I was taking some new pictures of my car and mainly the engine bay today. It got me thinking as to why we do what we do to our cars.

This hobby has been passed down from my fathers side of the family for as long as I can remember. My grandfather used to own and operate a garage that my father and every one of my uncles used to work in. Without my grandfather I know that I wouldnt be where I am today. Its because of him that I enjoy cars, I enjoy my car, and that I enjoy doing what I do to my car. Its because of him that I know how to do to my car what I do to it.




I would say that my grandfather was the biggest inspiration for me when I was doing my LS1 swap.

I have dedicated my car to the memory of my late grandfather. Which you can see indicated by the vinyl on the radiator support. Without his inspiration, this build would have never been possible. One of the last things he said to me was; "I hope I hear this thing run before I die". At the time he said it jokingly, yet sadly, cancer got the best of my grandfather before he could hear it run for the first time.


What are some of the inspirations and reasons that you do these things to your car?

 

Nice sentiment fella.

 

Is that a pic of your car in your sig?

 

Cheers to your grandfather!!

As for my story, my dad grew up racing all the local boys and then they started racing ARCA, just a few steps below Busch series. In fact, some of the NASCAR boys were the ones that he was racing ARCA against in the Mid-West. He later became a mechanic on heavy machinery and taught me everything I know, from suspension to engine modifications, and just driving and feeling what the car wants. I know I wouldn't be here without him, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

 

Thats deep stuff, definate props on the LS1 swap it looks awsome! As for me, I'm the only one in my family who really cares about cars at all so i'd say my motivation is to be faster than my friends.

 

Pop's has been drag racing since the mid 70's. everything i do is based on his ability to teach me. i'm proud of my father and his accomplishments in the drag racing industry. i only hope to make him proud with my ability to fabricate and make simple combinations go fast.

 

Thats how I wished my family was. I am going to be like your grandfather and start it in my family.

Now, that is great work, but man I am always drawn away by the "Corvette" covers. I always felt that there is a reson we drove third gen f-bodies, and its because we don't wanna drive a corvette. Somebody's gotta make some camaro and firebird covers. Maybe I will! Hmmmm....But who am I to say anything my car still has a 305 TBI.

 

My father has been a mechanic all his life and even a Mr.Goodwrench back in the 70s. He used to have some pretty sweet rides (that are worth a boat load of money now) and always took me to car shows when I was little. But I never really got into cars until he got the Camaro.

It's just really nice to put all the work I do into that car and then have random people come up to me in gas stations and parking lots and say "Nice ride man" and make offers that are about twice as much as the car is worth.

Anyway, now I'm the one taking my dad to shows.

 

That is so sweet and awesome!!

I have always been a chevy girl but my dad mostly worked on motorcycles (dirt bikes) while I was growing up. I always wanted to help and he would never let me. We also always loved the cars though but again, he'd never let me tinker LOL.... then I was married for 8 yrs to a mechanic and now I'm with another guy that's quite a mechanic.

Now- I am into the third gens because I think they are so totally sexy. My best friend in high school had a base model 3rd gen and I used to watch her brother work on it (that car was never right) and then in 88 her mom got a brand spankin' new gold edition IROC that was red with t-tops. I just fell in love with that car and always wanted one. SO- when I met up with my current bf, he has a black one and I told him right off the bat I wanted a red one- so he knew of one for sale and bada-bing!! I do the stuff with this car because I love it and love the commraderee that goes with having the cars. I want to know how to do more things myself one day.

I do find it odd that guys seem less interested in a 'car girl' that wants to be involved versus just being a cheerleader. I think that's because you guys don't like the competition being with girl LOL.

You guys are so lucky to have had parents/grandparents that taught you all about the cars as you were growing up. That is VERY special!

 

if i could only find me a girl like you!

 

Yes, taken whilst I was waiting to do a parade lap around Rockingham Race Circuit here in the UK on one of the rare sunny days.

 

Haha- well - its rough because I have no nearby girlfriends that care about the car stuff! We'll get together and I'll be trying to tell about something car related or show them a part and I get the blank stare. And whenever I'm ever single again then I have to be sure to find a 3rd gen lover/ mechanic/chevy guy that wants to do projects together and trust me- it's not easy!

 

girls in my town, if their into anything automotive its usually trucks, not even muscle cars, just trucks/jeeps.

id have to say it was my uncle and father who got me into the game, they tell me all the stories from when their raced other ppl in my uncles 67 maro with a vette 327/375 motor. hell my dad even showed me where they raced but he rather i do it at the track so i get my entry fee paid everytime i go

 

My dad got me into cars when he pulled a holeshot in our old 81 camaro with me in it.

 

I grew up watching my uncles and older brothers drive and work on older muscle cars.. (I'm a fair bit younger). When I was in elementary school I'd watch my older brothers race with their buddies to school and my uncle would always shake the house warming up his 68 SS Camaro before going to work. He'd always do several brake stands and hard launches to warm up the tires before heading to his job.

I was too young to drive but I did everything I could to squeeze out any power hidden within my dirt bikes.

I've gone to the track several times and watched him race the 1/4 mile with his old SS.. man that thing used to be sweet, balanced and blue printed with all the goodies, lumpy cam, tuxedo black with white stripes. My uncles and brothers also owned old hot rods of all sorts; Impala's, Chevelles, Chevy trucks, GTX's, Road Runners, 428 Cougar, Dart's, and my Dad had a Satellite (very similar to a Road Runner). My Dads car was bought new and absolutly mint, 383 auto and this is the very first car I drove and learned how to drive on it... took my licence test driving this car.

One evening after I had gotten my licence and my old man had one too many beers he put me behind the wheel and told me we'd go out and he would show me what a 'real' muscle car was all about. I learned how to do brake stands that night with him riding shotgun showing me exactly how to do it.

"Put your foot on the brake, hard.. and leave it there. Then slowly push down on the gas pedal and watch the speedometer until it hits 70MPH, then take you foot off the brake and try to keep it in a straight line"

I started modding my cars after that day.

Man those were the days.. my heart is just pumping right now thinking about the first time I've ever done brake stands! There was another night shortly after that when we went out and he taught me how to do "hooks". Find a nice straight road.. go backward at about 30MPH, then put the tranny into Drive, and when you feel it enguage, floor the throttle and hold it down and hang on!!

Shortly after this my Dad sold the car.. it stayed local. The guy fixed it up a bit and keeps it stored in a heated garage. I see it several times a year in car shows.. it is still mint, damn I miss that car.. but it was huge and heavy.

I've always had an economy car but I started off with a 67 SS Camaro.. then upgraded to a 68 RS/SS but honestly they drive like a tank, stand on the brake with both feet, just to slow down.. need you and the guy in the back seat to help you turn the wheel.. forget it. I wanted something with modern amenities that was a pleasure to drive.. thats what brought me to thirdgens.

I've been hooked ever since!

 

My dad was into muscle cars but died before really showing me a whole lot. So I guess my inspiration really came when I first saw a 70's Camaro put the front of the car verticle...thats when I had to know how to do that. Now I know how...but couldn't afford to anyway :-p

 

While its a nice story and all, its still not appearance and detailing related so I gotta lock it. PM me with comments or questions. Thanks.