Why are you a petrolhead?

[Harsh]

What is it about cars that elicits so much passion among a certain group of people?

It's not age or Gender, we have males and females on this site and ages range from 15 through to 60+

I can answer for myself,
Its the feeling of freedom it gives me.
It almost doesn't matter what I'm driving (although it sometimes helps)

Just getting into the car and hitting the road, either at the start of a long journey, a tunnel run, or a trip to the shops. I'm in control of how and where I go.

Driving with other people enhances the experience greatly....the whole reason behind this site is to allow us to go and indulge our passion with other people who 'get it'.

I'm sure i'll be more eloquent later but I'd be interested in hearing any other reasons for being a Petrolhead.

[Dizeee]

Much the same for me...

I was always obsessed with cars long before I could drive. There was no reason for it, but I was transfixed on anything half decent looking with 4 wheels.

Having passed my test and started to drive, I experienced a euphoria of emotion at certain things. Some of these include:

1) Driving on a fast road in the summer with the windows down, sun shining, and that rush of satisfaction as you are cruising along in the balmyness of it all

2) Driving ona fast road in the winter with the windows down and heaters on, cold air rushing in, and that crudity of it all!

3) My absolute favourite, dusk driving... Nothing like cruising along as a clear dusk is setting in, as it slowly gets darker and darker, flicking on the xenons, allowing the evening to wash over you as you drive, taking in the sights, smells and sounds

4) Driving in groups. The presence of a group, the collection of one passion moving as one, the universally shared sense of euphoria even in small groups driving together respectfully yet mischieviously in the right circumstances

I really find that a can achieve a state of trance in the right driving conditions. Some meets you expect to be great and they are, some don't turn out as good. Some you don't think will be that amazing and they end up being awe inspiring. I have been lucky enough to collect some awesome memories over the last 18 months and look forward to many more.

Amongst lots that stand out for me were the Saturday morning Dutch Run in 2007 around Horsham, Harsh myself and Marcellus tearing up Kensington at gone 0100 late last year after a run, various conoys down the A3 to Goodwood and listening to the new Coldplay Album when it came out earlier this year driving with Harsh, Tigertwo, Ben San and Brahman. As I say when the conditions are right, you can get a real physical rush of adrenalin and a great buzz.

[jumplead]

I was a car nut from an early age. I blame my father in part, he was always tinkering with old engines and working on cars. I think I helped rebuild my first engine at 8 or 9. For him its more the engineering side of things that make him tick, he taught me about the combustion engine and the components. As a child of 8 I could pretty much tell you what every single car on the road was, sometimes I even got it right.

For me its the whole package and the bond between man and machine that makes driving what it is. I completely echo what the others have put above. And there is a common something already showing. The pure sense of occasion when everything is working in sync, it doesn't matter what you drive or how old you are, we all feel it and it makes the unburnt hydrocarbons inside our veins tick.

Being able to experience that bond between man and machine with like minded people from all walks of life with all types of machine is something that really brings out the whole emotion of driving as a hobby rather than just as a means to get from A to B for me.

Some of the best petrolhead moments are when there isn't a set B point, just you.. an open road.. and a tank of juice.

I for one am glad to be a petrolhead, some people just don't get it and that is fine but every time i get into a car be it my TVR or even just my commuterwagon for the trip to work that euphoria rings through.

This question will inevitably move onto what is Nirvana. Dizeee has touched upon a few things here which i completely agree with. Driving in a convoy as a group and as one certainly adds to the 'Nirvana' spirit for me that is an enhancement to the whole experience of the freedom to see things you can't see by any other means. Be that the passes in the alps, the network of tunnels underneath cities or even just the autobahns.

My Petrolhead Nirvana is driving roof down on a crisp night in the pitch black through country lanes with no street lighting, just the silence of everything around, split by the noise of the machine under you.

[Butters]

Why am I a Petrolhead? Well where do I start!

I can't remember at what age it all truly clicked for me but it was very early indeed. I just remember being happy all the time I was in the back of my Mother's car. I would sit there forever looking out the window just watching the other cars go by. I learned all the names and could distinguish many cars by the sound of their engines. Remote and later radio-controlled cars were the toy of choice for me with the odd diecast thrown in for their longer lasting endurance and tougher build. My father was not into cars at all and my other sibling was an older Sister so this is something that came from within. Something that I would have to enjoy by myself.

My walls were dressed with photos of supercars until I discovered touring cars. Touring cars of the mid to late 80s were where it was at for me and posters of E30 M3s and Mercedes 190 decorated my walls. What seemed like fast road cars adorned with bright paint schemes and sponsors fighting for position in the closest racing I had seen on race tracks in the UK. I think this struck a chord with me because these resembled cars I had seen on the road. I felt like I knew the cars and that they were somehow more obtainable rather than some pipe dream of owning a Ferrari one day. Little did I know these were factory built homogolated race cars costing tens of thousands of pounds (back then)!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/DUBGT/Petrolhead%20Nirvana/2398655079_4b6d8164a7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/DUBGT/Petrolhead%20Nirvana/Bastosreal.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/DUBGT/Petrolhead%20Nirvana/mercedes-benz_190e-evolution-ii_dtm.jpg

My Mother then surprised me with the purchase of a MK2 Golf GTI. When she picked me up from school in this I felt amazing, my Mum was the coolest in the car park and as her Son I was the bees knees. The first one an early MK2 on a ‘C’ registration with it’s Mars Red paintwork which was followed by a later a Silver ‘F’ plate. Little did I know it at the time but these old boxy Golfs were to play a big part in my life as a petrolhead. That’s a whole other story with 7 of them under my belt!

Over the following 6 or 7 years up to the age of 15 I managed to get quite a good exposure to performance cars. Through friends of the family and my best friend’s Fathers I managed to get rides in Porsches, Caterhams, Corvettes, Lotus to name a few which to me as a young boy were all just incredible!

When I turned 16 I knew that I now had a year to save for my first car. I got a Saturday job working at Halfords where I worked whatever extra shifts I could. I managed to save up just enough and bought myself a MK2 Fiesta 1.1 Ghia on 1985 a ‘B’ plate for £800. It was white with Grey velour trim and to me it was the best car in the world. By the time I turned 17 the car was already at my folks place having benefited from a few choice upgrades like set of alloys I had professionally polished and an upgraded stereo. My hours of hard work had paid off and I was the proud owner of my first car. It was all waxed and ready to go.

I had my first lesson on the morning of my 17th Birthday and 8 days later I had my full license! I remember being dropped-off at my parents house at about 11am having just passed my test. My instructor saw my car there and said “Just promise me one thing James, leave your car here for the day. You will be very excited so it is best to spend today reflecting upon what you have achieved and save your first drive for this evening or maybe the morning”. I of course agreed. I then went and told my Mother all about my test, had a glass of orange squash, grabbed my keys, checked the instructor was nowhere to be seen, jumped in my car and sped off to school to show all my friends…

Wow. I had arrived. I was a driver and loving every minute. :party:

So that was March 1996 and here I am approaching 30, hopelessly addicted and obsessed with four wheels. Driving my Girlfriend mad with tales of the road, commitments to the tarmac and a truly expensive hobby. She must really love me because all I suffer in return is her not ‘getting it’ (understanding my passion). But to be honest, I can live with that because Sarah is happy for me to carry on as I am and admires the passion behind it all.

To finally answer your question Bachi, for me there have been three sides to motoring…

One is the ability to move and with that freedom. The dynamic with which you cover ground and the car craft (driving skills) one accumulates with each and every turn of the wheel. You are investing in your future fun, safety and getting the most from your chosen vehicle. It is the car becoming an extension of the person and at it’s best a relationship that works seamlessly without thought.

Another which will now become less for me due to growing up (a little :rolleyes:) is the expression of creativity. I have been heavily involved within an overwhelmingly strong water-cooled Volkswagen scene for many years where I have restored many a MK2 Golf in a very classic fashion but with a twist. Being creative within my work, the Golf’s gave me an outlet to express my creativity in my free time and combined with my biggest passion of all, Cars. We’re not talking about chavved up cars with spoilers and neon lights but something far more true to what the manufacturer intended within a disciplined concours scene. I guess this demonstrates my passion and appreciation for form as well as function. Enjoying cars for their aesthetical merits and as works of art.

Lastly but by no means least is the grin factor and thrill of driving. The power and the noise. Some cars will obviously provide bigger doses than others but I firmly believe fun can be had in any car…it’s just the way you drive it. The being thrust into your seat acceleration and cornering like it is on rails. The buckling up and just going somewhere for the hell of it!

Blimey, a bit of downtime at work, one simple question and now 1072 words! Bl**dy hell, I’d better get on with some real work!!! I guess that is the sign of a true petrolhead…getting started and just not wanting to stop.

I hope you’re all still awake?

James. :-)

P.S. I think looking at my last MK2 (below) which some of you may remember from the odd tunnel run and the lete 80s touring cars above, you can see where I drew my inspiration for it's stance... :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/DUBGT/Petrolhead%20Nirvana/D11BGT_WortherseePN.jpg

[harry_430]

some great write ups here.
Perhaps its worth putting some of them on the front page?

(i'll wait until that happens or a decision not to is made as i'm not sure my writing would be up to that but these certainly are)

[Harsh]

Harry thats not a bad idea, but write your story up anyway....the writing style isnt an issue, its the tale that matters

[Dizeee]

More replies required!

[chevy-stu]

Interesting question...

I think for most, including myself, it's a combination of those moments as a child that you remember.
Seeing the guy who lived over the road, who was a mechanic come home from work with a borrowed Aston Martin V8, then over the years seeing his own cars ranging from Jag Mk2, 3000GT Capri, Mach 1 Mustang and many others I can't remember. The sound, look & smell all gave me goosebumps as I realised, even as a young child, these were 'special' things, and could differentiate from my other neighbour's Maxi, Hillman Minx and even my grandads Viva..

I was fascinated how these beasts worked too, and my dad spent time to explain the basic logic of engines and combustion theory, and then spent all my spare time designing cars 'I'll build one day' and trying to make go karts that dramatically fell apart after 10 yards.

Other 'life changing' moments are:

In my teens coming out of my local cinema and hearing this loud amazing burbling rumbling noise, turning around and there was a Smokey & the Bandit Trans Am, I knew then I was hooked on 'that' sound..

Buying a write off car and pretty much building it into a road-racer from scratch (except the paint), that first trip down the road is an incredible feeling of acheivment. If you ever get the chance, do it... !

First time round a proper race track, Brands Hatch single seater experience....


Cos my hobby became my profession, cars are now my only hobby....

[dreamer]

Honestly I have no idea! I get asked pretty often as it's relatively unusual for a girl to be into cars, let alone racing, but I really don't know!

My mum hates cars, my dad likes them but isn't "into" cars particularly, but I remember always being interested by his company cars, what were they like to drive (well before I held a driving license), and I guess it just grew from there.

Still hopeless on the mechanical side, and getting more and more frustrated with road driving as the general public seem to be this collective group of pious slow moving obstructive pita's recently :(

I've lost the love a bit tbh (not for cars or track stuff just for road driving) but hoping to regain it soon - need to get out on a drive with you guys perhaps!!

[Redex R]

I have to say I'm more into the essence of a car more than the bhp figures or 0-60 time , its the sound or shape and colour together, the way it comes around a corner and the reaction from people around , thats what moves me , a lot of it it was those Summer nights up in Chelsea in the 80s when you just had so many dream (older car and customs) machines to chose from , I love the 68 Mustang for the sound and unspoilt lines before they got it all wrong , I love old Jags for being just so British and uncompromising , GT2 Porsches for being so damn quick but still very usable.
I think a car can say a lot about you and when someone goes by in something different (old or modern) when everyone else is in Mondeos or Vectras its just a breath of fresh air.

[Butters]

I think a car can say a lot about you and when someone goes by in something different (old or modern) when everyone else is in Mondeos or Vectras its just a breath of fresh air.

Moments like that make my day. For me it's not only the engineering but the Aesthetics too. Whether I see something beautiful roll past me or hear something truly amazing race past it stirs something up inside that I can't put into words.

It's a feeling, an emotion, we all know what it is but I couldn't even begin to describe it to those that cannot appreciate it. I'd even go so far as to call it an instinct!

James. :coolgleamA:

[Dan H]

I have to say I'm more into the essence of a car more than the bhp figures or 0-60 time , its the sound or shape and colour together. . . . .

:iagree:

Hence why I'd take a V8 Aston over an Audi R8, even though the Audi is a "better" car.

Once I've won the lottery :p

[jumplead]

:iagree:

Hence why I'd take a V8 Aston over an Audi R8, even though the Audi is a "better" car.

Once I've won the lottery :p

Just because you want to have a play at being James Bond ;)

[BigShow]

The adrenalin just before you loose control.... the smile just after you regain it.

[Harsh]

The adrenalin just before you loose control.... the smile just after you regain it.

tha laundry bills when you get a little too close to not regaining it?

[BigShow]

tha laundry bills when you get a little too close to not regaining it?

LOL... that too :D