MoPho Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 So I had an assignment to photograph one of Jay Leno's cars for an Australian magazine, it was just a quickie shoot that I was only expecting to be there for like an hour and didn't know if Jay was going to be there or not. I arrived out front a little early and proceeded to wait for the writer to show up (who had just texted me that he was late) when Leno pulled up in an old Buick Convertible and invited me in. Since I had never been to the garage, I had asked Jay if would be alright if I look around while I waited. He then proceeded to give me a personal tour of the garage. When the writer showed up, Leno showed us some more stuff and then took us out for a ride up the street in his golf cart to show us a new building he bought and is expanding into. When we got back, he took us over to the car we were doing the story on, a 1963 Chrysler Turbine car. At this point, Jay says, "lets go for a ride" so we all jump in to the Chrysler and he drives us all over town and down the freeway. When we got back, I did the photoshoot and then afterwards he invited us to hang around for lunch, his guys grilled up some burgers. After lunch, he fired up a 1907 White Steam car and took us for a drive around Burbank and to Autobooks to go shopping. Of course it was pandemonium on the streets as this car was far from inconspicuous Ended up spending most of the day at the garage. He did really like my car though he kept pointing me towards his Gordon Murray designed Light Car Company Rocket, which is 150hp and 700lbs. I must have inspired him, as I was leaving he fired up the Rocket and went for a drive Garage is amazing, even better than I expected, much too much to see in one day and the cars were the least of it. Couldn't take pics in the garage though. What I really find interesting is how eclectic his taste is and that he likes a little bit of everything. If I was in such a position to have a large collection, I would probably not be interested in owning 90% of the cars he has ( I would have all sports cars and ex-works rally cars), but that was why it was so fun to see because it opened my eyes to other types of cars I would normally not take a second look at. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4630124865_9debc26844_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/4630124967_98deba760d_o.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4630725058_ec3933b548_o.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4630725128_0059868a5f_o.jpg . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Nice photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 MoPho, That is very cool. I like the photo you captured of Jay with the sun glasses on his farhead as if he is thinking just another day of fun playing with the cars.....which it most likely is for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I didn't realize how large his collection was. I thought is was 8-10 really cool cars at any one time. How many miles on Orange at this point? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Yeah, I believe Jay has over 100 cars in there and at least another 100 motorcycles, plus all the amazing artwork, memorabilia and steam engines. He claims he never sells any of his cars I think I am a bit over 12k miles now on the car :driving: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimjim7 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 http://www.rocket-car.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Mopho, Is that the Chrysler turbine car behind the White steam car in the photo? If so, what a sleeper! i saw Jay at the 2009 Pasadena Motor Tour on New Year's Day, and he looked like he was having a blast, talking cars and driving his giant early 1900's touring car. Alaskossie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Chrysler turbine car is not in any of the pictures, I can't post my shots but this is what it looks like http://www.autocasting.ru/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/62chrysler_turbine_car_12.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Turbine_Car . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Mopho, That's no sleeper.... Alaskossie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 (edited) man ... you were treated to a nice day! http://www.rocket-car.co.uk/ yeah that rocket is amazing! I keep thinking of how i could incorporate disappearing headlights into my seven! Jay Leno's Rocket Rob Edited July 1, 2010 by solder_guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevnn Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 I don't remember when/where I saw this but Jay was telling a story about his McLaren F1. This is as I remember it and the real story might vary slightly. He was out driving it when 2 men approached him in "street" clothes and looked like gang members. Initially he was uncomfortable but one of them asked about the car and brought up Gordon Murray. The other guy asked informed questions as well. Jay being the car guy he is offered to give them a ride in the car. A few miles away he punches it and gets up to around 150mph when he is clocked by a cop. He pulls over in a major panic wondering how he is going to explain doing 150mph with 2 gang members in the car. As the officer approaches, one of the passengers pulls a badge. They were both undercover cops and got him out of the ticket. He told the story as an example of how you can never judge a book by its cover. I saw the story as an example of how awesome Jay is, to give a couple gang members (as he thought they probably were) a ride in a million dollar car, and took it up to 150mph. You just can't be any cooler than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I don't remember when/where I saw this but Jay was telling a story about his McLaren F1. This is as I remember it and the real story might vary slightly. He was out driving it when 2 men approached him in "street" clothes and looked like gang members. Initially he was uncomfortable but one of them asked about the car and brought up Gordon Murray. The other guy asked informed questions as well. Jay being the car guy he is offered to give them a ride in the car. A few miles away he punches it and gets up to around 150mph when he is clocked by a cop. He pulls over in a major panic wondering how he is going to explain doing 150mph with 2 gang members in the car. As the officer approaches, one of the passengers pulls a badge. They were both undercover cops and got him out of the ticket. He told the story as an example of how you can never judge a book by its cover. I saw the story as an example of how awesome Jay is, to give a couple gang members (as he thought they probably were) a ride in a million dollar car, and took it up to 150mph. You just can't be any cooler than that. He first told the story on Jimmy Kimmel and then Top Gear Apparently it is true (at least to some degree), the story was making the rounds here in SoCal before he went on TV with it. Jay is a bit of a fixture in the SoCal car community, he is out nearly every weekend either driving around up in the canyons or showing up at the various car meets/shows. Back before I bought the Caterham, I was out in my Elan and he had chased me down on his motorcycle and pulled me over to have a look at the car (he owns two Elans and it is one of his favorite cars). What was really cool was my father just happened to be in town visiting me and was in the car, he couldn't believe it. Jay chatted us up for a good 20 minutes or so. http://www.mjswebgallery.com/elan/images/leno_V2.jpg . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 A little more info on the relaunched Rocket: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=102&i=16174 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaz Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Just Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevnn Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 He first told the story on Jimmy Kimmel and then Top Gear Nice call on the Top Gear clip, that is definitely where I heard him tell the story. My details were slightly off but not bad for watching it about 9 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Chrysler's biggest problem with the turbine car, other than fuel consumption, was that they couldn't dissipate the exhaust heat. If you were in traffic the car BEHIND you over heated. LOL. Hate to date myself but I followed that car when it was "new" in all the Hot Rod mags and Popular Mechanics etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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