This was my first time invited to
attend a Chopard watch launch, so I would like to share the thrill of
the trip with all our friends and fans of Chopard on how the
action-packed day unfold.
The actual launch/unveiling day of the 2012 SuperFast was on 22
November. As the launch day was a solid full day event, Chopard
arranged the press members from various countries to arrive a day
earlier.
A day before, 21 November, upon
landed in Malaga Airport, we were fetched to Villa Padierna Hotel in
Marbella, a huge hotel within a golf course.
After an informal dinner, everyone was back to rest early, to get charged up for the next day.
The Day itself began early, with first batch of guests leaving the hotel at 7:55am
(sun rise at 8am) to the Ascari Race Resort track in Ronda. If by land
transport, it will take about two hours to arrive. Upon arrival at
Ascari Race Resort, a quick caffeine boost and follow with the Product
Presentation of the SuperFast.
Following was a
mix of work and play till late afternoon with interviews and taste of
speed with some sportscars. The evening close with a wonderful dinner
and superb entertainment by a highly-charged band, the Gypsy Queens.
Let's see the launch unfold ...
21 November afternoon, guests arriving at Villa Padierna ...
In Spain ...
Entrance of Villa Padierna ...
Checked in to our room, a programme and nice token from Chopard ...
Actual Day 22 November ... 8:15am, after breakfast, a brisk walk to photograph the surrounding, as my departure time was 8:55am ...
Hotel we were staying ... overseeing the golf coure and also the sea for premium rooms ...
Sun rising ... and a helicopter was landing ...
Fresh air, quiet and serene ...
The golden ray ...
At 8:55am we arrived at the 'helipad' to be transported to Ascari Racing Resort in Ronda ...
On the way to board the chopper ...
Safety first ...
Up we go ...
A view of the hotel we're staying ...
About 20 minutes, we arrived at the Ascari Resort ... A portion of the race-track ...
Landed ...
Guided to the Club House ...
The earlier batch of guests ...
Walking up to the presentation area ...
Greeted
by a Porsche 936 Spyder which was driven by Jacky Ickx , six-time
winner of “Le Mans 24 Hours”, in the endurance races...
Some close photographs of the Porsche 936 Spyder circa 1981 ...
Presentation began at 9:38am ...
Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele
explained the design of the SuperFast, inspired by the one of the
Superfast worlds he is so engrossed and adept in - sportscar racing.
He
also reiterated, Superfast is also a mindset. In the world of super
speed, precision and control are keys to top performance which is also
cross-applied in watchmaking in Chopard.
(For real pictures and some details of the watches, please refer to
Part 1 of this series or the
press release)
This is the happy part for me,
to see the Chopard's Project Independence is taking shape so
'superfast' with another outfit, the Fleurier Ebauches, with three
industrialised movements running and built into these three new models
of SuperFast within four years.
Waiting for the day, it announces also producing own hairspring, that will be near full independence.
Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele the invited his close friend, Jacky Ickx, to say a few words ....
Jacky Ickx ...
After that, a surprise ... a guest from another speed-world ... Swimming!
Ryan Lochte, triple Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion, gave a short note about his ultimate enemy - Time.
Super Speed, Superfast ... its a singular common objective - to beat Time.
Ryan Lochte sharing with us his Olympic gold medal he won in the recent London Olympic ...
Huge!
Specifications from the London Olympic site :
"The
London 2012 Olympic medals weigh 375-400g, are 85mm in diameter and 7mm
thick.- The gold medal is made up of 92.5% silver and 1.34% gold, with
the remainder copper (a minimum of 6g of gold)."
Smart Choice! With the Superfast Chrono.
Three Speedsters ...
Viewing the SuperFast pieces ...
Fastest swimmer in the world grabbing some pics ...
Mr
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele explaining the watches to Ryan Lochte ...
Jacky Ickx is already familiar as he has collaborated with Chopard
for his Fifth version of the Jacky Ickx series.
Next a briefing by the Ascari Team on basic driving techniques and safety ....
Driving technique ...
On how to get out of the safety-belt system ...
The ex-professional racers ....who gave us a taste of real 'professional' speed later
Next we moved to the Racing pits ...
The
Ascari team formed us into three groups ... with a colour label wrapped
on the wrist ... Gentleman with blue wrist-strap(left) was the
coordinator for the blue team.
While the coordination work
still going on, some quick photos of another rare Porsche 936 Spyder
(1977) which was driven by Jacky Ickx in the “Le Mans 24 Hours” .... it
still worked very fine, as later part in the afternoon, Jacky Ickx gave
this 1977 Spyder a few laps.
Klaus Bischoff
(Porsche Museum Curator and former Jacky Ickx mechanic) was nice to
show us the engine of the Porsche 936 Spyder 1977 ...
See the face of Jacky Ickx seeing his 'Baby' bare ... perhaps a quick moment of nostalgia
Klaus Bischoff & Jacky Ickx ...
The 3-racing-buddies ...
Rest of the guests came over to view the partially exposed Spyder ...
A few photographs of Jacky Ickx in his 'previous speed machine' ....
Wearing the SuperFast Power Control ...
Giving a quick interview to a car-journalist ...
Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele going for a quick spin before his lined-up interviews
First activity of the day... we were to drive our own cars and go as fast as we can .... setting our own reference
Inside one of the BMWs ...
Later, opportunity to sit to taste some REAL Speed .... with the Ascari Driving Team and also Jacky Ickx ....
Ryan Lochte, fastest in water ... now got to sit in one of the fastest on land and feel his dimension of SuperFast ...
Jacky Ickx in position ...
Change of cars ... this round to taste the different perspective of speed ... driven by ex-professional racers
Totally different world ... these guys are good....turning corners at very high speed and still can talk to you calmly !!
Klaus Bischof & Brecht Traugott .... those who love racing and Porsche, must get to know these two super-mechanics!
Both still travel around the world in all major races.
With all the adrenalin pumping ... the supplements were always ready ... Always smiley!
Another round of buddy speed ride ...
My 'Chopard chaperon ' , Christophe, making sure everything was running smoothly and on time ...
Another Porsche to be test driven ...
At noon, lunch break ...
Buffet lunch ...
Interesting resort, every memorabilia, books and pictures is about racing ...
Understand the owner is a Dutch, and he loves supercars and racing, thus built this track for his own pleasure and practise.
After lunch, Jacky Ickx gave a demonstration racing in his beloved 1977 Spyder ...
This gentleman still has it ... really fast !!
The drive and ride continued with in between interviews for the three groups of press-members ...
This lady in racing suit asking assistance to take her picture
... not only a journalist, she can speed and surprisingly, sing very
well !
Another round with the Radical ...
My turn to view the SuperFast Power Control
The pictures are in Part 1 (
click here to access)
This could be the transporter to ferry both the Spyders from the museum ...
Breathtaking view ...at 3pm + ....
First batch to return to our hotel at 4pm ....
Below are some aerial pictures returning to base
The track ... the part entering the pit-stop ...
That's the reason we traveled to Ascari Resort by helicopters... the Chopard Team did their recce using land-transport ...
As
the road is windy and uphill, some may have motion-sickness. Thus the
thoughtful Chopard Team decided on another alternative more comfortable (
and costlier) mode of transport.
Spectacular views ....
Arriving ...
Landing ...pick up on standby ...
Helicopter back to ferry the other guests ...
Evening began with pre-dinner cocktail ....
A quick chance to photograph the SuperFast Automatic and wristshots
For more pictures of both the SuperFastS and wristshots ... please view
Part 1 or click here to access.
Dinner commencing soon ....
Dinner set up, a very long table ....
Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele chatting with a guest ...
A picture of the Speedster and guest ...
Pictures of the dishes ...
After the main ....the entertainment began.
The band, Gypsy Queens, came in and set the house on fire! Yes, they are really good!!
The lady (previous pic in racing suit), sang along... hidden talent, such powerful voice! Another surprise for everyone
Dessert ...
Everyone enjoyed the performance!
Thirsty ...after a few songs (no mic) ... " May I have some water?"
Ask & receive
The party till late in the evening ....
A quick opportunity before the SuperFast Chrono left the room ...
Next day, leave Malaga and back to Singapore ...
Thanks Chopard for the wonderful experience and trip.
Kong
This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-10-12 08:54:20 
