CAR’s newest member, Award-winning radio and TV presenter, Ryan O’Connor, reflects on his passion for cars. Having dominated the airwaves for 21 years on some of the Mother City’s best-loved stations, he now joins the CAR team as consulting digital and social media editor. Catch him on the HEART FM Drive, weekdays, 3 to 6 pm.
Hi everybody, I’m Ryan …and I’m a petrolhead.
I’ve been one since I was 11 years old when I collected every copy – every month – of CAR Magazine. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be able to pursue my passion for presenting, spending many years in media in the Western Cape. And I now find myself fortunate enough to pursue another passion by becoming a part of the publication that I’ve held close to my heart since I first raced my Hot Wheels down the hills of Vredehoek.
Some context perhaps. Everybody has their unique entry into the interests that will characterise their lives, and my passion for cars was born out of an environment that allowed the imagination of an 11-year-old to run wild. Growing up at the foot of Table Mountain, there were more hills than there were straights, and the gutters that ran adjacent to these roads mapped out the perfect race track for my Hot Wheels cars.
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The hours spent collecting and racing the toys quickly turned into a passion for anything on wheels, and it was an interest that only grew through access to CAR Magazine. Motoring magazines became as important as the cars themselves. My commitment to consuming as much CAR content as possible meant that if a copy was ever missing, it was a crisis. At the time, every monthly issue arrived with a poster of a different vehicle and while the Porsche 959 was among the favourites I remember having on my wall, there was one special car that made for a story that has characterised my love of motoring for over 30 years.
Two words … Ferrari Testarossa. In the late ’80s – still a young boy – I went in search of the Ferrari (and its owner) that had captured my heart. I called up Viglietti Motors. Back then it was based in town, which meant I frequently had the opportunity to stick my nose up against the glass and admire the vehicles inside. I managed to get through to Luigi Viglietti, who in turn got hold of the owner and came back to me with a signed copy of the CAR Magazine that featured the Testarossa.
The owner’s name was Frank Taylor and, although I got his name and signature, I never managed a glimpse of the magical motor car in person. This was until three years ago, when I met Cobus Kellerman who owned – among his collection at the Lourens Motor Museum – a Testarossa reminiscent of my young love. Turns out it wasn’t reminiscent but rather the real thing. After telling Cobus about the Ferrari that belonged to Frank Taylor that had captured my heart, he told me that very name was listed as one of the previous owners and took me to see the car.
WATCH: Ryan O’Connor sits shotgun in the Ranger FX4 with Ricky Schroeder
Over 30 years to go full circle from my signed copy of CAR’s Testarossa issue to taking in the original model in real life. It feels somewhat of a full-circle moment as I join the CAR brand to create the type of content that nurtured my love for motoring when I was a child. As a full-grown child now, I’m blessed to be able to pursue this by producing content with an amazing team that will hopefully speak to all the car fanatics out there.
Everybody loves the motoring world for different reasons; some lean towards performance, others to the aesthetic art of the automobile. What I’m hoping is that in these passion pieces, I can come across with a little bit of everything for those, who like me, will always hold cars close to their hearts. Stay tuned.
