How to savor the past with classic cars | Peter Brock column

Not a day passes in this wildly consumer-oriented market without every facet of our daily lives being hyped with some “latest” improvement that we supposedly can’t live without. Whether it’s in the field of electronics, clothing, communication, automobiles, food or travel—whatever it is that we’ve owned, used with satisfaction, or even recently acquired—it’s somehow already deemed obsolete. Really? Don’t think …

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Great article, so true. 

I agree.I love driving either of my old cars but can be scary with all the SUV...which means stupid useless viehile..on the road.

Thanks for chiming in Peter Brock. Pretty darned cool to have you on our forum. See you soon.

Thank you Peter Brock, for putting in words some of my feelings towards my old MGA, a car that I bought used in 1970, drove for 5 years, lost and then reacquired it in horrible condition more recently.  That car took my new wife and I on our honeymoon nearly 50 years ago now.  I doesn't make economic sense to invest all the work and $ to restore it, but I'm doing just that for all the reasons you described.

Thanks, I drive my 60 Elva that I bought new, just to slip back to my world.

Last fall I purchased an automobile exactly like my first car at 17... When new only 5757 were produced. When I spotted it on Craigslist in Manhattan I was immediately drawn to it. Now that I have it it brings back great memories of my youth and better times... The car always gets compliments, waves, people flashing their lights at it... A very cool experience in my little time traveller.. It's a 1963 Mercury comet s22 convertible, 170ci 6  cylinder with a two speed merc o matic transmission....

In reply to Peter Brock :

What most people forget is the velocity even Vintage cars are capable of.  An XKE.  May be 60+ years old by now but the real joy isn't at puttering to the grocery store speeds.  It's at what these cars are fully capable of. 
     Speeds that are only safely achieved at a proper race track.  
   You don't need to go all out with rollbars and other safety gear.  HPDE can be an outlet of true joy.  With no special preparation other then ensuring the car is in safe condition.   The condition it should be in. 
  Tracks Like Elkhart Lake, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta. Will allow the Ferrari's Corvette's Cobra's Jaguar's  to approach their potential speeds.  Safely. And at your own pace. 
      It's not a race. Leave as much margin for comfort as you wish without the risk to others, that driving on public roads at high velocity is.  
   Everyone going in the same direction. Focused on driving, with proper run off areas should the unexpected happen.  Etc.  
      Driving to the deep ends of the speedometer, tach, etc  brings joy even to us older folks. Taking such high spirited cars on public roads is worse than kissing your sister.  It's just empty.