Category: Cars

I am passionate about cars. Ever since I was a kid I remember playing with toy cars, then remote control cars, and then actual cars.

I couldn’t wait to get my license and remember how excited I was. It was such a thrill, I soon learned more advanced driving techniques which helped me become a safer driver.

I know most makes and models. I feel each car is an expression of its owner. It’s not just about what car they drive but how they treat their car.

I feel my passion for my cars has expanded into various categories:

• Driving techniques
• Car ownership and maintenance
• The cars themselves
• The technology behind cars and car production
• Cars as an expression of ourselves (car culture)

What’s missing above is car racing/motorsports, although initially I used to watch rallying a lot. It is fun to watch occasionally but it is not my main interest any more.

My interest grows each year as I understand more and more. Now when I drive the car I think about all the effort that goes into making the car, making the road, and all the other hidden things we forget.

From that initial smile of driving a car the first time to now, it is good to be passionate about something.

Where car technology is heading

There is ongoing innovation in the car and energy industry. A trend towards electrification. There are now more and more states/countries outright banning gas vehicle sales in the next few decades.

As we know, energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form. There is disruption at the car level with three forms of propulsion technology: gas, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell.

Then there are new sources of energy, hydrogen and geothermal that are getting more attention at the grid level. Society benefits from more choices and increased infrastructure investment.

Twenty years ago a hybrid car was a novel idea, now here we are with fuel cell and electric battery cars entering the mainstream consciousness.

It is exciting to see and understand the new changes coming. The next time we go to a gas station we might not be filling gas in our cars.

From dream to reality – I always believe if you can dream it, you can achieve it.

As a passionate car enthusiast, I have been playing racing games as long as I remember. There is one track that I love and have driven countless times with a variety of cars.

My dream has always been to drive my own sports car on this track and experience the real thing. It was not until I got my dream sports car and the new Forza 6 with the new Xbox One that this dream was getting closer to being fulfilled.

I would drive my car on the track using the in-car perspective and enjoy the turns and the connected feeling. I just knew that I had to get to California to make this happen.

With hard work and determination, I had the opportunity to intern in San Francisco and I was really excited to book a track day at my favorite track.

After an exciting road trip driving across the country and exploring San Francisco, I was counting down the days to drive on the track.

I researched a lot of the track day preparations that need to be made. I installed a set of new brake pads and racing brake fluid.

The day finally arrived and it was as amazing as I imagined. Arriving early morning and meeting fellow passionate car enthusiasts made me ecstatic. I was paired with a fellow BRZ owner in the beginner class and learned car control techniques first.

Here are some pictures of me enjoying the track:

The first drive on the track was phenomenal, it was great to mix with reality from the TV to the real experience. I was especially excited for the Corkscrew, a challenging turn with a drop as shown below:

 

Over the course of the day, I drove on the track numerous times and I was content by the end with a happy grin as I left the track.

Here is a video highlighting my day:

 

I’ve always been fascinated with cars and Japanese cars in particular are my favourite.

Ever since I was a kid, I remember collecting toy cars. As I got a bit older, I started playing car video games and started to identify the different car makes and models.

Watching the World Rally Championship was a lot of fun and there was a moment when a Subaru Impreza was jumping and caught a lot of air. Since that moment I became a Subaru fan.

Having become a car enthusiast, travelling all over Japan, and visiting a Subaru factory. I have picked out my favourite Japanese cars that I would like to have in my garage soon.

#1 Mazda RX-7 (FD)

This third generation RX-7 is my favourite of them all. With the unique twin turbo rotary engine, iconic classic design, and unique heritage/story behind the development. I’d like the Spirit R version in white please as shown below:

Photo: 名古屋太郎 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

#2 Honda/Acura NSX

With its space age design, legendary VTEC engine, and developed with the help of Ayrton Senna, this mid engine rear  wheel drive super car is unlike any other. Plus with such great reliability you can drive it every day! I’d like the early 1990’s Type R version please.

Photo: 韋駄天狗 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

#3 Honda S2000

There is a recurring theme here of high revving engines and the S2000 doesn’t disappoint with a redline of 9000 RPM in the AP1 version. This car’s handling attributes are impressive, the design is novel, and I want the AP2 version  in my garage as shown below:

Photo: Rich Niewiroski Jr. via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

#4 AE86 (Hachi-Roku, ハチロク)

This is the benchmark for entry level rear wheel drive sports cars set in the early 1980’s. That high revving 4A-GE engine, the great handling characteristics, and the great fan following makes it an excellent addition to the garage. The legend lives on 25 years later now with a cult status thanks to Initial D:

 

Photo: Ae086 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

#5 Subaru BRZ

The spiritual successor to the AE-86! With the FA-20 boxer engine from Subaru and D-4S direct injection technology from Toyota. This gem of a car has a low centre of gravity, balanced handling, and brings a smile to my face every day. The seating position is very low to the ground, the pedal placement exactly where you want it, from the brakes to the steering everything is direct and very communicative.

Photo: The359 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

I am grateful for having one of my dream Japanese cars in my garage. It’s a pleasure to drive on curvy roads. Excited to get the other 4!