Relive an incredible automotive spectacle with Velocity Invitational.
The Velocity Invitational is one of the largest automotive events in the United States. But like all great events, you’ll have to wait a full year to enjoy it again. The Velocity Invitational team has found a great way to break up the year with the Velocity Tour, an extremely well-thought-out expedition through Northern California on some of the best roads this country has to offer. Our friends at McLaren North American gave us the keys to a menacing Artura and sent us on our way.
Arrival day
On the first day, we arrived at the Ava Hotel in Paso Robles just in time to check in, collect our gift bags, and gather in the lobby for cocktail hour. After cocktail hour, we were taken to the Sensorio Light Field, a stunning light display overlooking the rolling hills of California. From there we reached the incredible Robert Hall Winery, where we took a tour of the vineyard and wine cellar and learned more about their commitment to sustainability and their exciting work in regenerative organic viticulture. Our training paid off when the wine we learned about was paired with a delicious private dinner in the dimly lit cave. Surrounded by the wine barrels, we began to make contact with like-minded people with whom we would set off the next day.
Day 1
This was our first day of driving. After a nice breakfast and a driver meeting, we met in the parking garage and started our cars. The lineup that awaited us in the garage was incredible: there was everything from a 1960 Ferrari 250 California Spyder to a 2025 Czinger 21C Vmax to a 1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 2. As we drove off, I quickly realized that these were some of the best roads I’ve ever driven on. The coastal back roads featured hairpin bends and long straights to really test the limits of the McLaren Artura. And every stop along the way was strategically chosen and perfectly timed. Whether it was a coffee break or a delicious lunch at Bernardus, the Velocity team didn’t miss a thing. From Bernardus we drove along back roads to the legendary Laguna Seca Raceway, where we did spirited parade laps in all of our cars with the help of the Skip Barber team. As if this day couldn’t get any better, we finished our run at the Intercontinental Monterey and prepared for a private dinner at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This dinner was truly spectacular and gave participants plenty of time to catch up after an extremely exciting day.
Day 2
This was our longest day of driving, but that’s exactly what we were there for. We drove from Monterey to Scotts Valley to receive a tour of the state-of-the-art Canepa facility from Bruce Canepa himself. Canepa is home to some of the rarest automobiles in the world, and we could have easily spent the entire day shuttling between the museum, sales floor, and restoration shop. After Canepa, we headed toward the coast, winding through redwoods as we climbed up and down mountain after mountain. At one point we were following the 250 California Spyder and had a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster in the rearview mirror, which I think is the closest thing to time travel. Watching a 300 SL Roadster race through the mountains is something I will never forget. The group met again for a photo shoot before heading out for a quick lunch. We then raced back to our cars and drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to the lodge in Sonoma. We ended the day at the incredible Ram’s Gate Winery, another amazing facility.
Day 3
Our final day was full of spirited driving and other fun automotive activities. After our morning drive, we met and toured the Keller Estate Collection, which is undeniably one of the most impressive collections in the world. From there we had our last lunch and we parted ways.
The Velocity Tour provided participants with an automotive experience unparalleled in the industry. Jeff O’Neill and his team were able to give Velocity Invitational participants access to places that most people have only had the opportunity to read about. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend similarly curated events, but this was different. The Velocity Tour brought together the coolest people and allowed them to just worry about driving and eating while their team did the rest. From now on, I won’t miss anything else the Velocity Invitational team has to offer.
