Automotive New Year's Resolutions for 2024

2030 felt like such a distant time when I was in high school. And now, it's only several years away. I like to set my New Year's resolutions in December so that I can start working on them in January. If you read my recent story, I am happy about how 2023 unfolded for me. I've had many extraordinary automotive experiences and plan to raise the stakes for 2024.

But I first needed to figure out my ambitions for that to happen. I've tried to set a lower limit of five goals, with each one split into two categories: Basic and Epic. If I can achieve the first level, I'll be happy, but if I can go for the second one, that's self-explanatory.

Nordschleife Experience

I came close to experiencing a passenger lap on the Nordschleife in 2023. I was about to sit in the passenger seat of a slightly-tuned Nissan 350Z with my friend Mario, who has had a fair share of laps on the Green Hell. We sat in the parking lot of Devil Diner's for about half an hour before heading out to the gas station next to the famous Dottinger Hohe Straight.

It didn't happen due to excessive fog, but that's okay. My primary wish for a 2024 Nordschleife experience would be a mix of two laps. First, I'd like to see it from the passenger seat of someone who has enough experience with the track. And secondly, I'd love to drive at least one lap, too. From all the information I've gathered, renting a Suzuki Swift Sport would make the most sense.

It's not so expensive, but it's still fun to drive. Everyone says you shouldn't set a time goal for the first time. But I would love to finish a lap in under 11 minutes. If I were to up the ante for the epic 2024 Nordschleife experience, I would add more seat time: five laps in the Swift to get used to the layout and five more laps in any entry-level Porsche or a proper sports car. Is that too much to ask?

Trip to Japan

I've been to Japan twice in my life. Crazy enough, it all happened in 2016. I mostly spent time at the Tokyo Auto Salon and Ferrari Cavalcade event around Kyoto. While I've never been a big fan of Japanese food, I love almost everything else about the country. I still need to get back to learning the language, as I've only done about six months of lessons.

But for years now, I've been dreaming about going back. I'd love to attend the 7s Day Celebration in the country that gave the world the RX-7. Owners of Mazda Rotaries gather on July 7 to share their love for their unique cars. You'll see events at Daikoku Futo near Tokyo, Tsukuba Circuit, Mobara Twin Circuit, and other locations.

I'd be thrilled to fly in for two or three days. Imagine hundreds of RX-7s, RX-8s, and Cosmos, most of which feature several upgrades, all lined up and ready to go. I'd probably have to stick to Daikoku Futo on such a tight schedule. With no taxis or busses going to the parking lot on the Wangan, I'd have to talk to one of my Japanese friends and ask for a lift. Luckily, I think my buddy Sohei Kakuta will gladly take me on board his Bridgeport FB.

But what about the epic phase? Well, that would be a two-week-long tour of the country, including Tokyo, Tsukuba, Ebisu, and, of course, Hiroshima, Mazda's hometown. I know I'm pushing the envelope here, but I'd even rent the Veilside RX-7 for the Daikoku party, which should cost around $500 for six hours. No trip to Japan would be complete without drifting at Ebisu, and I'd be happy if I could rent something for an hour or two at Kuru Kuru land, the drift school course.

RX-7 Adventures

Dreaming is so fun and easy. And I've got three more dreams before I wrap this story up. With my obsession with RX-7s, I want to spend even more time around them in 2024. I'd love to return to the racetrack for the basic stage of this third wish. My fastest lap on the Motorpark venue, in the FD, was two minutes and four seconds. I would love to go for a 1:57 lap time, and I think it's perfectly feasible with a bit of training.

But I want to see how fast the FC can be around the same layout. I've only driven it on the smaller karting track at Skat Kart, where I needed just over one minute and 20 seconds for a very technical 0.88-mile (1,4-km) layout. But my FC is still a street car and not a race car. So I'd love to take it up the Transalpina touge, also known as the King's Road.

It's less famous than the Transfagarasan, but the quality of the road is much better. Still, for the epic RX-7 experience, I'll add the latter to the list, too. But I'd also love to drive the FC back to Greece, on the Serres Race Track, along with other RX-7 owners. Each year, dozens of rotary owners gather there to celebrate 7s day and 8s day, and this could be almost as exciting as the Japan trip.

Motorcycle Journey

I have yet to abandon motorcycles. Come to think, I've only just started. I'm still a "toddler" by biker standards, so I'm excited for more miles in the saddle in 2024. My riding ambitions for next year aren't that big, though. I'd love to return to the Transalpina touge, as I needed to gain more experience the first time around.

Additionally, I want to ride a motocross bike for the first time, as I have yet to do so. Of course, I'd like to rack up 5,000 miles (8,046 km) throughout the season, ideally on different bikes. Pushing things to the next level, my friend Vlad Chivu has been calling me back to the racetrack for some time. Since he started his Road Racing School, I've been seriously considering it. I was far from prepared enough to ride race bikes on the circuit when I did so in 2020.

So, several days on a 300 cc bike with a dedicated instructor would help me reach the next level of riding. I don't think I'll return to time attack mode on two wheels soon, but you can always use extra skills for your safety. One of my biggest motorcycle riding dreams is still unreachable for next year. After all, I grew up watching Ewan McGregor riding bikes worldwide. I would if I could muster the courage, budget, and team to embark on a similar adventure. But as with all ambitious things in life, I need a plan first!

Drifting Moves the Soul
I've already referred to drifting at Ebisu with my previous wish. I'm just as desperate about going sideways as I am about RX-7s. Doing Time Attack events is cool; driving on mountain roads is just as lovely. But drifting does move the soul. I haven't experienced a more addictive thing in my life, and I've never had a more giant smile on my face than I've had after a session of burning rubber at high speeds.

To this day, spending two days at MyWay Drift School is one of the best memories of my life. So, for 2024, I'd love to get back into the sport. I plan to attend at least one international event to reconnect with all the drivers and witness the action. But I want more than that; I need to be behind the wheel. My best chance is renting a drift car for a day or two, as the FC isn't entirely up to spec for that yet. That will not stop me from sliding the rear in certain corners at the track, but connecting them is a different story.

For the epic stage of this wish, I still dream about returning to Sweden for some good old ice drifting. I've seen some wild packages where you can rent Porsches or Ferraris, but I would certainly settle for a basic-level BMW E36, too. If I can achieve all these dreams in 2024, I might cry with happiness. And I'll certainly show you some photos and videos of all the action.