This is the place where you will find pics and updates directly from my race weekends, plus a lot of other fun stuff such as stunt driving or things not always about racing.
Cheers! /Carl
Pic of the week
Grid before the race, Nordschleife 2008.
Songs to check out
1. Foo Fighters - The Pretender
2. Span - Baby's Come Back
3. Adam Tensta - My Cool
4. Outkast - Take Off Your Cool
5. Alexandra Stan - Mr Saxobeat
Food and Drinks
1. Redondo Beach Brewing Co, CA
3. The Standard, Hollywood, CA
3. Nic's, Bevery Hills, CA
4. Vino Pasta, Gothenburg, SWE
5. Paradise Cove, Malibu, CA
Other things
Spot to be filled with useful content.
Jaguar XF - cool cat for real drivers
Thursday, July 31, 2008
If you are looking for a reeaaallly nice car but a BMW feels to clinical, a Merc to stuffy, the Lexus to mainstream and a Quattroporte is just out of reach, Jaguar XF IS the car for you. I have never driven a car in the luxury sedan segment that wakes my passion for driving, a big engine in a stuffy old car doesn't do it for me. But this Jag does - whether the road is straight or twisty. It's got s o u l.
The Jaguar XF has really precise steering, perfect throttle response from take-off, really solid feel to the brakes and a very entertaining suspension setup. The automatic gearbox gives a really direct feel and the downshifts in sport mode are just great with the automatic throttle blips to match the next lower gear. This is not too different from how most people would describe most modern, sporty luxury sedans, but the Jaguar XF is different, it has something more, something only found in temperamentful sportscars, like classic Alfa Romeos and the likes.
With the dynamic stability control turned completely off, all that's needed is a throttle release and a slight "Scandinavian flick" and the car steps out perfectly controlled into a nice angle. Meeting up with the throttle makes the XF's V8 respond with a confident, really organic roar, it's almost like it is alive. From that point, you can have the car stay at any angle and have it go anywhere you want, the engine just never stops pulling and the car communicates with the driver in a way you wouldn't believe from such a plush luxurious touring car.
Not only is the XF a hit for the inspired driver - it is also a pleasure for the eye with its low coupe style roof-line and a perfect mix of modern edgy and classic rounded lines. The front fender gills/vents add an aggressive racy look.
Interior-wise, seating position for tall people (I am 6'3") leaves nothing to ask for and the design is a combination of sporty and classy, not dull and "oldish", instead just right - like a Grand Touring coupe with some add-ons like modern touch-screen LCD including a ton of car setting options, navigation etc.
Oh well... I could go on and on with superlatives for the Jaguar XF, and the biggest one is probably this: I wish I was a few years older and had a kid or two, then the Jaguar XF would be perfect for me. Maybe having an XF on the driveway is the wrong (and currently only) reason to wish for those things, but I can't wait. This car is one of few that gets top scores from me.
After returning to LA after a successful job for Jaguar (more about that car later), Jennifer and I packed our stuff and moved down to Redondo Beach, definitely a place we like! The day after I went out to the Redline Time Attack event at Cali Speedway for some networking and sponsor talks. Met some nice people and I also got to know more about this type of event. It was definitely a nice enviroment for drivers and fans to see some cool cars close-up and it is also competitive enough to make it interesting for top drivers and sponsors, as well as "reachable" for the enthusiasts who want to drive their sportscars in the street car class.
Everyone doing their job - the Hankook misses representing, me chilling in the tent and miss City Tire Online greeting customers.
I am currently preparing for the Turnstyle/Drift Day Pro-Am qualifier event in Tucson Arizona, Aug 2. Will be pretty interesting to see if I have already learned enough to earn a spot in the Formula D licensing event later this year, or if I will be needing some more drift practice. Stay tuned!
Yesterday I was interviewed in Hollywood by the Swedish lifestyle magazine Finest. I will post a link as soon as the interview is up on their webiste. Here are some clips they filmed during the interview.
Right now I am just waiting at LAX to go to Europe to do some testing for Jaguar next week. Drive safe!
Name: Carl Rydquist Age: 34 Home: Redondo Beach Web:CarlRydquist.com Reel:Click to watch Highlights: Winner of Zandvoort 500 (2005), Winner of Swedish Endurance 3h GT Racing Championship (2004), Winner of Swedish Endurance 8/12h GT Racing Championship (2001), Winner of Eurosport Super Racing Weekend Challenge (2001), Winner of Redline Time Attack Mod RWD (2010). 24 Hours of Nurburgring (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). 24 Hours of Barcelona (2011). 25 Hours of Thunderhill (2010). Memberships: FIA (intl racing license), DRAW Portfolio, Formula D, Performance Two Stunt & Precision Driving Team (Hollywood, CA), SAG Stunt Driver (Screen Actors Guild). Teams: City Tire (Drift), AE Performance, STORM GT Racing.
