A gearhead dinner for four - your picks...

OK, if you had the chance to have dinner with 3 automotive personalities, who would you pick? The only rule is the guest list has to be limited to persons who are alive.   

My picks:  

Jay Leno

Mike Joy

Steve Magnante

Discuss...

Sadly, I have difficulty thinking of 3 people.  Dave Coleman would be the #1 for sure.  I'll just say <insert F1 engineer 1 here> and <insert rally car engineer here>. 

Bob Lutz, Randy Pobst, Hans-Joachim Stuck. 

David brown, Colin chapman, Jim clark

A.J. Foyt

Willem Toet

Richard Petty

Marty, Moog, Lucky Costa

Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart, Tanner Foust.

Peter Egan, Toto Wolf, Roger Penske, and about 600 others.

Gene Winfield, Dennis Anderson, Malcolm Smith.

Jay Leno, my uncle Pete, and any one of the following:

Clarkson/May/Hammond

Seinfeld

Csere/Egan/etc  

PJ O'Rourke

Gilles

Steve McQueen

Paul Newman

Smokey Yunick

Jake and Elwood Blues

Suddard/Suddard/Suddard/Pasternak/Schroeder/wallens/Higginbothem/etc

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

I agree, that's why picking only four that are still living makes it more of a challenge. 

Lots of good choices so far!

Mike Maier, Joey Seeley, and Tom Nelson were the first 3 I thought of.

Can we have dead guys? Smokey yunick, zora arkus duntov, Carroll Shelby Tommy ivo.

A Gearhead Dinner? You know, I'd probably skip the famous people and just pick 4 of you guys/gals.

I don't want to listen to the rich and famous blather about their lives, and cars I will never be able to afford. I would much rather talk cars with someone I can relate to. 

I think dinner with Jeremy, Richard, and James would be about as enjoyable as any.

Leno, Foose, & Petty

Since I've already had dinner with pretty much the entire GRM staff (and a decent chunk of the readers!), Here's my picks:

David Freiburger (One of my writing idols)

Richard Hammond (Token British dude, slightly crazy)

Herb Adams (I want to pick his brain on suspension designs and hear about that old GTO he and his friends ran in Trans Am)

Honorable mentions, some from beyond the grave: 

Jay Leno (I like weird stuff, and so does Jay)

Carroll Shelby (Because crazy chicken farmer turned racer)

Shirley Muldowney (Because she's the first lady of drag racing)

John Force (Because he would be cutting pro wrestling-style promos on the steak dinner and waitstaff)

Alain De Cadenet (I could listen to this dude talk about aluminum chassis and Jag-U-Aurs for hours)

Linda Vaughan (I'm sure she has stories to tell, since she was Miss Hurst Golden Shifter and all)

Sir Stirling Moss (The guy is a legend)

Paul Newman (I'd love to hear how he balanced acting and racing)

Peter Egan for sure!  De cadenet seems like he would be interesting. Most other guys I wouldn’t feel like I would be able to hang with well enough taking about cars that they wouldn’t get bored. 

Sam Smith, Peter Egan and Zach Bowman. BS Levy can sub in if any can't make it.

I've been lucky enough to hang with all of those guys individually, and they're all excellent dinner companions.

Toyman01 said:

A Gearhead Dinner? You know, I'd probably skip the famous people and just pick 4 of you guys/gals.

I don't want to listen to the rich and famous blather about their lives, and cars I will never be able to afford. I would much rather talk cars with someone I can relate to. 

There is a banquet at the end of the challenge each year...

Not to mention the parking lot for the 3 full days prior.

But yes, I 100% agree. Can I add I'd really rather wrench with you dorks while  maybe grilling and having beers? Sitting at a restaurant table is just so stuffy sometimes.

Leno, Seinfeld, Clarkson. I want it to be entertaining as well as car focused.

John heinrcy

Bob Lutz

Richard Hammond

Lee Iacocca would be an alternate

My R.I.P.  V.I.P.'s

Brock Yates

Hal Needham

John Delorean

Four living

Clarkson

May

Kimi Raikkonen

If he was still alive, James Hunt would be on that list.

Jeremy Clarkson, Molly Taylor, and does Elon "Dr. No" Musk count?

While doctor no is not strictly a car guy, he owns a car company.

If not him, I pick Andrew Nelson, because last time he was in town I got caught up with work, and while I might not understand the education, it would still be an education. 

Lots of good choices here...

I'd add Elon Musk because I am fascinated by his innovative thinking. (although I bet he'd be a crappy conversationalist)