autoevolution
 

Dragos Chitulescu

1,549  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.
2022 Matchbox Jurassic World Dominion Set Gets Some Fresh Air, 1993 Ford Explorer Included
2022 Matchbox Jurassic World Dominion Set Gets Some Fresh Air, 1993 Ford Explorer Included

9 Jun 2022, 09:11 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I will never forget the day I first saw Jurassic Park at the movie theatre. I was quite young at the time, but seeing dinosaurs on the big screen had a profound impact on me. Naturally, one particular vehicle used in the movie caught my eye as well...

 
2022 Matchbox Case D Unboxing Reveals 24 Scale Cars to Bring Joy to Your Inner Child
2022 Matchbox Case D Unboxing Reveals 24 Scale Cars to Bring Joy to Your Inner Child

8 Jun 2022, 17:12 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Have you ever walked into a toy store, only to wonder if Hot Wheels and Matchbox products are in any way related? There seem to be some similarities between the two brands, but there are also distinct features. In some countries, Matchbox products ...

 
M3 Competition xDrive Races 911 Turbo S, Gets Taught a Lesson
M3 Competition xDrive Races 911 Turbo S, Gets Taught a Lesson

8 Jun 2022, 11:50 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Drag racing has been around for decades, but the popularity of the sport seems to have diminished as of late. The most passionate racers are still involved in the sport, but some have moved to drifting, time attack, or other types of motorsports. B...

 
1,000-HP Huracan Drags Stroked Polara, Huge Gap Appears
1,000-HP Huracan Drags Stroked Polara, Huge Gap Appears

6 Jun 2022, 19:54 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / The National Hot Rod Association was founded by the late Wally Parks in 1951. It would take another 12 years for Ferrucio Lamborghini to build his company with the intent of competing with Ferrari. So it may be that drag racing is deeply rooted in ...

 
Older Lamborghini Gallardo Goes for a Top Speed Run on the Autobahn, Can't Hit 200 MPH
Older Lamborghini Gallardo Goes for a Top Speed Run on the Autobahn, Can't Hit 200 MPH

6 Jun 2022, 13:51 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Can you believe that next year, the Lamborghini will be celebrating 20 years since the first Gallardo left the Sant'Agata Bolognese factory? It may be that we don't perceive it as a two-decade-old vehicle because the last one was built le...

 
Formula Drift Round 4 Is On in New Jersey This Week, 3-Day Pass Going for $70
Formula Drift Round 4 Is On in New Jersey This Week, 3-Day Pass Going for $70

6 Jun 2022, 11:01 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / It feels like it was just yesterday that we were anxiously waiting for the start of the 2022 Formula Drift season. And here we are, just days away from Round 4. This is the halfway point of the ongoing season, and the heat is on! We've seen so...

 
The Mazda RX-7 FC Convertible Is Your Affordable Way Into the World of Rotary Cars
The Mazda RX-7 FC Convertible Is Your Affordable Way Into the World of Rotary Cars

5 Jun 2022, 19:32 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I once went to a Mazda owner's car meet, driving my buddy's FD RX-7. I initially expected that people will be all over the car once I got there. To my surprise, most of them were left unimpressed. Some were even annoyed by the fact that i...

 
Two Supras Duke It Out on the 1/4 Mile, It's 2020 vs 1993
Two Supras Duke It Out on the 1/4 Mile, It's 2020 vs 1993

5 Jun 2022, 16:33 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / When I started looking for a sports car to add to my garage a few years ago, I went through quite a few models before deciding on the RX-7. I had driven a Renault Clio RS197 before, but I wanted to get a Japanese car instead. After testing a 2010 T...

 
Inside the 2022 Hot Wheels M Case, Behold the New 1984 Mustang SVO Super Treasure Hunt
Inside the 2022 Hot Wheels M Case, Behold the New 1984 Mustang SVO Super Treasure Hunt

4 Jun 2022, 21:49 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / We are getting closer and closer to the end of the 2022 Hot Wheels series of Mainline cases. Judging by how things went down last year, we should be getting a glimpse of Case Q towards the end of August. This means that in late September or early O...

 
BMW Z8 Prices Are Soaring, We Look at the Numbers
BMW Z8 Prices Are Soaring, We Look at the Numbers

4 Jun 2022, 18:20 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Sometimes I tend to feel guilty that I spent my entire life savings on a car that doesn't even run as it should yet. But then I am reminded that if you choose the right car, its value is only going to increase over time. So, looking at the use...

 
Speed Triple 1200 RR Conquers the Nürburgring in 443 Seconds
Speed Triple 1200 RR Conquers the Nürburgring in 443 Seconds

3 Jun 2022, 22:34 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / A few days ago I met up with a former work colleague. I had just parked my Suzuki SV650S outside his office and that sparked a little discussion. While I was excited about riding for about 310 miles (500 km) within the past few weeks, I came to lea...

 
T-Pain Goes Drifting at the RTR Labs, It's Not His First Rodeo
T-Pain Goes Drifting at the RTR Labs, It's Not His First Rodeo

3 Jun 2022, 08:40 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / About 10 years ago, when I was dealing with sponsorship management for pro drifters and events, companies were still wary of the sport. I even heard some top-level managers saying that: "This is never going to become interesting, it's ben...

 
600-HP 240SX Races Menacing Corvette at Chuckwalla, Doesn't Have What It Takes to Keep Up
600-HP 240SX Races Menacing Corvette at Chuckwalla, Doesn't Have What It Takes to Keep Up

2 Jun 2022, 07:58 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / You get to a point in life when drag racing just doesn't feel as exciting anymore. Of course, that doesn't apply to everyone. But you can go to any quarter-mile (402 meters) race in the world and it will all look the same. And every singl...

 
Five Lightyear Hot Wheels Diecast Cars Are Up for Grabs, Disney Fans Rejoice
Five Lightyear Hot Wheels Diecast Cars Are Up for Grabs, Disney Fans Rejoice

1 Jun 2022, 12:25 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Back in the early '90s, I went to see The Lion King with my dad. After that, Beauty and the Beast was up next, on our VCR at home. I always enjoy seeing a good animation, but somehow it took me a while to see Toy Story. Although I wouldn'...

 
750-HP BMW X3 M Is Unleashed on the Autobahn, Tries to Hit 180 MPH
750-HP BMW X3 M Is Unleashed on the Autobahn, Tries to Hit 180 MPH

31 May 2022, 17:54 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / I was never a big fan of SUVs, as my attention was always focused on sports cars. But after driving a few modern-day ones, including the Volvo XC90 T8, I've changed my mind. These road-going giants might not have a place on the racetrack, but ...

 
911 Turbo S Boldly Races an M5 CS, the New Kid on the Block Fights Back
911 Turbo S Boldly Races an M5 CS, the New Kid on the Block Fights Back

31 May 2022, 11:51 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / You'll often hear automotive enthusiasts saying that: "They don't make cars like they used to". And that is quite true, but you can also look at it from different angles. The cars that are on the market today might not be as exc...

 
2021 Rezvani Hercules Is a Modern-Day 6x6 Behemoth, Could Be Yours for $700K
2021 Rezvani Hercules Is a Modern-Day 6x6 Behemoth, Could Be Yours for $700K

31 May 2022, 06:45 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / Decades ago, some people started building bomb shelters so that they could be safe in the event of a nuclear war. Luckily, they didn't have to use them. But it's always good to know that you have a backup plan in case things get crazy out...

 
Nissan S-Chassis Drag Race Lines Up S13, S14 and S15, Winner Takes All
Nissan S-Chassis Drag Race Lines Up S13, S14 and S15, Winner Takes All

30 May 2022, 17:38 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / D1GP is one of the most popular drift series of all time. The Japanese championship has been around for 21 years. In 21 years, 13 titles were secured by drivers competing in S-Chassis vehicles. So it's no wonder why most people associate these...

 
New Hot Wheels Series Reveals Honda Civic Evolution From 1990 to 2018, Pick Your Favorite
New Hot Wheels Series Reveals Honda Civic Evolution From 1990 to 2018, Pick Your Favorite

29 May 2022, 08:11 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / There's no denying the fact that Hot Wheels collectors are big fans of Japanese cars. So if you can't afford an all-JDM, 10-car garage, resorting to their miniature versions will feel like a sweet alternative. Over the past half a century...

 
Inside the 2022 Hot Wheels L Case, '58 Impala Treasure Hunt Is Revealed
Inside the 2022 Hot Wheels L Case, '58 Impala Treasure Hunt Is Revealed

28 May 2022, 14:48 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / One of my friends recently called me to ask if I would like to buy any of his cars. He's got 10 of them, and he's at the point where it's not quite financially smart to keep them all in running order. It's that moment that I rea...

 

Stories by Dragos Chitulescu