Fancy an exclusive ride in one of New Zealand’s most expensive supercars? Thanks to The CatWalk Trust proudly supporting cutting edge international spinal cord injury research, that dream could well come true.
The CatWalk Trust has an extra special item on offer at its biennial REMARKABLE black tie fundraising event later this month that’s sure to get petrolheads’ hearts racing: an exclusive ride in a $4.2 million hand-built Aston Martin Vulcan.
CatWalk Trust will also be accepting absentee and live phone bids for the item.
The limited edition, track-only supercar arrived in New Zealand in 2016 to great fanfare. It belongs to Tony Quinn, renowned motorsports enthusiast and owner of the Highlands Motorsport Complex in Cromwell.
The laps come as part of a VIP package during the Highlands 501 race event to be held at the racetrack in November 2017.
CatWalk Trust Founder Catriona Williams says the experience is sure to appeal to those who have a “need for speed”.
“Our mission is to find a cure for SCI by accelerating research funding. Since the Vulcan can do 0-100 in just three seconds, we’d say there’s an appropriate connection there.”
“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of SCI in the western world and it comes at an enormous cost – to those injured, to their loved ones, and to all New Zealanders.”
“The CatWalk Trust is committed to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries, and the body of research suggests that’s a very realistic goal.”
One of only 24 Vulcans ever built, the 7-litre V12 all-carbon fibre beast has a top speed of more than 320 kilometres per hour.
The last Vulcan experience given to charity was auctioned off by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, where it fetched $26,000.
“If we can get anything near that, we’ll be over the moon,” says Williams. “We are immensely grateful for Tony’s support.”
Quinn, whose car collection also includes a McLaren MP4 12C, a Lamborghini Huracan, a Porsche 911 and an Aston Martin Vantage GT3, says that the hot laps are a “truly exclusive experience” that he’s only too happy to give for a worthy cause.
“Catastrophic accidents causing spinal cord injuries are an ever-present threat in motorsport, so we think it’s fantastic to be able to partner with the CatWalk Trust to offer this.”
“It’s the only Vulcan in the Southern Hemisphere, and probably the most expensive production car currently in the South Island” he says. “It’s a work of art. But what’s the point in having a car like the Vulcan if I can’t do some good with it?”
According to Quinn, the CatWalk Trust experience at the Highlands 501 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“For a car enthusiast, it would be priceless. It’s an incredibly rare experience, especially during the Highlands 501, when some $22 million worth of supercars will be making their way around the track – and that’s not including the Vulcan,” says Quinn.
The successful bidder will also receive two VIP hospitality tickets for two at the Highlands 501, to be held on Saturday the 11th of November, which will include a meet and greet with the drivers and cars as well as lunch, and what Quinn says will be the “best seats in the house.”
The Highlands 501 is part of the 2017 CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, with a field of around 40 supercars including Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens.
REMARKABLE 2017, CatWalk Trust’s biennial black tie fundraising event, will be held on Saturday 29 April at the AJ Hackett Bungy Centre in Queenstown.