Roamers – Ep 01 | Like Father, Like Son

17 January 2022 Redazione Lifestyle, Stories

ROAMERS – Cars Stories

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Words Alessandro Marrone / Photo by S. Lomax

As you’re about to read, you will notice that this year we are introducing new columns and the honor – as well as the burden – of starting the ambitious collection of cars stories promptly fell on me. Actually I do not regret it since I also consider it an excellent opportunity to finally put on paper some memories and moments lived in the last few years, but the point is that with such things it is never easy to get to the last line and be fully satisfied. It often happens to wonder if I could have done more, but reality is that an emotional column like this does not thrive on too many reflections, it must be written straight away, using heart and stomach and resorting to the brain only to not let the magic of memories stretching the lines too much and end up knocking on the next chapter’s door.

So I began to think and without great surprise my mind was immediately crowded with images of mountains, winding roads and screeching rubber. Not this time, or at least not completely. There are adventures that do not need any planning – we often say – sometimes it is enough to let it be a random combination of factors and the game is done, all that remains is to actively become part of that image, of that journey – short or as long as it is – make it your own and be sure that it preserves and impregnates those vivid colors even after many years. I have always wondered if we are lucky enough to live in the best possible period, let’s be clear that we restrict the discussion to the automotive theme. Cars were invented a little over a century ago and are no longer steam carriages with huge wooden wheels, but at the same time we are also unable to float or even fly like in the most typical science fiction movies. So what?

The answer has never been more obvious, even without having the slightest idea of ​​what the automotive panorama will look like in the year 3886, but it doesn’t matter, ‘cause I think I will have other plans then. Today, however, we can enjoy the perfect coexistence between glorious vintage cars and contemporary sports ones. That’s why that late October day, when I collected the new Jaguar F-Type (a 400 Sport Convertible), I called my father saying “Get the E-Type out and let’s go for a drive”. After less than an hour, sitting comfortably behind the wheel of the F-Type, I was tailgating one of the most beautiful coupes ever made and it doesn’t matter if we didn’t reach the top of a few Alpine passes, because we already had everything we needed.

The two big cats traveled kilometers through the countryside of the Ligurian hinterland, letting the cool breeze of that autumn allow to keep the windows down and better hear the roar of the 6 cylinders, sly when facing the curves in full relax, but sharp when the road offered space and visibility and brought out all the racing pedigree of the E-Type. Like father, like son, there’s where I took such a visceral passion for cars, something that I have always known would not only be limited to dreaming of the most beautiful and exciting cars, but which would also have meant driving and using them to create something to keep and share with other people with this kind of petrol madness.

We didn’t miss the numerous stops where the landscape has been embellished by the couple of felines, also not missing the opportunity to look for points in common that unite two generations over fifty years apart, a half century in which despite the enormous differences that search for forms purity and that innate need to hear the engine mutter under the huge front bonnet has fortunately not been lost. Time to refuel, the late light of day is already fading, making us realize that in certain situations you literally lose track of time. As we drive home, that’s where I properly realize this is the best period to have this passion. Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and then who knows, probably the world of four wheels will really be forced to change and all this will be just a beautiful memory. But thank goodness we will be able to say that we have experienced it firsthand and we will be able to remember with profound happiness how much that drive between father and son meant for us.