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Six Times the Fun
Driving a half-dozen exotic cars in one day
MLE catches up with traveling exotic car experience World Class Driving in Sedona, Ariz.
When I got the invite to come out to Sedona, Ariz., to drive a collection of the greatest cars ever made, I really didn’t think I could make it. Sitting thousands of miles away in my East-Coast office and with a trip to the West Coast ending just a day before this exotic car event was set to begin, making it there would prove logistically difficult.
But I said I’d be there.
True to my word, I made the journey from Santa Barbara (the day after Bimmerfest), to arrive at a literal oasis: the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. With golf greens practically glowing amid the bleak desert climate, it looked perfect. As I pulled my rental car in front of the resort, it got even better. Out front were parked six – yes, six – mind-blowing cars: a Ford GT, a McLaren SLR, a Noble M400, a Ferrari F430, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and a Porsche GT3.
The following morning I watched as the other drivers arrived, each as excited as myself. Some of us were journalists, some worked in sales for MLE’s new parent company and some were paying for the experience out of their own pocket. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to open my own wallet – although I was surprised to find out later how little it cost to attend the event.
While some of the other folks were eager to try out the bright green Lambo or the prestigious Mercedes supercar, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do more – drive an F430 again or test out a 997 GT3 for the first time. Fortunately for all of us, no one had to choose. Each participant would get the chance to drive each of the cars during an afternoon filled with testosterone and thrills.
This automotive extravaganza is organized by a company called World Class Driving. Each week, this supercar circus travels to a different city in both the U.S. and Canada, allowing almost anyone the opportunity to drive not just one, but a whole fleet of exotic sports cars.
While this is obviously exciting for those who never will be able to afford one of these amazing machines, it also provides an exceptional experience to those who can. As event organizer JeanPaul Libert explained, “You can’t just walk into a Ferrari dealership and take an F430 out for a spin. They’d ask to see your income tax statement first” he quipped, adding, “at least that’s what they do at Bentley.”
Although not intended to be a test drive service, WCD does offer potential buyers the opportunity to compare some exceptional vehicles to their biggest rivals.
Before we headed out on our adventure (where exactly, we weren’t quite sure) the group was given a run through of the rules – all the rules. The event is held on public roads, so we were advised against all sorts of things from not passing the lead car to not revving the engine. I began to worry that the whole thing was going to be a bust, but once we actually got going the rules seemed to relax.
Stepping outside into the hot sun, I was informed that my first chariot would be the Ford GT. I had driven one previously but for only a brief time. I knew I’d now have a better chance to stretch the supercharged V8’s legs, but I was warned not to have too much fun. On a previous outing in another city, one driver apparently smashed a GT into a guardrail while shifting into second gear at 60 mph. The 550-hp GT, it should be noted, does not have traction control.
With that knowledge I fired up the car and attempted to get comfortable, rolling down the windows and turning off the AC despite the blistering Arizona heat. Following the other cars we headed away from the resort, each of us rocketing out onto the open desert road, eagerly leaving the civilized golf greens behind. Within seconds we were at the entrance to a local park.
“Oooh … that one’s my favorite,” exclaimed the full-bodied woman at the front gate. “Revv it up for me.” Having been warned about the park rangers, I kept the supercharged V8 under wraps until we got a little deeper into the park.
As we made a left at the first fork in the road I was glad to be the last car in the pack, letting the others disappear in front of me before blasting through the gears and catching up. While the GT’s gobs of torque felt wonderful, using first and second gears required a light foot, so I spent most of my time in third. Unfortunately, the GT didn’t instill me with any confidence. At one point, after catching up to the fast-moving SLR, we both headed down a steep slope before sweeping left. In mid-turn my heart leapt into my throat as I heard the tires start to screech and I could feel some significant understeer. And then, just as it began to feel unsafe, the corner was over. Whew!
As we snaked along the asphalt it seemed like a long while before we turned off the main stretch of road and stopped for our first rest. It was time for a half-million-dollar upgrade as I settled myself into the cockpit of the 600-plus horsepower SLR. The supercar felt a little awkward at first, despite having the most lavish interior of the bunch. I adjusted everything to my liking and introduced myself to the onboard instructor. (With a half-million dollars at stake, the SLR gets a chaperone.)
When we got back out onto the main drag up to speed again I was awestruck at the brute force and thunderous exhaust. Once we approached the corners, however, I felt just as uncomfortable in the SLR as in the GT. The Merc’s steering is ultra precise, which is normally a good thing. Unfortunately, the wheel moved about sloppily and I constantly felt that even the tiniest input would send me shooting off in the wrong direction. As we pulled in for our second stop I was eager to get my picture taken in the SLR. I was, however, more eager to switch cars.
After two misses, my next car was a definite hit. The Porsche GT3 was going to be my companion for our last trek north before looping back over familiar grounds. I was more than surprised to discover how luxurious the GT3 was. The seats were, in all honesty, probably the most comfortable I have ever sat in. I was instantly in touch with the road with the Porsche. The steering was exactly what I wanted, the brakes were superb, the responsiveness of the throttle was exact and the sound – oh, the sound! On huge sweeping corners I gave full throttle and when things got a bit more complicated I chased down the F430 and Gallardo with ease.
At the next rest stop I traded in my GT3 for a Gallardo Spyder, fully aware of the absurdity of being disheartened at moving into the Lamborghini. Yet, as I write this, just thinking about driving the Porsche gives me chills. It’s that good!
The Lambo’s mean and raspy V10 exhaust immediately lets you know there are 10 cylinders behind you. And with the top down, you can really hear them sing. As we raced along some scary ledges of roads, I was glad to have all-wheel-drive grip. The Lambo experience was easily a favorite of everyone present and sitting up at the front of the pack with just the F430 in front of me, both I and the Ferrari driver left the others behind for a good while.
My next adventure came courtesy of some entrepreneurial British engineering. The Noble M400 makes 425 hp using two Garrett T28 turbochargers mated to a 3.0-liter Ford V6. Weighing less than 2,400 lbs, the car is an absolute rocket, faster in many tests than the other five cars present. What it doesn’t have is creature comforts. The cockpit was an absolute sauna with the center console so hot that if you rested your arm on it you were likely to leave a few layers of skin behind.
The Noble is likely a great car for hitting the track or going for a spirited midnight cruise, but my discomfort was so extreme it was hard to concentrate on the car’s strong points. The blowoff valves did sound very cool, though.
As we neared the exit to the park it was time for my last drive, a car I knew wouldn’t disappoint – the Ferrari F430. I began to rethink my love of the Porsche as I raced through the desert, the other exotics following in my shadow. Then it happened: I spotted the park exit and knew the adventure was over.
As we parked the cars outside the hotel it was hard to believe we had covered 130 miles in so little time. It wasn’t until we were sharing stories and enjoying some much-needed refreshments later on that I discovered this life-fulfilling experience costs just $1,295!
Speaking with the other drivers, we all agreed that even with the rules, we were able to get a good feel for the potential of the powerful exotics. From handling to braking to full-out acceleration, it was an exhilaratingly fun experience with just a touch of danger. It was, in short, a great drive.
Ed. Check out modifiedle.com for a full gallery of pictures taken when MLE met up with World Class Driving in Las Vegas
FAST FACTS
Fastest to 60, a Noble effort
It might surprise you, but not even the Ford GT’s single-gear run to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds earned the fastest time. The lightweight Noble M400 can do the same spring in just 3.5 seconds!
200 MPH Club
The Mercedes SLR super car outdoes the competition with a top speed of 208 mph. The closest competitor is the Ford GT at 205 mph. Interestingly, these two cars share a similar propulsion system, a supercharged V8.
Plenty of Ponies
The combined horsepower output of these six exotics is 2,976 hp.
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