Cars and Adventures that Shaped my Love of Handling Dynamics: Part 1 - Automobile
When I step out of a car that really impresses me, it’s generally because the handling ticks all the boxes. I love a powerful engine and brutal speed, but buttery steering, perfectly tuned dampers, and overall handling balance are what really excite me. That first ride in a Mazda Miata. My constant pestering finally came to fruition when my father gave me a lift to the local Mazda dealer. I was desperate to see the new Miata in person. Front and center on the expansive lot at Borgman Ford/Mazda sat a Mariner Blue 1990 Mazda Miata. I’ll never forget sitting in the cockpit of the Japanese roadster for the first time, admiring the basic cloth seats, minimalist gauges, and mechanically precise manual gearbox. After a long, detailed inspection, we were about to head for home when I struck up a conversation with a woman standing by the two-seater. Impressed with my knowledge of it -- all I ever read as a kid were car magazines -- the woman persuaded the salesperson to give up the passenger seat. I don’t recall asking my father if it was OK to go for a ride with a complete stranger, but the next thing I knew, we were rocketing down the street. The gurgles and pops from the 1. 6-liter engine, the open-air feeling you get from a proper roadster, and the sheer grip and balance of the Mazda are all etched into my brain. If only the Miata woman knew what an influence that ride had on my life. Source: www.automobilemag.com
