price increase
Discussion
JockySteer said:
ecain63 said:
I haven't read all 3 pages of posts ref the price increase at vmax. I have seen all of page 1 and I've read both sides of the cost argument. I don't know how many of you attended the event last year, but for those who didn't, here is my angle on things.
Now, I'm not Cyril, I'm not the guy at the bottom in his Evo and I don't think I'm even the guy in the middle. I'm just into cars, and that's what makes me spend my money on an event like this. I was lucky enough to get a last minute slot for Hypermax last May and although it cost me circa £400 plus costs I felt it was just about worth the money for somebody at my level. I took my modified A45 AMG. It was run against a La Ferrai, an Aventador, 918 and Hirracan to name a few. Of course I got nowhere near the trap speeds of the elite but that didn't matter. Where else can you line up against a 918 and floor it for 1.44 miles? Where else can you pull up along side the owner of the 918 after the run, shake hands and be offered a passenger ride at 200mph+? That's the thing with Vmax.
Although it is crammed with some of the wealthiest and maddest / most eccentric people in the UK it's also home to some of the most hardcore petrolheads in the country. Somebody said that Cyril didn't know much about his 918. I bet you that's not true. Cyril wouldn't take his 918 to the track if he was anything other than a petrolhead. Those who buy cars and tuck them away in private collections usually know nothing more than the price they paid and the price they'll be worth in a few year. The Vmax attendees are only interested in satisfying a desire to vent steam after time spent in the office earning money. Isn't that what we do at our level too? You can bet your bottom dollar Cyril probably owns an Evo 6 anyway so he'll be fully aware of the love that is needed to keep it working.
At Vmax, the real money guys are pretty much all more than happy to chat and mingle with the regular guys in the Toyota's, Audi's, Merc and BM's. They'll ask about the Evos and the Ultimas and the other sheds at the track because they know the owner wouldn't be spending the money and running the strip if it wasn't an interesting car to own and drive. Some of the regular Joe's are a bit unnerved by the big money boys but experience tells me that they are approachable and usually happy to take any old person down the runway at full chat. My passengers last year experienced an SLR722, a GT40 and other stuff, some at 180+mph. I had people queuing to jump in the A45 too which was surprising.
The only group in my experience that doesn't mix is the Arab contingent but that's up to them. The mentality of self made money vs family money / oil money at vmax is very obvious.
The only reservation I had about Vmax was the requirement to buy your own food at the event. For the outlay I feel a good lunch should be provided FoC and not made an opportunity to fund an overpriced hog roast. But that's just my opinion. For some the day out will cost £1000+ covering everything from entry to fuel and parts. Some possibly much, much more. I spent over £600 last year on entry and fuel, and a requirement for new pads after the event. When I attend this year in the C63 I expect to add a couple of hundred notes to that.
Anyway, I believe (awaiting Craig's paperwork) that I'll be attending in April for Stealth. Hopefully the weather will play ball again.
If anyone here is going please do come say hi to the guy in the red C63. I'll be more than happy to take you for a run down the strip in exchange for a handshake and a nose around whatever you decide to bring.
Eddie (was green A45 last year. Ran 168mph)
I'll be there on the 9th as a spectator and will definitely be looking out for you in that case! Now, I'm not Cyril, I'm not the guy at the bottom in his Evo and I don't think I'm even the guy in the middle. I'm just into cars, and that's what makes me spend my money on an event like this. I was lucky enough to get a last minute slot for Hypermax last May and although it cost me circa £400 plus costs I felt it was just about worth the money for somebody at my level. I took my modified A45 AMG. It was run against a La Ferrai, an Aventador, 918 and Hirracan to name a few. Of course I got nowhere near the trap speeds of the elite but that didn't matter. Where else can you line up against a 918 and floor it for 1.44 miles? Where else can you pull up along side the owner of the 918 after the run, shake hands and be offered a passenger ride at 200mph+? That's the thing with Vmax.
Although it is crammed with some of the wealthiest and maddest / most eccentric people in the UK it's also home to some of the most hardcore petrolheads in the country. Somebody said that Cyril didn't know much about his 918. I bet you that's not true. Cyril wouldn't take his 918 to the track if he was anything other than a petrolhead. Those who buy cars and tuck them away in private collections usually know nothing more than the price they paid and the price they'll be worth in a few year. The Vmax attendees are only interested in satisfying a desire to vent steam after time spent in the office earning money. Isn't that what we do at our level too? You can bet your bottom dollar Cyril probably owns an Evo 6 anyway so he'll be fully aware of the love that is needed to keep it working.
At Vmax, the real money guys are pretty much all more than happy to chat and mingle with the regular guys in the Toyota's, Audi's, Merc and BM's. They'll ask about the Evos and the Ultimas and the other sheds at the track because they know the owner wouldn't be spending the money and running the strip if it wasn't an interesting car to own and drive. Some of the regular Joe's are a bit unnerved by the big money boys but experience tells me that they are approachable and usually happy to take any old person down the runway at full chat. My passengers last year experienced an SLR722, a GT40 and other stuff, some at 180+mph. I had people queuing to jump in the A45 too which was surprising.
The only group in my experience that doesn't mix is the Arab contingent but that's up to them. The mentality of self made money vs family money / oil money at vmax is very obvious.
The only reservation I had about Vmax was the requirement to buy your own food at the event. For the outlay I feel a good lunch should be provided FoC and not made an opportunity to fund an overpriced hog roast. But that's just my opinion. For some the day out will cost £1000+ covering everything from entry to fuel and parts. Some possibly much, much more. I spent over £600 last year on entry and fuel, and a requirement for new pads after the event. When I attend this year in the C63 I expect to add a couple of hundred notes to that.
Anyway, I believe (awaiting Craig's paperwork) that I'll be attending in April for Stealth. Hopefully the weather will play ball again.
If anyone here is going please do come say hi to the guy in the red C63. I'll be more than happy to take you for a run down the strip in exchange for a handshake and a nose around whatever you decide to bring.
Eddie (was green A45 last year. Ran 168mph)
Slight thread resurrection.
I see the latest VMAX was last weekend on the 25th but since then there's been no topics or comments posted about it at all on PH.
In the 'good old days' there would be comments posted straight after the event with people sharing their experiences, what cars they ran against, which ones they beat, which cars beat them, thanking others for passenger rides, top speed tables, photo threads etc, etc.
This doesn't happen anymore which is a shame. Seems like there are very few 'PH types' who go to VMAX anymore sadly.
I see the latest VMAX was last weekend on the 25th but since then there's been no topics or comments posted about it at all on PH.
In the 'good old days' there would be comments posted straight after the event with people sharing their experiences, what cars they ran against, which ones they beat, which cars beat them, thanking others for passenger rides, top speed tables, photo threads etc, etc.
This doesn't happen anymore which is a shame. Seems like there are very few 'PH types' who go to VMAX anymore sadly.
Davey S2 said:
Slight thread resurrection.
I see the latest VMAX was last weekend on the 25th but since then there's been no topics or comments posted about it at all on PH.
In the 'good old days' there would be comments posted straight after the event with people sharing their experiences, what cars they ran against, which ones they beat, which cars beat them, thanking others for passenger rides, top speed tables, photo threads etc, etc.
This doesn't happen anymore which is a shame. Seems like there are very few 'PH types' who go to VMAX anymore sadly.
I thought that the other day as well. I think a lot (all?) of PH types as you say have decided it's no longer for them.I see the latest VMAX was last weekend on the 25th but since then there's been no topics or comments posted about it at all on PH.
In the 'good old days' there would be comments posted straight after the event with people sharing their experiences, what cars they ran against, which ones they beat, which cars beat them, thanking others for passenger rides, top speed tables, photo threads etc, etc.
This doesn't happen anymore which is a shame. Seems like there are very few 'PH types' who go to VMAX anymore sadly.
I went on Saturday and had a great time apart from a couple of minor issues with my car. There was some amazing machinery in attendance. I have put a couple of photos and videos in my build over in readers cars.
I got to race against
Nissan GTR – Loss
2x Audi RS6 – Loss
BMW M5 – Loss (was winning for about 20 seconds before a coil pack went)
Porsche 996 (I think) – Win
Audi S3 – Win (although the Audi had driver + 2 passengers)
My official top speed was 163 which I’m a bit disappointed with as at previous Vmax I got 171, I think the lower top speed was due to the headwind which was blowing on the day.
Also the track has changed as previously the start was on a road that ran parallel with the runway which allowed the cars to enter the runway carrying 50mph or more (depending on how brave the driver is). Now the start is at the bottom of the runway giving just over a mile to accelerate.
There are a few videos slowly appearing on youtube, I’m hoping there will be more, as there were loads of people who just appeared to be there to take pictures and videos. There was a professional looking film crew with drones etc so hopefully they’ll put some official videos up soon.
I’m hoping there will be some footage of my car launching, as I really want to see/hear what it sounds like from the outside.
Compared to previous events, the facilities are much improved. They now lay on proper toilets with hot and cold ruining water, there is good catering selling the usual burgers, pulled pork rolls etc but allot nice than before. There is also a marquee so there is somewhere sheltered to sit and watch TV’s showing the cars going down the track.
I got to race against
Nissan GTR – Loss
2x Audi RS6 – Loss
BMW M5 – Loss (was winning for about 20 seconds before a coil pack went)
Porsche 996 (I think) – Win
Audi S3 – Win (although the Audi had driver + 2 passengers)
My official top speed was 163 which I’m a bit disappointed with as at previous Vmax I got 171, I think the lower top speed was due to the headwind which was blowing on the day.
Also the track has changed as previously the start was on a road that ran parallel with the runway which allowed the cars to enter the runway carrying 50mph or more (depending on how brave the driver is). Now the start is at the bottom of the runway giving just over a mile to accelerate.
There are a few videos slowly appearing on youtube, I’m hoping there will be more, as there were loads of people who just appeared to be there to take pictures and videos. There was a professional looking film crew with drones etc so hopefully they’ll put some official videos up soon.
I’m hoping there will be some footage of my car launching, as I really want to see/hear what it sounds like from the outside.
Compared to previous events, the facilities are much improved. They now lay on proper toilets with hot and cold ruining water, there is good catering selling the usual burgers, pulled pork rolls etc but allot nice than before. There is also a marquee so there is somewhere sheltered to sit and watch TV’s showing the cars going down the track.
Blue32 said:
I Also the track has changed as previously the start was on a road that ran parallel with the runway which allowed the cars to enter the runway carrying 50mph or more (depending on how brave the driver is). Now the start is at the bottom of the runway giving just over a mile to accelerate.
On several past VMAX meetings people found virtually no difference to top speed between driving round the bottom corner onto the main straight and a standing start from the main runway itself.Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff