About me and my passion for cars

Ever since I was able to hold a wrench in my hand I was helping my dad -a kind of McGiver type work around the house, truck and trailer. Rebuilding mowers, repairing equipment and the like. In Junior High shop class I rebuilt a 5hp Briggs that made a whopping 13 hp for 1 minute 32 seconds! Then I struck a deal where I traded yard work for a go-cart, another deal for a Honda 90. Rebuilt and fitted the motor onto the go-cart and my dad clocked me at 62 mph…. He never knew I was only in 3rd gear J Then came custom bikes and a chopper that was stolen on it’s first long ride.
I spent several years serving my country in the Navy were I had a little restoration business- I was asked out for a beer with the Senior Chief and Division Officer at the Officers Club, I had my ’64 shipped out to me and parking at the club drew some attention. After the 2nd pitcher the Division Officer had convinced me to help him and his marriage by restoring the military Jeep in his driveway… I did, and it was too nice of a job…. Thus started my restoration business. Old school bodywork, fabrication, fiberglass and painting I learned and have had many happy customers.

Just because a vehicle is worth thousands or a million isn't important to me. I look at it from the angle that someone had an idea and designed it, others built it -factory workers supporting their family. It was then delivered it to a dealership where it was purchased - more families in the process, and the vehicle became a member of a family. Oh the stories these vehicles could tell.
I like them all but I am more passionate about the ones that are in limited supply, and old Mopars. It seems at car shows and cruise-ins there are several Mustang's, Camero's and Cuda's...... I'm drawn more to the odd balls and orphans. The vehicles some would say "why did they trick that out?" To me it's not all about chrome and sparkle or how much money someone put into a car, it's about the hobby, the mechanical marvels and craftsmanship and the engineering of the vehicle.

My first car

My first car was a "hand-me-down" that my sisters used to go to college. It was pretty much on its last leg when I bought it from my Dad. The faded and scratched red with white top 1964 Plymouth Valiant Sedan. The car is "somewhat famous" haha…If you get a chance to see the movie "The Blue's Brothers” you can get a glimpse of it as Jim Belushi is running from tree to tree. Working at a dealership in high school as a parts runner/lot attendant I soon talked my way into the body shop and did my first complete total rebuild. Every panel nut and bolt was removed, cleaned, inspected and replaced if needed. I ended up with a candy wine exterior, Cordoba electric front buckets covered in sand velour, custom center console and ahead of it's time (1979) 300 watt stereo. I did everything the Mopar Performance book said to do to make the slant-6 & 727 a 13 second car. A total sleeper with 50 series Dunlops on cream steel wheels with baby moons and trim rings, it was undefeated in it's class for 9 years.
During the high school days I had 3-4 other cars just long enough to clean and repair to sell. Then I joined the Navy for a new Adventure.

Car I wish I still had

the '64 Plymouth

My dream car

it depends on the day: '59 MG, early '30's convertable coupe or pick-up.....'70 Cuda, 60's Corvette, this is a hard question!

Car clubs I’m in

Pentastar Pride All Mopar Club

Favorites

• Type of racing: all
• Driver: Sweed Savage
• Car movie: It's a Mad Mad World, Gone in 60 Seconds
• Car magazine: Hemmings Classic Car

— Profile last updated: Apr 15, 2009