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SUCCESS OPENS THE DOOR to
a world of privilege. And if you're looking for a car to match your lifestyle, you most certainly won't want to trawl the top showrooms searching for your dream car. Enter Salon Privé, the three-day private luxury and supercar exper-ience run by Performance Events.

An inspired garden party by day and a sumptuous cocktail party by night, Salon Privé offers guests the opportunity to get into a range of high quality supercars — from Ferraris and Gumperts to Ascaris and Koenigseggs — and to meet the manufacturers, or their foremost distributors, in relaxed, stress-free surroundings.

Salon Privé's second year was held at The Hurlingham Club in London on Wednesday 11 through to Friday 13 July (2007). A highlight of the final day was a Concours d'Élégance with a line-up of beautifully-presented classic and modern cars.

Everything about the event is exceptional, from the cars to the luxury branded goods such as the Amalgam Collection of superb handmade one-eighth scale cars; world renowned Italian jeweller Gianmaria Buccellati UK; Boodles designer jewellery; Vertu limited-edition mobile phones; and XO Private, inviting you to 'discover a world away from ordinary'.

The Cars

Taking centre stage was Ferrari's unique selection from a range of V8 and V12 models. The 4.3-litre 490hp Ferrari F430 represented the Prancing Horse's class-leading technological know-how and was shown together with its 'sister' car, the born-for-the-track Ferrari F430 Challenge in Team Vertu Racing livery. The car is currently racing in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series as part of the Ferrari Challenge Dealer Team GB.

From the V12 family, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano continues a tradition of Gran Turismo Berlinetta models, which includes some of the most iconic cars of Ferrari's history: the 250 GT, 275 GTB, 365 GTB/4 Daytona and the 575M Maranello. Ferrari's most powerful ever pro-duction car, the 599 GTB Fiorano, has 620hp, a specific output of 103hp/l, a maximum speed of over 205mph and reaches 0-62mph in
an amazing 3.7 seconds.

Top of the range is the flagship Grand Tourer, the Ferrari 612 Scag-lietti, featuring the finest Italian craftsmanship. A range of Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation options enables customers to tailor the car
to individual tastes. For Salon Privé, the 612 Scaglietti appears in a special Police livery. It was driven over 1,500 miles by Police forces across the UK to lead the UK leg of Ferrari's 60th Anniversary Tour and to promote road safety messages — including the danger and enforce-ment implications of using a mobile phone whilst driving. Ferrari's 60th Anniversary Tour started in Abu Dhabi in January and finished at
the end of June in Maranello, Italy, with an extraordinary parade for customers, drivers, VIPs and Ferrari Tifosi.

The latest models from a number of top car manufacturers included: Aston Martin; BMW with their fastest ever convertible and most ex-pensive BMW ever, the BMW M6 Convertible and the recently launched M5 Touring — with Formula One inspired V10 engine technology —
and 335i Convertible; the Bentley Brooklands, powered by the most powerful V8 the company has ever produced. Bentley was represented by Jack Barclay Ltd who also brought the Bugatti Veyron.

Cars International Kensington Ltd brought a 1951 Mk VI Bentley
and a Ferrari Enzo; Lamborghini showed its latest launches — the V12 Murciélago LP640 Roadster and the lightweight Lamborghini V10 Gallardo Superleggera; and there was the 2007 Fisker Tramonto, des-cribed as 'a high performance, two-seat convertible with a retractable hard-top'.

Also putting in an appearance were: the Wiesmann Roadster, combin-ing classic design with modern technology; the 'full-blooded' Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and 'the pinnacle of automotive luxury', Daimler-Chrysler's impressive Maybach that is available in two wheelbase lengths; Maserati promoted the new Automatic; Morgan exhibited its classic looks and thoroughbred engineering. Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz AMG and the P1 Prestige and Performance Car Club all made their presence felt.

Spyker

Spyker's exclusive UK distributor, Berkshire-based Broughtons, dis-played the Spyder and the car that everybody is talking about: the unforgettable Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris.

Spykers are described as 'the ultimate statement of individuality; a creation of timeless beauty in the form of a state-of-the-art tech-nology package, combined with spectacular performance'. Identified with its own unique chassis number, every Spyker can leave the factory in Holland with the specification of your choice.

Sales specialist Tommy Wareham enthuses: "Spykers are a very per-sonal thing." He adds: "Driving supercars? Unquestionably Fun. But drive a Spyker and it's… GREAT!"

When production starts in December, the D12 Peking-to-Paris is expected to sell from around £187,000 upwards, depending upon specification. The car on display at Salon Privé is going on to Pebble Beach.

Spyker is the only company Audi officially provide with engines and running gear but everything you see is all Spyker. With over 250 orders taken this year, Spyker are planning to manufacture at least 200 cars for 2008.

"Cars like Spyker and Koenigsegg," says Tommy with unconcealed pride, "enhance our branding. Rather than a dealership, we see our-selves as luxury goods providers."

The largest privately-owned car distributor in the UK, Broughtons also showed the Ascari KZ1, giving 'unparalleled performance and drive-ability in one of the world's most exclusive supercars'; and the Koenigsegg CCX, successor to the 806bhp CCR that holds the Guinness World Record for the most powerful street car.

Gumpert Apollo

One car you may not have come across is the Gumpert Apollo. You will. Accompanied by its very charming and passionate German creator Roland Gumpert, the Apollo has an unusual, 'space-age' look to it. It is the result of Roland's dream to develop a road car that could be used on the track, with other qualities to make it stand out from the crowd.

He explained how he applied his aerodynamics experience to his car and that he strived for perfect downforce — so perfect, in fact,
that the Apollo can be driven upside down on the roof of a tunnel at speed… No kidding!

And because of this 'perfect downforce' that presses the car against the ground, everything about the car performs better — including the brakes, the handling and road-holding abilities.

Roland used to manage the Motorsport Department of Audi, where he had worked since leaving High School, and he won four Rally World Championship titles. At the end of his contract with Audi, his natural progression was to fulfil his dream by developing this very special and dramatic-looking car.

Based on a mid-engined prototype, the Apollo has high levels of potential and bears a shield sporting a Griffin — a mythical half eagle, half lion creature. That, explains Roland, is significant. "The Eagle,"
he says, "is king in the air, representing the Apollo's aerodynamics,
and the Lion is king on the ground."


The Apollo sports a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8 engine and has a drag coefficient of 0.39. Not bad, says Roland, but the whole basis of the Apollo's aerodynamics is that because it is so good that it can be driven upside down, it must be phenomenally good the right way up!

Andrew Ward, Managing Director of Racetech UK, said the Apollo receives lots of compliments and he looks forward to taking delivery
of his cars. An extreme sports car, the Apollo flies and drives; it is powerful, exclusive, unique and a racetrack success.

Roland was admiring the McLaren F1 GTR in the Concours d'Élégance that was driven at Le Mans by Derek Bell, Justin Bell and Andy Wallace. Eighteen months ago, Andy drove Roland's car at Donington and it speaks volumes that he didn't want to get out of it. He insisted that Roland should be sitting next to him as they drove round the track and Andy couldn't believe that a car that was so reasonably priced could be so competent and addictive. So smitten was he that he told Roland that if he wanted somebody to drive the car at any time, he was the man to call!

Named after the God of the Sun, perhaps because the sun shines
like a beacon among the other stars, the Gumpert Apollo was born of
a vision. And here, in the flesh, is the dream turned reality.

Concours d'Élégance

At the Concours d'Élégance on Friday the Thirteenth, Singer Jay Kay's luck was with him. He won the Grand Prix overall prize and Best GT prize with his stunning black 1955 Maserati A6 G2000 Gran Tourismo Frua.

Accepting his prizes from Concours Head Judge and renowned racing driver Alain de Cadenet and journalist Emma Parker-Bowles, a surprised Jay Kay said: "I don't feel like I deserve this. I didn't make it — I just drive the pretty girl! Thank you very much."

Other winners were: the Ferrari 250 Lusso for Most Original Car; Lamborghini Miura P400 SV/J, the Ladies' Choice; and the Ferrari 288 Evoluzione, the winner of the Road/Race Class.

The Roadster Class was won by a handsome black Mercedes 300SL Roadster with a striking red interior, driven to Salon Privé by Richard Gauntlett. Owned by one of his clients and originally delivered in the 'States, the car was built in September 1963 which was, says Richard, late for the last twenty cars. The last eighteen had alloy blocks and disc brakes, which makes it more desirable.


"Classic cars," he says, "can be a good investment and they are easy to work on — you just need a spanner, a bottle of oil and some water!"

Richard's father was none other than Victor Gauntlett of Aston Martin fame, so Richard was destined to be mad about cars. As he says: "Motor cars are a complete disease with my family."

He recalls one of the Tim Birkin team Bentleys for the 1928 Bentley Team — a supercharged Blower Bentley — his father owned when Richard was a toddler. Every time Victor charged it up, the noise would frighten Richard into hiding behind a fence!

One experience he has never forgotten was when, at 14, he was driven in a McLaren F1 by the then sales director. "An amazing experience," says Richard. "There's nothing that accelerates like
that." Grinning at his memories, Richard adds: "We did have some
fun." Creating Salon Privé

Enjoyment was certainly the order of the day, once the hard work
of organising was over. Behind Salon Privé is David Bagley, Managing Director of Performance Events Ltd. He is justifiably proud of his achievements in creating a unique environment where high profile guests can discuss their needs with manufacturers or distributors in the spacious, luxurious and tranquil setting of The Hurlingham Club.

"We limit the numbers of guests at the event and we have been very selective," he said. "A long, informal lunch or afternoon tea presents
a further opportunity for a relaxed chat and everyone can enjoy the day. We aim to offer the kind of hospitality that would be extended to prospective clients if the manufacturers were putting on their own event."

David is certainly well qualified to understand what is right for Salon Privé. In 1997 he worked for the International Trades Exhibitions, becoming Director of the Motor Shows Division responsible for the Moscow, Cairo, Istanbul, Prague and Dubai Motor Shows.

Recognising that although there was a sensational reaction to the supercars there was also a lack of potential buyers at the Shows, he launched Top Marques — the world's first Supercar show — in Monaco in 2004. It was an overwhelming success and it was there that he forged his relationship with Edmiston, one of the world's foremost yachting companies and a sponsor of Salon Privé.

Inevitable then, perhaps, that David should seek to create the most exclusive of luxury events. He has known Henrik Fisker, Christian von Koenigsegg and Victor Muller (CEO of Spyker) for a while and therefore he did not have to promote the idea to them.

"There is," David says, "some element of Goodwood about the event with everything being centred round the main house and the super-cars." His vision was to create an event "to celebrate exclusive and premier performance supercar brands with the backdrop of the ultimate elegant garden party, lavishly displaying luxury brands, luxury travel, innovation, grandeur and entertainment." An event, he says, that he hopes will become one of the highlights of the London social calendar.



One of David's earliest motoring memories is of watching a Lamborghini Miura winding through the Alps in the first Italian Job film and he is delighted that a Miura P400 SV/J entered the Concours d'Élégance.

More recently, David drove a Saleen 7 around the racetrack with a resident F1 test driver next to him. He says (with respect!) that he enjoyed throwing half a million pounds worth of machinery around and there is speculation that a Saleen will be at Salon Privé next year.

And his plans for the future? "We're looking for ways to expand," he says. "Perhaps, once Salon Privé UK is established, to other locations — possibly the 'States or the Middle East."

David is nurturing the event while listening to feedback and a lot of new people have expressed an interest in coming next year. "One thing it will never be," he says, "is boring."

Boyhood dreams, says David, led him to Ferraris and Lamborghinis. But the choice has ballooned. He is working towards having the definitive collection of cars at Salon Privé but every time he thinks he's close it, someone produces another über-exotic and he has to rethink his plans!

He wants to create an event that money alone can't buy entrance to — Salon Privé is by invitation only. For 2008, he will be introducing new manufacturers, luxury brands and entertainment.

During the course of the event, over £70,000 was pledged to Salon Privé's nominated charities: Tommy's; Dreamchasing; Great Ormond Street Childrens' Hospital and Cancer Research UK. Organisers Andrew and David Bagley endorsed this achievement: "We were delighted with many aspects of Salon Privé this year. However, not wanting to rest on our laurels, next year will see a wider variety of super and luxury cars, a much bigger Concours d'Élégance, a fuller display of top-end luxury brands, not to mention the very finest in super yachts and motor yachts. If this year's guests thought Salon Privé was a truly unique experience, all we can say is, wait until next year. Our charity aims are to raise over £100,000 for the supported charities."

Clearly one heck of a lot of effort has been put into Salon Privé. David has undoubtedly achieved what he set out to do: Salon Privé is ex-clusive, laid back, chilled out. No hassle, no pressure. But in case you feel just the tiniest bit flustered by the choice of über-exotics, an open-air Xhilarate massage therapy was available to stimulate yet relax you and round off the day very nicely. Don't leave for home without one.

Salon Privé — mmm… what an Occasion! Fabulouso.

View the Salon Privé slideshow (124 pictures) Salon Prive 2007 Concours d'Élégance