It’s beginning to look a lot like … a Formula One paddock?
Parked in a Balboa Island yard, under the glow of hundreds of Christmas lights, is a papaya-orange McLaren F1 car. The 2018 car, with open wheels and a single driver’s seat, is outfitted with a current McLaren team livery (the paint scheme sporting sponsorships and the team) and driver Lando Norris’ No. 4.
But instead of the 24-year-old British driver, an inflatable Santa Claus sits behind the wheel. The racing car is part of Jeff Moorad’s holiday decorations, earning his home the annual Ring of Lights Sweepstakes award and viral fame on social media.
Neighbors and visitors from across Southern California have made the trek to peer at the car – it’s a special holiday sight.
“In retrospect, I couldn’t be more pleased that we were able to share an experience like this with so many in Southern California,” said Moorad, CEO of MSP Sports Capital, a sports private equity firm. “There’s no way that I could have anticipated the fanfare that has occurred, but I think it’s all indicative of an incredibly popular sport, especially in the U.S. at this stage of its history.”
On Tuesday evening, at any given time, dozens of people crowded in front of the home, peering at the F1 car and taking photos. Some donned McLaren F1 or IndyCar shirts. Many, like one 26-year-old car aficionado from Hollywood, had driven into Orange County for a chance to see the car.
It took Jakob Barba about 40 minutes to make the trip from Garden Grove to stand on the sea wall with his friends and gaze at the car up close.
“I’m a McLaren fan so I wanted to come check it out in person,” said Barba. “I’m a big car person so just seeing the car in general was cool.”
Moorad adorned his yard with the McLaren car — with the help of a crane — as part of the famed Christmas light displays on the bayfront estates during the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The other objective, he said,…
Read the full article here