Just Went for a Drive: An Afterword

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 11/17/2016 at 21:14 • Filed to: driving, cars, Volvo, Highway 9

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I wanted to drop off a package for a HWEP I am doing on LaLD and the local post office is rather close to Highway 9, the ultimate South Bay mountain road. With many of my classes having tests and projects due yesterday and the day prior, I realized that I have basically no immediate homework to do tonight so I took the afternoon off and went for a drive.

Keep in mind that I have never simply gone on a drive for the sake of it; all of my driving has simply been toodling around town with one trip up Hwy 9 with some friends to go hiking. Driving for pleasure all by myself was a revelation. All the windows down, sunroof open, Jett Hitt’s Yellowstone Violin Concerto playing, and Volvo’s Geartronic lever in my right hand.

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The V50 was wonderfully composed, changing direction with aplomb at each steering wheel input without the nastiness of the overboosted steering in the V70. The Geartronic isn’t massively responsive but once you get used to it the shifts are no slower than the average manual w/ clutch. The 2.4i NA made great five-cylinder noises that echoed off each corner as I nudged it into second for the 20 mph bends. With each press of the throttle towards the optimum 4000 rpm power band the car surged forwards yet (happily) I rarely exceeded the speed limit with what power it has. The mountains were rather chilly today (48F, yes, Californians are wimps) so I turned up the heat and enjoyed the open air experience.

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For about half an hour I simply carved the backroads on and near Hwy 9, going up to Sanborn Park and back and just reveling in the experience. It was magical. This is why we must save driving. Autonomy will never let us have these experiences again if the government one day decides to outlaw driving. Electric engines lack the aural enjoyment and are simply too quick for roads like these. I realize that what I experienced today was the classic pastime of motoring as it was invented nearly a century ago and that truly anyone in any car can go and enjoy a bit of driving for the sake of driving from time to time. I personally don’t see how anyone can’t enjoy that and think that the naysayers opting for widespread autonomy and electricity obviously have never experienced such automotive bliss. Autonomy and electricity are great just like automobiles in the beginning were great; still, I will never give up my petrol powerplants and my steering wheel just like the Amish still have their horses and buggies. This is the freedom that cars give us; more than just mobility, they give us a pastime, an experience, and a passion. From the humble Twingo to the mightiest Roadmaster, every car can offer joy if you look hard enough. Even my unassuming little Volvo station wagon.

So, if you have your license and a few free moments in the day, take your car out for a spin. Anywhere. Don’t have a destination. Just enjoy the drive. Do it while you still can. Experience motoring. Experience cars. Experience driving.

bob and john > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 21:16

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I do it with bikes all the time.

my usual night goes something like this:

*spins bottle* okay, south...whats south. right, DVP and ramps. Later guys!
BRBRRRRRAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPP

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/17/2016 at 21:19

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Sounds awesome! I don’t think I could bike myself (it would require far too much nerve, reflex, and balance which I don’t have), kudos to you for enjoying the experience! Just for the record, I always pull over to let bikes pass when I’m on a nice road ;)

bob and john > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 21:24

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hehe. awesome. Far too few people do.

or worse, try to out run us. Unless you are in something FAST (think modified GT-R fast) forget it. and thats just corners. straights? not even worth talking about.

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/17/2016 at 21:27

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Indeed. When I went hiking with my friends I pointed out the dick Civic driver in front of us with two bikes jostling for position behind him, obviously wanting to pass. Dickbag kept going for another five miles with nary a glance rearwards. Luckily it was far enough behind that I didn’t get stuck directly behind them for a while.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 21:29

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Yeah. I need something lower though. The 4Runner is just too tall to corner well.

bob and john > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 21:33

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I give them a mile. If you dont move over then, well, I have no remorse passing like an asshole when the opportunity presents itself.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/17/2016 at 21:33

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Well you can go soft-roading/dirt-gravel driving in it instead! Really, if you try hard enough you can do anything ;) Just avoid breaking your DD.

wafflesnfalafel > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 22:11

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completely agree - there is value in taking the long way home.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 22:12

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Well yes but then I’d have to clean it.

Amoore100 > wafflesnfalafel 11/17/2016 at 22:13

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Yep. Even a Corolla is exciting if you drive it that way, although if you have the choice then choosing your own gears is even better!

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/17/2016 at 22:15

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Here in California we’ve officially given up cleaning our cars. The dirtier it is the more fun you’ve had!

wafflesnfalafel > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 22:16

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Not much beats a late brake hot in 4 to 3 downshift corner - even in a Corolla.

Gripevo1 > Amoore100 11/17/2016 at 22:39

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Love me some highway 9.

I actually played hooky from work a few weeks ago and took a nice drive by myself up skyline to 84 to half moon bay...was nice to drive that road without all the weekend craziness(hundreds of motorcycles and people around Alice’s).

pip bip - choose Corrour > Amoore100 11/18/2016 at 05:00

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i do that every weekend.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Amoore100 11/18/2016 at 09:59

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I took three weekends this year where the entire point of the trip was to seek out and enjoy driving good roads all day long (NW Arkansas). =)

CaptDale - is secretly British > Amoore100 01/14/2017 at 11:18

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This right here. I love that feeling, just after work, it is Saturday afternoon and there is nothing to do. Turn the wrong way to go home, grab a back road to the next town over, and enjoy the roar of the engine and the tactile connection between you and the machine as you row through the gears. No particular destination in mind, but just a general area. Stop at the end, grab a coffee and take a walk around this lovely area you beautiful car just took you for no reason other to enjoy eachother’s company.

Amoore100 > CaptDale - is secretly British 01/14/2017 at 11:23

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Exactly. The last day of school after finals I did the same thing; take the road up to the summit, head along the ridgeline for a bit, pull over, enjoy the mountain air for a few minutes, then carve the corners all the way down, playing with all the Jettas and Civics on the way. I pity those who don’t have amazing and twisty roads near them, but I’m sure that having fun in cars isn’t limited to corner carving.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Amoore100 01/14/2017 at 11:54

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Yeah I agree that curvy roads are the best to the driving and car enthusiast, but living here on the central coast I get some nice long straights that are just a blast for cruising at high speed. Unfortunately for those of us that live in the US and especially California curvy roads are the only places you can have any fun without being in too great a risk of getting pinched due to speeding.

Allegedly:

“I can say though that a trip to Fresno from SLO was on of the best. The curvy back road of the 41 to the 46 to start off the morning. Then the 46 to the 41 to the 5 is a nice rural route with curves and straights, but not enough passin area. But from the 5 up to just near Fresno the speed limit is 70. Well that me me and a few other cars including an M3 and a Rice burner were all cruising 100+ in a pack just whippin up the highway. Most other cars got over to the right or were already there. It was a beautiful trip and that is how GT and freeway driving should be. Unrestricted.”