48Hours: Porsche GT 2
The most wicked Porsche ever is about to be released. Get in line behind me…
Just as its forebears did, Porsche’s new 997 GT2 will sit on the very highest rung of the current 911 model line-up; it’s faster and more powerful than both the 911 Turbo, the 911 GT3 and the GT3 RS, it’ll be more expensive, more exclusive – the supreme 911 for performance fanatics.
Powered by an overhauled version of Stuttgart’s twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre flat six, the GT2 packs 523bhp at 6500rpm (a whole 50bhp more than the Turbo) and 505lb ft of torque available from 2200rpm.
Porsche quotes the GT2’s kerbweight at 1440kg; that would make it 145kg lighter than the 911 Turbo we weighed as part of our road test last year, and would give it a power-to-weight ratio of 363bhp per tonne; the Turbo musters just 299.
Performance should be almost peerless. Again according to Porsche, the new GT2 should scramble to 60mph in just 3.6sec, on to 100mph in just 7.4sec, and will have a top speed of 204mph. That would make it as fast to 60mph as the Turbo despite having only rear-wheel drive, as well as a full 0.6sec faster to 100mph. And that’s only according to Porsche’s figures, which have always been conservative to say the least.
And if ya gotta ask, its $219,000 plus tax. Although dealer extortion is likely to mark it up a bit higher, if you can find one.
Put me down for one in black. And silver. And arena red....
Porsche to roll out fastest-ever 911 in November
Reuters
48 Hours: Hooligans Are Trashing the North Fork
My recent forays to the wine country of Long Island’s North Fork have been marred by bad behavior. And in a refreshing change, none of it was my own. The tasting rooms have been overrun by drunks with sharp elbows, throwing back wine like shots of jagermeister.
The latest additions to local lore include a story about members of an inebriated group at the Palmer Vineyards here who hopped off a hayride and began gallivanting naked through the vines. Then there were the drunken customers at the Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue who jumped into the shimmering lake next to the elegant outdoor tasting area. And the bachelorette parties that often culminate in tabletop dances, to the horror of nearby oenophiles sniffing or sipping the local chardonnays.
Perhaps I am being to harsh on these folks, but they are just looking for a cheap buzz without any clue or desire to get a sense of the places they are visiting. Although I think some of the wineries have themselves to blame. What do you expect when you court bachelorette parties?
In response to the raucous behavior, more associated with that South Fork bastion known as the Hamptons, almost all of the wineries have ended free tastings and now generally charge $5 for a flight of carefully measured samples. (Palmer is one of the few still pouring without charge, if only for selected wines.) Many tasting rooms have banned bachelorette parties and tightened cutoff policies on serving the inebriated. Raphael vineyards in Peconic has closed its tasting room on Saturdays except by appointment.
For those of you who are skeptical over the quality of Long Island wines, we will soon profile the 2005 Bedell Cellers lineup, which might be the best Bordeaux-style blends to come out of the North Fork yet.
New York Wineries Face Tastings Gone Wild
New York Times
Entourage: Victory! The Lash is Back
Ed. Note: Ready for the weekend? There are no worries on Wall Street with the tape ripping, so lets have a little fun. We are going to take our profits and plow them back into the ongoing site design. We will hand it over to The Lash, who is back in the house after finishing a movie shoot in the jungle. Just in time, as we get to finish the week in style as our favorite (female) screenwriter dissects last weeks Drama on HBO...and just for the record, she is no he...
Some call it Chutzpah, other’s call it gumption, nerve or guts, but in the world of business and entertainment it’s most commonly referred to as balls--the ability to control any situation with straightforward determination.
And for this week’s Entourage viewers, every storyline revolved around that very same concept, to have or not to have...balls.
In what seems to be the best episode since it’s return this summer, “Sorry Harvey” had it all including a hilarious role inspired by Harvey what’s his name of Miramax fame.
Last week Eric had some big kahones when he “sold” the movie to the volatile Indie movie king but oops, he really didn’t have the power to sell it. And now that the film was accepted at Cannes, the crew doesn’t want to sell. E has to admit to Harvey that he screwed up and as a result, screwed him--Again.
E thought he could do it, bragged to Vince and Ari that he would do it, face to face. But he couldn’t, the fear shriveled up his kahones. Even big movie tough guy Vince didn’t have the chutzpah to tell Harvey the truth. Turtle hid under his shell.
Much like the business world, does a deal gone bad make you lose your nerve or deflate your balls? What will it take to get it back? Do moguls have this problem or is it just the up and comers? Where do you draw the line between having balls and the temporary growth that accompanies an inflated ego?
Which of course leads me to Johnny Drama. High off his political maneuvering to get his Beverly Hills Adjacent condo annexed by the mayor, Drama was the only one who stepped up. Although Johnny does get credit for being the only member of the group with enough guts to tell Harvey he was shit out of luck and they were taking “Medellin” to Cannes, Drama did blurt out the news while Harvey was being escorted out of the bar--by the police. You see, Harvey got a little ballsy with the waiter.
Ultimately we must give the credit to Johnny Drama, as it did take a lot of balls for Drama to tell his “friend” the mayor of Beverly Hills that his date of choice for the evening actually had balls--the kind that don’t deflate.
Classic writing guys, hope you keep it up.
48 Hours: Bill Harlan Talks Wine
Harlan Estate is certainly one of the most expensive wines to come out of Napa. Is it the best? It certainly has to merit serious consideration. I have been fortunate enough to sample every vintage to date, but the ‘94 was certainly profound last time around. Check out this interview with the Bill Harlan talking about his pride and joy. His Bond lineup might be close second, check those cabs out when you get a chance. Cameo appearance by Bob Levy.
