You Never Forget Your First

I recently celebrated my birthday. It's not important which one it was. The point is that this is the time of year when I get a little nostalgic. Lots of people remember birthdays past, typically thinking about special gifts, birthday bashes, and guests of honor. But for me, one of my big moments was my 17th birthday. In the state of New Jersey, that is when young drivers who have completed proper driver's education training are eligible to take the written and road tests for DMV-issued driver's license.

The Test

While there is no mandate that a person MUST take the tests on their birthday, it should surprise no one that for me, waiting even a single day longer was out of the question.

I'm not going to lie: I was nervous that day. But, I think I was a good driver, and knew the basic skills that were being measured. My embarrassment came while pulling away from the parallel parking spot -- nailed that one -- when I ran over a short, Belgian block curb. It wasn't a real curb; it was simply a course divider. But my heart sank. When I finished the course, I mentally prepared to schedule a re-test when I received my curt congratulations from the test administrator.

My Car

1990 Mazda MX-6 GT

Since the dawn of recorded history -- around the period when the movie Grease was set -- cars and high school kids have gone together. And, while the cars have changed pretty dramatically, the attitudes have not.

My car represented who I thought I was in high school. It was a 1990 Mazda MX-6 GT. If you're not familiar with it, you're not alone. And that made part of my point. It was an unassuming car, that I believed had more inside than people knew.

The MX-6 was a 2-door version of the 626, a car that lived until 2002, eventually bowing to the current Mazda 6. As the names suggests, the GT was the performance-oriented  variant, featuring a 2.2L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 15 inch aluminum rims, and rear spoiler. For a 17-year old boy, each of these components was pretty magical.

Looking at the numbers, the GT was not a very fast car. The engine, with its turbocharger, produced a modest 145 hp and 190 ft-lbs torque, and its 0-60 time would probably put it on equal footing with today's 5-cylinder Volkswagen Jetta. But unlike the Jetta, this car had enough torque steer to scare most beginner drivers. Imagine making a left turn, stepping on the gas, and midway through, hearing a growl and feeling a surge as the steering wheel tries to break free from your hands. By the time the keys were in my hand, the turbo had lost a step and was capable only of flashes of its former glory.

Naturally, almost as soon as the keys were mine, I started plotting what I would to to it. All the things I loved about the car -- in my mind at least -- needed to get bigger. I saw in my head the +1 rims, the larger, "wing" spoiler, ground effects, and upgraded intake and exhaust.

I didn't do any of those things, of course. And, it's probably better that way. Now I have some great, pure memories of that car.

I think I've had probably ten cars since then, practically a revolving door of automotive R&D, but it's true what they say: You never forget your first.