Motormouth: Speed is sexy, but speeding is risky

The need for speed is real, but there’s a time and place for driving faster than usual.

[Story by guest columnist S.F Yeo]

The need for speed on wheels has been on the same long road with the car for the longest time, but there’s a time and place for driving faster than usual. Such as a racetrack during a sanctioned race, a closed circuit set up for gymkhana, an unrestricted German autobahn, or a speedway somewhere. 

All these for what? Speed is sexy. 

There's a world speed record to beat on every platform imaginable - on a boat, in a car, even the eating of hot dogs. No one competes for who's slowest at any activity, with the possible exception of sex.

But before we put all blame on lust (for fast), we should meet its dowdier but no less dangerous twin - our inability to feel content.

Together, lust and discontent complete the push-pull cycle of motoring madness that eggs us on.

Standard performance is never good enough. A Lancer has to go or look faster. A Swift must be swifter. A WRX can only excel as an STI. A BMW needs another M for more motor sportiness. 

Like a hi-fi junkie splashing a fortune on cabling, car lovers are the greatest patrons of the creative engineering arena. They are eager customers for any accessory or modification that promises to squeeze out a few more horses, shave a few fractions of a second from the 0-100km/h timing, or somehow make the car corner like it’s on non-train rails. 

The craziest car lovers with the biggest budgets might go all out for a huge upgrade, and then live unhappily ever after in the oppressive fear of having their darlings impounded.

I'm not saying there's nothing good in the aftermarket scene. l'm just trying to make a distinction between utility and frenzy, so as to get a grip and secure a two-second delay in the head before the next “More speed!” red flag causes a knee-jerk reach for the wallet.

And we should all try to appreciate the stock condition more. 

After all, a car is relatively obedient, uncomplaining, may break down but is never "spoilt", does not require daily servicing and attention, does not talk back. 

Now, compare that with people.

He feels the need for speed, while she feels the need to wave a flag before the race.

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