|
Coast to Coast – Los Angeles to Miami – over 3,000 miles in eight days.
After being one of four Phantom dropheads last year, I was confident this year that our car would be unique. I acquired, especially for this rally, a 1961 Jaguar Mk II, which I had fitted with a modern supercharged Jaguar V8, together with, of course, all the necessary running gear. The result was astonishing. On a rolling road, I recorded 0-60 mph times of between 3 and 3.5 seconds. These times were not possible on tarmac as the tyres could not be big enough to get the power down from a standing start, but 5 seconds was achievable and, once she was rolling, she simply flew. Top speed? Well I didn't press her beyond 130, but felt there was quite a bit more available.
|
Last year we jelled with the driver who got the job of meeting us at the airport and drove us around San Fran for a couple of days. His name was Angel – by name and nature, and we had kept in touch. We had arranged that he would come down to LA to chauffeur us for a couple of days, but unfortunately he had a slight stroke a week before. We were amazed that he arranged other transport for us and flew down from San Fran just to spend a couple of hours with us – his doctor had very reluctantly given permission, but he was not even allowed to join us for dinner. We were so touched, and so pleased to see him, and were mightily relieved to hear a couple of days later that he was allowed to drive again.
|
|
John has flown out from Bali to join us again.
|
|
Although the car had arrived 17 days earlier, it had not yet been cleared by US Customs, so we had an extremely stressful day but finally collected the car around 4 pm and drove it in to town and got the stickers.
|
|
Then off to the car show...
|
|
...and of course the Cuban Brothers are with us again.
|
|
Off to Las Vegas with a stop at the Angel Stadium for lunch...
|
|
...and to the Hard Rock's rooftop parking.
|
|
We weren't successful!
|
|
Another shortish day (300 miles or so) to Sedona via the Hoover Dam.
|
|
And Jessica joins us for the day. We are going to be one of the featured cars for the TV series of this year's rally.
|
|
The scenery in Arizona is stunning.
|
|
We had a couple of minor problems with the car so left early and took her in to the Jaguar dealer in Albuquerque while we had a greasy spoon breakfast and relaxed.
|
A heavy day – 700 miles to Dallas.
|
Another big day to New Orleans. On the way take a look at the crater where the Apollo astronauts trained...
|
|
...and then get pulled up at all of 80 in a 70! "Why you going so slow?" asked the Sherriff. Well, I said, California and Nevada were kind, but Arizona and New Mexico weren't, and we were told you were buggers here in Texas so we're taking it easy. He laughed, but said he was taking me to the judge – "don't worry, its only 6 miles down the road and its on your way".
|
|
We had a ball. The judge was great. "$170" she said.
"Any discount for prompt payment" I asked?
"You have cash?"
"Sure"
"OK, $160"
"How about if I don't need a receipt?"
"Naw, we don't do that here!"
|
|
We loved New Orleans – definitely our favourite town in the US
|
|
Another very big day to Orlando. Pleasant enough scenery en route but driving hard for 11 hours. Nothing special to report and no piccies.
|
And so to Miami with a race-track stop on the way.
|
|
Ellen gets skateboard training from the best – Lumus and Dmitri.
|
|
Police escort us in to Miami and close roads.
|
|
An amazing sunset at the roof-top pool.
|
|
Ellen gets the Back Seat Driver award at the Party!
|
|
Poor Mike had spent 28 hours in jail and had to buy his own stripes!
|
|
And so we've made it. It's been hard, but great fun.
Even the bears loved it.
|
|
We give lunch at Joe's Stone Crab...
|
|
...and have more of the same on the flight home!
|
|
Next year its London to New York. We're already signed up. Bye for now.
|
