AUTOMOTIVE ADVENTURE
Destination and event chosen, flights booked, camera gear arranged and charged. Airport shuttle confirmed, parking paid, boarding commenced. Seat allocated, bags stowed, seat belt clicked — adventure mode engaged. Ah, automotive adventure abroad — remember that? There’s a crushing realisation of the time that is now for us curious car enthusiasts and the time when we could lock in an international event, crossing the deep blue sea in a rivet-heavy bird seeking high-octane hysteria.
World Time Attack, Tokyo Auto Salon, Sema, Formula Drift, and so many other high-level automotive events the world over are missing out on having us Kiwis in their grandstands or in their halls. That is, of course, if those events haven’t been cancelled — or even worse, gone under.
I have been thinking a lot during the Christmas and New Year break about what this lack of adventure will do to our normally bustling automotive community. Have we simply taken that energy out on another hobby? Or have we locked ourselves away in the shed, spending that hard-earned Coviddeducted wage on our own project, instead of flying around the world? I can only speak for myself, but my passion hasn’t diminished at all. I have learned C. 66 to C. 10 M. 60 M. 10 take on more tasks on my personal track day Y. K. car, 60 45 and Y. K. 10 10
I have had fun taking on projects I am capable of in my very own garage. I have been watching a heap of old event coverage on YouTube, reading stories from my travels around the world covering automotive anarchy, and getting inspired for when we can, one day soon, travel internationally to meet our distant automotive relatives.
I feel my mindset has changed, too. No longer will I take any of it for granted. When I do make it back overseas, I plan to express my gratitude and note it down each day in a diary, for those moments really are special and will remain with me for ever.
It may seem as though this Covid chaos will never end; that you’ll never be able to get back over to your favourite performance car destination, but you will — and it’ll feel damn good when you do.
For now, kick back, learn some new skills in the garage, and start chucking those pennies away into a travel fund. You never know, I might bump into you in Japan at Nismo Omori, or in Germany at the Nürburgring, or somewhere equally badass!