Auto-Obsessive
It’s a guy thing – I know. We get obsessed and even fall in love (or is it lust?) for the wrong reasons. It might be a left brain/right brain domination thing. What causes us to fall into this obsessive gawking? What drives this insatiable desire?
You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all… wrong. They are all so different – from the surface to the underpinnings. We are surrounded by them and at a moment’s notice they capture our attention and supplant thought with longing.
Irrational? Yes
Logic and cognitive capability are not terms that we associate with this voyeurism. It must have something to do with unfulfilled desires. It can affect life altering decisions. Do I choose reliability, frugality, safety and practicality or do I get obsessed with mechanical abundance, body tones and types-glitz?
Cars, with their shiny parts glistening will alter a man’s self-image. They are the most ostensible symbol of status and pecking order in our society.
Put an idiot behind the wheel of an SL series Mercedes and he appears to be brilliant. Put a wimp into a Corvette and he is powerful. Put a successful television producer into a Toyota Prius and he is emasculated.
Is there a cure?
A scant hundred years ago, there really weren’t any car shows. They didn’t have antiques or classics yet.
Car lovers have more flocks than birds do species. We have unrestored, restored, American (pre-World War 2, 50’s, muscle cars, funny cars, hot rods, custom cars, street racers, track cars…), European cars, sports cars, English sports cars, German cars, Italian cars, Japanese cars, amphibious cars…
General and specific
The shows have evolved into generic and specialty.
Antique shows are generally limited to cars 45 years or older. Many antique shows will be combined with Classic Car shows. The “Classics” are generally aged 20 to 45 years.
I can’t stop looking
Don’t ask me why, but I like ‘em all. I’m always fascinated with the blend of mechanical expertise and aesthetic genius, the compromise of the practical and the lure of the excessive, how some meld into masterpieces, and others become nothing more than interesting failures that have led to financial disasters.
My current obsession is a red Audi TT. It’s not logical for an old bald-headed arthritic. It’s red so it looks Italian. Yes, it’s German, but you know it had to be designed by an Italian; Germans don’t do compound curves or red cars. It’s underpowered and it has a standard transmission. I stopped driving standards because my sciatic was killing me (I’ll take ibuprofen). I’ll tell my wife how great she’ll look driving it (on every other Monday).
I’ll be sooo cool driving this; I’ll feel like I’m nineteen again. Maybe I’ll buy a comb…
Or maybe I’ll just continue driving my Jetta Wagon. Left brain logic or right brain lust: …take your pick.
read the entire article in South Coast Prime Time or online at http://issuu.com/coastalmags/docs/scpt_aprmay12 Also see weekly listings of car shows and cruise nights at www.coastalmags.com (click on Events - Seach for "car events")
