A Supercar Oasis in the Desert
For the past three years, the Dubai Motor Festival has scorched the sands of the United Arab Emirates with a Motorhead oasis of everything automotive. The 2015 Festival that took place from November 10-21 was held in conjunction with this years Dubai International Motor Show.
The Dubai event is no passive Festival! Three of the major events gave visitors (with deep pockets) the chance to get some quality wheel time seated in the cockpits of some of the planets finest supercars.
One of the featured events, aptly named the Waldorf Astoria Driving Experience, gave participants the chance to tour some of the most scenic parts of the UAE. Maybe the Emirates are not one of the most spectacular natural spots in the world, but who cares when you can drive incredible cars such as a Ferrari 458 Italia, McLaren MP4-12C, or a Lamborghini Gallardo.
If you were more of a Motel 6 kind of person, and the Waldorf event was a little too pricey for your tastes, the Festival was ready for you. The Supercar Ride took guests through the streets of Dubai in some of the world’s finest luxury supercars.
The Pièce De Résistance though was the Dubai Grand Parade, which in just three short years has established itself as one of the most highly regarded street cruises in the world. Not just any downtown cruise, but a cruise of supercars. And not a few supercars to gawk at, how about close to 600 cars valued at over $150,000,000!
If you got tainted on supercars, and who would, no problem though. Mixed in the parade were some of the world’s finest examples of vintage, muscle, trucks and motorcycles.
The November 21st parade got off to a spectacular start with a procession of supercar that included the Bugatti 16.4 Veyron, McLaren MP4-12C, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, BMW M6, Nissan GT-R, Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Brabus, Audi R8, and Bentley Continental GT.
And those were just the police cars!
Yes, Dubai has a fleet of police cruiser supercars. The police like to say that the motor pool of exotic cars is there to help improve relations between the authorities and the public and help enhance the image of the town. Quite frankly though, the only real way to pursue a speeding McLaren MP4 is with another MP4. Only in the United Arab Emirates!
If you think you can outrun a Dubai police motorcycle, think again. Yes, a fleet of superbikes is also on hand to keep the peace.
No need to maintain the peace at the Grand Parade though. The crowd was too transfixed on a endless procession of the latest Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Porsches, and Aston Martins.
Ferraris certainly were the stars of the show this year. Not because they are necessarily superior to all the other badges on this epic street march but because they were invited to an exclusive showing.
At the opening of the Dubai Motor Festival, a gathering of hundreds of prancing horses courtesy of the Ferrari Owners Club of the UAE participated in the largest display of all era’s of the iconic brand ever to take place in the Middle East.
An Oasis in the desert….indeed!
