Vancouver, British Columbia – Perhaps it’s appropriate that Vancouver – now dubbed "the city of millionaires" since you can’t buy a house in Vancouver for under $1 million – was once again home to the annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend (LSW), held under sunny skies at picturesque VanDusen Botanical Garden, on September 10 and 11. Organizers describe it as “the most exclusive automotive garden party in Canada.”
“The Luxury & Supercar Weekend has become a destination to which like-minded friends and enthusiasts flock every year to indulge their shared passion of all things automotive and luxury,” said Craig Stowe, President of Luxury and Supercar Weekend.
Well, as long as you have the 50 bucks to get in – or 100 dollars for a VIP ticket.
This year, $200 million worth of automobiles graced the grassy slopes of VanDusen Botanical Garden, affirming the unusual truth that beautiful cars always look their best on a surface for which they are not suited to drive on. Stand-outs included an Aston Martin DB11 next to a movie-ready copy of James Bond’s machine-gun-toting DB5; a bevy of multi-hued McLarens including a 675LT Spider, 570S and P1; a luscious Ferrari 488; a speedy-looking Audi R8 V10; a carbon-fibre-intensive Pagani Huayra roadster; a drop-dead gorgeous Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead; and the "Oh my god, it’s a Bentley SUV!" Bentley Bentayga.
The show also featured a huge display of classic and collector cars which occupied the garden’s lower fields in a display of historical magnificence. Notable classics included a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT cabriolet, 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A, 1980 BMW M1, and Lamborghini Miura S. A walk through the gardens revealed an inspiring assortment of classic Corvettes, American muscle cars, pre-1967 air-cooled Volkswagens, classic Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, Morgans, Studebaker Avantis, and others.
Though it’s not a supercar or a luxury car, the official introduction of the new Electra Meccanica Solo electric car was a popular attraction. On sale this fall, the single-seat, three-wheel Solo can be fully charged in three hours using a 220-volt charger or in six hours using a household 110-volt outlet. The Solo has range of 160 km, is capable of 0 to 100 km/h in under eight seconds and has a top speed of 130 km/h. Adding credibility to the venture is Henry Reisner, President of Intermeccanica who is a partner in the project. The Solo is built entirely in Vancouver.
For the first time, the 2016 LSW was host to a luxury/supercar auction arranged by Adesa Auctions. Under the gavel went an assortment of late-model Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Ferraris, Mercedes-Benzes, Porsches, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.
While not looking at cars, guests with VIP tickets could dine on gourmet hors d’oeuvres, sip fine wines and cocktails in one of the many hospitality lounges, or enjoy one of the four fashion shows. Though seemingly out of place in the VIP area, the Fatburger concession stand had no problem attracting a long lineup of hungry diners.
