Contrary
to the belief of maybe some people, I do actually have to do some university
work while I am here! Because I am splitting the year between a teaching
assistantship in Germany and a work placement in Italy, I have to write a
'special study'. This is a 6,000 word essay in a language of my choice about
any relevant topic.
One
of the main reasons for choosing Baden-Württemberg was because I wanted to
write something about the influence that the automobile industry has had on the
area. Now, young men or women who are interested in cars have either one
interest, or two. All of them like to admire the beauty of such machines; each
with his or her own view on what is good and what their dream car would be.
Some like to know how everything works. They take stuff apart and put it back
together again; always striving to understand 'why' something is needed. Among
these types of people is my dad, forever tinkering away in the garage,
repairing and replacing a forever growing list of things on his beloved, mid-life-crisis
(no doubt I will receive a berating for that) 'investment' - an early 90s
Porsche 911 (964).
For
those that really know me, any attempt to fully explain the workings of a car
would be pointless. In fact it is a family joke that if somebody asked me for a
screwdriver, I would pass them a spanner! Nevertheless I remain fascinated by
the idea of the car and it is because of this that I find myself (rather fortunately)
in what is often known as the birthplace of the car.
On
my doorstep are two of the best automotive museums in all of Germany and it wouldn't
be right to research such a topic, without a visit to both!
The
Mercedes museum (or Daimler-Benz Museum to locals) is a historical journey,
from the first ideas of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, to the 21st century and
Mercedes' production of greener cars. A ridiculously low entry fee of €4 (yet
again) and I was discovering some brilliant pieces of mechanical engineering
and automotive design. Rather than explain it, I thought it was best that you
saw some highlights for yourself!
The
museum tour was finished with a trip to the shop, where I bought a brilliant
book to help me with my studies and shocked myself silly at the price of some
of the die cast models!
After
the experience of the Mercedes museum, it was time to rub salt into the wounds
of my dad! He has long expressed a desire to visit the Porsche Museum in
Stuttgart and that was exactly where I found myself on a wet and windy day last
Friday. The museum resembled more of a space ship than the resting place for
some motoring greats! Once again a student entry fee got me into the exhibition
for, more or less, nothing. As I walked through the history of Porsche, moving
from one important model to the next, I could imagine my dad's parrot becoming
more and more ill! Once again, below is a collection of some of my highlights.
Unlike
the Mercedes museum, which is interesting for everyone, the Porsche museum was
definitely a place for enthusiasts and admirers. Rather than tracking exactly
what the company had done for the industry, the collection in Porscheplatz
showed the development of the cars, from Ferdinand Porsche's famous Volkswagen
to the modern day 997.
Doubtless
is it to say that both museum trips had the desired effect and research is
going along smoothly! As for my dad, well the hope is that he will come and
visit me in February, so he will have his opportunity. Perhaps if I can
organise a factory tour early enough, I might even get to sit on the drivers'
side of the 964! I am quite confident that only when hell freezes over, can I
even suggest it!
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