Dreamcast18
01-01-2008, 11:18 PM
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=2718315
This week, my girlfriend, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, came to Colorado to visit. I wanted to show her the most beautiful parts of my state so in order to do that I took her to, among other places, the small town of Ouray, a beautiful southwestern Colorado town that refers to itself as the "Switzerland of America." We stayed there for two nights, and during the second day there, we decided to take a day trip to Telluride, about an hour away. In order to get to Telluride from Ouray, you have to take US Highway 550 to Ridgway, Colorado, and then from there, Colorado State Highway 62 to Placerville, Colorado, and finally Colorado State Highway 145 into Telluride. It is common knowledge in the area that fashion designer Ralph Lauren owns most of the land between Ridgway and Placerville along CO-62.
On the drive to Telluride from Ouray I told my girlfriend jokingly, 'be on the lookout for Veyrons and McLaren F1s - Ralph has them all registered here!' Common knowledge of the area also dictates that Lauren registered each of his supercars at his Colorado ranch in order to get car dealer status, meaning he didn't have to pay taxes on each of his cars. However, it's well-known that he doesn't keep the cars here.
With that said, as we drove by the ranch on the way to Telluride, we could clearly see at least fifteen or twenty garage spaces next to the main buildings. I told her it was 'scary' to think what he might have in there - considering his collection spends most of its time on tour in museums. Granted the spots could be empty, but who knows. We drove by the rest of his beautiful property and into Telluride, and, to some degree, forgot about Ralph.
On the way back, she had evidently forgotten my ultracar warning and promptly fell asleep as soon as we left Telluride. We started on the drive back and began going by Ralph's ranch. She was sleeping in the passenger seat and I was daydreaming, staring off at the beautiful ranch and glancing at the road every few seconds. Nearing the main buildings, it happened.
Immediately as I saw the Veyron coming toward me, I recognized it - which is odd because having never seen one before I thought I'd freeze or question my eyes or something. But I immediately recognized it and knew I had to give chase, as I've waited my entire car spotting career to see the thing - even though I never thought in a million years I would actually see the car on this stretch. I slammed on my brakes and pulled into opposing traffic and began screaming:
"KATE!!! KATE!!!" She woke up and was totally startled.
"What?! Where are we?! What's wrong?"
"I just saw a ****ing Veyron!!"
Now mind you at this point I am in opposing lanes and am coming to a stop. I made a three-point turn (on a 65mph state highway - to much honking from vehicles behind me) and put the pedal to the floor. I tagged 105mph before I caught a second glimpse of the vehicle. I made several daring two-lane passes and finally got directly behind the Veyron, which was doing the speed limit or slightly under. Realizing at any time he could floor it and be completely gone, I began snapping photos. Early ones turned out shaky because my hands were shaking from the excitement:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-1.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-4.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-5.jpg
But eventually I settled down and was able to snap some clearer shots:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-6.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-7.jpg
As you can see the Veyron's New York license plates read RLX 7, which I was mystified about, but based on the proximity to Lauren's ranch and the 'RL' in the tag - and that I knew he was from New York - it was a pretty easy jump to believe it was him. I knew I had to wait for some side shots of the car and I was ready to follow until that happened. So I followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-8.jpg
...and followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-9.jpg
...and followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-10.jpg
...until finally we came to the junction where you can choose to take CO-145 to Telluride. I presumed he would turn and head into Telluride, although my own previous jaunt into the town showed me that construction was so bad there was no way he could get the Veyron in there. I knew this might be my best chance for a side shot so I steadied the camera, and just hoped. And...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-11.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-12.jpg
Not bad! I was pretty pleased, but I wanted to see what would happen next. Thank god I did, because after a short drive...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-13.jpg
This week, my girlfriend, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, came to Colorado to visit. I wanted to show her the most beautiful parts of my state so in order to do that I took her to, among other places, the small town of Ouray, a beautiful southwestern Colorado town that refers to itself as the "Switzerland of America." We stayed there for two nights, and during the second day there, we decided to take a day trip to Telluride, about an hour away. In order to get to Telluride from Ouray, you have to take US Highway 550 to Ridgway, Colorado, and then from there, Colorado State Highway 62 to Placerville, Colorado, and finally Colorado State Highway 145 into Telluride. It is common knowledge in the area that fashion designer Ralph Lauren owns most of the land between Ridgway and Placerville along CO-62.
On the drive to Telluride from Ouray I told my girlfriend jokingly, 'be on the lookout for Veyrons and McLaren F1s - Ralph has them all registered here!' Common knowledge of the area also dictates that Lauren registered each of his supercars at his Colorado ranch in order to get car dealer status, meaning he didn't have to pay taxes on each of his cars. However, it's well-known that he doesn't keep the cars here.
With that said, as we drove by the ranch on the way to Telluride, we could clearly see at least fifteen or twenty garage spaces next to the main buildings. I told her it was 'scary' to think what he might have in there - considering his collection spends most of its time on tour in museums. Granted the spots could be empty, but who knows. We drove by the rest of his beautiful property and into Telluride, and, to some degree, forgot about Ralph.
On the way back, she had evidently forgotten my ultracar warning and promptly fell asleep as soon as we left Telluride. We started on the drive back and began going by Ralph's ranch. She was sleeping in the passenger seat and I was daydreaming, staring off at the beautiful ranch and glancing at the road every few seconds. Nearing the main buildings, it happened.
Immediately as I saw the Veyron coming toward me, I recognized it - which is odd because having never seen one before I thought I'd freeze or question my eyes or something. But I immediately recognized it and knew I had to give chase, as I've waited my entire car spotting career to see the thing - even though I never thought in a million years I would actually see the car on this stretch. I slammed on my brakes and pulled into opposing traffic and began screaming:
"KATE!!! KATE!!!" She woke up and was totally startled.
"What?! Where are we?! What's wrong?"
"I just saw a ****ing Veyron!!"
Now mind you at this point I am in opposing lanes and am coming to a stop. I made a three-point turn (on a 65mph state highway - to much honking from vehicles behind me) and put the pedal to the floor. I tagged 105mph before I caught a second glimpse of the vehicle. I made several daring two-lane passes and finally got directly behind the Veyron, which was doing the speed limit or slightly under. Realizing at any time he could floor it and be completely gone, I began snapping photos. Early ones turned out shaky because my hands were shaking from the excitement:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-1.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-4.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-5.jpg
But eventually I settled down and was able to snap some clearer shots:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-6.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-7.jpg
As you can see the Veyron's New York license plates read RLX 7, which I was mystified about, but based on the proximity to Lauren's ranch and the 'RL' in the tag - and that I knew he was from New York - it was a pretty easy jump to believe it was him. I knew I had to wait for some side shots of the car and I was ready to follow until that happened. So I followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-8.jpg
...and followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-9.jpg
...and followed...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-10.jpg
...until finally we came to the junction where you can choose to take CO-145 to Telluride. I presumed he would turn and head into Telluride, although my own previous jaunt into the town showed me that construction was so bad there was no way he could get the Veyron in there. I knew this might be my best chance for a side shot so I steadied the camera, and just hoped. And...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-11.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-12.jpg
Not bad! I was pretty pleased, but I wanted to see what would happen next. Thank god I did, because after a short drive...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j76/81401/cars/bugatti/veyron-071607-13.jpg