Compared to most people I enjoy my daily drive to and from work. It gives me time to prepare, unwind, listen to podcasts and inevitably see one or two interesting sights.
At one time driving I94 into downtown Detroit I would see a blue Honda S200O driven by a tall driver who looked over rather than through the windshield. I know that issue being 6″6′ many of my car choices are filtered first by what I can fit in comfortably rather than by driving dynamics or automotive lust.
Whether it was due to a complete lack of forward vision if the hood was raised or an appreciation of the true nature of convertibles that raising ( or remembering ‘classic’ sports cars of my youth ‘erecting’) the top was the exception rather than the rule I do not know. But rain or shine this car was driven top down. The registration ‘Nurburg’ added to the already huge smile on my face knowing that here was some one else who got it and loved their car and driving as much as I.
Two incidents reminded me of ‘Nurburg’ this week. Merging on to 696 on thursday morning amongst all the trucks and SUVs I saw a flash of red and chrome out the corner of my eye…. an MGA? Of course, I had to accelerate change lane, catch up and find out.
Yes it was amongst the commuter traffic into Detroit on a sunny spring morning someone was driving a red MGA, even better the top was down. The driver sat erect sports jacket and cap matching the style of the 60s roadster perfectly. Even the large wheel set close to the chest in a manner that would have NHTSA reaching for the smelling salts was held in the appropriate ‘ten to two’ position by hands clad in leather string back driving gloves!!!! The driver sensed my gaze and looked across and smiled and nodded in response to me. No vulgar thumbs up or whoops just a dignified recognition of our common bond on the road on that spring morning.
Thursday on my way home near Ann Arbor I saw for the first time a Nissan GT-R the current darling of the automotive press and blogosphere. As I had hoped in the flesh it looked better than the pictures I had seen which left it looking to me more like a pastiche of Fast and the Furious ‘aero’ aids to create a race car look for the road. Albeit across the median once moving everything harmonized. In motion the car seemed to metamorphize like comparing an ungainly seal on land compared to its natural element slicing through the water.
These two experiences so different but similar in the auto response that they generate are what this blog is all about, interest and passion in all things automotive. For me and I think for Mark too this blog is less editorial and more autobiographical. There are many many magazines, books, blogs, podcasts that focus on particular automotive subjects, topics or vehicle, but this is more about who we are based on the things that motivate us to blog. Be it modern vehicles and the state of the industry, classic or historic racing, our own memories or experiences, books, games or TV what you will get here is an insight into the eclectic minds of two family men who have spent their lives involved directly or indirectly with the universe of the automobile and everything that surrounds it! if nothing else it might help our long suffering wives understand us a little better- although as it was their suggestion we start this blog I have to admitt that they already know us better than we do ourselves. Thank you!
