anything. The front is actually 18 degrees and if you dip a wheel on the apron, it's usually game over. I don't know if that's exactly what he did, though.

Anyway, 18* is deceiving and you think you are going straighter and flatter than you really are. The whole place is a bit of an illusion and quite a bit tougher than it looks. I have spent a coulple of hours on the track in a wrecker during dry-out-the-track sessions after a rain in '91. Freaky place.

[buster73]

Just read an interview with Leno in the 'total 911" magazine. He says he never liked 356's but, "lusted" for a 904 when he was young. He also likes the 928 and seems to appreciate the 911 as a no-nonsense, reliable sports car. Quote: "A Porsche is like a fine watch; all the good stuff is inside" (and much more, interesting to read). He really seems to be a honest car guy with a taste for the exceptional - if not weird - stuff. And he certainly knows what he is talking about. Not one of those celebrities with the big check book, who just buys cars to be seen in.

[Plecostomus]

Of course he's entertaining, but there's nothing elaborate about Jay Leno.

[David]

I read where he spun at Taladaga when he lifted after finishing a run.

I think he's seen the light as far a Porsches go.