Good Drives, Good Vibes, One Tribe
Community is much more than belonging to something; Its about doing something together that makes belonging matter. - Brian Solis
When we think about the driving community it's pretty clear we have a lot of differences among us. Some of us like rear wheel drive, some of us like front wheel drive. Some of us prefer the scream of a big V8 while others prefer the sound of a properly refined flat 6. Some of us swear the Smokies are the best driving roads in the country while others will die on the hill that California canyon runs are far superior. At the end of the day though we’re all part of the same community, we all share this crazy passion for driving the road less traveled.
Many times the car community is pretty divided, I think this comes from the competitive nature that cars inherently breed. There’s nothing wrong with this ofcourse, competition makes us better, it drives innovation, and it sets the bar higher. That being said I think it's important we remember that despite that competition, we all share a common thread. I think in this day and age it's easy to get caught up in the internet drama, and the overall hate that certain parts of the car community can spew. Sometimes it can even be a bit overwhelming.
I think that’s why it’s important that we take a step back and look at what this is all about. If your like me you may have gotten into cars because, well… lets face it, they’re pretty awesome… but a lot of us stayed for something more than that. When I found cars I found my tribe.
The car scene always felt like home from day one. Wherever I went and whatever I did, I met new friends. I built a network of people who all shared the same passion as me, these 4 wheeled buckets of bolts we all know and love. What it did was it finally gave me a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself. I may not have known it at the time but it wasn’t the cars that were what was important but the friends we met along the way. The passion that drives us all is also the passion that ignites us as a community.
So as car guys and gals we have a responsibility to the next generation of enthusiasts. It’s up to us to make sure this thing continues for many years to come, and to inspire new drivers to keep chasing the Double Yellow. I often wonder where our community is headed when I look online and see posts about street takeovers, the age of electrification, and the hate spewed amongst the internet groups between enthusiasts. I think it’s easy to get wrapped up into the idea that this is all coming to an end. However usually all it takes is a quick trip down 129 to realize that true enthusiasts are alive and well and we’re out here driving every day.
So here’s my challenge to you, this week go out and do something to inspire the next generation of driver. It can be as simple as a Facebook post of your car and how much you enjoy driving it, give a friend a ride on a backroad, or if your brave enough, let them set behind the wheel. Give someone else that amazing sense of community we all know and love. Let's work together to continue to grow this tribe and I have no doubt we’ll be around for years to come.
Good Drives, Good Vibes, One Tribe
-Double Yellow Apparel