Born in the Netherlands (Europe) in 1980, my parents hoped i’d listen to the name: Maarten. 😯
Luckily for them i do… or sometimes at least…
I have been educated as a car mechanic, but the road called me and i became a courier.
There is just something about operating a vehicle (controle issues maybe…) that just tickles my fancy. 🥰
From there on i evolved, getting my motorcycle and truck licenses.
By now i must have driven close to 2 million kilometers on the European roads, and i loved almost every second of it.
In 2005 i had an argument with the side of a van, with my motorcycle, t-bone style.
The van won that day and it broke more than just my ego.😢
Police said there was a firm dent in the shape of my hand in the side of the van, with each finger clearly visible.
Just to give you an idea of the high force trauma my body endured…
So yeah, lovely stuff.
Back living with my parents because of 2 broken arms and more than a year of rehabilitation in total, but i got there!
I’ve managed to become a driving instructor for 2 years.
Then back on the big rigs for another 10, until in 2018 i just couldn’t function without horrible pain in my right shoulder.
The surgeons, bless them, had kept it going all those years with a couple of major surgery’s, but now there was just one option left, a titanium balljoint!💪
This is when i decided to trade in our “06, v50 2.0 diesel with a 6 speed manual for an automatic on gasoline.
And i treated myself because i knew i needed it, and my wife agreed…
O yeah, i have a wife and 2 teenage boys, almost forgot to mention them.😁
We “needed” a wagon, it needs to have side curtain airbags for the family, and i need to be able to tinker on it.
It became an “00, V70T5, 2.3 l, 250 ponies, geartronic, well endowed in options, bone stock, with a whole lot of experience. 
The surgeons once again did their magic and i pushed myself for a year.
Getting back strength and almost full range of motion.
Sadly the pain still remained and at 38 my working days were over.
Now 7 years later i can be without pain!!!
If i become a couch patato that is, but i can manage the pain better now.
Over the years i have done a ton of work on my wolf in sheep’s clothing.
She purrs like a kitten now and has had a lot of upgrades.
All of this is done outside, supported by my 2.5m x 3m workshop, as we can’t afford a garage.
Along side all of this, i’m also blessed with a sleeping disorder and chronic depression. Life is a party!🥳
I have already seen some car porn here on Swedespeed and love to see that there is so much passion out there.
A couple of pics of my ride to end my monologue and i can’t wait to introduce her properly to you kind folks out there.
Big hug, Maarten
