LOCAL REPORT

Following on from my last article, I’ve been asked several times if, in the future, classic cars and performance engines will be something that we just have to give up.

Momentarily setting aside electric cars — and all other cars, in fact — I think that we can agree that a 2016 Mustang is an improvement on the 1965 version in every single measurable way.

So, let’s get to the heart of it — why do we still use a barbecue when we can grill in the ease and comfort of our indoor kitchen? Why do we buy vinyl records despite having access to millions of digital albums online? And why do people still drive cars from before the turn of the last century? Simple: the reasons go beyond practicality — I am referring to emotion and enjoyment!

This is where many environmentalists, politicians, and other individuals who unreservedly believe that we should upgrade to a newer fleet miss the point. I believe heartily in the future of electric cars, too — to an extent, though! They’re great for commuters and should be embraced; however, pushing Joe Public to abandon cars used specifically for the experience they provide (vintage, classic, hot rod, etc.) in return for a different experience is optimistic and absurd.

Their use may end up being governmentally curtailed or limited in some way, but ensuring that the collector car hobby thrives is our responsibility — all of us! And that includes acknowledging that alternative power sources could be the future but also recognizing that a Nissan Leaf provides a vastly different experience to a V8 Mustang.

If there is one thing that threatens to send the world of collector cars into a death spiral, it is fear. Partially, it is the fear of the unknown: what does the future hold for the hobby? We may feel like, on an individual level, there’s not much that we can do to change the way things ‘seem’ to be going. But, then again, the hobby is always changing, and maybe we can take solace in the fact that there are at least a few dedicated and passionate individuals like myself, who will ensure that the really old stuff gets taken care of and preserved.

Nonetheless, I think the bigger and more dangerous fear — our worst enemy — is the one that makes us hesitant to go out and use our cars! It’s easy to come up with reasons to leave them parked in the garage — there are too many distracted drivers, and if we have the urge to keep that better-than-stock restoration pristine we may reason that if it’s off the road, it’s safe. But the surest way to convince younger generations that cars are no more vital than expensive figurines is to treat them like bigger, more expensive, and harder-to-dust figurines. It’s a bad look, and it turns off those who might otherwise be interested in learning more.

So, let’s change our ways — invite the grandkids, or neighbours’ children over while conducting an oil change on your car; showcase your car at school fairs; offer rides as fundraisers to support events! Make it your goal to go for a drive as often as you can. Get out there and show people why you care about old cars, and why it’s a fun and rewarding community to be a part of. Awareness: it’s the best you can do, and if you really commit to it, the rest will sort itself out. This is our heritage; let no one steal it away from us.

Until next month, keep those engines running — safe driving!