My First Time

[J_Edwards]

Everyone remembers their first time. For some of us the experience is especially memorable, others, not so much so.

Today, thanks to a fellow member, Maverick1, I got my first spin in an atom. If by spin I mean two and a half hour mind bending, reality changing, experience. We had hoped to have a simple drive around Palomar mountain, a route recommended by Shinoo. Unfortunately, the Amgen Tour of California managed to find its way directly into our path.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage8.html

Literally the very section of the road we were most looking forward to was 100% closed for the bicycle race.

Determined to not let anything spoil the occasion, we pressed on from Hwy 74 to Hwy 79 on our way back to my home town. Although the roads weren't as twisty as we had hoped, the traffic considerably more prevalent than was optimal, the experience was still absolutely life changing.

Like most here, I first experienced the Atom from Top Gear. The images of Clarksons face contorted by the wind and mind boggling acceleration have been permanently imprinted on my brain every since. Lucky enough, I have been in other fast cars, C6 Z06's, F430 Scuderia's, so I thought I had a solid idea of what to expect. I was 100% wrong. More than 100%.

It isn't just fast, it is a lot more than that. The acceleration is insane but it is the overall experience, the wind in your face, the noise, just the overall thrill that embraces all your senses at once, that really makes it so unbelievable.

When Doug showed up to my house at 10, he was nice enough to bring a helmet with him. Unfortunately, I have a jumbo sized melon, so even his XL sized helmet was no match for my oversized cranium. Since it was my first experience in person, I decided to mimic my very first exposure with the car, the Clarkson esque combo of simple sunglasses. That's it. No earplugs, no helmet, just my face and the elements.

Even as it started to rain when we were mid drive, I didn't regret my decision. The combination of smells from the surrounding orange groves, the stinging pelting of rain upon my face, and the cold chill of the wind simply made the experience that much more visceral, that much more real.

I sit here now a man changed. A man imprinted forever with these experiences, with an even greater hunger than I expected for the car I have been longing for.

I am so jealous of all of you who get these wonderous machines in your garages every single day. I seriously can't wait now.

Thanks to Doug for the experience, I promise to repay it in full with an instructional detail.

My first time. Wow.

[silver]

Great post and I believe most of us had similar experiences   It's safe to say (and many have) that NO video can ever do it justice for what you will experience.  It can't be put into words it can't be expressed in any format except getting out there and riding/driving.

[whooops]

Thanks for the post.  Brings back good memories.  And to think, Mav has one of the "slow" Atoms   We give him a hard time but Mav is a good guy

Now how can you not buy one after that?

[Wmcmanus]

Great post, indeed.  My first ride was with a similarly generous Atom owner, Karl, who came to the hotel I was staying at in San Jose and whisked me away for a quick sprint down the road.  I too, had seen the Clarkson video many times, and in fact had my Atom on order by then, but there was no way I could have been prepared for that!  I now try to keep that in mind when I have new people on board.  It's always a real buzz for anyone who hops in as a first time passenger, so its our duty to make their experiences memorable.

[1965Cobra427]

Great post, indeed.  My first ride was with a similarly generous Atom owner, Karl, who came to the hotel I was staying at in San Jose and whisked me away for a quick sprint down the road.  I too, had seen the Clarkson video many times, and in fact had my Atom on order by then, but there was no way I could have been prepared for that!  I now try to keep that in mind when I have new people on board.  It's always a real buzz for anyone who hops in as a first time passenger, so its our duty to make their experiences memorable.

Thanks for the great post. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, how about the first ride?! My first ride was in Ashland with me behind the wheel and no passenger! Of course I was hooked!

Welcome to the Forum.

[Wmcmanus]

^ I think you quoted the wrong guy for the "great post", Randy.  But that's Ok.  My post was not so great, but if you think it was great, I'll have to trust your judgment.  Although, in truth, the great post was made by J_Edwards.

[Karl]

Sorry I didn't know the roads around there any better!  Of course you are welcome to extended test-rides whenever you make it back to the Bay Area. 

My first experience was also in Ashland, behind the wheel of what eventually became dp35's car.  Even with the injector issue... it was one of those jaw-dropping, grin-inducing moments!

[Wmcmanus]

Sorry I didn't know the roads around there any better!  Of course you are welcome to extended test-rides whenever you make it back to the Bay Area. 

My first experience was also in Ashland, behind the wheel of what eventually became dp35's car.  Even with the injector issue... it was one of those jaw-dropping, grin-inducing moments!

No worries, you did great, man!  Your Atom was the "hit" of our Head-Fi meet, that's for sure.  I was totally blown away by the acceleration, braking and cornering.  It felt like I was along for a ride with the Road Runner.  Beep Beep!

I should be in the area in early June, and will have to look you up before I get in town.  We can the Atoms out for a ride together.

[maverick1]

Thanks for the post.  Brings back good memories.  And to think, Mav has one of the "slow" Atoms   We give him a hard time but Mav is a good guy

Now how can you not buy one after that?

Thanks bolus....I think.
Hey...my Atom is not one of the slow ones. It's got 250hp and will distort any ones face...

Jonathon, taking you out in my Atom was my pleasure. It's always great to let others experience what real acceleration feels like. 
Just too bad the best road was closed. You really didn't get to feel how it handles round corners. Oh well, next time.

To all Socal Atom owners....we really should plan a canyon run to the best road I have found so far....Glendora Mountain road. It's long, twisty as can be, and lightly traveled. Perfect for the Atom.
cheers

[atomathics]

Today, thanks to a fellow member, Maverick1, I got my first spin in an atom. If by spin I mean two and a half hour mind bending, reality changing, experience.

Welcome aboard, J Edwards!

This makes me remember my first passenger ride in a Brammo 300.  Like nearly half the Internet, I'd seen the Top Gear Clarkson clip, but I certainly didn't expect the experience to be nearly as intense as it was.

Random thoughts at the time:

1 OMG, this is really fast!
2 We're really, really low to the ground.
3 My, what pleasant smells of freshly cut grass...
4 Holy!!! Um, though I'm laughing and tearing up, I also think I may be losing consciousness due G-force induced blood drain!!  Aaahhh tunnel vision!!

Nice writeup -- sounds like you are smitten...
-a

[John Williams]

Everyone remembers their first time. For some of us the experience is especially memorable, others, not so much so.

Ah yes, mine was in a hay barn. Oh, you mean Atom experience

Mine was with a friend who was selling the car on behalf of the overseas owners. He drove us through town to the outskirts, point out all the interest we were generating. Then just where it becomes open country roads he pulled over, stopped, got out and said "You drive....
                                                                                                                                                                    

When Doug showed up to my house at 10, he was nice enough to bring a helmet with him. Unfortunately, I have a jumbo sized melon, so even his XL sized helmet was no match for my oversized cranium.

I had that happen when I took someone for a ride once. He got it half on. It was embarrassing. Especially when his ear lobes looked to almost bleed slightly after trying to get it off again.

Since it was my first experience in person, I decided to mimic my very first exposure with the car, the Clarkson esque combo of simple sunglasses. That's it. No earplugs, no helmet, just my face and the elements.

Even as it started to rain when we were mid drive, I didn't regret my decision. The combination of smells from the surrounding orange groves, the stinging pelting of rain upon my face, and the cold chill of the wind simply made the experience that much more visceral, that much more real.

Good on you  That's how I like to travel most of the time. Especially if it's sunny. Although I prefer and would recommend monitor earplugs for any distance that takes more than a few minutes. Pelting rain can also be a nuisance when you get too much while your trying to concentrate on your driving.
Your right about the smells. You get the odd wiffy one, in fact some of the other car fumes stink.

[J_Edwards]

Even the next day I am still jazzed about the experience.

After dealing with the rain at about 70mph, and know that the Atom would be confined to the streets rather than the highway on most jaunts around my town, I don't think that I would wear a helmet on most occasions, I think I would feel like I was missing out on some things.

I can definitely see the benefit of it on the highway though, the noise without earplugs was fairly intense and I know getting pelted with any small stones or rain or bugs would sting a bit at 80mph.

And to think that Mav's atom is one of the "slow" ones, just baffles me. He was talking about CalScots atom and said that it was "twice as fast." I honestly can't comprehend what "twice as fast" would be.

Still... I am almost more grateful the day after now that I have had a chance to really download and absorb all the sensory experiences involved.

Wow, is still about the extent of what I can come up with.

[Hedge]

Great post dude, love it 

Cheers, Hedge

[Driver]

Even the next day I am still jazzed about the experience.

...He was talking about CalScots atom and said that it was "twice as fast." I honestly can't comprehend what "twice as fast" would be.

Every been scratched by a cat on your lap? That would be a regular Atom. With CalScots' Atom... say you are in a room by yourself, and all of a sudden you'd have lacerations all over your face. You will not have a clue on the perp, you will only have seen a faint Garfield-esque blur out of the corner of your eye and the weird howl of a Rotrex echoing in your ears. Looking at the ground in front of you all that will be there is several 10" wide black skid marks and the faint smell of race gas in your nostrils. You've been marked. 

[J_Edwards]

Doug's description yesterday was something along the lines of

"He's crazy. Even on normal roads, I can't even keep up with him. And I'm in an Atom. That is really saying something."

I am plenty excited to just get one of my own, yet alone join the SoCal HP wars...