Lately, I've found my mind wandering a little "left of field". I've been giving thought to HDT. That's nothing new. But this time, I've found myself staring at these three letters and wondering about something different.

Who is HDT? What motivates so many of us to want to be a part of her life. Why have elite sportsmen found themselves desperate to have their name on the window of her race cars? What drives her special vehicle division to go back to the drawing board time & time again, working to get it right? What about her vehicle owners? What makes them dig deep and work so hard at being able to afford to own one?
What makes us seek to earn her respect? What makes her ticK?

If you take a really brief look at her, almost 43 year old life, you begin to see that there have been many challenges and changes. Every one of those challenges have tested the people in her life. There has been one constant though……..her own personality.
She's not easy to get to know. She won't easily give her respect or affection. She won't embrace you as a member of her team, without first making you prove your worth.

Take a glance at her history. Where race crews have been pushed well beyond their capabilities. No win was ever handed to them. The work that went into developing and producing some of their greatest wins pushed every person in the team to exhaustion and beyond. Just when they felt they had given all they could, she'd throw them a curve ball and they would all have to pull together, dig even deeper to find the strength to achieve the desired result. They proved to her, on many occasions, they could do it and she rewarded them with victories and accolades.
Then there's her Special Vehicle division. What sort of characteristics were needed to put that together? Both yesterday and today, I find similarities. There was and still is the need for passionate people. The type who never give up. People who wake in the middle of the night with a brain wave idea or a solution on how to get that body component just so. They must be driven, strong and incredibly hardworking. There's the design team, merchandise managers, mechanics, marketing, painters and the list goes on. She continues to ensure it takes a massive team effort to produce anything that is worthy of her insignia.

At various times, throughout her life, she's tested her people's loyalty. There has been a fair amount of controversy. Controversy and loyalty go hand in hand. She's asked many, "How far are you prepared to go to stand by me?". Many were and still are prepared to stand by her no matter what. Even if they must stand alone.

My experience with her vehicle owners never ceases to amaze me. They are a breed unto themselves. Their vehicles become an extension of them. They treat them like their children, often better! They are an inclusive bunch, each eager to make a fellow owner their next best friend. It always brings a shiver up my spine when my eyes are treated to a great line of her vehicles, side by side, in model and colour order. This display and how they patiently put it together, reflects their pride. I love to watch a brand new owner arrive. The shock on their face makes me smile as I watch them quickly welcomed and embraced like a long lost family member and they soon realise this is where they belong. One by one, passionate, hardworking and loyal people always seem to find each other. They band together, support one another, enjoy the greatest of experiences and ride the lows united.

She's a very clever lady HDT. She pushes us all to be the very best we can be and before we even realise it, she's made us better people and added you to her family. Just maybe that's the motivation we all share. Nothing worthwhile in life is ever easy. To be part of her team she challenges us to give our all. From the managers at her helm, to the small child pulling on a Blue Meanie T-shirt and everyone in between.

We are her team.

Agent 05