autoevolution
 

Dragos Chitulescu

1,544  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

Do, or Do Not. There is no try!

Contributor
editor photo
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 Tested GT7's Latest Update to See How Exciting the Three New Cars Are
I Tested GT7's Latest Update to See How Exciting the Three New Cars Are

30 Mar 2024, 17:03 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've restarted actively playing Gran Turismo 7 lately. And I'm always happy to see a new update for it. The developer's strategy of releasing a smaller roster of cars at first might just pay off. This way, more people look forward to...

 
Manly Men Will Crave Mattel's New Hot Wheels Truck Set
Manly Men Will Crave Mattel's New Hot Wheels Truck Set

30 Mar 2024, 12:11 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I bought my first car when I was 29 years old. My heart pushed me towards an RX-7. Several years later, I purchased a diesel-powered station wagon. And I think my third car will likely be a pickup truck. I've already narrowed the list down...

 
The Mystery Machine Is a Big Hit With Hot Wheels Collectors
The Mystery Machine Is a Big Hit With Hot Wheels Collectors

30 Mar 2024, 06:36 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I spent much of the early '90s glued to a TV, watching Cartoon Network. Scooby-Doo is one of the first characters I remember becoming fond of. I usually avoided watching episodes in the evening, as it sometimes felt frightening. But I still ha...

 
$15 Is Your Ticket to a Golden Hot Wheels Monster Truck
$15 Is Your Ticket to a Golden Hot Wheels Monster Truck

30 Mar 2024, 05:12 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've been playing video games since circa 1994. That's 30 years of watching a screen and abusing a keyboard and mouse for entertainment. Video games have brought plenty of joy, and I've also learned many things from them. In rece...

 
World's First Porsche Cayman Drift Car Looks Like This Champion's Best Kept Secret
World's First Porsche Cayman Drift Car Looks Like This Champion's Best Kept Secret

29 Mar 2024, 22:10 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I had a very interesting conversation with a certain automotive manufacturer's press office today. I'll conduct my first official test drive with this company on Wednesday. I won't say anything about it yet other than it has a base p...

 
Don't Throw That Hot Wheels Truck Away, I Can Fix It
Don't Throw That Hot Wheels Truck Away, I Can Fix It

28 Mar 2024, 16:33 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / One of the things that left a strong impression on me when I watched "Wangan Midnight" was the mystical connection between Devil Z and Akio. Car enthusiasts will almost always develop a special connection to their machines. I've ...

 
Ford Super Chase Collectible Pops Up in New Matchbox Case
Ford Super Chase Collectible Pops Up in New Matchbox Case

28 Mar 2024, 15:13 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I still (at least partly) believe in the law of attraction. And I'll give you an example of what happened to me. I was excited to see the 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1 in my last Matchbox review. Several weeks later, a friend gave me one as a long-t...

 
Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive Kawa-Bug-A Will Sell Like Hot Cakes
Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive Kawa-Bug-A Will Sell Like Hot Cakes

26 Mar 2024, 13:48 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I could easily blow through $10,000 in sixty minutes by buying Hot Wheels cars online. And I'm sure anyone collecting for more than a few years could do it in half the time. You just have to know what you're looking for. I have seen s...

 
Hot Wheels Flippin' Fast Is Like a Fidget Spinner on Wheels for Hours of Fun
Hot Wheels Flippin' Fast Is Like a Fidget Spinner on Wheels for Hours of Fun

26 Mar 2024, 13:02 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Sometimes, you just need to stop and smell the roses. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Someone will always have a bigger house, a faster car, a nicer bike, or a more impressive bank account. But that doesn't mean that person is automat...

 
F1 Drivers Would Make Great Drifters and Bottas Proves It
F1 Drivers Would Make Great Drifters and Bottas Proves It

25 Mar 2024, 18:17 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've been constantly considering returning to professional drifting for almost two years. And I've found a way back in. The sport has come a long way since its inception and is headed to new heights soon. There are several reasons why ...

 
2024 Hot Wheels Team Transport Mix A Is Coming Right Up
2024 Hot Wheels Team Transport Mix A Is Coming Right Up

25 Mar 2024, 15:47 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've given this plenty of thought. If I were to sell my entire Hot Wheels collection and start anew, I would opt for the Car Culture: Team Transport line-up. It's great seeing race cars and trucks together, and it gives the hobby a differ...

 
Nine Upcoming Matchbox Items We're Eager to See
Nine Upcoming Matchbox Items We're Eager to See

24 Mar 2024, 11:27 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / How much money did you spend on diecast cars last year? Even after deciding to tone things down, I still paid around $500 to get my favorite items. I know that's pocket change for most serious collectors. But I've prioritized other things...

 
10 Exciting Hot Wheels Ford Garage Cars
10 Exciting Hot Wheels Ford Garage Cars

24 Mar 2024, 06:25 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I'm currently saving up to build a new house for my family. And there are a couple of must-haves on my list: a garage for my FC and my bike, and a room for my diecast cars, music gear, books, and sim racing equipment. Yes, every guy needs a ma...

 
5 Hot Wheels Cars That Mattel Needs to Revive
5 Hot Wheels Cars That Mattel Needs to Revive

23 Mar 2024, 11:22 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Whether we like it or not, the world around us constantly changes. With time, we must say goodbye to loved ones, pets, and even inanimate objects close to our hearts. My grandfather's car is rotting away in a garage, and I can't afford to...

 
2024 Hot Wheels Case H Reveals Eighth Super Treasure Hunt of the Year
2024 Hot Wheels Case H Reveals Eighth Super Treasure Hunt of the Year

23 Mar 2024, 09:03 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I only get to see my two-year-old nephew once a month. It takes a few days for him to accept me, and then I have to go. Upon my return, he is again unwilling to even look at me. But I hope it will be better when he's older and discovers my Hot...

 
Seven 911 Turbo Porsches Could Cost More Than a Small Mansion
Seven 911 Turbo Porsches Could Cost More Than a Small Mansion

23 Mar 2024, 07:42 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I think my nephew is starting to get the car virus from me. So, I thought it would be a good idea to give him a taste of two of my favorite shows: Initial D and Wangan Midnight. I just have to be careful to explain how important it is to keep any f...

 
"Honey, I Shrunk the Drift Car" Award Goes to Hot Wheels Thanks to New $20 Datsun
"Honey, I Shrunk the Drift Car" Award Goes to Hot Wheels Thanks to New $20 Datsun

21 Mar 2024, 17:35 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Living in a big city can become stressful pretty fast. You have to deal with the noise, the traffic, the neighbors, the pollution and all sorts of problems. Moving to the countryside was the best choice I've made in years. Living life in t...

 
New Hot Wheels Car Culture Set of Six Cars Is a Stunning Mix of Race Ready Machines
New Hot Wheels Car Culture Set of Six Cars Is a Stunning Mix of Race Ready Machines

21 Mar 2024, 15:04 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I met up with a friend who collects Hot Wheels, and he was slightly depressed. After accumulating hundreds of special items, he feels like the hobby no longer brings him joy. He'd like to sell them but isn't sure what to do with the money...

 
Polaris Gen 2 RZR Pro R Factory Feels Like an Exciting Mix of Country and Rock'n'Roll
Polaris Gen 2 RZR Pro R Factory Feels Like an Exciting Mix of Country and Rock'n'Roll

20 Mar 2024, 16:02 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I've found myself becoming increasingly interested in off-road vehicles in recent years. While I'd love a lifted Y61 Patrol, that's not where I am aiming. Going fast is still pretty much what drives me forward, and a few machines are...

 
The Hunt Is on Thanks to the New Hot Wheels Collector Edition Nissan
The Hunt Is on Thanks to the New Hot Wheels Collector Edition Nissan

18 Mar 2024, 11:18 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Three months into 2024, the list of highly desirable Hot Wheels cars is getting longer and longer. You'll see new castings and recolors in each ongoing series. And that gives collectors plenty of options, as long as they have the budget to kee...

 

Stories by Dragos Chitulescu