Featured Projects Do You Ever Just Sit and Appreciate Your Project?

Am I the only one that ever just sits down and looks at their project to appreciate what they have? Perhaps it's just me but there's such a sense of satisfaction.

I finished this dragster in late spring 2023 after a ground-up build. I guess it's ego but when it's sitting at the track and someone compliments the car it brings about quite a sense of accomplishment.

Slowly, over the last couple weeks I have been going through the car freshening up a few things, some minor repairs and basically just checking the car over front to back and getting it ready for the upcoming season. When it's all stripped down like this I can't help but just sit on a stool and look it over knowing what has gone into the project.

I consider myself a fortunate guy.

Lynn

 

Lynn,

sure looks like you gave much to be grateful for there!
As I get older, I try more to reflect in a similar manner.
Keep up the good work!

 

Yeah, I sure do... and I appreciate it even more with a tasty beverage in hand.
But, that always leads to not much getting done!

 

I do it all the time. I'll sit with a cold one when it's quiet and look at my car and remember back to when it was just a pile of parts. Admire what I have made and look at small ways to make it better if I can.

 

Dude, like Literally everyone here does the same thing you mentioned and pretty much every car guy / gal for that matter

 

I also look back at it sitting in the parking lot.

 

Hell yeah, beats working on them!
Reminds me of a wall plaque my mom had that said.................
"Work fastenates me, I can sit and watch it for hours".

 

Ditto!

 

Plenty of hours just spend looking at the details of how stuff went together . I do it lots on the old Harley’s trying to detect supple changes in the years or models . Early ones don’t have lots of changes between . It’s kinda the images we used to see in the magazines in the Drs office growing , try to locate hidden pieces inside the image .

 

I randomly just sit in my 53. Usually smoke and occasionally have the radio on

 

You bet! Sometimes with a whiskey and cigar,

 

If I didn't stop and enjoy the process, I would never go through the work and expense of a project. Call me crazy but I have good company.

 

Vrrrm Vrrrm!

 

That's a real cool dragster! I need to do more of this head space stuff, as I'm very critical of myself and my work. I tend to be like those greyhounds at the dog tracks, always chompin' at the rabbit, and going faster, with no regard for where I've been. It's only after someone more objective comes along and says, "Hey this thing is really nice." Then I kinda stop and appreciate where I've been. I have 3 really neat old cars, but I hardly ever really think about it like that, more of "What needs to be done next?" Food for thought for sure.

 

I am very critical of myself as well. Especially fabrication skills. I can do the mechanical stuff all day but I struggle with fabrication. Always criticizing myself for that. I do find the car to be pretty bad ass but it could have been a lot better in my mind. I guess the flip side is, it could have been worse.

 

As mine is still a long ways to being completed, I will look at and try to imagine what it will look like when finished. I do take time to admire what I’ve accomplished and am surprised at what I’ve done being this is a first for me. Keep telling my girls you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

 

It's funny, I thought about this from time to time. I don't think there isn't a time when I've driven through town and not glance at my car reflexing off the local store windows as I drive by.

 

Unfortunately, that's all I do lately.

 

Sometimes sitting and looking is all I can do! Especially if I have over done it for a day or 2 before. Can't believe how quick I wear out at 70. Still gotta keep going though.

Dave

 

Yes, that's a beautiful rail you built, and you should be proud and happy just looking at it!
I not only stand or walk around the cars I've built, but also just sit inside them and recall where they were when I bought the projects, and how far they've come since. It's fun to reminisce about the journey and what went really good, or what was really challenging.

 

Yup, while sitting static...and, those sideways glances to grab a quick look in a store window reflection for dynamic. Guilty on both counts.

 

Once in a while I sit in the car, and watch something on TV. Maybe NASCAR or NHRA or American Flat Track or old movie with cars in it in between doing something.

 

It'd be weird if we didn't.

 

Sure do!

 

That's silly.

 

I'm guilty of admiring my projects, always feels good to see something coming together. I'm also guilty of taking a look back as I walk away from the completed project in a parking lot but doesn't take me long to want a new project. I enjoy having something to work on gives me a reason to go out to the garage and do something, sometimes it takes me longer to finish a project than I keep it after it's done.

 

Howza Bruthas-

I definitely do. Since losing the original engine and then scoring a 312, I have been chasing my truck becoming a driver for 2 years!! I have driven it almost daily since getting it running 2 weeks ago.
And in the evenings, sit and look at it in the garage.

 

I own a couple of black cars so after I was and wax them I like to take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty of gloss black paint...before it gets dirty in an hour.

 

I do that all the time. I even talk to my coupe, wish she could talk back and tell me about 1000 crazy times before I had her. Yea , I am not normal.