Peter Nelson is a Staff Writer at The Drive. He often finds himself blogging about all-things motorsports and off-roading as he's thoroughly infatuated with having fun behind the wheel. But his automotive enthusiasm is quite expansive and digs just about every corner of the industry.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Interests include BMWs, motorsports, old Land Rovers, do-it-yourself maintenance, track driving, and road cycling
- Enjoys writing about about wide variety of subjects, as well as his experiences behind the wheel and beneath a safely supported project car
- Previous work experience: Winding Road Racing/Winding Road Magazine, a very brief stint in banking, several fulfilling years in non-profit, a short-yet-fun tenure as a Chicago bicycle messenger
EDUCATION
Nelson graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in German and a minor in International Studies.
Words of Wisdom
“I swear, at least 40 percent of the reasoning behind the Discovery badge is because you’re always discovering leaks.”
NOTABLE WORK
- ‘No Man’s Land’ 1987 Movie Review: Watch Charlie Sheen Steal Air-Cooled Porsches in ’80s LAThe Drive
- Trackside: How a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Team Meticulously Preps for a 10-Hour RaceThe Drive
- We Went Deep on the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla at SEMA’s Measuring Session for TunersThe Drive
- I Tinkered With My BMW 128i’s Computer Coding and Didn’t Break ItThe Drive
- Momentum Driving: How to Be One of the Fastest Cars with the Least PowerThe Drive
Get latest from Peter Nelson

How To Use a Spring Compressor
By Andrew P. Collins / Published May 9, 2022

How To Drive Stick Shift
By Peter Nelson / Published May 4, 2022

A Used Mazda RX-8 Could Be a Cheap Project for Daring Mechanics
By Peter Nelson / Published May 4, 2022

How I’d Turn a 1980s Chevy Caprice Into a Tire-Slaying Track Car
By Peter Nelson / Published May 3, 2022

Demystifying the Differential, a Crucial Drivetrain Component
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 28, 2022

I Customized My BMW 128i’s Hidden Convenience Settings Via Its OBDII Port
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 26, 2022

Incredible Honda S2000-Swapped Nissan Figaro Destroyed in Brutal Track Crash
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 25, 2022

New Lincoln Star Concept Shows Electric SUVs Don’t Have to Look Like Blobs
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 20, 2022

The 2.0L 4-Cylinder Toyota Supra Can Still Hold Its Own on the Touge
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 14, 2022

I’m Selling My Track-Day Mazda 2. Here’s How I Got It in Shape for Its New Home
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 14, 2022

Why the Second-Gen Ford Focus Should Be on Your List of Cheap Cool Cars
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 13, 2022

How I’m Setting Up My BMW 128i for the Track
By Peter Nelson / Published Apr 6, 2022