Man what a great thread...My 2 year old love my hot rod and even named it (tinker belle) not the most manly name around but what the hell....She stays in the garage with me when I am doing the work and pokes around the car while I am wrenching... Kids are the best and have truely saved my life (without them and my wife I would be a totaly different person).
Amen to all. I just got back from Atlanta GA last night. My oldest son just took a job there and Deb and I moved him and his supportive girl friend down there. I was OK till Deb and I were piling into my truck and the emotions just rolled over me, having him 13 hrs away is tough but he's happy with his new job and this is one of the things we work for when raising our kids. Before he left he sold his 62 Pontiac Tempest, the one with the slant four. It went pretty cheap due to his relocating but mostly while the guy was looking at it they were dealing on price and the man's on a budget. The buyer had his 2 sons with him and Ross told me " I remember all the fun we had working on my cars and stuff together and I wanted to share that with this man and his kids" The circle of life works for those of us lucky enough to be blessed in our lives with kids. Talked to the new buyer about pick up arrangments and he told me that his oldest son raided his own savings to make the purchase happen! this is where the future rodders come from, we need to nurture these new seeds. Ted
Here's me behind the wheel 30 years ago. Dad and grandpa in the back. Cars have always been the glue that binds for our family and still is. I hope to pass it all on to my son as well. Like hiway7 said, great thread, without him I am nothing. p.s. my eyes still do that when I get behind the wheel. Paul
Congrats, When we found out, you couldnt keep me from going to every doctors appt. with video camera in hand !!!I love it !!!
What a great thread!!! Blueskies...that picture is awesome. You live in a beautiful area! My daughter's first car was a 68 mustang that she still ownes 14 years later..she has helped me by painting the dash on my 37 here three years ago for my Christmas present. My oldest son Nathan helped me all along through the build of my first project.. I can still remember when we were installing the running boards on my 50 pickup and he drilled clear through it. We laughed and threw in a plug. I lost him five years ago in an accident. Those are fond memories... I wish he was still here drilling as many holes in my finished project as he wanted...... My youngest son Matt... who is a Hamber too. Is an avid hotrodder always there when needed. We have since bought an A sedan for a together project. I can't think of too many things a father and son/daughter can be so passionate about than this hobby. We are always running to shows and cruisein together all summer. Their ages are 26 and 30.
My dad and I are super close due to our mutual love of cars. My mom told me he "shut off" the car thing because it was what you were supposed to do when you had a family. BUT Hot Rod still came every month and I would always ask him about his racecar, a 32 tudor with a hemi and 6 2s. Most of my strongest memories are car related with my dad. Someday we're gonna drive his duce to Bonneville together. This is about 35 Deg. I have 3 girls and although I don't force it on them, I think 1 or 2 of them may end up a gearhead. Here's the middle one lookin cool
My kids grew up taking trips to scholl and cross country in the back of my 56 panel. Last summer, by son (29) and my buddy's son (18) made the trip to Back to the 50's with us. Nothin like it! Rodshop
Well, you have 'em on a good path. To this day, my father and I go to car events just like when I was young, the only thing that has changed, is now he rides with me quite often. I am close with my dad, and consider him to be my main influence. His influence has steered me to some great times, and I wouldn't change a thing. I do not have kids of my own, but I have a couple of neices that are growing up around the car scene, and they seem to like it alot.
MyDad;s been gone for a while now but sometimes I still think "I should call Dad and see how he's do something ot other. Just think'n about this on the way home from my Mother in laws funeral today - Ya hear so many things about Mother in laws from Hell, but mine was a great lady. Were gonna miss her big and I'm sure my wife 'll Feel the same way even years from now " wonder how Mom would do this?"
My Dad got me into cars and bikes when I was a kid. Now my 4 year old son is feeling it! Here's a shot of him at the Jalopy Showdown with his favorite car, Nomad Mark's coupe, and a '40 Ford model we won as a door prize. He says the rusty ones go faster! I really wanted to ride my bike, but could tell how badly he wanted to go. I wouldn't trade that day for the world! Ken
Sure has taken a large chunk of my "toy fund", but I wouldn't trade it for the world. He set me up at age 10, saw one at the track and started bugging us for one. I told him if he started bringing home all A's I'd go find one... 3 weeks later he shows up with an all A report card. He's been an AB student ever since. 8 years later, we're running our last season in the "junior" with 3 track championships, 2 "Wallys", and current NHRA Division 2 Champion. Damn, I'm going to miss it. May just drag out my 57 chevy sedan delivery that was my first car 30 years ago an see if we can throw something together to go bracket racing next year.
Wow, what a great thread............... I had probably the best time with my Dad that I can remember is a great many years a few weeks ago. I was heading to the Kelowna for a few days to meet up with my gear head relatives then pick up my son for the summer. My Dad built his rod, '46 Ford p/u, from local junk yard discards; the truck is beautiful and in true form probably will never be completed; so we were up early Saturday morning and made a move to a couple known 'dump' sites in search of parts for his ride but more importantly at a glance, parts for my AV8 project. We searched this amazing wrecking yard, shoulder to shoulder discussing simple things, allowing the pace to keep with the conversation as it switched from 'how to build it'(my project) to an old piece of iron that showed itself as we walked through the yard. This rare day of one on one, no deadlines or wives, warm sunshine and 'experienced classics' all around, rates very high on quality time. My kids all enjoy motorized rigs; we've drag raced, circle track'd, 4x4 ect! My daughter would spend evenings in the garage with me; at the age of 3, I would give her a cardboard box with a small box of robertson drive sheet metal screws, so she could 'help'. She would screw all the screws into the box, then when she was done, unscrew them. She could tell you the names of major components inside an engine. We would take the military jeep out in the dead of winter ( -30 in the sun) and go for a drive out on the frozen lake, of course she prefered the drive without the top. The boys are great, just more cautious than the daredevil older sis! My adult friends are still blown away when one of the boys, 6 & 9, come into the shop to borrow a tool to 'fix' their BMX, and use the correct name for the tool they may require. Besides the great insperation this board reaks onto this hobby for me, my kids are very supportive and willing to learn. This gives me great drive learn and teach them, as my father does for me. Thank Dad.
Awesome thread, I've never been too close to my old man, we tried to fix things but it just doesn't seem to work. But 4 months ago I got the chance to start my own family and I'll never let me and Abbott drift apart. My wife says"what if wants to be a dancer?" and I say "he can dance around me while I'm working on my car". I don't care if he's a gearhead, it would be the greatest, but as long as he looks at me with love and respect, that's all I need.
my 6 year old daughter likes to help with my car .it the same car ,i helped my dad work on when i was that age.we go get ice cream in it and everytime she sees an old car she says '' dad look at that old car"'.she helps sand in washs parts for me .i hope shell keep interested in it.
I lost my dad to cancer last year, We had the chance to do alot in a little time that was given. He saw me enjoy what he had the chance to enjoy all his life. Working and wrenching. And buyng - Selling rides. We did alot of car shows in a small time frame as well. I miss him so much but I know he is up there smilin down on me. Every time I go out for a roll in any jalopy we have I picture my pops right beside me. Telling me to give more gas and "lets see what this "bo" can do!!". Enjoy your time is my advice. Cherish every little moment, cuz they will be the memories that could mean the world to your children. And I agree, what a great thread. NAILHEAD
You boys are funny! My dad ditched me for a wife, moved away and hardly talks at me anymore. I've adopted the HAMB and Rocky instead. Lucky ROCKY! My boy doesn't have a dad............so does that make me the meaning of his life? NO BRANDY IT DOESNT! Meaning of Nathan's life is cars. Cool cars. He's a gearhead from the bottom of his feet to the top of his square head. I have 3 years to get him ready for Jr. Dragsters. He'll be a gearhead for the rest of his life.............BECAUSE Momma doesn't sling steaks at a dirty ol roadhouse for NOTHING! xxx Brandy
I truly understand what you mean. I share my passion for cars with both my 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter. I bring to all of the shows with me, they help work on the car and keep me company. I do feel some hostility from some of the single younger guys because i do bring my kids, but Fu%# them. We dads and moms are going to keep this lifestyle going for another generation. So look for a 41 chevy or 59 caddy with me and the kids and say hi.
This is the best thread ever...I lost a daughter 7 years ago to a genetic brain disease and we took a chance after she died to have another child and we did and he has been checked and is healthy and almost 6 and loves to ride in (his) 57 Chev...kids are great
Back in the early 70's, I had to sell my first A roadster when my first daughter was born. Two years later when #2 came along I had to sell my '34 PU. Milk and medicine were a priority. When #3 came along I got a second job. Years later when the last one was half way thru college, I started collecting parts for a new hot rod. By then my oldest was having children of her own. Longe story short, my four year old grandson is a gearhead in training. One of his first words was, "Papa's hot rod". His first sound effect was, "Verrroom Verroom". Yesterday he was watching me weld using my spare hood. Now he wants to try it himself. If I knew being retired was this much fun, I'd have looked forward to it even more.
Great thread, my dad and I are real close due to hot rods and my kids. We built my 53 f-100 together when i was 15, still have that truck, it now belongs to my 7 yr old son. my 8 yr old daughter wants a Falcon or an old Beetle Bug. Just brought my youngest home yesterday, she'll have a 39 ford coupe. Not going to force it on them, but it will definately be there if they want into it. My boy is pretty into cars for a 7 yr old, he still talks about the HAMB drags, Last year it was my dad, me and my son, 3 generations of hotrodders, at the drags, Good times!!!
I've read this with lots of happy memories of my dad and grand-dad. Grand-dad built jalopies in the 40s&50s because thats what he could throw together and drive;he and dad built several mild customs in the 50s out of wrecks,Dad would drive them for a little while then sell them to a rich kid.I never had a chance,Born with grease under my nails primer dust in my ears and nose I can't remember not having hot rods dune buggys(1969?) mini bikes muscle cars bikes boats all around.I didn't realize you could buy a car off a lot;I thought they all came from the salvage.Last night we moved the 57 wagon I got from Chewie;8 year old daughter screaming I GET TO DRIVE!!! older brothers have already washed and cleaned, While I messed with my new toy the boys drifted back to oldest sons pick-up installing a new core support spinning the same wrenchs my grand father used 60 years ago.Spend time with your kids they'll be gone and that old cold tin will wait on you. Besides when the kids move out you need a backlog of projects to keep you out of the old ladies hair.
indeed, a great thread. my pops and i share a great relationship. i work with him everyday. we talk hotrods as we work and live em in the off time. he's ready to do something different and i hate to see him go. he wont go far. he's gonna wrench just down the road from here and do what he loves. so after my daily rat-race i'll go down to the garage and wrench with my pops. that's our relationship. i'm a dad too. 2 of the most beautiful little shits in the world. i love my girls more than anything. they know my passion for rods and they dig em too. my youngest, 2, throws the biggest tantrum, i mean the BIGGEST, EVERYTIME, we dont drive a hotrod instead of the wifes rig. 9 months out of the year i take them to school everyday in a rod and they love every minute of it. they're way worst than me. hangin their heads out and waving to everybody. it makes everyday worth it and starts it out right. they too wrench on bikes and trikes while i do my thing. when they get bored i've set up quite the theatre in the garage for the little shits, leaving no excuse for dad to have to take em back inside. amazing how much time i can spend in the garage if they're in there too. if they're not with me i feel guilty and want to be in the house with em. i dont have the father/son thing like my dad and i do, but you can bet your ass i love what i got and will do anything in my power to have a father/daughter relationship out of this world! later days, rural
The Jalopy Journal
