Fast & Furious is a PSA to the car-hating public: CARS ARE COOL

"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek)
12/01/2013 at 16:53 • Filed to: Paul walker, Fast & Furious, Automotive Culture

In light of the recent passing of Paul Walker, I decided to dig up an old post and repost it for your reading pleasure.

Over the years I’ve come to appreciate and respect the Fast & Furious saga. The films don't offer a deep metaphysical look into humanity nor will they win any prestigious awards, aside from those given by a tequila-infused Jalop scribe. The films are 100% entertainment, but for us car guys they are more than that.

I respect the Fast & Furious series because it captures, even if inaccurately at times, automotive culture and then, through the power of Hollywood, heaves it into the faces of common people. The same people the media say hate cars and care nothing of car culture.

Fast & Furious is single-handedly responsible for every Civic wearing a 6ft wing and primer-ready body kit and that's precisely why I admire the series so much. Automotive customizations are a reflection of activation within the automotive culture, even if sometimes misguided.

Car films are a public service announcement and their message is clear: cars are (fucking) cool.

After watching these films countless people will leave the theater, jump in their 2009 Camry and drive away wishing they were behind the wheel of something more fast and furious.

For that brief moment they not only get us , they envy us .

If we're lucky, a few of them will walk away with a new or revived interest in the hobby of automotive. They may not jump on Craigslist and start looking at Swedish bricks and Miatas, but maybe when they're looking for a new Focus they'll consider an ST (**_if_** they can drive stick that is).

Automakers benefit in a very unique way when it comes to this series too.

Car movies are a brothel for automotive product placement, but films like Fast & Furious that rely heavily on customization, gives automakers a chance to show their cars in a very different light –_ an enthusiast hue._ In this shade the audience, who we’ll call potential enthusiasts , get to see vehicles for what-they-could-be rather than what-they-are sitting in dealer inventories. Wild colors, ride heights, wicked sounds, neon glow, custom wheels, expressive vinyls and only-in-the-movies durability and performance: all make cars more attractive than any 30 second spot ever could.

I like to think of Fast & Furious as a car guy’s Star Wars without a complex narrative, but still chock full of cultural impact.

My hope is series like this will help to preserve and evolve a hobby that we all enjoy so much, even if it means educating our friends on the do’s-and-don’ts of automotive accessorizing.

RIP, O'Conner.

DISCUSSION (10)

Tom McParland > DCCARGEEK
12/02/2013 at 09:55

Great post Juan!

Spider-Dan > DCCARGEEK
12/02/2013 at 13:37

I think you're mistaking the cart for the horse here. The original 2001 movie came about because of the Civics with 6ft park-bench wings, not the other way around. The late '90s import tuner scene (combined with a bit of Gran Turismo 1) is what enabled TF&TF to be created as a movie.

DCCARGEEK > Spider-Dan
12/02/2013 at 13:50

You make a valid point, but you can't deny that this didn't add to the whole import tuner culture in places where it might not have been as popular. Also countless posts on the FP are from people who say that their love of cars, just as mine, may not have started with F&F, but it sure did play a role in it.

DCCARGEEK > Tom McParland
12/02/2013 at 13:59

Thanks, Tom! And thank you for sharing it :)

GreenN_Gold > DCCARGEEK
12/02/2013 at 16:51

All the car guys I know personally can't really stand these films though.

DCCARGEEK > GreenN_Gold
12/02/2013 at 17:34

Respect and like are very different things. Plus, what's gonna happen when they start throwing legit Oppo-Approved cars in the movie and (maybe) develop a somewhat interesting storyline?

yurikaze > GreenN_Gold
12/02/2013 at 18:36

Then you know all the wrong car guys.

Taking things too seriously sucks all the fun out of life, and this especially applies to cars and entertainment.

When Tokyo Drift came out, a friend and I got together a huge chunk of SoCal's drift scene to go see it. We took up a third of a theater, and had tons of pro and pro-am drivers (including some who were actually in the film), shop owners, magazine editors and photographers, car designers, engineers, and so many other people involved in the sport/industry. The best moment was whenever someone would get up and go to the bathroom or snack counter, and when they came back, someone would announce "Now entering the theater, (Name), (occupation.)" the rest of the theater got so into it, everyone would stand up and give that person a standing ovation.

Best night ever.

GreenN_Gold > yurikaze
12/02/2013 at 18:50

That's a huge night you put together. Sounds like a great time. Doesn't mean the films are great though.

BOB JACOBSON > GreenN_Gold
12/02/2013 at 18:56

I have to say its a guilty pleasure for every car "person" I know.

The films are at times hokey with horrible acting and worse storylines. But when it cones down to it they are still movies about cars and we all like cars.

My growing smaller group of car buddies always go to the theatre to see these movies, in some cases its been months or years since ive seen some of these guys. Yet we get together to laugh at or with and just enjoy a fun movie that has some cool cars in it.

bwapbwap > yurikaze
12/02/2013 at 20:59

No, I think he said car guys.