Projects I Like Too Many Things

Perhaps someone else finds themselves in a situation similar to me.

Me, I'm 72 years old and over the years I've built different pre-48 hot rods, a 40 Ford Tudor, T Roadster, and still have a Model A coupe that I think is a long-term keeper. I've also built and raced a dirt circle track street stock car, a UMP Modified, and just a couple years ago completed doing a ground up build of a front engine dragster. Of the race cars I've only made one 3/4 pass with the dragster, the circle track cars I never even hot lapped. I've always been able to find people that were capable of doing a good job of driving the race cars since that's not my particular area of interest. I just like to see them perform nicely. I've come to the conclusion I'm just a builder.

I've also built a all wood ultralight airplane and I'm currently working on a second one. I like motorcycles and have had well over 20 motorcycles in my life.

Right now I'm about 45 minutes from needing to leave for the drag strip, it's hot, and I don't really feel like going and I'm thinking of putting the dragster up for sale.

I also like small British sports cars and have accumulated three Austin Healey Mk II Sprites in various condition. My goal is to build at least one nice daily-driver Sprite.

So, am I the only one that seems to like too many things? I sometime envy people who only have one passion in their life but I must admit I enjoy, and have enjoyed, the variety of things I've been able to do.

Share your similar story if you have one.

Lynn

 

me too. There is many things I have never done, like chopping a top.Never done it but always wanted to

 

You have lots of company…

 

I have more wants than cash. HRP

 

It's a curse!

 

No such thing as liking too many things just look @Moriarity that man is living proof that you can’t have too many toys!!

 

Until you run out of kitchen cabinets to store stuff in.

 

On a good note my wife says that keeping my mind active with one or two projects down the road fights off Alzheimer's and dementia. With her saying that I'm a lucky man to have her blessing on the dreaming I do and keeping active in my shop.

The latest project has been to build a meat smoker where the smoke chamber is a 500 gallon propane tank. I'm doing it for a friend who happens to be our pastor. He's into feeding large groups of people.

Moderators, feel free to delete the last paragraph and the photos as I realize they are certainly off topic.

Lynn

 

Too much cool stuff and not enough time, money, energy...

Mostly time.

 

Space is the killer. I have to get rid of stuff, to make room for new stuff. But it doesn't always work like that, as I can usually replace the old with bigger new things. And I am continually getting rid of stuff. Sometimes I envy those who just sit and watch TV and have nothing else to do, then I realise that goofing around with my "stuff" keeps me alive because it's fun.

 

I only like cars that have wheels
I prefer 2 seaters but trucks are nice too

then again I like prewar Hotrods
and postwar Hotrods

I like mid to late fifties cars,
and don’t mind sixties cars

I really like super cars

I came to age in the seventies and like 70-73 cars

I like low riders and get real excited when I see a 60’s style Gasser

I like some full custom cars and mild custom cars

yes, yes I know I’m a car nut

 

Yes, it’s a malady most, if not all, of us have. Hi, I’m Dave and I have way more interests than time to exercise them. The cure, go for whatever you’re currently working on and get something done on it. Put some cool hot rod wheels on the smoker, and add a few extra touches to make it stand out for your pastor.

 

Tried to narrow my wants to a reasonable--doable level.
I've had a lot, ( over 50 ) gave away a lot, ( why not? ) lost a lot ( easy come,, yada yada )
Seven pre war, Eleven '50s, Seven to pre '65 and on, through another dozen, or so.
Narrowed it to an A coupe and a 57 2dr.
The Most power and torque was those Diesel tractors ( company owned )
Amazing trips North S. E. + West, anytime I could run the surface roads.
My Angst today is the loss of functionality,
I am hoping that therapy will be there for me when my condition stabilzes.
Using medicines now that no one can afford. ( well no one we know )

 

liking something, and liking something enough to spend money on it, are different.

if you are spending money on something, it is usually because you have the income to support it.

if you are spending money on something which you don't enjoy, time to make some changes.

 

At one time, I had over 3000 license plates which I collected when I searched for a set of NYS plates for the 1937 Chevy coupe I had 40+ years ago.
A few years ago, I got interested in antique bottles. I now have several hundred.
Seems like if I have more than two of something, it turns into a collection.........

 

I spent 15 years building and racing stock cars. Worked as a mechanic in a Chevy dealership. Did a short stint on a pit crew for an ARCA team. Then I pretty much quit racing, and got into flying airplanes. I seem to enjoy a never ending learning curve. I built my T Bucket the hard way, from the ground up. Then I spent lots of time learning about and fixing up my 47 Chevy. It’s been my daily driver for the past two years. Now I find a big sailboat parked in my back yard, getting fixed up. I’m looking forward to getting that out on the water.

 

Driver50x.... Now that you mentioned sailboat I forgot about having taken sailing lessons and enjoying that but decent sailing is about a 2-hour Trip away from me so that's probably not going to go anywhere.

Powerboats too. I think my wife and I have owned about six or seven boats. Among them were 2 V-drive flat bottoms and a hydroplane.

I certainly don't mean to sound like I'm bragging about everything I have, and have had in the past, but with everyone else's stories I can tell this is an interesting group of people who have a lot of interests just like I do

Life has been fun!!

Lynn

 

You are not alone man. I feel the same some days. If things dont bring you joy, inner peace, then time to re calculate your hobbies.

You can quote me; this has been my frame of mind the last few years.
"I don't have to own all of the things I like to still "like" them. "
A few lessons learnt that was very expensive for me.

When things don't become fun anymore and you have passions that spark your mind and soul, you drive to pursue those then its time to quit doing something that you are on the fence about.

One thing about strapping into a dragster, when your mind isn't in it, that's when bad stuff happens. Put it down before it puts you down if you feel like you do frequently.

Lastly, sometimes its finding peace with knowing I am older and will never do _____ again. And being ok with it.

 

My idea of the ultimate car to own changes daily, and sometimes hourly. The trick is not acting on it...daydreaming about different cars can be enough to satisfy me.

 

Any of us that has had the rare combination of time, money and facilities to make all these gear head dreams a reality, is a very lucky person. I am a restless soul, and I truly believe that the key to longevity is to have a reason to get out of bed every day. All I can offer is, whatever floats your boat, get to floatin' it! (or flying it, or driving it).

 

mohr hp-Well said !!

 

To go through life without interests would be sad. To do what you do without passion would be worse.

 

i've crossed paths with so many people who think "why retire and just sit around?" they've never taken the time, the interest, the imagination, for whatever reason, to develop interests beyond pushing the rock up the hill.

i've not done much, accomplishments are fewer, but i've pretty much done whatever i damned well pleased on a daily basis. it's not for everyone, but it's for me.

 

Like Stuart, other than Loving old stuff, my interests tend to vary from mild to wild. I can't tell you how many hot rods I have built in my head, some made it to a drawing on a piece of paper, most did not! One thing that I do know is that if you have a passion do yourself a favor and follow it the best way that you can!

 

The cheapest and most beautiful cars I've ever built.

 

Had half a dozen.
None got finished.
68yrs old.
Focusing on just the coupe now.

Although, a roadster would be cool...

 

have found over the years that collecting magnets, ticket stubs and commemorative stickers from places and events I have been in and a part of. including some that have special meaning to me that I was not directly involved in, a better way to save memories than my past large collection of T-shirts, hats, posters, model cars, etc. also, take a lot of pictures. full size rides come and go for me due to interest, space and financial changes.

 

Mechanical anything, the functionality, practicality, ingenuity, to the aesthetics.

 

I too have done many things and feel fortunate to have done so. Raced circle track asphalt street & super stocks in the late 80s-early 90s. Have fronted bands off & on since then. One of those put out an album of original music that got worldwide airplay. I have the urge to record again and am trying to make that happen. My collection of projects is longer than my years to finish them. I had bikes, including a bitchin' Triumph bobber, but don't feel the urge to have one anymore. Had a bunch of 70s cars- Javelin, Chevelles, Cutlass', etc. They're fine, but I don't yearn for another. I've narrowed my focus. Have never got caught up in the "collecting" thing. Who needs 500 of anything, except dollars? At one time I had over 25 cars, but not anymore. I like too many things but am zeroing in on what I really want. And that's my next project - a fully finished, shiny painted, chopped '49 Merc. @manyolcars I have always wanted to chop tops too. Have done easier ones (Model A) and fixed a botched one ('36 Chevy Truck) but will be taking a top chop class in the fall to get ready for cutting up my Merc. I know it's hard but just focus on what you really want. Hell, answering that question is hard as I want too many things as well.