2016... Well I never...

It's been another year filled with hair colour changes, more ink additions, health ups & downs and yet, still, many miles travelled... all for the sake of these 4 wheeled wonders!
The thing is, I don't really know where to start and what to say about this year! It's all slightly surreal.
I had to go back on my Instagram, and also look through my hard drives to remind myself of this years antics. Some things feel like years ago, whilst some only feel like yesterday!
I've had a couple of things happen that I could of NEVER predicted would happen in my life... yet, alone all in one year.
The funny thing is, all this car photography stuff started because my GP at the time told me I needed to get a hobby. Anyway, I've had this "hobby" for 3 years now. Which isn't long in comparison to some people I've met. But I've had some incredible experiences in this time! Beyond imaginable!
They say a lot can change in a year and upon reflecting the events of this year, it certainly can.

January, I had the awesome experience of shooting at Koenigsegg for Koenigsegg and Shmee150. Getting to ride in the Regera with Christian von Koenigsegg and do the first proper shoot of this car, was incredible!!!! It helped that it was snowing to really set the scene and make my photos really stand out.

Little did I know that these photos would basically go viral, with them still being shared and reposted on social media pages today! A few images also got printed on canvas for display at the Geneva Motor Show, along with being published in the Koenigsegg magazine and featuring in the Salon Prive catalogue. So a massive thanks to Tim & then the team in Angelholm.

Another year of working with the lovely guys at Oakley Design...
I love these guys! I'm picked on like I'm one of the lads, we have great laughs on our road trips and I'm honoured & privileged to be invited back time and time again to shoot and show off their unique and performance enhancing modifications!
Whether I'm shooting their Veyron in the Graffiti Tunnel at 3am, leaning over a banking section of a test circuit in France or I'm on a forklift to get aerial shots of a P1, it's always a pleasure to showcase their work.
I cannot wait for their expansion to their new units next year, they thoroughly deserve it! I look forward to working with you again next year and thank you for another incredible year.










I MET JENSON BUTTON!! I forgot this was this year, but oh my God, it was amazing. Attending the London Classic Car Show for the first time ever and meeting someone I've been such a fan of for so long - was insanely cool! He was so lovely - as was Suzi Perry, Jodie Kidd & Bruno Senna. It was also a celebration of the McLaren F1, so that was epic!

Ryan Lugg, hosting his awesome Supercars Of Essex car events, and Cars & Curry nights - has been pretty damn cool too. Especially when a McLaren F1 shows up at a curry house!!! Now that was slightly crazy! But thank you for putting on some cool events and drives, Ryan!

Then a quick run through of other events from this year that have been pretty cool...
- Gumball 3000 coming to town!
- Auto Italia (basically where it all started for me, 3 years ago)
- Blancpain at Brands Hatch = where we also saw the P1 GTR & Aston Martin Vulcan flying round the track
- Blancpain at Silverstone = massive thanks to Pasin Lathouras for the pass for that!
- Goodwood Breakfast Meeting = shooting the Shmee150 "Blue Crew" final drive together
- Goodwood FoS
- Fast Factory meet
- Icons by the Lake = great events hosted by Lee Hill!
- Being invited to the opening of Ford Epsom
- Salon Prive = although it was very very very wet, it was a very cool event with some stunning cars
- Visiting the set of Transformers = SEEING A CENTENARIO ON THE ROAD!!!!! <3
- Passione Ferrari was a fun day = FXXK <3 599XX <3 LaFerrari <3 sounding epic on track!
- Mercedes Petronas F1 Team Christmas Party!!! (Massive thanks Mike!!)
- Special thanks to CarCrazedFool and Porsche Colchester! Especially for the epic 911R shoot! :)

Special mention to Ciro, owner of The Sharnbrook - his events are always amazing. The variety of cars is brilliant, the atmosphere is fantastic... he does such a superb job, I cannot wait for next years events.
Then you have the usual attendees, Yianni & Lenny. I can't thank them enough for looking out for me and checking on me! They aren't just hilarious, they're both very kind guys... but shh, don't ruin their image now ;)








Now, a moment of reflection to sort of round this up.
23rd June, 2016... Probably the scariest event of my life. BUT. I learnt a lot.
A lot changed. A lot then made sense to me.
That date, the day of the accident I was involved in, en route to Goodwood.
I thought that was it, truth be told. Game over.
Alas, someone somewhere said it wasn't and TA DAH! All of us involved are still here today.
I learnt who cared, I learnt who didn't. There were people who showed up asap! There were people who I'd thought were my best friends, yet never even sent a message to check I was okay!
The biggest thing I learnt, every opportunity you're handed... take it! You don't know when your time is up.
There's people I met after that accident, and people I grew closer to that I'd of never met, but I'm SO bloody thankful I survived and did!!

Which leads me to some special people and special events - Demi, Chris & Roger! Our trip to the Nurburgring was so much fun, we may not of seen anything incredible but it was sure damn fun!

Our trip to Dubai, now that was epic! Cars we saw, cars we shot, people we met, sights we saw... LOVED IT. Part of the reason for going was so I could meet up with someone, yes... I'm that crazy person who flies half way round the world to meet them!
A massive thank you to Natalia Itani, her kindness, hospitality and sweet words meant a lot! Plus, that Huracan was beautiful! MUCH MUCH MUCH want <3

Anyway, to my "gang" - LOVE YOU GUYS!! I look forward to what 2017 has in store!

Then everyone else, I haven't forgotten about you - be it spotters & photographers, people I see at events, or friends I haven't seen in ages - that are away from cars (sorry! these cars are rather time consuming and energy depleting!)
but you've all made this year amazing and I can't put into words how thankful I am for you all!!!!
To those who have been in my life and left - thank you to you to. I've learnt a lot.

It was a special year in managing to get Dad out and about - so proud of him, my hero! But the support we have from you guys is just... indescribable! So thank you...

Health isn't amazing in our house, but it could always be worse! I missed a few epic things... LIKE A VENENO cause pain was just too bad but oh well.

Anyway,
Much love, health, happiness and positivity for 2017!
Take care.
Jo

Just another Daily Mail article about Knightsbridge...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3197127/My-week-Blingmobiles-SARAH-RAINEY-joins-Middle-Eastern-boy-racers-flying-supercars-eye-wateringly-vulgar-spin.html

If you keep up to date on these articles, you will see... it's 99.9% the same as any previous article discussing the "Ramadan Rush" with the "crazy wraps" or the "loud noises" that "disturb residents."

Well...

This article is essentially narrated, like a children's story in parts, for example: when referencing The Wolf Of Knightsbridge and his dispersing of the crowd. It kind of read like a retelling of The Three Little Pigs, as though he was huffing and puffing till they all blew away!

Whilst on the subject of TWOK, the way this story made Angelo, TWOK & the owner sound was just... arrogant! I can tell you from personal knowledge of these people, that's been written so dramatically.
"I am forbidden from touching the plush red-and-white leather interior; forbidden from pressing the astounding array of buttons and levers that dot the dashboard; and, above all else, forbidden from putting my foot anywhere near the accelerator." YOU ARE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR!! You are in THEIR 6x6, it's not a regular G63 or anything. Of course you can't just go touching everything! They don't let just anyone sit in there either.

One thing I have commonly noticed with these articles, they send women. Now I'm basically the only female to take pics in Knightsbridge of the cars, I've written in the past and made a video with a great friend of mine about how difficult being a female in this male dominated industry is. When these female journalists show up, with no passion or knowledge of these cars, the way they portray them is awful! Not to mention stats and figures are often HORRIFICALLY misquoted. On that note, the "Orange" which is more like Red & Black McLaren P1 is by MSO and quoted at £850,000... I'd try somewhere more in the region of a million plus.

The article actually tells of how much money these visitors spend, which is a great boost to the local economy. The article uses that lovely term "Ramadan Rush." The thing is, that's not why they're here. It's to escape the heat in Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai etc. The dates of Ramadan change yearly, so it just doesn't make sense and is such a cringe term used by the press.

"These cars may be dazzling to look at, but with them comes trouble: traffic chaos as they stop on yellow lines, hurtle down one-way streets and fail to pay parking fines." Yes, they may be dazzling. Trouble doesn't tend to come from them. Chaos more often than not is caused by London Taxis, with ridiculous numbers lining up way outside of the allocated bay of the Taxi rank. Followed by minicabs and chauffeurs (in UK plated cars) just stopping in the narrow one way streets surrounding Harrods to collect or drop off passengers. Hurtling is far from what a good proportion do! You may have the odd one or two who will put their foot down, but the articles make it sound like EVERY single Arab guest is just wanting to break the law by having a lead foot!

Shmee150 has done an amazing video highlighting the speeding, sound, disturbance, nuisance complaints regarding the Arab cars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxLDItrQoWc - and yet again, the paper fails to mention how it's the Brits who are the main perpetrators for the noise and speed on Sloane Street.

I just feel the press want to constantly make this a huge deal and it's frankly boring and pathetic. Can someone at least get a new angle on this topic?! Like... maybe how the average speed of the new Aventador SV visiting from Qatar was 13mph!!! Not 130, 13!!! Yet, 2 seconds after that goes cruising by, an English plated BMW M3 goes flying down the same straight strip at terrifying speeds!

It's so annoying! Anyway, I could continue but that's my rant over. Goodnight.

Skully x

Oh... also mentioning the Swarovski Crystal Mercedes is a bit of a fail in that article - it's English NOT Arab.