Leonid Golovanov - Deputy Editor-in-Chief and columnist for Autoreview. This publication has retained the name "newspaper", although it has long been in the format of a full-fledged magazine, which is published both in paper and in electronic form. In addition, Leonid leads auto news columns on Mayak and Vesti FM radios. Multiple winner of the "Best Journalist of the Year" award in various categories.
Start
The biography of Leonid Golovanov is closely connected with his current profession as an automotive journalist. His path to journalism was not entirely ordinary. But, as they say, we all come from childhood. In his infrequent interviews, he says that as a child he loved to read, especially science fiction. He also liked cars. These childhood preferences began to appear much later, after the end of MIREA.
It was a time of perestroika, and survival at that time largely depended on the ability to sell. However, such a prospect did not suit Leonid in any way, whichseriously clouded his thoughts about his future. Then, on the advice of friends, Leonid Golovanov turned to the editorial office of Autoreview with a proposal of "hands and hearts".
Mikhail Podorozhansky, editor-in-chief of the magazine since its foundation, accepted him after a short test task. And since 1995 they have been together, as they say, "both in sorrow and in joy."
Leonid Golovanov - journalist
As a journalist, Leonid Golovanov was able to fully express himself in his favorite automotive topics. Trying to penetrate into the essence, finding the highlight of the next car model, he was able to realize his desire for the most complete knowledge of what you do. Ultimately, the pursuit of truth.
In his reviews, he quite manages to work, balancing on the verge, as he himself puts it, of two worlds: technology and literature. In this, he is helped by solid engineering training on the one hand, and a fairly deep knowledge of the laws of the literary genre, on the other.
Sometimes, however, his journalistic digressions are quite controversial. There was a case when the author inadvertently spoke about the plans of Napoleon during the war of 1812, which, if he won, could hasten the abolition of serfdom in Russia (“AR” No. 3, 2011). To which the vigilant reader immediately reacted, recalling the similar reasoning of Smerdyakov from Dostoevsky's famous novel.
Oh, this "Oka"
For the Russian auto industry, the Autoreview team has always been offended: this is a sore subject, and prevention is no longer enough. But sick timefrom time to time they let him out for a walk to watch his attempts to adapt to the swiftness of life. Golovanov manages to turn such a walk into an exciting thriller.
For example, in 2003, he got behind the wheel of the Oka in order to experience the features of its operation and try to find advantages in this economical model, which he immediately dubbed a “tin can”, inside which you feel like a canned sprat.
However, having set himself the task of revealing the advantages of a miniature car, Leonid fulfilled it to the fullest, overtaking heavier specimens on turns and leaking between them at traffic lights.
Leonid Golovanov described all this in an exciting way in his report. The author's photo can also be seen on the pages of the review ("AR" No. 3, 2003).
Crash test
The meeting of two people, which implies a long family life, is, in a certain sense, a real crash test, albeit a stretched one.
But if a simulator (a special aluminum barrier) is used when testing the impact resistance of cars, then a married couple passes the test live, often failing to withstand such a confrontation and breaking up.
Leonid Golovanov and Irina Bogushevskaya were inexorably led by fate to the meeting point, where she was preparing a springboard for them to test.
And yet it didn't work out
From media sources it is known that at the age of 27, Irina was having a hard time parting with her first husband Alexei Kortnev. She even got into a car accident, getting a seriousfracture of the right hand. At this time, her career as a singer was just beginning, and due to an accident, she almost ended.
At 27, Leonid Golovanov was also busy determining his life path, concentrating all his attention on journalism. It was a serious choice that changed his entire subsequent life. In addition, he, like Irina, was not happy in his first marriage.
And in 1999, their life lines crossed to define their joint existence for as much as 12 years. Irina said more than once, talking about personal things, that from the very beginning they felt mutual sympathy, which they continued to feel throughout their life together. In addition, both he and she were successful in their profession. In many ways, their potential was the same.
But still they had to part. According to Irina, it was precisely because of their equality in creativity: everyone in the first place still had a business, and only then - a family.
First hand
Leonid Golovanov and Bogushevskaya raised two sons together, one of whom was from her first marriage. Nevertheless, the couple tried not to distinguish between them, and it seems that they quite succeeded. Leonid constantly went on car "test drives" and often took the eldest, Artemy, with him. Sometimes Irina was also taken.
So she has seen her husband "in action" and knows the intricacies of his profession firsthand. According to her, Golovanov is literally “obsessed” with cars and can talk about them for hours. Even if you wake him up at night, he will be able to answer anya question regarding those or qualities of a variety of cars "of all times and peoples." In his profession, he managed to maximize his abilities.
Besides the fact that he is a great racer, Leonid Golovanov is a journalist "from God" and an expert in auto business, like many of his colleagues in "Autoreview", who are fanatically devoted to their work. Irina was always surprised by his combination of technical inclinations with the ability to vividly express his thoughts both orally and in writing. Thanks to this, it was always easy to communicate with him on a variety of topics. However, after parting, they remained good friends, especially since they still have something to talk about - after all, they have a son, Daniel.
Even if Golovanov writes a long article in Autoreview, it is perceived by readers as an invitation to a conversation. And often the dialogue continues on the pages of the magazine until a full understanding of the issues raised. Readers note the unique style of the author, as well as his ability to subtly feel cars. Even more impressive is his communication with Mayak listeners on a wide variety of topics related to cars. It looks like he actually knows everything about them!
