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Childhood Car Obsession Spurs Automotive Journalism Career

8/30/2026

21 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The writer recounts his childhood car obsession and path to automotive journalism.
He identified cars at night by their headlights and taillights.
His parents gave him a pedal-powered tractor for Christmas instead of a Power Wheels Porsche 911.
At 15 his father bought a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle for about $600, requiring maintenance.
He later bought a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, test-drove it, and got his first speeding ticket.

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Story summary

The writer recounts his childhood car obsession and path to automotive journalism.
He identified cars at night by their headlights and taillights.
His parents gave him a pedal-powered tractor for Christmas instead of a Power Wheels Porsche 911.
At 15 his father bought a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle for about $600, requiring maintenance.
He later bought a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT, test-drove it, and got his first speeding ticket.