I went for a relaxing drive Wednesday evening once the sun dipped behind the trees. There was something about this drive that just felt so great and just made me feel appreciative of being a driving enthusiast. Hopefully, you'll feel the same emotions I did during my drive by reading my story.
After locking my apartment door, I climbed in my E30. I turned the key to the ON position, let the fuel pump prime, and fired it up. My phone automatically paired to my stereo and I immediately turned on Pandora. Obviously, I was going to need some decent driving music, so I chose the Flux Pavilion station in hopes of hearing something decent. As the station was loading, I backed out of my parking spot and worked my way out of my apartment parking lot. Once the coast was clear, I eased onto the street and babied my little monster up to the intersection of the highway on-ramp.
I turned left onto the ramp, shifting into second gear before putting my foot down and blasting up to highway speed. The feeling of acceleration this car provides is exhilarating, all the way from first to halfway through fourth gear (aerodynamics aren't that great in an E30). By the time I was ready to shift into third, I was up to speed and went straight to fifth. Rush hour was over and the roads were virtually clear. Sure, there will always be traffic in a downtown metro, but it was considerably calm.
A long, sweeping left hand turn greeted me, and I let off the throttle to lose a little speed before entering. The exhaust sang its burbles and crackles as I approached the turn. My right foot gently pressed the brake while simultaneously blipping the throttle for a downshift from fifth gear to third. I let the car glide through the turn effortlessly, holding the engine speed steady. Once the apex was crested, I rolled on the throttle and let my little monster scream her emotions. I knew the world could hear her and I knew she wanted them to.
Windows down, sunroof open, the evening air was warm, but cool enough to be enjoyable. The only thing on my mind was to reach the first challenge: a one-mile uphill climb with roughly 14 turns. I was playing the drive through my head, remembering the bumps, the banks, the way one turn seems to be tighter than one would expect... I couldn't wait to arrive.
"Tick, tock, tick, tock," sounded the little speaker of my turn signal while the green arrow flashed on my instrument cluster. My hands gently turned the wheel to the right as I made my way into the turn lane, getting off the highway and onto the side street where my short and sweet hill lies. Through the first stop sign I went as a new song came on... not really anything worthy of enjoying a deliciously twisty road.
"No... I need something to drive to," I thought to myself and hit the skip button.
It's as if Pandora knew what I had planned and gave me a song I used to listen to while carving up this same road in my E46: Lindsey Stirling's Crystallize.
I'll admit: I have a thing for slower, more relaxing electronica, especially when my goal is to enjoy my drive and clear my mind of trouble, stress, fear, anger...
The song started slow as I approached the second stop sign. I sat there a moment, no other cars around, and took a deep breath. My lungs started to tell me to exhale, but I held it a moment longer before releasing it. With my heavy sigh, I released my tensions brought on from all aspects of life. My body sank into the seat, my hands gripped the steering wheel, and I became focused on the road.
"Tick, tock, tick, tock," sounded the little speaker of my turn signal while the green arrow flashed on my instrument cluster. My hands crossed over one another, turning the wheel left. I gently rolled into first gear and let the machine climb to 3,400 RPM before shifting into second. The road straightened out after the first minor left turn and I smiled. Halfway through this stretch, I gave it hell.
The S52 roared and my head got pressed into the headrest. As I approached the first banked turn, I was at the perfect speed. I dove into it and held my monster steady, her fury and excitement being broadcast from the hill. The turn came to an end and I gave a quick blast of throttle before hammering the brakes for the upcoming curve. Another dive, apex, and hard acceleration. Again, and again, and again... one turn after another, my eyes looking ahead for the next point of entry and exit.
I knew I was nearing the top of the small mountain when the road straightened out briefly. Once again, I put my right foot down a little more than usual, getting one last pull out of the short climb I so deliciously enjoy. The final right turn approached, signaling the end of this run. A smile crept its way across my face as I suddenly started having flashbacks of my E46.
All the miles, the repairs, the improvements, the busted knuckles, and smashed fingers (okay... smashed finger wasn't mine, but the one who it happened to is on this forum). The feeling of stability through almost any turn at almost any speed, the raspy snarl of the AC Schnitzer muffler...
I won't lie to you guys... I almost cried. Although not as refined, not as comfortable, and not as pleasant, the E30 has its own enjoyable aspects. The immediate response, the unbelievable feeling of power, and the almost primitive feeling it gives compared to today's modern technological wonders.
Instead of crying, I just smiled even more and thought about how my little monster is going to give me more memories and stories to tell.
BONUS:
http://ift.tt/14FPDjS
After locking my apartment door, I climbed in my E30. I turned the key to the ON position, let the fuel pump prime, and fired it up. My phone automatically paired to my stereo and I immediately turned on Pandora. Obviously, I was going to need some decent driving music, so I chose the Flux Pavilion station in hopes of hearing something decent. As the station was loading, I backed out of my parking spot and worked my way out of my apartment parking lot. Once the coast was clear, I eased onto the street and babied my little monster up to the intersection of the highway on-ramp.
I turned left onto the ramp, shifting into second gear before putting my foot down and blasting up to highway speed. The feeling of acceleration this car provides is exhilarating, all the way from first to halfway through fourth gear (aerodynamics aren't that great in an E30). By the time I was ready to shift into third, I was up to speed and went straight to fifth. Rush hour was over and the roads were virtually clear. Sure, there will always be traffic in a downtown metro, but it was considerably calm.
A long, sweeping left hand turn greeted me, and I let off the throttle to lose a little speed before entering. The exhaust sang its burbles and crackles as I approached the turn. My right foot gently pressed the brake while simultaneously blipping the throttle for a downshift from fifth gear to third. I let the car glide through the turn effortlessly, holding the engine speed steady. Once the apex was crested, I rolled on the throttle and let my little monster scream her emotions. I knew the world could hear her and I knew she wanted them to.
Windows down, sunroof open, the evening air was warm, but cool enough to be enjoyable. The only thing on my mind was to reach the first challenge: a one-mile uphill climb with roughly 14 turns. I was playing the drive through my head, remembering the bumps, the banks, the way one turn seems to be tighter than one would expect... I couldn't wait to arrive.
"Tick, tock, tick, tock," sounded the little speaker of my turn signal while the green arrow flashed on my instrument cluster. My hands gently turned the wheel to the right as I made my way into the turn lane, getting off the highway and onto the side street where my short and sweet hill lies. Through the first stop sign I went as a new song came on... not really anything worthy of enjoying a deliciously twisty road.
"No... I need something to drive to," I thought to myself and hit the skip button.
It's as if Pandora knew what I had planned and gave me a song I used to listen to while carving up this same road in my E46: Lindsey Stirling's Crystallize.
I'll admit: I have a thing for slower, more relaxing electronica, especially when my goal is to enjoy my drive and clear my mind of trouble, stress, fear, anger...
The song started slow as I approached the second stop sign. I sat there a moment, no other cars around, and took a deep breath. My lungs started to tell me to exhale, but I held it a moment longer before releasing it. With my heavy sigh, I released my tensions brought on from all aspects of life. My body sank into the seat, my hands gripped the steering wheel, and I became focused on the road.
"Tick, tock, tick, tock," sounded the little speaker of my turn signal while the green arrow flashed on my instrument cluster. My hands crossed over one another, turning the wheel left. I gently rolled into first gear and let the machine climb to 3,400 RPM before shifting into second. The road straightened out after the first minor left turn and I smiled. Halfway through this stretch, I gave it hell.
The S52 roared and my head got pressed into the headrest. As I approached the first banked turn, I was at the perfect speed. I dove into it and held my monster steady, her fury and excitement being broadcast from the hill. The turn came to an end and I gave a quick blast of throttle before hammering the brakes for the upcoming curve. Another dive, apex, and hard acceleration. Again, and again, and again... one turn after another, my eyes looking ahead for the next point of entry and exit.
I knew I was nearing the top of the small mountain when the road straightened out briefly. Once again, I put my right foot down a little more than usual, getting one last pull out of the short climb I so deliciously enjoy. The final right turn approached, signaling the end of this run. A smile crept its way across my face as I suddenly started having flashbacks of my E46.
All the miles, the repairs, the improvements, the busted knuckles, and smashed fingers (okay... smashed finger wasn't mine, but the one who it happened to is on this forum). The feeling of stability through almost any turn at almost any speed, the raspy snarl of the AC Schnitzer muffler...
I won't lie to you guys... I almost cried. Although not as refined, not as comfortable, and not as pleasant, the E30 has its own enjoyable aspects. The immediate response, the unbelievable feeling of power, and the almost primitive feeling it gives compared to today's modern technological wonders.
Instead of crying, I just smiled even more and thought about how my little monster is going to give me more memories and stories to tell.
BONUS:
http://ift.tt/14FPDjS
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