August is when the summer begins to wind down with the morning dew of back to school. If only the heat would do the same, as August is also when it feels like the sun leaned in. Walking outside in Texas at 1 p.m. in August can feel like God is watching you through a magnifying glass. This year is no different, with record-burning triple-digit temperatures hot enough to cook a five-course meal on the sidewalk. 

Nevertheless, the baking heat doesn’t prevent us from having a good time. You can float in an inflatable donut next to a buoyant ice chest full of beer along the current of a lazy river and or partake in the finer things in life, like fine spirits and quality timepieces, while admiring a spellbinding gathering of collector cars. That was the vibe at the Wheels | Watches | Whiskey event hosted by McLaren and fellow Texas auto writer Michael Satterfield, aka The Gentleman Racer.

Dressed for Success 

I couldn’t attend an event like this wearing my usual Dickies button-up and catcher’s mitt leather cowboy boots caked month old mud. I needed to step up my wardrobe or, at the very least, enhance it. My attire consisted of black Levi jeans over black dyed snakeskin cowboy boots, topped with a folded straw cowboy hat and a dad-joke-chic car-themed button-up silver shirt. I armed myself with my father’s 1968 Omega Seamaster, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, and hooked a silver chain of a vintage Russian train conductor’s pocket watch to my belt. I was ready to bask in the luxurious privilege of fine mechanisms and concentrated alcohol. 

The venue for this curation of luxury was The Stella Hotel Autograph Collection in the scenic town of Bryan, Texas. On August 19, the humid summer air cooled down long enough to enjoy this gathering of custom, vintage, and elite supercars parked on the hotel’s lawn, much to the surprise and delight of guests unaware of the event. 

The sight of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Lotus, Corvette, and McLaren lured hotel guests from the cooling comfort of the pool to drip next to these dream cars. Among the internal combustion collection of desirable metals, a crowd gathered around the 2024 McLaren Artura.

All-New 2024 McLaren Artura, a High-Performance Hybrid 

McLaren’s newest model is the brand’s first-ever high-performance hybrid production vehicle. The 2024 McLaren Artura blends efficiency and performance, then wraps it in Alcantara and suede. It holds the honor of debuting several new drivetrain and manufacturing components, like McLaren’s Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). The Artura’s construction includes super formed aluminum panels to keep its curb weight down to 3,303 pounds. 

The 2024 McLaren Artura blends efficiency and performance, then wraps it in Alcantara and suede.

Sitting behind the headrests is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 supported by an electric motor powered by an energy-dense battery pack. The gas-burning engine produces 577 horsepower and 431 pound-feet on its own. Throw in a 7.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack providing e-juice to the instant-torque 94 hp motor, and the total output on the Artura is 671 hp and 531 lb.-ft. Managing all that power is a new lightweight 8-speed transmission and McLaren’s first electronic locking differential. 

All this mechanical jargon and figures translate into an acceleration time of zero to 60 in three seconds flat. McLaren claims the 2024 Artura can reach 186 mph in 21.5 seconds. However, when you are under the strict watch of city and highway traffic laws, the Artura uses its hybrid tech to be the most efficient McLaren to date, with an estimated 39 mpg and 11 miles of all-electric range. 

Power and acceleration are only good if you can keep it right side up. To do this, McLaren fitted the Artura with a newly developed multi-link rear suspension, upgrading the electro-hydraulic steering and Proactive Damping Control system to improve the car’s agility and stability while providing the brand’s signature experience in the driver’s hands. A set of next-generation Pirelli P ZERO CORSA tires further aids in putting the power on the road. 

Inside, the interior of the 2024 McLaren Artura is all new, with essential controls on the steering wheel and 8-inch HD touchscreen hosting features like smartphone mirroring and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

OnRamp, a Texas Non-Profit Providing Reliable Vehicles to Those in Need 

Daydreaming over exotic cars with a glass of liquid courage is fun. But the real reason for this event was to support the Texas based non-profit corporation OnRamp. Founded in January 2017, the purpose of this 501c3 non-profit corporation is to help individuals and families in the state of Texas who urgently need reliable personal transportation. 

Working with local charities and religious organizations, OnRamp finds candidates who need a vehicle but lack the funds or are sincerely seeking self-sufficiency. A growing network of donors, partners, and volunteers helps OnRamp locate and purchase reliable cars to donate to candidates. 

If put into the context of the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”, OnRamp provides the fish and then teaches you how to bait a hook. 

In addition to providing them with stable transportation, OnRamp includes a full year of free vehicle maintenance. That includes hands-on teaching on the basics of vehicle care, ranging from changing a tire and inspecting vital engine fluids to navigating the bureaucracy of auto insurance forms.

If put into the context of the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”, OnRamp provides the fish and then teaches you how to bait a hook. 

Wheels | Watches | Whiskey, Finer Things Support Worthy Causes 

In the case of watches, cars, and spirits, if you like one, chances are high that you will enjoy one or the other – or both. The similarities among the three revolve around patience, skill, and creativity. Hosting all three in one venue gives you a night of like-minded conversations, shared stories, and plenty of networking possibilities. Plus, it’s not every day I get to dress like I have stock options in an energy drink company. 

Plans for next year’s Wheels | Watches | Whiskey events are underway. The Stella Hotel announced August 17, 2024, as the save the date. Given this year’s success, I have no doubt that next year will bring more cars, exclusive watches, and higher shelf spirits to further aid non-profits like OnRamp.