MGB Young Czech's First Ride in an MGB

[Shinsen774]

My wife's sister, her husband, their daughter, and her new husband fresh from the Czech Republic, all came by today on their way home to Roanoke, Virginia after enjoying Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. At some point someone remembers that the young Czech is a big car enthusiast and suggests that I take him out to the garage to see the Miata and the MGB.

The kid was more excited that I have seen anybody be in a long, long time. He had never seen an MG. He closely examined every square inch of the car. After a while he folded up his 6' 4" frame and climbed in to the passenger seat. When I suggested we go for a ride (mid afternoon, high 90s) I thought he was going to explode with excitement. It was a thrill riding him through the countryside (sweaty, but thrilling nontheless).

He's been here for a few weeks on vacation. They're going back to the Czech Republic soon. When we got back from the ride he said, "Finally, someone who likes cars!" It was great. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Too bad we can't use our passion and cars in foreign diplomacy!

Great story, good sir!

 

[Camshaft]

It always seemed to me that Europeans are much more passionate about cars and driving as a whole than the vast majority of Americans. Perhaps it's because driving is much more expensive, and viewed as more of a privilege?

 

[Steve]

Perhaps it's because driving is much more expensive, and viewed as more of a privilege?

Got it in one!

 

[rulle7]

That might indeed be true for the former eastern European countries, but hardly, I think, for western Europe.

Might it not be because European cars tend to be more 'driver oriented'...with roads more generally fit for 'spirited' driving?

The passion is usually for the performance, handling or just simply the personality of cars, be it LBCs, Italian exotica, American Muscle Cars, Imprezzas or what have you but rarely felt towards SUVs or other 'appliance' kind of cars, be they American, European or Asian.

Less appliances makes for more passion ... perhaps?