“Don’t park that next to my car” was the shouted comment from the owner of a 1950’s Ford Fairlane. If Tess (my Tesla Model 3 SR+) hadn’t been so quiet I wouldn’t have heard it.
So I moved over one space and went to have a chat. Turned out he was a jovial chappy engaged in some gentle teasing. Car people are car people.
I was attending the “Rust and Chrome Cruisers” monthly meet up at Bracken Ridge Tavern in Brisbane. I was a little nervous about bringing an electric vehicle to a Hot Rod event but found everyone friendly and extremely curious.
I spent a fun morning discussing range (especially when travelling out west – such as my recent trip to Winton), charging times and maintenance. These were people who knew a whole lot about maintenance – the upkeep on engines that are 90, 80, 70 years old is not cheap. Nor was it cheap to keep a high performance engine properly tuned – like some of the newer models
There was teasing, but no FUD. The Tesla might not fit in, but it was appreciated. These people like power and performance – though they miss the smell and the sound. There was a lot they wanted to know – I wish there had been some other Tesla EVs and owners there to field questions and have chats.
Perhaps the most fun was watching the kids’ reactions – mums with kids wandered bored through the cars (Dad was the car buff). The kids’ eyes lit up when they saw the Tesla and many of them didn’t need to be asked twice if they wanted to sit in it and have their picture taken.
A few asked about conversions and speculated that his kids would probably put an electric motor into is immaculate HD Holden when he left it them in his will. Apparently the 186 reds struggle a bit. I am a purist. I would not have converted my Wolseley 24/80 to electric.
I am teaming up with AEVO and ACF to run a Sustainable Transport event at the Bracken Ridge Tavern on Sunday morning October 31. Let know if you would like to come.
Real motoring enthusiasts get EVs. Real motoring enthusiasts appreciate engineering and technology.
David Waterworth is a researcher and writer, a retired teacher who divides his time between looking after his grandchildren and trying to make sure they have a planet to live on. He owns 50 shares of Tesla.
David Waterworth is a researcher and writer, a retired school teacher who continues to provoke thought through his writing. He divides his time between looking after his grandchildren and trying to make sure they have a planet to live on. He is long on Tesla.