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Dragos Chitulescu

1,544  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

Do, or Do Not. There is no try!

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I have been obsessed with cars and motorcycles for as long as I can remember. From agreeing with dentist appointments only in exchange for diecast cars, to buying diecast cars with my lunch money in elementary school, to spending hours and hours playing any video games with cars and bikes in it.

The Fast and the Furious series has had quite an impact on me back in the day, and Tokyo Drift made me realise that drifting would be one day a part of my life, and that I would also absolutely have to go to Japan and experience the amazing car scene over there for myself.

A few years later I was graduating from the MyWay Drift School in Hungary, and actively being involved in the professional drifting scene in Europe. Attending the SEMA Show for a few years in a row only added to my love for cars, and experiencing Japan first hand on two different occasions ultimately almost had me relocate so that I could go immerse myself deeper into the drifting scene.

Instead, I chose to follow up on two other dreams, and I ended up spending a good chunk of my life savings buying a rotary powered, 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II, which I had been actively dreaming about for more than a decade. And because the love for two wheels never faded either, I even went on to ride a few race bikes around the local racetrack, alongside with buying a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S for daily adventures.

I have been actively working on various media projects, mostly revolving around motorsports since 2009, and joining Autoevolution has come as sort of a natural progression, as I aim to share my love for cars and motorcycles with the world and further experience more of what the automotive industry has got to offer.
I Raced Against 140,000 People in GT7 to See How Fast I Am
I Raced Against 140,000 People in GT7 to See How Fast I Am

14 Apr 2024, 19:21 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / My physics teacher used to say that hard work is more important than talent. I'm not saying I'm a talented driver, but I am sure I am extremely passionate about it. The problem is that I don't get as much seat time as I'd like. ...

 
10 Hot Wheels Disney Cars to Make You Feel 10 Again
10 Hot Wheels Disney Cars to Make You Feel 10 Again

14 Apr 2024, 17:54 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I had a pretty successful Hot Wheels hunt earlier today. I found three Mainline models I wanted. One of them is the new '87 Audi Quattro casting. If I had the space and money, I'd take one up as a project car. Mattel has just the seri...

 
Hot Wheels '67 Ford Bronco Is One Fun Way to Spend $600
Hot Wheels '67 Ford Bronco Is One Fun Way to Spend $600

13 Apr 2024, 14:19 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Social media is a dangerous place these days. Regarding cars, there's always someone building your dream project: a four-rotor RX-7, a 1,500-hp Supra, a twin-turbo GT500, and so on. If you start comparing yourself to them, you're bound to...

 
Hot Wheels Cement Mixers Can Help Build a Tiny Construction
Hot Wheels Cement Mixers Can Help Build a Tiny Construction

13 Apr 2024, 11:54 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / My granddad used to drive a mining truck, but I was never really into heavy machinery like that. My other granddad was about tractors, and I never saw their appeal. But in recent years, I've started changing. I have been living in the coun...

 
Tesla Six-Way Battle Makes for One Silent Drag Race
Tesla Six-Way Battle Makes for One Silent Drag Race

13 Apr 2024, 10:21 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / For as long as I can remember, we boys have liked to compete against each other. I always wanted to be faster in racing games, hold my breath for longer, and so on. And I guess girls are just as competitive as we are. To some people, drag racing...

 
Hot Wheels Set of Six Cars Pays Tribute to Simpler Times
Hot Wheels Set of Six Cars Pays Tribute to Simpler Times

13 Apr 2024, 09:11 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Earlier today, my neighbor came over to help me fix a problem with my daily driver. His five-year-old daughter came along for the trip and asked me if I could recommend some interesting cartoons for her to watch. I figured The Powerpuff Girls would...

 
Ford Mustang RTR Drift Car Catches on Fire in Long Beach
Ford Mustang RTR Drift Car Catches on Fire in Long Beach

11 Apr 2024, 09:18 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / This year marks my fourth anniversary of surviving a nasty crash while riding a 300 cc race bike on track. Using a slightly larger helmet could have cost me my life, but I was lucky enough to live and tell the story. If this wasn't obvious...

 
Hot Wheels Exclusive Mercedes-AMG Looks Stronger Than Time
Hot Wheels Exclusive Mercedes-AMG Looks Stronger Than Time

9 Apr 2024, 13:05 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / A friend with an FD RX-7 recently bought a Corvette ZR-1. He has already upgraded the exhaust system. But he wrote to me earlier today, looking for some AMG parts. As we discussed his new daily Mercedes-Benz, I remembered a new Hot Wheels Red L...

 
The Heat Is On As Mattel Reveals New Hot Wheels Cars for 2024
The Heat Is On As Mattel Reveals New Hot Wheels Cars for 2024

8 Apr 2024, 14:32 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I haven't done a Hot Wheels photo session in a while. I'm thinking of a theme that will fit my surroundings, and then I'll report back with the story. Opting for pickup trucks or SUVs sounds like the best option. It's April, ...

 
911 GT3 Races GT4 RS, 991.1 GT3 RS Pokes Fun at Them
911 GT3 Races GT4 RS, 991.1 GT3 RS Pokes Fun at Them

8 Apr 2024, 09:30 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've finally fitted my Panasport G7 rims on the RX-7, and now I'm supposed to do a wheel alignment. The problem is I need to decide whether I'd like to set it up for Time Attack or go sideways. And I know I sadly can't afford th...

 
Racing Through the Desert for 5,000 Miles and Winning Is a Story of Courage and Resolve
Racing Through the Desert for 5,000 Miles and Winning Is a Story of Courage and Resolve

7 Apr 2024, 13:46 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / One of the things I enjoy doing in life is going on long drives. Last year, I drove for almost 19 hours straight on a nearly 1,000-mile (1,610 km) road trip. But my existing record dates back to circa 2015, when I went (alongside two other drivers)...

 
24H Nurburgring Update for ACC Will Require all the Stamina, Speed and Courage You Have
24H Nurburgring Update for ACC Will Require all the Stamina, Speed and Courage You Have

6 Apr 2024, 14:48 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Sometimes, the gap between our dreams and real-world situations is too big to close. Becoming a race driver is still feasible if you don't come from a rich family but don't get your hopes high for categories like F1 or GT Racing. Thank...

 
New Hot Wheels Premium Set Is a Match Made in Heaven for Drift Enthusiasts
New Hot Wheels Premium Set Is a Match Made in Heaven for Drift Enthusiasts

6 Apr 2024, 09:57 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I drove about 60 miles (96 km) yesterday, hunting for Hot Wheels cars. After visiting 10 different stores, I only found one car I liked. I've been aiming to add more Matchbox items to my collection for some time now, and the 1968 Chevy C10 is ...

 
100+ Years in the Making: 2025 Indian Scout Is Coming Up
100+ Years in the Making: 2025 Indian Scout Is Coming Up

2 Apr 2024, 16:28 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Growing up, I watched two movies that fueled my dreams of one day owning a motorcycle. One was Torque (2004), and the other was Biker Boyz (2003). I still hope to ride an RSV or a 996 someday. I was only 15 years old when I saw the two movies. I...

 
911 GT3 Races M2 and Civic Type R, Care To Guess Which One's Faster?
911 GT3 Races M2 and Civic Type R, Care To Guess Which One's Faster?

31 Mar 2024, 17:52 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I realized again today how obsessed I am with anything with an engine and wheels. I rode an ATV off-road, experienced an SUV in the same conditions, and drove my RX-7. And I'll have trouble sleeping until Wednesday when I'm testing a very...

 
EVs Are Slowly Taking Over the Tiny World of Hot Wheels
EVs Are Slowly Taking Over the Tiny World of Hot Wheels

31 Mar 2024, 17:20 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I'm not a fan of wagers. Still, I'd be willing to bet that the automotive industry will keep churning out more and more EVs over the next ten years. Beyond that point, I'm not so sure about it. Alternative fuels are not off the t...

 
Honda Civic Type R Drags Seat Smoke Machine, Winning Is Winning
Honda Civic Type R Drags Seat Smoke Machine, Winning Is Winning

31 Mar 2024, 16:25 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Today, I had my first proper off-road experience in 35 years. I drove my Godfather's Land Rover through a forest and was surprised at how well it handled the challenge. To make things even better, I had to test drive the RX-7 for wheel fitment...

 
What Does It Take to Build the World's Fastest Corvette in GT7?
What Does It Take to Build the World's Fastest Corvette in GT7?

31 Mar 2024, 08:40 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I haven't driven my project car for a few weeks now, as it's in the shop for a respray. My daily isn't exciting enough to fill the gap. So I've returned to sim racing to get my dose of adrenaline. And there's one challenge ...

 
10 Most Exciting Hot Wheels Cars of the Decades
10 Most Exciting Hot Wheels Cars of the Decades

31 Mar 2024, 07:44 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I find a Hot Wheels casting I never knew existed at least once a week. Some aren't very interesting, while others are on the verge of sending me into a shopping frenzy. I've seen collectors struggling to keep track of their cars. I'm...

 
The McLaren F1 Might Be the Best Hot Wheels Car for 2024
The McLaren F1 Might Be the Best Hot Wheels Car for 2024

30 Mar 2024, 17:51 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I have recently been talking to a few junior athletes about sponsorship chasing. I told them how important it is to give it your best outside the racetrack, not just when they're in their cars or bikes. The more aces up your sleeve, the better...

 

Stories by Dragos Chitulescu