Dainius Kazlauskas

I can remember even from a young age the passion and awe that I had for cars. These metal boxes powered by engines that run on dead dinosaurs fascinated me. I was hooked.

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my dad and I started playing a game. It consisted of trying to name the maker of the cars passing on the other side of the road. At first, it seemed to my younger self that my dad was a genius by knowing all the makes. However, slowly I started catching up. Soon the game consisted of not only makes, but also models, and recently even engine model. The game then progressed to trying to name the cars that are passing on the other side of the highway. The high rate and sheer volume of cars posed a serious challenge, but my love for cars persevered and I still continue the tradition whenever I am on the highway. Currently, my dad has begun asking me for help on identifying cars.

My love for cars has only recently grown by the acquistion of a 2006 Toyota Tacoma. I have spent the greater part of a year customizing and working on it to make it uniquely mine. My love for looking at cars has begun to slowly transform into also working on cars. I am now learning how they work and also have saved a sizable amount of money by fixing and maintaing the vehicle with my own two hands.

I can honestly say that my passion for cars will follow me through the rest of my life. I can't wait for new technologies and advancements in the automotive world, whether through electric power or a new revolutionary energy source. The gears in my heart for cars have only begun to turn.