What Got You Into Cars?

"UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy" (smithtaylorm) 07/13/2016 at 21:08 • Filed to: None

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Easy question, good answers. What say you Oppo?

For me, there’s pictures of me at less than 2 years old playing with hot wheels in my high chair. Of course I played with cars growing up, but my earliest memories include watching my brothers play Gran Turismo 2 and finally getting to play it myself, where I got a lightly modded 300ZX to 170mph on an oval track. Also, I remember V-Rally 2 which was incredibly hard growing up, but made me fall in love with rally. Then, I remember getting some 1/64 cars for Christmas that came with demos of NFS Porsche Unleashed, which I played forever. Once I found out the internet, my quest for car knowledge became insatiable. Along the way, I’ve had rides in a GT30R powered Evo 8, my brother in law’s 510 CI tubbed ‘61 F100 with nitrous (crazy ride), and last but definitely not least, a ride on the Nurburgring flat out with a private owner (amazing driver too) of an M3 GTS. All of these signify different stages in my life, where at one point I was in love with big turbo fire breathing Japanese cars, then transitioned more to muscle, and have finally cemented myself with all things German. However, I think the biggest part is that this passion has fueled my desire to work hard in school to develop a career path that will allow me to live comfortably while supporting a car lover lifestyle. I’m finally starting to see the fruits of that labor, and I’m getting excited.

What kind of stories do you guys have to share?

djmt1 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:12

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A combination of Need for Speed Underground and Chris Harris’s first videos.

ranwhenparked > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:14

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My grandfather was an executive at an auto parts manufacturer, then started his own sales/distribution company. As soon as I could talk, he would take me out to the driveway, and pop the hood of either his or my parents’ cars and start pointing out the parts of the engine and getting me to memorize them. I was really young when he died, but I think that’s what started it.

CB > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:15

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Hot Wheels when I was a kid, and car magazines. I believe it was the February 2002 issue of Road & Track with the upcoming Mustang leaked info that really got me into it. Racing video games helped, too, and go-karting, the usual fare.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > ranwhenparked 07/13/2016 at 21:16

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That’s a really cool story. I was really the first one in my family into cars besides one of my uncles, so I never got to have someone impression them on me like that. What kind of cars were they?

not for canada - australian in disguise > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:17

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Hot Wheels.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:18

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Top Gear

Video Games

Hot Wheels

Getting my license

interstate366, now In The Industry > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:19

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A combination of riding in a friend's S2000 and playing Initial D at the local arcade in my early 20s. I played with Hot Wheels as a kid but got away from cars for awhile.

scoob > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:23

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Using my legs, arms, and balancing and moving got me into cars, and still does. It’s very effective, works 100% of the time.

boredalways > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:25

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As a child, my father and grandfather owned a tire & repair shop. The smell of tires brings back fond memories to this day.

wafflesnfalafel > scoob 07/13/2016 at 21:26

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I’m always bashing my head and elbows getting into cars...

marvthegrate > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:26

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Short answer: My dad.

More nuanced answer? Well,my dad was a cement truck driver for most of my childhood. He could drive anything with wheels, and in any conditions. Snow, ice, sand, dirt, rock, road? Didn’t phase him in any way. Between his aptitude in driving and his enjoyment of motorsports, I grew up with toy cars, watching real cars go round tracks, and working on whatever shitboxes he would buy. We had a lot of really great cars in my life. Super Beetle, Saab 96, Scout, Jeep J10, Chev station wagon, 60's Suburban, vans, trucks, whatever our meek income could afford. I was exposed to a great number of cars growing up, and gained an interest and love of them from a young age.

Oh, and Daisy Duke. Those legs went all the way up.

ranwhenparked > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:27

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By the time I was born, he just had a Caprice and an Acura Legend; but from what I understand, he had had some pretty decent company cars back in the day. My parents always had cheaper small cars - Horizon, Tempo, Ranger.

Ian McNabb > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:29

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I went to a car show and saw a Suzuki LJ80 when I was 8. I fell in love, but I ended up getting an International Scout. Worth it.

yamahog > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:30

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Well, apparently I was conceived in a car, so in the literal sense... That.

wafflesnfalafel > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:32

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Instead of books i’d get copies of Road & Track at the library as a kid. I remember a couple things distinctly - a silver Matchbox 911sc that I got when I was 6 or 7 and wanting the real thing, and hating that my folks had slow cars growing up, (VW beetle, VW van, etc..)

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > scoob 07/13/2016 at 21:33

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Damn it Scoobert

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > ranwhenparked 07/13/2016 at 21:34

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No shame, out of all the cars my parents have had since they’ve been together, over 80% were small, cheap, manual lock/window/trans base everything cars!

whoarder is tellurium > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:35

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My father.

Him and his friends used to work on all sorts of Fiats, VW, Mazda, etc. As well, before I was born he used to participate in the annual Fur Rondy Grand Prix street race. Non-studded ice racing, rally, etc. He loved the Fiat X1/9 (had a few of them actually) and that was his weapon of choice.

Otherwise, I grew up watching him fix the various family cars over the years. He really inspired me to learn and love the auto.

Small pic of one of his race prepped X1/9:

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > wafflesnfalafel 07/13/2016 at 21:38

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Same thing about parents. My parents have only ever had slow cars (Ugh)

Die-Trying > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:38

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it would have to be hanging out with the uncles, and cousins.... forever something broken in the yard........ and after something got fixxed, TEST DRIVE. that and when i stayed with my friends, if we could make it run, and if we could find enough gas we could go cruising, or racing.

smobgirl > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:45

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Dad, initially. We went to races and car shows and everything when I was a kid and he has a garage of project cars that will never be touched (and will eventually become the barn finds of the decade). But he was a jerk about it, too, and I spent a lot of my life focused on other hobbies. Decided I didn’t care. A few years ago my last Japanese econobox (ahem...Tercels excepted) was dying and the search for a replacement got me hooked again. It helps that I live a few thousand miles from my folks now and can be free to like cars the way I want to and not whatever way he decides is “right.”

Snuze: Needs another Swede > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:52

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Easy, it was driving. My dad is a big gear head and really tried to get me interested in cars and racing when I was growing up, but I wasn’t having it. I was more into computers, video games, and other nerdly pursuits. Then when I turned 16 and got my license, I discovered I loved the freedom of driving. And being the nerd I am, I turned my attention to the means of my conveyance, and started learning more about how cars worked and the science behind it.

MultiplaOrgasms > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 21:54

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The dark Forces that have tormented my soul ever since I was a little kid have left me with boundless hatred and disregard for all human life. Cars help me keep my sense of right, wrong, decency and morality upright. Cars are the bank vault that imprisons the unhinged monster waiting to break free from my quiet and reserved facade.

RTeeJay > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 22:18

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My dad always had car and driver in the house, so I've been reading those since I can remember. But also when Dale Earnhardt wrecked Terry Labonte at Bristol, I instantly knew that I would love cars forever.

Dave the car guy , still here > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 22:35

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I’d say first it was Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels, then 1/24th and 1/32nd scale slot cars . I collected the entire 1st run of Hot Wheels as they were introduced then the plastic wheel carrier. I joined the Hot Wheels club and had the chrome Mustang . We had 28 ft of track set up in our large old attic which later grew to about 38 ft. I started buying dune buggy and VW magazines before I could drive. I was hooked. My sister had an MGB, my dad with 2 Jeeps , my uncle a double bubble Zagato and one of my friends dad bought a split window Vette. There was no way I couldn’t get into cars.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Dave the car guy , still here 07/13/2016 at 22:49

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Dave, after our talk with Audi’s the other day and this I think we are the same person, just different ages. I collected 1/24 and 1/32 (1:18 too) and joined the hotwheels club! I didn’t have the chrome stang though. I had quite a bit of track as well, and while my uncle didn’t have a Zagato, he loved the snot out off them and had an Alfa growing up. My favorite story of his is when him and my dad were in Europe a couple years ago, I’m pretty sure he saw Andrea Zagato in his 1900 SSZ double bubble. He said he saw his dream double bubble in red with Maryland plates, which he thought was weird being in Europe. He’s never had a computer so he couldn’t make this up. Behold, Petrolicious has a feature video with Andrea and his double bubble with Maryland plates!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 22:57

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I’m really not sure. I guess I just sort of always had at least some interest.

Dave the car guy , still here > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/13/2016 at 23:13

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Now if you tell me you had the Matchbox Iso Grifo which towed the boat with trailer I’ll freak. Cool story on the Zagato. I’ve never seen one since my uncles when I was a kid.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/14/2016 at 02:52

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My grandfather.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/14/2016 at 10:46

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I had matchbox cars when I was in elementary school. But I just liked to play with them. I don’t remember really thinking about how they related to real cars. It was when I moved back to the US and started the 7th grade when I really got into cars. The school building was being renovated and we were bussed to another building 45 minutes away for a year. That meant at least 30 minutes each way on I270 from Gaithersburg to somewhere closer to DC every day where I would stare out the window and look for Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, Corvettes, Supras, and the occasional Ferrari or Lambo. That’s when the car posters and pages of Motor Trend started going up on the wall, and I started building plastic car models.

TheBimmerGuyWhoNowOwnsAChevy > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 07/14/2016 at 14:55

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When I was a kid I loved almost everything Hot Wheels related, didn’t know why, just kinda did. I’d also have to thank my dad for introducing me into car culture by pointing out different cars as he drove and teaching me how to replace brakes, oil, ect. Because of all this subtle influence and my “old soul” I always had a passion for cars which just exploded into a burning passion within the past year or so.