Let me apologize in advance, for the length of this article. What follows is a immoderately long blog article, detailing day one of the 1st Annual Snowmass Automobili Exotica. Immediately after viewing these images (3,000+ ) for the first time, I knew whittling down of the shot list for our blog was going to be a herculean task. The average reading time for this article exceeds 45 minutes….What can I say ? I am helpless against these powerful images, but please just consider the occasion.
ENJOY !
The first annual Snowmass Automobili Exotica was not another weekend, it was the weekend. The event was a collaborative effort between 3ZERO3 Motorsports, the Lamborghini Club Rocky Mountain chapter and the Town of Snowmass Village, and oh-by-the-way; one of the best weekends we’ve ever had.
Our goal was to produce a 3 day long lifestyle event that sandwiched a Aspen Sportscar Club track day with 2 days of road rallying from Denver to Snowmass and back. While we are never one to sing our own praises ( ‘Who ever said that’-Ed) the event went off without a hitch.
PHOTOGRAPHY :
We were all very lucky to have a talented team of photographers with us for the weekend. While many of the images you see below came from long time 3ZERO3 photographer Adam Mattivi. We were lucky to have great contributions from Joe Donkel, and Marty Lewandowski, as well as the endless driving footage provided by Charlie Collings.
If you are interested in having any of these printed please contact us at :
GETTING STARTED
Friday Morning 8:00AM, Club Auto & LeMay Auto Museum.
We thought it was only appropriate to start the weekend off by surrounding ourselves with as much automotive exotica as possible. Who wants to meet in a Home Depot parking lot, when we can congregate amidst the acres of machinery at Club Auto and the LeMay Auto Museum.
A collection that can only be described as uninhibited automotive fantasy realized. If you haven’t been to an event here, make sure if given the chance, you take full advantage !
Who’s excited ?! Scott Simpson, that’s who!
3ZERO3 staff was on hand bright and early Friday morning, getting ready for tech, sign-in, and just stretching our legs before the action began.
We staged all the participants in two rows.
The Road Rally was not a race, but that didn’t stop us from staging cars like a motorsports starting grid !
Fueled up and ready to roll.
Badges of distinction.
Ready to rumble.
Wide & Low.
No one will ever accuse Matt Collins’ 2007 Audi RS4 of being underbraked, or under-anything for that matter!
StopTechs ( front AND rear ) on an RS4 ? Just another ‘Gotta-have-it’ mod for this supercharged performance addict. Thanks to some late night magic from the 3ZERO3 team, this one-of-a-kind kit was installed the night before the drive began.
European spec RS4 seats….. More delicious.
TECH
Ensuring that each and every car was road ready played a big part in Friday mornings activities. 3ZERO3 Motorsports Technicians were on hand checking tires, fluids, finding memory cards for cameras and sorting out anything else required by the drivers. While most owners had their tech performed earlier in the week, event organizers insisted on a ‘No exotic left behind’ policy, and this was merely step one step in that plan.
Technician Tucker is not afraid to get down and dirty while he inspects Lor’s S4 Cabriolet.
Brake fluid check on Bryan Vevjoda’s Stage III S4……Check.
DETAILS
“Its pretty nice in here,” -Audi Bear, Audi R8.
Italian pipes….Molto Bello !
The Audi R8 will never let you forget its( R8) name (R8).
F I N E Art.
BREAKFAST
Making sure that cars, and drivers were well fueled for the long road ahead was also a priority. We enlisted the help of Jeff Ehlers at Stellar Catering who provided fabulous fare for our road warriors.
Not your average buffet.
Many thanks and much appreciation to those that sponsored breakfast for all of our guests :
Bacon, eggs, and exotics. The beginning of a GREAT day.
Showing off the last of his then clean tie, Max walks the line and preps the group before take-off.
Aaron Marshall instructing his father John, to “...please keep the Supercharged S6 under 200MPH Dad,”.
AND WE’RE OFF!
Keeping a group of 35 high horsepower sports cars together across twisting two lane roads thru the San Isabel and Pike National Forests is not easy. Thankfully we head plenty of help.
A real dashing group.
The visual impact of the Lamborghini’s on the road was dangerous, literally.
Driving in front of any of these supercars proved to be a test of will. As keeping your eyes on the road, and not the rear view mirror was not an elementary task.
Q: Whats 2 words describe a vehicle owner that always happens to find the camera lens ?
A: CHARLIE COLLINGS 
HIGHWAY 285
Beyond the grasp of the Denver suburbs lies Highway 285 our gateway to the southwest mountains of Colorado. A 2 lane highway that winds its over Kenosha Pass and into the high mountain valleys of the Pike National Forest. Despite traveling on a Friday afternoon, we enjoyed minimal amounts of traffic, and only one impatient deer.
Thankfully the traffic wasn’t fatal, and neither was the deer.
Can you find the camera mounted to Charlies Supercharged S4 in this shot ?
Bud’s Turbo TT 3.2, finally able to stretch its legs.
This TT Turbo project was completed less than 2 days before the Snowmass event. And despite one of the first builds of its kind for both HPA and 3ZERO3 Bud’s TT did fantastically well all weekend long.
LOWandowski.
One of our favorite characters of the weekend, everyone appreciated the affable company of Marty Lewandowski.
Brent Thomas, smiling in front of his brakes….
Brent Thomas proudly showing off his freshly installed Porsche Cayenne Turbo front brakes on his Audi S4.
Sun on Sonny.
Sonny’s 996TT seemed to be symptomatic of Charlie Collings syndrome; always finding its way in front of the camera….
Bello Toro !
Like living inside an episode of ‘Top Gear’, getting passed by a Murcielago is a dream cone true.
Brent’s passing fancy.
The RS Allroad doing what it does best, left lane cruising on its way to the trail. Carrying both his mountain and road bike atop his RS6 fed Audi Allroad, Randy Simon joined us for the ride on Friday, but spent all weekend long cruising the trails of the Snowmass Mountains….. Some birds just gotta fly!
Track Rat.
Willis Wood’s BMW M Coupe was a bit of a lonesome shark amongst the predominately Audi and Porsche crowd, being one of 2 BMW’s to join the rally. However, the owner of Tradeshow Emporium is always welcome, especially when he prints all of the stickers and banners for the event!
BUENA VISTA
Say : Buena Vista.
Unless you were on the drive, you probably mispronounce the name of this small mountain town.
How do you say Buena Vista ? Just ask one of the weekend attendees
( or click on the link for a NPR radio bit ).
Beautiful Buena Vista ( did you say it right this time ?).
Down on the corner of : WHATISTHAT?! RD & OHMYGOODNESS!! ST in Buena Vista.
We learned very quickly that the Automobili Exotica was a travelling car show. With paparazzi hiding everywhere, and some even following us into Buena Vista from HWY 285, rest stops required a minimum of 30-45 minutes just to clear crowds and get the show moving again.
Curb appeal abounds.
The Collegiate Peaks standing proud behind the RS Allroad.
R8 = a knock out.
And then there was Roy Turners SMS 570X Dodge Challenger.
There are many details that you could memorize about this Steve Saleen built rocketship, but if you are to only remember but one fact : remember 710RWHP. This Charger is the business.
Absolutely perplexed by the amount of motor underhood.
17 minutes and 21 seconds later, Scott still hasn’t moved an inch.
Don’t have to be Italian to have Lambo doors…..
At last : LUNCH !
We were happy to be the guests of the Eddyline Pub and Brewery in Buena Vista, where the staff even provided a custom menu for us.
Smiles & Smiles.
Max proudly displaying the clean side of his tie after lunch.
Hugh Morrow hits the road in his 1974 Porsche 911 Targa.
With a friendship that nearly predates fuel injection, lifelong friends Scott and Willis enjoy a moment to pose for the camera after lunch.
Just look at those mugs ! There’s not a frown in the bunch.
HIGHWAY 82 TO INDEPENDENCE PASS
After lunch we traded the wide open spaces of the foothills of Highway 285 and Buena Vista for the tight and intimate turns of Twin Lakes and Highway 82. Even at legal speeds Highway 82 rewarded the sporting driver.
Incredible.
Thru the tall trees of Twin Lakes we ride.
Have to be adept at getting this shot, mid corner, at speed, sans co driver!
Great work Adam.
Approaching the top of Independence Pass the turns get very tight, and with no guard rail on either side, a few drivers were more than panicked as we made our way to the summit. Though we all survived by the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson :
“Always do, what you are afraid to do,”.
INDEPENDENCE PASS : 12,095FT
Climbing to one of the top of North Americas highest paved roads ( Mt Evans is the highest ) was certainly a high point of the weekend ( pun intended ).
The scattered clouds, helping to diffuse some sun, and filling the limitless Colorado sky.
It all made for majestic images.
Like candy on the mountaintop.
Cute couple !
More : “WOW”.
Making room for the Harley crowd to get their shots at the top.
Turner boys reunited at the summit.
Family Reunion at 12,095 FT !
Garry’s RS6, subdued looks masking the not so subdued twin turbo charged Audi v8.
Beautiful
Part of Speech : Adjective.
Synonyms : admirable, angelic, appealing, bewitching, charming, classy, dazzling, delicate, delightful, divine, elegant, enticing , exquisite, foxy, gorgeous, grand, handsome, magnificent, marvelous, pretty, radiant, ravishing, resplendent, sightly, splendid, stunning, superb.
“Excuse me son, do you know why I pulled YOU over ?”.
Koben Quaiser knew how to snag some seat time when the opportunity presented itself..
As we roll into Snowmas Village, the mobile car show continues.
Parking at the Silvertree Hotel was a treat. Thanks to the upfront VIP Valet all weekend long.
CHEERS ! Celebrating a toast together Friday night.
Fantastic…
After happy hour we hopped on the Skittles lift and headed into Base Village, Snowmass for dinner.
Koben ponders his exit strategy……
“HELLO !”.
Even the big kids were lovin the Skittle ride !
Finally in Base Village, this group is ready for dinner.
Make sure you stay tuned ( and subscribe ) to the 3ZERO3 Blog, as we add coverage of days two and three of this incredible event !
For more information on this event, and more amazing ways to enjoy your Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini or any car : INFO@3ZERO3MOTORSPORTS.COM. Or Click HERE
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3ZERO3 Motorsports Inc.
8065 W. 48th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO, 80033
Fax: (303) 456-8385 | info@3zero3motorsports.com
Awesomeness at it’s finest!! Great job Max!
Damn Max!!!! You have out done yourself once again!! Well done. I look forward to viewing day 2 and 3!
Thanks for all of your efforts to make this event a great succes.
Bill
Was certainly a highlight in 2010! we will be talking and remembering all the fun until the next one in 2011! Thanks to all that helped in the organization, sponsorship and arrangements as without your effforts this event would not have been the great event it was. THANKS! we need to see more Lamborghinis for 2011
We had a great time….enjoyed the track time, cool cars and the great people! Great praise to all at 3zero3 and the Lambo Club…Bill N and Max did a great job. Next year, maybe we will have a Lambo again so Lambos will bet better represented……..Thanks…..Kevin and Sue
Thanks to all for a “BEAUTIFUL” Weekend !!!
Count me in for next year, Marty said it was awesome. Are Mercedes allowed?
Yes bill, you can come
Looks like it was alot of fun! I am almost certain you can count two silverstone GTI’s in for next years.
WOW, great photos. Great event. next year, next year. I’ll bring the mobile food station for “appetizers at the top” 3ZERO3, you guys rock. Looking forward to Revo this fall, i’ll take the family to Disneyland, you can have the rabbit.
Awesome!!! Cant wait till next year.
Great work guys! My whole family had an amazing time. Thanks for makin’ Koben feel welcome throughout the event. It was a dream realized through a generation. Ciao, Paul
See you at the track soon
I was glad to be there and enjoy all the events–but to keep the Supercharged S-6 under 200mph-shucks I’m not tellin !