About me and my passion for cars

I have been car crazy since I can remember, at 5 my tomboy babysitter and I built my first model car, that was it, I was hooked.
In my teens, I hung out with some friends that were becoming Mechanical Engineers, working out of their garage, and I would work on anything they would let me. I learned how to give a quick tune-up for VW, Datsun, Renault, Ford, GM, Dodge, and even worked on some odd ones: MG, Citroen, and a 59 Jaguar that was back every month for something else, and plenty of muscle cars.

My friends would race in amateur VW: 1.8L, and unlimited class (anything goes) and I got to go on some hot laps on the cars' best outing, it was very fast 0-70, and a blast in the turns.
You could pass the V8s in the twisties, get humiliated in the long straights, and then catchup in the next set of twisties.

I would work on my friends cars or relatives and help them keep their cars running well, I made a lot of friends, as a reliable car shop was usually hard to find. I always enjoyed working on cars when you have the right tools.
Now my son brings his friends over to "Dads garage", and I 'supervise'; they do the work, get the feeling of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of knowing most shops would not do the work as well. The money they save, they apply toward some go-fast parts - more power!
Stereo installs have been on the top of my list of favorite things, I have lost count of how many we have done over the years.

My favorite toy must be the random orbital to wax/polish the cars, it's probably one of the most relaxing ways to spend some time on an afternoon.

My first car

76 Ford Van "Good Times Machine" Conversion van. 351 Windsor, C6 auto, custom headers, wet bar, table, ice box, great college car!

Car I wish I still had

I wish I would have bought: The brand new 87 GNX my saleman friend offerred me at a loss just 30 days after I bought my SS. - DOH!

My dream car

Several dream cars: Monte SS w/LS7 & 6spd, 71 Cuda, 2006 Z06 Sunset Orange, 70 Shelby GT500, 2006 Viper GTS, 1971 Lamborghini Miura, 91 GMC Typhoon, 87 Grand National GNX #257, 73 Mustang Mach1, 69 Chevelle SS 427

Car clubs I’m in

MonteCarlosSS.com

Favorites

• Type of racing: GP, vintage Trans-AM, Formula 1, NASCAR, Off-road, Indy, Baja
• Car movie: Gone in 60 secs
• Car book: Chilton's
• Car magazine: Super Chevy, Car & Driver

— Profile last updated: Jun 17, 2008