The other day, DRIVEN correspondent Fernando Morales of The Gentleman’s Topcoat checked out the action at Lime Rock Park, where American Le Mans teams compete in the Northeast Grand Prix.
DRIVEN correspondent Fernando Morales checked out Seize sur Vingt’s American Le Mans event
A few days later Soho tailoring mecca Seize sur Vingt staged an event in honor of the ALM, and our man was on hand to get reacquainted:
In continuation of our affair with adrenaline inspired Le Mans automobiles, we joined debonair host Seize sur Vingt and Lime Rock at the SSV flagship store for libations, celebration and extreme objects of acceleration.
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Tucked away in the heart of Soho, the Seize sur Vingt storefront was closely guarded by the automotive brawn of the racing world and other pedigreed machines.
We couldn’t resist slipping behind the wheel of the Lola/Porsche LMP2
In defilade were an ORECA LMP09, Lola/Porsche Le Mans Prototype LMP2, Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari California, and Ford GT, among others.
We couldn’t resist slipping behind the wheel of the Lola/Porsche LMP2 (below) in its glorious Gulf livery, our Steve McQueen moment complete with the King of Cool’s signature Persol shades.
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Inside, our affection for the lifestyle lived by the chequered flag set incarnated itself in similarly patterned items suggestive of casual luxury – bespoke shirting in checks, gingham, solids and Italian fabrics.
Bespoke shirting in checks, gingham, solids and Italian fabrics
Throughout conversations on speed and style, we sipped at our Bushmills Black Bush and picked the brains of automotive enthusiasts ranging from veteran racing personage Skip Barber to pint-sized raconteur Santino Ferruci.
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Offering up the Lime Rock experience to the public was a full size racing simulator of the same track we so viscerally became acquainted with.
Offering up the Lime Rock experience was a full size racing simulator
Our conclusion: a yellow cab down Manhattan’s West Side highway bests the digital attempt to simulate the analog.
Of further interest was the fine suits created by the clothiers of Seize sur Vingt.
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Evoking imagery of the rakish lifestyles lived by its patrons, SSV’s streamlined look blended masterfully with the lines of its vehicular counterparts.
SSV’s streamlined look blended masterfully with the lines of its vehicular counterparts
As our tank ran low and glasses followed suit, we pulled ourselves into the social pit lane and bid our farewells after a very well-curated evening.
We could only picture ourselves pulling away in the Ferrari 458 Italia decked out in SSV.
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Yet, that is a fantasy best lived another day, preferably on the track of Lime Rock where we so easily forget the separation of man and machine….
– F.A. Morales
All images by Fernando Morales / The Gentleman’s Topcoat for DRIVEN
- Posted July 12, 2011
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