Surprisingly sufficient, I’ve had my fair proportion of nights spent round vehicles at this level.
And no, I don’t imply consuming and driving – that’s about as silly because it will get. I’m speaking about events and occasions revolving round vehicles.
Final Thursday was presupposed to be a relaxed evening with a few mates – seize a chew, watch the brand new Venom film, nothing too wild. However the day earlier than, whereas deep right into a social media doom scroll, one thing caught my eye. One thing very orange.
It was a shot of an E30 BMW M3 DTM racer wearing its iconic Jägermeister livery. However as a substitute of the same old racetrack backdrop, this one was set in a darkish room, illuminated solely by neon lights. The caption learn: “Rave on Thursday, Race on Sunday.”
Now, I’m not saying I’m a rave fanatic, however, I’m not saying I’m not one both. I used to be intrigued. Plans to hit the cinema had been scrapped in favour of hitting a carpark like no different in West London.
You would possibly recognise the Duke of London from one other occasion story this yr. The Brentford website combines a showroom, café, workshop, storage, wine bar, and a group of proprietor Merlin McCormack’s eclectic vehicles.
For this evening, the Duke’s higher ground had been remodeled right into a ’90s-style techno membership, with a bar within the café and a second one arrange for good measure. The area was drenched in orange neon lighting, completely complementing the star points of interest: not folks, however 5 of Jägermeister’s most iconic race vehicles.
There was the E30 M3 DTM, in fact, alongside its rival, the Alfa Romeo 155 DTM, plus a Group 5 BMW 320 E21, a monstrous Porsche 935, and the last-of-the-line Opel Astra V8 DTM.
Every automobile is known in its personal proper, however collectively, they inform the story of Jägermeister’s wealthy racing historical past. What fascinated me, although, was how an occasion like this even got here to be within the first place.
In spite of everything, while you’re contemplating an evening out, race vehicles aren’t precisely the very first thing that involves thoughts, are they? Particularly not when there’s an open bar and a dance ground.
The brains behind this occasion and all the opposite latest Jägermeister pop-ups away from the race observe is a model known as Rennmeister. Their mission? To current the Jägermeister assortment as extra than simply race vehicles.
In the event you ask somebody not into vehicles to attend a basic race assembly, they may in all probability decline.
However invite them to a celebration with some cool classic race vehicles, throw in good music and some cocktails, they usually’ll be much more inclined to take you up on the provide.
I spent the primary a part of the night on the occasion preview, catching up with some trade colleagues and having fun with the vehicles with out the same old crowds. Certain, I’d seen a few of these vehicles at occasions like Luftgekühlt Wrocław and Ultrace this yr, however any probability to soak within the particulars up shut is one I may by no means move up.
After that, I may need fallen sufferer to the open bar. The Jägermeister cocktails hit the spot, and the enjoyable mixture of music made for an pleasing evening in a very distinctive venue.
A fast chat with the Rennmeister crew through the occasion has me hopeful that I can carry you extra tales from the Jägermeister racing crew’s previous, current, and future.
For all of the seriousness and professionalism that the trade typically calls for, it was nice to expertise the enjoyable facet of issues after hours. I can’t wait to see what Rennmeister mixes up subsequent.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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