Convoy of Tesla Roadsters in California commemorates 500th delivery

UPDATE: Added Speed and Motion HD Video after the jump

Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After taking a look at the photos of such an event from our friends at Speed and Motion, we'll go with convoy. This crowd was brought together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Tesla's first retail store and the delivery of the 500th Tesla Roadster, meaning that the cars you see in the pictures below represent less than a tenth of total Roadster production so far. Elliot from Speed and Motion describes the experience this way:

What a treat it was to experience 60 miles along the streets and freeways of LA including a run through the scenic Malibu canyons. What surprised me was how quick (0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds) and agile in the corners this electric vehicle really is on the road. We made a pit stop at the Rock Store before heading over for a wonderful barbecue at Greener Pasture Ranch, a Tesla customer's private home.

Riding in these cars is so peaceful and tranquil. It sure was a change from the loud and wild exotic cars that we are used to experiencing here at speedandmotion! One thing I can say for sure is the owners are such a spirited and lively group, not to mention car aficionados at heart.

We've got 20 pictures in the gallery below that are almost too much if you're a Roadster fan. See the rest of the photos here and be sure to click past the break for a couple of videos that were taken during the event, along with the official press release.

[Source: Speed and Motion]

Videos:

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PRESS RELEASE:

Tesla Motors' "Roadster Rally" to Commemorate 500th Delivery and Anniversary of First Retail Store

WEST LOS ANGELES, Calif. - (Business Wire) Tesla Motors will host a road rally Saturday to commemorate the electric vehicle manufacturer's 500th Roadster delivery and the one-year anniversary of its first retail store.

Several dozen Tesla owners are expected to participate in event, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Tesla's showroom in West Los Angeles. Owners and their invited guests will then travel a scenic mountain route to Malibu for a barbecue at a Greener Pasture Ranch, a Tesla customer's private home.

The 60-mile drive will likely be the largest gathering of Tesla Roadsters on public streets. It's expected to attract eco-conscious sports car buffs, EV enthusiasts, and the elite Roadster Club members from the region.

It's also an important customer appreciation event for Tesla, which delivered its 500th Roadster last weekend.

"People who buy Roadsters are getting a superlative sports car that drives more like a performance jet than a car – and they are supporting a new American automaker committed to building well designed, high performance vehicles with a level of efficiency far greater than any other automaker in the world," said Jeremy Snyder, Tesla's General Manager for the South Western Territory. "We're hosting this event to say thank you to our owners and stay engaged with our passionate community of customers."

In addition to the West Los Angeles store, which opened a year ago, Tesla has a showroom in Menlo Park, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company is scheduled to open regional sales and service centers this summer in New York, Chicago, London, Seattle, Miami, Washington, Monaco and Munich.

San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in the United States or Europe. The Roadster beats nearly every other car in acceleration yet is twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius. It costs roughly $4 to refuel and can be completely recharged in as little as 3.5 hours.