The Journey Matters
For most people, getting into a car means going from point A to point B. You have a destination in mind so you get in the car to drive there. That is the goal. Everything else in between is incidental, like the pain a Miss World contestant goes through to look the way she does. Well, what if the destination were incidental and the journey was what mattered most?
If you don't drive cars for a living, the last sentence sounds like motoring journo nonsense. Why would anyone want to drive with no destination in mind for the hell of it? It costs money to fuel up a car and money to pay for toll roads so there has to be a reason to go for a drive. I hear you and I agree, but I'm also adamant about driving being an enjoyable pursuit.
Forget about track days and illegal racing. Speed is a mere component of the whole activity. The next time you get behind the wheel of your car, try this instead.
Before you get in, take a minute to walk around and admire it. Drink in the looks; marvel at the way flat pieces of 3mm sheet metal can bend and curve under stress, yet still remain strong enough to hold its shape and ponder how contact patches the size of your palm are what holds you to the asphalt. This is your car, you're paying good money for it, it's therefore logical to like and maybe even love the amalgamation of metal, glass, plastic and rubber in front of you.
Get inside and you'll marvel at how, the driving position feels just right. Somehow you've pulled the levers, turned the knobs and adjusted yourself so it feels as natural as sitting in your favourite reading chair. There is a familiarity to the steering wheel where it has worn away due to use and the weighting of the shift lever and pedal effort feel just right. This may be a machine but if you actually think about it, it's as organic as natural as the act of walking in your favourite sneakers.
So you finally set off and even if the road is more clogged than a baby-back-ribs connoisseur's artery, you shouldn't get annoyed or stressed. There is air conditioning to keep you cool and the stereo is either tuned to your favourite station or hooked up to a digital device. Unless you're perpetually late for an appointment, like me, it's not worth the aggravation to get excited.
When the road clears, there is acceleration, braking and steering to take care of. It takes careful coordination to drive and if you concentrate you'll be surprised at how good you can be. Use your eyes to look ahead for a clear path, your ears to judge engine speed and be firm yet smooth with your steering and pedal inputs. Sooner rather than later, you'll end up driving so smoothly it feels like you're behind the wheel of a different car.
Where have you gone to? Who knows. It could be the supermarket, to pick up a hot date or even your daily commute to work; the destination is secondary because the best part of driving is the journey itself. Go further and there is the scenery to enjoy, the delights of a roadside discovery and the human bonding that is a part of every long drive but those are the extras. The main part is to marvel at the miracle of driving a car and how it affects your life on a daily basis. Think about it and your time behind the wheel will never be the same.
