"What kind of dining room set *defines* me as a person?"*
Hmmm, I no longer own a dining room set, how about cars? The answer? It really depends on how I'm feeling. It also depends on how you relate to branding and individual models. My past is littered with car stories. I'll get back to that shortly.
My uncle outlaw was the first culprit. At the tender age of 14 he took me down the workshop to replace the floorpan of an old Pugeot 404. Besides nearly shearing the park brake cable, I identify this event as the time when I began to steer towards engineering. Watching the magic that can be oxy cutting. Ooohh, fire.
Shortly afterwards, Dad and I rebuilt the family 253 HZ. The family travelled so far together in that car. That was the first time I would hear my Father swear. We'd worked on the V8 for three weekends, just putting it all together. One of the last head bolts was being tightened, using the requisite torque wrench, when SNAP! The bloody thing just sheared off. Residing 1 inch inside a 1.5 inch threaded hole. Freshly reconditioned heads and glued gaskets all came off. Not a happy Major. Hmmm. I was to learn what an easy-out is for.
With a fresh confidence, I built my first car. At the ripe old age of 14 and 9 months. I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends. Snaps to Matty Luther and Seano. For a mileage marathon no less.
With every vehicle, the speed really attracted me. Just seeing how far I could push everything. Like a moth to the flame. From billy carts to Holden Commodores. I still love the occasional fling. Due to this attraction, factors combined to ensure I didn't get my licence until I was 20.
Unfortunately, that conflicted with the acute knowledge of the impact driving was having on the environment. It still does. I remember thinking, all the way back then that hydrogen would make the perfect petroleum substitute. I now know better, try the energy balances. Hydrogen has too many conversion losses.
Back to the original question, which car defines me, as a person? Let's start with this one;
Hmmm, I no longer own a dining room set, how about cars? The answer? It really depends on how I'm feeling. It also depends on how you relate to branding and individual models. My past is littered with car stories. I'll get back to that shortly.
My uncle outlaw was the first culprit. At the tender age of 14 he took me down the workshop to replace the floorpan of an old Pugeot 404. Besides nearly shearing the park brake cable, I identify this event as the time when I began to steer towards engineering. Watching the magic that can be oxy cutting. Ooohh, fire.
Shortly afterwards, Dad and I rebuilt the family 253 HZ. The family travelled so far together in that car. That was the first time I would hear my Father swear. We'd worked on the V8 for three weekends, just putting it all together. One of the last head bolts was being tightened, using the requisite torque wrench, when SNAP! The bloody thing just sheared off. Residing 1 inch inside a 1.5 inch threaded hole. Freshly reconditioned heads and glued gaskets all came off. Not a happy Major. Hmmm. I was to learn what an easy-out is for.
With a fresh confidence, I built my first car. At the ripe old age of 14 and 9 months. I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends. Snaps to Matty Luther and Seano. For a mileage marathon no less.
With every vehicle, the speed really attracted me. Just seeing how far I could push everything. Like a moth to the flame. From billy carts to Holden Commodores. I still love the occasional fling. Due to this attraction, factors combined to ensure I didn't get my licence until I was 20.
Unfortunately, that conflicted with the acute knowledge of the impact driving was having on the environment. It still does. I remember thinking, all the way back then that hydrogen would make the perfect petroleum substitute. I now know better, try the energy balances. Hydrogen has too many conversion losses.
Back to the original question, which car defines me, as a person? Let's start with this one;
Is it silly to anthropomorphise? Style, grace, refined culture. A small car, with everything I need in transport. Form becomes function? Some days the Audi would really suit me. Others, well I can be a crass bastard too. I like to think of it as eclectic.
This was as close as I could find for the old family chariot. I would still love this car. I can't express how pissed off I was when Dad traded it in. I was just months from legal driving age, when he traded it in for a MAGNA. It screams bogan to me, but also raw culture and old values.
This would be the dream car though. Pure driving pleasure. A road registered go-kart. Totally impractical. Perfect.
For the record, I nearly always catch public transport to work. With the impact of global warming, one of the things that I have been trying to work towards is sustainable transport. I do realise that it will take significant market forces to shift people to alternative transport. But we will need to be ready. Nissan? Will you please give me a job building a Battery Electric Vehicle BEV**? Vauxhall? Anyone?
I'm particularly lost this week. SunRace will be no more. It has been one of the targets I have been aiming for with this job. Shit pooh bum. It really marketed the future of alternative transport. Now what? Any hints? Nissan?
* I know the point of this FC quote was to illustrate silly consumerism. I am not my fucking khakis, alright?
** Just so you know, BEVs are the answer to our future transport crises. Not bloody hydrogen, or fuel cells, or solar cells. Market forces will always hold these technologies back, I swear. They cost too much.
posted by snorks at 7:10 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home