marc abrams

Well if the shoe fits.

jhowell371

I don't have dog in this fight, I like the show but always think Roger is the best part. That's because he's an old school mechanic who fixes cars both common and obscure. Wayne is ambitious and business savvy, you have to be become that successful from humble beginnings. Wayne sometimes comes across a car that he wants for himself and the car guy really shows. Jay on the other hand has all his cars for the pure love of them. I'm sure he's business savvy when dealing cars too. Jay seems really down to earth. When he appeared locally he stopped to pay a visit to my invalid neighbor, a fan who had sent pictures of his own cars to Jay. I was out with the Mrs. helping her deliver "Meals on Wheels" and missed meeting Jay. Just proves no good deed goes unpunished

pauldvazquez

neunfünfeins

I will credit Wayne that he is knowledgeable about Ferraris... which is how he established himself (with Daddy's help).
However, despite the producers' attempts to portray him as some kind of expert in all things automobilia, he clearly is not.
Example: He obviously doesn't know jack squat about vintage VWs (I happen to), as evidenced by more than one episode where he misquoted facts and had his @$$ handed to him at an auction.
From that standpoint, there's about as much 'reality' in his show as any others, so I won't fault him for that.

I just can't see him as anything other than a glorified used car dealer/flipper, sorry. I'd need some compelling evidence that he's anything but. It is not a ridiculous suggestion.
Allegedly he provides some sort of 'service' or contribution to the classic car hobby, by getting money for exchanging other people's cars for yet other people's money, and vice-versa.
Something many of them could have done themselves with a bit of effort, instead of being 'serviced'.
[Just to be clear, I am referring to the buying/selling, not restorations. Restorations add value.]

But what gnaws at me most of all, is the lack of, while doing it. Lack of personality, enthusiasm, sense of humor... lack of any inspiration that makes Wayne compelling to watch.
[I have garden slugs that are more engaging and can hold my interest longer.]
Yes, it's very nice that he does stuff for autism. Would he, if he didn't have an autistic daughter? If any of us were in his situation and had the means to do so, wouldn't we?

Not trying to be mean. I don't hate Wayne, he just disappoints me on many 'car guy' levels. If you think he's great, good for you.
I think the credit goes to Roger for the show still being on the air.

As for Leno... far better car collector/enthusiast than comedian, but I digress...

mrgreenjeans

Back to the original 9,000 mile 944

Does anyone know how it was equipped for options ?
What did it sell for ?
Has anyone seen the car either in Concours competition or any local Porsche shows ?

( I only wish I had the financial backing, the friends he has made in the hobbyist world, and a mechanic and ex - racer like Roger, that Wayne has. Oh, and the notoriety to be on a short list of calls when some family decides to unload their Auburn. Or Ferrari Lusso, or pristine 944.
I just don't seem to be getting those kind of calls .......... )

AlfaGTA

MGJ, if it will make you feel any better I'm happy to call you anytime. Bill

jhowell371

Or a Dino, I have seen him have couple over the years. For some reason they make my heart go pitter patter. more than any other Ferrari...... whoops, it's not a real Ferrari it's a Dino

mrgreenjeans

I LOVE it !

Always a pleasure.... ( sorry I missed you at Amelia. Had some health issues with my 92 year old Dad, that my wife just couldn't handle alone. )

Next time.

And I hope you did real well with your Carrera

neunfünfeins

What do you need any of that for?
You've got us!

will951

All of the judgement on Wayne is pretty hilarious. He's by no means an entertainer.....never wanted to be. I've known him for nearly 30yrs (wasn't even a teenager) and he has always been humble and honest. The show has given him far more popularity then he ever expected. His passion is in restoration.....always has been.

neunfünfeins

Thanks for sharing that. A first-hand account is worth a boatload of internet opinions (mine included). We actually agree on all of your points.

All things considered... it raises further questions why anyone thought building a form of entertainment around him - a guy that doesn't want to be an entertainer - was a stellar idea. I suppose that's more the creators/producers' fault than Wayne's.
The show has succeeded, somewhat in spite of this anomaly... and I still think that's down to Roger, and of course the interesting cars & stories.

mrgreenjeans

Thank YOU Will for this assessment;

It was PRECISELY the feeling I had when this guy approached him that day at Cavallino. He was busy prepping that beautiful Daytona that he and Ralph were showing, and he had all the time in the world to converse easily with me. I could feel the passion he had; he could have just ignored me and hoped I would have gone away. He didn't.

It was a moment in time I think about whenever I watch the show..... anyone who can successfully pull off what he has been able to in achieving perfection at that level, deserves a huge amount of respect from this ol' farm boy.


And, we are still waiting for the owner of this spectacular black 944 to step forward........

will951

I can answer this too! It actually started with a Discovery HD show called "Secret Club of Speed." It was focused on a group of guys racing their Ferraris at Limerock Park in CT. This group happens to be the "team" my father is a part of....Team Pilota. There was quite a bit of interest in the show and the producer was asked to do more. The guys in the Ferrari group pointed Essex Television Group to Wayne. The rest is history. I can remember Wayne coming to my office to drop off a copy of his first season.....probably still have it if I dig around.

If this was the Daytona spyder that belongs to Herb Chambers (which was the topic of a few episodes) I was at Cavallino for the event. I remember watching the episode on TV and seeing my father and I speaking with Wayne...."that's me!" I said. Haha.

mrgreenjeans

Yes !
It was Herb ... I mis-spoke and mentioned another friend of Wayne's seen on t.v. , Ralph.

Awesome we were at that event together and never knew it. I wish I had, it would have been great speaking with you that day as well.

Did you also get to the 'unveiling' of the gold "Aperta" that morning for Ferrari's special customer ? ( the only one like it; a one - off creation. )

And I had that same moment of surprise in viewing the segment and seeing myself on television as I milled around that vast array of special horses.
A beautiful part of the world isn't it ?

Thanks for sharing Will. Hope to meet you there someday in the future.

( I have a couple of funny stories from that weekend, some perhaps left off this page, but curiously one involving a 'model' that got off a watercraft on the Intercoastal Waterway in Trump's backyard @ Mar-A-Lago and crashed the Italiano Sunday event by draping herself across several Concours cars and trying to capture the lenses of photographers. When she got inside an early Lamborghini GT in her miniskirt she got the rather prompt 'attention' of the handlers prepping the car, and they set about getting her removed. ( headshake ) Suffice it to say, underpants were not part of her attire that day..... and not long after, she was seen being escorted off the grounds. )

kind of crazy to think about in retrospect in relation to the current political accusations surrounding that owner of the estate ......

will951

Yes....the P540 superfast aperta! I have not seen the car since.....probably just sitting in a collection somewhere.