The staff here at l’autista are fervent fans of all things motoring. The business was formed in 2006 as a medium to provide freelance automotive journalism, coupled with the original website which contained various other automotive works.

This provided us with the opportunity to establish many contacts in the car industry and our work has appeared in several motoring club journals as well as the American Vintage Racecar magazine. Closer to home, you will see our names as regular contributiors to Australian Classic Car magazine.

2008 has seen the relaunch of our new site www.lautista.com.au , an enhancement of the original web concept designed to showcase our features in an eye catching yet easy to read format.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to make any comments or to discuss any freelance motoring writing/ photographic requirements: info@lautista.com.au

Meet the team:
Adam Davis, Editor-in-Chief
Current drive: 1974 Alfa GT Junior (fitted with 2 litre GTV driveline)
Past drives: Ford XY Fairmont, Ford EB XR8, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
I cannot remember what initially drew me to cars, though stories told of me as a baby being able to sleep only whilst being driven around the city suburbs could probably be the starting point…

As a 6 year old I remember sifting through all kinds of car mags (especially Formula 1 related- it was the height of the turbo era after all!) and Dad telling us stories of his Phase 2 XW GTHO he had back in the day, which all cemented my love for anything interesting on four wheels. Driving has always been a release for me, there is nothing more enjoyable than taking the Alfa for a drive along some scenic, sinuous roads in the mountains. A stint in the classic car market furthered my education as I learned to appreciate diversity, from Ferraris to Minis. Now, along with my fellow autiste I hope to provide a refreshing take on the automotive world around us.

Brendon Freeman, Chief designer and Photographer
Current drive: 1997 Subaru Liberty GX
Past drive: 1995 Subaru Liberty GX (Converted to WRX running gear), 1986 VK Calais, 1985 VK Calais
A VK Calais? Looking back now, I couldn’t think of a worse car for those important early years of driving – it would teach me nothing on how to drive (sensibly). It did however teach me my most important life lesson, bringing my youthful exuberance (i.e. Stupidity) into check and in the process sowed the seeds and fostered my need of traction. The rest is history; it starts with a Subaru Liberty GX and is a long tale of spending too much money with fluctuating interest in cars and motorbikes. Thankfully Adam would say – that interest has swung back to cars (although he knows I still harbour dreams of VK Group A’s and alike – but does not hold that against me) I love modifying cars, I want to scratch build one and I prefer how they look to how they drive.

Daniel Davis, Contributor, Photographer
Current drive: Ford Falcon EL XR6
Past drive: Ford Fairmont XY
The earliest memory I have of motor-sport was watching the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in 1990, where Prost and Senna crashed into one another at the first corner. After this race, I took a keen interest in Formula One and also got into watching world rallying, thanks to the brilliance of the late Colin McRae in the mid 1990’s. After being go-karting for the first time as a child, the feeling that I got from that experience was something that cemented my interest in cars and driving, feeling that driving fast and with style was somewhat of an art. This experience also helped me to understand the bravery and talent showcased by top level drivers, and the respect I have for them.

Greg Zielke, Contributor, Photographer
Current drive: 1997 Toyota MR-2 Bathurst
Past drives: Toyota Corolla, Subaru Legacy RS
For as long as I can remember cars have been a constant source of fascination.
Fortunately I grew up in the 80’s when some of the classic 70’s muscle cars were still getting about in numbers. The tones emanating from these cars are firmly etched in my mind to this day.

Ever since those days anything with a motor and four wheels captures my attention. Apparently I could say the word car before anything else. The interest has moved on from the exterior shapes and now it is focused not just on the sensation of speed and the aroma of sound, it is experiencing the dynamics and the way the car responds to driver input.

After a few years with forced induction with the AWD Subaru, I have decided to go back to a more pure driving experience with the MR2. If I could some it up in two words, those would be…Loving it.
Enjoy the Drive. It is the Journey that counts.

Sheldon McIntosh, Co-Editor
Current drive: 1987 Alfa Romeo 90 Super (x2), Alfa Romeo 33
Past drives: 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1985 Alfa Romeo 90 QO, 1972 Holden Belmont, 1963 Ford Cortina Mk1

The 1982 Monaco Grand Prix was the first Grand Prix to be televised in it’s entirety in NZ. In the days before we had a VHS recorder, it was due to finish at about 8.30am, leaving me about 10 mins to get to school which was a 15 min trip. I had my school bag on, and was literally in a position to run out the door when Alain Prost led with 2 laps to go. Prost in front, 2 laps to go – foregone conclusion, time to go to school, and I started out the door. But then it started to rain…lap 74, Alain Prost led and crashed. On lap 75 Riccardo Patrese led, spun and stalled at Loews. On the last lap, Didier Pironi led into the tunnel and ran out of fuel, Andrea de Cesaris also ran out of fuel before he could take over the lead, and Derek Daly, the next car, had a damaged gearbox which seized up before he could start the final lap. Patrese, who had managed to restart his car by rolling downhill and bump-starting, won the race. Pironi and de Cesaris were classified 2nd and 3rd, with Daly sixth. Look it up on youtube, it’s amazing. And I was late for school.

After this, and with a Father who was keen on cars and motorbikes, I was always going to be a petrolhead. I started with a couple of sedate classics, but then quickly got interested in motorbikes. What can I say, they’re cheap and they’re bloody quick! Eventually I got back into cars, and since I bought my first Alfa Romeo about 5 years ago I have owned Alfa Romeos exclusively. One of my Alfas I now use as an occasional track car, in an attempt to enhance my driving skills in the safest possible place.

I look forward to contributing to l’autista, and helping to spread the love of all things automotive.