An encounter with Chris Harris and a McLaren P1 in Snowdonia

An encounter with Chris Harris and a McLaren P1 in Snowdonia

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ss1977

Original Poster:

88 posts

184 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
There we were driving through Snowdonia at the start of a week-long break when, in the fading light, we come across none other than Chris Harris and Neil Carey shooting a review of the McLaren P1 for the Chris Harris on Cars YouTube channel. So we stop, I get out and go up to Chris just to say I’m big fan of his work etc… and he then kindly offers to take me out for a passenger ride once they finish shooting! Wow, I couldn’t believe my luck! So off Chris and Neil go to shoot some more video footage and we get back in our car, to wait patiently in anticipation…

After about 15 minutes, Chris comes back, signals me to get in and we set off. As we’re driving along, Chris explains some of the tech behind the P1 and how the electric motor “torque fills” to augment the heavily turbocharged 3.8 litre V8: he then provides a vivid demonstration. Wow!! From around 2000rpm Chris lights up the P1 and it launches forward with such extraordinary ferocity that it leaves me utterly, utterly stunned and we then go on to cover ground at a pace I barely believe possible in a 900+BHP RWD car on cold, greasy tarmac on a bumpy Welsh B-road in December. Chris is clearly a very talented chap behind the wheel and what an amazing car the P1 is: absolutely mind-scramblingly rapid acceleration, brilliant stability under heavy braking and directional changes, and a suppleness and compliance that allows its power to be deployed in a way I honestly did not think possible given its configuration and the conditions, alongside providing reasonable driver/passenger comfort. It really is a whole new thing!

So thank you very much Chris for offering me a passenger ride in the incredible McLaren P1 (my wife later said to me that that’s not just made my week, it’s made my year!)

Look forward to seeing the video and best of luck with the YouTube channel.

Cheers, Simon.smile





cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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Brilliant !

Best Christmas present ever?

james28

448 posts

202 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
What a lovely act of kindness and you must of been made up.
fair play to him and what a lovely early christmas presant

Lotus E300S

339 posts

111 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
ss1977 said:
There we were driving through Snowdonia at the start of a week-long break when, in the fading light, we come across none other than Chris Harris and Neil Carey shooting a review of the McLaren P1 for the Chris Harris on Cars YouTube channel. So we stop, I get out and go up to Chris just to say I’m big fan of his work etc… and he then kindly offers to take me out for a passenger ride once they finish shooting! Wow, I couldn’t believe my luck! So off Chris and Neil go to shoot some more video footage and we get back in our car, to wait patiently in anticipation…

After about 15 minutes, Chris comes back, signals me to get in and we set off. As we’re driving along, Chris explains some of the tech behind the P1 and how the electric motor “torque fills” to augment the heavily turbocharged 3.8 litre V8: he then provides a vivid demonstration. Wow!! From around 2000rpm Chris lights up the P1 and it launches forward with such extraordinary ferocity that it leaves me utterly, utterly stunned and we then go on to cover ground at a pace I barely believe possible in a 900+BHP RWD car on cold, greasy tarmac on a bumpy Welsh B-road in December. Chris is clearly a very talented chap behind the wheel and what an amazing car the P1 is: absolutely mind-scramblingly rapid acceleration, brilliant stability under heavy braking and directional changes, and a suppleness and compliance that allows its power to be deployed in a way I honestly did not think possible given its configuration and the conditions, alongside providing reasonable driver/passenger comfort. It really is a whole new thing!

So thank you very much Chris for offering me a passenger ride in the incredible McLaren P1 (my wife later said to me that that’s not just made my week, it’s made my year!)

Look forward to seeing the video and best of luck with the YouTube channel.

Cheers, Simon.smile




What a top man, would love a Tvr Sagaris video Chris.

lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Awesome stuff :-D real once in a lifetime experience! Good on Chris for offering you a ride, not many people would have done that I don't think.

Escort3500

11,827 posts

144 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Excellent story, you lucky bcensoredr

willisit

2,141 posts

230 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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A... mazing. What a nice guy! Well done you smile

Don1

15,936 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Lotus E300S said:
What a top man, would love a Tvr Sagaris video Chris.
I've tried - I suggested a 'grudge match' video series of cars, tuners and the like. Can you imagine a standard Sagaris, a Power one, a Str8-Six one and a FFF all going at it, with CH delivering his verdict?

Chicane-UK

3,861 posts

184 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Great story smile

Lotus E300S

339 posts

111 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Don1 said:
Lotus E300S said:
What a top man, would love a Tvr Sagaris video Chris.
I've tried - I suggested a 'grudge match' video series of cars, tuners and the like. Can you imagine a standard Sagaris, a Power one, a Str8-Six one and a FFF all going at it, with CH delivering his verdict?
Yes please that would be brilliant.

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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thumbup

Scottland

75 posts

200 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Awesome, whereabouts in Snowdonia was it?

Conscript

1,378 posts

120 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
You utter bd.

biggrin

crostonian

2,427 posts

171 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Lotus E300S said:
Don1 said:
Lotus E300S said:
What a top man, would love a Tvr Sagaris video Chris.
I've tried - I suggested a 'grudge match' video series of cars, tuners and the like. Can you imagine a standard Sagaris, a Power one, a Str8-Six one and a FFF all going at it, with CH delivering his verdict?
Yes please that would be brilliant.
Would be a great vid but as hardly anyone would be interested in watching it I think you'd have to offer the financing up front.

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Excellent! Nice to see Chris matches his online persona in real life and you didn't turn this into your very own Jason Plato moment biggrin

Don1

15,936 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
crostonian said:
Would be a great vid but as hardly anyone would be interested in watching it I think you'd have to offer the financing up front.
Video series.... Other ones would be Corvette Vs Viper, various Lotus tuners vs each other, various Porsche tuners against each other and so on. (Who wouldn't want to see four Sagari fighting it out? biggrin )

Lotus E300S

339 posts

111 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Don1 said:
crostonian said:
Would be a great vid but as hardly anyone would be interested in watching it I think you'd have to offer the financing up front.
Video series.... Other ones would be Corvette Vs Viper, various Lotus tuners vs each other, various Porsche tuners against each other and so on. (Who wouldn't want to see four Sagari fighting it out? biggrin )
Sagaris v 996Gt3 v F360

Lotus E300S

339 posts

111 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
crostonian said:
Would be a great vid but as hardly anyone would be interested in watching it I think you'd have to offer the financing up front.
I think you underestimate the love for the Sagaris especially on Pistonheads, I was very surprised it trumped the gt3.

Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
What a top bloke and what a memory that will stay with you for a long time.

CarAbuser

692 posts

123 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
I'm just a little bit jealous. Not sure what's better, meeting Chris or a drive in the McLaren.

Not too far from Snowdonia and the Evo Triangle so I'm often up that way for a drive. It's not the best time of year for enthusiastic drives up there as it's usually full of other road users in the afternoon and driving fast on those roads in the dark isn't a great idea with all the stray sheep.