We are living in times of rapid change and development: climate change due to sometimes misguided energy policies, overpopulation and excessive consumption of resources, lack of education and water shortages, hunger and migration, but also digitalization and artificial intelligence - all of these are major challenges for our children and grandchildren as new generations.
Countermeasures are already being implemented; seemingly not always the most sensible, sometimes even controversial. One reflex can be clearly observed: The automobile is under attack. It is being electrified or successively condemned from cities. Love for old sheet metal can sometimes seem like it has literally "fallen out of time".
Together with the Classic Mobility Forum St. Moritz, Zwischengas therefore poses the question: does the world still have room for a hobby for wealthy pensioners or "old white men", as the new "woken" language deliberately puts it in a discriminatory way? And in ten years' time, will young people who are supposedly worried and struggling for their future tolerate a hobby that they see as hostile to life - if only because even the most beautiful classic car on the road burns fossil fuels?
We, you and I, have every reason to make an effort to find strong arguments in favor of classic cars, historical automobile culture and the internal combustion engine.
After all, there are also good reasons to secure public acceptance and sympathy for our topic in the future:
- Preservation of culture: nobody would ban historical relics in other areas of life. In the case of cars, the purpose is to keep them running and in working order.
- Living history: Cars as contemporary witnesses and symbols of their time of origin must be protected; very special vehicles are considered works of art and are also valued and marketed in an art-like manner.
- Sustainability: The carbon footprint of classic cars is better than their reputation - especially since for every kilometer driven, there is no production and no wear and tear of a new car, which usually only has a limited service life.
- Economic factor: The classic car industry has a turnover of around 20 billion euros in Europe and provides tens of thousands of jobs throughout Europe; in restoration, trade, with specialists or event organizers.
- Classless community of like-minded people who enjoy history, mobility, technology and design
We have a responsibility
Even more than in the past, measures are needed today to get the public and young people interested in our topic. Finding these requires empathy and creativity.
We have put together ten ideas and would be delighted if you, dear readers, would vote on them and give each of them a score.
Your personal judgment should be based on the feasibility and prospects of success of each idea.
And you are very welcome to formulate your own ideas; these will certainly also be evaluated.
Please take part in the survey via this link!
We look forward to receiving your evaluations by August 20, 2023 and thank you for your commitment!
The results will be published in mid-September, presented in St. Moritz and discussed with an engaged audience. Participation is free and Zwischengas readers are cordially invited to take part as part of the St. Moritz Automobile Week, right before the weekend of the exciting Bernina Granturismo mountain race; always a worthwhile visit!