For several months, Brad Johnson and Darren Matte have been steadily advancing plans for DRIV, a luxury car club. It’s a private members organization, based in San Francisco and Las Vegas, offering a portfolio of vehicles — Ferrari F430 Spider to Bentley Continental Flying Spur sedan.
 
Last week, DRIV had an evening launch reception in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. Greg Soderland and I made the drive from Sacramento and enjoyed the warm, outdoor gathering hosted inconjunction with Cellar 365.
 
It’s not the first luxury car club, but DRIV’s desire, according to its literature, is to offer members “a simple point system that allow members to create a personalized driving experience.”
 
Utilizing the point system and an included mileage ‘bank’, members can borrow any of the luxury and exotic vehicles to
drive in a club “that relieves you of the burden of outright ownership.

Depreciation, servicing, detailing and storage all cease to be of concern.”
 
DRIV will begin its program, according to company literature, with three vehicles each of the San Francisco and Las Vegas locations. It’s targeting six vehicles in both locations by the end of 2008.
 
DRIV also has a series of Arrive and DRIV functions scheduled throughout Northern California. During these gatherings, groups limited to 15 can “further learn about membership while gaining complimentary seat time behind the wheel of a few different cars from the collection.”
 
The Arrive and DRIV sessions are scheduled: Presidio (San Francisco), May 14; The Carneros Inn (Napa), June 4; Woodside (Peninsula/South Bay), June 25; Lafayette (Park Hotel & Spa), July 16.
 
For additional information, contact DRIV, via telephone, 866-539-8680, or visit the company web site, www.clubdriv.com.