HST 378 Class from USD Visits Jay Leno's Garage and then the Show

Hi folks -- no photos yet to post -- photos were a no no while in the "Big Dog" Garage in Burbank and then on the set of the Tonight Show. But it was an incredible experience on April 1. We drove up to LA from San Diego on Friday morning in a number of cars. I took my son-in-law Tony and two students, Michelle Griswold and Patrick Doyle. Traffic was murder on I-5, but we got to the Big Dog Garage just after 1 p.m. The entire class was waiting for us outside the gate! We then had a 1 1/2 hour tour of the facility, which is a working garage that employs eight mechanics. There are so many cars in the collection it is hard to say which cars were my favorites, but off the top of my hat I would say a red Triumph TR-3 and a four cam Porsche Carerra 356. Of course there are plenty of Duesenbergs, Bugattis, Bentlys, etc, and all are fabulous. Ater the tour we had a special group visit to Studio 11 at NBC and the taping of the April 1 Show. That was great fun -- the music was terrific -- indeed the entire experience. After the taping was over Jay went back, changed into his jeans, and came out and met the class. The students asked several questions and Jay was most gracious. He said he thought my book The Automnoible and American Life was a good book, should be added to his book club list on his website, and also said I could come back to the Garage whenever I want. Yesterday was that a highlight of my time here in CA. It took us a while to get back to SD on Friday night. My only regret is that Chuck Berry was in concert at one of the casinos, and that would have been one terrific way to top off the day. But no complaints at all -- Friday April Fools' Day 2011 was one of the best days in my life.