Featured Features Age vs. mindset and hot rodding/racing

A bit of a rant on age-

Over the years I have seen many threads I have seen many threads I am fill in the blank age in need Power Brakes, or Power Steering, or A/C etc....

I have always wondered what on earth age has to do with these things. I understand that as you get older individuals can no longer do things you used to be able to, but it is the individuals.
I just saw a thread were someone who was 77 said "I am old I need power brakes"

All I could thick is what does be old have to do with it?

I personally know people in there 70s who are still racing, a couple of my friends were in there 80s before they gave it up!

Red Farmer was in his 90s when he retired!

These guys don't have power brakes and are subject to some pretty strong G-forces.

I am 44 and am having one heck of a time seeing to TIG weld my eyes are at a point that my regular gl***es aren't cutting it but they are not weak enough for bifocals and yet there is a guy I work with who is 10 years older than me who doesn't even wear gl***es!

My maternal grandfather died at 72, he was close to retirement age early to mid 60s when the local Chevrolet dealer he worked for closed.
After he didn't have a job to go to, he gave up and failed quickly! I remember in his late 60s he looked 80!

My dad is 77 and as I said I am 44 neither one of use can stand to be in A/C (my mom either) if I am in it for too long it makes me sick to my stomach!

Yes, things are you age eyes, hearing, aches pians are age, but others like wanting power brakes and A/C have nothing to do with age and everything to do with mindset.

If you want to put these things on your car, put them on, but put them on because you want them don't blame it on age.

Jack Miller is in his mid 70s


Jimmy Fugal is in his mid to late 70s


John Shaul who was in his 80s when he retired from A/SA


**** Ackerman was in this 80s when he stopped racing.


Red Framer at 90!

 

Yep, I mostly agree. A huge part of it is just your at***ude and level of motivation. And how well you take care of yourself. It’s important to get some exercise, and eat relatively healthy.

 

Buzzie Reutimann is still driving a modified at 84 years of age, and doing quite well at it.

 

I share this because your post makes it seem like you don't realize that this exists.

Strength loss due to age can be counteracted through diet, exercise, and vitamins. However that takes work, so a lot of people don't do it or do enough. It's not voodoo.

If someone's hot rod has brakes that are already hard to use, getting older makes it harder for them to use their hot rod.

If power brakes allows someone to use their hot rod deeper into their old age, who the hell are we to ***** about it?

 

I’m in my 40’s and need AC in my old car because I work in an air conditioned office and drive an air conditioned car all week so I’m acclimated to AC.

I need power disk brakes in my old car because I commute in a modern car with disk brakes and it’s hard to remember to change my driving style when I get in the old car on the weekend.

basically I’m a wuss that can’t handle heat or a stiff brake pedal

 

My dog used to be able to jump into the back of my truck why can't he still do it at 15? He must just be lazy and has a bad at***ude.

This a seriously tone deaf post.

 

Robert, I blame it on my youth, when I should have known better and taken better care of myself. Now in my 70s I have some structural issues that will continue to affect my choices in automotive components. Like your friend who doesn’t need gl***es to weld, I put on non- prescription gl***es to protect my eyes, but I can still see just fine up close. And I just call my hand shaking my automatic weave bead producer.

I do like automatic transmissions more than before, as my left foot doesn’t have much feeling in it. Makes it interesting to operate a clutch. That is one of the structural issues biting me. Otherwise I don’t blame it on my age, rather my lack of knowledge in my youth

 

I put power brakes in my '62 Bel Air that never came with them, because it's easier for me to drive my family safely in it now, and I'm less fatigued after a long drive.

Similarly, I'm going to be putting power steering and eventually air conditioning in it. That will allow me to use and enjoy it more with my entire family.

We have the technology, complaining about people installing it in their own vehicle for whatever reason is funny.

 

I am 76 and have both shoulders worked on for rotator cuff tears, and one knee replaced. I still work in the shop most days, but all the things you mentioned get harder to do as you age and due to injuries you had in your youth. Working a clutch can get hard with a bad hip or knee, same with manual brakes. I have noticed I cannot tolerate the heat like I did when younger. Everyone ages differently, due to genetics, diet, and abuse, smoking, etc. So needing an automatic trans, ps, pb, or air in a car, can be age related, not everyone is the same at a given age.

 

You nailed it.

 

I had both hips replaced at age 59, mostly due to activities I worked on cement floors for 20 plus years. 10 to 20K steps every shift. I worked in the oil fields for 20 years brutal work. I was very active my whole life. I wore my stuff out. Before hip replacements no way I could drive a stick or manual brakes. Anyone working the trades Electricians, Plumbers Mechanics etc probably have shoulder damage. My point is PB PS automatics etc will keep older worn out guys driving longer. Why drive your hot rod or custom if it’s not enjoyable.
Dan

 

OP just needs to eat right and exercise his eyes! Toss those gl***es and work on getting perfect vision.
Anyone who dies before 70 or 80 is a slacker!

In all seriousness, perhaps OP can volunteer at a children's cancer ward with that positive at***ude.

 

Every other hot rod car uses better brakes, tires, powersteering or whatelse makes it go quicker, stop safer or more comfortable and of course more able to match the very different traffic conditions that we have to face today. Better use the car with some compromises as long as you can than make it yard art as it could not cope with todays traffic or your own health demands.

 

I never had any problems doing cross country motorcycle trips but it was starting to get embar***ing when my riding buddies started dumping their bikes when their legs would give out while dismounting. Years later it happened to me and I finally understood. We never forget how to do things, the body just does not respond as expected and seldom as quickly.
Any mechanical advantage or technical advancement that helps to prolong the enjoyment of our hobbies and life in general is a good thing. I will never fault anyone for using any and all means to do so.
It's just a matter of time until you will start to "blame it on age".

 

Everyone ages differently, and I have friends who are younger than me and need power ***ist for brakes or steering. Some of this has to do with ailments due to age, and some has to do with how they did things in their younger years.
You might question the need for power ***ist brakes or steering now, but I bet your thought process will be different when you get fairly old.
I'll turn 76 this year, and neither of my hotrods had power brakes or steering, but I sure appreciate my newer vehicles that have it! Especially the power steering! And I may swap power steering onto my '39 Chev as I get even older.

 

I was a farmer and since we had the summer free my wife and I decided to we would travel as much as we could before we got too old. We each had a motorcycle and we rode every summer. Went to sturgis 2 times,Yellowstone ,followed Lewis and Clark trail and many other places.
Then I got to be 65 and tired of fighting traffic on the Harley.
I built a Model A banger and we decided to travel in it till we got too old. Took a 4,000 mile trip to Montana.
Now I am 83 and am glad that I did stuff before I got too old. I will keep on as long as I can.
As mentioned in a post above time goes quick .Enjoy retirement however you can.

 

I am 91 and should have took better care of myself when i was younger, bad hips and knees, but try to still do small small things that dont take a lot of heavy work. DON

 

AC?
My old beater doesn’t have heat unless you remove the trans cover.

we all should have taken better care of ourselves.
But that sounds kinda boring.

Every occupation/hobby creates issues and wear and tear.
There is not get out of jail free card in life

 

Exercise? A better at***ude?

Taking good care of yourself and perseverance can help, no question. But everybody's different and it has more to do with genetics than anything else. And you can't do a damn thing about that.

People usually criticize what they don't understand. You're in your 40s. You don't have a clue.
But you will.
Post about it again in 20 years and we'll see how your good at***ude is holding up.

 

There's only one bit of unsolicited advice that I offer to young fellas.

"Hurry up."

 

Hahaa I’ve been sitting here trying to craft a clever reply and you just said everything that I was planning to say. Obviously, I couldn’t agree more.

 

I'm 70 and my first p*** down drag strip was two years ago. 3000 miles for Drag Week last year in a car with no a/c or power anything. But I've noticed that as I get older **** keeps getting heavier. A time is coming when a smaller bike would be a smart move if I want to keep riding. There's things that I don't try to do with brute strength like I used to. I've been pretty lucky healthwise, just trying to do things while I still can.

 

I was talking to surgeon who was doing my hips I asked “I’m kind of young for hip replacement aren’t I ?” He says No were seeing more young people due active lifestyles. Then he says “You can be active and wear your joints out and I can fix that or You can sit on your *** and have a heart attack, another Dr will have to fix that But either way you’re coming to see us!” He had a good sense of humor and BTW anyone can have a heart attack.
Dan

 

Don you’re 91 You must’ve done something right!
Dan

 

Thank You @1971BB427 You hit it on the head
I'll not bother to read all of this bugaboo.
My only thought is to tell the OP Let us know how your journey was when you get there.
Oh wait this site ain't the place for that topic
@jnaki says it Best YRMV

 

I'm 50. I feel damn good for 50. Bring old age on...I'm ready!

 

You need to walk a mile in someone in their mid-70's shoes, and then tell us all about it. I am knocking on 78, and more fit than most my age, but little things like neuropathy settles into your feet, and power brakes sure make it safer. Driving a Hot Rod in traffic at 70mph, is a whole lot different than on a back road with no traffic. When you have had shoulders dislocated like may of us have, rodeo riding and dirt ovals, power steering lets you enjoy the time you have left driving the cars we love. You are correct about how staying active will make you live longer. My old buddy Rolla Vollstedt (Indy Car owner/builder) taught me to stretch every morning, he was active with cars until he was 95, and died at 99. I have to leave now, I have cars to build .......

 

Once again, you are spouting off on stuff you know nothing about. Every persons story ,is a little bit different, and they are just trying to get by in ways they didn't have to before. Age comes Quickly ,and not always in positive ways.

 

Kudos to all those still living the dream in their golden years but this thread seems to present an over whelming if not unaminous consensis, as I expected.
I had the privilege of honing my off-road/cross country motorcycle skills with a WW2 vet who taught soldiers to ride during the war. It was never about speed. All technique, ability and common sense. We covered 10s of thousands of rugged off-road miles together over more than 30 years. The thing he always asked when we were confronted with an unsurmountable obstacle that required going around or when I did something a bit too dare devilish was..."how far is it to the nearest hospital from here?" He was well into his 90's and still had the desire to ride but not the ability. I always thought that was the most important thing, having the desire.
So in conclusion to my thoughts on this thread, if you still have the desire, use whatever means are available to facilitate your ability with a good measure of common sense thrown into the mix.

 

In the spirit of this thread I have a friend who celebrated his 100 th birthday last week. He goes dancing with his lady friend every wed night. His sons bought him a self driving Tesla so he can keep driving .
He also has a Model A roadster. I do not like Teslas at all,but if-you knew this guy I thinkyou would approve. Long way from power brakes and steering

John