James Garner comes up on this site a fair amount. Some months ago we solved the mystery of the James Garner 4-seat Indy Car, and this past weekend attended the Rockford Gathering, which must be the epicenter of James Garner-related activity.

Even without any celebrity connection it's hard to deny the cool factor of a modified 1970 Oldsmobile 442 that is no stranger to off-road racing in Baja. Add in the fact this off-road Olds was built for and piloted by James Garner in 1969 and 1970 and it starts to become clear exactly how awesome this unique vintage…

You know what's great? This. This is great. This site, cars, the Internet, the whole damn thing. Skeptical? Good. I'm glad you're skeptical, because it's going to give me genuine joy to take your skepticism out back and spank it, right in front of all its stupid friends. How? With this:

James Garner, like a several other notable actors, has a longstanding love of racing. After starring in Grand Prix in 1966, he started a long semi-career in racing, owning a racing team, preparing Ramblers for the Baja 500 race as part of a deal with AMC, and driving Indy 500 pace cars three times. The guy loved…

Watch as Garner, Bondurant and Car and Track head to Orange County Raceway in this television footage from 1971. Not only is this vintage clip featuring "movie star and car buff" James Garner cool, as host Bud Lindemann explains "it's a driving lesson for all of us".

Peter Douglas is remaking John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix. Why? The film only stands up because of the romance of the era, the novelty of the production, and the charm of James Garner — and that's all gone. (H/T Scroggz!) [Deadline]

The Mazda B2000 SE-5 isn't just a small truck. According to James Garner, actor and Mazda spokesman, it can really handle. And James Garner never thought he would say that about a small truck, until Mazda paid him to.

When an automaker builds a car named the Cosmo Big Run Genteel, you know they're going to make some good television advertisements. Yes, we're talking about Mazda here!