Real People, Real Passion: The Heart of the Auto Industry
Why do I LOVE the Automotive Industry?
First of all- I’m a Car-Girl.
I LOVE cars.
My Dad started the love affair. He used to buy old cars- drive them for a week or so- fix up a few things and then sell them.
There was always a different car on our driveway with the hood up and my Dad under that hood figuring out what was wrong.
He would add the craziest things to the engine. I’ve seen playing cards, clothes pegs, a Campbell’s soup can with both ends cut out of it.
His world came to a crashing end when technology took over and cars could no long be fixed with regular household items.
My favorite picture is me sitting on the hood of a Karmann Ghia- probably a 1960 or so. I was maybe 7 and he was perched on the side of the car smoking a cigarette with a huge grim because he was gonna teach his daughter- how to change points and condensers.
What?
I think I might have lost interest in that lesson pretty quickly but I was super interested in sitting in the passenger seat and going to A&W for a Poppa Burger and a Teen Burger (pretending that I was a Teen ;.)
Fast forward to 1990 or 1991 when I was introduced to the Castrol Team in Canada- I was never so energized. It was a foggy rainy day. It took forever to get through the traffic to their office.
When I arrived they put me in a dark boardroom and said they were going to show me a film.
Oh dear.
I sure hope I don’t fall asleep.
Fall asleep????
From the minute the film started until the management team came to join me I watched a fast paced action action action show with cars and speed boats and race cars and I was all but jumping out of my seat between the music and the visuals. It truly was exciting.
And it was the beginning of a new love affair- but this time for the people in the industry. From the Castrol Team to their customers, the new car dealers, the quick lubes- down the street, the local auto shop who also helped with oil changes- I found everyone so, what is the word? Real.
Real.
Real people who have a love for cars too. Real people who understand that next to our homes- our cars are one of the biggest financial decisions we make so we need people around us to make sure we can protect that investment.
That’s what car people do.
And that’s the real reason why I LOVE them.
Thanks to my Dad and thanks to the auto industry as a whole for a lifetime of pleasure.
And! What about F1?
Don’t get me started… ;.)
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