Somehow, this job title makes me think of a bearded old man with only a few grey hairs left on his skull, complaining about his editors, and constantly going on about how good those old days were, and how bad these new days are.

Your favorite car mag is not headed by such an ill-advised person. Don't worry. That's not me. I still have almost all my hair and it's brown. I shaved my ZZ Top-looking beard a few years back and look forward to the nice things the future holds.

How about a little description of myself? Well, to start, I'm the type of guy whose heart pumps synthetic motor oil instead of blood. The gears in my head work well because they are immersed in racing-spec gear oil. And yes, I'd certainly use 104 octane fuel as my favorite eau de toilette, if only the feminine side of the human species wasn't so repulsed by it.

Actually, I do know of an attractive woman who likes the smell of un-burnt racing fuel, but I'll save that story for another time...

Cars? I just dig them. I've raced them, driven them for hours, slept in them, modified them, painted them (even with Tremclad rattle cans on one occasion), abused them, loved them ... And now can't live without them. Even my paycheck has something to do with them!

Before I could talk I was already doing engine noises and pretending I was driving. Before I could read I was already going through my father's car mags. Of course, my favorite toys were cars -- and trucks.

Wrenching on my own cars -- which I have too many of -- is as important to me as those toy poodles are to those snobbish old rich ladies. Not being able to tinker with cars is a misery. And so what if you have to endure grease under the fingernails, or the occasional scraped knuckle?

When I open a hood, I don't want to see a big piece of shiny plastic hiding the engine. I want to see the head and the beauty of the manifold's casting. The Audi RS 4 featured in this issue on page 42 is a perfect example of this: when opening the hood, you actually see the manifold and see the FSI pumps bolted to it. And it is a very nice sight.

See, for me a car is everything but an appliance. It's a concentrate of mechanical knowledge; a clever means of using technology. Yes, to take you from A to B when needed, but also to appeal to the senses.

And I love driving. I've averaged 75,000 kms a year for the last eight years and can't imagine life without those moments behind the wheel.

I'm also that sentimental guy who still owns the underpowered but charming station wagon he used to pass his driving test; a car my dad bought new when I was 16 and that I picked-up when he upgraded to a newer one. And yes, it's still running after 18 years and 463,000 kms. Quality stuff to start with, and proper maintenance are key, even though the car has lived -- and still lives -- a tough life. I call it my loved beater.

I don't understand why Webster's Dictionary doesn't list "car" as a synonym for "passion."

The fascinating thing about cars is the wide variety of ways we appreciate them. Some like them old and original while others live to constantly upgrade and modify. There are groups who see a car only as work of art, or as beautiful technology. Yet there are others who prefer to only race them, or only want to cruise them on balmy summer nights. There is no end to the ways one can enjoy an automobile. Well almost. Have I ever told you about a certain early '90s Corolla, which was "enhanced" with a spoiler made from a surfboard and some angle iron?

I've been around the World of Wheels' office for more than a year now, spending most of my time with its sister publication Canadian AutoWorld. I've been in the publishing industry for the better part of a decade and most of that time with projects about cars. And I just can't imagine my work-life without some sort of car-related aspect to it.

And this brings me to this World of Wheels and the future. New cars are cool and important -- just look at the new Porsche 911 Turbo or that Audi RS 4 -- but expect to see some of the other stuff that is also about the love of cars, like learning to drive properly, interesting old and less-old models, like that very special 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, and profiles on those who helped make the car what it is today. Another cool thing is how Audi races in AMLS using diesel engines.

Cars are a way of life, and a magazine named World of Wheels, with a base of readers so passionate about cars, should reflect the incredibly varied ways the world enjoys them.

There are a few things that have always puzzled me about the car world, and here is one of them: Most people say they want to have a car different than the one their neighbor has, or different than the ones they see daily on the road. Why then, is silver the most popular car color by a wide margin?