“Why do you drive race cars?”
It's the most common question I get, bar none, from people who know me and strangers, alike. A single sticker on my laptop sums it up soundly: Racing Ruined My Life. Like ice to an addict, I’m addicted to the feeling I get when I'm pushing the limits of myself and the car I'm driving. (Which is daily, unless I’m flying.) It runs through every major life decision and provided the catalyst for two automotive media companies—Donut Media and Race Service.
But, back to race cars.
A couple months ago, McLaren shipped us a pair of 600LTs—one to Los Angeles, one to New York. This was supremely convenient, as my girl Jess Hart lives in Gramercy Park. But let’s start with the McLarens. Though not technically a race car, the 600LT is McLaren's best Sport Series car—the most powerful, most extreme, most road legal Sports Series ever. Equal parts brashness and brevity, light and dark, driven and unrestrained. It utilizes a version of McLaren's tried-and-true twin-turbocharged V8—in this guise, it uses all 3.8 liters to produce a prodigious 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. When launched just right, you can rocket the 600LT to 60 mph in just under three seconds. You might think you don't need all of that power when shuttling around the busy streets of NYC, and you'd be absolutely correct. But it does make diving for gaps in midtown traffic much easier—and more fun.
When you're modulating all that power with your right foot, the left pedal is very, very important. Thankfully, the 600LT has a firm brake pedal feel that progresses beautifully and always leaves you feeling confident that car will stop abruptly from pretty much any speed. That's mainly due to the fact that it's connected to the carbon-ceramic brakes that come standard on the 600LT. The stop-and-go nature of city driving takes a crazy toll on brakes. Not these. As they're made to withstand the friction generated when you stop from extreme speeds on track, you can light these up all day on the streets and they won't fade.
And neither will you.
Despite having suspension tuned for the track, the 600LT produces a surprisingly comfortable ride on city streets. I wouldn't recommend trying to sip a latte or anything while driving it, but you won't step out of it after a jaunt with your spine needing realignment. A bit of that may come down to the interior and its ergonomics. The sport seats are wildly bolstered to keep you in place in the face of high g-forces, but they're remarkably comfortable. And since this car is made for circuits, the driving position is perfectly low.
With nothing but free time and one of the slipperiest cars—the LT designation denotes special aerodynamics that increases downforce—on the planet, we tapped automotive image maker Ryan Davis, sine qua non for such an adventure, and hit the streets. The major difference in driving a supercar in New York vs. L.A. is that people in NYC are so fucking stoked to see a supercar. It lights a fire like you wouldn’t believe.
In all fairness, Jess may have had something to do with it. Even cloaked in a bright pink 80’s-inspired tracksuit. Credit where credit is due. And this was a rare case where photos actually do justice. Proud citizens of NYC frame nearly every frame, highlighting the kinesthetic learning experience this actually was. Supermodel and supercar? Stop it. Whenever we did—we’d be surrounded within seconds by people asking questions, having conversations, taking photos, giving props. All day, and all of the night. (We parked on the street.) During one brief stop in ChinaTown, 50+ people of every race and color formed a ring. I know how they feel.
To me, the only cars that matter are fast cars. Purpose-built, light, nimble and strong. Lower, louder, hotter—the more impractical the better! Hard to get in—thanks to the low seating position and the wide doorsills, egress is a bitch—and harder to drive. Hell, they can leave out the stereo if it makes it faster. In line with this edict, the Mclaren 600LT might be my most perfect imperfect car. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the way to work? Well, now you can enjoy it in your lap!
Granted, this may not be everyone’s spilled cup of tea. I get it. But let’s be real for a minute, besides being fast, supercars are good at looking good, which means we feel good when we drive them. Whether behind the wheel, strapped in the passenger seat, or spinning like a top to catch a quick glance as it passes by—the 600LT is bound to evoke feelings.
And isn't that the whole point?
