Robby

The lifelong passion for cars started at the very beginning. From watching the Indy 500 every year with dad, to spending countless hours in the garage while dad worked on the Z, and spending weekends at Irwindale Speedway while dad and our neighbor raced in Mod4 and Late Models. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to every kind of motorsports on two and four wheels growing up. You name it, I have probably been lucky enough to see it: IndyCar, Nascar, Formula 1, IMSA, Formula Drift, NHRA, local SCCA Rally events, Supercross, AMA Superbikes, and the list goes on. Growing up around motorsport in parallel with enjoying road cars has really taught me to appreciate everything with an engine. The beauty of cars is that there is so much to enjoy, anyone (and everyone) can create what it is their ideal machine to enjoy.

My first car is a 2003 Lexus IS300, that I had bought with basically all the money I had saved. In high school and part of college I had been driving my dad’s 2001 Acura CL Type-S, which was a fantastic car, but I wanted something a bit different. Going to an inline 6 rear wheel drive sedan, was a completely different driving experience and was so much fun to learn. A truly perfect first car. After owning it a year or so, I had done a couple small things to make it fun to drive: coilover suspension, larger wheels/tires, aggressive brake pads, and a BRIDE seat. It was a fun daily for a few years!

As I was getting ready to graduate college, I sought out one of my dream cars, a Honda S2000. I found a wonderful example of one, and enjoyed every moment with it. I took it on many a canyon run, track day, and even a couple small road trips. I truly felt one with that car, it felt like an extension of myself and it was so rewarding to drive. Every time I stepped out of that car, I had a smile on my face. It didn’t matter if it was a track session or a trip to the grocery store, that car was an absolute blast! Sadly, in January of 2025, I was in an accident with the car that bent the chassis.

The car that really started all of this, is my 1977 Datsun 280Z 2+2. My dad had purchased this car when I was only a year old, and it had been his fun weekend/project car for many years. As I grew old enough to turn a wrench, I began to learn how to work on it. We did several things on it together over the years and dad of course taught me some basics. This is the car we would take weekend trips in, take to spectate race events, run the canyons in, and of course at 14, dad taught me how to drive manual in this car. It is part of what has made me who I am as a car enthusiast, and lead to incredible friendships and stories. As I continue working, modifying, and refreshing pieces on this car, my love for it and the car community continues to grow. I can’t wait to continue enhancing it and watch the odo keep rollin’.

And now, the latest car I have owned, a new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport. It is the daily driver replacement for the IS300 and it has exceeded my expectations. It’s comfortable, surprisingly fun to drive (for what it is), and fits the other aspects of my life perfectly: camping, light offroading, cycling, and of course - long road trips. It will take on the important role of camera car for Millennial Motoring for years to come. It truly is the ideal daily for me at this stage in life, I am excited to keep racking up the miles!