Status Wheel

It is one of the great joys, or sometimes horrors, when hobbies and social circles start to overlap. There is a distinct feeling of turning into a hermit when the intricacies of an obsession lead into obscure caves, far from the usually maddening crowds. At the same time, there is a distinctively uncanny feeling when those obscure caves are marked with recent tracks.

It is not surprising these days that the depths of every interest lead people to discover that they are not at all alone. The easy availability of obscure information, along with the increasing number of groups banding together around common interests, make it very difficult to maintain any kind of focused interest without making friends. That is how it happens, then, when one finds that they are not only welcome to a club that would have them as a member, but that they are also too new to be president.

That is something particularly peculiar to auto enthusiasts, and especially for the ones who combine style with function. This is perhaps not a surprise, because the marriage of design and function has always been a rather happy one. It is still something of a shock, however, when that particular set of custom wheels arrives, and it’s apparent that this is not the first time this style has been matched with that set-up.

Anyone who’s ever been a little concerned about the time they spend on their car each week probably knows the feeling. Likewise, the feeling of having something entirely original is usually worth the price of the ticket. The design and the style are entirely readable to other car owners, and make it easy to have a common bond. However, on the more complex levels of detail, small and almost invisible things are what separate enthusiasts from experts. From here, it enters into the realm of function.

Only the driver and the owner can truly appreciate how mods can make the engine really come alive. The driver and the owner don’t necessarily have to be the same, but it can certainly help. At the end of the day, it is a question of proof, where the rubber meets the road, and that’s the moment when all the work pays off. It is an entirely hermit-like proposition, and interestingly enough, that is the feeling that so many car lovers look for.

Photo courtesy of Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-73814-0003 / Zastrow; Kohls, Ulrich / CC-BY-SA

No related posts.