ZigOpinion: Car Culture Is For EVERYONE!

It's been a while since I have penned down my thoughts on (virtual) paper. And been a while and a half since that has been here on ZigWheels. Homecoming 2.0.

Anyways, let's get to the point. Cars. Car Culture. Often seen as the ‘rich kid’s indulgence’ here in India - especially when it comes to anything on four wheels. It isn’t a misplaced notion. Most facets of car culture in our country have been gate kept by a few very wealthy folk for years and some facets continue to be held in the same way. But, car culture cannot be gate kept. Car culture IS for EVERYONE. 

The thought to write this op-ed came out of the fantastic weekend we had at Generation Speed. A show that truly blew my mind. A show/carnival/party - whatever you want to call it, that was true to one thing and one thing only - our collective passion for cars. There were all sorts, fancy cars, really fancy cars, old cars, new cars, race cars, normal cars fettled with love and even some … umm… whacky ones. But they were all there. Everyone mingled. Everyone got along (for the most part) and everyone had respect for each other even if they didn’t get along. 

Everyone understood the agenda – THERE WAS NONE! It was a showcase of epic proportions, one that will grow in size, quality, inclusivity (automotive and otherwise!), and of course, sheer numbers. Families attended, partners attended, pets attended and unlike most car events where it is usually either a. a boy’s club, or b. a bunch of old men polishing each other’s chrome fittings and boosting one’s ego, Generation Speed was none of that. People had a smile on their face, questions were asked, discussions were had, views were respected and of course, lots of tyres were tortured. 

It was a far cry from the ‘I am supreme and I will choose who gets invited to my event’ events that masquerade as public events, building not much else other than personal egos. Now, one might say, “But Cyrus, it is their event. If they choose to invite or not invite someone, that is their prerogative, isn’t it?”. Of course it is. Afterall, if one is paying for all the food there, and the booze and all the other flights of fancy, they damn well get to choose. But then to turn around and pretend to represent a movement is shortsighted.

And Generation Speed did none of that. While I’m sure certain people felt jilted for not being invited, or not being put on their usual pedestals, the sheer level of camaraderie between people who never met each other was on full display. 

And that is what India needs. Events that are inclusive. Where one automatically is expected to behave sensibly and not be obnoxious. If you do, there are enough people from the fraternity that will tell it to you as it is. Be it for classic cars, modern cars, supercars, sportscars, tuner cars or even EVs in the future, to move forward together is the only way we as a community will be able to grow. 

And as for people who still think otherwise, best of luck. 

About the author: Cyrus Dhabhar is the editor-in-chief at Powerdrift. An old ZigWheels staffer and one of the most thorough petrolheads in the country, Cyrus usually has an opinion on everything. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ZigWheels.