Car Magazines Are Finally Starting to Get It
The latest issue of Car And Driver marks a shift in its views on young enthusiasts, plus fun and exciting news from racing and car culture.
A weekly newsletter by Ryan K. ZumMallen | @zoomy575m
Happy Race Day, especially to Acura engineers who took the engine out of a Honda minivan to build their world champion race car.
I’ve been pretty critical of Car And Driver in recent years. In my opinion, the legendary magazine has been slow to recognize and adapt to modern car culture, and even slower to reflect its changing reader demographics. An entire chapter in my book is dedicated to disproving what I felt were unfair and lazy generalizations of Millennial auto enthusiasts made by guest editor Malcolm Gladwell in a 2017 issue.
But credit where due. This week I tweeted that I was happy to see the magazine print a special section on some leaders of the new school. Young people, of all ages and different backgrounds, in the pages of a legacy magazine is a victory.
Shortly after my tweet, Jalopnik writer Justin Westbrook pointed out that Car And Driver shouldn’t esxactly be a media darling. The magazine laid off staff last year, many of them young people, and hired out freelancers to write those glowing articles. Can an outlet endear itself to young readers when it isn’t giving its own young people a chance to build careers? I would argue that’s more an issue with the parent company, Hearst, and that layoffs are standard equipment with a journalism job these days. But the point is worth keeping in mind.
It should also be noted that other outlets like AutoWeek, Road & Track and Grassroots Motorsports have been at the forefront of coverage like this. Hagerty has done impressive work highlighting new enthusiasts, too. Support good work.
And of course, don’t forget that our nonfiction book Slow Car Fast: The Millennial Mantra Changing Car Culture For Good, is available right now at CarraraBooks.com.
Today’s my birthday! Use the code “BDAY” on any eBook purchase for a 20-percent discount.
Culture
I like when we pair pretty cars with other pretty things.
Here’s a great step-by-step guide to competing in autocross, the low-cost timed motorsport that’s popular with amateur racers all over the country. Modern car culture is all about breaking down barriers of entry, and this makes the sport sound fun and accessible rather than intimidating and scary. Great stuff.
One of the most beloved cars of the moment is the Toyota Century, a relentlessly classy sedan first built in 1967. It comes with window curtains! We don’t even get it in this country. And yet here is AutoWeek with an eloquent and deserved tribute.
Here is a bunch of Ford GTs of all eras on a rainy racetrack. Seventy-two of them, in fact.
Tough choice, imo:
Video Reel
The new Porsche Taycan is a fully-electric and silent sedan built to take on Tesla. Here’s one pulling off a sweet drift.
Speaking of Tesla, the electric car company launched a feature called “Smart Summon” that will pick up its owner without a driver. Immediately, owners started posting videos of it not working.
This one very nearly causes a crash. Someone put their child inside of one without a driver! Here’s a very thorough Twitter thread breaking down in clear detail why the rollout is an abject failure.
The channel Carfection drove the bejeezus out of one of the most famous rally cars of all time: the late, great Colin McRae’s bright blue Subaru from 1997.
Race Results
Ferrari looked poised for victory in Russia but the tables quickly turned in Mercedes’ favor. Nice mid-pack racing further down the field as well. Highlights here.
Lewis Hamilton became the all-time leader of races led in Formula One history. It’s an incredible honor deserving of a distinguished photo. Instead he got this.
We don’t talk much NASCAR here. But this weekend Chase Elliott won, parked his car in the tires, ripped an epic burnout and ran after it while it rolled down the infield and slammed into a wall. I loved every second.
I used to really enjoy rooting for super-talented Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro when she competed in IndyCar. This week, she became the first woman ever signed to the factory Porsche team. Go Simona!
WRC will bring back its New Zealand rally in 2020 and the celebration video is awesome.
And Finally…
One of the most beloved cars of the moment is the Toyota Century, a relentlessly classy sedan that comes with window curtains and was first built in 1967. We don’t even get it in this country. And yet here is AutoWeek with an eloquent tribute.
Drive hard and be safe.
Want your event included? Shoot me a note with subject line “Race Day” at ryan@carrarabooks.com.