London 'Supercar scene'

[TimLambert7]

Does anyone else find the whole London Supercar spotter thing completely bizarre?

It strikes me as a big gang of video camera wielding sycophants chasing desperate attention seeking show-offs who drive (largely) like fecking idiots around the nations capital. Don't get me wrong, supercars are great; but why buy the most flash car possible, stick a god awful wrap on it and spend weeks at a time doing 0-30-0. They're clearly wealthy, why aren't they doing endless track days and driving holidays through Europe?

The Aventador crash video pushed me over the edge. He was clearly going too fast, yet there were hundreds of keyboard wielding 15 year olds screaming at anyone who dared to suggest that perhaps, just maybe he was partly to blame. It seems like every man and his dog is taking their dad's camera to London for the day, taking a few videos of Aventadors nearly flattening cyclists and starting a 'channel'.

I gather there are a few guys on here, Shmee in particular, that are notorious 'car spotters' and I'd be interested to hear their take on it and why they think it's a force for good. I follow Shmee on Instagram and have enjoyed the recent pictures of his tour across Europe and I gather he is a really nice bloke, so please don't feel like this is a personal attack on any individual/s.


p.s I gather there is a youtube channel that goes by a very similar name to this thread title. This is by no means aimed directly at this person/channel and just happens to have a similar name.

Edited by TimLambert7 on Wednesday 23 April 20:43

[zeduffman]

Maybe they enjoy it?

I expect some are trying to be the next Shmee but he was one of the first and puts in a tonne of effort behind the scenes. Others just enjoy cars/photography and central London is where you're guaranteed to see something tasty.

I do agree it is a bit odd to see another 20 spotters in every video but if they're enjoying themselves and staying out of trouble, I don't see what the problem is.

[TimLambert7]

zeduffman said:

I do agree it is a bit odd to see another 20 spotters in every video but if they're enjoying themselves and staying out of trouble, I don't see what the problem is.

I think my issue lies more with the people driving the cars than the 'spotters'. Perhaps I came over a bit strong in my original post.

The drivers, they're hardly staying out of trouble are they.

[zeduffman]

TimLambert7 said:

I think my issue lies more with the people driving the cars than the 'spotters'. Perhaps I came over a bit strong in my original post.

The drivers, they're hardly staying out of trouble are they.

I agree on the drivers, there are plenty of decent roads just outside London.

[aspirated]

Because risch middle-easters. Well, 90% anyway. The only thing they give a crap about is having the most flashiest, shouty, head-turning car, they should not be confused for car enthusiasts

[storminnorman]

zeduffman said:

Maybe they enjoy it?

I don't understand what there is to enjoy, yes, you're going to see something flash, and then you're going to see it again, and again, and again.
Have a look at the supercars spotted thread here - it's not long before you find yourself regularly scrolling past the 458s, aventadors et al. Even the chaps who post the same cars from Hong Kong and Tokyo are more interesting to look at than the London selections.

It is bizarre. For £10 you could find yourself in a county motorshow where you'll see all manner of cars, some of which you would never find out and about.

[Joeguard1990]

Exigepete is right. It's because they are bought to show off in and not for how they drive around a track. Hence why most of them do look ridiculously blinged up to catch your eye. This also makes it easier for the spotters video recording because they actually get to record footage off the car rather than video it going around one bend of a track very fast.
I'm a fan of both, I love watching cars perform but then I love watching them up close and slow moving too.

[sleep envy]

The Crack Fox said:

There's only one thing more tiresome than a nouveau riche supercar show off and that's someone taking wobbly camera phone videos of them and posting it online for kids to wk over.

There's more to life, chaps.

/grumpy old bleeder

Unless it buys you a mp4-12c.

[tomtom]

I can't imagine anything worse than deliberately driving a 'supercar' through central London. I can't wait to get out onto some proper roads!

[storminnorman]

sleep envy said:

Unless it buys you a mp4-12c.

I believe the man in question already explained youtube is not his sole source of income

[TimLambert7]

Joeguard1990 said:

Exigepete is right. It's because they are bought to show off in and not for how they drive around a track. Hence why most of them do look ridiculously blinged up to catch your eye. This also makes it easier for the spotters video recording because they actually get to record footage off the car rather than video it going around one bend of a track very fast.
I'm a fan of both, I love watching cars perform but then I love watching them up close and slow moving too.

But think of it from the owners' side; what do you enjoy doing in your car, driving through city centres or driving on open roads or race tracks? Why are they doing it.

[whoami]

storminnorman said:

sleep envy said:

Unless it buys you a mp4-12c.

I believe the man in question already explained youtube is not his sole source of income

Several times...

[sleep envy]

whoami said:

storminnorman said:

sleep envy said:

Unless it buys you a mp4-12c.

I believe the man in question already explained youtube is not his sole source of income

Several times...

Apologies, I don't hang on his every word.

[whoami]

sleep envy said:

whoami said:

storminnorman said:

sleep envy said:

Unless it buys you a mp4-12c.

I believe the man in question already explained youtube is not his sole source of income

Several times...

Apologies, I don't hang on his every word.

Well you damn well should.

[Tickle]

Yes, I find it strange. I hate driving in any city. I would imagine driving a supercar round a city is a PITA to be honest; low, rubbish tuning circle, bad visibility and constant traffic.

As mentioned, these people must have the money to go one some serious road trips around the best roads. Unless the cars (or the drivers) are powered on attention and I-phone flashes I don't understand why they are used on busy 30mph roads.

[Fantuzzi]

How sweet, you think people who buy supercars are all petrolheads!

If you are looking for a car and you earn X millions you aren't going to buy a focus are you?

[Mastodon2]

TimLambert7 said:

But think of it from the owners' side; what do you enjoy doing in your car, driving through city centres or driving on open roads or race tracks? Why are they doing it.

What do you think is more important to them though, driving the car, or being seen driving the car?

[TimLambert7]

Mastodon2 said:

TimLambert7 said:

But think of it from the owners' side; what do you enjoy doing in your car, driving through city centres or driving on open roads or race tracks? Why are they doing it.

What do you think is more important to them though, driving the car, or being seen driving the car?

Yes of course, this is obvious. I'm just completely baffled by it and how big it's become.

[hondansx]

I rarely post comments on YouTube videos, because those who partake to tend make a Haldex argument on PH look like a tea party. However, i was compelled to comment on Schmee's video of the Aventador crash.

My issue is this: the owners of such cars do it for the attention. Without anyone there to take notice, they wouldn't take such risks. It's therefore a vicious circle, and the ugly side of it just being "enthusiasts enjoying cars" is that there is money involved - cue the reference of Schmee now owning a McLaren.

I would normally say good luck to such a chap, but seeing the link between CRASH! and YouTube hits racking up removed the innocent element for me. Someday, someone could quite easily die as a result of that kind of driving in the middle of London, and like it or not, those who video these ridiculous performances fuel them are part of the chain of events. Sure would get a lot of hits if you got it on camera though...

[liller]

Someone online made a load of cash doing it, word got around, now loads of people want a slice of the action. Becoming a forum legend or an Internet sensation is all the rage these days.