About win59

win59

I have a nice polo shirt with the inscription; "Those with golf balls golf. Those with real balls race." I never found golf very interesting either.

win59

Hand crank (manual roll-up) windows!! Oh - and a good old ignition key. Please!!

win59

You are right on, Jack! We bought a low-mile '96 SL500 as a road trip car, for used Hyundai money a couple years ago. 22,000 miles. Now at 86,000 miles I have had to change oil, buy a set of tires, and replace convertible top cylinders. Figured if something expensive broke for that kind of money, I would just take off the plates and buy a plane ticket home - but nothing breaks! And what a great touring car!

win59

did you READ Jack's reply??

win59

Great insight, Jack. I started washing cars at a dealership in 1967 and recently retired as a Mngr. many dealerships later. What a ride. Worked alongside some of the best - and worst - people ever. You nailed it. Again.

win59

Find a racer near you and offer to help. For free. You might learn how the sausage is made, probably have fun, see first hand how much pure hard work (and $$$) it takes, and you might get lucky and find a mentor.

win59 · ‎06-04-2022

Hear, Hear, two, too!!

win59 · ‎26-03-2022

Jack, Jack, Jack.....! Do you realize how UNSAFE a fuel filler neck would be in the center of the rear bumper?!? The NHTSA would piddle themselves. Great article, Thank You!

win59 · ‎07-03-2022

win59 · ‎03-02-2022

Cool story and a great piece of racing history!!

win59 · ‎31-01-2022

A Legend because of his many and varied accomplishments. And personality. Just being "rich" doesn't make you anything.....

win59 · ‎29-01-2022

Fascinating history lesson, Thank You Don!!!

win59 · ‎29-01-2022

Wow! Tough room! Lots of Z32 300ZX here, really liked that car. Give me this all day long instead of a 4-door Bronco.

win59 · ‎27-01-2022

And more "solutes" to Maserati for an engine with 2 "livers" - as well as Williams for a strong back for the batteries.....;) Sorry, couldn't resist!

win59 · ‎21-01-2022

I am gonna guess that when you register as a bidder you are handed a lanyard with your bidding number and a paper bag full of Monopoly Money???!

win59 · ‎20-01-2022

What about the fact that neither here nor in Japan is there the infrastructure to support all-electric vehicle fleets? And the toxic waste problem presented by all those rare-earth batteries?

win59 · ‎17-01-2022

Renault Megane R26. Yellow, please.

win59 · ‎08-01-2022

A long, long time ago, a really smart old guy told me when I was a dumb young kid, that he always practiced driving. Hit the apex, find the right line, always be in the correct gear, heel-and-toe, double-clutch the downshifts, trail-brake, bring the car to a full stop without that "head-bob" finish, etc. Always. Even in stop-and-go traffic stuck in your lane behind a bus, following a motorhome up the hill, going to get lunch, taking Mom to the store. Even in the parking lot. No-one else notices (or even cares) but you learn, might even get good or at least better at this driving stuff!

win59 · ‎06-01-2022

our gov't bans "ghost guns" now.......

win59 · ‎30-12-2021

I had discovered TTAC and Jack wrote a story about night time street races that inflamed the peanut gallery. Been enjoying his writing (and have tracked him since...) and I agree, more old stories would be great!

win59 · ‎18-12-2021

I have worked in Dealerships since 1967. With Rodneys and 'Toines and Georges. Some of my best, life-long friends and most despicable managers. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The friends are the best and the managers taught me some of the most important lessons of my life. Oh to be young, and smart, broke, and riding my Kawi' H1 to work again!! You nailed it, Jack.

win59 · ‎08-12-2021

Yes, excellent Journalism (which is in short supply these days as well) I got a job washing cars at a BMC Dealer in 1967. Worked in Parts & Service in dealerships ever since. The Technician shortage is critical and we have cut shop classes from all our schools and impressed every student that they have to go to college, get a degree and make big $$$ at a computer screen. Working as a tech is a difficult, hard, and dirty job but like any other, if you get good at it you can do very well financially. A Tech's biggest problem is the dealership culture that pressures the Service Advisor to squeeze every repair for extra usually un-necessary flush, additive, and "preventative" maintenance operation they can. Packing as many hours of labor into each job and this pressures the tech to work faster or, if he is not as skilled, cut corners. The culture makes customer satisfaction a game not a job.

win59 · ‎06-12-2021

You don't eat in my car.

win59 · ‎29-11-2021

Quite brazen Jack, to call a shovel a shovel (See what I did there. Don't want to get us all cancelled here...) great writing and thought provoking - on several levels - I always like what you bring. And you DO speak for me, I am not that clever but I suspect I am not alone. Thanks again!

win59 · ‎19-11-2021

I "rented" Willow Springs Raceway for $25 to try out my new clapped-out H Prod Bugeye (along with 3 GoKarts, a 911 Porsche, 2 TR3's, a pair of road race Motorcycles, an XKE Jag, and a Formula 5000 Lola). The only pavement was the track and a wide spot that served as the Hot Pits. The facilities consisted of a row of 50 gallon drums along the front straight, a raised stand at Start-Finish and two steel posts with a cable between them at the end of the (dirt) entry road. We drove around them and some guy turned up mid-morning to collect our $25. Had a fantastic day, got passed by everything out there (even in a Bugeye, Karts are hard to see as they buzz past...). The track is little changed now, Thank Goodness, but real bathrooms are nice. Good Times!

win59 · ‎18-11-2021

Danny McKeever explained to me (and IIRC Fred Flintstone...) in my first Cal Club drivers school, "It is the over-taking drivers' responsibility to complete a safe pass. If you are being overtaken, drive your normal line so the overtaking driver can work out how to pass safely." Apparently the scrolls this was written on have been lost to antiquity - judging by the "professional" drivers I see on TV in these modern times. And don't get me started on "Track Limits".

win59 · ‎06-11-2021

A wonderful history lesson Ronnie!! I was born in Kalamazoo Mich. and raised in Iron River in the U.P. My first car was a 1949 Ford Woody. ($25, didn't run, in Pasadena Calif.) Great to hear all the names of towns and locations again. Ford and Kingsford had a big impact in the region for sure! Thank You!!

win59 · ‎30-10-2021

Excellent Jack!! Thank You!

win59 · ‎30-10-2021

If you race with wanks, you will be judged by wanks.

win59 · ‎26-10-2021

It is HUMOR, people - relax and have some fun!!!

win59 · ‎22-10-2021

Jack does not pander very well. And I like that!

win59 · ‎19-10-2021

Another good one Jack! Thank You!

win59 · ‎09-10-2021

Right on Jack. At the beginning of a Long and Winding Road I raced a 109cc G Prod Sprite against 1147cc Spitfires, 1600 Datsun Roadsters, 1300cc FIAT X/19's, 1390cc Alfa Spiders, etc. It was some of the most ruthless, cutthroat, Helter Skelter racing ever. What a Ticket to Ride! (sorry I couldn't help it....)

win59 · ‎26-07-2021

My wife enjoys the cars - not as much as I do of course!! - but she enjoys the trips, events, and people so we both have fun playing with old cars!

win59 · ‎22-07-2021

The FORD Escort was a decent rally car - the Renault R5 was two pounds of rally car in a one pound bag. Lunatic good fun with a homicidal grin...!

win59 · ‎19-07-2021

Hi-torque gear-reduction starter and a Genernator.

win59 · ‎10-07-2021

THIS......is why I learned to read. All those years ago.

win59 · ‎12-06-2021

It is even more disconcerting that so many commenters can't read - or comprehend?? - the opening paragraph of this article clearly stating that this is a collection of ads from Europe and inviting us to enjoy them.......!!! Sheeesh.

win59 · ‎11-06-2021

Great story and a nice glimpse of history. An ubiquitous car becomes interesting with the fascinating back story of how it came to be and who made it happen! Thanks Brendan!

win59 · ‎10-06-2021

Excellent interview, Sam!! J.R.Hildebrand is a Racecar Driver. The real deal. Apparently he is a pretty smart human too.

win59 · ‎08-06-2021

And so did I. This is "Humor" - in an article meant to "Entertain". The idea is to have fun, not victimize. I got a nice chuckle out of it, Thanks Jack!

win59 · ‎05-06-2021

"Polara" would certainly seem a blindingly obvious choice, no?!

win59 · ‎15-05-2021

No pictures of the original Clark Cortez??!

win59 · ‎24-04-2021

Name of the ship misspelled....

win59 · ‎22-04-2021

My XJ12L almost cured me of cars the second time I had the heads off. It was like owning the Golden gate Bridge - as soon as you were finished it was time to start again at the beginning. But, Oh when it ran...!!!! sigh.

win59 · ‎10-04-2021

A great technical explanation with enough detail for it all to make sense, and some history so I now know why. Don Sherman at his best. Thank You!

win59 · ‎09-04-2021

Uh-Huh....Any one remember Bridgehampton, Riverside, Ontario, Ascot...??

win59 · ‎03-04-2021

THAT'S not a Maverick....! Trucks (cars and everything else on the road ) have gotten so bloated and packed full of electronic nannies (and cell phones) due to Gov't edicts and over-reach. How about if we just teach the kids how to drive properly and responsively instead of strapping them into immense cushy isolation tanks and trusting technology to bring 'em back alive? And are these modern monstrosities really more "green" than a 620 Datsun (Toyota/Ranger/Luv, etc.) pickup with a 1600, roll-up windows, and rubber mats?? Thanks Jack!

win59 · ‎03-04-2021

Great story Sam. I can smell the greasewood and hear the wind. Thanks!

win59 · ‎01-04-2021

What is the old saying about "...meeting your heroes.."?! Nice one Jack!! LOL!