Compilation of my monthly snapshots of 2018 on Instagram (@ShahzadSheikh ‘BrownCarGuy’)
Click through to see them all!
January 2018
- Helicopter ride with Infiniti to review the new QX80
- Press trip with Jaguar – and one scary flight – to drive new E-Pace
- Meeting up with old buddy and legend in automotive journalism, James Ruppert
- Filming two hilarious videos for Honda with the Jazz
- Brief stop at the Eiffel
- Hanging out with the family and dear friends in London
- Updating my UK driving licence to a modern photo ID at last
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
- More radio
- More episodes for Autocrats in the can
- EmCee for a paints event
- Driving the mighty Corvette ZR1 on track
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
- Filming for Autocrats in over 50 degrees C!
- Jeep Wrangler international launch in Austria
- Cloned myself for Camry hybrid review
- Do a bunch of terrible accents for Hyundai Accent review of course
- Kick off summer in the UK with family
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!
