My grandfather was a street rodder, He was know in the area that I live in for having really nice cars, early vettes, 33 dodge ect ect.. I can remember when I was about eight or so handing him wrenches while he was working and he would let me help and make me feel like I did something important. He passed away in October of 94.
I went to a private high school all of the cool kids drove really nice cars, new mustangs the occasional porsche. I wanted to be a cool kid so I got a 63 ford fairlane. I had more fun in that car than any kid in a porshe if that is possible lol anyway by the time I was out of school the frame literally ripped in half and I almost had a serious accident. The Fairlane era had ended. Everyone said it couldn’t be fixed. I tore it down took off the dog house mind you I had never really worked on a car.
I have a Uncle that is also well known in our local car scene that stepped up and asked me what I wanted, at that time I wanted a big sled so he gave me a 48 Chrysler New Yorker that my grandfather had owned at one point. this is where my life changed.
I was the kid that walked in the shop, I had been working on the brakes on the Chrysler. My grandmother gave me all of my grandfathers tools. I was the only one in the family that wanted to use them. I was 20 had a brake line in one hand and a flare kit in the other, I tried to flare that brake line literally 5 time but it would keep leaking finally my grandma told me there was a group of guys that had old cars and I should ask them for help I knew they were there I can remember driving by real slow checking out there rides and just drooling. I walked in and asked if they could help. They flared up my brake line asked who I was and what I was working on. They knew my grandfather and the car I was working on when I left they said they were there every saturday and If wanted to I could come back.
I went back every saturday asking for help with my new yorker, they always gave it to me, it eventually ended up in the parking lot where I would work on it out there. She needed a lof of TLC the plan was to give it a quick paint job so I could go to shows with them. I told them about my fairane and the problem I had with it. They said they could fix it. I put the doghouse back on and had it trailored over there I drove it home that day. 3 years without driving her It was like I was back home. I was in heaven. I had something to go to shows like the Indy Road Rumble and I didn’t feel akward because I was the kid without the car.
For the next two years I went to the shop and just learned, worked on other people’s projects. I learned how to weld although I’m not great at it practice makes perfect lol. I learned mechanical skills, how to use a english wheel, Today I had a great lesson with one of the most talented men I have met about porting and polishing heads. The knowledge at the shop is amazing but it goes farther than just cars.
When I was 20 I had just dropped out of college and got my first real job at a factory. I build cars for a export company and it is a good paying job. Without going to the shop I would have been that cocky kid that would not have lasted a week, but since i was use to not knowing everything and willing to learn at the shop, it reflected at work and I suceed at my job every day
I got married when I was 24. One of my club brothers actually read the vows to my lovely wife and I. A lot of the decorations were donated or given to us by the car club. These are things that I will never forget.
There are guys in the club that play big roles in my life. I have father figures, big brother figures and I’m normally at the end of the poking stick but I don’t mind. I look up to these men and they have set a great example for me of what I wanted to be when I grew up, They will never grow up but just the way they lead there everyday life is something that I can stride to be and I can’t be thankful enough for that. I am now 25 most of my friends that are my age are partying every night, There is nothing wrong with that it’s just not me. When I need advice I go to them. When they need to lift something heavy they go to me. lol.
I am forever grateful for being the kid that walked into the shop. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without these guys.
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