Did You See Anything Good Today? [Read First Post]
- Thread starter GilesGuthrie
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Brett
Premium
- 8,632
- Oklahoma
Well I had a particularly great spot today and it was not of a four-wheeled vehicle, but instead a two-wheeled one. As I was at the gas station, filling my dad's car up with petrol, I heard a sound that you just do not normally hear. I was not really sure what it was at first, the sound and bike, but I quickly realized it was something you do not see or hear very often. Waiting for the petrol to finish filling up, I looked the bike over and came to the realization that it was probably in fact an MV. After the petrol was done, I walked over to the bike and started to talk to the gentleman about it and asked various questions. I politely asked to take a couple of pictures of it and he agreed to let me do so and here they are. (Mind you, they are taken using a camera phone.)
Here it is, a MV Augsta Brutale 910.
I do not think you can really see it in the second picture, but the bike has an Oklahoma tag on it. The owner was a very nice fellow and seemed to welcome all of my questions. Enjoy! 👍
Here it is, a MV Augsta Brutale 910.
I do not think you can really see it in the second picture, but the bike has an Oklahoma tag on it. The owner was a very nice fellow and seemed to welcome all of my questions. Enjoy! 👍
There are going to be a lot pictures and they are going to tell the story of tonight - possibly the best car-spotting night of my entire life. Definitely the best since July 22, 2006 (Testarossa, 550 Maranello, Gallardo, two 360 Spiders, 348 GTS, SL65, Continental GT, Viper RT/10). Yes, tonight was better than that. Here's why...
I'm driving tonight. There are four valet stands which I always check, every night, for good cars. This is becase invariably one of them is holding at least a V8 Vantage, making my night worth going out for. I hit the first stand (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colo.) and they have a Range Rover and an Escalade. Ick. Second stand (Elway's in Denver, Colo.) and they're sitting on a DB9 Volante and a Bentley Brooklands. Decent, but I've seen both cars many times. I move on to valet stand three (North in Denver, Colo.), which has an E46 330i and a new S63. Boring. So I move over to valet stand three - Ocean, a restaurant in Denver. The original view I get upon coming up on the stand is this one:
Immediately I recognize the Ford GT and dial my best car friend, Joe. As I pass by the line, it becomes apparent that the Ford GT is just one of a few spectacular cars in the line, and I tell him, over the phone to get in his car (a just-purchased Volvo S60R) and head down here because there are six Ferraris and a Ford GT and he needs to see it. He tells me he's out the door, and while waiting I snap some photos...
For unique photos of each vehicle...
Ferrari 308 GTS
Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet
Ford GT
Ferrari F355 Spider
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 360 Spider
Now I'm thinking at this point, 'Damn. I'm looking at FIVE Ferraris and a Ford GT. What a freaking night!' I cruise around the block waiting for Joe a couple of times, each time slowing to see the cars and the other people gawking at them. Just then, it happens.
So, five Ferraris, a Ford GT... and an SLR. I called back my friend Joe, who was still on his way. He answered and I just screamed 'SLR!!! SLR!!!' We parked illegally and ran over and begin with the photographs...
At this point it had gotten ridiculous. People started to show up and crowd around. The valets themselves - I swear to god - each took turns sitting in the car and snapping pictures of themselves behind the wheel. They just left the thing sitting next to the Ferraris and the GT because they had nowhere to put it - the other exotics took up the entire front. But a cop came down the street and they realized they were going to have to move it. So they did.
However the cop kept approaching and as the valet was backing into the perfect spot, right in front of the very first Ferrari, the 308 GTS, the cop stopped right next to the SLR...
...and for some reason the SLR vacated this spot. The valet took it back in front of the Ferraris. At this point, the valets decided to take turns running the car around the block, evidently looking for suitable parking. One ran it clear around the block, and the other got pretty far. I got in my car and gave chase...
...eventually the valet found a spot on the side of the restaurant behind a Volvo S60R (different from my friend Joe's)...
I pulled up alongside as he was parallel parking and guided him in. He was thankful for the help - imagine even a small dent. I kept going around and around the SLR and finally got the chance of a lifetime when somehow by the grace of God, the driver of the S60R got in and decided to take off. I realized my chance and moved in...
Now folks, I'm going to mention something here. This was in fact the single scariest experience of my entire life. I don't think I will EVER forget looking in my mirror as I was backing and seeing that front end, knowing that if I hit the gas a little too hard, I'm going to back in to a $450,000 automobile. I kept telling myself 'hit the Passat, hit the Passat.' Fortunately, the spot was large, and I got the above shot with no problem. The valets moved the car about 30 seconds after I squeezed in...
...and put it back where it belonged from the beginning, in front of all the other exotics:
It got later and later and eventually, I packed it in at about 9pm (I showed up around 8) and headed home. My final SLR shot was this one:
A couple of things about this SLR. First, it had Kansas license plates from Sedgwick County, which is home to 453,000 Kansans and the somewhat large city of Wichita. The license plate number was the personalized plate '3 TIME'. I was thinking '3 time grammy winner?' '3 time NBA all-star?' I just Wiki-ed Wichita and found that it's home to Roger Mears, who finished fourth while racing in CART in the 1970s and 1980s three times. I don't know whether it's his car, but it's a fair guess since Wichita isn't home to that many notables. However, I saw this same car over a year ago, on April 23, 2006, with a younger woman driving; she mentioned that her dad lent it to her for a few weeks. At that time the vehicle did not have vanity plates. Presumably it is the same car, perhaps belonging to Mr. Mears. Who knows. However it has been spotted twice in the Denver area this last week and each time it was mentioned that the vehicle had a female driver. Also, the SLR showed up independently of the other exotics, which were presumably in an organized group.
Wow. It really gets no better than tonight. There's always the Vanquish, the Veyron, the Enzo - but the SLR is right up there with the greats.
👍
I'm driving tonight. There are four valet stands which I always check, every night, for good cars. This is becase invariably one of them is holding at least a V8 Vantage, making my night worth going out for. I hit the first stand (Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colo.) and they have a Range Rover and an Escalade. Ick. Second stand (Elway's in Denver, Colo.) and they're sitting on a DB9 Volante and a Bentley Brooklands. Decent, but I've seen both cars many times. I move on to valet stand three (North in Denver, Colo.), which has an E46 330i and a new S63. Boring. So I move over to valet stand three - Ocean, a restaurant in Denver. The original view I get upon coming up on the stand is this one:
Immediately I recognize the Ford GT and dial my best car friend, Joe. As I pass by the line, it becomes apparent that the Ford GT is just one of a few spectacular cars in the line, and I tell him, over the phone to get in his car (a just-purchased Volvo S60R) and head down here because there are six Ferraris and a Ford GT and he needs to see it. He tells me he's out the door, and while waiting I snap some photos...
For unique photos of each vehicle...
Ferrari 308 GTS
Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet
Ford GT
Ferrari F355 Spider
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 360 Spider
Now I'm thinking at this point, 'Damn. I'm looking at FIVE Ferraris and a Ford GT. What a freaking night!' I cruise around the block waiting for Joe a couple of times, each time slowing to see the cars and the other people gawking at them. Just then, it happens.
So, five Ferraris, a Ford GT... and an SLR. I called back my friend Joe, who was still on his way. He answered and I just screamed 'SLR!!! SLR!!!' We parked illegally and ran over and begin with the photographs...
At this point it had gotten ridiculous. People started to show up and crowd around. The valets themselves - I swear to god - each took turns sitting in the car and snapping pictures of themselves behind the wheel. They just left the thing sitting next to the Ferraris and the GT because they had nowhere to put it - the other exotics took up the entire front. But a cop came down the street and they realized they were going to have to move it. So they did.
However the cop kept approaching and as the valet was backing into the perfect spot, right in front of the very first Ferrari, the 308 GTS, the cop stopped right next to the SLR...
...and for some reason the SLR vacated this spot. The valet took it back in front of the Ferraris. At this point, the valets decided to take turns running the car around the block, evidently looking for suitable parking. One ran it clear around the block, and the other got pretty far. I got in my car and gave chase...
...eventually the valet found a spot on the side of the restaurant behind a Volvo S60R (different from my friend Joe's)...
I pulled up alongside as he was parallel parking and guided him in. He was thankful for the help - imagine even a small dent. I kept going around and around the SLR and finally got the chance of a lifetime when somehow by the grace of God, the driver of the S60R got in and decided to take off. I realized my chance and moved in...
Now folks, I'm going to mention something here. This was in fact the single scariest experience of my entire life. I don't think I will EVER forget looking in my mirror as I was backing and seeing that front end, knowing that if I hit the gas a little too hard, I'm going to back in to a $450,000 automobile. I kept telling myself 'hit the Passat, hit the Passat.' Fortunately, the spot was large, and I got the above shot with no problem. The valets moved the car about 30 seconds after I squeezed in...
...and put it back where it belonged from the beginning, in front of all the other exotics:
It got later and later and eventually, I packed it in at about 9pm (I showed up around 8) and headed home. My final SLR shot was this one:
A couple of things about this SLR. First, it had Kansas license plates from Sedgwick County, which is home to 453,000 Kansans and the somewhat large city of Wichita. The license plate number was the personalized plate '3 TIME'. I was thinking '3 time grammy winner?' '3 time NBA all-star?' I just Wiki-ed Wichita and found that it's home to Roger Mears, who finished fourth while racing in CART in the 1970s and 1980s three times. I don't know whether it's his car, but it's a fair guess since Wichita isn't home to that many notables. However, I saw this same car over a year ago, on April 23, 2006, with a younger woman driving; she mentioned that her dad lent it to her for a few weeks. At that time the vehicle did not have vanity plates. Presumably it is the same car, perhaps belonging to Mr. Mears. Who knows. However it has been spotted twice in the Denver area this last week and each time it was mentioned that the vehicle had a female driver. Also, the SLR showed up independently of the other exotics, which were presumably in an organized group.
Wow. It really gets no better than tonight. There's always the Vanquish, the Veyron, the Enzo - but the SLR is right up there with the greats.
👍
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
...Very nice night indeed. I have still yet to see an SLR, as compared to the single Ford GT, and the two Carrera GTs...
Sad really, as a good amount of money in Grand Rapids is spent on expensive cars. My brother claims he has seen one (not to mention the first TVR Sagaris in Michigan), but I'm uncertain I believe him.
Sad really, as a good amount of money in Grand Rapids is spent on expensive cars. My brother claims he has seen one (not to mention the first TVR Sagaris in Michigan), but I'm uncertain I believe him.
- 8,191
- Southern Louisiana
- GTP_Kent
Great shots there... Totally blows anything else out of the water... I'd love to see a starting grid like that in a GT game. 
Although I don't have pictures, I had a nice experience tonight.
Got to drive a Wrangler with a super-charged LT1 (amongst many other changes).
Tons of torque and even more noise. Great fun though (although I had to take it easy as I met the driver tonight in a bar and suprisingly, just from talking to me the owner knew I would love to drive it).
Any way, great shots up there, glad to see someone gets to see the SLR in real life!
Although I don't have pictures, I had a nice experience tonight.
Got to drive a Wrangler with a super-charged LT1 (amongst many other changes).
Tons of torque and even more noise. Great fun though (although I had to take it easy as I met the driver tonight in a bar and suprisingly, just from talking to me the owner knew I would love to drive it).
Any way, great shots up there, glad to see someone gets to see the SLR in real life!
- 180
Holy smokes, an SLR! What a spot! It looks like it is doing 200 mph just sitting still. My all time favorite Mercedes. You take amazing photos, M5. 👍👍
- 3,460
- Hollywood
Nice spots again Doug, I love the second shot of the SLR being driven round the block. A few months ago I saw an S-Class with SLR style rims on it, closest i've got so far!
YSSMAN: The Brutale would be around $15k in the States (they have Nissan-sourced brakes!)
YSSMAN: The Brutale would be around $15k in the States (they have Nissan-sourced brakes!)
- 3,704
Dodge Rampage 2.2 1984
Because I've never heard of it before. I mean never. I had to really dig on Google to learn about it.
Now THATS a good spot. I have only seen the tail end of one and for you to get picture of a decent model, wow. Mainly because it was only produced from 82-84 and they had low production numbers AND they didnt sell well.
3,564 were produced total from 82-84
More info here: http://www.allpar.com/omni/rampage/index.html
Keef
Premium
- 25,060
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
Last night at the local drag strip there was a guy racing his father's M6. The car had the SMG transmission. So I want to ask you guys a question:
Why was this mid-12 car running mid-15 second quarter miles?
All you do is press the gas and tap some buttons to shift. The car bogged magnificently and hilariously on launch and I could see the car shift gears--I can see how much quicker my cousin shifts his Cobalt S/C on his way to a magazine-beating 14.5.
I have trouble believing that this was bad-driver syndrome. The thing is a computer on wheels. I've come to the conclusion that the computer has no clue how to handle caked rubber and that the tranny isn't anything special. Thoughts?
Why was this mid-12 car running mid-15 second quarter miles?
All you do is press the gas and tap some buttons to shift. The car bogged magnificently and hilariously on launch and I could see the car shift gears--I can see how much quicker my cousin shifts his Cobalt S/C on his way to a magazine-beating 14.5.
I have trouble believing that this was bad-driver syndrome. The thing is a computer on wheels. I've come to the conclusion that the computer has no clue how to handle caked rubber and that the tranny isn't anything special. Thoughts?
- 3,542
- Marin County, C
A Colbalt beating a M6? 
Roo
Premium
- 7,430
- Hampshire, UK
- GTP_Roo
Ta! Yes, I do still have it, although the looks are misleading - there's more rust than metal and it's had a hard life
Don't you have to set the M6 up first with the computer?
Brett
Premium
- 8,632
- Oklahoma
Ta! Yes, I do still have it, although the looks are misleading - there's more rust than metal and it's had a hard life
Don't you have to set the M6 up first with the computer?
It looks like it is in pretty good shape in that picture though. How many Minis do you own?
The M5 and M6 have multiple configuration that can be set up with the computer. They change the traction and stability control, throttle pickup, etc. They also have a setting that changes how much power is supplied from the engine. In normal operating conditions, the cars operate with 400 horses, and in performance, 500 horses.
Joey D
Premium
- 47,414
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
Nice spot Doug! I've always wanted to see an SLR in the wild.
Today's spots...I actually went looking.
XLR-V
Range Rover Sport...I don't think I've ever seen one.
SL500's old and new, parked not to far from one another.
New XK Convertible, haven't seen many of these either
911
First GT500 Convertible I've seen outside a dealer...one trusting soul leaving the top down like that.
Merkur XR4Ti
Granted this isn't a cool car but it's a Chevy Optra, it's a Canadian car and looks decent. I wonder why they aren't sold in the US.
Crappy photo but it's an Alpha
Since I keep talking about the Auburn Hills Magnum cop car I thought I'd get a picture of it to show I'm not full of BS.
Spot of the night, Austin-Healey 3000
Today's spots...I actually went looking.
XLR-V
Range Rover Sport...I don't think I've ever seen one.
SL500's old and new, parked not to far from one another.
New XK Convertible, haven't seen many of these either
911
First GT500 Convertible I've seen outside a dealer...one trusting soul leaving the top down like that.
Merkur XR4Ti
Granted this isn't a cool car but it's a Chevy Optra, it's a Canadian car and looks decent. I wonder why they aren't sold in the US.
Crappy photo but it's an Alpha
Since I keep talking about the Auburn Hills Magnum cop car I thought I'd get a picture of it to show I'm not full of BS.
Spot of the night, Austin-Healey 3000
Brett
Premium
- 8,632
- Oklahoma
The reason that Chevy is not sold in the US, is the same reason both Ford is losing a ton of money. Having nice cars in other countries and then bringing them to the US makes too much sense to actually do, so instead we get slightly updated previous generation cars, albeit only slightly.
- 40,794
Words cannot describe how much I lol-ed. The Chevy Optra is sold in America. It is called the Suzuki Forenza. No one buys them because the only cars sold in America that they are better than is the Focus and Caliber. There is nothing inherently wrong with them like there is with the Caliber, but they are also still, at their core, rebadged Daewoos. And Daewoo was laughed out of America with cars strikingly similar to the Lacetti.
Seriously, though, you make it sound as the Lacetti/Optra/Forenza is GM's version of the Euro Focus. Which is comically untrue when the car is, at best, a 3rd or 4th string compact; and at worst a Daewoo. The chassis is good, the interior isn't horrendous (sadly a plus in America) and it is light weight. It lags in nearly every other category, particularly the poor tranny and outdated engine.
Thanks!
Arkangel
Owner added. How do you know there's an SLR in the Kansas City area?
opendriver19a
A decent spot, yes. The really rare spot is the Plymouth Scamp, which was the Plymouth version sold only in 1983. A few hundred of those were sold - I've never seen one. I see the Dodge Rampage daily, because a guy who lives relatively near me (though obviously not in my neighborhood - being a Dodge Rampage owner) parks his outside his home.
Keef
I don't know - all I know is my Volvo used to run high 15s. Man that's an M6 I would've liked to race.
Thanks all for the kind words about the SLR/Ferraris/Ford GT spot!
