It was 2006, and I was playing Need for Speed Underground 2 on the PS2 with my brother. Adding different colors, putting under glow to make the car pop, and changing the rims to spice it up. When I revved the car you can hear the turbo fluttering after you lifted off the gas. Need for Speed Underground was always a competition to see who’s a better street racer.
Sitting on the couch with my dad while watching cars race around a track was our way of bonding. Different cars with drivers competing against each other just inches away from touching one another. Then BOOM! The big one happens and cars start spinning out, pieces from the cars are left on the track while half the field is filled with wrecked cars. My favorite driver Jimmy Johnson AKA Mr. 7 time Champion made it through the wreckage and brought home a Daytona 500 Victory in 2013.
Every time 2 Fast 2 Furious came upon the T.V I was filled with excitement just seeing Paul Walker and his modified cars. He has this one sick ride, the Nissan GTR R34 and he drives it as if speed limits don’t exist. The best scene is where he arrives at the street race with the car and everyone there is just in shock. They know he doesn’t play around with racing since his car gives off that aggressive vibe. Paul Walker drove the R34 around the other drivers as if there was no tomorrow.
My life changed the minute I started walking into Autocon and seeing cars I would build with my brother in Need For Speed and only see in Fast and Furious become a reality. My dad and I walked in immediately and I realized that this is where I belong. The car community is nothing but people sharing the same passion for different builds no matter if it was a race car, show car, or a drift car. I took a left and there I saw my favorite YouTuber TJ hunt with his Rocket Bunny BRZ. Amazed to see someone that I watch all their videos on his cars and think of like a modern-day Paul Walker. It made me realize that the car community is a scene where I would get involved in and build many of my cars.
Later that day I could tell that my dad also felt better than when he went in. He told me about how it was a special day since he bonded with me. It also brought him old memories of when he and his friends had cars and were racing and going to car meets. It showed me how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
My dad got me Need for Speed Underground 2 and looking back he passed his passion to me. Growing up I got closer to the car scene whether it’s seeing different project cars or racing. I had a better knowledge of them and wanted to pursue it. My dad taught me that you can share your passion not only by telling them about it but by passing things down to them, that made you connect to it.
Reflection:
While writing this essay, I really enjoyed reconnecting with the past and sharing my experiences about my passion for cars. I got to see my dad’s view and learned more about his experiences when he was young. I learned how to structure my writing and going straight to the point. It helped me notice how long stories can get boring and you need to keep the reader interested. Too much detail may sometimes be too much. That was the hard part for me. I like to be descriptive at times to give the reader my whole experience. But from following your DDC guidelines it helped me to keep my essay concise.
