Las Vegas is a place of many options, but the ones offered to me recently really were too good to pass up:

Choices, choices, choices! Luckily, the planning gods made it work so that I was able to enjoy them all, seriatim, with no overlaps to fret about.

McLaren Track Day: Channeling My Inner Lando Norris

Shortly after arriving at the Wynn, we were whisked away to the Las Vegas Speedway for the McLaren performance experiences.

We were offered a bevy of 750S and Artura models, each with a professional driver as a co-pilot, to channel our inner Lando Norris (who, not incidentally, was the Formula 1 Driver of the Year for 2025, which he achieved driving for Team McLaren).

I am pleased to report that the 750S and the Artura were able to take me as fast as my skill would allow (insert self-deprecating snide remark here), well past 125 mph on the front stretch.

I then was provided a thrill ride par excellence in an Artura GT race car. Blistering acceleration, jarring braking and being whipped into the corners, which at times sent my helmeted head careening like a pinball in an arcade game.

How the drivers do that for lap after lap is a testament to their grit and neck muscles. What an awesome machine, clearly purpose-built for on-track performance.

Sunset GT: A Billion-Dollar Parking Lot

Next on my dance card was the Sunset GT event of the season, located on the roof of the Wynn parking lot on Friday night. It was far different from the local cars-and-coffee events held every week in many American towns.

McLarens, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Paganis, Astons — oh my! — each one more special than the last. To give you an idea of the blingification level, it’s the only time I’ve ever seen an Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider (a $3.5 million rarity in its own right) covered in a reputed 300,000 crystals. Now that’s a stand-out in any crowd.

SW Steakhouse: A Dinner Par Excellence

After having our need to view automotive splendor sated, it was time for dinner at SW Steakhouse. If this were a food-focused article, there would be a lot more meat here, but suffice to say that it was a delicious dinner in an elegant setting, and I will gladly return here on my next trip to Vegas.

Thank you, McLaren, for the day’s amazing confluence of activities, including that wonderful meal.

The Las Vegas Concours: Where Legends Gather

Saturday morning and afternoon we had free time to visit the annual Concours at Wynn Las Vegas on the resort’s adjacent golf course. This was my second visit to this stellar event, and it was bigger and better than ever.

To give proof of the stature of this show, it hosted the first showing of the “McLaren Project: Endurance and Project Viva.” The ringmaster for those unveilings was racing legend Derek Bell, who piloted McLarens and other marques in Formula 1 and Le Mans events, and who has been described as “one of the most liked drivers of his generation.”

The show also was highlighted by Rolls-Royce’s reveal of the “Phantom Centenary Private Collection,” a limited-edition series of just 25 bespoke Phantom sedans created to celebrate the model’s heritage, each featuring a unique solid-gold Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.

Also receiving a warm welcome at the show were Christian von Koenigsegg and his wife, Halldora, who personally unveiled the new track-focused Jesko Absolut.

Horacio Pagani also was there to reveal the new Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Both designers were treated like rock stars, with a bevy of faithful followers vying for time to visit with them following the introductions of their newest models.

The show also brought the world’s largest assemblage of Bugattis (close to 50 Veyrons, Chirons, Divos, and others were shown as Bugatti celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Veyron!) and Paganis (over 40 were on display).

Frankly, the show was a lot to take in. No wonder one report stated that the event brought together over $1 billion worth of cars.

Mizumi: A Feast for All the Senses

Rolls-Royce’s dinner that night at Mizumi in the Wynn was simply sublime. The setting — a patio alongside a large natural pool with a huge waterfall on which are projected breathtaking scenes and animated activities — was by itself worth the price of admission. The sushi and other dishes were incredible, so Mizumi now is at the top of the list of must-dos in Las Vegas.

Desert Drifting in a Rolls-Royce: The Ultimate Juxtaposition

Cool, clear blue skies welcomed us to Sunday morning’s Rolls-Royce event, a drive about an hour outside of town into the desert landscape and a sojourn to a dry lake bed.

We arrived at the turn-off for our day’s activities, a nondescript dirt road which likely had not seen any Rolls-Royces up to that point. At the dry lake bed, we saw other enthusiasts, but the area was big enough for us all.

We partook of some straight-line acceleration runs and then got into the drifting part of the program.

What a surreal experience: encased in a climate-controlled, high-powered module, hurtling along at speed and then sliding into the turns, all while comfortably ensconced in an air-conditioned and air-purified environment.

The fact that the Rolls-Royces performed with both great alacrity and wonderful aplomb was yet another testament to the engineering and performance of these awesome machines.

In Summation

It was a full weekend indeed, with a thrilling McLaren track day, incredible show cars, unbelievable meals, and topped off by being able to put the Rolls models through their paces heretofore unseen (at least by me), all while enjoying the creature comforts and the magnificent meals at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Although I have been a fan of both automotive brands for years, the McLaren event provided even greater appreciation for the racing chops of the marque, and the Rolls event showed the inconceivable range of abilities of their cars.

Having the companies jointly sponsor the weekend and scheduling it at the same time as the Las Vegas Concours was truly inspired, and resulted in a very memorable event.