Starin\’ at the Highway through my rear view: 2020

My hopes and dreams for 2021

A few things are already in the works for 2021. I have one review for another publication set for around January or February, plus at least one or two for the Highway.

Here\’s what I\’d like to make happen for y\’all, though:

No. 1: More Powah, Baby!

Whether it\’s smashing the great outdoors with the new Ram TRX, enjoying a week-long residency with the Shelby GT500, or experiencing a brief visit from the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo, I want to bring in more horsepower to the Aubernon Highway Roadhouse. It\’s time to the light the road on fire!

No. 2: More cars in the driveway

I get that trucks and crossovers are the top of the food chain today. That said, I prefer being closer to the ground now and again. Thus, semi-related to the above, I\’d love some more cars to come around to the Roadhouse, from hot Korean hatches to modern American muscle to high-performance Japanese luxury. Plus a few sedans closer to earth in horsepower.

No. 3: Go racing in Meatspace

Come January 1, I will have health insurance for the first time in a long time. Thus, I\’ll be able to strap on a helmet, then unleash all of the horses upon the quarter-mile, oval, and road course. I\’ll need a lot of education and instruction to make this happen, of course. The stories will be worth it, though.

No. 4: Extend the Highway into the Virtual Plaza

This one\’s almost ready for prime time. What you see above is yours truly reliving her time at the Charlotte Roval via iRacing in a Corvette C8.R. The Team Aubernon/Delta Air Lines C8.R is a small reveal of my intent to bring the Virtual Plaza and Meatspace together on the Highway.

Let\’s just say iRacing wasn\’t the only virtual experience popping in the Year of Our Corona 2020.

No. 5: Buy my first-ever car

If the Year of Our Corona 2020 proved anything to me, it\’s that I can\’t truly rely on Uber or Lyft to take me where I need to go. In my Old Dominion home, I have better luck ordering food via Uber Eats than getting a ride to the laundromat (and back home) on Uber.

I had hoped 2020 would\’ve been the year I finally crossed the milestone of owning my first car. That didn\’t happen, alas. Maybe 2021 will finally be the year.

No. 6: Finally shift my own (or burn clutches trying)

Before I attempt to review a manual-only car again, I need to find out if I can even overcome my deformed left foot and lack of shifting ability. Thus, once things are better, I\’m enrolling myself in a manual transmission course. Either I win, and can increase my value as an automotive writer/motorsport competitor, or I owe the school money for burnt clutches.