My favorite, the AMG CLK63. 481 hp in a completely controllable, balanced automobile. As competent entering the Safeway as entering Turn 2. When launching, every head on pit road turned to listen ... the only car to elicit such a continual response all day long http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPPTsJ1de8o You can hear the seatbelt strangling me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9fTaHvMsTI
In both highway and track driving, the Jaguar XF impressed me the most in the hotly-contested category of "affordable luxury" With AWD, the Infinity M45x would probably be a better choice for most of us, but the Jag had more soul. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5TwHA_BPE0
Rick's favorite, the Audi R8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXDTZBB3iEw
A crowd favorite, the Shelby GT500KR. $80,000, 1500 made, 509 rear-wheel horsepower. We weren't allowed to drive this, but here's a lap with a Ford factory driver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofLupnjqxZo The previous passenger had the seat all the way back, so my feet could not touch the front floor. When he dropped anchor at the end of the straight, all of my appendages were dangling like on an amusement park ride.
Imagine a Fiat 124 with modern brakes, electronic aids, and 3x the horsepower of our cars. Ladies and gentlemen, the Lotus Exige http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Jyd6INqUE Notice we are easily overhauling the red KR in front of us - both cars factory driven.
Lots of other festivities, including a Car Show for those journalists driving to the event.
The usual E-types, kit Cobras, etc. and Rich Mastraneo's Spider, which got my vote (in spite of it being an '82
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I got to drive all of them regularly.A great gig for a 20 year old!! We drove 2 Porsches to his broker one day and picked up a Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole and a V-12 Jaguar,then raced back on Floridas Turnpike...Ah ,the good old days.
