Well, another day down. Our day here in Los Angeles has gone well. I got to sample some local cuisine at the Farmers Market with Angel and Misty at lunch as well as making my way to the Peterson’s Automotive Museum with Brian (Angels husband). I can’t believe I had never seen an XJ220 in person before this week, now I’ve seen two. Probably not the rarest or the most exotic car in the world, but still nice to add to the list. The other tad bit ironic part about the museum was they just happened to have a scooter installation on display while we were there today, no Zumas for some reason..lol… but many important, inexpensive modes of transportation that have moved the world from one place to another in many different countries.
After all of that, I managed to take a little drive up to Mullholland Scenic Dr. It lived up to all that I’ve heard, save for the fact the road is a bit bumpy. Beautiful views of the valley and quite a fun drive if nothing else. I’m not sure it compares to the drive up PCH, but it was well worth the time spent nonetheless. I guess any road out here is usually better than the flat straight thoroughfare of the plains. I guess what most people have a problem with understanding about these places is the emotion that a road can give a person. Think for a second of all the scenic, famous, or otherwise memorable drives. Roads take you somewhere, sometimes you may not be sure where, but to me, they always connect with some sense of adventure or purpose, that feeling, coupled with a mode of transportation that you enjoy is quite a feeling. I always wonder why people purchase cars or motorcycles they don’t like, it just is such a waste. Utilitarian transportation is great, but if you feel awful when you’re using it, it’s not worth the emotional martyrdom. I remember a short rant by Jeremy Clarkson once about how a Mercedes he was testing really gave him the sense that he would want to drive for the sake of driving. Not necessarily that he needed to go somewhere, but because it was purposeful in and of itself enough to just go drive. Motorcyclists usually take these rides on an at least weekly basis, but I think that many people never do this in their cars. Is it because I’m in a lone group that still enjoys driving? Or is it the lack of soul in the utilitarian transport that is what most people drive. You know, most people see a Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, or other exotic and have some fleeting thought that the person driving it is probably a rich shallow individual, however, I think more often than not, this is probably not the case. If you don’t turn around every once and while and take a second peek at your car when you’re walking away from it or it doesn’t feel “good” like a new pair of shoes when you get into it to drive it, I think you’re probably driving the wrong car. I think that’s what I may like most about Southern California, the car is more here than just a mode of transportation. It tends to be an extension of the person that is driving it, maybe just their mood at the time, but nonetheless, more than “just a car”.
I am also very excited that we have decided to stay through the morning and go to brunch as this will give me the opportunity to run down to Irvine in the early morning to get to Cars and Coffee. Supposedly there may be a short debut of Pagani’s new offering showing up in the morning.
All in all, I definitely think LA is worth the traffic, however bad it may be. I think if you are a motorsports person, if you can think of it it is here in one way shape or form.
