My first commissioned piece was to interview young Emirati drivers who enjoy speeding. I was to try and find out why they speed, and if they are safe on the road.
The fun part was that I would get to talk to people who drive like me, who speed because they enjoy it (again, like me) and get to learn about cars even more. Since I am very interested in cars and of course racing, the chance to write about such issues was extremely exciting.
Yes, it might be weird that I am a girl who is into that sort of thing, but what can I say? That’s just how I am.
I first had to research the various types of car add-ons, such as exterior car kits, turbos, and superchargers. I had to find out what each item was, what it was used for and how much it costs. I searched online and spoke to a few friends who knew about them and got to understand the various types of add-ons a car could have.
Finding young people (the brief was under 30, preferably under 25) who would be willing to talk about the way they drive was extremely hard. To start, I didn’t know where to look for them. I resorted to asking friends, and looking for people on Instagram (an app where people post pictures of their everyday lives) and contacted those who had fast, fancy cars. Some completely ignored me, others thought I was joking, and surprisingly others responded immediately! I guess not everyone is comfortable with their names being printed, or having their pictures taken. But in the end I spoke to seven people who shared their stories with me.
Speaking to all of the drivers was great as I could relate to many of them. I also disagreed with some but had to hold my tongue! I may not have a fancy sports car like some of the people I interviewed, but my baby sure can race. Ever since I got my Mercedes last year, I have been going crazy on the roads of Abu Dhabi. I think part of having a car is being able to control how one drives and being able to get a feel for the car; how it brakes, how fast it accelerates, etc.
One of the interviewees mentioned he loved feeling the power of his car, and even though my car isn’t that powerful (it’s a Mercedes C350) I still enjoy speeding in it. I also felt what he said was true. Once you hit the accelerator, have your back glued to your seat, and hear the sound of the exhaust system roar, you will definitely know what I’m talking about! Another said he races cars only when he thinks his car is up for the challenge. I also agree with him because my car has been in various races were it just wasn’t good enough (obviously I won’t be able to take down a Porsche or a Camaro). Another seemed to think having a fancy car defied the initial purpose of the vehicle. I had to try very hard not to say anything to him since I’m crazy about trying out a lot of fancy and fast cars.
The interviews were very smooth, I felt they were all excited about the topic and it was easy for me to ask them the questions because I had done my research. I think the men were a bit surprised that a girl was interviewing them, and that I actually knew a lot about cars. The girls on the other hand were very happy that we all share a hobby.
Look out for Ayesha's article in The National next week.
