About me and my passion for cars

I have always gravitated towards cars. I guess the first thing that really pushed me over the edge so to speak was a Hot Rod pictorial that I bought at a school book fair in 4th or 5th grade. I remember that it disappeared one summer on a visit to my grandparents. I always assumed that my cousin, who was there, took it. When I was 12, I went to the grocery store with my other grandparents, and my grandmother bought me my first Hot Rod magazine. I still have that magazine from 1981, and all the magazines that I subscribed to or bought off the stand after that, much to my wife's dismay. I was one of the kids in school who never listened to teachers, and always stuck a magazine in my books or whatever. I spent many days in my room for bringing home bad grades, so I read my magazines over and over. My parent's finally realized that my love of cars, and started using my magazines as leverage to try to get my grades up. Needless to say it didn't work. One of my grandfathers owned and ran several salvage yards growing up, so I spent alot of time in my single digit years with my cousins playing in the junk cars. I still remember the more unique cars in his yard like the 66 Mustang notchback in lime green with cragars on it. I also remember the Vista Cruiser station wagon with the skylights in it, and a 65 Barracuda, which impressed me because of the shape of the back window. Fast forward to 1987 and my first car. I mowed many yards, and saved up enough money to buy a car. It was a deal negotiated by my dad with one of his co-workers. A 1970 Pontiac LeMans owned by the co-workers mother in law. They settled on a price of $300.00. The car was Verdero green with a green interior, and had 61,000 miles on it. She was the original owner and had all the documentation including the invoice and protecto-plate. I brought the car home and a couple of weeks later the oil pressure light came on when I was at idle. Not looking good for the old Pontiac. Me and my dad opted to tear into the motor, and found massive amounts of sludge buildup. We rebuilt it to factory specs, and as a consolation prize for putting up with his continuous griping at me for not helping him more, he had a dual exhaust put on it. I was so suprised! Shortly after that we sanded the car down and patched the typical rust behind the back window and in the lower quarters. We painted it in the Verdero green with acrylic enamel. It turned out pretty good, and I kept the car detailed to the max. I never attended a High School football game or drove the car on the weekends without a thorough cleaning. Everywhere I went, I had someone come up to me. I LOVED IT! I dated my first steady girlfriend in the car, and eventually after about 5 years and a front end collision, I sold it and a parts car to a guy for $300.00 and bought a 1986 Fiero SE. I had four different Fieros at one time. I still own the first one, although it's been sitting in my parent's field for 12 years now. I guess I've about covered the reason for my passion, and I hope I can pass it on to my son when he gets a little older, so we can share a common interest together.

My first car

1970 Pontiac LeMans. Verdero green with green interior. Bought from a retired school teacher (original owner) for $300.00 in 1987. 61,000 original miles. Siiiigggghhh!

Car I wish I still had

Same as above.

My dream car

68 or 69 GTO in BLACK! Hideaways a must!

Car clubs I’m in

None currently

Favorites

• Type of racing: Drag
• Driver: Me
• Driving song: Dokken or Ratt any song (youthful flashbacks)
• Car movie: Christine
• Car book: Christine
• Car magazine: High Performance Pontiac, Pontiac Enthusiast

— Profile last updated: Jun 9, 2008