There are always certain people you admire and you think you will never meet. You go on with your life, like they do, until maybe some day your paths cross.
I will share the story of how I went out of my way to meet one of my most admired people alive, Pagani Automobili founder Horacio Pagani, what I expected and how these interactions went.
I also asked you on Bluesky last Monday "What important car related personality have you met and how?" and got several responses I will share as well! Stay to the end for that.
But why would one want to meet these people?
This of course depends on each other's personality and goals.
Maybe you would like a short chat.
Some would like to gift them something.
Others might want a picture, an autograph or something signed.
You might want to tell them how much you appreciate them, or how they impacted your life. This can be in a literal sense or something more abstract, like inspiration.
And some even would like to open some doors for themselves in the future (work-wise or else).
Whatever the reason would be for you, all are valid.
How would one meet such people
This is by no means a "guide" or a "how-to" more than it is a "these are the ways I heard people managed to do it", and a bit of my own experiences as well.
That said, feel free to draw inspiration from these stories and they might help you achieve your goal of meeting your person.
Ways to cross paths
Through work
It depends on what you work with, but sometimes your work helps you meet these people.
I will share more details below, but for example friend of the house Peter Taylor (his name might ring a bell from the 🚗🖌️ Wheel designs. Have you been paying attention? issue) met Bernie Ecclestone (founder of the Formula One Constructors Association) since his company worked with one of Bernie's at one point.
Another example of work helping you with this is Antony Ingram's, whose work as an automotive journalist positions him in some places where a lot of these people are.
I will share these and more examples from readers down below.
Work does not take you where you want to be? Then you have to make the effort. If you want to see Fangio's house and garage, you need to go to Fangio's city, Balcarce.
Through your own efforts
This is my situation. I don't have a line of work that puts me in the same room with these people, so I have to work my own way into meeting them.
Of course, the disclaimer is as follows.