Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams. – Donovan Bailey
This past weekend I got to once again enjoy my favorite time of the year, the event I look forward the most, the Atlantic Nationals car show in Moncton, NB. It has only been the last couple of years that I have been able to fully enjoy the event as I put my own “toy” into the show. This annual weekend is truly like Christmas day to me.
It was about 25 years ago when my uncle told me I had a knack for racing. Of course, then it was racing go-karts that he owned at the time. I guess I had a natural ability to handle a vehicle (albeit a small one) in fast situations from a very young age. I remember then he wanted to put me into go-kart racing. I was more than willing but my parents thought it was not safe, so I couldn’t go. I was bummed but the passion for driving was formed then even though I didn’t really know it at the time.
Fast-forward another 5 or so years and I was the first one in line on my 16th birthday to get my driver’s license. At the time, I had already purchased my very first car and it was sitting out in the driveway waiting for the hands of time to age me enough to drive it. I remember that car well, it was a 1985 Hyundai Pony full of rust and had absolutely no power. That car was a beast and I was so proud to own it. I still remember the bell that would chime inside the dash that reminded you to put your seat belt on and the choke… oh the choke that enabled me to start the beast on a cold morning. I can still feel the freedom I felt being able to drive wherever and whenever I wanted. Did I ever drive a lot back then.
Over the years I have gone through so many cars; not because I wrecked or neglected them -I always took care of my cars. I just loved cars so much that I was always looking for the next one. Some cars I loved more than others; my Mercury Cougar was one, oh and that shit brown GMC truck I had with the burlap-like dash was cool as well. When I reflect back on my love of cars and driving them, I really do believe my childhood passion is steeped in automobiles.
Why did I not follow that passion into a career? I am not sure. Maybe I just never thought I could. I have always had a good handle on how vehicles work and how they are constructed. When I was younger I just never saw myself as a mechanic or even a truck driver, yet the thoughts of doing either have always intrigued me.
Anyways, the moral of this story is that I can now make up for the deep love of cars that I had suppressed back when I was shot down as a future race car driver. It is never too late to follow your passion even though you may believe it is too late and you think you are too old. While you may be older, you can always rekindle that fire and follow your passion in a childlike way once again but perhaps in a different manner. Now that I am older, I am going to continue following my passion for cars and driving them so that hopefully one day I can take it to the next step and turn it into a hobby that will fulfill that void that was left empty when I was a go-kart prodigy.
650 / 1000 KMs walked | 31 / 50 blog posts | 12 / 10 books read