Vulcan was nominated by the Kompani Group for “Innovative Company of the Week:”

Heard of fractional jet ownership? Well, now there is fractional supercar ownership.

Check out the Vulcan Motor Club’s exotic car club. It’s Kompani Group’s pick for innovative company of the week. Great answer for those recession weary playboys. Wonder if there are some other big ticket items that can be turned into fractional owner business models? Luxury houses, handbags, watches?

(Reposted from the Kompani Group.)

The concept of shared usage of supercars — from $150,000 Ferraris to $500,000 Mercedes SLR McLarens — is based on a rarefied version of austerity. After all, paying $30,000 or more for an annual club membership is certainly more financially prudent than actually buying one of these cars, which for the most part depreciate drastically as soon as they leave the showroom.

The Vulcan Motor Club, based in New Jersey, owns a dozen supercars, including a Tesla Roadster and a Ford GT40. Vulcan has about 100 members and annual memberships that cost up to $35,000. The founders, Aaron Fessler and Tom Mizzone, are serial entrepreneurs rather than hard-core car enthusiasts, and they began the business in 2007 because they saw an opportunity. Despite the economy, Vulcan has opened a second outlet in Glen Cove, N.Y.

Mr. Fessler said he noticed that the high price of exotics was followed by a precipitous drop of $50,000 to $60,000 once they had 100 miles on them. “For many people, and especially in this climate, it’s hard to justify that expense,” he said. “And people are time-sharing everything else, from yachts to watches, so why not cars?”

[Excerpted from Fractional Life, July 2008]

By JIM MOTAVALLI for the NEW YORK TIMES
The concept of timesharing supercars — from $150,000 Ferraris to $500,000 Mercedes SLR McLarens — is based on a rarefied version of austerity. After all, paying $30,000 or more for an annual club membership is certainly more financially prudent than actually buying one of these cars, which for the most part depreciate dramatically as soon as they leave the showroom.

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Yes, we know. There was a time when it was cool to be on Facebook. That time has passed. Facebook now has 150 million members, and its fastest-growing demographic is 30 and up. At this point, it’s way cooler not to be on Facebook. We’ve ruined it for good, just like we ruined Twilight and skateboarding. So git! And while you’re at it, you kids better get off our lawn too.

But for those of you looking for the behind-the-scenes scoop on what goes on at Vulcan, check out our fan club:

(PS: We’re not on Twitter yet. We don’t understand Twitter. Literally. It makes little sense to us.)

It appears that there is only one place in the world where you can reach blistering speeds on a specially designed road track, slip out of your racing gear, and, minutes later, be drinking a glass of Dom Pérignon in an air-conditioned lounge offering 360-degree views of the action on the track below.

Monticello Motor Club, located a short 90-minute drive from Manhattan in Monticello, New York, promises to be a mecca for automotive enthusiasts who also relish the good life between taking their turns on the track. “Our club blends performance and lifestyle in way that is unique,” says Jason Bannerman, MMC’s director of business development. “We offer a safe and controlled environment, but our track was specially designed so our members can push themselves to the limit.”

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Jim Motavalli, New York Times contributor, blogs about green transportation

Ever wondered what it was like to drive a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Aston-Martin? Me too. I was able to find out as I got access to an exclusive country club for cars. They only allow 100 members. And they let me in for the day.

CHESTER, NEW JERSEY—I am at the wheel of a $495,000 Mercedes SLR McLaren Coupe, which offers sick acceleration and probably the most conspicuous automotive consumption this side of Koenigsegg (which makes $1 million supercars and just bought Saab).
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TIMESHARING SUPERCARS: FERRARIS AND LAMBORGHINIS FOR THE DAY
By Jim Motavalli | June 19th, 2009 @ 7:38 am

When Aaron Fessler goes to work, he walks into a garage that is wish fulfillment for the world’s dreamers and Car and Driver subscribers. An Audi R8, polished and gleaming, sits next to an all-business Ford GT-40, which is blocking the exit of a V-12 Aston-Martin DB9, Mercedes SLR McLaren and Lamborghini LP560-4. Did I mention the British Racing Green Tesla Roadster?

Welcome to Vulcan Motor Club, a timeshare for supercars that Fessler—a serial entrepreneur—started in New Jersey circa 2007 with his friend Tom Mizzone. Sign up for a $35,000 one-year membership and you get 40 days of access to a dozen supercars. They’ll even deliver them to you, full of gas (and given their thirst, you’ll need it). This is not the only entry in the field: Club Sportiva has the same basic idea.
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You could argue that the Gallardo justifies its $233,000 price tag by displaying one of the most striking exterior forms in automobiledom. Or you could argue that having a 0-to-60 time of just over 4 seconds, a top speed of 196 mph (192 with the top down), and a superbly stiff open-top structure makes it a worthy candidate to replace that summer home you’ve been eyeing. Or you could decide that, with its sumptuous interior and all-wheel drive, the Gallardo Spyder represents a unique offering in the exotic-car world. Our advice? Stop thinking, power the top down under the carbon-fiber cover, and start counting the stares.

Photo courtesy of Autolux Mobile Detailing

Ready to learn more about club membership? Stop by the Vulcan Motor Clubhouse in Chester, NJ on June 16th from 3-9pm to view a selection of our fleet – which includes the electric Tesla Roadster Supercar, the raging Ferrari F430, the all-new 2009 Lamborghini LP560-4, the Audi “Car-Of-The-Year ” R8, the Bentley Flying Spur, the Aston Martin DB9, the Lamborghini Murcielago, the Mercedes-Benz SLR Mclaren, and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

The team will be available to answer questions about the club and give complimentary rides in the vehicle of your choice.

Ever wonder what it’s like to be behind the wheel of the Lamborghini Spyder?