Went to McLaren factory this morning
Discussion
My friend won a vodafone competition to visit the mclaren factory in woking this morning. Went along with him, there were over 500 people there. Was a great morning, stunning building where we could walk round, see the wind tunnel, trophy cabinets, display of cars and look at the current cars (disassembled) being prepared for next weeks race.
Lewis drove in to the foyer in the new Mercedes Mclaren road car and talked with the guests, telling us all about his season so far and future plans, as well as answering questions from the floor.
A few lucky guests met him in private for photos.
My friend and I entered the wheel change challange, teams of three changing an F1 cars tyre against the clock. After a couple of practice runs that were disasterous (20 ish seconds, mainly due to me kocking the nut off the gun as I removed the tyre) we did our final timed run.
And we did in in a time of 3.45 seconds, which we wre impressed with, even more so when we were told we wre the fastest of the day. We each received a signed Lewis Mclaren Tshirt which we wre well chuffed with.
The building is stunning, clinically clean, even the benches and vices in the gearbox department were spotless, not a spec of dirt or something out of place anywhere.
So all in all a great once in a lifetime morning that we'll never forget, so if anyone from McLaren of Vodafone read this, a big thank you.
It's also added an extra interest to my F1 viewing, if any team are slower in the pits than the 3.45 seconds we did then I'll be shouting at the screen!!
Lewis drove in to the foyer in the new Mercedes Mclaren road car and talked with the guests, telling us all about his season so far and future plans, as well as answering questions from the floor.
A few lucky guests met him in private for photos.
My friend and I entered the wheel change challange, teams of three changing an F1 cars tyre against the clock. After a couple of practice runs that were disasterous (20 ish seconds, mainly due to me kocking the nut off the gun as I removed the tyre) we did our final timed run.
And we did in in a time of 3.45 seconds, which we wre impressed with, even more so when we were told we wre the fastest of the day. We each received a signed Lewis Mclaren Tshirt which we wre well chuffed with.
The building is stunning, clinically clean, even the benches and vices in the gearbox department were spotless, not a spec of dirt or something out of place anywhere.
So all in all a great once in a lifetime morning that we'll never forget, so if anyone from McLaren of Vodafone read this, a big thank you.
It's also added an extra interest to my F1 viewing, if any team are slower in the pits than the 3.45 seconds we did then I'll be shouting at the screen!!
A few pics taken by myself today.
Senna & Prost's Championship winning cars
Lewis & Jenson's Championship winning cars
Lewis and Jenson's cars being prepped for next weekend. Note how tidy the workshop is!
McLaren XP1 Le Mans, Lewis' after 3 championship wins!
Senna & Prost's Championship winning cars
Lewis & Jenson's Championship winning cars
Lewis and Jenson's cars being prepped for next weekend. Note how tidy the workshop is!
McLaren XP1 Le Mans, Lewis' after 3 championship wins!
Edited by skip_1 on Saturday 4th September 19:38
I've put some pics up on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255395&i...
I was lucky enough to have a meet and greet with Lewis.
Was the signed t-shirt you won a medium sized women's shirt by any chance?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255395&i...
I was lucky enough to have a meet and greet with Lewis.
Was the signed t-shirt you won a medium sized women's shirt by any chance?
A neighbour of mine services generaters for a living and was down at the factory last week. Apparently they were in the process of extending the trophy cabinent again!
He mentioned that there was a plan to have a walkway between the current factory and the new factory being set up for the road cars. In the walkway they are planning to have all the trophy cabinents
He mentioned that there was a plan to have a walkway between the current factory and the new factory being set up for the road cars. In the walkway they are planning to have all the trophy cabinents
CzechItOut said:
I've put some pics up on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255395&i...
I was lucky enough to have a meet and greet with Lewis.
Was the signed t-shirt you won a medium sized women's shirt by any chance?
Lucky you, did you get the same silver tshirt from Lewis? What was he like?http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255395&i...
I was lucky enough to have a meet and greet with Lewis.
Was the signed t-shirt you won a medium sized women's shirt by any chance?
My tshirt is womens size small so no good for me, fits my wife but she isnt having it. May get framed and put in the downstairs loo!
Pics from the poster above look great, much better than mine. One of the girls took my camera and snapped away while we did the pit stop challenge and some of those pics are great.
Great brownies in the refreshment area too!
A great day, glad some other phers were there and it wasnt just uninterested vodafone customers.
JAM35F said:
Lucky you, did you get the same silver tshirt from Lewis? What was he like?
My tshirt is womens size small so no good for me, fits my wife but she isnt having it. May get framed and put in the downstairs loo!
Sounds like we got the same shirts! Mine's going on eBay!My tshirt is womens size small so no good for me, fits my wife but she isnt having it. May get framed and put in the downstairs loo!
It was a very quick hand shake "pleased to meet you" and the a couple of pics with Lewis. He seemed very comfortable doing all whole "corporate" thing though and I think he came across very well during the interview on the podium.
CzechItOut said:
JAM35F said:
Lucky you, did you get the same silver tshirt from Lewis? What was he like?
My tshirt is womens size small so no good for me, fits my wife but she isnt having it. May get framed and put in the downstairs loo!
Sounds like we got the same shirts! Mine's going on eBay!My tshirt is womens size small so no good for me, fits my wife but she isnt having it. May get framed and put in the downstairs loo!
It was a very quick hand shake "pleased to meet you" and the a couple of pics with Lewis. He seemed very comfortable doing all whole "corporate" thing though and I think he came across very well during the interview on the podium.
Must have had alot of spare tshirts in small leftover! Shame they don't fit any of us.
Glad to hear Lewis was a nice guy, he certainly seemed relaxed during the chat and made a few jokes. He was also at the mercedes world centre today so fair paly to him for turning on the smiles for yet more fans.
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