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 Edward Jones – June 18, 2021

Mecum Tulsa Auction Brings In $21 Million in Sales

Mecum’s inaugural Tulsa collector car auction was a resounding success. The results are in for the inaugural Mecum Tulsa and they point to nothing less than it being a success. After the 660 cars crossed the auction block, 539 were sold for an impressive sell-through rate of about 82%. Overall total sales reached $21.2 million, as well. Interestingly enough, the top three sellers were all Ford GTs from 2005 and 2006. Mecum also offered the Elkin Brothers Collection, which consisted of 14 vehicles. This collection had sold for a total of more than $1.14 million. You can view the top 10 sales from the event down below. 2006 Ford GT (Lot S115.1) at $330,000 2005 Ford GT (Lot S105) at $302,500 2006 Ford GT (Lot S130.1) at $280,500 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code (Lot S141) at $203,500 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe (Lot S168) at $176,000 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special Fastback (Lot S141) at $165,000 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van (Lot F168) at $159,500 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S197) at $159,500 2010 Ferrari California Convertible (Lot S38) at $143,000 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda (Lot S117) at $132,000 Source: Mecum Auctions

By Edward Jones – June 16, 2021

RM Sotheby's Milan Auction Results: Famous Ferrari is Top...

RM Sotheby's first-ever Milan auction proves to be a resounding success. The results are now in from RM Sotheby's Milan auction, their first live event in Europe for quite some time. The total in sales from the 19 lot event was a very remarkable €11,635,000 (~$14,000,000). Leading the sales was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis #08641, that was purchased from Roger Vadim in 1966 and eventually owned by his wife, Jane Fonda. Another very notable result was that of a 1988 Lamborghini LM002. This Lamborghini SUV sold for €393,125 (~$473,000), which was a world record price for an LM002. You can view the top 10 results down below. Top 10 Sales Lot 110 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB €2,255,000 (~$2,715,000) Lot 117 2000 Ferrari 550 GT1 €1,805,000 (~$2,173,000) Lot 116 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso €1,478,750 (~$2,715,000) Lot 114 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster €1,051,250 (~$1,780,000) Lot 118 2004 Koenigsegg CCR €798,125 (~$960,900) Lot 119 1996 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI ITC €792,500 (~$954,000) Lot 111 1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d'Este Coupé €640,625 (~$771,000) Lot 113 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé 'Superprofilée' €545,000 (~$656,000) Lot 112 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series III €466,250 (~$561,000) Lot 108 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II €455,000 (~$547,000) Source: RM Sotheby's

By Edward Jones – June 15, 2021

Caffeine and Octane Partners With Jacksonville Car Culture

An exciting partnership to relaunch the North Florida monthly car show. It has just been announced that Caffeine and Octane, the brand behind North America's largest monthly car show in Dunwoody, Georgia and the "Caffeine and Octane" television show on NBC Sports Network, will be partnering with Jackson Car Culture, host of the Jacksonville Cars & Coffee event. This new partnership will start with the inaugural Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville event on Saturday, July 10th at The Avenues Mall in (10300 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256). This event will celebrate local and national military vehicles with a dedicated parking and display area, similar to Caffeine and Octane's July 2021 event in Georgia. You can learn more about this event by clicking the button below to visit FirstCoastCarCulture.com. Learn More Source: First Coast Car Culture, Featured Image Source: Deremer Studios LLC

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2021

Concorso Ferrari & Friends: Honoring Connecticut Children...

Presented by Concorso Ferrari & Friends - The Farmington Polo Grounds is the perfect venue for Southern New England's signature automobile event in support of Connecticut Children’s. Join us for a 100% open-air car show where spectators can view all makes and models of luxury Italian automobiles and supercars, listen to driver interviews, enjoy delicious food truck fare and cheer on our Healthcare Heroes Parade as they arrive on the grounds. This year's Concorso Ferrari & Friends parade will honor Connecticut Children's Healthcare Heroes who have gone above and beyond to keep our patients safe. Please join us at 10AM to celebrate the arrival of Connecticut Children's Healthcare Heroes. We are excited to honor these individuals, who were nominated by their colleagues, for this first-ever, once-in-a-lifetime experience for team members. Proceeds from this year's celebration will support the Greatest Need Children's Fund at Connecticut Children's. The Greatest Need Children’s Fund ensures children of all ages have the resources they need to get better and get back to the important business of being kids. Learn More About Connecticut Children’s: Connecticut Children’s is a nationally recognized, 187-bed not-for-profit children’s hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, we foster a patient- and family-centered environment with a focus on research, education and advocacy. Connecticut Children’s serves as the primary pediatric teaching hospital for the UConn School of Medicine, has a teaching partnership with the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University and is a research partner of The Jackson Laboratory. Connecticut Children’s welcomes, cares for and protects all children who walk through our doors. We are an institution of acceptance and compassion regardless of nationality or immigration status. History The history of Connecticut Children’s spans more than 100 years. Founded as a 10-bed hospital for children who suffered incurable conditions like cerebral palsy, spina bifida and polio, Connecticut Children’s is now one of only two freestanding children’s hospitals in New England and the only freestanding children’s hospital in Connecticut. Specialties With a medical staff of more than 1,000 practicing in more than 30 specialties, Connecticut Children’s is a tertiary referral center that provides outstanding care to children of all ages affected by a wide range of conditions. Our Not-For-Profit Status Connecticut Children’s is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. As a not-for-profit organization, all of our stakeholders benefit from Connecticut Children’s accomplishments. Children across the state benefit from our support for community initiatives to keep children safer and healthier. Academic medical professionals are supported in their pursuit of discovery through research. Community-based pediatric health care providers receive the guidance and support they need from our multi-specialty experts. All of Connecticut Children’s resources are put towards supporting our mission to improve the physical and emotional health of all children.

By Edward Jones – May 25, 2021

RM Sotheby's Records Over $42 Million in Sales at Amelia ...

Classics reined supreme at the RM Sotheby's 2021 Amelia Island event. The much-anticipated RM Sotheby's 2021 Amelia Island event has come and gone, but not without recording incredible numbers. The single-day auction had sales totaling $42,174,340 with a sell-through rate of an astonishing 95.28 percent. The biggest seller was a beautiful 1929 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Torpedo Convertible Coupe by Murphy that's actually one of two built with polished and brushed bare aluminum coachwork and the sole remaining example in existence. You can view the top 10 sales from the event down below. RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2021 Top Ten Sales 10. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - $923,500 9. 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra - $967,500 8. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - $1,182,000 7. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet SII - $1,490,000 6. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster - $1,600,000 5. 1992 Ferrari F40 - $2,040,000 4. 1971 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 Daytona Spider - $2,452,500 3. 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - $2,810,000 2. 1995 Ferrari F50 - $3,772,500 1. 1929 Model J 'Disappearing Top' Torpedo - $5,725,000 Source: RM Sotheby's " width="680">

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 24, 2021

2021 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Recap

A weekend filled with automotive excellence. The 26th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance took place this past weekend in Amelia Island, Florida with an anticipated crowd in attendance to display some of the world’s most coveted and exclusive automobiles. The automotive action-packed weekend began with cars and coffee events, various auctions from RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams, as well as the Porsche-focused Werks Reunion car show. Throughout the day, continuous news of multi-million dollar vehicles like the 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and 1929 Duesenberg Model J sales electrified the crowd. Along with high-dollar auction sales, Hennessey Performance was on-site to unveil its new Venom F5 hypercar. Although the formal attention of the event was inside the auction room, outside on the streets of Amelia Island, supercars and hypercars of all kinds commuted through the winding backroads. Around the duPont REGISTRY spectator area, spectacular examples from Specialty Vehicle Engineering, Combat Motors, Vanderhall, Overfinch, Hanania Exotics, and Executive Coach Builders. Along with automotive displays, brands like Luxury Lease Partners, Oxford Cigar Co., EPIC Cigars, Medford Knives, and Metron Garage were on-site to highlight their luxury products. Perfectly placed throughout the breathtaking landscape of the Ritz-Carlton were museum-grade examples such as VIN 001 Ferrari F50 represented by the team at CURATED, as well as countless others brought by owners and dealers from all around the world. Period correct apparel and accessories littered the field, giving spectators a close look as to how life was during the times when these vehicles were being rolled off the production floor for the first time. The 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance concluded with a generous award ceremony, giving each winning participant the opportunity to drive their vehicle through the field for all to capture the moment. As a refreshing look towards the future of luxury automotive events, we are counting down the days to next year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. For more Event news, Check out Holman Motorcars Makes a Dream Come True With New “Aston Martin” Wheelchair

By Edward Jones – May 17, 2021

Mecum Auctions is Now Accepting Bitcoin, Dogecoin and More

Pick up a new car before your trip to the moon. Mecum Auctions has just announced that they will be able to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payments through BitPay. This means that during the auction settle process bidders will be able to pay for their collector car purchases with cryptocurrency. “We recognize the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency for commerce and are confident that by accepting crypto for collector cars, it will widen our scope of influence and introduce the Mecum Experience to an entirely new audience,” said Mecum Auctions Chief Operating Officer Sam Murtaugh. “BitPay provides a powerful, streamlined process that makes crypto transactions simple for both our customers and our accounting team.” Cryptocurrencies that will be accepted include Bitcoin (BTC), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE) and stablecoins USD Coin (USDC), Dai (DAI), Gemini Dollar (GUSD), Paxos Standard (PAX) and Binance USD (BUSD). Yes, even Dogecoin will be accepted. That means you can use your Dogecoin during the upcoming Spring Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana, which runs May 14-22. View Current Mecum Car Listings

By Edward Jones – May 05, 2021

Join the Graham Rahal Performance Track Series 2021

Presented by Graham Rahal Performance - Join Graham Rahal Performance (GRP) for its inaugural track series visiting prestigious tracks east of the Mississippi throughout 2021. This track series will provide one-on-one driving instruction from professional racecar driver Graham Rahal, valuable track-time and service discounts from GRP. No track experience is required! Those interested can purchase single event packages for $1,200. For those interested in multiple events, please contact GRP directly for pricing information. THE TRACKS 5.3.2021 - Autobahn Country Club #1Joliet, IL5.10.2021 - Pittsburgh International Race ComplexWampum, PA7.5.2021 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, OH7.12.2021 - Road AtlantaBraselton, GA8.9.2021 - National Corvette MuseumBowling Green, KY8.23.2021 - Autobahn Country Club #2Joliet, IL10.02.2021 - GingerMan RacewaySouth Haven, MI10.18.2021 - Road AmericaPlymouth, WI11.1.2021 - Barber Motorsports ParkLeeds, AL FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email: trackseries@grahamrahalperformance.comPhone: 317-286-3552 Register Now Graham Rahal Performance

By Andrew Nabors – April 28, 2021

Formula 1 To Be Featured at Goodwood

Five teams have already committed Every year we are taken aback by the cars invited to Goodwood. The Duke of Richmond and his family are noble car enthusiasts, and as such, Formula 1 is this year's focus. “The glamour and spectacle of Formula 1 has become an intrinsic part of the Festival of Speed with so many legendary teams, drivers and cars attending over the years. We can’t wait to once again hear and see the cars running in anger up the Hill, delighting the fans as only Grand Prix winners can.” This year's Goodwood Festival of Speed is presented by Mastercard. So far, the weekend will see British Grand Prix, the McLaren F1 Team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Red Bull Racing Honda, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow, and Williams Racing. The weekend of July 8th will see old classics along with the latest in motorsports. Stay with us for complete coverage of the festivities. Images (C) Nigel Harniman

By Edward Jones – April 26, 2021

Over 1,000 Cars Turned Up At The First Annual "The Vault ...

When JD Pass sat down with his staff to discuss holding a completely free car show of his own, there was initially some hesitation. Little did they know that he was about to create a new Southeastern tradition. TheVaultMS.com ‘s 390 Car Show was a massive event that helped in solidifying The Vault as the premiere automotive hub of the southern region. With over 1,000 cars and 5,000 spectators from across the Southeast, food vendors, and even monster trucks, The Vault brought down the house with their inaugural event. Individuals and car clubs alike showed up to compete for fifty trophies for their custom automobiles. It wasn’t just a gear heads paradise but an awesome time for families as well. Children were not just delighted by the site of really cool cars, they also got a chance to meet the Easter Bunny courtesy of the global online auction platform, SonicBidder.com. They also got the chance to ride the aforementioned monster trucks and compete in a bicycle race for prizes. The highlight by far were appearances from Discovery Channel stars; Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage and Dennis and Kelsey Collins of Collins Bros Jeeps. Many people showed up to talk to and get autographs from their favorite auto-stars. This wasn’t a paid gig either as Pass, Rawlings, and Collins have been friends for many years. The three got to enjoy time together amongst fans and supporters for an amazing day of food, fun, and automotive showmanship. With the success of TheVaultMS.com ‘s 390 Car Show, plans and consideration are already underway for the next year’s event. No matter who or what shows up in Jackson in 2022, one thing’s for sure. TheVaultMS.com's 390 Car Show is a fantastic, family, free event that will be well worth it to travel to whether you’re a seasoned car enthusiast or a casual observer looking for a great time! View The Vault's Inventory

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