[Dadhawk]

The above experience with Mr. Escalade reminds me of something I've been meaning to share.

I've said before that there are car guys and there are drivers, and I tend to be more of a driver than a nuts and bolts car guy. I think those two type cover pretty much everyone on here and most of us are a mix of the two.

There's another type of "guy" though. I call him the "Car Dude". The guy above is a Car Dude. He loves cars. He doesn't know much about them, but he loves them. He loves the way the look, he loves the freedom they give him, he loves the attention a sweet ride offers to him.

I'm not talking about over-the-top hellaflush type attention or looks, or even race car modded looks, I'm talking straight off the dealer floor new car smell I've spent my money now I'm gonna enjoy it kinda guys. They'll never do anything to it that makes it different from stock, and they can't tell you whats under the hood, but they just plain love their car. They wash it, wax it, clean it, you could eat off the carpet in the trunk.

That was Mr. Escalade. He saw my car, and he knew he loved it. Nothing else mattered to him.

I think I have a little (OK, maybe a lot) of that in me. After all I bought my original MK1 MR2 based 90% on looks alone before it was ever off the truck never having even heard of one. It was love at first sight.

Same thing with the FR-S. I was in "heavy like" just from the photos. When I went to Long Beach, and we got off the bus at Scion HQ, there was a Firestorm FR-S in the parking lot. the first picture I took is below.

Later I walked straight across the parking lot, I studied every curve, I ran my hands along the gap between the hood and the fender where it seductively rose above the tire. I noticed the roofline and the sculptured edges where it dips for "air flow" and "strength" but we all know its just to make it that much more sexy. I ran my hand along the edge of the trunk.

I knew I was in love. There was no turning back.

I bet there's a little Car Dude in every one of us. Next time you walk out to your 86, take the time to stop from 30 ft away, admire the lines, and when you walk up, run your hand over the wheel arch right in that spot where the hood line guides your hand. It's OK, its yours after all.

I'm DadHawk, and when I walk up to Olivia in a parking lot or open the garage door to say good night, I am a Car Dude.