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Journeys, even everyday ones, can mean a lot. Paddy McGrath is a freelance car photographer and Commercial Editor at car culture online hub Speedhunters. As someone with a passion for motoring, Paddy told TheJournal.ie about the drive that means the most to him.
I’ve been fortunate over the years that my job has provided me with opportunities and driving moments that I couldn’t even have dreamed about as a child. However, one of them does stand out above all the others.
Last year I was working in California when a long time friend of mine, Brian Henderson of Rotiform, invited me to drive his new Porsche 911 Carrera. It was Brian’s first ever, brand new Porsche, and something he had worked hard towards all of his life. To be allowed the privilege to drive it in the canyons above Los Angeles, was really a very special moment.
It was the new turbocharged 991 model (but not a ‘Turbo’ per se) in Miami Blue, with some choice modifications including Bilstein suspension and upgraded Brembo brakes, along with Rotiform wheels. It was a seven-speed manual car, too.
The car brought me so much joy when doing even the simplest of things, and absolute euphoria when carving up and down the empty canyon roads.
Southern California is heaven for an automotive enthusiast. Cheap fuel, great weather and access to some of the best driving roads in the world. The road which leads from Azuza is just one of the countless examples of perfect pavements which wind their way through, around and over the hills behind Los Angeles.
On this particular day, we picked a spot high in the hills to take a break, which offered stunning views of rolling hills and the San Gabriel reservoir beneath us.
What made this day special above others, was that it contained all the elements of my favourite life motto: ‘travel, fast cars and cool people’.
It didn’t hurt that just as we were finishing up, we were joined by one of Brian’s friends who arrived in his bright yellow Porsche 991 GT3, whom promptly offered me his keys along with an invitation to see what his car was capable of.
“Wait until 9,000RPM to upshift” he told me as I sat into the fixed back Recaro bucket seat. That’s all the encouragement any of us would need, isn’t it?
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Energy drinks are muck anyway but when you see 6 & 7 year olds bringing lucozade isotonic to school because they are not allowed fizzy drinks you hav3 to wonder about the parent’s ability to parent. A strong direct and hard hitting ad campain is required.
It’s not rocket science ! Some parents need a good dose of cop on these days !
Don’t think isotonic drinks are what’s being talked about here, they’re not loaded with caffiene.
Lucozade is recommended by my daughters diabetic team to treat her low blood glucose. I hope they account for those children who need it for treatment.
Aspartame is a lab built sugar substitute that wasn’t tested correctly and release prematurely by the FDA in the states.
Have (WHO) done an independent research into aspartame, have a suspicion that they are in the pocket of big business anyway.
Google candarell, in relation to its licence granting by the FDA, it set standards that are flawed and still used today.
Aspartame has been deemed safe for human consumption by over 100 regulatory agencies in their respective countries, including the US Food and Drug Administration, UK Food Standards Agency, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada. It is safe but has been subject of internet hoaxes. I know I’m going to get a lot of abuse for referencing Wikipedia, but if you check the 85 references at the bottom of the page, you’ll see it’s based on science not fiction, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame
Red bull doesn’t literally give you wings.
Thanks for letting me know. I was just on my way to sue them
Good for lithuania !
All CSDs are muck with no nutritional value. But remember everything in moderation.
More laws! Justifies these idiots salaries.
I think they should put an age limit on selling them was in Glasgow last year and they have an age limit on selling Big Mac you have to be over 16 why not do something like that here
Just drink water ffs!
Blame whatever gets the gov of the hook with their incessant hardship policies on the people of the country
So it’s not the excessive alcohol or drugs which leads to the health problems or suicides! It’s the energy drinks!
Wow, our capacity to ignore the obvious is just startling.
I get your point,but when someone commits suicide it’s not quite clear cut to the reasons why,every avenue should be explored.
Surely making someone pre-disposed to suicide a criminal would make it worse?
And drugs and alcohol making people suicidal is questionable, these people tend to have underlying issues.
That’s all very well but medium rare striploin with sautéed onion, pepper sauce and chunky chips. Mmmmmm.
Sorry. Posted in wrong story. I’m an idiot.
If safefood want to do something, they should demand that ALL ingredients are listed on products and not hidden by converting to energy values.
No don’t ban them. Why make laws to cover up bad parenting.
have your say