Life in the Fast Lane

It was spring 2002 when I first experienced true love. A jump-up-and-kiss-me lipstick red 1994 Mustang convertible, he sat among heaps of cars waiting to be repaired. The for-sale sign was barely noticeable on the dash.

I couldn't believe it. After test-driving a clunky Geo Prism and scouring overpriced used-car dealerships, I might end up with the kind of car a 16-year-old should never have the keys to. Ever.

Well, I did, and six years later, I have loved my car through countless repairs. And he has loved me back, doing exactly what I ask of him, whether it be cruising down the highway on a summer road trip or getting through a treacherous snowstorm. He responds to me better and more quickly than any guy I have ever dated.

Through him I have met people who are just as enthusiastic about their cars as I am. We are those borderline irrational people who park at the far ends of a lot just to protect our loves from door dings.

But you don't have to own a beautiful car to understand the love. Think back to your first car. That first thrilling moment when you realized that you literally held the key to your independence. You could go anywhere with anyone. Sure, the seats might have been cracked, but it was yours. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and your car was a beauty.

Despite high gas prices, we are still a culture that loves what moves us. Paul Flood loves a 1991 Honda Accord that is deceptively quick, thanks to his mechanic skills. Henry Winokur is passionate about a motorcycle that he has used to raise awareness for causes. Sidney Clark takes special care of the 1970 Chevelle SS that he was able to get only after becoming a commercial pilot. Then there is Buzz Potter, who is just as infatuated with his 1936 Ford now as when he took his wife out in it on their first date more than 65 years ago.

You don't have to be rich or own a nice car to appreciate such a machine. We are a city full of car lovers: There are clubs for MGAs, MGBs, BMWs, GMs, VWs and every other acronym. The Washington area chapter of a national club, the Sports Car Club of America, boasts more than 2,000 members, making it one of the largest in the country.

So whether you are into tuners or classics, motorcycles or pickups, there is a local show coming up that will meet your taste.

So go ahead and ogle; we know exactly how you feel.