As some may have noticed from another thread, I am on kind of a quirky quest to put at least 500,000 miles on my NSX. Odd, I know....but so am I. 
Well, today I pulled the NSX out of storage to get started on my driving quest and was reminded why it is I love this car so much, even after several years of NSX ownership. I thought I would share the experience with all of you, and I hope that you feel the same when getting your cars out of storage from the brief break of winter driving.
We headed out to the remote storage area that I have dubbed 'Area 51' not only because of the slightly barren location, but also because of the secret stash of my toys that I usually keep there during the cold, snowy, and generally messy, Indiana winter. Cruising down the county highway to the storage buildings I could feel the excitement build as a smile started to cross my face. It occured to me that the feeling that I get whenever I am picking my car up from its winter sleep is the almost the exact same feeling I had when I picked up the car for the first time after purchase. That butterflys in the stomach anticipation when you know that something extraordinary is waiting for you.
Cresting a slight hill 'Area 51' came into view and my smile broadened. The snow was slowly melting and sliding of off the faded gray rooftops of the main building, and the main driveway appeared clear of any unplowed snow or other obstructions, save for a slight drift of snow on the driveway edge. We slowed and proceeded left down the rock drive over to a second building where the keys were kept to access where the NSX and some of its garage mates were still in a peaceful slumber. By now I was smiling so much as to almost be viewed as drunk with happiness. I think someone asked me a question as I exited the car, but I did not hear them, the NSX waited inside and beckoned me from behind the tattered white garage doors.
As I slid the tarnished brass key into the door lock of the access door I had visions of the NSX and all the road trips, jaunts down curvy Midwestern roads, and moments of escape from the world that the car allowed me during times of stress. These times were about to begin again once I opened that door, hooked up the battery, and fired up the engine to listen to that wonderful symphony of an engine play its song. Going through the door I bypassed the other covered cars and immediately went for the one I wanted. Pulling back the cover the polished Taitec exhaust let off a glint of shimmer as a lone beam of light bounced off the tips. Before long I had done all of the mundane uncovering and it was time to slide into the soft black Sparco Torino racing seats and start up the car. A twist of the key later and the NSX barked to life. Taitec rumbling quietly and ready for action.
I carefully clicked the gears into reverse and backed the car out into the sunlight where I would let it warm up for a while before reintroducing it to the road again. Walking around the car I had forgotten how bright the Grand Prix White paint was when polished and in the sun. The reflection caused me to retrieve my mirrored Oakley sunglasses so that I did not have to squint. Walking back in to lock up the storage building I could not help but turn around to look...once...twice...three times. I had missed the car so much and I sometimes forget how beautiful the NSX really is. Lowered and looking like a jet fighter, the NSX had me captivated....again.
Before long the NSX and I were on the road again. Slowly, almost timidly, setting foot onto the highway that for so long had been kept from the two of us. Easing up to cruising speed the suspension giving plenty of feedback, all gauging showing good signs, and a full tank of gas. That full tank of gas was about to come in handy.
Before long the open country road turned right and my eyes saw something I had not seen in several months....a wide open road....no other cars....and the view of all of it from behind the wheel of the NSX. Once rolling I had to do it...the NSX was asking, almost pleading, so stretch its legs. I firmly planted the throttle into the dark Onxy colored carpet and we were off to redline!! The Taitec wailing in the background Shift!! Second gear...still pulling hard. Shift!! Third gear...pulling close to red. Shift!! WOOOO-HOOO!!! Now THAT is what I had missed. The mechanical song of a VTEC motor sprinting along through the brisk winter air of an Indiana day. I felt revived almost. Like someone had suddenly taken electricity and jolted my soul back into life after being almost dead for 6 months. I was ALIVE!!
The drive home, all 20 minutes of it, was a blur. I had been blined by joy and adrenaline as my veins now seemed to pump racing fuel from the repeated blasts to redline. Arriving home, I somehow managed to extract myself from the seat which I had missed so much, and made my way into the house. Bubbling with joy, just over 85,900 miles now on the odometer, I realized this was only the beginning. That I will have this feeling for a long time to come, over many miles, many years, and even more sets of tires. The NSX is my time machine. The place where I want to be, when I do not want to care about anything else other than where I am.
Well, today I pulled the NSX out of storage to get started on my driving quest and was reminded why it is I love this car so much, even after several years of NSX ownership. I thought I would share the experience with all of you, and I hope that you feel the same when getting your cars out of storage from the brief break of winter driving.
We headed out to the remote storage area that I have dubbed 'Area 51' not only because of the slightly barren location, but also because of the secret stash of my toys that I usually keep there during the cold, snowy, and generally messy, Indiana winter. Cruising down the county highway to the storage buildings I could feel the excitement build as a smile started to cross my face. It occured to me that the feeling that I get whenever I am picking my car up from its winter sleep is the almost the exact same feeling I had when I picked up the car for the first time after purchase. That butterflys in the stomach anticipation when you know that something extraordinary is waiting for you.
Cresting a slight hill 'Area 51' came into view and my smile broadened. The snow was slowly melting and sliding of off the faded gray rooftops of the main building, and the main driveway appeared clear of any unplowed snow or other obstructions, save for a slight drift of snow on the driveway edge. We slowed and proceeded left down the rock drive over to a second building where the keys were kept to access where the NSX and some of its garage mates were still in a peaceful slumber. By now I was smiling so much as to almost be viewed as drunk with happiness. I think someone asked me a question as I exited the car, but I did not hear them, the NSX waited inside and beckoned me from behind the tattered white garage doors.
As I slid the tarnished brass key into the door lock of the access door I had visions of the NSX and all the road trips, jaunts down curvy Midwestern roads, and moments of escape from the world that the car allowed me during times of stress. These times were about to begin again once I opened that door, hooked up the battery, and fired up the engine to listen to that wonderful symphony of an engine play its song. Going through the door I bypassed the other covered cars and immediately went for the one I wanted. Pulling back the cover the polished Taitec exhaust let off a glint of shimmer as a lone beam of light bounced off the tips. Before long I had done all of the mundane uncovering and it was time to slide into the soft black Sparco Torino racing seats and start up the car. A twist of the key later and the NSX barked to life. Taitec rumbling quietly and ready for action.
I carefully clicked the gears into reverse and backed the car out into the sunlight where I would let it warm up for a while before reintroducing it to the road again. Walking around the car I had forgotten how bright the Grand Prix White paint was when polished and in the sun. The reflection caused me to retrieve my mirrored Oakley sunglasses so that I did not have to squint. Walking back in to lock up the storage building I could not help but turn around to look...once...twice...three times. I had missed the car so much and I sometimes forget how beautiful the NSX really is. Lowered and looking like a jet fighter, the NSX had me captivated....again.
Before long the NSX and I were on the road again. Slowly, almost timidly, setting foot onto the highway that for so long had been kept from the two of us. Easing up to cruising speed the suspension giving plenty of feedback, all gauging showing good signs, and a full tank of gas. That full tank of gas was about to come in handy.
Before long the open country road turned right and my eyes saw something I had not seen in several months....a wide open road....no other cars....and the view of all of it from behind the wheel of the NSX. Once rolling I had to do it...the NSX was asking, almost pleading, so stretch its legs. I firmly planted the throttle into the dark Onxy colored carpet and we were off to redline!! The Taitec wailing in the background Shift!! Second gear...still pulling hard. Shift!! Third gear...pulling close to red. Shift!! WOOOO-HOOO!!! Now THAT is what I had missed. The mechanical song of a VTEC motor sprinting along through the brisk winter air of an Indiana day. I felt revived almost. Like someone had suddenly taken electricity and jolted my soul back into life after being almost dead for 6 months. I was ALIVE!!
The drive home, all 20 minutes of it, was a blur. I had been blined by joy and adrenaline as my veins now seemed to pump racing fuel from the repeated blasts to redline. Arriving home, I somehow managed to extract myself from the seat which I had missed so much, and made my way into the house. Bubbling with joy, just over 85,900 miles now on the odometer, I realized this was only the beginning. That I will have this feeling for a long time to come, over many miles, many years, and even more sets of tires. The NSX is my time machine. The place where I want to be, when I do not want to care about anything else other than where I am.
