Date:         Wed, 2 Feb 2000 18:06:45 -0800
Reply-To:     Ron Bloomquist <roadcow@MCN.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ron Bloomquist <roadcow@MCN.ORG>
Subject:      dealer ripoffs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

"Just sold a Jag trunk lock to a guy for $212...discounted."

Thanks!  That comment sparked the following memories:

I went and watched the British set the land speed record at Black Rock
Desert in Nevada a couple of years ago.  They used a Jaguar sedan as their
fire truck.

This British "Fire Truck"  was actually an experimental Jaguar sedan that
had foam fire fighting tanks where the back seat would normally be located.
It also carried the "jaws of life" and other emergency equipment.  It would
zip down the desert at 140 mph before each run of the jet powered SSC (Super
Sonic Car). I learned that during one of the runs, when the ThrustSSC jet
car was at the north end of the run and a certain tool was required to fix a
loose panel it was discovered that the tool was locked in the trunk of the
Jag and no one had the key to the trunk well......

They took out a die grinder with a cut off blade and went, zip, zip, zip zip
and cut out the lock to open the trunk!

The amazing part of the story was that the Jag was an experimental car and
that it was going to be "Crushed" when it got back to England.

I was told it didn't have the right safety equipment designed into it and
will be disposed of because of liability reasons!!!   I don't know how true
this actually was but...

Vanagon content?  I camped in my VW camper during the attempt on the land
speed record.  The Brits did break the sound barrier.  For "The Full Monty"
check out:
http://www.mcn.org/b/roadcow/blackrock.html

Ron Bloomquist
ROADCOW
VANARU