Journal: Spend It Where It Counts: Invest In Motoring Experiences

Spend It Where It Counts: Invest In Motoring Experiences

By Andrew Golseth
April 13, 2016

I’ve been fortunate to travel…a lot. My mother and father were both active duty military when I was born. A couple years later, they divorced and remarried shortly after—both of their new partners were also active duty. Needless to say, I did a lot of flying and highway miles as a youngster. Before I graduated high school, I had seen more of the United States than most Americans will in their lifetime—last I tallied, I’d been to more than 40 states.

After 18 years of moving around throughout the U.S., between parents and summer visits, the thought of being complacent really got to me—I certainly didn’t want to linger in the Midwest anymore, and the South wasn’t my cup up tea—though, the liquid diabetes called “sweet tea” is addictive. So, I made the only logical choice I could think of: I joined the United States Air Force. It was the single greatest decision of my life for so many reasons, but continuing my lifelong trend of moving every two to three years was probably my favorite aspects.

The uniform sent me to Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, California, Nevada, Washington, South Korea, and Japan. Traveling isn’t cheap, but I took full advantage when I could afford to because there’s no greater way to experience life than through travel. I found a wonderful woman who was crazy about traveling and supported my automotive obsession—jackpot. Needless to say, she’s been my wife for a while now.

Why do I bring this all up? Because I’ve learned that traveling, regardless of expense, is always worth the journey. Which got me thinking: stop wasting time, stop wasting money, and stop making excuses for not getting time behind the wheel. I’m not just talking about road trip traveling, here: I’m talking about investing in motoring experiences.

For years, I’ve been accumulating vehicles and parts. I’ve said, “I just need seven vehicles and I’ll be content,” so many times I’m not sure if I really want a collection or if I’ve just fallen victim to self-inflicted Stockholm Syndrome?

Either way, I’ve come to the realization that I’ve got to change some things up, and maybe you do, to? When’s the last time you went for a memorable drive? How about an autocross or track day? If it’s been too long since you enjoyed cars, from behind the wheel, it’s probably time to make a priority adjustment.

A few months ago I met Matt Hummel and his awesome jalopy Porsche 356. Matt happened to be in San Diego for a few days so I invited him to a local car meet. He had just driven his 356 from his home in Auburn, California, all the way down to San Diego. Here I was, apprehensive about driving my old Toyota 30 miles to the local car meet and Hummel is soaking up hundreds of miles in a near 60-year-old German coupe, without a worry.

I told Matt I couldn’t believe he drove that old Porsche all the way down from Northern California. He just smiled and said: “No excuses. Drive”. That’s stuck with me. I’ve since driven my right-hand drive Toyota Century to LA and back a number of times and even recently put it through the ultimate test at the 2016 JNC California Touge. Funny, shortly after Hummel said that, we had to give his 356 a push so he could jump-start it! Did it faze him? Not in the slightest.

It’s so easy to make excuses. Weekend trips and most events cost money, but so does getting beers with friends, going out to eat, and collecting classic cars. How many cars do you need? When I only had my ’97 Acura Integra Type R and ’73 Datsun pickup, I spent a lot more time on the circuit, carving California canyon roads, and the Datsun even kept me spinning wrenches on a weekly basis. My point: don’t forget why you love cars. Don’t forget to enjoy vehicles from behind the wheel!

The last few months, I’ve made it my personal goal to attend as many automotive events possible and the journey related expenses have been well worth the price of admission—and I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not loaded. Get behind the wheel and drive. We only get one shot at life so invest in motoring experiences because, in the end, those memories are priceless.

Photography by: Asphalt Heritage Club, Lucile Pillet, Andrew Schneider, Sean Lorentzen, Afshin Behnia, Chris Gonzalez

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MikeRinaldi
MikeRinaldi
3 years ago

Investing is always an amazing idea. I have recently used my funds to bet online and earned a lot of money. I had doubts regarding the platform to play and my friend told me that he discover this info here about the West Virginia sport apps. Now, I can invest even in motoring experiences.

Peter Schiavone
Peter Schiavone
8 years ago

Some people didn’t have the choice, born in western New York, growing up between New Hampshire, and Florida, I have no home town. The world is my home, and I can live anywhere. Right now I live in the south of France, and have enjoyed my 1972 911t immensely. I have been to the porsche museum, and driven it on the Nürburgring. I have driven it to lemans, and down the mulsanne straight (it’s a public road). Great driving roads in the south of France, the Monaco F1 circuit, circuit Paul Ricard during a great vintage car event, and on the Atlantic Coast near bordeaux. I am not afraid to drive.

Flash
Flash
8 years ago

Andrew, great to see you enjoying your cars etc with your wife, a perfect combination in my view.
I also cannot believe that I agree with GS (first time ever I think).
There is a great saying – If you are nothing without it, you will never be anything with it. Meaning you can have all the material possessions in the world and still not be happy.
I love my car, and I love driving it by myself, but doing a rode trip with the one you love is always the best.

geelongvic
geelongvic
8 years ago

If the person you love is equally excited by the mutually planned long distance drive ( i.e. not “dragged along for the ride”), and you happen to see old friends and also meet new future friends along the way, nothing could more satisfying with that driving experience. The mutual sharing of the experience with its smiles and laughter is the satisfying, agreeable part, and the car (whatever it is) is just means to that end. So, speaking as another grey hair, I am agreeing (!!!) with GS

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago

If you really want to spend it where it counts .. spend in with your family in your neighborhood in the town or city you live in doing things with then rather than occasionally dragging them along for the ride . Which is to say …. yes wanderlust has its appeals and temptations [ along with the addiction of collecting etc ] but ultimately the only thing that will bring your genuine happiness rather than momentary thrills and ephemeral emotional highs is ..

To be …. content . With yourself … your surroundings … your possessions as well as the people around you . Everything else being a vain attempt to escape yourself while in the futile pursuit of a happiness you do not even comprehend .

Don’t believe me ? Think .. oh .. its just some hippie BS from that half crazed 60+ musician ? Have a look at the majority of us [ US ] Garages filled to the rafters with possessions ..over sized home to house it all … obsessive to the point of vulgarity consumers .. so busy we barely have time to eat .. social media etc etc .. and yet …

We are the most anti depressant/anti anxiety prescriptions , counseling , psychiatry , therapy dependent nation in the civilized world . Not to mention the most illegal drugs addicted as well as one of the highest percentage per capita of alcohol abuse

Hmmm .. so much for the ” Pursuit of Happiness ” So trust me son … as one who’s had more than you can ever dream of and learned this lesson the hard way … Less … really is …. More !

Nils Wenzler
Nils Wenzler
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Did I really just agree with Guitar Slinger?

Christopher Gay
Christopher Gay
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Bingo.

Collin Dow
Collin Dow
8 years ago

Hey, I too drive a 30-year old Toyota, although mine is a Celica GT-S.
I’ve been going through basically the same thing. I didn’t trust my car to go outside of town until just recently, and now I’ve been going on day trips to the coast, mountains, where ever, to just drive.
It’s pretty wonderful, just going out and driving.
Great article!

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