I think if the lyrics are wrong as in my other post and it is talking about "me and my partners son, we built her straight out of scratch", then the "little girl" he drove that little girl away" from her old boyfriend at a time that she was excited by drag racing. So it's not Sonny that that's the girlfriend cos the next line says "he". So he does racing to get away from the everyday boredom of his life. She used to enjoy it but she just sit around being miserable on her own now, while her son from the previous partner goes out with her partner drag racing. That's why she asks if he is alright. Why would the car need the sins washed of its "hands". It must not be the car and cars don't get wrinkles. The song is more about how couples go through periods of not relating to each other anymore when the once common bonds and activities that drew them together are not enjoyed together. She once thrived on being at the drags and perhaps this was shallow to go out with guys with the best cars etc. So she had no true basis for her own identity to feel young and vibrant again, especially with her meaningless relationship, evident when she took off from the Camaro guy just cos another guy had a faster car. So he is trying to excite the woman again by involving her in what they both enjoy doing to escape their crappy daily lives. Originally I thought they committed suicide together by driving into the sea, but now I think it makes more sense that he is rescuing his girlfriend from despair and rekindling her interest in racing and driving with him. It is summer after all, so the reference to "sins" could mean they want to wash away all the things they have done wrong to each other in the relationship, like neglect each other and therefore find happiness again. I don't see it as an obsession, but a lifestyle. She was lonely on her own, that's why she was at her dad's house. He is rescuing her from "giving up living". It basically depicts everyday life as being shit. Which I agree.
I think if the lyrics are wrong as in my other post and it is talking about "me and my partners son, we built her straight out of scratch", then the "little girl" he drove that little girl away" from her old boyfriend at a time that she was excited by drag racing. So it's not Sonny that that's the girlfriend cos the next line says "he". So he does racing to get away from the everyday boredom of his life. She used to enjoy it but she just sit around being miserable on her own now, while her son from the previous partner goes out with her partner drag racing. That's why she asks if he is alright. Why would the car need the sins washed of its "hands". It must not be the car and cars don't get wrinkles. The song is more about how couples go through periods of not relating to each other anymore when the once common bonds and activities that drew them together are not enjoyed together. She once thrived on being at the drags and perhaps this was shallow to go out with guys with the best cars etc. So she had no true basis for her own identity to feel young and vibrant again, especially with her meaningless relationship, evident when she took off from the Camaro guy just cos another guy had a faster car. So he is trying to excite the woman again by involving her in what they both enjoy doing to escape their crappy daily lives. Originally I thought they committed suicide together by driving into the sea, but now I think it makes more sense that he is rescuing his girlfriend from despair and rekindling her interest in racing and driving with him. It is summer after all, so the reference to "sins" could mean they want to wash away all the things they have done wrong to each other in the relationship, like neglect each other and therefore find happiness again. I don't see it as an obsession, but a lifestyle. She was lonely on her own, that's why she was at her dad's house. He is rescuing her from "giving up living". It basically depicts everyday life as being shit. Which I agree.