Tanner Foust’s mission to keep driving fun: Motoramic Experts

Racer, stunt driver and "Top Gear" host Tanner Foust has spent his adult life behind the wheel, in front of a camera or both. Between his Global Rallycross racing and the launch of the third season of Top Gear this Tuesday, Foust spent some time talking to us about America's supposedly declining interest in driving and what he's doing to fix it. — Ed.

When I grew up, your 16^th birthday was a sacred day, the day you got your license. The most important class in high school was driver’s education, and getting that out of the way was the most important thing you could do before you turned 16. But getting one’s driver’s license is not the most important thing for a 16-year-old anymore.

And that's a phenomenon that scares me.

I read somewhere that when 16-year-olds were polled, getting a license wasn't their most important priority. I don’t’ remember what else was on the list, but it was probably getting a smart phone and upgrading some sort of electronics. Kids don’t need to drive to hang out with each other anymore. You don’t need to drive to someone’s house. You meet online. So the social aspect of being 16 is now virtual. It’s scary stuff.

But I’m on a mission to keep driving fun.

I think when people are good at something, and they take pride in their skill, it’s more fun. Like if you’re a good skier, you enjoy skiing more. I think if kids who are preparing to get their driver’s license can develop skill as they do, and take pride in their skill and in the craft of driving, it can be so much more fun.

The Motoramic Experts series features insights from some of the most talented people in the automotive realm.