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| Sunday, 25 July 2004 |
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Most favoured wheels Jaguar Ferrari Alfa Romeo Evolution Impreza Skyline GTR Civic Vtec Lotus BMW M3 Mercedes AMG Peugeot Starlet Turbo From time immemorial, well at least since the single wheel was converted to four rubberised contraptions to carry a mental monstrosity called an automobile, man (as in the male of the species) has had a special relationship with his car. Call it love, call it passion, call it adoration, call it whatever you will, the man-car bonding has always been something beyond the comprehension of women (as in the saner being), who view the car - be it a humble March or a flashy Porsche - as simply a vehicle. What's with man and his car.... Umangi de Mel finds out. Delon Weerasinghe - Actor/TV director "Actually I think it has a lot to do with freedom," says Delon adding that while it helps a person to get from point A to Point B, driving a vehicle gives a sense of independence. It also gives a huge sense of power, that you are in control of a powerful machine. Driving involves risk,s thus it's a big deal ye know." For Delon, vehicles aren't an obsession but a status symbol, "People get obsessed with lots of things. Phones, computers... vehicles could be just another thing. I won't call it an obsession though, cause for me, it's a status symbol. Some like to keep a nice car thinking that it would reflect on them. It's like dressing well, you dress smart so that it shows the status. Likewise you keep a good car to prove your status." For most people who take a fancy to vehicles, it plays a key role, even greater than their better halves, "Well, in terms of time, I'd agree. But then again it depends on the kind of work that you do. Or the amount of travelling. I spend more time in the car than I do with my girlfriend. You'd be grateful if you could spend that much of time with your girlfriend," he says. Does driving around help build up a guy's ego? "Well, it depends on the person. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. If you have a fancy for example a phone, you'd always show it off. But if you don't you'll try to hide the not-so nice phone as much as possible. It's based on the personality." He says speed is not the only attraction about a vehicle, "I guess it's a combination of everything, the speed, the size, the shape, the model and convenience. "A car allows you to do a heck of a lot of work. It saves time and energy. That's the fundamental attraction for me." Speaking about his feelings when he's at the wheel, Delon says, that it's a lot of responsibility. Sometimes you merely realise that you have a car but most of the people on the road, don't. It's just a tool and it's in the hands of the person who owns it. As for me, what I want most is to get to my destination." Suresh de Silva - vocalist, stigmata. "I suppose the main factor is it being a symbol of power....the aggression, the speed and the adrenalin rush. It's an accumulation of all those things which is probably why most men take a fancy to vehicles." He says that vehicles could be an obsession from the point of view of a man, "Most guitarists I know in the heavy metal industry, won't trade their guitars for anything. It depends...If a vehicle means much more than anything else in the world, you'll certainly be possessive of it. I think it happens especially if it's something that you've gone after." He says the attraction of a vehicle could be any of its attributes, "It could be the design, the shape or the colour...all these things contribute a level of sensationalism and as human beings, we love sensationalism. That's what makes us tick. Of course the power, speed and rush are all assets of a vehicle." However, Suresh says a vehicle can't take the place of a girlfriend, "They're both good for different things. The thrill and the rush you get out of a car or a motor bike is different from the feeling of being adrenalised by a lady. And of course a lady is a living, breathing thing and a vehicle is more of an object of satisfaction." Talking about how he feels when he's at the wheel, Suresh says, that he feels good, "except for the fact that I don't really race and stuff and I don't go for all these drag races. Just to be fair and to be completely honest, I don't dig driving as much as I love performing on stage." He adds that he will definitely survive without a vehicle, "I won't really die if I don't have a car. There are other things in my life which are far more important." Derek Wickramanayake, Musician "A vehicle is a passion, everybody loves it. Even as kids, you pretend to drive a fast car. I've got one myself. Although it's not a fantastic car, it takes me from A-z." Talking about obsessions, he says that there are people who fall in love with their vehicles, "They have their reasons for it, I suppose. It's like just another thing that you do. Some like to run after women, some like to drive fast. I like to drive fast cause it's boring to drive slow.". He points out the fact that he doesn't mix things up, "It's not that I'm not in love with my car but for me it's just a material thing. It could be an obsession where you don't even have room in your life for a woman. I know of a guy who reversed his car into a coconut tree after which he hugged the car while crying. But I won't give my car to anybody," Derek says he likes nice cars but is not crazy about them. "For me the most important thing is comfort and time. But there's no passion for driving in Sri Lanka. It's horrible cause of the traffic and pot holes." Dinesh Deheragoda - Race car driver "An average man would like to drive a car may it be a fast and flashy sports car or a luxurious Merc." For Denesh, his car seems to be his life, "In certain occasions, my car might be more important to me than my girl friend. I'd definitely give it priority." He says driving is a motivation, "Driving helps you achieve things. For example if you want a flashy sports car, you get motivated to go for it. According to him, it's the speed, performance and looks that attract him to a vehicle, "The manufacturer counts too." Dinesh says he sticks to the rules when he's at the wheel, "From a racing driver's point of view, I don't drive fast on the road. As racing drivers, we should be disciplined not to drive fast on the road but when I race, I feel very confident behind the wheel. There's no traffic on the track...It's a stress reliever as well. Driving fast the way I do on the track, helps me get away from the busy schedule." He also feels that a vehicle reflects as its owner, "It shows the status and speaks for the person who owns it." |
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