Driving Cars with Youths

Driving and Youth, words synonymous with the fears of parents and general frustration and dislike from the rest of the motoring populace. But those feelings aside, I find the whole subject rather fascinating.

Today as I was walking around the place I am staying at now, I saw five skinny, lanky and goofy looking teenage boys cruising around after school, stuffed into the cab of a 70s Chevy single cab truck with a mismatched door and big tires. They were laughing and goofing around, just bumbling around in this old truck in a very small town with not much to do.

It was something I used to do, and loved doing, when I was in high school . Not that I am terribly old, but it was a decade ago, and for some reason, I miss it.

Which leads me to ask, what the hell happens to us? As we grow up, why is the joy of driving lost? Work, collage, families, marriage, etc etc etc I do know comes with this “Growing Up” phenomenon, but why lose the joy of driving? I know some people have it, those with hot rods or sports cars or motorcycles even, but I don’t know if it is the same feeling. Mostly it’s because of the cars, I think. If you have a vintage muscle car or motorbike, you maybe have a sense of accomplishment or the knowledge that you worked hard (I hope) for that luxury. It is hard to be excited about your driving experience on a daily basis when having to drive a boring minivan or drab domesticated sedan. Admittedly, there is something that isn’t exactly inspired by that.

Which then takes me back to young drivers…

So unless your parents are footing the bill for everything (which I personally hate with a passion), gas, insurance, upkeep, and are throwing down a hell of a lot of money on a really nice set of wheels, chances are your first vehicle isn’t going to be spectacular. Mine was a 1987 Dodge Ram 2wd with a six cylinder engine, crank windows and a tape deck. It wasn’t exactly a Ferrari. It was red, though…

Point is, that old truck was something you’d expect a grandpa in a nice cul da sac neighborhood to haul his lawn mower to the small engine mechanic, some planks for the deck, and a few bags of potting soil for his wife’s garden. It wasn’t fast or flashy, nor impressive in the slightest.

But, It was mine. And that truck represented that one crucial thing that teenagers love: Freedom.

Every single time I turned the key, I was the most badass guy in the world (least I thought so). I certainly drove it like it was a super car.

Luckly for me and the insurers and everyone else on the road, that truck could just about get out of its own way....and that was it. But no matter! The radio worked (sometimes), it was pretty (to me anyway) and it was my gateway to all the fun I could have! Joy with vinyl seats and plain steel wheels! And I would be willing to bet that every young driver felt that way when getting into their Pontiac Grand Am or Ford Taurus sedans or tired Jeep Cherokees. Doesn’t matter how bad it was (and I saw some pretty pathetic junkyard rejects) that car was the ticket to all sort of possibilities. Adventure! Independence! Freedom!

WTF happened, then? You would think that being a grown up and being able to afford something nicer then a pathetically underpowered Eagle Talon that smelled like old McDonalds fries would be a boon to your happiness. Make you feel even more awesome, or simply just enjoy the day a little more.

It saddens me to think, though, that we have lost this feeling in the years following high school. Now it’s all thoughts of work and collage and money and stress and no time, etc etc etc… Do these feelings die when that old car gets wrecked or breaks down for the last time? Why does that dream of being free because you have a set of wheels fade when that first car ends its days rusting in the scrap yard?

Sadness.

I hate being a grown up.

I want my fun back.

Subarus...

Subaru

Subaru cars are one of the most popular cars here in Western Montana. Easily one can look out the window and in the traffic around them, see at the very least 3. They’re fuel efficient, smart, fast, have plenty of room for your dogs or kids or outdoor gear. Their AWD capabilities and decent ground clearance make them ideal for both snowy and dirt road conditions. My aunt, cousin, grandparents all own one of the breed.

I have to ask, then, why do 99% of Subaru drivers in this town seem to be stupid, useless people?

With all seriousness, I get cut off or almost hit by a Subaru rushing the light or trying to merge and turn way to close to the intersection every day. They race around, drive too slow or are right on your trailer hitch, and generally disregard the rules of the road.

Why? Do they, the drivers, feel because of the “alternative, conscientious and green” image that is in their mind that they can get away with being idiots on the road?

And if the normal Subaru driver is bad, then there are really no words on how horrible and stupid WRX drivers seem to be. A WRX pulled up next to me today at a light, white with big shiny wheels and low profile tires, blasting bump music with some young 20 year old guy wearing his hat sideways pretending he is all king on the mountain. There are half a dozen cars in front of us when the light turns green, and I take off. A 30 year old Forest Service Special Dodge 4x4 with a six cylinder and a top speed of about 65, and this kid feels the need to race it. Up come the revs, that little car winds up and he kicks the gas. Tires shriek and he blasts past for…..30 feet, before slamming on his brakes to avoid the minivan he’s about to slam into. As I close the distance with him in the left lane, he throws his car in front of my truck, scant feet in front of 3 tons of iron, and proceeds to cause me to slam on my brakes, which causes the person behind me and the next and next and so on.

WHY? What was the point of this display and recklessness? Because you own a fast car? Because you are hip and drive an import? Seriously, I don’t understand.

Blah, another day in the life of a Missoula Subaru.

Beautiful Sunny Days.

Today in Missoula Montana was stunning. 64 Degrees, no clouds, no wind, just blue skies and sun and warmth. It was fantastic. Which makes me think about the things I love when it comes to cars and driving in the sun.

You know what the 3rd best thing about sunny beautiful days are? The long drives with the windows down. Just something about blasting along with the wind blowing through the
windows. Air Conditioning can keep you cool, but open windows are so much more fun. Plus, the wind is loud, so you have to turn your music up louder. The louder it gets, the more you want to sing with it, and the more fun you have. It all is win.

Best Thing, Number 2: Everyone with some sort of automotive toy or automotive guilty pleasure brings the Garage Queens out. Especially that first really nice day of spring. You know these people have been walking through their garages looking with forlorn glances at the shape under

the car cover, or under boxes, or months of dirt and dust. Poor Machines, locked away from their natural habitat, away from the roads and the thrill of being driven.

Course, that first nice day....

By a very very brief count today I saw: 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, 1949 Ford F100, 1968 Chevy Impala, 2010 Chevy Camaro, 1971 Dodge Dart, 1970 Dodge Charger, a 19??? Rat Rod made of near everything, a 1920's Ford Model T, what looked like a 1940 Willys Coupe, numerous import racers, a number of Harleys, lots of crotch rockets and a pretty girl on a vintage Vespa.

All pretty, beautiful things (especially the girl on the vespa) , all out for the first time in several months. They were fantastic, some washed, water still beading on the pain, some still dusty from the garage, but all were just fantastic to look at. Makes me want one, or want to build one, or want to just work on one. It was great.

But, the best thing about the first sunny day....Number 1....

Dogs.

Seriously, Dogs. Every other car had the gleeful and stupid happy dog face hanging out

of it, ears and lips flapping in the breeze, just basking in the joy of it all. Most of the cars mentioned in Number 2? Yep, rocking the dog copilot whose duty was to man the windows in search of noms. Great fun.

My own dog, Adak, was loving every second of it, singing as the ambulance passed or just letting the wind play with his ears. Made my day just a world better if you ask me. Just the joy of driving with my dog with the radio on and adventure beckoning was enough to make me forget my woes and just relax, not let anything bother me.

I can't wait for the next sunny day.