I have been fascinated by cars for as long as I can remember. I can remember putting micro machines into my pocket whilst at primary school, so that I could play with them on break – or in my desk drawer when my mind wandered.
From the Mazda ‘Zoom Zoom’ to the ‘I see you baby, shaking that a**’ advertisement from Renault, I have been captivated by the lumps of metal which we call cars.
Growing up my family were Ford and Volkswagen people, with Orions and Escorts being prominent on the driveway through the 1990s with a transition to Volkswagen Passat and Golfs during the early 2000s.
I was eager to drive and once I reached the right age, I was taught by a retired policeman in a 1.2L Vauxhall Corsa. I can still remember the biting point in that car. The Volkswagen theme continued with my first car, a 2006 Volkswagen Polo 1.2l in ‘E’ trim. It had a whopping 55bhp and featured manual windows and a CD player. I genuinely believe you can’t beat your first car, regardless of what it is. The freedom which it provides…
A few years later I upgraded to a BMW 116i, my first car with a 6-speed manual transmission and rear wheel drive. This car started my appreciation for good driving dynamics and the bond between man and machine blossomed. I quickly fell down a BMW rabbit hole when a red 1986 BMW 318i 2 door falling into my lap, as a colleague was selling it for £500. The car had a seized engine and required some TLC to get it running again. The BMW passion grew with a 2005 E85 Z4 2.5i, silver with a black top and interior, following suit. A movie called ‘Stormbreaker’ from my childhood had a Z4 as a hero car and I had always wanted to own one. However, being an older BMW, it was not faultless: between the electric roof motor going and window regulators breaking it was a small fortune to keep on the road.
Following three BMW cars, I pivoted towards the Japanese and landed on a series of Lexus vehicles including the IS and RX, before buying a 2004 Lexus SC430 sight unseen from Stockport during peak covid.
After a few years with the blue hardtop convertible, I ended up buying a purple 2009 Toyota iQ off a friend, whilst on a train home from Edinburgh. I owned that 1.0l automatic for under a year before buying my current car, the Lexus LC Coupé.
Association of Scottish Motoring Writers.
As a member of the ASMW, I get access to the latest vehicles from mainstream manufacturers. There is often a fight for a car launch, where you meet and interact with automotive journalists from mainstream media outlets. It can take a moment to keep up with the new brands launching into the UK and to distinguish a conveyor belt of midsized, electrified crossovers. Highlights include experiencing the McLaren 750s in Stirlingshire and attending the Mazda CX-5 launch in the heart of the Scottish borders.
I am not the only gay person within the association and there hasn’t been much discussion about it with the other members. The focus of conversation is almost always the cars, if not a brief moan about the weather. It is interesting discovering others within the industry, and sometimes it bridges a bond quicker with individuals. I must say that the automotive industry is mostly accepting and I have had only positive experiences thus far.
Dreaming of automobiles…
Being born in the mid-1990s most of my core automotive dreams included humdrum cars such as 90s Jeep Wrangler (because of the Jurassic Park influence) and a Volvo 940 estate.
If I was to create a list of a dream cars which I would aspire to own, it would most likely have a Lexus LFA at the top of the list, with a Jaguar XJ220 and Genesis G90 Wingback vying for second place.
GCCG in Scotland has been a positive experience with monthly dinners and events throughout the year. It expanded my social circle, and my own knowledge of classic cars from the 70s and 80s has expanded. If you haven’t been yet, and are considering, I would recommend you join the GCCG at South Queensferry for a bite [Editor note please check website] and some chit chat. Just make sure to wear something sheer for Andrew, I am kidding…
