Yesterday some kids from the Emerald Youth Foundation visited the shop. Emerald Youth is an inner city ministry in Knoxville. The kids are on spring break and Cory the Middle School Director was looking for something to do with 3 of the middle school boys so I told him to bring them over. They looked at everything, asked a million questions, rode around on a creeper and climbed in and out of every project that they could get the doors open on. They had a big time with the blast cabinet although it becomes a 2 man operation when you are too short to reach the foot pedal. They all took a quick ride in the coupe and we walked across the parking lot to see what Mike and Jim had going on at Barillaro Speed Emporium. Ive been doing some volunteer work with the middle school boys once a week. Ive been thinking about some kind of project to get some of the kids involved with so I was glad they came over to see the shop. Most of these kids dont have a dad around and most have never picked up a wrench. I was thinking that it would be pretty cool if a few kids got the chance to build a go kart or mini bike. My plan was to get a couple of go karts or mini bikes and take them apart and then let the kids put them back together. They could start on a Saturday morning, put it back together, eat pizza for lunch and ride around some in the afternoon. The Barillaro brothers have said they want participate so Im sure the projects will now go to a whole new level. I hope we can start the first build this summer.
This is a great idea,, some people get inspired to teach kids about cars and tackle Mammoth projects like chopping tops and building a complete car and the projects die a slow death. You sir,have the the right prospective by using something the boys can see the project through to the finish..feed them and in a single day or a couple of weekends and they can go for a spin and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I applaud you for stepping up and doing something good for less fortunate kids. HRP
Super program, show youngsters real fun, rather than park them in a corner with a video screen. Good on you all!!
Gene's Hot Rod Parts: Go for it .... We have a program that we have been running for several years in Indianapolis. Through numerous contacts in our business, we have come to see a need to bring this program to a broader and wider area. “Kids with Speed” was developed to bring kids ages 14 to 19 in off the street, and into a structured program which provides the youth the much needed support that often makes them join a gang. It is that sense of belonging, being needed and valued as a positive member of the team. As a team participants will be active members of an automotive team from the ground up. The culmination of all their hard work will result in the development of a finished car which will then be show and local events and ultimately shown and raffled off at the US Nationals in August..(If we get funding) This program was designed to expose kids to all aspects of the automotive hobby, including such areas as auto mechanics, auto body work, including custom painting, metal fabrication, math skills including calculating engine horsepower gained from what improvements. Also involved are learning skills such as reading compe***ion spec manuals to calculate building and maintaining a race car to sanctioned standards. This ***ists in building math and logical thinking skills which most young kids lack today. This program will also focus on budgeting and money handling as they will be involved in promoting and maintaining the car’s over all financial budget. This is what we purchased to start: 64 Gran Prix The Engine was allready out, as was the complete interior, but the owner had saved everything... Interior Shot. Here's a link to the progress pictures I have been taking.... https://picasaweb.google.com/105421993671397259537/KIDSWITHSPEED# This is a great program, and although were struggling to find funding in these hard econimic times, a lot of personal money is benig spent to keep going. The kids are great, most are interested in cars and want to learn more, we have some good motorheads... Were looking foward to a fun summer, as we progress, the kids see progress and that gives them drive to keep going.. Were trying to see if we have the complete motor, Our goal this year is just to make that a driver...then advance next year to a car we can drag race in limited fashion..just to expose them to that aspect of the hobby.. Were hoping to p*** the tourch, we have some great mentors and a good group of kids this year.. Were trying to line up tours in all different areas of automotive work. Drag Race shops, NASCAR, INDY, Hot Rod Shops, Collector, Autobody, Mechancial.. We want them to see all the areas that they can be involved in, given the right oportunities...and we have most of them in the greater Indianapolis area... Just got to get hooked up with them.. Last yere we were able to get in to see on of the best Traditional Hot Rod Shows in the midwest.. The Road Rocket Rumble, in Speedway, IN... This is a 3 day event with everything car guys and gal's like... https://picasaweb.google.com/105421993671397259537/RRRumble2012# Some of these kids have never been to a Hot Rod Show, so it was some culture shock. But they seemed to dig it.. We had fun, showing them chopped tops, mettal flake paint, lace paint, supercharged engines, flatheads, g***ers we had it all... So, keep it up, do it you will not be disapointed...and the kids will not either... Good for you and Gene's Hot Rod Parts......
Tierod,your situation is the type of dilemma I was eluding to with all the good intentions and the sad fact that financial problems grind the progress to a snails pace. Without solid backing from the community some one like you try to finance the project out of your project,,after a while it gets overwhelming and everything you are trying to do starts to effect your own family. I hope you are able to secure some help to keep the project going and the youth stay involved. HRP
Our car ministry group works with a local childrens' home supporting one of the "family" cottages. We host the kids for various activities and provide Christmas/birthday gifts for them. Most of the kids come from broken homes and having decent adults take an interest in their lives really makes a difference. Even after the kids age out most of them stay in touch with members of our group. Good to hear that you are investing in young lives. A lot of people would rather just gripe about the "youth of today". CB_Chief
Gene I believe we talked last year at the F100 supernationals. We both had spots in the swap meet. Hey let me know what Saturday you plan to do this and if I can I will come out from Murfreesboro to lend my support. Maybe I can help with some parts or funding for supplies. Plus I can see Mike's bad 56' F100 again. I stopped there last year on my way to the Pigeon Forge. So you are off Kingston Pike as well I take it? PM me..
See, there a a lot of good Hot Roding Gearheads that want to p*** the tourch , and help kids...Good for you all,
Donald good to hear from you and it was nice meeting you last year at the F-100 Nats. The shop is right off Kingston Pike in the same complex as Mike and Jim. They just move across the parking lot to a shop with some more room. Come by and see us.
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