By Jeff Glucker
Someone of you will head out on dirtbikes. Others might have a side-by-side stowed away. Most of you will prefer a car or truck. But I think all of you have some form of self-isolation method you prefer when it comes to a vehicle. Right now, I’m daydreaming of a ride out to some desolate dunes with a Honda Talon in tow. They make a four-seat version now and since the rear has a three-point belt I believe I can attach my daughter’s car seat safely. That means I can bring her and my wife along for the fun.
What is your preferred form of automotive isolation right now?
Yesterday, I took my Montero for a drive out to a trailhead. I hoped it would be open but I suspected correctly that it was closed. So I turned and drove back home. Along the way though, at every hiking spot, I saw hordes of people and cars setting off. It’s great to see people getting back outside, but it’s not what we’re supposed to be doing right now.
Vehicular isolation seems a better idea then. Even if there are others on the trail, you’re in your own world. Not rubbing shoulders (and respiratory droplets) with a hundred other like-minded idiots well-intended folks.
So if you were to head away from the crowds, where would you go and what would you be driving?
M5, on the deserted non-touristy sections of two lane roads in northern az….did that yesterday, actually.
There’s a lot of hydropower in my neck of the woods. Most dams have a service road, usually gravel, usually very remote. I like to…eh…contribute to the need for regular gravel road maintenance. Over the years, I found that the only cars that aren’t fun to jump and slide are the often “eco”-denominated vehicles: They sit too low. Power is not really needed, because everything above bicycle pace feels mighty fast.
I’ll take a Senna or some sort of track weapon that’s also road legal and disappear into the mountains for the afternoon.
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Solitary Confinement
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Also my favourite form of social isolation. For me a weekend ride means… a weekend ride.
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Ooo, a Crossrunner. I don’t think they’ve let us have them over here in the New World yet.
They probably would have if Honda hadn’t flubbed the marketing. It’s about the only decent medium capacity sports-tourer on the market, but instead they marketed it as an adventure bike, which it isn’t.
I guess the lack of sales makes it a future classic… right?
I’ve reached the point that staying at home and pretending to work on my automotive projects has occasionally turned into staying at home and actually working on my automotive projects.
Every time I lie under the jacked-up car, in a thermo jumper, with greasy fingers and dirty face and could need a hand – I find myself perfectly alone.
Warm summer evening, Thunderbird, top down going nowhere in particular and not terribly fast.