Events

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2017

Festivals of Speed Mission Inn 2017 Preview

If you find yourself around Orlando this weekend, Festivals of Speed is taking over the Mission Inn Resort & Golf Club. Central Florida has an immense exotic car scene, so get ready for some wild sights. As the Presenting Sponsor of the VIP area, we will have room for our fans to enjoy gourmet food, ice cream, and an open bar. VIP Tickets are $75 each, with proceeds going to the Ruggie Family Foundation. On the menu will be black mussels with Belgian endive, along with smoked salmon with prosciutto along with a goat cheese antipasto, grilled chicken, chorizo sausage. These are just a few of the treats you will find in our VIP area.Sunday marks the 5th anniversary of the event at Mission Inn, and the weather forecast looks great. Our friends at Fields Motorcars will have the latest from Mercedes, Porsche, Rolls-Royce models, in addition to several hundred classics and exotics. Mission Inn was built to resemble a vintage Spanish outpost from the Southwest and is situated along the spine of Florida. The resort's golf course offers 36 holes of golf with up to 85 feet in elevation changes. Thanks to this beautiful scenery, Mission Inn is a fantastic location for such an exquisite automotive show.General admission is only $20, and kids 12 and under are free. Located just off the turnpike, this part of Florida is truly breathtaking. The rolling hills of Lake County are the only mountains in Florida, so leave the beach behind and make plans to see us on Sunday.Purchase Tickets

By Edward Jones – February 09, 2017

wannaGOFAST Florida 1/2-Mile Shootout Recap

Needless to say, the wannaGOFAST ½ mile shootout in Ocala on January 21 and 22, was a huge success. With about 4,000 people coming through the gates, the spectators were able to watch some extremely fast cars charge down the Jumbolair runway at record breaking speeds. The turnout was great considering the weather forecast for Sunday did not look good.Below is a list of winners, which includes a few broken records!FLORIDA 1/2 MILE SHOOTOUT - JANUARY 21, 2017 SATURDAY CLASS WINNERS! SPONSOR DIVISION: Fastest Overall Domestic & RWD: Four Horsemen Racing - Dodge Viper GTS - Sal Patel - 227.96 MPH - RWD WORLD RECORD! Fastest Overall Exotic/Import & Manual: Northgate Transmissions - Underground Racing Built Lamborghini Gallardo - Mike Yeager - 222.33 MPH - MANUAL TRANSMISSION WORLD RECORD! Fastest AWD: TopSpeed Motorsports - Nissan GT-R TSM Elite Plus - John Beystehner - 205.85 MPH - STOCK FRAME GT-R WORLD RECORD! Fastest Heavyweight - Forza Tuned - 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat - William Buerosse - 182.62 MPH Fastest 4-Door - Four Horsemen Racing - Cadillac CTS-V Wagon - Josh Spence - 176.33 MPH Fastest Naturally Aspirated - Vengeance Racing - C5 Corvette Z06 - Eddie Blackwell - 186.87 MPH - LS ALL MOTOR WORLD RECORD! PRIVATEER DIVISION: Fastest Overall Exotic/Import & AWD: Mike Willis - 2013 Nissan GT-R - 204.91 MPH Fastest Overall Domestic & Naturally Aspirated: Van Geibel - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro - 201.43 MPH Fastest Heavyweight - Vincenzo Miceli - 2014 Chevy SS - 163.16 MPH Fastest Manual - Chadwick Dickerson - 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 - 169.81 MPH Fastest 4-Door - Jeff Hagaman - 2011 Cadillac CTS-V - 190.35 MPH - CADILLAC CTS-V WORLD RECORD! Fastest RWD - Michael Menke - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette - 183.52 MPH FLORIDA 1/2 MILE SHOOTOUT - JANUARY 22, 2017 SUNDAY CLASS WINNERS! SPONSOR DIVISION: Fastest Overall Exotic/Import & AWD - Fastlane Import Auto Repair - Dallas Performance, LLC Built 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo - Jason Bergstrom - 211.46 MPH Fastest Overall Domestic & RWD - Lsxperts - C6 Chevrolet Corvette - Chris Abeln - 210.47 MPH - AMERICAN CORVETTE RECORD!! Fastest Heavyweight - Kooks Headers and Exhaust - 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 - George Kook. JR. - 175.37 MPH Fastest Manual - Fastlane Import Auto Repair - Dallas Performance, LLCBuilt 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo - John Lomant - 190.19 MPH Fastest 4-Door - Four Horsemen Racing - Cadillac CTS-V Wagon - Josh Spence - 174.96 MPH Fastest Naturally Aspirated - Burnyzz Speed Shop -2013 Dodge Viper - Peter Sessler - 157.89 MPH PRIVATEER DIVISION: Fastest Overall Exotic/Import & AWD: Mike Willis - 2013 Nissan GT-R - 205.47 MPH Fastest Overall Domestic & Naturally Aspirated: Van Giebel - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro - 202.15 MPH Fastest Heavyweight - Sinclair Risley - Chrysler 300C - 178.42 MPH Fastest Manual - David Espinosa - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette - 172.81 MPH Fastest 4-Door - Jeff Hagaman - 2011 Cadillac CTS-V - 182.18 MPH Fastest FWD: Michael Ficher - 2013 Volkswagen CC - 123.35 MPH Fastest RWD - Anthony Trabon - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette - 169.93 MPH Keep an eye out for more events at wannaGOFAST.com Learn MoreFerrari Enzo For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 20, 2017

Snowball Rally 2017

The road less traveled…Let’s face it, exotic and luxury car rallies are nothing new. The announcement of another rally may run the risk of becoming white noise in the already crowded automotive industry.Snowball Rally is here to completely change the game.Snowball Rally is the first winter driven exotic and luxury car rally. Yes, that’s right – winter driven. Imagine those pristine Lamborghini’s and McLaren’s you see on Instagram sitting idle, now take them out of the safety of their climate-controlled garages and mount them with snow tires.Participants will be traveling in the dead of winter through some the most severe winter climates the United States has to offer. The rally begins in snowy Lake Tahoe, then makes a quick stop in Las Vegas. Things will surely get interesting as the rally heads to Park City, Utah where drivers arrive in the middle of the Sundance Film Festival. The next day sees participants heading further east to Aspen, Colorado.If this doesn’t sound extreme enough, Snowball Rally also rented the Aspen Motorsports Park, where its drivers will get to experience a snow-covered race track over two days, each day ending at the ESPN Winter X-Games!The uniqueness of Snowball Rally doesn’t stop there. The participant list is as exceptional as the event itself. You can’t just write a check and show up – this rally is invite only. The list of participants includes YouTube heavy hitters with over 1.6 million combined subscribers.Snowball Rally has joined forces with some of the most influential social media alumni and automotive industry leaders, turning this exclusive event into a full force media powerhouse. Snowball Rally will surely be blowing up your news feed come January 2017.Learn More Sponsored by:GTCON @gtconCMFR Canada @cmfrcanadaProtective Film Solutions@protectivefilmsolutionsUS Specialty Vehicles @ussvrhinoSpeed Society @speedsocietyVorsteiner @vorsteiner

By Edward Jones – December 21, 2016

Over 300 Cars Show For 2016 South Florida Exotic Car "Toy...

Despite the rain, The 2016 South Florida Exotic Car "Toy Rally" has broken all of their previous records thanks to a phenomenal showing of charity, cars and support.Showing up were a long list of special exotic cars, including three Pagani For Sale and many other boutique exotic cars that, altogether, were valued at over $70 million. The cars started off at the home of the Florida Panthers, the BB&T Center. From here, the cars ventured down the road to create an automotive spectacle unlike any other, ultimately finishing at the Goodyear Airship Base, home of the Goodyear Blimp. An even more important showing than the cars was the 2,800 toys that were donated, along with over $55,000 in cash (still growing). Each year, this event is held to benefit the Toys for Tots charity and 100% of the proceeds go to this wonderful charity. For all of the toys, two moving trucks were used by the USMC to collect them. Now that the toys have been collected, they will be sent out directly to underprivileged children.According to the Toy Rally, they are the "largest single event donor to their local Toys for Tots USMC base" and this is the "largest procession of exotic cars for sale for charity in the country."For those interested in joining next year's event, be sure to visit ToyRally.com or email info@ToyRally.com.

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2016

SuperCar Week 2017

As we come up to the 7th Anniversary SuperCar Week January 7-15, 2017, the City of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County will again issue an official Proclamations proclaiming the second week of January as SuperCar Week.SuperCar Week is 9 days of auto enthusiast events held throughout Palm Beach County each January that culminates on the West Palm Beach Waterfront, the second Sunday of the month, 11 a - 5:30 p. Last year over 100,000 general public and 1000 VIPs attended SuperCar Week and this year, with the additional marketing support of the city and the county they're expecting over 125,000 general public attendance. SuperCar Week includes the SuperCar HorsePower exhibition, opening day of the International Polo Club season in Wellington, Florida, track events at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter and events in Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palm Beach Island and West Palm Beach.Click Here for Supercars For SaleOn Sunday January 15th, 2017, the one mile length of the West Palm Beach Waterfront is laid out as an auto enthusiast cityscape including designated areas for local and regional dealers/brands, SuperCar Street, Muscle Beach, Memory Lane, Green Street for Electrics, Corvette Court, Viper Blvd., ArtCar Ave., Marine Village for Off Shore PowerBoats, and the Race Village of Race Teams and displays of race vehicles.Learn More

By Edward Jones – December 06, 2016

wannaGOFAST Announces Second Exciting Florida 1/2 Mile Sh...

On November 12-13, 2016, over 280 cars gathered to race at the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport in Sulphur Springs, TX for wannaGOFAST's anticipated event. Low elevation and cool temps provided a backdrop for high-speed runs and world record attempts. This year was no exception, as Krazy House Customs' and Billy Ray Motorsports LLC's Cadillac CTS-V hit 185.18 mph to break a CTS-V world record. Additionally, Mowen of Vengeance Racing set the U.S. half-mile record in their C6 Corvette Z06 with a speed of 205.29. This event was a huge success with smiles and high-speed fun abound.Now, wannaGOFAST is proud to announce the Florida ½ Mile Shootout will be returning TWICE in 2017, both on January 21-22 and on October 28-29. This event is always held at the gigantic Jumbolair Airport in Ocala, FL. The runway is over 7500 ft long and provides a backdrop for racers to push their vehicles to incredibly high speeds. The track record is currently 233.88 MPH set by Underground Racing in a Twin Turbo Lamborghini Gallardo and they are looking forward to seeing that speed be replaced with something much faster in 2017. Last year almost 5,000 people were in attendance, making this their biggest event of 2016. Racing for the January event sold out in only 55 minutes. However, spectator tickets can be purchased at www.wannagofast.com and are unlimited!Registration for the October 28-29 event will open on July 28th at 8am Eastern Time at www.wannagofast.com.Learn More

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

2016 South Florida Exotic Car Toy Rally for Toys for Tots

On Saturday, December 10, 2016, the South Florida Exotic Car "Toy Rally" is setting off to benefit Toys for Tots and celebrating its 11-year anniversary. The Toy Rally will take the streets for charity with one of the largest processions of exotic cars as one of the most anticipated exotic car events in the country. Ferrari of Naples Hundreds of exotic cars will be driven from the fantastic BB&T Center, home of the Florida Panthers, up to the amazing Goodyear Airship Base, home of the Goodyear Blimp. Source - MPH ClubThe Toy Rally is looking to create an amazing sight as a caravan of exotic cars stretching miles long take over South Florida, all in the name of charity. It will surely be incredible to see, but even more incredible is the positive impact and difference the 2016 Toy Rally will make for children in need. Source - MPH ClubLast year, the 2015 Toy Rally broke some amazing records with over $50 million in exotic cars and record attendance and the insanely huge mountain of toys, which amounted to over 2,100 toys. Being combined with the toys was also over $33,000 in cash, all of which was donated to Toys for Tots. It's easy to say that this event not only put smiles on the faces of spectators and participants, but also hundreds of children. To learn how you can become a part of this incredible event, be sure to click the button below. Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – October 25, 2016

Excellerate Jax 2016 Recap: Supercars Take Over Jacksonville

In terms of the city limits, Jacksonville, Florida is the largest metropolis in the US. Many exotic cars are hidden across the 874 square miles, but North Florida isn't known for supercar culture. As a native, I can attest to the reserved nature among local car owners. Last year was the inaugural event for Excellerate Jax and it was a great success. For a potent encore, the organizers pulled a few strings with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for a 64-mile cruise around the city. Not my handwritingFriday night was host to a swanky hangar party at Malone AirCharter, located at Craig Municipal Airport. At the entry gate we were greeted by a Bentley Bentayga and Jaguar XJ220, so we knew it was going to be a fun evening. Brett David of Prestige Imports sent two Pagani Huayras which were placed next to a new McLaren 570S. John Temerian and his team from Curated had all hands on deck, with pristine examples of their inventory. Food and drink were catered by the Capital Grille, with stations on either side of a polished Lockheed Electra. We attend several events like this every season, but this was one of the best organized and well-attended shows we have seen. A sell-out crowd at $75 each is nothing trivial and the perfect weather made for a great evening.Supercars For Sale As a fundraiser for the Police Athletic League, Sheriff Mike Williams and the Florida Highway Patrol announced that Saturday morning would see a high-speed run around the city on Interstate 295. Malcolm Hogan is the publisher of Automotive Addicts, which is the host for Jacksonville's most popular Cars & Coffee show. As a gracious host, he allowed us to ride in his BMW 550i M Sport for the lap of the city. Leaving Craig Field, we jumped onto the highway and headed north. Over the Dames Point Bridge in a convoy of horsepower, the lap of Duval county was over in just a few minutes. The Sheriff had two helicopters at either end of the 12-mile convoy to make sure all on-ramps were closed, and it made for a safe & fun morning.The weekend went off without a hitch and, it helped raise a quarter-million dollars for the Police Athletic League. Assistant Chief Propper wrapped a new BMW M6 in Sheriff's Office colors and allowed us to tag it with several dR logos in strategic locations. A big thanks to Sam Sissine and Greg Leb for allowing us to be part of this year's event, so look forward to something even bigger for next year.Learn More

By Edward Jones – October 06, 2016

Restored Euro-Spec Ford GT40 Debuting at Atlanta Concours...

There are very few car owners in the world that can claim they have a piece of heritage that is a precursor to the first LeMans victory of an American brand over the iconic Ferrari racecar. Japanese businessman Minoru Aratani is part of a very small club that now owns one of the original Production GT40 MKI’s built by Ford Advanced Vehicles, Ltd., Great Britain in the 1960s -- and his vehicle will make its debut at the Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, October 8-9, at Château Èlan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Ga.., before heading off to its new homeland in Japan. Valued at $4 million, after a complete 100-point restoration, GT40P/1054 is one of 31 road coupes and 48 race coupes to grace the original UK program, and is one of the most original examples of the less than ten GT40 MKI road coupes that remain in the United States. According to Harry Krix, Chairman for the Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, it isn’t often a vehicle with such a distinct inspiration for racing provenance makes its way onto the Concours show field, and he’s thrilled that Mr. Aratani has chosen his vehicle’s U.S. debut at the inaugural Atlanta event. “When Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Team created the GT40 they had one goal in mind – beat Ferrari and win LeMans!” said Krix. And in fact, the GT40 in race trim went on to win the 24 hours of LeMans four consecutive times, from 1966 to 1969, including a 1-2-3 sweep in 1966. “Mr. Aratani holds the keys to a very special piece of history. The complete redeux he commissioned for his road-going version amplifies the essence and emotion of the victorious Ford GT40 race coupe that made history 50 years ago.” Equipped with the same engine as the race coupe, GT40P/1054 is a right-hand drive machine and boasts a high performance 289 cubic inch Ford engine, Weber carbs, ZF 5-speed transaxle, 180-degree exhaust system and Girling 4-wheel disc brakes. Mr. Aratani is the third owner of the car in 50 years, and commissioned Racingicons.com of Ocala, Florida, to complete a full renewal of this landmark vehicle. The showing in Atlanta will be the first and only public viewing since its extensive three-year restorative process. Currently painted factory Pine Green, GT40P/1054 holds its original matching number engine and transaxle, fiberglass clips, Borrani wire wheels, 50-year-old Goodyear Bluestreak tires, Autolite spark plug wires and Irvin seatbelts. Krix noted that the impressive GT40 is but one of a number of specialized vehicles that will be displayed at the Atlanta Concours, which happens to be the most recent competitive classic car show to join the ranks of the more than two dozen top Concours events throughout the United States. The Atlanta Concours is also the first to feature the Georgia-manufactured DeltaWing race cars and Panoz race and street cars among a field that will include more than 170 vehicle entrants, 40 sponsors and numerous vintage car collections and restoration programs. Panoz is the Premiere Sponsor for the Atlanta Concours, and pharmaceutical magnate and founder of Panoz Motor Sport Group, Don Panoz, will be the upcoming event’s honoree. While about 80 percent of the entrant vehicles have won awards in prior shows, the addition of cars from significant personal collections in the Southeast may be a stronger point of differentiation in creating a truly memorable weekend. Substantial sightings are expected to include: Among numerous Barn Finds, a pre-war seven-passenger 1932 Packard Phaeton -- one of the last to exist – as well as a 1967 Corvette coupe – found to have one owner, the original title, original keys, protect-o-plate, original manuals and a last known registration of 1973 Several vintage cars from the Elliott Museum in Jensen Beach, Florida, including a 1914 Packard touring car and a 1920 Hudson, each owned by Italian opera singer Enrico Caruso (one of the most famous opera tenors in history) Themed collections will play a large role within the Concours, including six historic Chevrolet vehicles belonging to Jim Collier, a 79-year-old native Georgian, whose 40-year collection began with and continues to be only Chevrolet, with vehicles ranging from a 1925 coupe to a 1972 Monte Carlo. Mr. Collier is one of the few African-American car collectors in the U.S. and has a remarkable assemblage of 30 Chevys currently residing at his storage facility. Throughout his lifetime he has owned a total of 60 cars of the ‘bowtie’ persuasion. For the Concours event, he’ll be displaying some of the rarest Chevy models to be found, including a ’32 Phaeton and a ’63 Corvette split window, as well as a ’59 Impala convertible (one of six ever made) and a true nut-and-bolt restoration that he personally completed. This Impala is an extremely rare factory 348 cubic inch, 320 horsepower version with a four-speed manual transmission. It is easily the best of its breed. All weekend, attendees can shop the Merchant Walkway featuring automotive industry and lifestyle vendors, visit sponsor and exhibitor tents and test drive modern luxury vehicles in the Ride and Drive experiences. In addition, the event will include novice and expert tech sessions highlighting various aspects of vehicle ownership, heritage and restoration. Tickets for the event are now on sale at atlantaconcours.org. Buy Tickets

By Edward Jones – August 26, 2016

The DeNovo Swiss Porsche Adventure

DeNovo watches, a new Italian-designed Swiss-made watch brand, is celebrating its launch in an epic convoy of 20 Porsche Carrera Convertible 911s through the heart of classic Europe.The self-driving journey, in collaboration with Porsche Travel, will start in Germany and continue into Switzerland, Italy and Austria. For 4 days and 3 nights the participating drivers will enjoy the world renowned Autobahns and drive through some of the most gorgeous passes, taking in the breathtaking views of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Each day of the adventure will be filled with world class driving, and in the evenings the drivers will relax and dine in gourmet restaurants and luxurious hotels.This unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime journey was custom-tailored for DeNovo by Porsche Travel. Their professional team planned and will lead the convoy through the breathtaking routes and will provide all the required logistics assistance to the guest-drivers and their cars.DeNovo invites you to explore the DeNovo Swiss watch line and learn more about this exciting DeNovo-Porsche launch, which will take place in September. To learn more or sign up, click the button below or visit DeNovoSwiss.com. Join the Adventure

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