The thing I appreciate the most about Jay Leno doing an interview is the respect he shows to both the history of the car being discussed and the owner/driver/enthusiasts that is its current keeper. Jay knows car history and likes to share it and explore to find new facts he wasn't previously aware of.
I vividly remember seeing Jack driving this car at the Pomona (LA County) Fairgrounds track in 1961 or 62. It was beautiful to watch and to hear. The most notable aspect of watching the car was the exceptional acceleration compared to other cars of the time. The very light weight and relatively high horsepower made it an outstanding performer. The Lotus 19 and the later, smaller, Lotus 23 are two of my favorite sports racers of all time.
It is hard to imagine that car only weighs 1,200 LBS. if you add the engine , transmission and the wheels. Does not leave much for the frame and body. Race cars that would wrap around your body if you crashed.
Thanks, Jack and Jay. Very interesting interview. I've been to the fabulous Nethercutt Museum before and am always amazing of the caliber and quality of the cars they bring to Pebble Beach. I think it was once called the Merle Norman Collection as the family business was in cosmetics manufacturing. I think they originally specialized in supplying the mortuary businesses. And there was a fellow contemporary racer from another cosmetics company, Peter Revson. He was an heir to the Revlon company. I'm sure they must have known each other and possibly raced each other. Revson raced the famous Scarab race car that Jay referenced earlier in the conversation. There must be an interesting story there and if anyone knows it please enlighten us.
Hey Jay, this is from the guy in the darkness of the crowd at the Huntington Beach Comedy Club about five years ago that yelled out I was from the “Galesburg silver streak” and you responded something about a staff member used to be from there years ago. Anyway, huge fan of you and Cars. When I was in California, I had time for the Peterson museum, visiting my son, and his wife, and the Comedy Club. Wanted to see the Nethercutt collection, But I ran out of time. What about a walking interview video Follow up through the museum and behind the scenes at the Nethercutt of cars that means something to him and more about his life outside of racing, where he was from and all those things. Thank you for all you do.
One legend interviewing another legend. Mr. Nethercutt is a cool guy but he reminds me so much of Don Rickles that I expected him to blurt out Jay why did you ask me that you hockey puck! Subscribed
Loved it! God bless you Jay for doing what you do. Guys like me (who love cars and motorcycles) who can't afford a classic car live vicariously through your videos. LOL
I used to live in Sylmar and never knew about the collection until my father drove all the way from Encinitas to view it. Over the years I went many times and watched them build the second building across the street to display more cars. I highly recommend to anyone that has the chance to go visit the musuem! Even seen Jay tooling around a few times in some of his cars.
Great interview. Nethercutt is a scourge among restorers because he'll spend anything to get a car right. A friend with a Pierce Arrow once told me he won't enter a contest if Jack is there. His museum in Sylmar is amazing, and not just for the cars. The musical instrument collection is amazing. A Bosendorfer super, and a Wurlitzer, both playing, and so much more. If you're in California, it's a must see.
I found an old vinyl LP titled "The Exciting Sounds of Sports Cars - the 12 Hours of Seabring". I heard the Nethercutt/Lovely Ferrari as the commentator announced it leaving the pits. I played that album over and over as a kid and have been a racing fan ever since.
I'm just getting into this video. And just as Jay's shop is a few blocks from my inlaws' home, Nethercutt's San Sylmar is a few blocks from where I grew up in Sylmar. I used to encounter a couple of mechanics for Jack in the hills above my house next to the 5/405 interchange. I can't remember their names now. I was riding my stripped down Schwinn Cruiser bicycle with knobby tires, Stingray handlebars and 5 speed derailleur (which made it a mountain bike 10 years before the guys up north did the same thing) and Jack's guys rode motorcycles. Folks called the place "Honda Hills". Same time frame, I Tech inspected Jack's Mirage race car out at a Cal Club race at Willow Springs. Car was the same plum color as the Lotus 19. Had modular wheels before anybody else. As to Lotus 19s, the fastest was Dan Gurney's 19G-Ford.
I watched Nethercutt race at Seattle in 1961- 7 years later I was racing a Lotus 23 on the same track. I was from Tacoma and knew Pete Lovely , Bill Cammarano, Dave Tatum and a lot of others from those days.
We visited your museum in Sylmar a couple of times, it’s amazing, all of the cars are in perfect condition. I was told that you have a Michelin star chef in the restaurant that the guys who work there eat at, and I think a meal cost $0.25 cents, a while later at the Palos Verdes Concours I met a fellow Brit who was displaying one of your cars and he gave me his business card and said next time I’m at the museum, ask for him and he’d buy me lunch! I’m looking forward to coming back and I’m so pleased to find your TH-cam channel 👍(subbed).
Is this the same Nethercutt connected with the Merle Norman automobile museum? I visited the collection 1969. It was absolutely the most amazing car collection I’ve ever seen in my life!!! I’ll never forget the experience the rest of my life. Not sure what was the most impressive part. The Duesenberg collection was the most beautiful part of the collection. The showroom was all marble and the cars were beyond description. Also the Rollls-Royce collection was something to see, all the different models underground lined up next to each other. What I didn’t really expect to see was the wonderful music room upstairs. It was like you were dreaming with the displays upstairs. My favorite was the biggest pipe organ imaginable. The sound seemed to almost shake the building. Wish I could visit the collection again someday. I was only 20 at the time, but it’s still the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen!!!!! It was my understanding during very special occasions the family and friends would drive some of the collection on an outing.
Jay, I'm subscribed to your garage but I didn't know you did videos outside that, so I subscribed to this channel as well. I'm a recreational racer myself so it's great to see a video about the history of racing. Keep up the good work. :)
As always thanks Jay, what a wonderful interview with a great old guy, I'm pleased to finally know who this man is, you've brought us some beautiful cars from his priceless collection, Rj in Oz
Jay, great job preserving the legacy of this Lotus 19 and especially of its most important pilot, Mr. Nethercutt. Fascinating, entertaining and informative as we've come to expect and enjoy!
Great Video! Thanks to the great generosity of the Nethercutt family for their stewardship of such a great car collection and their willingness to share it with the public. Please make it a priority to visit their museum and visit this amazing collection.
Fantastic video. Thank you for posting. What a history lesson in racing during the Golden Age. Love these old veterans and their stories. As an owner of a vintage racing Spitfire we cherish these memories. Cheers
It was obsolete before it was finished and not successful, as he said, but it was still one of the most beautiful race cars that I've ever seen (in pictures). Truly a shame that it's gone. In one of the pics that I've seen, Ken Miles is driving it.
Subscribed! I enjoyed the smaller museum just a few months ago! Road trip from vancouver island! Suprised this took two weeks to show up on my feed! Thanks for all you guys do!
Took a tour of the Nethercutt collection a few weeks back and so impressed! I so hope any car guy can go check it out. I did not get to see the museum, just the collection. I will be back for sure to take my wife next time.
I have enjoyed Jay’s channel almost from the beginning and never posted a comment (perhaps on a Mercer or Stutz,Bugatti or Alfa…I know that I should have,I feel a little guilty about that. I know I’ve given a lot of thumbs up)… but this is something truly special. What a gentleman … actually the two of them. I hope the collection develops an in depth video documentary of Mr. Nethercutt (there has to be old film and photo’s available) I kept thinking of the recent doc. on Nolan Ryan. It’s a shame Mr Leno couldn’t have spent a few weeks with Dan Gurney or Phil Hill, Sterling Moss… Mario’s still cookin and a kickin. I digress, started to get a little long winded there. Thank you for a wonderful interview.
Jay, I remember seeing that car at Riverside raceway when I was crewing for an ex-Bill Krause Maserati during highschool. It was the most impressive Lotus from the frame to that burgundy paint. I believe he told me it wasn't shipped that way. Thanks for evoking the memories. Also appreciated your comprehensive history of Old Yeller. A schoolmate who knew Max got us pit passes to that Santa Barbara race you mentioned as a pivotal race. I had no clue other than he beat the likes of Reventlo's Scarab et al. We picked up passes at Max's garage on Hollywood Blvd and saw the outline mods for the frame drawn on the floor and his crude flow bench mounted on some old plywood. We drove up PCH in my friends MGA and got passed by Max driving OLD YELLER with the race tires mounted to deck. We mounted the tires, he wins the race then drives home with trophy on seat beside him!! This car had a wooden dash with rally placks all over and those Chevy pickups rear fenders. Thanks again for your impressive and important documentation of automotive history. I began doing automotive portraits some years ago and had the fortune to do some commissions that made me appreciate what goes into preserving their history as YOU do so well. Continued success Jay
There is always something so satisfying and decent about jays interviews. He lets the interview take its own course. And the person being interviewed show their own colors.
light cars are the best to drive, no question. The long gone Manhattan beach lotus dealership used to have a floorstanding white enameled bodied scale, such as used to give your weight for a coin, in the showroom by the back wall. When you ordered a car, you were weighed so that the appropriate springs could be fitted to your car. when you buy a car that already weighs two tons, before you even get in it, such details don't matter. P.S. the Nethercutt is a heck of a museum
My Lotus 11 is older & also has a Coventry Climax engine but it is one of the last front/mid engine cars that Lotus built. I just noticed that both are using the same front clip. The front of my engine is inches behind the twin wishbone front suspension. Lotus just switched driver & engine position & Coventry just added a 2nd overhead cam. My 11 is a LeMans version with the DeDion independant rear suspension with inboard disc brakes. It has all the rare options! I would enjoy driving the updated version sometime.
What a wonderful country we live in and that is because of people like this...man and machine and a personality and person that is respectful and so well spoken...so admirable..
This was a really sweet interview. Glad we can document these before these old guys pass away.
That hurts just thinking about it. I see Jack at Pebble every year and don't want to imagine a year that I don't. Ditto for many other guys.
Yes agreed. Just like losing our WWII veterans.
Jack himself is a great piece of history. And very pleasantly soft spoken.
The thing I appreciate the most about Jay Leno doing an interview is the respect he shows to both the history of the car being discussed and the owner/driver/enthusiasts that is its current keeper. Jay knows car history and likes to share it and explore to find new facts he wasn't previously aware of.
Glad to 'meet' the face behind the name. Thanks, Jay.
I vividly remember seeing Jack driving this car at the Pomona (LA County) Fairgrounds track in 1961 or 62. It was beautiful to watch and to hear. The most notable aspect of watching the car was the exceptional acceleration compared to other cars of the time. The very light weight and relatively high horsepower made it an outstanding performer. The Lotus 19 and the later, smaller, Lotus 23 are two of my favorite sports racers of all time.
Cool!
It is hard to imagine that car only weighs 1,200 LBS. if you add the engine , transmission and the wheels. Does not leave much for the frame and body. Race cars that would wrap around your body if you crashed.
I love hearing the old guys tell their stories. Thanks Jay
I loved Jay’s “If something should happen to the guy” bit. It might have gotten lost in the interview but it made my day! Hilarious 😂
Thanks, Jack and Jay. Very interesting interview. I've been to the fabulous Nethercutt Museum before and am always amazing of the caliber and quality of the cars they bring to Pebble Beach. I think it was once called the Merle Norman Collection as the family business was in cosmetics manufacturing. I think they originally specialized in supplying the mortuary businesses. And there was a fellow contemporary racer from another cosmetics company, Peter Revson. He was an heir to the Revlon company. I'm sure they must have known each other and possibly raced each other. Revson raced the famous Scarab race car that Jay referenced earlier in the conversation. There must be an interesting story there and if anyone knows it please enlighten us.
How nice to find an old love, and be re-united with her. Sweet.
Hey Jay, this is from the guy in the darkness of the crowd at the Huntington Beach Comedy Club about five years ago that yelled out I was from the “Galesburg silver streak” and you responded something about a staff member used to be from there years ago. Anyway, huge fan of you and Cars. When I was in California, I had time for the Peterson museum, visiting my son, and his wife, and the Comedy Club. Wanted to see the Nethercutt collection, But I ran out of time. What about a walking interview video Follow up through the museum and behind the scenes at the Nethercutt of cars that means something to him and more about his life outside of racing, where he was from and all those things.
Thank you for all you do.
Make sure to message us on Facebook or Instagram when you plan on visiting! We would be happy to show you around!
THIS IS AMAZING ! Not just the car and driver, but Jay being the professional interviewer. Epic.
One legend interviewing another legend. Mr. Nethercutt is a cool guy but he reminds me so much of Don Rickles that I expected him to blurt out Jay why did you ask me that you hockey puck! Subscribed
Aw man this is great. Documenting these living histories is priceless for future generations.
Jay Leno is soooo good at this. We are lucky to have him supporting the automotive enthusiast
And Jay was heard to say after the interview while the cameras were still rolling..."But, can it do a burnout..?"
Loved it! God bless you Jay for doing what you do. Guys like me (who love cars and motorcycles) who can't afford a classic car live vicariously through your videos. LOL
I love the museum, thanks for sharing with public Mr. Nethercutt.
This guy owned a top-rated restaurant in Vegas, ran a museum, and was president of a cosmetics company. Impressive
That’s interesting background. Thanks for sharing
Super interview, thanks Jay!
I used to live in Sylmar and never knew about the collection until my father drove all the way from Encinitas to view it. Over the years I went many times and watched them build the second building across the street to display more cars. I highly recommend to anyone that has the chance to go visit the musuem! Even seen Jay tooling around a few times in some of his cars.
A wonderful Interview with two wonderful people, thank you.
The Nethercutt Collection/Museum, is spectacular. The cars, the settings, just everything. I'm amazed that it is not more well known.
Awesome to see Jack and Jay together....great car great memories - great driving on Jack's part. Kudos sir.
Great interview. Nethercutt is a scourge among restorers because he'll spend anything to get a car right. A friend with a Pierce Arrow once told me he won't enter a contest if Jack is there. His museum in Sylmar is amazing, and not just for the cars. The musical instrument collection is amazing. A Bosendorfer super, and a Wurlitzer, both playing, and so much more. If you're in California, it's a must see.
I found an old vinyl LP titled "The Exciting Sounds of Sports Cars - the 12 Hours of Seabring". I heard the Nethercutt/Lovely Ferrari as the commentator announced it leaving the pits. I played that album over and over as a kid and have been a racing fan ever since.
Cool!!
I could listen to these gentlemen talk about cars all day
Here are two car guy's with a lot class!
Very interesting. Love hearing “the way it was” stories.
I enjoyed that . Thank you .
excellent excellent interview jay thank you awesome
I'd like to hear more from this man and his Duesenburgs. Great Chat Jay.
Cheers 🇨🇦
Thanks.
I'm just getting into this video. And just as Jay's shop is a few blocks from my inlaws' home, Nethercutt's San Sylmar is a few blocks from where I grew up in Sylmar. I used to encounter a couple of mechanics for Jack in the hills above my house next to the 5/405 interchange. I can't remember their names now. I was riding my stripped down Schwinn Cruiser bicycle with knobby tires, Stingray handlebars and 5 speed derailleur (which made it a mountain bike 10 years before the guys up north did the same thing) and Jack's guys rode motorcycles. Folks called the place "Honda Hills". Same time frame, I Tech inspected Jack's Mirage race car out at a Cal Club race at Willow Springs. Car was the same plum color as the Lotus 19. Had modular wheels before anybody else. As to Lotus 19s, the fastest was Dan Gurney's 19G-Ford.
He built an absolute shrine.
I watched Nethercutt race at Seattle in 1961- 7 years later I was racing a Lotus 23 on the same track. I was from Tacoma and knew Pete Lovely , Bill Cammarano, Dave Tatum and a lot of others from those days.
Wow!
Very cool!!
Great look at a slice of American race history. Thanks!
We visited your museum in Sylmar a couple of times, it’s amazing, all of the cars are in perfect condition. I was told that you have a Michelin star chef in the restaurant that the guys who work there eat at, and I think a meal cost $0.25 cents, a while later at the Palos Verdes Concours I met a fellow Brit who was displaying one of your cars and he gave me his business card and said next time I’m at the museum, ask for him and he’d buy me lunch! I’m looking forward to coming back and I’m so pleased to find your TH-cam channel 👍(subbed).
Thanks for the sub! We look forward to you visiting again!
PRICELESS Thanks Jack & Jay...🇺🇸
Is this the same Nethercutt connected with the Merle Norman automobile museum? I visited the collection 1969. It was absolutely the most amazing car collection I’ve ever seen in my life!!! I’ll never forget the experience the rest of my life. Not sure what was the most impressive part. The Duesenberg collection was the most beautiful part of the collection. The showroom was all marble and the cars were beyond description. Also the Rollls-Royce collection was something to see, all the different models underground lined up next to each other. What I didn’t really expect to see was the wonderful music room upstairs. It was like you were dreaming with the displays upstairs. My favorite was the biggest pipe organ imaginable. The sound seemed to almost shake the building. Wish I could visit the collection again someday. I was only 20 at the time, but it’s still the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen!!!!! It was my understanding during very special occasions the family and friends would drive some of the collection on an outing.
Jay, I'm subscribed to your garage but I didn't know you did videos outside that, so I subscribed to this channel as well. I'm a recreational racer myself so it's great to see a video about the history of racing. Keep up the good work. :)
Thanks for the sub!
You're welcome :)@@TheNethercuttCollection
Beautiful interview and two icons!!
In the first 20 seconds Jack looks absolutely thrilled to be there.
Great interview, you guys! Jay's still got it! Thanks for the memories, gentlemen. ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
Thanks, Mr. Nethercutt and those who work for the Nethercutt Collection. Jay Leno too 😊
As always thanks Jay, what a wonderful interview with a great old guy, I'm pleased to finally know who this man is, you've brought us some beautiful cars from his priceless collection, Rj in Oz
Great video!!!
Jay, great job preserving the legacy of this Lotus 19 and especially of its most important pilot, Mr. Nethercutt. Fascinating, entertaining and informative as we've come to expect and enjoy!
What a gorgeous car from the angle shown as they are talking about it....I love those front fenders...what a great color scheme...beautiful.
Great Video! Thanks to the great generosity of the Nethercutt family for their stewardship of such a great car collection and their willingness to share it with the public. Please make it a priority to visit their museum and visit this amazing collection.
Fantastic video. Thank you for posting. What a history lesson in racing during the Golden Age. Love these old veterans and their stories. As an owner of a vintage racing Spitfire we cherish these memories. Cheers
Delightful Presentation.
Fantastic interview, great to hear about your life Jack!
Great video
Such a wonderful, sweet interview.
👍🏻😊👍🏻
I Googled some pictures of the Mirage Mr. Nethercutt raced. Thank you for the racing history.
It was obsolete before it was finished and not successful, as he said, but it was still one of the most beautiful race cars that I've ever seen (in pictures). Truly a shame that it's gone. In one of the pics that I've seen, Ken Miles is driving it.
I love the history of old race cars and the driver's that paved the way. Thank You
Doesn't get much better than this! We all love cars and motor sports but hearing guys talk about the legends is so awesome.
Thank you. Love these guys. Jack is a real straight shooter.
Subscribed! I enjoyed the smaller museum just a few months ago! Road trip from vancouver island! Suprised this took two weeks to show up on my feed! Thanks for all you guys do!
Thank you for the sub and thank you for visiting!
Took a tour of the Nethercutt collection a few weeks back and so impressed! I so hope any car guy can go check it out. I did not get to see the museum, just the collection. I will be back for sure to take my wife next time.
What a privilege to watch this interview. Thank you to all involved for bringing this to Youtuve 🙏
Awesome interview and happy to subscribe to this channel. One day I will make the pilgrimage to Sylmar and visit the Nethercutt museum.
I have enjoyed Jay’s channel almost from the beginning and never posted a comment (perhaps on a Mercer or Stutz,Bugatti or Alfa…I know that I should have,I feel a little guilty about that. I know I’ve given a lot of thumbs up)… but this is something truly special. What a gentleman … actually the two of them. I hope the collection develops an in depth video documentary of Mr. Nethercutt (there has to be old film and photo’s available) I kept thinking of the recent doc. on Nolan Ryan. It’s a shame Mr Leno couldn’t have spent a few weeks with Dan Gurney or Phil Hill, Sterling Moss… Mario’s still cookin and a kickin. I digress, started to get a little long winded there. Thank you for a wonderful interview.
Jay, I remember seeing that car at Riverside raceway when I was crewing for an ex-Bill Krause Maserati during highschool. It was the most impressive Lotus from the frame to that burgundy paint. I believe he told me it wasn't shipped that way.
Thanks for evoking the memories.
Also appreciated your comprehensive history of Old Yeller.
A schoolmate who knew Max got us pit passes to that Santa Barbara race you mentioned as a pivotal race. I had no clue other than he beat the likes of Reventlo's Scarab et al.
We picked up passes at Max's garage on Hollywood Blvd and saw the outline mods for the frame drawn on the floor and his crude flow bench mounted on some old plywood.
We drove up PCH in my friends MGA and got passed by Max driving OLD YELLER with the race tires mounted to deck. We mounted the tires, he wins the race then drives home with trophy on seat beside him!!
This car had a wooden dash with rally placks all over and those Chevy pickups rear fenders.
Thanks again for your impressive and important documentation of automotive history.
I began doing automotive portraits some years ago and had the fortune to do some commissions that made me appreciate what goes into preserving their history as YOU do so well. Continued success Jay
AWERSOME VIDEO thanks for the great insight
Man, those sixties race cars have got to be the sexiest cars ever made. Jaw dropping gorgeous
What a gentleman....and a beautiful car!
There is always something so satisfying and decent about jays interviews. He lets the interview take its own course. And the person being interviewed show their own colors.
light cars are the best to drive, no question. The long gone Manhattan beach lotus dealership used to have a floorstanding white enameled bodied scale, such as used to give your weight for a coin, in the showroom by the back wall. When you ordered a car, you were weighed so that the appropriate springs could be fitted to your car. when you buy a car that already weighs two tons, before you even get in it, such details don't matter.
P.S. the Nethercutt is a heck of a museum
Top content. Liked the vid and subbed the channel. Jay always sprinkles gold dust at any channel he visits.
Awesome thank you! Stay tuned for more content coming soon!
What a great man. Humble.
Great episode. Thanks for sharing.
What a gracious, humble, sharp, likable champion.
That was very touching, thank you. Also, it takes me back to my youth, I remember this car.
Geez, Jack looks so much like Mr. Warmth, Don Rickles. Interesting interview. Thanks.
... and his grandson is a clone of Brendan Fraser.
What a wonderful guy and interview , thanks for sharing ... Jays a funny guy🤣
Awesome interview loved every bit of it
Thank you ! Great interview.
Jay done great getting the most out of someone clearly very rêserved and blunt
Great chat. Love hearing a bit of history
good man Jay
Those are some great stories. Thanks for sharing
My Lotus 11 is older & also has a Coventry Climax engine but it is one of the last front/mid engine cars that Lotus built. I just noticed that both are using the same front clip. The front of my engine is inches behind the twin wishbone front suspension. Lotus just switched driver & engine position & Coventry just added a 2nd overhead cam. My 11 is a LeMans version with the DeDion independant rear suspension with inboard disc brakes. It has all the rare options! I would enjoy driving the updated version sometime.
Excellent video Jay. Enjoyed it immensely.
I'm speechless! ❤
Jay, is your secret to a great interview just being really curious? You ask the questions we would ask. Thanks.
Great interview Jay. You should consider a line if work where you interview people. You have a gift!😉
Surprised Jay didn't "take it for a spin"! ahhhhhh!
Unfortunately, she's not street legal and it also does 50mph in first gear!
wow Jay put on a non-denim shirt. That's respect right there
Beautiful job.
hi there very nice show , john
How is it this video has only one comment? Now it has two. Thanks Jay for sharing in the past and nowadays. Cheers from New Zealand.
This is the right club
Hopefully the museum can get that gorgeous 1913 Mercedes Double Phaeton-Torpedo outside for video or perhaps as a drive on Leno's channel.
Jay! I loved hearing about the then and now yester years of American racing! (for once something that isn't strictly European) Very very cool!!!
What a wonderful country we live in and that is because of people like this...man and machine and a personality and person that is respectful and so well spoken...so admirable..
Charming man.
Awesome 👏
Great timing. They recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of Lotus at Goodwood. Just a coincidence probably.
Whaat? No clutch and you won the race! Nice....
Great interview and sharing the history of racing for us couch potato racers. ❤
Nice to see you guys from Old New Orleans