I met an Automotive Legend yesterday

[justinsain]

Yesterday I took this picture of this man walking in front of the car he's owned since new.

He isn't a household name but several years ago he performed a feat that is legendary in the automotive world.



Can you name him and or the feat he accomplished?

[Minte]

It's NOT Fred Flintstone!

[Gabriel]

I believe the car to be a Dino 246 GTS. Not sure of the gentleman though.

[vsex]

Originally Posted by Minte

It's NOT Fred Flintstone!

I see what you did there....

[justinsain]

Originally Posted by Minte

It's NOT Fred Flintstone!

I'm not that easy

Originally Posted by Gabriel

I believe the car to be a Dino 246 GTS. Not sure of the gentleman though.

It's a white Dino that he bought new.

The uncommon color and the fact he had it since the early seventies are helpful clues.

[Minte]

Looks a lot like Dan Gurney

[justinsain]

Originally Posted by Minte

Looks a lot like Dan Gurney

This gentleman actually out did Dan Gurney who had participated in the same event but an earlier year.

Here's a shot I took of Gurney a few years back in the garage at Daytona. They do look very similar.

BTW, I got some awesome shots of several Aventadors both on and off the track this weekend
and I'll post them as soon as I get some other business taken care of.

[justinsain]

I was taking pictures Sunday as the cars drove in to park for the show and this man cam up to me and wanted to know what the little camera I had was ( GoPro Hero HD ) He said that would be perfect for his car. I asked what he was driving and he said a Ferrari Dino. I then asked him where he was coming from and he said Gainesville. I said " you didn't drive it here did you " and he replied that he would have if he could but he had a little engine problem so he didn't want to risk it. I said " That's a pretty long drive anyway " and he looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said he once drove it from New York City to Los Angeles non stop. Then he pulled a sign out of his trunk and stuck it in the grass next to his Dino.

He is Jack May who along with Rick Cline drove this Ferrari Dino 2,890 miles from NYC to SoCal's Redondo Beach in 35 hours 53 minutes beating the previous transcontinental record set by Dan Gurney by one minute.

The event they drove in was the 1975 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining -Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This event captured prominent media attention including Hollywood which went on to make " Cannonball Run " which was loosely based on the exploits of Jack and Rick and their record setting race across America.

Having had the chance to look at the actual car they drove and see the way the two bucket seats lay on the floorboard its hard to imagine them driving so far and so fast like that. They literally were flat out driving.

I had the pleasure of chatting with him most of the morning and hearing a few stories I opened the door for him to tell. He is a colorful character with modesty. A trait rarely found in today's personalities. Lots of great cars at the show but this chance meeting made my day

[Minte]

Originally Posted by justinsain

I was taking pictures Sunday as the cars drove in to park for the show and this man cam up to me and wanted to know what the little camera I had was ( GoPro Hero HD ) He said that would be perfect for his car. I asked what he was driving and he said a Ferrari Dino. I then asked him where he was coming from and he said Gainesville. I said " you didn't drive it here did you " and he replied that he would have if he could but he had a little engine problem so he didn't want to risk it. I said " That's a pretty long drive anyway " and he looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said he once drove it from New York City to Los Angeles non stop. Then he pulled a sign out of his trunk and stuck it in the grass next to his Dino.

He is Jack May who along with Rick Cline drove this Ferrari Dino 2,890 miles from NYC to SoCal's Redondo Beach in 35 hours 53 minutes beating the previous transcontinental record set by Dan Gurney by one minute.

The event they drove in was the 1975 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining -Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This event captured prominent media attention including Hollywood which went on to make " Cannonball Run " which was loosely based on the exploits of Jack and Rick and their record setting race across America.

Having had the chance to look at the actual car they drove and see the way the two bucket seats lay on the floorboard its hard to imagine them driving so far and so fast like that. They literally were flat out driving.

I had the pleasure of chatting with him most of the morning and hearing a few stories I opened the door for him to tell. He is a colorful character with modesty. A trait rarely found in today's personalities. Lots of great cars at the show but this chance meeting made my day

Interesting story. I had not heard it previously. It was the hat that made me think of Gurney. I think I would like to try breaking that record..in a Bugatti Veyron! and a shoebox full of c-notes.

[crockett]

Talking about odd ball car history.. I used to work for the oldest living Indy 500 winner.

I'll make it easy.. the race he won featured the most recorded lead changes in Indy 500 history.

[Zoxxa]

Must be cool to meet somebody like that, but I imagine it was equally nice for him to meet someone to share his old school story with.

[MaDalton]

on a side note: Hero HD cams really rock

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by justinsain

I was taking pictures Sunday as the cars drove in to park for the show and this man cam up to me and wanted to know what the little camera I had was ( GoPro Hero HD ) He said that would be perfect for his car. I asked what he was driving and he said a Ferrari Dino. I then asked him where he was coming from and he said Gainesville. I said " you didn't drive it here did you " and he replied that he would have if he could but he had a little engine problem so he didn't want to risk it. I said " That's a pretty long drive anyway " and he looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said he once drove it from New York City to Los Angeles non stop. Then he pulled a sign out of his trunk and stuck it in the grass next to his Dino.

He is Jack May who along with Rick Cline drove this Ferrari Dino 2,890 miles from NYC to SoCal's Redondo Beach in 35 hours 53 minutes beating the previous transcontinental record set by Dan Gurney by one minute.

The event they drove in was the 1975 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining -Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This event captured prominent media attention including Hollywood which went on to make " Cannonball Run " which was loosely based on the exploits of Jack and Rick and their record setting race across America.

Having had the chance to look at the actual car they drove and see the way the two bucket seats lay on the floorboard its hard to imagine them driving so far and so fast like that. They literally were flat out driving.

I had the pleasure of chatting with him most of the morning and hearing a few stories I opened the door for him to tell. He is a colorful character with modesty. A trait rarely found in today's personalities. Lots of great cars at the show but this chance meeting made my day

crazy story, thanks for sharing

[waltgator]

being a carnut meself, thats fucking cool!
where the pics/videos at?

Originally Posted by justinsain

I was taking pictures Sunday as the cars drove in to park for the show and this man cam up to me and wanted to know what the little camera I had was ( GoPro Hero HD ) He said that would be perfect for his car. I asked what he was driving and he said a Ferrari Dino. I then asked him where he was coming from and he said Gainesville. I said " you didn't drive it here did you " and he replied that he would have if he could but he had a little engine problem so he didn't want to risk it. I said " That's a pretty long drive anyway " and he looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said he once drove it from New York City to Los Angeles non stop. Then he pulled a sign out of his trunk and stuck it in the grass next to his Dino.

He is Jack May who along with Rick Cline drove this Ferrari Dino 2,890 miles from NYC to SoCal's Redondo Beach in 35 hours 53 minutes beating the previous transcontinental record set by Dan Gurney by one minute.

The event they drove in was the 1975 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining -Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This event captured prominent media attention including Hollywood which went on to make " Cannonball Run " which was loosely based on the exploits of Jack and Rick and their record setting race across America.

Having had the chance to look at the actual car they drove and see the way the two bucket seats lay on the floorboard its hard to imagine them driving so far and so fast like that. They literally were flat out driving.

I had the pleasure of chatting with him most of the morning and hearing a few stories I opened the door for him to tell. He is a colorful character with modesty. A trait rarely found in today's personalities. Lots of great cars at the show but this chance meeting made my day