Mclaren Special Operations - MSO

A month or so ago I fortunate enough to be taken out in an MP4-12C Spider by a generous guy I've met on a couple of occasions over the years -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/Hart-20121118-01051_zps43d0599c.jpg

During that epic drive, I was offered the opportunity to go to the Mclaren Technology Centre, Mclaren Production Centre and Mclaren Special Operations sometime in the near-future for a look around.

Today was that day. Today is a day that for me will forever be remembered, amongst other things, as a day of acronyms - namely MTC, MPC and MSO.

I started the day at the Mclaren Technology Centre - MTC - and was shown around the Boulevard along with Mclarens Social Media Community Manager, past the iconic Formula 1 cars with the names of Senna, Prost et al on them, past F1 GTR's #20R and #01R [which I sat in :)] and XP1LM. We carried on along the Trophy Corridor (that is fuller than last time I was there 4 years ago :thumbsup:). We then moved on to have a great chat with one of the men who worked on the 'lost weekend' in the run up to Christmas Day, 1992, when XP1 finally moved under its own power. This was a great part of the day for me - hearing the history, the story's, the enthusiasm, the dedication, the work ethic all told by one of the actual people who worked on XP1 was easily a highlight, in a day full of highlights.......

We then walked to the Mclaren Production Centre - MPC - it really is as clinically clean and quiet as others have said. The production line was full of 12C Spiders in various states of build and approximately 6 x 12C's per day roll off the production line, with Mclaren having made over 1500 to date.

We then drove to Sheerwater where I was fortunate to get a quick look inside 'Unit 2 (http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/page/unit-2---the-ultimate-garage)' and was privilged enough to check out 56XPGT [see library pic below]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/1997_mclaren_f1-pic-50875_L_zpsfff5b4bb.jpg

and more iconic and historic Formula 1 cars before moving on to Unit 1, Mclaren Special Operations - MSO.

I was fortunate to have a guided walk round, saw 3 F1's and a variety of Press 12C's being fettled with, from Spiders to an HS to a PP workhorse that's racked up the miles as a test bed for many upgrades / customer enhancement requests. This, although it was covered by Simon Kidston on his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.456325891091989.107209.131382396919675&type=1) [remember Simon owns #007] and as mentioned earlier in CAR magazine as they recently did a segment on MSO [see below, and George Williams (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151270411237860&set=a.329436782859.151256.95867287859&type=1&theater) a member on here took some great shots to complement the great write up :thumbsup:] was extremely exciting for me. This is the 'skunk works' of Mclaren, a place ever-so secret where owners who wish their car to be more individual than what you get in the 'standard' Mclaren catalogue leave their cars in the ever-so capable hands of the MSO team to transform their car to the one of their dreams

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0001Large_zps7287d54a.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0001Large_zps7287d54a.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0002Large_zpsc7b83dd7.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0002Large_zpsc7b83dd7.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0004Large_zps4eeea83d.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0004Large_zps4eeea83d.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0005Large_zpsb1d55996.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0005Large_zpsb1d55996.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0006Large_zps30235f95.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0006Large_zps30235f95.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0007Large_zps89058e69.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0007Large_zps89058e69.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0008Large_zpsbc1a8b2d.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0008Large_zpsbc1a8b2d.jpg.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/th_scan0009Large_zps10a6bd35.jpg (http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/hurstg01/media/scan0009Large_zps10a6bd35.jpg.html)

Mclaren have hosted my day on their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151140013491717&set=a.10150171178006717.305091.371554081716&type=1&theater).

To say today was a fantastic experience is an understatement; Epic is an over-used word in motor journalism circles, but quite apt for my day today.

A BIG thank you goes to the Mclaren guys who were hospitable, accommodating and professional to the end.

So you sat to the #01R. Fantastic.
How was it? Did you allmoust hear the 1995 Le Mans sounds that moment.......:lol2: Damn, that #01R I must see some day some where some year and XP1 LM.!

Yes Sami, I was allowed to sit in #01R [I'm still pinching myself now]. To sit in the same place as the drivers [including JJ ;)] in such an iconic, historic car was a dream come true, in a day of dreams coming true.

Yes Sami, I was allowed to sit in #01R [I'm still pinching myself now]. To sit in the same place as the drivers [including JJ ;)] in such an iconic, historic car was a dream come true, in a day of dreams coming true.

I bet you felt that way! Were are the images... :lol2:
Fantastic you got that change. Fantastic.! :lol2:

Like I said earlier post; #01R and XP1 LM would be my dream come true, defenitely. This week I've got some great feelings when reading some article of Finnish located 993 Carrera RS Clubsport. Immediately I thought the LM, that Clubsport same philosofy than LM. Race car to the streets.....:lol2: I have to say; there isn't many 911's which I could love, but that one...that one really warmed my heart, the same race brutal attitude which LM shares....Love it.! :)

There was the opportunity to see 9 F1's today, of which 2 were new sightings to me, 2 were out of bounds, 1 departed about 40 minutes before I arrived :banghead: and 4 I'd already seen but made the day even more special.

To have a peacefull moment behind #01R's streering wheel, I think the day was perfect.:cool:

Really great to know that this happened for you Greg. What an awesome thrill from end to end I am sure. Cheers to all who made it happen for you. :)

>8^)
ER

You lucky sod looks like you had a dream day

Really great to know that this happened for you Greg. What an awesome thrill from end to end I am sure. Cheers to all who made it happen for you. :)

>8^)
ER
I have a few to thank, some already done in person, some will have to wait til 2013 ;). It was nothing short of awesome
You lucky sod looks like you had a dream day
I'll be living off the memory of today for a LONG time

Great shame that I could not join you today Greg, my day was miserable by comparison, but it would have been totally disrespectful not to pay tribute to a lifelong friend.

You must have been totally blown away, viewing so many Macs in one place at the same time. I,m really pleased to read that you got sit in the mother of all GTR,s and that you finally got to view F1 XPGT, hopefully my magic dust in the correct ears did the trick :thumbsup: You must be well pleased to have now seen all the F1 versions produced :wink:, well done.

I guess I,ve missed my chance, but that does not detract from the fact that I am really well pleased for you, like Erik you deserve treats like this with all your dedication and efforts posting about McLarens on this and other forums around the net :cheers:

I am as happy for Greg as I was sorry to hear you could not attend. :(

Reading the CAR article now there was one point I picked up on which could be read many different ways. Marcus is quoted as stating "We know where all 64 cars are, we have direct contact with 61...". I won't lay out all my thoughts here, but this is definitely an interesting statement that could be sliced several ways - including some that don't make much sense at all given the tribal knowledge here.

>8^)
ER

It would suggest at least that the lines of communication to Brunei are still open?

Or would they be the three that they can't get?

In which case, they are well aware of the whereabouts and details on #039 for example?

Anyway, this sounds like an amazing day and I'm glad you got to experience it Greg!

this sounds like an amazing day and I'm glad you got to experience it Greg!

Thank you!

When I am able to I will add some pics of the day taken by the Mclaren Social Community Manager, who accompanied me on the Tour :)

Glad you're getting up close and personal with a host of F1s, Greg.

Well done Greg!
I'm very happy for you - seems like you had a perfect day ... like I had one year ago :-)
Thank you to everybody who made that possible ;-)

And hey gentlemen at McLaren - I know you read this here: Martin has definitely deserved another chance! He is a good guy!

Wow Greg just saw this thread, I cant believe you got to see the GT!!!:cheers:

I am thrilled for you, and only hope that one day I too will get to see it some where. I suppose pictures were not allowed? cheers AL

Pictures of part of the day may be shown in the near future

I bet you are still buzzing Greg after your day.Like somebody else said, if anyone deserved it ,it was you. Proberbly makes up for not going to the Monaco meeting,which our other top man attended!
It has been a great year again for us Mclaren fans, with refurbished 13r at Goodwood,05r at Chelsea& the many liveries of mp4 gt3s at silverstone highlights for me.
Well done Greg & all for another great forum year
Seasons Greetings to you all!

Thanks Keith! Still buzzing, still smiling, still pinching myself :)

Are you still buzzing with Xmas around the corner

Are you still buzzing with Xmas around the corner

:grinyes:

amazing!

I am jealous!:)

I may have something to post here later :naughty:

Click the picture to see some pictures :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg5Large_zps38f9043b.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151160224201717.444843.371554081716&type=1)

Congrats again Greg - well done !!!

Here are some more picures, some not on the facebook page, that I can share :) [not sure WHAT was going on in picture 5.... :rofl:]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg1_zps7988a904.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg4_zpse94f40b8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg3_zpsa2974b0f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg5_zps68d2322c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg2_zps5543dc03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/Greg6_zps07704be6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/GregandF1_zpsf49571d8.jpg

Any explanation for the black wing here:

http://i45.tinypic.com/2czouc8.jpg

>8^)
ER

It wasn't mentioned, but the car was there for some fettling and it looked like it wasn't half way done yet, so perhaps it was a trial-fit piece before more work was done

Very nice set of pics :smokin: those must be the most treasured set you have in your collection Greg. I,m still really pleased that you got to go :biggrin:, I was panicking a bit when I had to cancel, praying that that McLaren would not cancel your visit at the last moment.

Really nice of the staff at McLaren to photograph your visit concidering we were told that personal photos are not allowed :mad:, shame I missed out, but thats how life goes sometimes.

Very nice set of pics :smokin: those must be the most treasured set you have in your collection Greg. I,m still really pleased that you got to go :biggrin:, I was panicking a bit when I had to cancel, praying that that McLaren would not cancel your visit at the last moment.

Really nice of the staff at McLaren to photograph your visit concidering we were told that personal photos are not allowed :mad:, shame I missed out, but thats how life goes sometimes.

I think everyone's dream here is to see those two GTR's in Woking. I do have that dream. So glad that atleast someone gets that change!

Le Man, I wroted you some pm....:smile:

I,m still really pleased that you got to go :biggrin:, I was panicking a bit when I had to cancel, praying that that McLaren would not cancel your visit at the last moment.

No chance I was cancelling:smile:
We'll get you round this year Martin don't worry.
Pleased you enjoyed it Greg, great to be able to show people around.

Erik - maybe we were doing a trial for the Matt black colour scheme, seeing if wrap or paint was preferred... Watch this space.

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry

I do know an owner with a silver car who was considering having it redone in matte black. That was part of the reason for asking. Thanks! :)

>8^)
ER

No chance I was cancelling:smile:
We'll get you round this year Martin don't worry.
Pleased you enjoyed it Greg, great to be able to show people around.

Erik - maybe we were doing a trial for the Matt black colour scheme, seeing if wrap or paint was preferred... Watch this space.

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry


Hello Henry

Great to see you here :runaround:

Despite my user name i am a total car nut :biggrin: the F1 being the King of all cars well done for getting Greg into mso he deserved it and has amazed me at his knowledge of the cars .. i am sure all the AF.com members would love a tour at some stage if possible....

Russ

No chance I was cancelling:smile:
We'll get you round this year Martin don't worry.
Pleased you enjoyed it Greg, great to be able to show people around.

Erik - maybe we were doing a trial for the Matt black colour scheme, seeing if wrap or paint was preferred... Watch this space.

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry

Thankyou Henry, for your very kind second chance invite, after viewing Greg,s visit on your Facebook page, I am allready looking forward to this visit with great anticipation :bigthumb:

Also huge thanks for fullfilling my request to enable Greg to view XPGT, as you allready know, it was a very special suprise for him and according to Greg, one of the highlights of his visit :thumbsup:

As for all us fans, I,m sure you will think of something special :smile:, after all your not called "McLaren Special Operations" for nothing :smokin:.

Cool to see you here Henry! As all regular forum members may know I am one of the biggest F1 fans; travelling a LOT just for the F1. My highlight was getting a ride in 007! Of course another ride would be fantastic and a factory tour. Well I'd to like to attend an F1 'meeting' if that will ever be done:)

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Hi, once again great job on getting Greg in to see everything! Now I hate to ask as, 1) I probably dont deserve it, and 2) you will probably get hundreds of people asking. So I am not going to ask for a tour,
But I want to see the F1 GT sooooooo badly (as i'm sure Greg and Erik will vouch) so I am hoping that you can convince those in power to finally show the F1 GT in public at some point in the future.
As far as I am aware it has not been seen in public since Silverstone 97 thats 16 years!!!!
I have asked the organisers of Salon Prive over many years to try and sort this , but to no avail.

So Please please please try and get it shown some where in public at some time ( Salon prive / Goodwood / Breakfast club /Wilton house, whatever I do not care where just want to see it!!!!!!)

Heres hoping with thanks in advance.

Alan W.

P.S. failing that just get me in on a tour :biggrin:

I agree with alan. Saw gt in 1997 and took only one shot��

No chance I was cancelling:smile:
We'll get you round this year Martin don't worry.
Pleased you enjoyed it Greg, great to be able to show people around.

Erik - maybe we were doing a trial for the Matt black colour scheme, seeing if wrap or paint was preferred... Watch this space.

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry

Henry-

Welcome. And thank you for your generosity.

Regards-
Wayne

doing a bit of catch up, and wow, the things I've missed.
Great to read about the opportunity you were given Greg. Thanks for sharing your experience, and thanks to McLaren/MSO for hosting you!

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry

Welcome Henry, to answer :
bring P1 at Villa d'Este Concorso and at Goodwood FOS :)

Thanks for the welcome chaps, it is great to see there is still a large following for the F1!

I will do my best to try and get XPGT a public outing this year, my problem being she is tucked away at the moment and very difficult to get to as Greg will confirm, we tried to get a chassis plate picture but there wasn't enough room to get the doors open! In the mean time I attach a picture I snapped a few years ago when she was in the old Genesis workshop being given a once over, I think there is also a picture out there of one of our techs driving her around the car park.

I also saw Erik post on facebook he wanted to see some of my archive but not rows of boxes, here is the cupboard behind my desk showing the current service folders rather than archive boxes :rofl:

And finally...
I note you don't have a picture of the 04R chassis plaque, see below:smile:

Intentional or not, I'm just going to say you picked a very smart section of the shelf to take a picture of. It gives away nothing... :( ;)

Beyond that, I've had a bit more time to form an opinion than the two posts you have graced us with, but you really are the man! :cool:

Also love the shot of the GT as it is the best proof I have seen that the window sections of the engine cover went unpainted. A question on the chassis plate in the GT - do you know if it would have been changed for the 20th Anniversary event at the MTC like many of the other participating cars? My guess from the lineup on the table there with #04R's detached is a probable 'yes'.

Thanks!

>8^)
ER

As Henry rightly states, XPGT was tucked away, and the lighting and accessibility wasn't the best as the shadows didn't allow for a clear view of the chassis plate and was situated behind a multitude of iconic Formula 1 cars from the 1980's and 1990's but the chassis plate looked very shiny, much like the others that went to the Anniversary gathering. To just be allowed a glimpse was a privilege :worshippy

Erik here's another shot, that I am sure you have, that reinforces the unpainted rear windows of the GT

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/56XPGTMacF1GT1_zpsbc317f1b.jpg

Henry - Those Service Folders look highly organised, although they do need a picture of the actual car on the side of the folder for clarity :)

I will do my best to try and get XPGT a public outing this year, my problem being she is tucked away at the moment...

McLaren Automotive shared a picture of her in her current resting place today on their Facebook wall. I'm sure most here will love to see it even if it is just the nose. :cool:

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/12552_10151165724866717_318663053_n.jpg (https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/459193_10151165724866717_318663053_o.jpg)

Clickable too. :)

>8^)
ER

I wonder what else we can do this year to give something back to the fans???

Henry

First of all, welcome Henry! So nice to see that you´re here!

And I must say it was really nice of you to give Greg the opportunity to get shown around.

About your question. Maybe it´s too much to ask for but if you have any pics of the F1s that went to Brunei, I´d love to see them. Especially the LMs. :)

Fingers crossed. :)

I do wonder just what condition XP56GT is in running wise?

I mean, I'd expect that McLaren would keep it in shape but it can't have done many miles at all and that wouldn't be good for the internals. If they were to ever let go of it I'd imagine it'd be a huge job to recommision it for the road surely?

Would love to see it running up the hill at Goodwood. Can't have many occasions when any of the three GT's would've ran in anger.

Can't have many occasions when any of the three GT's would've ran in anger.

At a guess,
54F1GT has never had a proper drive (aside from original pre-delivery shakedown I guess?)
58F1GT only got out once for that magazine article, and once again for the shakedown when repainted (some video on youtube) otherwise mostly museum/storage.
56XPGT hardly at all except for the Curwood photos in Scotland, and of course during development like in the newspaper pictures.

Sound right?

And...
I hate to disrupt this thread with a further GT question, but was chassis 56 any way towards being a normal F1 when it was made into a GT? Or do we know for a fact that it was always going to be a wildly different car right from the get-go? (Same for 54 and 58)

Thanks for the welcome chaps, it is great to see there is still a large following for the F1!
I will do my best to try and get XPGT a public outing this year,

Ah you are a true gent sir, for even contemplating my request. If you can pull it off, that would be on another level of gratitude that I can not even put into words! heres hoping. :runaround:

+1 Alan

Here is my only pic of the GT :(

pic of a pic

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/superbrochures/IMG_1811-2_zps7d20fb52.jpg


And found in my archives: took pic of pics of VHS vid, lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/superbrochures/IMG_1812-2_zps8d35c833.jpg


and this might be 010 ?? december 1995

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/superbrochures/IMG_1809-2_zps50add2fc.jpg

Here is my only pic of the GT :(


and this might be 010 ?? december 1995

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/superbrochures/IMG_1809-2_zps50add2fc.jpg

Is it taken at an Autotron (NL) show?
I've seen it there (too).
And the GT in Essen, at the motorshow?
I'll check my archive too.

silver is AutoTron december 1995

GT is Speed & Design Utrecht 1997

Ask and you shall receive....

Due to a last minute cancellation I have been able to arrange a certain green longtail to be put on show. :iceslolan Later this week it is coming out of Heritage into a truck bound for Europe :iceslolan That means 2 gaps in our collection this week as XP5 is also leaving tomorrow to go in display in Switzerland!

XPGT will be on show here should anyone wish to go and see it:
http://autosalon.be/en/salon/visiteur/dreamcar/

I will also have some more exciting news on the Heritage cars later this month, it's all kicking off for McLaren's 50th :runaround:

Oooow Eeeerrrr, looks like I,ve started something in regards to XPGT :uhoh:. Sorry Henry, you must have your work cut out this year, without additional requests from us guys. Real big thanks once again for allowing XPGT to go on public display at short notice :cheers:

Reading this months Race Car Engineering magazine, it states Mclaren own (on their books for valuation purposes) six variants of F1, plus a huge collection of Formula one cars etc. Its about time McLaren opened a Museum :smokin: I,m sure it would be Woking,s biggest tourist attraction :smile:

I,m sure a certain person on here, would like a chassis plate pic, just before it goes on the truck :tongue:

Paging Patrick! :)

A Chassis plate should would be great if you could Henry :)

As for the Museum, if ever you need an archivist, curator etc you have my details;)

I wish I could come over and give it a nice soapy bath before it leaves. Kind of a strange request, but you really get to absorb the details of an automobile when you make it look clean with a hand wash.

Now how do we get Alan to Brussels?

>8^)
ER

Wow, Henry is this really happening? I only ask as I will book and go if the GT is definately going to be there! My home internet is not working at the moment so I need to organise all this from work and with the short notice, can you PLEASE confirm it will be there (is there a chance it will be shown in England in the future?)

Thanks a million, Alan.

Wow, Henry is this really happening?

Alan - I am not prepared to confirm this 100% as it is all very last minute and I don't want to be responsible for your travel costs should something go wrong. As far as I am aware it is happening, all the transport has been booked and arrangements made, so 99% sure it will be there.
I am not aware of it being booked for anything else after this and I have already arranged for it to go back into hibernation late next week.
Thanks,
Henry

Great news, I will be there !

Ask and you shall receive....

Due to a last minute cancellation I have been able to arrange a certain green longtail to be put on show. :iceslolan Later this week it is coming out of Heritage into a truck bound for Europe :iceslolan That means 2 gaps in our collection this week as XP5 is also leaving tomorrow to go in display in Switzerland!

XPGT will be on show here should anyone wish to go and see it:
http://autosalon.be/en/salon/visiteur/dreamcar/

I will also have some more exciting news on the Heritage cars later this month, it's all kicking off for McLaren's 50th :runaround:

And what a worthy cause too :thumbsup: