Well, I finally caved to the pressures of social media and bought a nearly one hundred-year-old car.  My friends probably think I died, but no, I just spend all my time trying to build another car I can’t afford.  You weren’t aware that social media is pressuring men into buying and building ancient cars? Then you and I aren’t on the same social media.  The truth is, I became addicted to images on the internet.  No, not those images.  I began spending my bathroom throne time on a hot rod forum, specifically a thread titled, “Traditional Images That Need No Explanation ..read more

Finally, I was cheered by a crowd, in a stand, at a motorsport event.  It was the first time I've ever been cheered by a crowd.  Once, before, I thought a crowd was cheering me... but it was only because I was rushing towards the other team's goal and they were saying "No!", not the "Go!" I supposed they were yelling. How did me being cheered at motorsport happen? Let me paint the picture. It's early. Too early. It's still dark.  I shouldn't need to get up this early on a day off. I stumble to the garage and get into my 1957 MGA. In the passenger's seat is a helmet, placed ther ..read more

It’s the fourth of July, I’ve just recently turned forty, and I have some thoughts on freedom. If you lean towards pacifism, green-hair dye, or socialism you’re probably moving on after reading my first sentence but, don’t leave, this won’t be a discussion of our brave and intelligent American forefathers, I have some simpler thoughts on freedom, as it relates to cars, off-road vehicles and motorcycles. In May I turned forty, and realizing I was statistically halfway to my death, I had the reaction any sane car guy has: I decided I should sell a sports car. Now for those of you that don’t hav ..read more

The indelible thinker and author, G.K. Chesterton, wrote ""If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." While you may think Chesterton was thinking of nobler endeavors than playing with cars, you’d be mistaken; Chesterton clarified that he was writing, “…in defense of hobbies and amateurs and general duffers…” I’ve come to realize that I do things badly. Shortly after reading the above quote I drove my son to Cars and Coffee on a brisk Saturday Morning, the event being a 10 mile highway trip from my home. On the way there I nervously watched the poorly aligned wheels shake the stee ..read more

De cember came through in a big way, and I’m not just talking about the weight I gained.  December added a historic hot rod to my stable (although, quite small), gave me some fun and afforded me the opportunity to make my two (classic?) cars better. How? Well, here’s the five gifts I was given, gifts that I think any car enthusiast would enjoy. First Gift Idea - Buy your hard-to-relate-to car obsessed relative the car they want. Does this sound insane?  What, you didn’t win the lottery? That’s ok.  It turns out, you don’t have to buy them the full-size version to make their day ..read more

 I’ve been preparing a fun little 1957 roadster for winter weather; it’s now December, but my roadster should be ready for winter driving by July. I say my car is a 1957, but it really depends on which part you’re looking at.  If you selected a part at random, you might have a 50/50 chance of it being from 1957.  Might.  Probably a lower chance. It’s really a collection of parts from different years and several models.  Johnny Cash’s Cadillac comes to mind. I bought a Frankenstein sticker for the window. I wonder if anyone will get the joke. Getting winter-ready inclu ..read more

  September 10th I successfully attended the All British Field Meet, driving my 1957 MGA; a year of hard work resurrecting a junkyard MGA came together for my pointless self-imposed deadline.  I felt success.  But, September 11th I was presented with a conundrum.  How would I protect my bare-metal car from the coming ravishes of rust and winter? Still, I didn’t care much.  We (my family and I) were enjoying the car.  For something I’d not tuned or aligned, it was behaving remarkably well.  The car is delightfully enjoyable to drive. A larger motor, front dis ..read more

(Author's note: My pictures of cars at the ABFM are posted at the bottom of this blog, if that's what you're here for.) On July 29th I registered for the All British Field Meet (ABFM), a gathering of British vehicles and their owners. Exactly why is now unclear, my British sports car’s frame was coming along nicely, but all other parts were still in an unrestored pile.  I vaguely remember thinking, “This should motivate me to get the car going”.  The 2022 ABFM was scheduled for September 10th.  I was trying to get a 1957 MGA together in time to attend and I was far from ready ..read more

I turned down $9,000 dollars today; the money had arrived too late. Sounds like the start of a vengeance themed mobster movie.  No, I'm not supplying the lower east side with drugs. But the $9,000 I was offered may have been tainted by addiction. The story began, as is often the case, while I perused Craigslist.  A complete, and straight, 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6 project car was being offered at $12,000.  I contacted the seller and offered him my MGA project in trade.  He politely laughed hysterically and (between gasps for air) said, "Bring cash". S ..read more

  In January our family was at the Scottsdale car week perusing exotic cars and million-dollar classics (including a ride in my friend’s high-performance Porsche) but then vacation was over, and it was back to normal.  Since we returned from Arizona it’s only rained twice in Oregon, but each time for two months straight. And it seems like my car endeavors have mirrored the weather, being somewhat dreary; I realize this may be the worst first-paragraph hook yet used in literature, but perhaps there's room for writing that might relate, rather than inspire. Continue reading for ta ..read more