High Speed Hobbies

HIGH SPEED HOBBIES HIGH SPEED HOBBIES

Each type of car has a unique history and subculture, which many in Palo Alto adore

As a young child, Paly parent Drew Hudacek loved cars—he tomobiles started at an early age. His devotion started as soon as could tell you the year, make and model of just about every he laid eyes on that one special car- a Porsche 911. “That was the other car parked on the street even after just a fleeting glance. moment when I realized cars are my passion,” Henderson said. However, there was one car that caught his eye more than any “I did everything in my power to earn money so that when I had other: the 1988 BMW 535i. Seeing his friend’s dad roll one into my license, I could finally have a car.” his driveway as a kid, it stuck with him forever. After years of hard work, going from mowing lawns and then

“I remember the kind of look and feel and smell of the car,” moving on to detailing cars, Henderson was finally able to purHudaceck said. “I remember just being mesmerized by the car chase his first car, a 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit. His admiration and by the way he drove it.” for cars skyrocketed, and after that, he slowly worked his way up

Decades later, the same car Hudacek fantasized about as a the car hierarchy. Henderson has now gone through a total of 90 kid now sits in his garage, alongside his other Porsche sports cars cars in his lifetime, buying and reselling along the way. and a BMW convertible. Henderson treats each “Over the last few decades, Hudacek has transformed his childhood dream into an intense hobby of collecting and flipping sports cars. Whether he’s driving at the track, working on his cars at home or going [Racing] is often an escape from a world that has layers of problems that can’t be car with extreme care. Every piece of machinery—regardless of size, shape or color— is like a work of art. “Unlike some of the other guys, I don’t race my cars, my cars on a relaxing Sunday drive, cars are what’s on Hudacek’s mind. solved.” –Marc Guillet are always clean,” Henderson said. “Any kind of marks

Although Hudacek has had years and such, would drive me of experience under his belt, there nuts.” are many others within the car community who do Another subculture of car culture are the track not. In fact, because there are dozens of subcultures racers. Unlike Henderson, they prefer to keep their within the broader car community, car cultures cap- cars on the run going as fast as possible. Amateur ture an extremely diverse mix of people who share a racers like Marc Guillet take their cars to the track to passion for cars all in their own unique ways. clock in their best times.

Whether it be like Robert Henderson, “[Racing] is often an escape from a world that another Paly parent who has been a sometimes has layers of problems that can’t be car detailer for over twenty years and solved,” Guillet said. “If you’re driving on a track for two collector of cars he rarely drives, or or three hours, you’re just thinking about that.” There is also Andrew Schultz and Marc Guillet, an aspect of excitement while racing. “You’re getting who have a fascination with the race an endorphin release from this exhilarating experitrack, they all see cars as more than a machine ence of tactically taking a turn at the exact right to get one from point A to point B. moment or hitting the accelerator while turning

Like Hudacek, Hen- the wheel,” Guillet said. derson’s love Not only has car culture been a prominent part for au- of older generations, but it has recently begun to manifest itself into younger generations. Junior Riley Herron’s interest in cars has been passed down through her family line. “My dad and grandpa rebuilt an engine together and other pieces of cars, from the suspension to the seats, from bumper

to bumper,” Herron said. “This is what influenced my dad to get interested in the mechanics of cars over simply just the looks.’’

Influenced by her father and the many cars he owned as she grew up, Herron was determined to learn more.

In January of this year, Herron’s family purchased a 2018 Miata MX-5, a growing family tradition. “When I was around six years old my grandpa gifted my dad his old Miata which I completely adored, so I hope this is something that will continue to be passed down,” Herron said.

Miatas are very well-known in the car community for their convenient small size, affordable price and the ability to be simply adapted and modified.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m driving a go-cart; it is super fun to drive and has given me so much confidence as a driver,” Herron said.

As an extremely personalized community, where many choose to customize their car from the inside out, Miata owners feel a connection between each other. “When I’m driving around and see another Miata, we both get ecstatic and wave at each other which I find so intriguing considering we know nothing about each other except for the fact that we drive the same car,” Herron said.

Since automatic cars have become the standard for car companies, manual transmission cars have been on the decline. Many involved in the car community such as Herron prefer to drive stick shift and are persistent on keeping manual transmission alive.

Similar to Herron, Paly junior Bia Rabello prefers to drive manual over automatic. “When you drive manual you can feel all of the gears and let your car rev up as high as you want,” Rabello explains. “It’s true that you become one with the car, once you’re used to a certain vehicle and how the transmission and steering and handling feels, it becomes like an extension of your body.”

Paly junior Bia Rabello is able to take control and use her car as a form of freedom and relaxation. “My favorite part about driving definitely has to be rolling down my window, breathing in the nice smells of the road where I am and completing a perfect downshift as I enter a corner or turn that I like to charge through,” Rabello said.

Rabello is currently revamping her own car to be similar to a Japan style EK9 or Civic Type R, which was never introduced to any market besides Japan. “I am a huge fan of Japanese cars; I quite literally obsess around the culture of them,”

Rabello said. The freedom of customization allows her to put her knowledge and vast appreciation for the vehicle to use. “I have never felt a love so great for any hobby or subject in my entire life than my car and researching the culture around JDM cars,” Rabello said. Cars have tak I wish people would understand that girls can be “girly” and also “ en over Rabello’s life, specifically her passion in Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars. The topic has helped genuinely enjoy cars.” form her relationships with a variety of people, learn –Bia Rabello what she enjoys to watch and read about. Rabello has found a true connection with the hobby of learning about different cars and the culture that surrounds them. “I really found myself when I discovered cars and It’s such a genuine and raw feeling that I never want to forget or let become tainted because of what other people might think of me,” Rabello said. Rabello hopes to be able to help and encourage those who are interested in learning about cars. “Also never forget that you can make friends and ask for help [and] remember that cars shouldn’t be serious; you are supposed to have fun and enjoy it,” Rabello said. No matter how one enjoys cars, they are always doing it right.