Driven by Passion

Geoff Dalglish with the Ferrari F40 at the legendary Maranello test track

‘I think God is going to come down and pull civilisation over for speeding’

Steven Wright – humourist and writer

My love affair with the automobile started when I was four years old and has led to so many tumultuous and passionate encounters.

It was never about being faithful or monogamous, and many polyamorous relationships captured my heart for mere hours or days. Others were so intense that years later I still enjoy total recall of every precious and lustful moment we celebrated together.

It was this way with the Ferrari F40, which was then the world’s fastest road car. And I was privileged to drive it absolutely flat-out around the legendary Italian company’s private racetrack at Maranello.

Afterwards I noted: “On very rare moments I have experienced that deliciously heightened sense of awareness when my concentration was absolute and I became one with the machine, flying faster and higher than ever before and moving beyond mere mortality.

“In a moment like this the exhilaration of speed overcomes the natural fear of dying or getting hurt and everything is instinctive, flowing with a perfection that is pure poetry. It is a Mozart moment that might never again be replicated.

The funky and all-electric tandem two-seater Renault Twizy

“This is not to be confused with pinnacle motoring experiences, of which I’ve had many, that come simply from driving awesomely fast cars like the Audi S1, which dominated world championship rallying until this breed of supercar was outlawed in the interests of safety. The speed had become so outrageous that too many drivers and navigators were dying.”

Looking back on a motoring career spanning decades I still rank my meeting with the Audi rally car back in 1987 as a highlight, the explosive performance shattering all my preconceptions and providing an adrenaline-rush second to none.

Both the Ferrari and Audi rally car were insanely fast and utterly intoxicating, and yet, if you fast-forward to 2018 there’s a good chance you might find me walking, cycling, catching a bus or driving an electric car.

No, I haven’t died and been punished for my massive carbon footprint with consignment to some sort of motoring hell. Rather, during the past decade I’ve made some conscious decisions to explore different ways of being upon our precious Earth that are more sustainable and less destructive. And it feels good.

Sure, I still enjoy speed and the satisfaction of driving as well and efficiently as I know how. But my priorities have shifted. I’ve experimented with not driving at all for a year, not owning a car, and in recent years with being a member of the Moray Carshare in the northeast of Scotland.

Charging the electric Nissan Leaf from a charging point within the Findhorn ecovillage

From humble origins with a trio of old bangers used by a handful of members just over a decade ago, the car sharing scheme has grown to 15 cars owned by the car club which today boasts 172 members. It has earned recognition and support from the Scottish Government.

Members go online and book vehicles parked at four main locations within a radius of less than 10km, and usually no more than a 10-minute walk from their homes.

These include electric cars and I take huge delight in collecting one from a charging station within the Findhorn ecovillage. Three nearby wind turbines supply most of the community’s needs and feed electricity back to the grid in windy times of plenty.

I love the idea of using ‘free’ locally generated power and not having to fill up at a petrol station.

A favourite electric car was the funky tandem two-seater Renault Twizy which served as a great marketing billboard for the car club, although in many ways it was woefully inappropriate for Scotland. It had no heater or windscreen demister, was barely weatherproof, and was limited by a a top speed of just over 80km/h and a meagre driving range. But on a good dry day it was fun!

Carshare manager Gordon McAlpine

More appropriate by far are the Nissan Leafs which are quiet and comfy five-seaters with a better range between recharges, and a popularity that has made them the plug-in favourite in many major car markets around the world.

Inevitably if I’ve needed to undertake a longer journey I’ve opted for an economical low-emissions runabout like the petrol-powered Toyota Aygo. I’m amused at my resentment when I have to top it up with fuel!

How the system works is that if you are over 24 and have a valid driver’s licence you can opt to pay a subscription, go online and book an appropriate vehicle for your needs, paying an hourly rate and a fee for every mile travelled. It works best for people who don’t have a daily commute and don’t leave the car parked for many hours at a time.

Club members don’t worry about depreciation, insurance or maintenance, and according to estimates for most it is less than half the price of actually owning a car.

The mission statement reads: We aim to provide community benefit through offering convenient and affordable transport options that minimise environmental damage and encourage social cohesion.

Geoff reducing his ecological footprint with pedal power

Affordability is a definite selling point, although manager Gordon McAlpine, the visionary Scot who launched Moray Carshare 11 years ago, says a recent survey indicated that even more important to many members is reducing their environmental impact, along with convenience and the idea of sharing resources.

Gordon, who will soon lead an expansion into neighbouring towns with more electric cars and a fleet of electric bicycles, insists that it isn’t only about meeting transport needs. It is also important to build on the feeling of community and connection that many enjoy.

He sees an important difference between a business and an enterprise that emphasises social and ecological benefits.

“Can we learn the best ways to share precious resources," he asks. "What can we create when we pool our own resources into a community entity designed to serve the whole? And create a culture that facilitates the use of technology to meet the needs of the individual in a way that also serves the greater good of our human society and of our planet as a whole."

The car club works well and I’m indebted to Gordon for introducing me to a way of motoring that saves me money and reduces my environmental impact. So despite my passionate Petrolhead background I’m 100% behind schemes like this becoming more widely accessible to motorists everywhere.

I’ve significantly reduced my carbon footprint, and if ever there’s a longing for an adrenaline rush, I have the zero-emissions option of a vicarious high-speed driving adventure courtesy of Google and YouTube.

And perhaps once in a while I’ll fantasise about another sweaty-palmed, adrenaline-pumping racetrack outing in a scarlet Ferrari …

Geoff Dalglish

A bonus for Findhorn community members is that nearby wind turbines supplement the energy supply