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Get off my lawn!
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![]() ![]() On this date, Dec. 24, in 1968, Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit becoming the first spacecraft with humans aboard to do so. This oblique photo, taken through a window of the Command Module, is looking generally northwest into the Sea of Tranquility – the future landing site of Apollo 11. The three prominent craters are Taruntius F in the lower right corner; Taruntius E in the center; and Cauchy between the two linear features. Each of the three prominent craters is 10 to 15 km (6 to 9 miles) in diameter. NASA id: AS08-13-2344 ![]() ![]() Chris Harris vs. Ferrari – The "How Ferrari Spins" Controversy In the world of automotive journalism, few names carry as much weight as Chris Harris. Known today as a lead presenter on Top Gear, Harris cemented his reputation for brutal honesty in 2011 with a bombshell article titled "How Ferrari Spins." This post dives into one of the most famous feuds in motoring history. The Accusation Harris, writing for Jalopnik at the time, exposed a practice that many in the industry whispered about but feared to publicize: Ferrari was allegedly "optimizing" the cars it sent to journalists. He claimed that the Italian manufacturer would send multiple teams of mechanics to track tests to adjust the ECU, suspension, and tires specifically for the track being used. The result? Performance figures—0–60 times and lap records—that a standard customer car could never hope to achieve. Harris argued this was a form of deception, misleading buyers about the true capabilities of the vehicles they were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on. The Fallout Ferrari’s reaction was swift and legendary. Instead of a standard PR rebuttal, they effectively "excommunicated" Harris. He was banned from the press fleet, meaning he could no longer borrow cars for review, and he was even restricted from purchasing new Ferraris through official channels for several years. This move was intended to silence a critic, but it backfired by making Harris a hero of independent journalism. The Legacy The ban lasted until roughly 2013/2014. Interestingly, Harris’s integrity actually increased his popularity. Other journalists began to speak up, noting that Ferrari wasn't the only one "tuning" press cars, though they were perhaps the most aggressive. Today, the relationship has thawed, and Harris frequently reviews Ferraris again, but the 2011 incident remains a cautionary tale about the tension between corporate PR and honest reporting. For car enthusiasts, it serves as a reminder that what you see on a magazine cover isn't always what you get in your garage.
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Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,711
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Who connects to these people? "Chief Fun Officer", WTF?!?
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,711
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Quote:
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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Get off my lawn!
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__________________
Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
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