Finding Experience

10:22 PM Learning 2 Comments

One of the things I bemoaned some months ago was that there weren't any adult/post-education "shop" classes for basic automobile maintenance and repair available in my area. The only thing I could find was a full 2 year certification course at the local community college, designed specifically for training professionals to go into auto repair shops and dealer facilities...not quite my aim.

So my second thought was, "wouldn't it be great if I could help out at a shop, or maybe find somebody who would let me observe?" But I didn't know anybody...

Radiator, beautiful rusty headlights, and drum brakes.

...then suddenly I did. Several somebodies.

What's nice about the car culture is that people really want to tell you about their cars. There are myriad knowledgeable people, and lots of very generous people who like to get greasy and be social about it. Thank goodness!

Last weekend I met an inspiring fellow who is an entrepreneur (like me, but way more successful) and also a petrolhead. He has a private workshop where he stores all kinds of tasty meatballs - a 1952 Chevy pickup, a 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo, and a god damn DeLorean...among other things. He invited me to check it out and wrench on his project cars, one of which is a gorgeous Ford Model A which apparently has hill climb and, uh, rally history.

Carburetors sticking out the side of the *straight four. Radiator standing tall at the front. And check out those headlights. Those headers shoot right out the side of the frame, too, with no twists, turns, or muffling. This thing must sound insane.

The body's off and everything is on display. This is the first time I've been able to have a clean view of the gubbins in their elegant, stripped-back states since learning all the basic bits and pieces. It's one thing to study diagrams and another to see it all put together and filthy.

Jim says I can come hang out and crawl under cars whenever. Yes please! I have so much to learn, and I am thankful that somebody is generous enough to let me sponge up some of his knowledge.

Cars & Coffee - January 18, 2015

10:20 PM Events , Photography 0 Comments

It was a massive turnout for our local Cars & Coffee group this past weekend. I credit the weather, which was gorgeous.  Here are a few pics:

THE Mitsubishi Evo X by @Evoenvy on IG

Greg's Lotus Elise, now supercharged and carrying Exige badging. We're calling it the "Elige."

Best Subaru re-badging ever.

Jim's early 1950s Jaguar XK 120 vintage race car (he really races it too)

A different Jim's Ariel Atom. This thing has snow Trax on the back, and he drove it on the street to get to the car meet. Mental.

...and now we know who The Stig is...a pancake-loving millionaire madman.

Steve Baker's Gorgeous MGs

12:27 PM MG T-Series 0 Comments

I have a mad crush on Steve Baker's MGs, made worse by the knowledge that I can't have one.

Steve is a UK-based MG restoration guru who specialized in pre-WWII MGs, particularly the Q/P Type chassis, which is freaking gorgeous and exactly what I want. I follow his blog and bemoan the fact that he doesn't make the Q Type bodies for MG TDs or TFs.


This, to an American, is much sadness, because laying hands on a left-hand drive, state-side MG TC or earlier is not likely to happen. (I won't say "impossible," just unlikely.) So while I can drool over the sexy bullet-back, if I want my own it'll have to be fabricated by a specialist shop here...and how much is *that* going to cost?


Steve does fully restore MGs for American buyers, but that is no doubt out of my price range. Plus part of this project is that I get to work on the car myself, though all sources are telling me to buy the best car I possibly can. I like fixing things, but I also want to have a functional car I can massage into a racer in a reasonable amount of time, not a rusty bucket on cinder blocks for the next decade.

Just musing...

Christmas Books for Car Noobs

1:33 PM Learning 0 Comments

I'll be the first to admit I'm a complete and utter car noob. I know...some things...but when it comes to how cars actually, y'know, work, I'm lost.

Or I was lost, anyway, until my Dad got me a couple beginner books for Christmas, which I've been devouring.


Suddenly I feel very enlightened, but there's a huge difference between a diagram in a book and being able to work with an actual engine, with all its bits and pieces all together. It's nice to have the sterile environment of theory to learn, but I can see I'm going to have to lay hands on some real engines to get a better idea what's going on.

This is The One

4:09 PM MG T-Series 0 Comments

Carol Shelby's MG TD race in British Racing Green.

Good heavens.

More on this later...

Winter Wash Day

11:19 AM Lotus 0 Comments

It's been ages since I've given the Lotus a wash, which is totally against the Exotic Car Owner's Code (apparently). Code or not, I hate seeing her so filthy, so despite it being cold as hell outside, I pulled all the stuff out and did the job.

The water and soap was freezing on the driveway and I nearly landed on my ass a couple times. It was worth it, though. A shiny clean car is a special thing.


Of course, now I don't want to drive it. Might get dirty!

Just kidding. All I want to do is drive that car.