5 years ago today my dad passed away. I was at my parents home in Nebraska helping my mom and sister take care of him in his last days. May 4th just happened to be a Tuesday that year as well.

I came home the next day, and took the rest of the week off from work. On Thursday, I bought the Camaro from a neighbor down the street and dragged it home to the garage. On Friday, I drove my family back to Nebraska for the funeral on Saturday.

My dad taught me most of what I know about cars & mechanics. As I did the V8 swap in the Camaro over the next few months, I'd catch myself thinking about what I'd tell him about the project when I called home on the weekend.

So, for all of you who have a dad who shares your love for the hobby, enjoy it while you can.

And, hopefully you all can forgive me for the non-techness of this post.

 

That's nice, sounds like he was a great father. At least you were smart enough to learn what he was teaching you.

 

He had his faults, like we all do. He worked out most of the parenting ones on my 6 older brothers and sisters.

I'd say the most commendable thing about him is he ended well.

 

:hail: :hail: :hail:

He still guides your hand I bet, may he live in memories forever.

 

I'm glad my father is still alive, can't say I'm really close to him, we don't talk about some issues. But he always did do everything he could to make sure i learned about whatever I wanted to. Science kits, home made rockets, go karts, racing, museums, planetariums. If there was something I wanted to learn about he'd try and teach me, or he'd find a way for me to learn on my own. He made sure I was pretty well versed in a lot of things.

He used to race Formula Fords, has pictures and stuff. Too bad he doens't like the idea of me racing (and I'm 24). When he saw the video's of my car at the drag strip it was cool. When I told him I wanted to go to a road course like Blackhawk Farms, or one day Laguna Seca he freaked out.

What can I say, he's my Dad.

 

The anniversary of my fathers death is approching also, less than 3 months away (he died August 14, 1998) I was 12 at the time. He also taught me, from very early on. We were never that close, but when ever he was working on something, I was right there beside him. I was there when we rebuilt the 305 in my old '82 Trans AM (that car died also, accident), I even did some work on it, with his supervision of course (I was about 8 at the time)

I remember him cursing when he had to do spark plugs and other stuff like that on the '82 Trans AM, and now I understand why.

I always have thoughts of him when I work on my car, or just about anything else around the house.

I hear his advise as I am working often, and my mom tells me that both me and him have the same personality and luck when we work on things.

Don't mean to hi-jack your thread, just thinking out loud about my childhood.

I'm sorry for your loss, It hits home, as I know what it's like having this connection, and such a love for cars.

 

My dad passed away 33 years ago (when i was 12). My dad was an engineer & built scale model airplanes. He taught me a alot about using tools, attention to detail & drawing plans. Yes, I still miss him after all these years.

 

Sorry to hear about your loss

I'm sure there are alot of great memories though, especially of the car/mechanical stuff that he taught you over the years. Hopefully you got to say the things you wanted to say to him.

 

My father hasent passed away yet, but is so ill he can not move well at all without his electric wheel chair. I am his only living family and I live 235 miles away. He is so bad he signed over his pride and joy camaro that is in my sig. He has had the meds of a dying cancer patient for over 10 years of about 12 pills 3 times a day including Morphine and Methadone 24hrs a day. You dont want to see the pain he is in without it.

I will always remember the times working on my V8 S-10 late at night with him, after I came home from my fast food job. I stayed living with him till I was 25 and finally had to go out on my own. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I feel for those who either havent had a father, lost their father, or no longer can be around them.