Aston Martin Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster is now available!
Perhaps even better looking than the DB9 Volante, more fun to drive and with better functionality, the Vantage Roadster is a new favorite. The six-speed Graziano manual (paddle shifters) performs quite well and is fun to compare to the Lambo’s e-gear and Ferrari’s F1. The Tungsten silver exterior and Cream leather interior compliment each other very nicely, especially with the top down.
Day Drive to Payson
An array of British, German, Italian, and American metal were lined up, shining and idling in front of Van Horssen Group, ready for their drivers. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante, BMW M Roadster, Porsche 997 Turbo, Lamborghini Gallardo and Corvette Z06 couldn’t have been more different from each other, yet all seemed like the perfect car for a leisurely drive to Payson, Arizona.
Supercar Stupidity
To be honest, I think that this is best read (or written for that matter) after a couple glasses of wine (or whatever else helps to numb you).
So let me set the premise to this story for all of those that haven’t already had a chance to laugh at my ignorance.
It was about a year ago, which puts me at 23, and I am in Las Vegas to photograph the brand new Koenigeggagesseeggageeggg@$#%Ggg CCX, the only one in the US to be exact (but that’s just a technicality) for CI6 Autostyle Magazine. In negotiations with the photoshoot coordinator I had set up to shoot it at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Everything was going well until she uttered the words, ”so would you like to drive it?” Read more »
Copperstate 1000
The Copperstate 1000 is an annual vintage car rally going on its 17th year. This year Van Horssen Group was a proud sponsor of this event which helps raise funds for the Phoenix Art Museum and gives participants a chance to stretch the legs of some very rare and exciting vintage automobiles.
Although very fond of vintage cars, to stay true to our offering of the world’s best modern cars, Van Horssen Group founder Ron Van Horssen and wife Linda drove the 1000 mile journey in what will surely be a classic one day, a Ferrari 575M GTC Maranello. While other participants may have felt a little uncomfortable on long stretches of rough road or annoyed at the wind and water seeping through 60 year old seams, the Maranello was quiet, comfortable and fast.
Some of the more notable entries of this year included a 1924 Bentley 3/8 litre, a 1925 Bugatti Type 35A and Ed Herrmann’s 1953 Hudson Hornet. The route is different each year but this year the first stop was in the Grand Canyon. The second day took them to St. George, Utah. They headed back to the red rocks of Sedona for the last night before returning to Scottsdale.
Van Horssen Group is pleased to be a part of the Copperstate and will be sponsoring similar events which will give members unique access to some exciting automotive events including the Grand Prix Arizona, November 30th - December 2nd.
Miller Motorsports Track Day
The Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Monument Valley AND a day on one of America’s newest and best tracks - these are some of the many highlights of Van Horssen Group’s Arizona & Utah Tour.
The Arizona & Utah Tour
If you’ve ever visited or plan to visit any of the places above, without a doubt you will enjoy it more driving one of the world’s best cars from Van Horssen Group’s Private Collection. The tour will begin in Phoenix on Thursday, July 19th as we head north, taking scenic roads and passing the Grand Canyon, to Kanab, Utah. From Kanab we’ll be just a short distance from two other spectacular sights: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. By the end of our day we’ll reach the Sundance Resort, tucked up in the mountains behind Salt Lake City. Saturday and Sunday will feature scenic loop drives through the surrounding mountains as well as many other activities offered by the resort and near Salt Lake City. On Tuesday, July 24th following the trackday, we’ll buckle up again and head through Canyonlands and Monument Valley on our way back to Phoenix.
Miller Motorsports Park Trackday
The highly acclaimed track at Miller Motorsports Park will be ours for a full day of exciting driving on Monday, July 23rd. Participants will have the opportunity to run various supercars from the Van Horssen Group fleet and work with instructors to develop new skills and techniques. The track has been deemed one of the best in the country offering a smooth, fast surface with many different types of turns, as well as top notch facilities around it.
Participants are welcome to join one, several or all portions of this trip, be it just the drive to Salt Lake City, the day drives around Salt Lake City and the Miller Motorsports Trackday, or the return journey to Phoenix.
Bentley Continental GTC & Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Fit for the French Riviera, Van Horssen Group’s new Bentley Continental GTC embodies elegance and luxury. Wrapped in a sumptuous Silverlake Blue with Saffron interior, the car compels passersby to stare and admire the smooth lines, exquisite color and luxurious finish.
Looks aside, the car is exceptionally quick, very solid and smooth. With a 6.0 liter twin turbo W12 Bentley engine mustering 550 horsepower, the car gets to 60mph in 4.9 seconds and tops out at a "bad hair day" 195mph. Inside the light leather interior set off by the maple trim compliment the exterior color perfectly. The seats have more adjustments than most people know how to use and the backseats are usable for anyone not in the NBA or NFL. Although the lucky occupants of this car were meant to soak up the sun and feel the wind in their hair, when the top is up the car maintains its sophisticated and stylish look while enveloping passengers in a quiet protected cabin.
The other new addition to the Private Collection is beautiful in a bad sort of way. As sexy as an angry supermodel, the Pearl Yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is not for grandmothers going to tea parties. The car takes the same foundation as the rock solid, super quick Gallardo coupe and chops the top off, letting two road warriors hear the roar of the snarling V10 and experience the exhilarating freedom of open air motoring.
Fly Fishing & Supercars
Or The Worthy Union of Simplicity and Modernity
Fly fishing for some is akin to a religion. It’s an experience that is so simple yet inspiring, challenging and fulfilling that people will devote their lives to it, or at least a week or two every year.
Much of the problem in squeezing in an incredible fly fishing experience in one week is the long hours spent driving in a crappy pickup truck to get from one fishing spot to the next. I have a profound respect for nature and the waters in which we fish, but does that mean speeding down a swooping mountain highway in some of the finest Italian metal is incongruous to the tranquility of fly fishing? Perhaps to some, but not to me. We’ve been doing our annual Fish & Drive Tour for three years now and I am convinced this is one of the greatest combinations since the rod and reel.
SuperCar Trackday Member Review
Dreams do come true… They sure did Friday May 18th at Firebird Race Track. Van Horssen Group brought 15 extraordinary members together with 6 exclusive and exotic cars to create one unforgettable day. Attention to detail was unparalleled. Personally, I can’t remember having that much fun with my ‘pants on’ since landing on an Aircraft Carrier.
Gizmo Management
I have a problem — too many gizmos and related stuff that I need to keep track of. This problem could be a symptom of a larger issue, but I don’t think so… Some of the stuff moves from car to car. Other stuff (cameras, iPods, cables, GPS) may be used in cars but also often travel with me as well in various combinations. I was losing track of gizmo stuff way too often — was it at the office, in one of the cars, or at home in one of the many possible nooks and crannies. Something had to be done. I decided a mobile organizer was just the ticket. The first thought was to purpose-build a carbon fiber case with custom cut-outs for each item (we have a member who is a world class fabricator of carbon fiber). However, the notion of a $5,000 purpose-restricted case all of a sudden seemed less compelling. After a few more dead end considerations, the blindingly obvious solution appeared. Read more »
Of Favorite Cars and Kids
The question comes up all the time. Which car is your favorite? As a car share club, of course, the diplomatic response is something along the lines of “they’re like our kids, we love them all equally.” And, as is the case with most diplomacy — hopefully — there’s a lot of truth in that statement. In the recent past, however, diplomacy has gone out the window. The Porsche GT3 stands alone now when I am asked about my favorite car.