2017 has arrived with a terrific sigh of relief. 2016 was not a terrific year for the world; the number of celebrity deaths from the gorilla Harambe to star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, the wars in the middle East, the refugee crisis in Europe, Brexit, the demonetisation in India, and Trump winning the elections in the USA, all these had a enormous impact on the already flagging year that was 2016. There was upheaval in the automobile industry too with the Dieselgate scandal and its fallout including Audi bowing out of the world Endurance championship and Volkswagen exiting the world Rally Championship.
The year wasn’t one of my best either. Besides not having driven a automobile for a lot more than a year due to various reasons including a severe lack of funds, it was only towards the end of the year that I started this blog that epitomises my love of cars. I want 2017 to be different. for this reason the new Year’s resolutions. I know that a lot of resolutions are forgotten by February or March, but this year has special relevance to me. On this day, I have turned 28; in other words, it has been 10 years considering that I entered adulthood and looking back at the previous decade is uncomfortable to say the least.
With this in mind, I’ve jotted down some of my goals and resolutions for the coming year:
The loss that accompanied the lack of driving during 2016 has been somewhat soothed by writing this blog. for this reason I will continue to pen down my thoughts about various automobile related themes and you can look forward to a lot more madcap rants, obscure facts, and general automobile knowledge in 2017.
(Image source: Author’s own screenshot)
By mid-2017 I will have my own car. While I’m not certain I will be in the UK by mid-2017, if I am, then I will get a used Honda S2000. From my previous articles and my Juvenile Petrolheads tribe on DRIVETRIBE, my readers will know that I am a substantial fan of roadsters. The S2000 is a dazzling example, a lot more powerful than even the current generation MX-5 and a bit a lot more tough to handle, it will help me to hone my skills and indulge the JDM nut in me.
(Image source: Wikipedia Commons)
If I will step back to India, I will get the same Tata Nano that I examined earlier. I had made a pledge last year that I would get the automobile and mod it, turn it into a sleeper. The incredibly Nano modified by JA Motorsport inspired me to create a hot hatch out of this quirky little car. While it has been sold to a third party, I will find it and get it back.
https://www.drivetribe.com/embed/Dr5PTRs5S8Cx2zu5hXO7jA?postId=Xu-3ilP8QuSm4x3ICiBSiQ
I will learn to drift. While I have some experience making the rear of a automobile wag (purely by accident and karts not included), I have not mastered the art of power sliding. As I want to develop my driving skills to a higher level having already got the hang of heel-toe and blipping on downshifts, I feel that this will absolutely be a step forward. An addition resolution is if I have achieved a certain degree of prowess with drifting, I will practice left-foot braking as well. I pledge I will find a safe place to do these things and not on a public road.
I will take a road trip driving at least 1000 miles (1600km). Over the years, I have made lots of hypothetical plans for road trips; from the Himalayas in the north of India to the southern idea of Kanyakumari, from the northern idea of Scotland to Italy by means of France and Germany, follow the western coast of the USA from Seattle to Los Angeles. I will start saving and take the time out to make it happen.
The Himalayas and the Western coast of the USA. A enormous road trip is in the offing this year! (Image source: Wikipedia Commons)
All these resolutions are in effect indicated to say one thing: 2017 will not be like 2016. delighted new Year and hope you have a cartastic year ahead. I know I will.