Category Archives: Auto Racing

The Non-Mechincal Hurdles of Restoring and Modifying Cars

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So restoring or modifying a car will have hurdles, no way around it; face ’em and deal with ’em.  I think one could list them for days and still not cover them all.  But let me cover the psychological ones that I’ve encountered. (Besides the dual persona necessary to own and own up to owning a Ford and a Chevy….oh, don’t worry, you read the multiples talk to one other…right?…whatever you say….Yes, they won’t have to read that again…we promise.)

Again, I’m sure there are many, but one by one, I’ll list mine and discuss.  It’ll be good for us…I mean..me!!!

Most of these stem from always longing for that special car and then finally getting one.  Now, if you pick up a “project” car, then chances are you aren’t going to get where I am until at least you have it running, driven it around a while, and developed that special bond.  You know the bond I’m talking about, where you’ll do anything to spend time with it.   Like, take the long way to work even though you might be a couple of minutes late or the “Sure honey, I don’t mind running to the store for you for the 14th time today.  ” I don’t mind missing a little of the game.”    That bond.

I bought both of my cars in very good to excellent condition.  The Mustang was my almost daily driver, even when it was just a 6 banger, and the Vette replaced my Celica as the daily driver..by design.  So, I developed the bond pretty quickly.

This bond drives “fear”,  yes, I said it…”FEAR”.  Fear that something might happen to the car, a crazy fellow driver, a knucklehead in a parking lot, the old guy that leaves his shopping cart in the parking spot next to you on a windy day.  All truly horrible, truly.

But there is one thing worse: breaking the beloved thing yourself.  It’s like accidentally stepping on your pet’s paw or knocking your child down while playing basketball.  It can actually make you feel ill…right?  Are you all following me?  CAN YOU DIG IT? (from the movie Warriors).

Remember, I’m the Average Guy. I have a basic skill set; you won’t find me (Yet) pulling the tearing down an entire working engine.  At least not alone and even then with much trepidation.  I can’t image being deprived of driving my dream due to circumstances within my control; that’s just NUTS!!!!!

If you are on a limited budget, this multiplies the fear 120 fold…AT LEAST.  You break it….you have to wait to get it fixed.  Then your significant other is going to AT LEAST mention how much it might cost (over and over and over). “The commentary in this blog relates to a fictitious individual; any similarities or assumed similarities that might point to an actual person are merely coincidental and not intended to be projected onto my very understanding spouse.”  (Love you..Honey!!!)   (pst..how was that…pretty good, huh?..Yeah, that should cover my butt…JUST fine.  Of course we have a very nice couch!!!)

OK..enough therapy  for today ..more tomorrow.

Thanks for  reading.

Tim

The Family and the Cars

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So I’ve “blogged ya” some history, now it’s time for some current stuff.  Of course my Dad is a car guy and my brother is pretty handy with a set of wrenches, but 24.2 years ago I married into a family that pretty much made most of the car guys I had known in my adult life (ok the adult part is debatable) mere tinkerers.

I have three brother-in-laws that were raised in the car business and not just a little bit of a car business, but a full-blown mechanic shop, engine building, stock car sponsoring, car show restoration, towing type business.  These guys knew more about cars by the time they were teenagers, then I did when I was 30 (yeah..I’m over thirty..and not just a little).  This guys know their stuff.  I now have nephews (their kids) that are even giving me a run for my money.

So I’ve set this up, pretty well, and keep it in mind because when I get to the physiological hurdles of restoring a car, you are going to understand my particular issue and you might relate.

(I seem to start a lot of sentences with the word “So”.  So I’ll try to limit the use of it.  You might also notice that I use ‘…..’ between words.  I do that for to give emphasis on a larger more dramatic pause the you get from the run of a mill comma. Nope not grammatically correct…but a habit I might break….if I get enough comments about it from the readers of this blog.)

So here is a quick introduction to my cars.

1.  1970 Ford Mustang Coupe.  I’ve owned it for approximately 4 years and I love it.  This is my first real restoration.

2. 1984 C4 Corvette. First year for that generation, everything is unique.  Although not my dream generation of corvettes, I love this car.  Ever since my uncle put me in his Corvette, I’ve wanted one.  When I joined the Air Force my goal was to finish up by second degree become an officer and by a Corvette.

Ok enough for this evening.  Tomorrow I’ll give you the run down on each.  I have a great story on how I got the Corvette.

Thanks for reading.

Tim