Average Guy's Car Restoration, Mods and Racing

Having fun at car shows is easy.  Here’s some tips on enjoying even more.

1.  Talk to the other owners. You’ll learn a lot and make some lasting friends.  Last year I went to a large show with both cars and I spend more time wandering around then I did sitting by my car.  I met a lot of people. Here is Tucson, AZ we get a lot of “snow birds” – people escaping the really cold weather and hanging out down here.  I met a guy from up north w/ a beautiful 1972 Vette.  The following month we accidently met at an all Corvette show in another town. 

2.  Take someone with you.  Since I have two cars, I often get a work mate (someone I can stand for more then 2 hours) or one of my brother-in-laws (yeah from the group of  mechanically talented brother-in-laws) and I even had my neighbor – nice guy, great family drive one to a show. 

3.  Let the kids sit in the car.  This is so cool.  Not to many owners allow this.  But I tell them..it got here with me sitting in it.  !!!Flashback!!!! Remember my story about my uncle letting me sit in his Corvette.  Maybe it’ll spark some interest for another kid. Even better if safety permits I’ll even start the Vette for them.  Big deal you say….yeah..it is the sound is great and the 84 C4 is a graphical/digital display – no gauges.  It’s dark and black before you turn the key and then it lights up and the graphs run up to the max and back. Kids love it. You’d be surprized how many adult will sit in them..and take someone take their photo!!!

4. Participate in the events. Vote if it’s set up for entries to vote.  Have an event at your car.  I once had a company do a waxing demo on my Mustang during a show.  Lots of folks came up to watch.  I actually liked that wax and that’s all I use on  my cars “JAX” is the name they sell under. 

5.  Have a display, I always have magazine about the cars and original advertising brochures.  I have given away some of my son’s Car Art he created. I’ve seen some great ones that fill their car with period correct items like Coke coolers and Drive-Inn food trays or even the old Drive_In movie speakers.  CAUTION SOAPBOX WARNING:  I hate the displays with the dolls leaning up against the cars.  I don’t get it.  You know what I’m talking about they have these dolls face first into the grill or the tire or the trunk lid…ok sorry… END OF SOAPBOX.

Drop me a comment if you have an idea or two, maybe with something you do.

Thanks for reading.  Don’t for get about the Clean/Disaster Garage contest.

I enjoy seeing readers’ cars.  Here is a 1982 Mercury Cougar Stationwagon…..YES!!!  That’s what I said…”They did what????”

Submitted by Steve Sears.

There were 19,254 Cougar wagons built, in GS and Villager trim, in 1982.

The only other year there were Cougar wagons was 1977 when 9,700+ built.

I’d be willing to bet that there isn’t close to 500 remaining.  They were very prone to rust as were all FOX body Fords.  Most never survived in damp ocean air or areas where salt was used on the roads. Mine was originally purchased in the Dallas area and moved to California sometime in 1984.  I bought it 7 years ago. In 1977 the Cougar replaced the Montego.  They built the two and four door models along with the wagon.

In 1982 they replaced the Zephyr.  The body style continued in 1983 as the Marquis, not to be confused with the Grand Marquis which was the Mercury equivalent of the Crown Victoria.  On the Ford side the body style was renamed LTD which replaced the Fairmont. 

Very confusing days for Ford and Mercury.

The engine is the 200 six with a C5 automatic, cruise, tilt, power door locks, p/s,power front disc brakes, a/c that’s not currently working and am/fm stereo with premium speakers I got from a 1984 LTD along with the seats.  I couldn’t take the vinyl seats anymore in the heat we have here. If you like wagons take a look at stationwagonforums.com.  Great site with lots of pictures in the gallery and lots of nice folks.  All station wagon nuts.  My rear end is the 2.73:1 ratio. (Pretty sure Steve means the car’s). Not real peppy off the line but it loves the highway.

<<<I hear ya on the hot weather and vinyl seats.  My Mustang has them and here in Arizona…yea….I get it!!!>>>>>>

Here is a pic of Steve Car at the Fabulous Fords Forever show last year. Thanks Steve…Nice car..love the wagons!!!!

1982 Mercury Cougar Station Wagon

Ok we are on a roll.  First up for the CorD Garage of the week….Steve Sears and I’m thinking he looking for the disaster Garage of the week.  Here is the pic:

Thanks for getting this rolling Steve. 

Remember at the end of the month someone gets a gift card!!!!

And by the way..you’ll be glad I’m not entring….my garage will beat anyones (disaster for sure)

I often get emails from readers of this blog.  Here is  one from Mr. Stephen Sears on car shows.  He emphasizes the social interaction as his main reason for attending and I say “right on”.  Thank you Mr. Sears.  Any one else?  Post the comments or email me.

Stephen P. Sears
Tim, 

....I'd drop you a line or two on car shows.  I have a 1982 Mercury Cougar GS
Station Wagon.  Unrestored and a driver.  I've attended several car shows with
my car and the reaction to it are very polar meaning many just hate it and many
love it.  I mainly go for the interaction with other folks and of course I'm
more interested in looking at the other cars and chatting with the owners.  I
could care less about trophies and awards.  I do get to explain about Cougar
wagons a lot and most have not ever heard of them.  I don't think I'd enter a
show that gives out awards.  It's not my thing nor is my car award worthy.  But,
I liked your comments about the subject. 

I went to the Fabulous Fords Forever show last year and made the mistake of
parking with the other Cougars.  Not one of those folks came over to see.  But
the Fairmont/Zephyr folks gave my Cougar a lot of attention.  I'll be parking
with those folks this year.  My Cougar is a close cousin to those cars. 

Like I said the important thing for me is the interaction with the other owners.
Way too much fun. Not to mention I can get ideas and tips on maintenance and
restoration for free. 

Stephen P. Sears
Ridgecrest, Ca. 

(permission was granted for posting his comments)

2/1/1947 – Kaiser buys Graham_Paige (auto maker from 1928 to 1940’s) – The “Sharknose”

2/2/1899 – Renault incorporates

2/5/1923 – Ethyl gas available for sale

Kaiser buys Graham_Paige and on 2/5/1970 AMC buys Kaiser-Jeep Corp.

2/5/1846  John Dunlop  born in England…Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company.

2/6/1951 – Kaiser Silver Dragon debuts

Events listed on Hemmings Calendars.  www.hemmings.com

We were talking about car shows and that taking them seriously when you’re just a hobbyist is just asking for a let down. We don’t have the funds, time or even space to a lot of the work necessary. 

I’ve taken both my cars to small and large shows.  I love both.  The large ones have so much to do and so many cars to view and owner to talk, you might forget you’ve got your there.  The small ones are great too.  They are usually busy as well.  But have more time to talk those walking by and the guy sitting on other side of you car.

Now if you really want to try for a trophy here a couple hints.  I found this out by accident.  I was merely trying get my cars in the right class for the show and wound up with two trophies in the same show.

Tip 1 – Smaller shows.  Of course that’s just math, the less cars the better odds of winning something. Not only that, the judging isn’t all that “professional”.  Some shows have the contestants vote for the cars they like. 

Tip 2 – Check out the Classes that will be judged.  If your cars aren’t exactly finished, or there’s a couple issues that user will notice look for the under construction Class.  I won two trophies in that class.   Read the class descriptions carefully.  I went to one car show where the class were “Other Sports Cars” and Corvettes from 1962 to present.  ’62 to present covers a LOT of corvettes and there’s no way my C4 will compete with 1967 427  C2…just no chances there.  Because I wanted to park my Corvette and Mustang together, they made me select the “Other Sports Cars” and I didn’t win…but I got a lot of votes (and that was one of the larger car shows in the area).  In a smaller show I entered the Corvette in the C4 class and I picked a show that was for a charity and just by luck there was a huge Corvette Show on the other side of town.  I pick of a trophy there for Best in Class (yes there were other C4’s) but part of it was that they appreciated me bringing the Vette there and forgoing the big show. 

3. Most important tip – Have a good time.

4. Take a friend.  I’ll have a friend drive one of my cars while I take the other.  It just adds to the fun.

I’ll do more later on car show and give you some more ideas for having fun.

Yeah…I know, I’ve been jumping around a lot and I’m going to do it again in this post – and there’s a good change I’ll do it again.  This blog has a main theme, but current cars ‘things’ pop up and I like to get them down before I forget.

I’m taking the Mustang to a car show this weekend.  For many that’s why we restore them..to show them off, right?  And we mod them to show the off too…..just faster!!!!

But if you are an average guy like me, don’t take the shows seriously, we aren’t “professionals”, we aren’t making a living doing this sort of thing.  Sure we don’t mind the praise and mini ego trip when someone likes are car, but you have to have fun!!!

Now, having said that I my two cars have won 3 trophies, the Mustang as won one and the Corvette has won 2….but hold on there’s a catch. Well it’s not really a catch but something that can make it easier to maybe bring home a trophy.

We’ll talk about that in a minute, but first let me toss you a story.

I had a couple of guys help me with the Mustang.  There’s just some things that the home owners association frown upon – doing an engine swap in the drive way is near the top of the list.  Come on now….in a normal size two car garage who has the room to actually do that inside???  Hey….send me a pic of you nice clean garage…I’ll post them up here….under the post…Cleanest Garage of the Week.  OH…don’t have a clean garage (me either)…send me  your cluttered up, messy garage photo and I post it up here..under the post…..Desaster Garage of the Week.

Anyway these guys do some very nice restoration work, everything but their own painting.  They produce some beautiful restro-mod (we’ll discuss restro-mods later) camaro and beautiful Chevelle.  I was at a car show and parked next to one of their beauties and I took home a trophy (Corvette best in class).  Needless to say there was some groaning.

My point is have pride in your work and you’ll find people at shows that appreciate it, trophy or no trophy.  Now days cars show have tons of events going on in side them..they are more like mini “carnivals” you use to see in shopping center parking lots.  The large ones are completely a family event.  My wife has enjoyed many and she’s not a car carzy person..but girl loves a car with horse power.

Talk with people.  That can be the best part of a show.

OK..I have to get some work done..so more later today.
Don’t forget the Cleanest Garage and Disaster Garage photos send them to:   timsweet@cox.net

There are so many things to take care of after a family member passes.  Seems you trade one set of worries for another.  But isn’t that how things normally go……Well I think I’m ready to get back to the car thing.

So let’s do it.

Yesterday in 1920 the Lincoln car company was born…yup….it was its own entity at one time.

Oh and in 1974 on today’s date President Nixon signed the  55 mph speed limit into law…BOO!!!!!!