7 New Year’s Resolutions For Petrolheads

We’re not too far away from 2016 and when we reach the new year your friends will most likely be making the same old resolutions. Perhaps it will be abstaining from chocolate, buying a gym pass or quitting smoking. So don’t get caught up in the boring predictable rigmarole, choose one of our petrolhead based suggestions instead!

1. Book your first track day

We’ve all pushed a little too hard on the road at one time or another. Be it on your daily commute, on a drive with friends, or on a late night blast, it’s natural to want to explore the limits of your car. But as we all know, if you overstep the mark on the public roads, things are not going to end well. So if you really want to develop your driving skills and find the limits of your machine, listen to that old adage and ‘take it to the track’.

Some drivers can be a little bit apprehensive about embarking on their first track day, but there is no need to be worried as long as you prepare properly. And there are a number of events around the UK which are arranged solely for beginner track drivers, so you won’t feel out of your comfort zone. What are you waiting for? Get one booked.

2. Visit the road that you’ve always wanted to drive

There is no time like the present. So why not organise a trip to your dream road? Get some friends together, pack up the car, and head out on an epic adventure. If you’re stateside you could follow the legendary Route 66, or if you’re over in Europe sample a de-restricted autobahn. If that all sounds a bit costly, you could always just visit a local road that you’ve never had the chance to sample. Either way it’s going to be a good time.

3. Learn a new driving skill

No matter your level of ability, there is always something to learn behind the wheel. So for 2016, learn a new driving skill. It might be as simple as learning how to heel and toe. You could practice on the road (not advised) or more sensibly book a track day with some expert tuition. By the end of the day you’ll feel like Senna and you will have come away with a genuinely valuable tool to add to your repertoire.

If you would like to take things a little further, you could always visit a driving experience centre and learn how to power-slide or drive off-road. The main thing is to set yourself an achievable goal which you can go out and fulfil.

4. Do your first modification

Modifying your car can be a daunting and potentially expensive prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. You could start off with something as simple as installing a POD filter (just don’t expect any power gains) and work your way up to a cold air intake or even a full exhaust system.

The key here is that there is always something that you can improve, and it doesn’t have to cost the world. And if your wrenching skills are distinctly lacking, it’s always a good idea to get some friends around to help you for free.

5. Buy or try a new car

If you’ve been saving hard, 2016 might be the first year that you’ve had the means to go out and buy your dream car. To keep yourself going through this wet and windy winter, why not start your online research now and get planning to buy in early 2016, when dealers are struggling to move their stock? It’s a win win.

Or perhaps, like me, you have no money in the bank but you’re really eager to get out there and try some new models. Variety is the spice of life after all, so plan some test drives, or see if you can borrow a friend’s ride. There are too many cars out there to just drive one.

6. Take a trip to the Nurburgring

The Nurburgring is a petrolhead’s Mecca; a pilgrimage we all have to make at some point in our lives. So why put it off any longer? If you want to watch some racing you’re spoiled for choice with World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) returning in 2016, and the VLN is one not to miss.

Perhaps you just want to drive the iconic track, so why not arrange a lap in our Toyota CT86? Or even better, come to the 2016 CT Nurburgring meet - all will be revealed soon! We expect to see you there…

7. Treat your car to some TLC

It’s the same old story. On the day you purchase your new car you promise to yourself that you’ll clean it every week, give it regular services, and generally just show it some love. 12 months later and you find your pride and joy parked on the drive, peppered with the worst that the winter could throw at it and you slowly convince yourself that it looks better when dirty. Well now is the time to get out of that denial and to make sure that you give your car a damn good regular clean in 2016.