Tuesday 6th September 2011

PH: The Weekend Round-Up

Chelsea AutoLegends and Vmax: two very different events, but both with some mouth-watering metal

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You couldn't wish for two more dramatically different motoring events than Vmax and Chelsea AutoLegends, one an invite-only quest for the double-ton at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire, the other a public, static celebration of all things motoring (fast and slow).

But since both events happened over the weekend, and both are right up PH's street, we thought we'd bring you the story of both of them in pictures.

Chelsea AutoLegends
A rainy September afternoon didn't stop the appearance of some delicious metal at the second-ever CAL - and here are a few of our favourites from among the cars.

PHers' own favourites are already posted up here...

VMax Hammer event
What can we say about long-time PH favourite event, VMax Hammer? Other than that one runway and a lot of very fast cars makes for some high top speeds, what do you need to say? How about 206mph from a 964 CTR turbo? or 209mph from a 3.9-litre (yes, 3.9-litre) 997 GT2? Then there's the 153mph Ariel Atom, the 204mph Audi S4, the 202mph Nissan GT-R, and the 182mph VW Corrado....

Have a lookee at more photos (and video) from the day in the following thread...

^{VMax Pics: GF Williams, CAL pics: Nick Williams}

[giblet]

Should have added this shot from the Vmax thread into the article -



what a pic!

[Garlick]

GF has only given us the less colourful ones

[CraigVmax]

This one should have been called "Vmax quirky", I loved some of the more unusual stuff like the Morgan Aeromax Supersports, the 993TT engined 930 and that bonkers Corrado amongst others.

[TomTVR500]

I would love to see the Vmax event or have a go in the Griffith but i assume it is by invitation only? Shame.

[GFWilliams]

Garlick said:

GF has only given us the less colourful ones

It was in the GT3RS folder, riggers missed it

[MrDarkBlack]

TomTVR500 said:

I would love to see the Vmax event or have a go in the Griffith but i assume it is by invitation only? Shame.

Contact Craig before the next one, pays your money and I am sure you'd be welcome.

I wish I could watch it...must be awesome!

I made it to Chelsea Auto Legends, and it was great to see so many cars in what is essentially central London. But the big BUT...when will car shows realise that the supercars are the star attraction and display them appropriately?

Goodwood FOS and Wilton House shows were just as guilty of bunching them up, hence making it difficult to see them properly. So in Chelsea on the weekend, they ended up effectively closing the supercar display. It was roped off so you couldn't get within 20 feet of them. Apparently, a car or 2 were damaged before this happened. I did overhear someone pointing out to their partner that the DB9 on display had been damaged, though I couldn't see it myself.

I think next year they could either rope them off as they did with the rare racing cars, or just spread them out more, so that more than 2 people could pass at the same time. I'm sure they'll come up with a solution so the same doesn't happen again.

[Gold]

Any more pics of that wonderful Morgan Aero SuperSports?

[GFWilliams]

Gold said:

Any more pics of that wonderful Morgan Aero SuperSports?

[andyps]

Does the owner of this really want a more exclusive, not quite as quick but more driver orientated car? It would certainly suit the plate better.

[GFWilliams]

andyps said:

Does the owner of this really want a more exclusive, not quite as quick but more driver orientated car? It would certainly suit the plate better.

Would suit a McLaren F1 the best...

[scotal]

MrDarkBlack said:

I did overhear someone pointing out to their partner that the DB9 on display had been damaged, though I couldn't see it myself.

Given the crowd around the cavalcade cars just after they'd arrived I'd be amazed if only one car was damaged. Had I brought one of those cars in, I'd have been having kittens.

As for the supercars being the main event, I don't agree with you, however the organisers really, really need to give some thought to a better layout for next year.
There was little cohesion to the display, and a fair number of the cars looked like they'd been abandoned rather than parked.

[jeremyc]

Perhaps next year the two events can be combined: take all the CAL cars to VMax for a quick blast before setting up a static display.

[CraigVmax]

the thought hadnt crossed my mind

[Oggs]

[munch997]

Gold said:

Any more pics of that wonderful Morgan Aero SuperSports?

From the Wilton run when he picked up a flat tyre.

Super Sport by munch997, on Flickr

Lovely car.

[munch997]

F50 from the run there, will post a few more later when home from work.

Shmee's Dark Side by munch997, on Flickr

Veyron and Zonda - Love the Zonda, so happy it is still a UK car.

[Turbobanana]

GFWilliams said:

Would suit a McLaren F1 the best...

I remember seeing the plate on the A12 near Chelmsford years ago. On a Volvo S80 (IIRC).

Apparently used to belong to the local Council and was on the Mayor's car before being auctioned as it was deemed too brash for a Council to be displaying such an unnecessary sign of wealth.

[scotal]

jeremyc said:

Perhaps next year the two events can be combined: take all the CAL cars to VMax for a quick blast before setting up a static display.

Better yet the Mayor's office closed the embankment for the Skyride on Sunday (cycling thing)
Maybe the cars could Vmax down there in an organised traffic light drag before pitching up in Chelsea?

[365daytonafan]

scotal said:

MrDarkBlack said:

I did overhear someone pointing out to their partner that the DB9 on display had been damaged, though I couldn't see it myself.

Given the crowd around the cavalcade cars just after they'd arrived I'd be amazed if only one car was damaged. Had I brought one of those cars in, I'd have been having kittens.

As for the supercars being the main event, I don't agree with you, however the organisers really, really need to give some thought to a better layout for next year.
There was little cohesion to the display, and a fair number of the cars looked like they'd been abandoned rather than parked.

I would be amazed that the no cars in the Supercar parking weren't damaged. We we all packed in tightly and after 5 minutes of glaring a people as they squeezed past my Daytona with pushchairs, umbrellas and various other things that could scrape against the paintwork, I decided it was best just to walk away and hope everything would be okay. It was.

I like the event but they need to have better arrangements if I was going to display my car again next year.

Incidentally the Maserati Gran Cabrio parked behind me was damaged but at the assembly area for the Ferrari parade in Hyde Park. Park in a metered space the Volvo XC90 immediately behind the Maser decided to drive off with one of it's passenger doors still open which clipped the rear light of the Maser and left a small dent.

[North West Tom]

munch997 said:

From the Wilton run when he picked up a flat tyre.

Super Sport by munch997, on Flickr

Lovely car.

Great plate if the owner's surname is Morsan.