QotW: What series should we binge over the holidays?

In 2014 a new trilogy of Initial D movies came out. Called New Initial D Movie — Legend, It was a reboot complete with new animation style, a retelling of the earlier chapters of the beloved series. We watched the original in the early 2000s, but we’ve never seen this one. The coming holidays might be a good time to catch up on what is now a nearly decade-old ode to underground drifting. We’ve also heard that Stranger Things and Archer, while not about cars per se, have pretty good background cars.

What car-themed series should we binge over the holidays?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car-related things are you thankful for?“.

Classic hardware was a popular category among this week’s commenters, such as the high redlines, individual throttle bodies, and manual transmissions called out by Alan. Ian N got even more fundamental with the plain ol’ accelerator pedal. We suspect Jesse‘s list was overnighted from Japan. And for Taylor C. it was the ability to hang onto old cars and the parts that that make them run.

Others chose non-physical but equally important things, like Jonathan P.‘s car meets and エーイダン‘s notion of a truck-having friend that owes you a favor. Jim Klein almost won the week by appealing directly to our own vanity when he said, “Car websites such as this one,” but we can’t be so easily swayed (usually).

This week it was steve who came out on top with a touching story about his father that started with the simple pleasure that is the old school car brochure:

Paper Car Brochures: Let me explain how these wonderful emotional publications stirred the soul in a young boy that eventually lead to life full of cars, racing, rallying, design and models – while having a satisfying career along the way.

We didn’t have a lot of money in the 60’s-70’s. Dad would take me to the dealers every September where I collected the brochures. I would cut out mainly the side views of the cars and play with them on Mom’s carpet. They were everywhere. I created my own scenes and loved the sports cars, the wagons and the dumpy sedans. I learned about cars. I learned about perspective views, and I learned about design by studying these free toys.

I was hooked on cars. Dad took me to races, I was hooked. Dad bought me a few model cars to build. I learned about construction and assembly of motor vehicles. One Christmas I received the “Visible-V8”. I asked a lot of questions, and learned about the 4 cycles. I drew cars in Math and Social Studies classes, and got told “you will never amount to anything” for scribbling in a notebook. I took shop, I graduated High School, then went to VW Apprentice Training Center and worked as a wrench. I built a rally car (Datsun 510). Learned about being on time and working hard every day and night. Went rallying Professionally for 5-6 years. I still scribbled in notebooks, so I sold ALL of my rally cars and parts to go to Design School for 4 years, where I actually cut out paper cars again (cut out vellum sketches to paste on media board – LOL!), graduated, and have worked in the Design industry ever since. I went racing and rallying for fun with the money I made. I worked my way up to Design General Manager and pretty much feel that I “Never Worked a Day In My Life”. It was always fun (except maybe 3 or 4 days).

All from being influenced by my Dad taking me to look at new cars, every September when it was a thing, and collecting the brochures and playing with paper cars. I am so fortunate that I found the passion for something that I was able to enjoy right to this day. I am still working on model cars, in a work environment for money and engagement. I am a lucky guy.

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