Off-roading in a McLaren F1

[andrebsd]

... What was this guy thinking? It would have probably been quicker to drive the detour (he has a McLaren F1), or call AAA and have them send a flat-bed truck. But then, at least he uses his car rather than shoving it in some garage.

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/articles/archives/860



Normally one doesn't intend to take his $1.2 million McLaren F1 off the beaten path, but road trips often present obstacles that require extreme fortitude to overcome. Such a road block, or rather a construction zone, blocked the path of Miles Collier while he and his wife were traveling from their Montana ranch to Glacier National Park in their slightly used but brand-new-to-them McLaren F1.

Collier had searched for a good U.S.-legal McLaren and found a fine example in the chassis No. 022 previously owned by Thomas Bscher, current head of Bugatti, who was known to have used the car for 200+ mph commutes to work. Knowing the previous owner's exploits, Collier had the car shipped to McLaren's headquarters in Woking, England for a $300,000 refreshening that included a factory fresh $70,000 paint job. So with the car back to brand new status, Collier and his wife Parker, whom he refers to as a built-in rev limiter, headed out on their journey from Montana.

Somewhere in the vastness of Montana's sprawled out geography the pair came across the mother of all construction zones that laid at their feet eight long miles of dirt and gravel. The only detour would add 150 miles to the trip, but with the possibility of bottoming out in a muddy rut left by an F-150, the two had just about accepted the increased travel time to spare their McLaren this off-road excursion. Turns out, however, that Montana's highway construction workers are extremely friendly folk, and they offered to do whatever it took to get the McLaren to the other side unscathed. A road crusher and road roller were enlisted to create a smooth path for the McLaren to follow, though Collier found it difficult to keep the car in line since the McLaren's idle speed kept trying to ram the roller. After eight miles traveling over Montana's newest road at 5 mph, the Colliers were safe on the other side save for about five paint nicks that the owner guesstimates will cost around $1,000 each to repair. That's probably chump change for someone who can afford to own and maintain a McLaren, but he might find the operating costs drop a bit if he keeps all four wheels on glassy pavement.

[Story Source: Autoblog] (Full Details on Sports Car Market)

[mojo_786]

WoW!!!

I dont know if i should call him a retard or congratulate him for the passion of getting to the otherside.

[Viper007Bond]

What an awesome article (make sure to read it!) and experience.

[toma_alimosh]

Why did the McLaren cross the Construction Zone?







To get to the other side.
Now, wouldn't it have saved them a lot of time and money to take the long way 'round?

[the Interceptor]

Imagine you just bought a McLaren F1, you're having a nice tour, and you come to a construction zone. Now, instead of taking a brilliant 150 mile drive you actually have an excuse for, you take it through the zone?

If I had an F1, I would sleep in the damn thing!

[fbc]

Awesome to see the car being used - though I'd be taking the 150mile detour myself - as if I'd need an excuse to do more miles.

[Viper007Bond]

Awesome to see the car being used - though I'd be taking the 150mile detour myself - as if I'd need an excuse to do more miles.

Same, but 2 hours with a naggy wife?

[Lilleput]

Same, but 2 hours with a naggy wife?

You cant hear her over the engine anyway.

[watto]

hahaha, that is damn cool... I'd have taken the detour though

[Militant-Grunt]

Awesome to see the car being used - though I'd be taking the 150mile detour myself - as if I'd need an excuse to do more miles.

If the detour is composed of banked straight/ curved roads, that can detour in under an hour!

Yeah, what an idea though, nothing to do with money.

[bartboy9891]

Same, but 2 hours with a naggy wife?

also thats probably where the rest of the traffic would be directed too

[Buba]

Awesome to see the car being used - though I'd be taking the 150mile detour myself - as if I'd need an excuse to do more miles.

2x

Same, but 2 hours with a naggy wife?

Hmm... Do everything in 2nd gear...

You cant hear her over the engine anyway.

Exactly...

I love Vb, this multiquoting thing is Killer..!

[BlaRo]

Man, what an ugly color. Still, for using a McLaren for its proper purpose. I wonder what Gordon Murray would think?

When I was reading this thread title, I was expecting a monstrosity F1 on 33" Mickey Thompson Baja Pro tires and a Skyjacker 8.5" lift kit. Thank God that didn't happen...

[KaJuN]

Maybe they're secretly testing the F1 for the next Camel Trophy. Or the more likely reason, this guy is working seriously hard to compensate for something he's missing.

[chaos386]

Maybe they're secretly testing the F1 for the next Camel Trophy. Or the more likely reason, this guy is working seriously hard to compensate for something he's missing.

All-season tires?