COAST SUMMIT
BUZZ
Things We Like ….
COURTESY OF MCLAREN
COAST SUMMIT
Automotive Sound
When McLaren released the limited edition Speedtail XP2 prototype to the world in 2018 , Dean Gordon , a Miami-based luthier who designs bespoke musical instruments , found his muse .
Debuting at the 2023 National Association of Music Merchants ( NAMM ) show , Gordon , who was inspired to craft a “ one of one ” custom guitar that matched the hypercar ’ s stunning aesthetics , displayed his Virtus guitar model , which echoed the virtues of the Speedtail ’ s design . The sleek , headless guitar was designed to be more ergonomic , with the body made from old stock lightweight alder wood ; the neck made with master-grade flamed maple and the lower horn milled from aircraft grade aluminum .
The fretboard is constructed from luxurious ebony wood and subtle details include a carbon fiber backplate , a hand-stitched leather lower horn cover , and leather detailing seen inside the guitar ’ s wiring cavities that match the XP2 ’ s Oxblood Red upholstery .
“ McLaren being synonymous with cutting-edge design and pushing boundaries made it a no-brainer choice for inspiration for my ‘ Automotive ’ inspired line of guitars ,” says Gordon , owner of Dean Gordon Guitars . “ These guitars are my artistic exercise , where I not only try to make the best playing and sounding guitar possible , but to put an artistic flare on them beyond what I normally do . The Speedtail was the perfect muse .”
Uniting top-tier adventure athletes , renowned filmmakers and industry leaders who have not only achieved excellence in their respective fields but have also left a profound mark through their commitment to activism and storytelling , the Coast Film Foundation ’ s inaugural Coast Summit took place in early November at the Festival of Arts Forum Theater .
Those attending the day long environmental symposium presented by A New Earth Project , in collaboration with The Momentum and other partners who helped shape this programming addition to the Coast Film and Music Festival , gained insights into the significance of Marine Protected Areas ( including Laguna ’ s own 10-year-old Marine Protected Areas ), the community value of land preservation and the balance of policy making and consumer behavior . Laguna College of Art and Design students shared their stunning projects with sustainable design . Networking and live music capped off the day featuring Revelshine Wines , Grey Whale Gin , jam tunes by The Great North Special , and the Mountains and Snow film showcase .
“ We curated an exciting day featuring A-list professional adventure athletes and environmental advocates from across the globe ,” says Ben Warner , co-founder and executive director of Coast Film Foundation and Festival . “ As a community of outdoor enthusiasts united by our passion for adventure and the great outdoors , we recognize the urgency of working collaboratively to safeguard our precious resources for our communities and future generations .”
14 FALL / WINTER 2023 / 24 | LATITUDE33MAGAZINE . COM