Often, people do not believe me when I tell them my first word was, in fact, “truck.” I’ve received various reactions to that fact, from genuine curiosity, to skepticism, to chuckles at the predictability of the statement. But regardless of the reaction, I’m always amused by sharing that, because it lets people know how deeply the Car Disease™ runs through my veins. The reaction to my name is, well. Let’s just say it is less amusing! I’m a different Jake than the one who founded this site, and I am decidedly not Jake from State Farm.
I am a theater artist, a lover of weird cars that can hurt my wallet (specifically, MINIs), and proud member of the queer community. I have owned a whole slew of vehicles in the past, some interesting, some terrible, all memorable. I love a car with a good story and gaining new experiences in different vehicles. I hope to document some of them here, if for no other reason than for you to judge me for my poor decision-making skills! The current stable is certainly worthy of judgement. My MINI Clubman is in constant need of, well, something. But he’s been in a museum (more on that later) so I feel a responsibility to keep him in tip-top shape. And my Suburban is also quite needy, but it’s sort of a family heirloom, so I will continue to shell out for its various Old Car Problems. There is also another project in the driveway, as well as a motorcycle that is slowly working its way into my heart. All that to say; there are fun things to come!
I also coordinate road rallies (or organized drives) for our queer car family, and I hope some of you will be able to join us for upcoming events. I am determined to give them all a silly name, and the now-annual “Pumpkin Spice” rally is my proudest creation thus far. I plan to document some of those events here as well, so folks can see just what goes into planning even a small event, and for those who may not be able to make the journey out to join us!
As a member of the queer community, I had felt for a long time that I was alone in the world of car enthusiasts. I had thought that meeting another queer car enthusiast was akin to seeing a Vector W8 in the wild; you would have a better chance of catching a fly with a pair of tweezers. Little did I know that there was such a vibrant community of queer enthusiasts out there! I’m very thankful to have been introduced to this community, for the friends and experiences it has already brought me, and for the opportunity to add my voice to Out Motorsports’ array of talented contributors.
Theater and cars don’t have much overlap; I get some funny looks when folks learn about these two seemingly dichotomous interests of mine. But they share something key in common. One of the biggest reasons I enjoy doing theater is that it allows me to bring some happiness to others. I enjoy it thoroughly, and it is my way of contributing to the community. Driving interesting cars and sharing those experiences with others does the same, I believe. I get so much joy when a friend tells me about some cool car that they saw, or that they thought of me when they saw a MINI on the road. I love sharing my passions, and I sincerely hope that my contributions here bring folks some enjoyment as well. So, come along on this new journey with me. Join me in some adventures, and let’s see where this road takes us! I am sure I’ll learn lots of things along the way, and I hope you do too. After all, it isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey.
Happy Motoring, my friends!
