Long Guns, Witchcraft &
a Hitman
Gran Turismo Jaguar's Untold Story
A bad script for actor / race car driver Paul Newman at Road Atlanta 1980 SCCA Championship.
PRE-RACE
True Story.
Two Gran Turismo Jaguar fans at the 1980 SCCA Road Atlanta Championship Racetrack, a young couple sat vigil for 3 nights, locked and loaded on the rear deck of the truck next to #19 at the 1980 Road Atlanta Race after driver Jim Fitzgerald donned a "Designated Hitter" pin at a pre-race gathering of the Big Boys. It sounded like something out of a movie, but... the Crew thought maybe let's not take any chances.
THE HEX
"I kept trying to zap the Jag,"
Joanne wished no ill will on Freddy...
"but I wished the Jag's motor would have just quit, and Paul would win."
ON THE GRID
The start of the race. #19 qualified in first place. #38 Jim Fitzgerald, in second, locks in as the "designated hitter" with his eye on the Jag. Defending Champ Paul Newman chomps his bit a few cars back.
Fitzgerald will hound that E-type throughout the race...
THE RACE
Gran Turismo Jaguar's #19 Jaguar E-type in the lead. The Datsuns collectively know they do not have a chance. Fellow Datsun driver and reigning champion Paul Newman risks losing his title and disgracing his and the other factory-backed teams. Oooohhh how they hate that Jag.
THE HIT
As promised, #38 Datsun's Jim Fitzgerald stage right as hitman: Unsatisfied to play fair, slams into the Jaguar in a desperate move to push #19 off the track and keep her from ruining the Datsun picnic by any means. On a straightaway no less.
​
Spoiler: It didn't work.
THE BRUSHOFF
Gran Turismo's driver Freddy Baker, in characteristic British gentlemanliness and suffering no fools, shrugs off the attempt and continues on toward the finish line, leaving Fitzgerald, Newman and friends in the dust.
Cherrio!
THE WIN
How embarrassing (for the Big Boys).
Battle-scarred, but victorious. Old #19, a "rickety" old Jaguar backed by small business owner / self-taught engineer Lou Fidanza and backed by a team of rag-tag volunteers crosses the finish line despite voodoo spells and dirty tricks. Not a good look for the Datsum team.
THE AFTERMATH
After defeat. A handsome but disillusioned driver, actor Paul Newman.
