GT40 vs P-40

[Ed Sims]

I woke up to beautiful sunshine & a predicted high of 65 today so I jumped in the GT & headed for the coast. My favorite twisties in the mountains finally have snow so I thought I'd check out the soon to be Maverick waves at Half Moon Bay. However, I decided to detour to the Dianese (Italian motorcycle gear) store in San Francisco then to Wine Country Motorsports at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma. I needed lunch & the track food was not that inviting so a quick run to downtown Sonoma for a sandwich before Hwy 1. On the way I spotted a P-51 along the road & pulled over to inspect it. The pilots & hanger gang at Sonoma Vally Airport came to ogle over the GT while I inspected the P-51. It was then that one of the pilots, Chris, thought a photo of his P-40 Kittyhawk with the GT would be cool - a meeting of old & new "40s". His P-40 Allison engine is a twin cam, 4 valve, supercharged beast just like our cars! He also gave me a ride which was a thrill. I saw Hwy 1 & the coast from a new perspective (at a leisurely 225mph). I blitzed the twisty lake roads home to cap a great day. Life is good!

Ed

 

[Triheart7]

Great pictures Ed! I commented on another thread that the weather in Northern Calif was particularly nice this weekend. Ed just confirmed it!

 

[Ed Sims]

http://flyingtigersus.ning.com/forum/topics/90-year-old-vet-takes-his-wwii


Here are a few more photos. I asked Chris to go over Sears Point Raceway to check out the track so here's a turn over over turn 11.

Ed

PS Here is a link to a story about the pilot who flew this very same plane in WW2. He lives only 2 hours away!

 

[Ed Sims]

Great pictures Ed! I commented on another thread that the weather in Northern Calif was particularly nice this weekend. Ed just confirmed it!

Sorry Dr Frank!

 

[BlackICE]

Looks like another great weekend. It sure beats the snow IMO!

 

[Ed Sims]

CA sucks in many ways but one of them is not weather!

Ed

 

[BlackICE]

CA sucks in many ways but one of them is not weather!

Ed

:agree:

 

[Lorenzo]

Wow what a great experience with the Ford gt. I wonder if the outcome would have been the same if you would have showed up in a prius.

 

[BlackICE]

Wow what a great experience with the Ford gt. I wonder if the outcome would have been the same if you would have showed up in a Prius.

Not a chance and I own both!

The Prius is good for driving to a Green Peace or Sierra Club meeting if you do that sort of stuff or when driving to a bad part of town, the GT better for everything else if it holds what you need.

 

[cobrajeff]

Way cool, Ed!

Jeff

 

[MAD IN NC]

so Ed, did you give Chris a ride in your "40"?....... a nice spiritied run down the runway perhaps?

 

[HiloDave]

What a great experience and a great story! Thanks, Ed.

 

[Ed Sims]

so Ed, did you give Chris a ride in your "40"?....... a nice spiritied run down the runway perhaps?

It is the smallest airport I have ever seen. The runway is small too as we were on grass part of the time. Chris owns the airport. It appears there are around 10-20 planes - all historic. I owe him a ride in my GT!

Ed

 

[ChipBeck]

Ed,

You are the king of vintage everything. What a great experience.

Chip

 

[Mike Mosing]

Isn't the barter system great! What a wonderful experience.. Congrats.

Mike

 

[2112]

Wow, :eek

 

[MNJason]

I've driven by that airport many times and I always see interesting old bi-planes sitting outside. That P40 ride is once in a lifetime!

 

[33Bravo]

Hey - that really looks like fun!! I drive both a FGT and a L39. Flying and driving are both a hoot! (Can fly here in the winter - but the cars are grounded till spring....)

 

[SteveA]

Amazing how many "doors" owning and driving these cars will open, great story!

 

[PeakCompletions]

such an awesome story and pics! It has been a lifelong dream to fly in a P40! Congratulations!!

thanks for sharing!