Jay Leno Makes a Rendezvous Of His Own
Here's the video, don't forget to click full screen and turn up the sound.
Awesome! There are so many good roads in those hills i wouldn't be able to stop!
Just in case somebody's not seen "Rendezvous":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOngL0mEhgI&hd=1
Unlike Claude, Jay lets the Merc V8 sing out (Lelouch overdubbed his film with Ferrari V12 & screeching tire sounds).
Should we take up a collection to buy the man a Bondurant or Barber school? I know he could afford one, but I'm just thinking that such a gesture on our part might get him over his belief that he just can't do it. Recall his comment about not racing in Eric Bana's "Love the Beast". Recall your own doubts about going racing. Recall that we all had our own path from auto-lover to auto-racer..
The GRM staff might know a little better than I, since they've befriended Jay, but I still wonder..If the man spent a few days at Firebird with Bob shouting in his ear, I think we'd eventually see him in something wonderful at the Mitty...
I've gotta say that I've been very impressed with Mercedes-Benz in the last few years. Not just design-wise, either. But that AMG SLS looks great. I'm not thrilled about the rear end, but it isn't bad. 3550 lbs isn't particularly lightweight, but at least it isn't another two-tonner supercar. Just wait until the Black Series comes out. I wish the rumors were true: that it would tip the scales at barely more than 3000 lbs.
Is it just me or is that engine sound annoying? Great looking car, but it burbles too much.
Thanks FriedGreenCorrado!
Always good to take note of the original and good points about wanting to see Jay take a stab at some real racing. (Don't think I can chip in for it, but I do offer my encouragement and moral support.)
There are some other videos posted at that site abut making the video with Jay worth watching too.
Those engines sound way better when you're driving them. I was lucky enough to do the Mercedes Benz Driving Academy at Mosport a couple of months ago, and there were several AMG cars we drove. Lots of power and refinement. I like what he said about "focused" cars, too many seem afraid to be really good at one thing in case they lose buyers over compromised trunk space or utility.
Great road, wish I could have seen that part of LA when I was down there for the auto show. Saw skid row though. 
And I did see Patrick Dempsey.
Didn't Leno make some record with a co-driver at Talledega a few years ago? I forget the car...regardless, I do believe that the man can drive.
*EDIT....2005 Porsche Carrera GT, (3) records for a production car on a closed course.
He did a respectable job in a Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear, too. 
I'd say he probably has enough high experience to know where his interests are - he seems happy enough to spend his time collecting and restoring cars.
Yeah, I believe the man can drive. Notice in the film, his eyes seem to be way ahead of his slip angles..and doesn't it take some dexterity to drive some of those pre-war and Brass Era cars he has (hand operated throttles, non-standard pedal positions, etc.)?
I was just struck by what he said to Bana in "Love the Beast" (and if you haven't seen that, there's a thread around here with a link to the entire film). Something like, "..well, you're a natural athlete, so you can race. I'm not, so I can't." That to me sounds like the kind of mental block that so many people have about racing. And isn't that what GRM is really about? Showing people that it doesn't have to just be a dream?
Or maybe stuart's right...he may just not need it.
I like Jay Leno, he seems like a good guy. I can understand why he wasn't driving at 8/10ths or beyond on public roads: other people were on those roads. I don't like the idea of racing on public roads. Those people going past didn't sign up for that. Driving a little fast is different; the Germans, among others, have a similar opinion on that as long as you're not teetering on the edge of control. I think Jay kept it in perspective well; it's an exciting car and he's enjoying some "spirited driving," not pushing the car to its limits on a populated road.
I agree.. he did a very good job holding that big merc BACK... and I do not agree.. I like how burbly that engine sounds...
friedgreencorrado wrote: Yeah, I believe the man can drive. Notice in the film, his eyes seem to be way ahead of his slip angles..and doesn't it take some dexterity to drive some of those pre-war and Brass Era cars he has (hand operated throttles, non-standard pedal positions, etc.)? I was just struck by what he said to Bana in "Love the Beast" (and if you haven't seen that, there's a thread around here with a link to the entire film). Something like, "..well, you're a natural athlete, so you can race. I'm not, so I can't." That to me sounds like the kind of mental block that so many people have about racing. And isn't that what GRM is *really* about? Showing people that it doesn't have to just be a dream? Or maybe stuart's right...he may just not need it.
I saw Love the Beast as well, and remember him saying that line. The way I interpreted it is while he likes fast cars, he's not a RACER. I can relate...I've been (infrequently) racing a Spec Racer Ford for the last 12 years or so, and while I enjoy it and I don't finish last, I know I don't have the killer instinct or natural talent to ever be really good at it.
As far as the video above goes, I agree they weren't trying to make a race film, the intent was to show an example of a 'brisk' drive. I don't think Jay is the kind of guy who's going to hoon around too much on public roads. I also liked the sound of that car - it sounds more like a 1960s muscle car than a Mercedes.
stuart in mn wrote: I can relate...I've been (infrequently) racing a Spec Racer Ford for the last 12 years or so, and while I enjoy it and I don't finish last, I know I don't have the killer instinct or natural talent to ever be really good at it.
"It's that part of the brain that makes you frightened; that's what racing drivers don't have. They don't have imagination. They're not thinking, 'what if a wheel falls off now,' 'what if, I push the brake pedal and nothing happens.'" - Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear, Series 7, Episode 6
That's from the episode where he drives the NSX at Laguna?
kb58 wrote: That's from the episode where he drives the NSX at Laguna?
Yes, as he compared it to a game.....
stuart in mn wrote:friedgreencorrado wrote: Yeah, I believe the man can drive. Notice in the film, his eyes seem to be way ahead of his slip angles..and doesn't it take some dexterity to drive some of those pre-war and Brass Era cars he has (hand operated throttles, non-standard pedal positions, etc.)? I was just struck by what he said to Bana in "Love the Beast" (and if you haven't seen that, there's a thread around here with a link to the entire film). Something like, "..well, you're a natural athlete, so you can race. I'm not, so I can't." That to me sounds like the kind of mental block that so many people have about racing. And isn't that what GRM is *really* about? Showing people that it doesn't have to just be a dream? Or maybe stuart's right...he may just not need it.I saw Love the Beast as well, and remember him saying that line. The way I interpreted it is while he likes fast cars, he's not a RACER. I can relate...I've been (infrequently) racing a Spec Racer Ford for the last 12 years or so, and while I enjoy it and I don't finish last, I know I don't have the killer instinct or natural talent to ever be really good at it.
Interesting you mention that. When I first started racing, I may have had the instinct (although not the talent)..but I was in my 20s then. I'm a little older than that now, and think maybe I'll try vintage racing if I'm ever lucky enough to go "wheel-to-wheel" again. I discovered my competitve nature still lurks in my background during the 09 autocross season (and every stinking night on Forza online.. ) but at my age, I think I'm looking for somewhere to "split the difference" between doing well and just participating.
stuart in mn wrote: As far as the video above goes, I agree they weren't trying to make a race film, the intent was to show an example of a 'brisk' drive. I don't think Jay is the kind of guy who's going to hoon around too much on public roads. I also liked the sound of that car - it sounds more like a 1960s muscle car than a Mercedes.
mad_machine's right. He did a wonderful job of enjoying the car without getting weird with it.
And mark me as a fan of the burbling..I've actually found that if I tickle the throttle on my OBD1 VW Corrados at the right moment, I can make them do it at will..
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/cetait-un-rendez-vous-v-leno/17411/page1/
You'll need to log in to post.
