Instagram: @the_radonculous
ABOUT THE DRIVER
Vivek Patel is a South Florida local, born and raised in the city of Plantation. He graduated high school from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, and went on to do his undergrad, medical school and residency at the University of Miami. Patel graduated from UM in 2012 and is a practicing radiation oncologist working in Fort Lauderdale. Aside from his medical career, Patel is a big music lover, for he enjoys creating music and has played the guitar for a few years. When the scrubs come off, Patel attends automotive events, indulging in his love for cars and keeping an eye out for new additions to his diverse collection.
Q & A
Q: How many years have you've been driving/riding?
A: I wasn’t necessarily driving, but I remember being behind the wheel as of a pretty earlier age. My dad used to let me sit on his lap while he was driving, and would put my hands along his on the steering wheel to give off the effect as if I was actually steering the wheel. I loved the feel of driving and my dad used to make deals with me as a child, that if I did well in school, he would take me to play go-cart at Grand Prix Race-o-Rama in Dania Beach. Coincidentally, there in the arcade, my favorite game to play was Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed.
Q: How many years have you’ve been driving Porsche?
A: I think It was in the mid 90’s when I first actually got to sit in a Porsche. It was a 964 and it belonged to one of my father’s friends. I already was fascinated by the shape of sports cars like Ferrari, so when I saw the Porsche, it got me interested. My first very own Porsche that I bought was a 2013 Porsche Boxster. In 2016, I found out that the first Porsche I sat in, my father’s friend’s 964, was going to auction. It was a silent auction and I didn’t know if the car still worked, but I still won it.
Q: Do you still own the car today?
A: Yeah I do. After I won it, the car stayed in the garage for about a year and a half. I learned to do routine auto maintenance on the car and fixed it up. The 964 is an 1993 RS America, and in a way to commemorate my family’s Indian heritage, I basically turned the car to the Indian flag. On the left side of the car the tires are green, and on the right they are orange, and along the top of the car, there is a green and an orange line. The car is now known as RS India. The car has been featured in Porsche India and was also signed by Magnus Walker.
The RS India
The RS India is just one of many in Patel’s assorted collection of cars. For daily use, Patel unplugs the charge and takes out his Model X Tesla. Patel describes the Tesla as being “so unique and easy to drive”, perfect for a day on the go. Adding to the eclectic collection, is his wife's Ford Raptor, which they use for off-roading, and his Mazda Miata, the car that with every ride promises a "pure driving experience".
Patel's assembly of cars does not end there, and neither does his love for Porsche. Patel owns an orange 911GT3 RS, for which he takes out when in need for a "fun and fast" drive, living out his childhood game Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed in real-life. Along with the GT3, Patel is the owner of an electric green 718 Cayman GTS, for which he tracks on the regular at Homestead Miami Speedway and occasionally at Sebring International Raceway. To add to his Porsche collection, Patel also owns a Porsche Boxster S, nice for a drive on a sunny day with the top down.
