A little more about Richard Jarocki
If you’re here to learn about Richard Jarocki, start with food, cars, and a fairly detailed plan for the next trip.
I’m Richard. I live in New York, work in automotive finance, and spend a lot of my time outside work thinking about where to go next and what to eat when I get there.
I like cars, watches, clothes, good hotels, and meals that give me something to talk about afterward. I can notice the shoes someone is wearing, the bag they’re carrying, or the pen they’re using. Details catch my attention. That carries over into traveling, too.
I’m the person who will plan a trip around Formula 1 and then put just as much thought into the restaurant reservations. A race weekend can get me on the plane. The rest of the city is usually what keeps me planning.
Twenty-five years in the automotive world
Most of my working life has been in the automotive industry. Over 25 years, I’ve worked my way from entry-level roles into sales, finance, and leadership, with Nissan, Ferrari, BMW, and Ford all part of that story.
Cars have been a genuine interest as well as a career. Alongside that, Formula 1 travel became something much broader: an interest in the places hosting the races and everything happening away from the track.
I still work in automotive finance. RJVIPGP is something I’m building independently alongside that career. I haven’t left my job and become a full-time traveler. This is a part of my life that I’m giving more time and attention because I want to see where it can go.
How I fell in love with travel again
My travel memories go back to childhood trips with my parents, including the Marriott in Marco Island and holidays in Aruba. Hotels were part of the experience from the beginning. I liked being somewhere different, and I liked the feeling of a good place to stay.
Later, after I moved farther from New York City, the W Union Square became a home base for weekends in the city. I would stay there while exploring New York rather than treating the distance as a reason not to go.
Then came the Renaissance in São Paulo. That stay made me fall in love with traveling again. It brought back a passion I wanted to spend more time on.
São Paulo has stayed with me. I return often, and I’m still finding restaurants, hotels, and experiences that make me want another visit. Evvai is my favorite restaurant in the world. Interlagos gives me another reason to be there. But my connection to the city goes well beyond race weekend.
Yes, I like nice things
I do. Clothes, watches, cars, hotels. But I don’t buy something just because it has a recognizable name on it. I care about how it looks, how it feels, and the quality.
My taste tends toward dark colors with bold accents. I like things that feel a little different without trying too hard to be different. I generally avoid wearing lots of logos, although I make an exception for my Psycho Bunny polos. It’s only a little bunny.
The gray suit and MTV shirt in the photo probably explain this better than another paragraph would.
That same preference shows up in travel. I’m happy to spend more for something I genuinely enjoy. The price or reputation alone doesn’t convince me. I still want to come away feeling good about the choice.
Food gives me a reason to stay curious
I love a good meal, especially when I can see the care behind it. Sitting at a chef’s counter is one of my favorite ways to eat. I get to watch what’s happening, ask questions, and understand a little more about what’s in front of me.
Sushi by Sea in New Jersey is a good example. I don’t normally like salmon, but Chef C’s seared miso salmon became one of my favorite courses. The eel brought back memories of a dish I loved at Maido in Lima. Then I found out Chef C was from São Paulo and had worked at Maido. Suddenly a dinner close to home connected with two places I’d traveled.
That is the part I enjoy talking about. Of course the food matters. So do the conversation, the surprise of liking something I usually wouldn’t order, and the people doing the work.
I’m still learning. Living near Dassai Blue has made me more interested in sake and more confident choosing it with sushi. I don’t need to know everything before I enjoy something. I like having another question to ask.
A race is a very good excuse for a trip
Formula 1 brings together my interest in cars and travel. I love having a race to look forward to, but I don’t want the entire trip to begin and end at the circuit.
Barcelona means racing, but also restaurants, the Sagrada Família, and time spent exploring the city. São Paulo means Interlagos, but also meals and hotels I look forward to returning to.
The practical side comes with it. I’ve experienced rain at Interlagos and sat in race traffic even with a private driver. Those details become part of the story, too. A good trip can have an incredible meal and a frustrating journey back to the hotel. Both things can be true. Some of those lessons made their way into my guide to choosing Formula 1 grandstand seats.
What I’m building now
RJVIPGP gives me somewhere to put all of this: the trips, the food, the cars, the photographs, and the opinions that come with them.
I want travel and storytelling to become a bigger part of my life. I’m working toward that while continuing the career I’ve spent years building. There’s plenty I’m still figuring out, and I’m comfortable saying that.
For now, I’m going places that interest me, paying attention, learning as I go, and writing about what actually happened. Sometimes it’s a remarkable dinner. Sometimes it’s a small detail that makes me want to return.
And sometimes I like an experience enough that the next thing I want to do is share it with someone else.
Completely Unnecessary. Absolutely Worth It.