Finding Mutual Respect.

[motorheadmike]

I had a pretty hectic week, and despite it all something positive stood out for me: the mutual respect between those who build things.

I stopped by a "local" shop that sells E85 - okay it was a 30 minute drive - with the TBSS and some 10 gallon gerry cans. The pump was broken. While trying get it working the owner I made some very light small talk.

After a short feeling out period we ended up in a deep philosophical and technical discussion about building cars properly. He was kind enough to compliment me on my truck in saying most shops don't produce work as clean. I was flattered. The next thing I knew I was eye-f*cking his shop car (a 2JZ swapped FT86) with tonnes of custom fabricated parts.

I think it was a pleasant surprise for both parties to be engaged in an intellectual exchange... if even for a moment.

Similiarly, the next day, I took the TBSS for a wash at a shop in town that does high-end cars. I cautioned the owner (a car guy) about its power, driveability, and lack of snow tires before leaving for ice cream with my oldest. I get back and it is nothing but his adulation and me providing an explanation - and me getting an apology for not listening and sneaking a peak under the hood. LOL! His eyes lit up when he learned I owned the LeMans wagon as well (he'd stopped to snap pics of it in the summer). I got a discount on my wash.

My point? If you want respect in this hobby - you have to build it.

 

[Injectedcutty]

Well put Mike! I've been in similar situations myself. I've had car guys try to tell me this or that when unbeknownst to them I bleed gear oil lol! Usually once I share some pics or spill some knowledge it changes things.
Hell, I usually get funny looks because I will go to junkyards in my khakis and polo. Actually, I pulled the LS heads in work clothes and gained respect that day.

It's funny because I don't "fit" the stereotype of a gearhead (haven't figured out what a gearhead is supposed to look like) so it's fun to find like minded guys and them realize I'm just as much a car guy as the next! Just because it was last night, I took my 7 year old to a father/daughter Valentine's dance....

 

[clean8485]

Very well said Mike!

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Well put Mike! I've been in similar situations myself. I've had car guys try to tell me this or that when unbeknownst to them I bleed gear oil lol! Usually once I share some pics or spill some knowledge it changes things.
Hell, I usually get funny looks because I will go to junkyards in my khakis and polo. Actually, I pulled the LS heads in work clothes and gained respect that day.

It's funny because I don't "fit" the stereotype of a gearhead (haven't figured out what a gearhead is supposed to look like) so it's fun to find like minded guys and them realize I'm just as much a car guy as the next! Just because it was last night, I took my 7 year old to a father/daughter Valentine's dance....View attachment 82410

She's cute, glad to see you doing things together. They grow up WAY TO QUICK

 

[Injectedcutty]

She's cute, glad to see you doing things together. They grow up WAY TO QUICK

Yeah they do! She will be 8 in a couple months, the day we brought her home from the hospital seems like just yesterday! Her little sister is 3 and it's the same way, time flies!

 

[Ribbedroof]

I remember bring both girls home like it was last month. Oldest will be 18 in less than a month, her sister just turned 14 a couple weeks ago.

Time marches on....

Sorry about the

It is always a pleasant surprise when you find someone who actually has a grasp on what they're talking about. In my case, even moreso when they're considerably younger than myself. We have an estimator at work that is 30 years younger than myself, and I was blown away by his ability to have an intelligent conversation on a variety of topics...something some of his decade+ older co-workers cannot do.

 

[Turbo Zach]

As a field mechanic, I get that a lot. Some people just want to feel me out to see if I know anything. Some kids ask me dumb questions. Some feel the need to make them selfs look good to me. Some want a pissing competition. If I say I have hotrod cars they always want to know all about them. The most of them will become quite after a bought five minutes, but occasionally I will have someone carry on a intelligent conversation with me. The problem is I have to be polite with all of them, or I will not be back.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Yeah they do! She will be 8 in a couple months, the day we brought her home from the hospital seems like just yesterday! Her little sister is 3 and it's the same way, time flies!

My (love of my life) 6 year old granddaghter lives in Dallas me in Pgh.how little I get to be with her magnifies her growing up to fast.

 

[Wraith]

I have always dabbled across automotive interests so I believe I have a better understanding towards others using their sweat and effort to build anything with an engine. The one thing I have found is there are douchebags in every nook and cranny of any hobby you can undertake, you just have to find them and steer clear.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Just buying and selling parts I've met mostly really great people. Let alone on here. Like the member on here that I went from Pgh. to Ohio last spring bought and cut the roof and tail section off of his Cutlass Cruiser IN THE RAIN. He'd never seen anything like that done before. The last time I cut a car in half at a local pic-a-part yard (also in the rain) I had an audience of about 20 watching and applauded when it went perfectly. Just like my mechanic friend,we have high mutual respect for each ohers skills and workmanship.