How Are You Keeping A Passion For Driving Alive?

Two years ago I bought my first classic car, a 1977 MGB. I have always gone to car shows but to begin being part of them was cool. I went to a lot of shows where the only people there were other car owners and it was pretty boring.

The best show I went to last summer was at Faneuil Hall in Boston. The Bay State MG Club put on a show in the middle of thousands of tourists. This show encouraged people to touch and sit in your car. I could not believe how many young people jumped into my car. They loved the ashtray, the roll down windows, the clutch and 4 speed. We had so much fun.

As classic car owners there needs to be fewer shows full of old farts like myself and more shows where young people can see and hear our machines run and drive. That’s how we’ll continue this car culture. Old cars are fun; sometimes old people aren’t.

As an engineer I have to respond to the direct question “How do we help more people understand the thrill of driving, beyond the everyday duties that our vehicles provide?” Much like guns or power tools, start with educating on safe operation, and then find the proper forum (parking lot, back road, etc.) and show some of the limits of performance.

The other lesson to teach?: I have been motoring as a hobby for years and only last month I put the nose of my saloon off of a dirt road. Miracles of miracles the car was fine and I was able to get it back on the road and back home. Getting home is the key. You can fix the car as long as it gets you home. The terror of the thought of having to call my wife to put the three kids in the car at 6:30 am to come get me is something I never want to happen.

It’s important to find a car that you enjoy driving, one that provides the right sensations and involvement. For me they have always included a third pedal (except for the ’63 Merc, which redeemed itself by having fins and tons of chrome). And I want to enjoy the design from every angle — and the color should work with the design. Strong colors elicit stronger feelings, but bland is part of today’s problem. Silver/white/black/gray/tan cars are the boring norm (yeah, I had one for a while too).

Take the long way ‘round or back home every now and then. I like to mix it up when I take the old car out. And stop at the local store to get a snack and maybe talk to the other drivers or motorcycle riders. I’ve had some great chats with folks who wandered up to ask about my car or talk about theirs. Save some time to do that. Take a side road you haven’t tried before. Drive with the windows down — listen to the intake, exhaust, the tires on the road, the wind, maybe the music if makes you smile. But disable the distractions. You can check Instagram later. Work on that 3 => 2 downshift again.

I’ll wander slightly off-topic here to mention how we can help keep the passion alive for others. I’ll skip commentary on autonomous cars and such.

I think it’s really important to let cars be cars and get them out on fun roads to let them exercise and let others see them in action. Let people take pictures and point out the best angles and closeup shots. Let them sit inside and get the feel of a car that’s new to them. Ask them what they like and don’t about various cars, what they wonder about, how they feel about cars in general. I saw a young woman who was really interested in my car and asked if she wanted to try the driver’s seat. She stayed in there for a while with wide eyes, holding the wooden steering wheel and looking out over the bonnet. I’m betting she’ll never forget that.

I ask people to be inclusive. Don’t trash that weird-looking ride — talk to the owner and get the story. Everything interesting has a story and diversity is better for the automotive gene pool. That Aztek with the big wing may have a weird & funny background. That elegant Jag may have once been a dragster (true). Connect the cars to people through their stories and more people will stay interested instead of seeing cars as mostly useless obligations.

I love good design. It’s a way to help others understand and appreciate why one car looks the way it does. Help them notice what changed between two models and whether the changes are only for looks or provide serious benefits. And design is more highly constrained now, so getting a product that’s functionally great, easy to drive and beautiful should be recognized as a real accomplishment. Show off the hidden gas cap, the disappearing antenna, the folding top — and give others some stories to share about the cool old car they saw today.

I like the willingness to help newbies try driving a stick. I think it’s great to let the kid down the street come watch and maybe help while you’re working on the car. If you have a spare shift knob or even a spent piston, consider that as a cool gift for an aspiring gearhead. And tell them how you got it and what it’s for.

And interesting and fun cars don’t have to be expensive. My neighbor has an older Jag sedan, an MR2 and a Checker Marathon that he mostly keeps running (at least one, sometimes two) for less than an out-of-warranty BMW. It’s cool to see that motley crew in his driveway and on the road. He does the work himself but is open to chatting with visitors, and the local kids think his funky collection is cool.

So: choose a fun ride that’s involving, get it out on interesting roads, be inclusive, share stories, share the experience. Don’t let the fire fade out.

I am 25 and I am much more into driving, than just about anyone I know. for me it bit me with video games honestly. growing up I had the steering wheel and pedals for Grand Torismo and then Forza and once I could go out and drive a real car I just wanted to do what I did in my bed room in real life. granted I couldn’t use my earned digital credits to buy a Ferrari but what ever I had at the time I just enjoyed driving.

The issue I think many people my age have with driving for fun, is when I got my Drivers license gas was close to 4$ a gallon. none of my friends ever experienced what my dad(67 years old) experienced. he tells me all the time about going to station everyone tossing there quarters into the gas tank and driving around all night listening to the Radio and meeting up at all the spots around town maybe even having a little race here and there, and on top of insane gas prices try being 16 and getting auto insurance. for people my age driving has been viewed as just another expense and if u can avoid it why not.

But to answer the rest of the question, I tell my friends to put there 5 favorite albums on there phone or Ipod, ill pick u up Saturday morning and we will go and get lost somewhere out in western mass. rock out with the music up and drive some twisty MA back roads by the time we get home they love driving and understand why when its sunny on a Saturday morning I am always out for a drive

In part by viewing , reading and participating on this site ! 😉

But err … hate to be the bearer of bad news here Banovsky …. but … if those autonomous little blankety blanks ever do find their way onto public roads … they’ll INCREASE traffic … not diminish it

Which is to say either way [ autonomous or not ] Rock On and Drive on while you still can … cause either way its [ traffic ] only gonna get worse .. so Remain Calm Banovsky despite it all … and Carry On as long as possible .

Sigh … if only we’d put those trillions autonomous and all the ancillary infrastructure’s gonna cost us into high quality Public Transportation … cause if’n we did … not only would pollution , traffic and accidents decrease … but then there’d be more room for us … to have a little fun now and again

But … from the Dept of Corrections ; The reason the youth of today barely make the effort to get their drivers licenses never mind actually drive or become enthusiasts is …… MONEY ( and the lack thereof ) … pure and simple . That … and the fact that the Snowflake Generation being so entitled as well as overwhelmed to the point of being handicapped by Technology thinking someone(thing) else should do the driving for them … not they themselves !

And to think we [ Boomers ] risked our lives and families for the individual , freedom and liberty for all in the US back in the day standing up to the most powerful government in the world [ and for a brief moment winning ] … only to end up with a Technological ” Brave New World ” big brother created and begged for by our children and children’s children . Hmmm … Logic and Individuality ‘ Trumped ‘ [ pun and sarcasm intended ] again by the ” Tyranny of the Masses “