Hello from Canada, where we store our hot rods all winter but have to go to work to pay for them - i.e. no hibernation. I have much to learn as Dad was a surgeon, not a mechanic. Uncle Karl, however, sold, then collected Packards and Studebakers and was a kind of inspiration for all the metal slivers, greasy fingers and thrills cars have brought me since. I fell in love with Checker Marathons at an early age - I particularly like the wagons. Checker put ads in National Geographic Magazine, which I loved to pore over when I was first learning to read. As a Family Doctor, I struggle against demands on my time, but doing user maintenance on an old car is fun. I am trying to pick up new skills, having built one olds 455 that ran better than when I found it. I hope to learn welding, body and upholstery work so that my retirement in 18 years will be a busy one. I have a large "man cave" - a 4 car garage, more tools than I know how to properly use right now, and a certain acquired disdain for possessions. The quote I would most like to exemplify is "the difference between struggle and adventure is at***ude". I already have one nice Checker, but it is too noisy and smelly for my bride to abide. Something makes me want to fix up a second Checker to her liking (or, at least to her tolerance) rather than changing cams and exhaust in the good car. I hope to persuade more rodders to factor in extra safety when building and driving. Specifically: 1. Whiplash and closed head injuries **** - so give everyone in your ride a head rest and three point harness, keep the roll cage pillard away from your noggen and don't use a helmet that was dropped on pavement. 2. Please don't speed or drive while impaired on public roads. You can still accelerate quickly on the on-ramps, and it is always OK to be high on life. It's hard to get a traffic citation on a race track, so speed there. 3. wear neoprene work gloves that are not as strong as the ligaments in your fingers when around moving parts - that way you get to keep your hand even if you screw up. 4. don't steal someone elses ride (horse rustling in my book) and don't disrespect a fellas ride or spouse (good murder avoidance strategy) 5. Do see your Family Doctor every year and get your darned prostate checked. 6. Do service to your community. I look forward to learning from you. -Chris Ayers B Eng, MD Captain (Retired)
Een goude Dag verder! (or words to that effect) I was in Europe on army maneuvers decades ago but never did the NATO "March to Nijmegen". Rumor was a Canadian soldier in uniform had trouble paying for his own beer in a Dutch pub. Something about liberation, kindness shown to the Dutch Royal Family (in exile in Ottawa), plus a whole bunch of food delivered via Canadian army trucks to hungry folk in Northern Holland at the end of that damned starvation winter ('44-45). Kind regards -Chris
Calgary does have its rat race, rush hour, frightening nightly local newscasts and it is sprawling. No tailpipe emission testing is done in Alberta. The roads are all tar macadam, as concrete crumbles in the wintertime and the tar mac can be reused. So I commute away from city center, and I ignore the local news, except the weather report. I do keep the cars in tune and avoid speeding. I have lots of rural relatives and they are not fools. I suspect this province will be the last to make hot rods tough to own and operate. Now if only winter would disappear! -Chris
The Jalopy Journal
