2018 – My Year on Insta

Click through to see them all!

January 2018

February 2018

Attending a car show
Reviewing a bunch of new SUVs
Reenacting ‘Gold’ with a terrible dance for my VW Arteon review
Honda Accord launch
Radio show with James Piecowye on Dubai Eye – in our sixth year of weekly CarTalk
Reviewing a Focus RS in the rain
Pretending to be a young car ‘Influencer’
Finding a Beat
Green Audi RS5 turning me into the Hulk

March 2018

Hosting a live show at Volkswagen Club event at Dubai Autodrome
Running a ‘worst customer ever’ scenario workshop with Honda sales staff
Live broadcasts from Al Tayer Pre-Owned Sale
More family time in the UK
Finding old cars in the UAE – see vid on YouTube.com/MotoringMiddleEast
Driving the Range Rover PHEV through water and Sport SVR on track at speed
Living out my ‘Brown Bond’ fantasies whilst testing the awesome Aston Martin DB11

April 2018

Start filming for new Autocrats car show on FOX MENA region TV to be broadcast in 28 countries on 6 channels with over 200 showings per episode! Fame beckons? LOL!
Remembering Dad
Mum’s Birthday
Spending time with my son Junaid in Dubai
More radio shows
Promotional/Instructional video I filmed for Abu Dhabi fuel stations Adnoc goes live, my 80s-style suit gets another outing on video – LOL.
First drive of an electric car over a long distance – impressed with the Chevrolet Bolt
Drag racing BMWs at Yas Marina Circuit
Emirates Custom Car Show in Abu Dhabi
More car reviews including all-new Ferrari Portofino

May 2018

June 2018

After six years, the last ever CarTalk on Dubai Eye radio
Hanging out with my dear childhood friend Kalpesh visiting Dubai
Got the manual 5.0 Mustang back for Motoring Middle East review – loved this car, would have one.
First episode of Autocrats goes on air – thanks for all the great feedback!

July 2018

August 2018

Holiday? What Holiday? Doing a bunch of car reviews in the UK
Autocrats have cloned me for Land Rover Review – can you handle five of me? LOL!
Fun in sun with fam during a fantastically warm summer in London

September 2018

Back to work
Guests on morning show on new Sharjah Talk Radio Channel Pulse 95
Volkswagen Teramont launch event in Oman
Lotus showroom opening – I’m in heaven!
House of Avalon event
Visiting a haunted house in Ras Al Khaimah in a Bentley
Fell in love with the all-new Bentley Continental GT – what a wonderful machine!
Running a long-term E-Pace

October 2018

Fantastic UK tour with Jaguar-Land Rover, visiting factories, driving off-road and checking out Classic Works – my favourite part of the trip.
I visited Shakespeare’s place but he wasn’t in!
I believe in Innovation
Awesome Aston Martin drive at Jebel Hafeet, super impressed with Aston Martin DBS, finally fell in love with the new Vantage
Covered Jaguar-Land Rover live event at the Dubai Autodrome
Blown away by a drive of the amazing Project 8 Jaguar XE SV
Filmed a couple of Mercs for a promotional film – that Maybach is sublime!
Virtually worthy enough to wield Excalibur sword – you’ll have to see Avalon review to figure out why!

November 2018

Filming the new G-Wagon for Autocrats – interior is a massive leap forward!
Kicking off podcast version of CarTalk to replace the radio show with James Piecowye
First ever visit to Yas Marina circuit during F1 weekend, thanks to Aston Martin
Got a selfie with Sir Jackie Stewart – Legend!
Attended launch of Milan Red concept car at Deals on Wheels – the name of the car is related to a bird of prey, hence I’m holding a falcon with DoW owner!
Some of my most popular posts this year have been ThrowBackThursdays and FlashBackFridays, with occasional stories on this blog to go with them. Search #SSMemoirs to see them

Reviewing the new Ram, Haval H6 and VW Touareg
Podcasting with James Piecowye
Meeting Normando the Magician
Reviewing three Audis – including my last review for Motoring Middle East, the Q8
Yep, you read that right – leaving Motoring Middle East
Farewell everyone, at Cafe Rider
See off at the airport – a new adventure awaits in the New Year!

Published by Shahzad Sheikh