I was once a disillusioned grad student, endlessly unhappy with my prospects and with a simmering anger within my soul.
I previously ranted for Blue Oval News, after that outlet beat Ford in court. But when that gig ran its course and grad school had me over a barrel, I found TTAC’s august founder and made a modest proposal: let me review something that deserves a fresh perspective over Spring Break and I’ll give you 800 words on it.
No matter, things improved over the course of almost fourteen years, to the point I must now say goodbye to my beloved home.
Robert Farago was a tough editor but the “TTAC House Style” became mine, going into overdrive late one Saturday night when the college library’s 24-hour computer lab turned into an early morning affectation to the yet-to-be-named Panther Love. The Grand Marquis Review cemented my thoughts on giving underdogs the credit they deserve, putting upper management on blast for their beancounting binges and slumlord-like neglect for a loyal breadwinner with a rabid fanbase.
Plus, I loved putting new metal to the test, because Editor Farago actually ratcheted up my arguments. How often does that happen?
Take the clearly cheapened-out 2006 Toyota Camry with polymers that subsequently turned gooey decades before the chassis’ expiration date: how many Automotive Journalists questioned the infallible Toyota Camry back then?
At least one of them didn’t mind getting on the auto-journo blacklist. That’s the genesis of Piston Slap, my alternative to the journosaur press junket and fleet car lifestyle. I also moderated a large (relatively) forum for Lincoln enthusiasts, hence the natural interest in blending forum chatter into a blog.
And when I was knee deep in my Automotive Retail career (road tests are an obvious conflict of interest) I considered styling critiques: logical considering my naturally curious eye for car design, an endlessly infuriating/intoxicating relationship with Industrial Design, and the passing of my dear friend and former CCS classmate. It all came together for the birth of Vellum Venom and people kinda liked it!
If you are noticing a trend of anger being my muse, you aren’t alone: every business student I mentor at my Alma Mater gets a (brief) lecture that anger is an excellent motivator, so don’t be afraid to do something productive with it.
And productivity from anger is the key. I worked hard to (hopefully) get TTAC’s Best and Brightest to:
- Shun commonplace automotive wisdom of the time.
- Question journalistic platitudes to PR Departments found elsewhere in the autoblogosphere.
- Find evidence via photos (Vellum Venom) or a researched concept (Google links in Piston Slap) to encourage you to draw your own conclusion.
The anger within fueled my automotive passion in real life: like going to the junkyard (above) to pull parts from what could have been my test vehicle back in 2006.
Here’s what I mean: slap used/NOS Grand Marquis interior bits on the shockingly well-sorted dynamics of a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and the result is more of a legit alternative to the not exactly luxurious confines of the critically acclaimed 2006 Chrysler 300. Plus, its V8 came without the fun of cam failures.
Putting one’s money ($250-ish) where the mouth is, the “Brown Victoria” won’t give Lexus a sleepless night, but it’s kinda pleasant inside with the softer-touch polymers and fake trees. 
That’s passion, baby.
I am thrilled with the Brown Victoria’s modest improvement, as with all my chocolate-hued projects: perhaps TTAC’s Sierra might get done this decade, ditto the Continental Valentino.
And while my lesser projects remain unnoticed on Houston’s mean streets, they still take me to and from work. Anonymously! 
(Like you’d actually want to drive that antique Jaguar in this swampy bayou city! Turn those cameras around: come on sheeple!!!!)
Perhaps the whole “rolling up to a Fortune 300 Automotive Retailer in a 30-year-old Lincoln Continental” is why I have the honor of making a transition to a new job that embraces my passion. It’s a great opportunity, but saying goodbye to that job and my dear home at TTAC is difficult. But that’s not the point…
As my writing career evolved, I only wanted to use the passion/anger inside me to inform, question conventional wisdom, and provide evidence-based, critical fodder for thought provoking discussions every week. Whether I was successful is for the Best and Brightest to decide, ‘natch.
And personally, I am light years ahead of that angry grad student from 2006. Perhaps now — in the summer of my writing career — I’m actually a happy person!
Please know that it’s been my absolute pleasure to interact with you via email, in the comments and occasionally in person. I wish you all the best in your life’s pursuits.
Thank you for reading.
(And I did it in under 800 words, Robert!)
[Images: Sajeev Mehta]
We’ll miss you. Where are you going?
Jeff.
I will be easily Googlable, and I will miss everyone here too, trust me on that.
Say it ain’t so! Best wishes for your future. (It may cliche, but it is sincere.)
Thank you very much!
Your writing is outstanding. I loved it. All the best. You have a bright future.
:-)
I hope so! Thank you!
Sajeev…. You will be missed …
Oh…. and excellent job with the Crown Vic !!!
Best of luck
Mikey
Thanks for your years of support, Mikey!
Good run, man.
Glad you were always there for the ride, thanks Ajla.
Good work, I’m sure you’ll be appreciated at you new gig as much as you are here .
You have good analytical skills and writing , the anger showed through once in a while, nice to hear you channeled it to be useful .
May the road rise to meet you in life .
-Nate
Thank you Nate, and thank you for being here all these years!
You did good, Sajeev. Here’s to your future endeavors.
It never gets old to hear that I accomplished what I intended to do. Thanks!
You will be missed, Sajeev! I always enjoyed your articles, especially the insights to exterior design.
Glad to hear Vellum Venom had a strong audience, thank you!
Thank you for your thoughts and comments. I’m a newbie around here, but I have enjoyed your commentary, and will surely be missed. Happy trails to you and may the Lord be with you.
Thank you I am glad to hear my work resonated with you !
But what about Sanjeev, what will he be doing now?
I’ve always enjoyed your work here at TTAC and I share your almost irrational love of 80’s-90’s Ford products.
Good luck!
You can keep Sanjeev here. Here’s to hoping nobody ever calls me that again :-)
Good luck Sajeev! You were a Centurion, watching over Rome’s ruins here.
The very last one, I fear.
I’ll be sure to search for the new home for your writings, Sajeev. Best of luck in the future!
I’d rather be a Buick Century, but hey, that’s was one helluva compliment. Thanks gtem and Mr. C5 :-)
Love the Brown Victoria…
The Continental needs a Continental Kit, just for giggles.
“Love the Brown Victoria…”
Heh Heh. I saw that and reflexively checked the speedometer…..and I’m not in my car! Freud would have something uncomplimentary to say about that.
It also needs swangas and vogues, but I probably would never have the nerve to do it.
Good luck, Sajeev, I really enjoyed your articles and your style, you’ll be missed :(
Thank you very much, Lie2me
You are a valuable contributor. Always enjoyed your articles and the term “News You Can Use” comes to mind. Lots of documented facts, proven ability and a pinch of attitude to keep it fresh. I’m looking forward to that winning combination at your next gig. Onward and Upward!
This is what I wanted to hear from the B&B…thank you so much!!!!
Sajeev, thank you for the education/inspiration and best wishes to you.
Glad it resonated with you, thank you very much!
Thank you Sajeev.
Your accessiblity was always appreciated. I am grateful you put a bug in (Ed) Niedermeyer’s ear to publish my little paean to the Panther on the last day of assembly back in 2011 (2011! Yikes).
Your passion was always in great evidence. You taught us all way more hip-hop slang than we could ever hope to repay in dad jokes.
As a fellow lifer, I wish you au revoir but not adieu.
Ryan Paradis
Thank YOU for being such a valuable member of the B&B all these years!
We’ll miss you Sajeev and of course your evil twin Sanjeev too. May the Panther Love be with you.
I won’t miss Sanjeev ;-)
It is worth logging in to say, thanks Sajeev. It has been good to follow you here. I hope you bump into David Tracy in your travels.
Yeah he seems like a cool dude…maybe one day I will!
Thank you!
I blame your writing for my long-dormant but now rekindled Panther love. Fair winds, m’man.
I have done good then, thank you!
“Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” — Bruce Banner
But with the Incredible Sajeev, we liked! Happy trails!
I doubt I could even hulk! But thank you very much!
Thank you, Sajeev. And as I routinely maneuver the streets of H-town, whenever I notice a panther, I always think – that might be Sajeev!
That is an honor that I cannot take lightly!!!
Damn. The end of an era! Since 2011 I’ve been coming here and your VV series has always been a favorite. Sorry to see you leave but I’m sure I’ll find you out on the web. Best of luck!
It’s great to hear that VV brought you here. Thank you for your kind words!
Hi sajeev I wanted to thank you for all your awesome articles over the years. For sure my favorite automotive journalist! Its cool to see someone with the same irrational love of Mark VIIIs too.Best of luck with everything in the future.
Thank you James, long live the Mark VIII :-)
Best of luck!
Thank you Pete!
Sajeev best of luck with your new career and with your health. Hope to be able to read more of your musings in the future.
And maybe one day I will be lucky enough to get my Resto-Mod Mark IV and drive it down to Texas to show off.
I hope you do that one day, I will fire up our Mark IV and meet you :)
Blue Oval News – I used to be a steady reader of that site. Are they still around?
I have often wondered what truth about cars was being posted. There is precious little in actual factual content here to be honest. It is nice to dip in here for a quick visit, but honestly there are amateur youtube channels that give me more meat and substance than here – often news is late here. To me the best thing here was the junkyard photos and words. But that was diluted and even the rancid autoblog has it.
I am glad someone appreciates panthers. But I’m not taking the time to google someone to find where he has now gone.
there’s always that one guy.
And they _never_ ken “irony” .
=8-) .
-Nate