Van Horssen Group » 2006

Few cars command a presence like a "supercar."  But one car, far from a supercar and costing about as much as 3 wheels and a gas cap on a Ferrari, gets more smiles and gives more driving pleasure than many out there - that car is the Mini Cooper S.

Of all the Minis in Minidom, the new undisputed king is the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works limited edition GP, available to Van Horssen Group members beginning early December.  Only 2000 were produced of which 415 were slated for the States, each with its numerical designation on the roof and on the dash.  The GP version takes the already "scream to drive" John Cooper Works Mini and makes it the ultimate Mini both in terms of driving performance and styling. 

We have added this car to our collection using our new Charter Program for members.  This program enables members to defray their cost of ownership, get cash, and/or add VH$ to their account by selectively sharing their car with other members.  With VHG managing the preparation, use and return of the cars, this program is an easy, neat opportunity to actually have your car work for you a little.  No dull cars need apply!

For all those times you saw professional racers and wanted to feel for yourself the adrenaline and excitement of competitive wheel to wheel racing, you should join us at the Bondurant School on Saturday, December 2nd for one of their most popular programs, the ProKart Grand Prix. Utilizing their Briggs & Stratton ProKarts capable of 50mph, this is the ultimate individual driver’s challenge and a great time with friends or against enemies. The race will be held from 5pm to 7pm with a casual dinner and drinks afterwards. 1st place gets a free day in their desired car! Prizes for 2nd, 3rd, last and ugliest drivers as well. Price is $150 before 11/17, $200 thereafter. For the official registration form click here.

The Shifter Kart class is almost full. If you enjoy pure speed and performance, this is the best bang for your buck. The class is scheduled for October 26th, from 6pm to 9pm. For more information, click here.

We will be running our Tony Kart again this Saturday, October 21st, from 6pm to 9pm. This is a casual karting session where up to 4 people can use the kart for practice lapping sessions. You must have already taken the Shifter Kart class to be eligible to participate. Contact us if you would like more information.

Our full day High Performance Driving Experience with the Bondurant School will be on Saturday, November 4th. This is a very rare opportunity to drive cars of this caliber on a closed track with professional instructors. For more information click here.

The Forza Series is back. For those of you who don’t know, Forza is the Xbox racing simulator game considered the best by many. The simulators will be up and running this Friday the 20th, from 11am - 2pm. Get some seat time and participate in the races for a chance to win an unspecified amount of VH$. A light lunch and drinks will be served. Bring your friends but please let us know if you plan to attend.

Porsche’s highly acclaimed 2007 911 GT3 is soon to hit the streets and Van Horssen Group will be among the first to have one.

The GT3 provides enthusiasts with an uncompromising road car that can easily transition to weekend track-day outings. The 415-horsepower, 3.6-liter flat-six engine produces a specific output of 115.3 horsepower-per-liter, among the highest of any naturally aspirated production car. 

For our members who are considering purchasing this car but are not at the top of Porsche’s GT3 wait list, this is a perfect opportunity to try it for an extended period before you buy it.  Van Horssen Group is now accepting reservations for the GT3 starting in December. 

With much popular support behind it, the Bentley Continental GTC will likely be one of the next additions to the Van Horssen Group stable.  These cars have been available for some time but the styling, luxury and performance make this car the long-term favorite of many.  Reservations are now being accepted for this car starting in October.

Staged on the runways and taxiways of NAS North Island with Navy aircraft and ships in the background, the Coronado Classic Speed Festival features over 200 of the world’s top racing machines from years gone by competing on a spectator-friendly 1.6 mile course. These vintage racecars are chosen to compete on the basis of their historical significance and certified authenticity.

Van Horssen Group staff, members and friends will be attending the races and guest passes can be arranged for anyone else interested.  As cool as the cars from the Van Horssen Group fleet may be, they do not make the cut for the races.  They are, however, available for members to use in San Diego for that weekend or any other for that matter.

When it comes to experiencing true sensations of speed, handling and racing, karting is as pure as it gets.

Van Horssen Group is the proud new owner of a 125cc Tony Kart which is made available to members.  At least once a month in Chandler, Arizona an organized 2 hour karting session is offered on Bondurant’s purpose built kart track where participants can jump in for part or all of the time.  Access to the kart can be made available at other times by request.  Members can also use this kart to participate in sanctioned karting races.  The first karting session is October 1st.

In addition to the ongoing karting series, we have scheduled several karting events with the Bondurant SuperKart School for this fall.  The Ultimate Shifter Kart Experience will be held on October 26th and a ProKart Grand Prix, for some long awaited wheel to wheel racing, will be held on December 1st.

Once again, Van Horssen Group was proud to be the host of an exclusive previewing of an important new car, the Rolls-Royce 101EX Coupe.

The 101EX has been traveling around the country, stopping at Van Horssen Group’s headquarters at Scottsdale Hangar One on September 5th.  Rolls-Royce owners, Van Horssen Group members and other influential auto insiders from Phoenix got a sneak peak at this innovative coupe.

In addition to a world class car, fine jewelry from Molina jewelers and art from Calvin-Charles Gallery was also displayed creating an evening of elegance and distinctive luxury.

One of the most highly acclaimed new tracks will be the site of one of our many upcoming Performance Driving Experiences.  On October 28th, Miller Motorsports Park will be ours for a full day of exciting driving.  Participants will have the opportunity to run various supercars from the Van Horssen Group fleet or shipping arrangements can be made for personal cars.  A full package is available including the tracktime, luxury hotels, fine restaurants and an organized Sunday drive near Salt Lake City.  

With the weather cooling down in Arizona, we have scheduled several driver training programs with the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.  These programs are an excellent way to improve one’s driving skills while having a blast behind the wheel.  Adding supercars from the Van Horssen Group fleet turns this into an unbeatable driving experience.  The two scheduled dates are October 14th for a half day and November 4th for a full day.

In conjunction with the Skip Barber Racing School, California Speedway will be the location of yet another Performance Driving Experience on Thursday, October 19th.  Much like the Bondurant programs, the Skip Barber program will allow the driver the to learn essential driving skills while experiencing high performance driving on a world famous circuit.  In addition to the incredibly fun Formula Dodge cars provided by Skip Barber, participants will have the opportunity to drive a variety of supercars from the Van Horssen Group fleet.

The Corvette Z06 may be one of the fastest cars in the fleet, its exterior styling is respectable if not admired, but its stock interior appointments are dismal.  To remedy this, a Van Horssen Group member and expert carbon fiber fabricator, Rob Qualls worked his magic to make the interior look as good as the car drives.

Now the cockpit of this American supercar shines with the smooth black sheen of carbon fiber covering the center console and wraping its way around the dash behind and on the steering wheel.  Additional touches are applied to the doors giving the whole interior an extremely clean and finished look.

Rob Qualls of Speedtek Composite Fabrication has done cutting edge carbon fiber applications for world class racing teams and private collectors.  To contact him regarding his work, please call 602.258.0765 or send him an email.

With two more of the world’s greatest cars, the Ford GT and Lamborghini Gallardo, tucked neatly in the Red Room when they are not being enjoyed by members, we are now looking ahead to the next great cars.

Firstly, it needs to be announced that the largest and most luxurious SUV has been added to the fleet, a 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV.  This black on black behemoth brings diversity and functionality to the collection.  Van Horssen Group members’ road trips just got a lot more comfortable.

Although supercars will continue to make up the core collection, the resurrection of a classic muscle car has inspired us to get on the list for an early delivery of a 2007 Shelby GT500 Coupe and Convertible.  By spring 2007, members will have access to a white with blue stripe and black interior coupe and a triple black convertible.  This 500 horsepower beast may remind you of an 8-track player, but it will blow the socks off most modern BMWs. 

Our Gallardo Spyder and two incredible cars soon to hit the market like the Ferrari 599GTB and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 are eagerly awaited additions to the fleet.  These and other great cars like the Porsche 997 Turbo and Rolls-Royce Phantom will be added with the continued growth in membership. 

As always, members are encouraged to give their input and opinions in the continual building of the world’s finest collection of modern cars.

Many consider the present day and age of automobiles to be something of a "golden era."  With Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini producing some of the best cars ever, and other manufacturers raising the bar as well, the real winner is the lucky driver behind the wheel.

Some people dream of getting seat time in any one these cars, others want to buy one but can’t decide which, and still others long for the opportunity to compare them and actually pit a Lambo against a Ferrari.  Through Van Horssen Group’s Private Collection Test Drive, these folks can get what they were looking for.  On September 17th, just outside of Los Angeles, cars from the Private Collection will be available to members and non-members.  This half-day driving adventure will be open to six drivers (and passengers if desired) who will alternate driving six representatives of the world’s best cars on a route featuring some great roads.