Mclaren Special Operations - MSO

[hurstg01]

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 -



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 ). 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' and was privilged enough to check out 56XPGT [see library pic below]



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 [remember Simon owns #007] and as mentioned earlier in CAR magazine as they recently did a segment on MSO [see below, and George Williams a member on here took some great shots to complement the great write up ] 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

Mclaren have hosted my day on their Facebook page.

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.

[Sami Aaltonen]

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

[hurstg01]

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.

[Sami Aaltonen]

Originally Posted by hurstg01

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...
Fantastic you got that change. Fantastic.!

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..... 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.!

[hurstg01]

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 and 4 I'd already seen but made the day even more special.

[Sami Aaltonen]

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

[Peloton25]

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

[volvoman]

You lucky sod looks like you had a dream day

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

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

Originally Posted by volvoman

You lucky sod looks like you had a dream day

I'll be living off the memory of today for a LONG time

[Le Man]

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 You must be well pleased to have now seen all the F1 versions produced , 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

[Peloton25]

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

[F1GTRUeno]

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!

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by F1GTRUeno

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

[murraydeschot]

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

[roger_ph]

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!