I have been a car fan since I was a child.
I think it all started when my father used to give me model cars when ever he went away on business. He was also car fan so I think that rubbed off on to me
Ferrari F430 Taco
So when the opportunity recently came up last year to go on a Supercar Club Cruise, I jumped at the offer.
We were originally going to just go on the cruise to photograph and document the day for a friend of mine that runs the Supercar club in Victoria. But the day before the event we got a call from the organizers asking if we would be happy driving one of the cars on the day. I more then happy to say yes.
So we met at the clubs showroom first thing the next morning, first up a quick briefing on how the day would run, then we got our running sheet on which cars we would be in during the day.
Then it was time to jump in our designated car and head out on the first leg.
We were in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage first up, a very nice car to drive but very heavy clutch, had a lot of power on tap and was very smooth at low speed and brutal as soon as you put your foot down. Our first stop was in Brighton where we changed over drivers and Sarah got to drive the Aston, I then got to play passenger and photographer. It then gave me the opportunity to grab some interior shots of the Aston and some tracking shots of some of the other cars in our group.
Our second stop was just on the outskirts of Chelsea, this time it was a car change.
Next up was the Audi R8. Iv been a fan of this car since it was first released.
I remember seeing it for the first time in the metal at the Melbourne International Motorshow in 2007. It also starred in the Hollywood version of the Marvel comic’s character, Iron Man. It was driven by Iron Man’s alter ego billionaire business man Tony Stark, played by Robert Downie Junior.
The car doesn’t get a big role in the film but when you do see it, it is being driven like it was designed for. The engine note sounded fantastic under full acceleration in the film and in real life it sounds even better
The cabin inside the Audi has very different feel to the Aston’s. It seems bigger and roomier. The dial and dash layout is very user friendly.
The Audi has one less pedal then the Aston, it is missing the clutch, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to drive. If anything I think it is more enjoyable as the clutch less manual enables you to shift gears with either paddle shifters on either side of the steering wheel or using the small metal shifter in the usual gearbox selector position. And far out doesn’t it shift quick, both up and down gears, it evens blips the throttle when down changing. Next stop was just of Frankston, where we stopped and changed drivers again, Sarah got into the drivers side of the Audi and I got in to my shooting position in the passengers seat.
The view out the back of the Audi R8
The nice thing about the Audi is the small rear windows looks back straight at the beautiful V8 engine, so that makes for some beautiful photos of the cars following behind.
Next change was just on the outskirt of Hastings. Whilst at this change I ran around taking photos of the cars including badges and logos.
View from above of Ferrari F430 engine cover with Audi RS4 in background Cars lined up in Hastings
Next car for us was the Ferrari F430 Spyder, Now i have always wanted to drive a ferrari, i think its just a dream for a kid to be able to do such a thing. I think i had to pinch myself a few times when i sitting behind the wheel as i couldn’t believe what i was about to drive.
What a drive it was, with the roof down and sun shining and Sarah sitting next to me there wasn’t any better place to be. I drove all the way to our lunch stop the Portsea Pub. I think I was smiling all thru lunch.
Looking back at Portsea Pub from Seaside
The Ocean View from the Pub
The Cars all lined up outside of pub after lunch Cars lined up outside of the pub It was Sarah’s turn in the Ferrari next, so I become passenger as well as photographer With the roof down and one of the lead cars in the pack it was a great opportunity to shoot back at all the cars following us. Shooting back from the Ferrari F430 Spyder The following cars on the road behind View back out over the Ferrari's engine cover Cars all grouped together at the end of the day at Frankston Beach Cars at Frankston Beach at days end
The rest of my images from the day are here
– Supercar Club Drive Day May 12th 2009 – Images by Joel Strickland
Great read. These clubs are absolutely perfect for anyone that wants to get a taste of the exotic car world without the ongoing, and significant, expense.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but,
I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you
might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing
it expand over time.
Great read. These clubs are absolutely perfect for anyone that wants to get a taste of the exotic car world without the ongoing, and significant, expense.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but,
I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you
might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing
it expand over time.
Yes you can email me at info at joelstrickland dot com dot au