Surprising Supercar Sunday 2016
A few months before the event, I was contacted by a few dutch guys about an event called « Supercar Sunday ». At first I looked at all the pictures, and it instantly rang a bell: I knew what it was, and I had very very good souvenirs. It seemed like a pretty regular supercarfest. But the event was so far from my hometown I sort of forgot about it as time passed. Luckily, one of the organizers reminded me. And in less than 30 minutes, me and a couple of friends organized a crazy week-end road-trip from Paris to Assen (north of the Netherlands) to go to the Supercar Sunday. We would go to Spa-Francorchamps on saturday to check-out Spa classic (and a magnificent silver F50, among others), sleep somewhere in the Netherlands and then head to the TT circuit early on sunday.
We had a RDV in Porte-Maillot saturday morning to leave early for Spa. Well, things didn’t go as planned because our friend with the car overslept and didn’t hear his alarm clock ring. Good timing. But hey, we were in a good mood, and we weren’t in a rush. The trip to Spa was pretty cool, though that will probably be another story later. It was about 6 or 7PM when we left Spa to go to a secluded dutch town up North, not too far from the race track. Funny thing we noticed is it seems like the dutch highways are incredibly « straight forward », not many turns. Their left-lane seems incredibly narrow – can anyone care to explain? As a first timer in Holland, that felt pretty bizarre: is it to disencourage overtaking? Anyways. We arrived safe and sound at our place for the night, which was pretty awesome. We were so tired that we went straight to sleep.
Early morning, but we’re full and ready. The weather isn’t looking so good apparently: rain, cloudy, rain, sun, rain, cloudy. It was a bit of a mess, and we didn’t really know what to expect, but good thing I always come prepared. In about 15 minutes we arrived at the TT circuit in Assen, where the event takes place. We were very excited because we knew what to expect (at least some of it) considering the official page of the event had given a list. First thing we see is a Ferrari line-up, with about 4 or 5 Ferrari 599 GTOs and a LaFerrari. That set the tone right there.
We kept walking, and cars were starting to arrive from all over the place, slowly but surely. The PACE Germany « parking area » was the most impressive thing there I think, because they had a McLaren P1 GTR among other things. That was the first time I saw a P1 GTR « in the flash » (outside of an official motor show), and boy did it look good. There was yet another LaFerrari, and a candy red Koenigsegg Agera R. There were TWO Porsche 918 spyder: a white one and a very cool RED one (had never seen that spec before). Then cars started arriving: a green Lamborghini Aventador SV with a yellow stripe. That was pretty cool, but it was far from over. There would be FIVE Aventador SV that day, each and every one with a different colourful spec (a white one, a yellow one, a blue one, a green one, a green one with stripes…).
The PACE Germany parking area was also filled with Koenigsegg, as they always do. They had a carbon CCXR, and an orange CCX as well as the candy red Agera R. Usually, when you say « PACE », there are some Koenigseggs not too far behind haha.
The white Carrera GT with black wheels was also pretty awesome. It’s the kind of car that you simply love no matter what. Cars kept arriving, it was madness: Ferrari 458 speciale & Speciale Aperta, two McLaren 675LT (including an awesome yellow one with red interior – and an owner dressed in all-yellow). The famous car owner « Dutchbugs » also came with his Bugatti Veyron Vitesse WRC, it arrived when it was raining really hard, and 5 minutes later, as it never happened.
Quite a fun surprise to see the Team Galag Batmobile and TG3 as well (there was a « Gumball parking area » too, with Afrojack’s Aventador SV, among other things). There were a few manufacturers, club areas and other parking areas specialized on a theme (Lamborghini-theme with an LM002, a few Diablo, Murciélago, Gallardo, Countach…). Really, they had pretty much every car in existence, it was very impressive. This Supercar Sunday 2016 was no joke.
Some of the cars went out on the track as well. It was pretty awesome seeing these beasts go for it (I knew that Aventador SV was a true track-toy, because I had seen many pictures of it on the Nordschleife). Considering we didn’t know the circuit very well, where to go, the best spots, we decided to play it real safe. Especially for the « parade », where all the supercars did a lap. We played it safe by standing on a corner where we KNEW the cars would go and we would get a clear shot. I was just a bit disappointed some cars didn’t even do ONE lap. But hey, you can’t have everything either, can you?
The only disappointment of the week-end is the Gemballa Mirage GT that didn’t show up. I had heard rumours of a Koenigsegg Regera as well, but hey. I’m definitely NOT complaining trust me. The Supercar Sunday was one of the best event of 2016 so far, and definitely in my TOP5 of events in the world (GO GO supercar sunday 2016 !!). I was pleasantly surprised: though I sort of expected it to be good, it was even better than imagined. Me and my friends all thought the same thing and were satisfied of our week-end. If you had to ask me if I’d do it again? Count me in for 2017, no doubt!
Funny thing about the dutch car culture I thought I would share as well: it seems like there is a real positive synergy between owners and enthusiasts. The enthusiasts can be a tad irritating (mainly the young guys) because they run everywhere and get in front of your shot (way more than in other places I’ve been lol), it’s a very individualistic way of living your passion. But in the land of AUTOGESPOT, there seems to be an undeniable passion. Cars are works of arts, they need to be driven and HEARD. And the owners very much oblige. Indeed, the owners seem to be free about their passion: they aren’t afraid to put miles on their beautiful cars, they drive them like they were meant to be driven. They rev the cars to please the crowds… it was quite surreal for a french guy. I don’t usually see this kind of « behaviour » here in France. French owners are more discrete, more careful, more low-key, therefore it’s a completely different « rapport » to the car & the « lifestyle ». I found that refreshing and different!
