Have we forgotten?

[russellw]

I have noticed some threads here of late, started by younger people embarking on their first motoring adventure and all too often these threads attract criticism from some of our members.

It leads me to wonder if we have forgotten what that first car actually means to us particularly when, for may, that first experience had become a life-long passion.

So let us take this opportunity to recount what that first experience really meant to each of us.

For me it was simple - it meant freedom, mobility, some personal space, the joy of driving (albeit slowly in a grey engined Holden) and a whole range of new skills learnt in my crude attempts to improve what the manufacturer had provided.

In that era, the early 70's, those improvement consisted of impossibly wide wheels, a fablon strip over the top of the windscreen, 2" exhaust systems, tiny sports steering wheels that rendered the horn unworkable, all manner of loud seat covers, the mandatory and ridiculously long fibreglass whip radio antenna, a set of triple gauges to muffle the single radio speaker and for the enterprising a pair of speakers in plastic boxes to sit on the rear parcel shelf. I didn't have the latter thanks to my first car being a wagon but instead had the compulsory side and rear curtains. Laughable now but no different to the mods that are made these days.

A car meant the freedom to go where I wanted to go; when I wanted to go and with whoever I wanted to go with and that was a life changing experience and I'd have to say that it has, in many ways, shaped the rest of my life.

4 nights a week spent doing 'blockies' - the express purpose of which was to display our automotive dream machines for the benefit of the girls that were present much like any other animal displaying their finery to attract the opposite gender. That the habit also incurred the wrath of the local plod and resulted in many canaries and on-the-spot fines was really just a sideshow to the main event.

As time went on it became Saturday nights at the drive-in (whatever was on as it didn't really matter) with the current best girl (or anyone who'd accept the invitation) and weekend drives to the beach with a couple of mates in their cars. All part of exploring the world opened to us by the humble car.

Cars have marked milestones in my life as well. I remember sacrificing the 2 door Monaro I had at the time in favour of a sedan when the first child arrived and later sacrificing that for another wagon as the family grew and practicality ruled the day but then I equally well remember the day that I was free to make a car choice based on emotion rather than practicality again.

In cars, I have seen much of the world close up. Met the people, experienced their particular automotive passion and (sometimes) eaten the food. Seen some amazing sites, driven some great roads and experienced the highs and lows of automotive design and production.

They've caused me to spend long nights and weekends in hot tin sheds, sweating over some ancient wreck that I have been attempting to resurrect - occasionally causing me grief and frustration but more often being a source of contentment and pride.

Now, it is AFF that consumes most of my car related time but it's still a passion that burns fiercely - all started by that humble $300 machine that first lit that fire.

Cheers
Russ