3 Hours with Ron Dennis & a broken Maser

3 Hours with Ron Dennis & a broken Maser

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Devonboy

Original Poster:

138 posts

153 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
Up early this morning and off to see the Mclaren Technology centre - in the wife's BMW as the GTS is back with HR Owen for the 4th time in 3000 miles. Words can not express my displeasure at arriving in a BMW 520d!

I hadnt realised that I had been invited as a result of a charity auction in aid of the School (for which he is clealry and advocate) that his daughter attends. His genorosity in his time was incredible, over three hours we saw the F1 area, he took us onto the assembely line of the MP4-12C - which is an incredbly calm place, currently producing 10 cars a day and he confirmed that there will be a spyder in October and even more interesting is that they are 5 more models in design including a car that will sell for around £100k and blow all the competition away - due 2015 - and this is Maser territory amongst others. The attention to detail goes beyond obessive.

We also inadvertently heard not only the time of todays best laps in F1 practice, but also the fuel load, my lips are sealed as requested, but it looks encouraging for the season ahead.

Over lunch Ron answered all but one of the questions asked (the one that touched on Lewis's frame of mind) but all other questions were answered very candidly.

What a day!

Stephen

CRA1G

6,594 posts

197 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
jj12345 said:
£100k Macca - me like!
Where do I sign.........cloud9

cgt2

7,109 posts

190 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
Well done, have been lucky enough to visit there twice, absolutely amazing experiences.

A lot of critics would think twice if they saw how the place operates and like you, I found it much more friendly and welcoming than people think. Like him or loathe him, Ron has achieved some amazing things in his life and MTC is a testament to that.

JazzyO

1,125 posts

183 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a great day! Lucky you.


Onno

mattdaniels

7,353 posts

284 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a fantastic day out. Very jealous. I was lucky to spend some time poking and prodding an MP4 12-C this week, it is an incredible car.

supersport

4,082 posts

229 months

Friday 24th February 2012
quotequote all
cgt2 said:
Well done, have been lucky enough to visit there twice, absolutely amazing experiences.

A lot of critics would think twice if they saw how the place operates and like you, I found it much more friendly and welcoming than people think. Like him or loathe him, Ron has achieved some amazing things in his life and MTC is a testament to that.
Especially when you consider that started off as a humble mechanic and worked his way up.

Conaero

86 posts

267 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
quotequote all
Devonboy said:
Up early this morning and off to see the Mclaren Technology centre - in the wife's BMW as the GTS is back with HR Owen for the 4th time in 3000 miles. Words can not express my displeasure at arriving in a BMW 520d!

I hadnt realised that I had been invited as a result of a charity auction in aid of the School (for which he is clealry and advocate) that his daughter attends. His genorosity in his time was incredible, over three hours we saw the F1 area, he took us onto the assembely line of the MP4-12C - which is an incredbly calm place, currently producing 10 cars a day and he confirmed that there will be a spyder in October and even more interesting is that they are 5 more models in design including a car that will sell for around £100k and blow all the competition away - due 2015 - and this is Maser territory amongst others. The attention to detail goes beyond obessive.

We also inadvertently heard not only the time of todays best laps in F1 practice, but also the fuel load, my lips are sealed as requested, but it looks encouraging for the season ahead.

Over lunch Ron answered all but one of the questions asked (the one that touched on Lewis's frame of mind) but all other questions were answered very candidly.

What a day!

Stephen
So Stephen, what issues have you been having? Mines been good so far with the exception of the parking sensors packing up. I have heard of only one other issue really and that was a gearbox and diff that went pop at 20k miles. Luckily the guy had an extended warranty.

Pork

9,453 posts

236 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
quotequote all
Conaero said:
So Stephen, what issues have you been having? Mines been good so far with the exception of the parking sensors packing up. I have heard of only one other issue really and that was a gearbox and diff that went pop at 20k miles. Luckily the guy had an extended warranty.
I too would be interested in this - I thought the GT-S was considered to be pretty bulletproof. Are they niggly problems, something recurring or bigger issues?