Take a back seat

I often follow bikers with stickers and plates that read ‘Live to ride’ and the sorts. However, a particular ad campaign that caught my fancy many years ago was by Chevrolet with the tag line ‘For a special journey called life’ and it’s been stuck in my head ever since.

When it comes to road trips, it’s not only an exciting car or road but also the company that makes a difference. It could also simply be a great tune playing on the stereo or just the company of like-minded enthusiasts or your better half.

You may wonder why many bikers and supercar owners usually hang around in bunches. I, too, like driving in groups amongst fellow enthusiasts. The adrenaline rush of exiting corners, accelerating or just cruising in a convoy following an exciting car and being followed by another is simply exhilarating. That said, I feel equally happy riding, around town late at night with a bunch of automobile enthusiasts on Honda Navis when I’m too lazy to drive. It’s because petrolheads like us like being around petrolheads, where the conversation always hovers around motors, tyres, handling and horsepower!

The driver’s seat in any car for me is a massage chair and PlayStation seat combined, with the windscreen being the live screen. Even a boring car can be fun if you have the right company or a thrilling stretch of road. It isn’t always about being in the driver’s seat in driving shoes though. Being in the third row in sandals can be fun too. Even though MPVs and SUVs with seven seats may not always be the most exciting cars to drive, a good road or fun destination could always enhance the experience, but above all, being seven in a car has a different sort of joy.

Travelling with a group has its merits. It can be great bonding time too. Remember those school picnics in your school bus? I particularly like going to parties or heading for a night out in an SUV or MPV in large groups. It really can be a lot of fun.

Truth be told, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a people mover for a while now. But, of course, I’d always choose to drive a sportscar over an SUV or MPV.

Nonetheless, it’s alright not to always be in the driver’s seat. Especially, when there is tremendous traffic or, worse still when you are in a low-slung performance car on bad roads which can get
really stressful.

Lately, I’ve been fancying a road trip to Goa in a retro camper van with the Beatles playing over the radio. If I won’t be driving, I’d be merrily strumming, ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’!

IMAGE CREDIT: Kumud Dadlani