Birth of a Car Enthusiast?
Japan's Most Surprising Driver
Driving in a motor rally across Japan is one of the more esoteric things I’ve done. Though in my twenties I joined a lawn bowling club in Central Park, made up of retirees. You can read about my new life as a rally motorist in this weekend’s FT, though as always, it’s better in print where you can really appreciate James Harvey-Kelly’s photographs. (If you’re scouring the FT site look for our story from last year about the amazing Ama free divers).
For the rally I was loaned an Aston Martin SUV (the DBX707, for those who care about such things). Now an Aston Martin SUV is something that doesn’t quite seem real to me; it exists in theory, in Mayfair or in a Hannah Elliott column. Strapping myself into the bucket seat for the first time induced a slightly queasy sensation. This substantial beast would be winding through narrow Japanese country lanes on the left side of the road. Forget insane acceleration, I just didn't want to dent the thing. I was afraid to look up how much it cost (James, researching our transport, relayed the ice-cold number, which focused the mind.)
The rally was a new chapter for me—suddenly I was talking horsepower, handling and the feeling in my kidneys when you really step on the gas. But can a lifelong Swedish auto aficionado really be that much of a car person? I guess so. I do love the design, idiosyncrasy and ethos of Saab and Volvo. Still, you associate those cars with a sensibility not with speed. But that’s all right, they’re still great. And you have to respect Saab for refusing to add cup holders for as long as humanly possible (a sign of stubbornness which may have hastened their demise).
Going from my Volvo wagon into the world of Aston Martin was like going from a dependable chore coat to a tailored vicuña jacket. I didn’t know a car could be quite like that—the gas pedal was lethal. But that’s what you get from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, bro. Oh, I’m sorry, you didn’t hear me? Well how about an epic 900Nm of relentless torque (the website tells me). Relentless torque, baby. Relentless torque!