Top 10 Rainy Day Activities for Car Geeks
If you’re a true gearhead, you view the weekend as a prime time for attending car shows, going on joy rides, or working on your car in the driveway. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always cooperate. Gusting winds and deluges of rain might thwart your tinkering or cruising plans. You might even be tempted to just sit around and mope.
There are so many creative ways to stay sane and feed your passion despite inclement weather. Consider any of these top 10 rainy day activities next time Mother Nature dampens your spirit.
Munch on popcorn and watch your favorite car movie or show
The sky’s the limit with such a variety of great car movies out there: The Fast and the Furious, Drive, Ford v. Ferrari, Mad Max, and Back to the Future, just to name a few. Re-watch an old favorite like Bullit, Le Mans, The Love Bug. Or, discover something new, like one of these foreign films. Crank the volume up so you can hear the rumble of the engines in glorious surround sound.
See what’s brewing on your favorite motorsport show or start watching a new one. There are countless car-themed TV shows on cable channels like the Discovery Channel and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Rewatching classic episodes of Top Gear is never a bad way to spend your time!
Play a racing board game with your family
There are many excellent board games out there to appeal to gearheads like you. Whether you want something thinky and challenging or something quick and exciting, you’re sure to find a game you’ll enjoy playing with your family. Buy one from your local game store if you don’t already own one (they’ll appreciate your business!). If you’re looking for recommendations, here are my top suggestions.
Watch DIY car fix-it videos to learn something new
Improve your auto knowledge and fix-it finesse by browsing online DIY videos (like the ones made by The News Wheel). Whether it’s changing the engine air filter or fixing squeaky brakes, you can get a refresher on the basics or learn something new.
Feed your brain with books on car history
Rainy days are perfect for reading a new book about hot rod culture or your favorite motorsports team. We have a library of recommendations if you’re looking for a page-turner on car history.
Clean out your garage
Don’t waste this bad weather sitting on the couch. Use the time to clean out and reorganize your garage. Clear the clutter from your workspace, reorganize your toolbox, sweep up the debris, and scrub the floor. It’s probably been a long time since you gave this space the attention it needed.
Shop online for car parts or tools
Search online for those parts or tools you’ve been meaning to buy for the past couple of weeks and keep forgetting. Amazon, Mac Tools, Snap-on, and Tool Source are a few of the best resources out there. If you want to accessorize your car with some convenient accessories, now is the time!
Organize your car memorabilia
You know that box in the back of your closet overflowing with random racing souvenirs? A rainy day is a great time to sort through your car memorabilia, get rid of unwanted items, and decorate a corner of your room with auto-themed treasures. Make a scrapbook of document clippings and old Polaroids of your very first car.
Invite your car buddies over for racing video games
Text your friends, set up some chairs in your living room, and call for some food delivery. Despite the wet whirlwind going on outside, you can still have a fun afternoon playing Forza Horizon and enjoying some car talk.
Edit and upload pictures from your latest car event
Some weekends, you might be so busy attending car cruises and car shows that you forget to share the great photos you took. Rainy days provide the perfect opportunity for editing and uploading your latest car shots to Facebook or Instagram. You can even have a car TV show on in the background!
Put together a new playlist to listen to in the car
When was the last time you had a fresh playlist to listen to while commuting in your car? Put together a new Spotify playlist of your favorite band’s hits or racing-inspired soundtracks. Good music can elevate any drive!
Don’t waste this rainy day browsing through social media or dreaming about what you could be doing if the sun were out. There are many ways you can still make this day productive.
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.