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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
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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: 56,733
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Quote:
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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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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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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 25,226
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Get off my lawn!
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![]() ![]() ![]() The new B-52 YZ model ready to go.
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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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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 25,226
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Good post? Leave a tip! O - $1 O - $2 O - $3 |
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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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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The original Hobby Lobby in Oklahoma City in 1972 Photo courtesy of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. / The Green Family. Still 100% owned by one man, I remember going into that store in the late 70s looking for model airplanes, and it was mostly home crafts and decorations. I said to myself, this place will never last. That store was right on my way to and from work.
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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: 56,733
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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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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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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 25,226
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Ahh, the famous Peterson kids. The only four siblings to successfully navigate multiple Cars & Coffee events without incident. It's said piloting a Mustang from a very early age is the only true way to not pitch it sideways under hard acceleration.
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Registered
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Location: Twin Cities
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Registered
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Space Coast
Posts: 5,412
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Paul 82 911SC - 3 yrs of fun (traded-in) 2011 Cayman (simply amazing, smiles for miles) |
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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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Location: Galt's Gulch
Join Date: Jul 2019
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The good ole days
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![]() ![]() Spilled the green bean casserole in the back seat. ![]() ![]()
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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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Get off my lawn!
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![]() Cooks preparing Christmas dinner in the New Zealand Division area in Italy, 25 December 1943. ![]() ![]()
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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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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 25,226
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Get off my lawn!
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1930s Oklahoma City, OK near the State Capitol.
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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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