Warmer Climate

As winter sets in over much of our half of the planet, and I see the reports of nasty cold weather happening to many of my friends, family, and Twitter associates, I'm glad I live in a warmer climate. It makes it much easier to enjoy my cars all year around.
I spent most of my life living in colder areas, and dealing with snow, ice, and freezing weather.  It seems like the cold weather lasted almost half of the year, though in reality, it was probably more like four or five months. But, it was way to much time to put up with weather that hampered my enjoyment of my cars. Though I drove my performance cars year around, there were many days that they had to stay in the garage, because of snow and nasty roads.
We've had this home in Southern Utah for eight years now, though we have lived here full time for less than four years. Even when our primary home was up north, I kept my best performance car garaged down here, so I could enjoy it when I was down on weekends and holidays. I quickly grew to love this climate, and couldn't wait to live here full time.
As many of my Twitter friends and associates talk about putting their performance cars away for the winter, it makes me appreciate my warmer climate, because I remember vividly what it was like living in the snow. I'm very happy I live where I do.
For more of my automotive history, you can check out my book at; Grab Some Gears

My Mustang and our Southern Utah home town. Snow usually stays on those distant mountain tops.

Finding Solitude

The end of the year, the holidays, the colder weather, and all that come with it, has always been a hard time for me. I have never liked crowds, dealing with a lot of people at one time, even like parties or large family gatherings. "I am a loner" !
We always hear that many people experience depression around the holidays. I think most of them are probably people who would like to be around other people, but find themselves alone around this time of year. I used to work with a single guy, who's whole life centered around his work environment, and everyone he associated with were the people he worked with. When the holidays came around, and everyone had a lot of time off at work, he spent the days home alone, and I think it was very hard on him every year. I know he got very depressed.
That's not me. I like my time alone. That's when my batteries recharge. I love it especially when I have something to do that I enjoy, like keeping my cars clean, keeping my house and garage clean and neatly organized, or just out walking in a beautiful, quite place, on a nice day. These things I enjoy doing every chance I get.
This year, at the end of a very stressful last seven months, I've needed that solitude more than ever before. I especially enjoy my walks in the canyon. I find myself taking more notice of the beauty and quiet, more than I ever have before. I do enjoy that time, and cherish it, and thank God for it.

Me,  enjoying the beautiful Snow Canyon State Park, near my home in Southern Utah.

Drag Strip Days

Readers of this blog, and those familiar with my book, may know that I was a street racer for over 40 years. During those years, I also spent quite a bit of time on the "legal" drag strip, racing my cars in the "street legal" classes. This went on for about a ten year period, between 1987 and 1997, and I still have a lot of the time slips, and a trophy, from those days. During those years, I ran four different cars on the drag strip near my former home in Northern Utah.
In the last couple years, we had a drag strip here in Southern Utah. I went out and watched the racing a couple times, thinking about running on the strip again in my 2015 Mustang GT. About the time I was ready to try my luck again, they closed down the drag strip, and started construction of large industrial buildings on the site. That was the end of that, and for my return to drag racing.
A lot of thing changed in my time away from drag strip racing. Now days, you see a lot of different vehicles, other than the classic muscle cars that used to dominate the racing. You now find way more large, hopped-up, diesel pickup trucks, than the muscle cars of the old days.
Just like the move from muscle cars to hopped-up turbo imports among the street racing crowd, I guess everything changes, even if it's sad for some of us "old-timers", that's the way it goes.
Anyone interested can check out my book at: "Grab Some Gears"

Vintage photo of me on the drag strip in my 87 Mustang,  in the late 1980's.

Shelby GT500

A few years ago, I owned a 2007 Shelby GT 500. I had ordered it from Ed Kenley Ford in Northern Utah, my favorite Ford dealership. The GT 500 was being brought back for the first time since 1970, and I had been on the waiting list since they were first announced. It was almost a year until the details were all finalized and they started actually putting in orders. That dealership would only be getting one Shelby GT 500 for the 2007 model year, and it would be mine. I picked out the color and options I wanted, the order was placed, and 6 months later, my new Shelby arrived.
I think I always knew that it may be a once-in-a-lifetime car for me. Being something special, I tried to keep the miles down, it was always kept clean and detailed. It was never driven is the rain, and was kept covered when in the garage. After we bought our place in Southern Utah, the Shelby was kept in the garage down here most of the time. I could drive it all year around in this climate, and I came down here often.
I made some performance upgrades while I owned the Shelby. It had an after-market cold air induction system, cat-back exhaust system, and some special trim items and the like. It was tuned to about 575 horsepower, and was a thrill to drive. I had it up over 150 MPH on a lonely stretch of  deserted Nevada highway one summer afternoon.
I owned the Shelby for about six years, and it had only 12,000 miles on it when I sold it. The main problem was, I'm a car-guy, and I like to drive my cars. I didn't want a "collectors item" that I felt I couldn't just drive as much as I wanted. When I sold it, I ordered a new 2013 Mustang GT to be my daily driver performance car.
Car enthusiasts may want to check out my book: "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing". Just follow this link; Grab Some Gears

My 2007 Shelby GT 500 , in the Red Rock country of Southern Utah , about 7 years ago.

What's Next ?

Over the last couple years, the miles have really started to add up on our 2014 Dodge Charger. This is mostly due to numerous 2000 mile trips to Washington state and back, from our Southern Utah home. The same situation was happening with our gray 2013 Charger, which was an all-wheel-drive model. We sold that gray Charger to our son, and replaced it with our current white 2014 we found at our local Dodge dealership.
These are excellent cars for many reasons. They are very comfortable to travel in, very roomy, even with rear seat passengers, and have plenty of trunk space. Our 2014 also has a performance tire/wheel package that provides excellent high speed highway handling. Equipped with the 300 horsepower V6 engine, and 8-speed automatic transmission, it has plenty of power, and also gets over 30 miles-per-gallon highway gas mileage.
I have always been a "car-guy", and the looks and image of my cars are important to me. The Dodge Chargers are among very few 4-door cars that can pull off the "muscle-car" look, especially with the 20" chrome wheels of our white 2014 model.
Now, as the miles are adding up, I'm starting to think about what I might get to replace this car when the time comes. I want it to be something with all the qualities we love about this one. What's next? That may be a tall order to fill.
Car people may want to check out my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing". Just follow this link to read sample pages; Grab Some Gears

Our favorite traveling car,  our 2014 Dodge Charger.

Remembering Our History

Anyone who has ever been a car enthusiast, at any point during their life, has fond memories of at least one vehicle from their past. Maybe the first "special" car or truck they ever owned, or one that just brings back the most memories from the days gone by.
For me, that includes many vehicles I have owned over the years. That's just typical for any life-long "car guy". But for many people, that number may be very few, maybe just one or two. For some, it's a vehicle that was special to someone else, other than just our self. I once owned an old Ford Bronco, pick-up cab model, that my grandfather had purchased new at least 20 years before I bought it from my dad. I only owned it for a couple years before I sold it and moved on to something else, but it still holds some special memories for me.
Just this past week, my son sold the 77 Bronco that was special to his son Caden, who passed away last month after loosing his battle with cancer. They owned that vehicle for less than a year, but it will always be remembered as "Caden's Bronco" by the whole family. It will be one of those fond memories for all of us.
We don't have to be a collector, and keep these vehicles, or put them away in storage, for them to be special to us. We have the photographs, and the memories. All we have to do is remember.

Caden's Bronco, ready to be taken away by the new owner.

Obsessions and Distractions

When we have a hobby we love, it often becomes an obsession, taking up all the time we can spare, every chance we get. Sometimes our obsessions can also be a much needed distraction, when the realities of life start to weigh us down, and we just need a break.
That's what my cars are to me, especially when the stresses of life start to become just too much. A day spent cleaning, detailing, and polishing, can be very good and relaxing therapy. Then a drive in that perfectly clean and polished muscle car can finish off a day well spent.
I always want my cars to look their best anyway, even if it's just a last minute cleaning before a trip, or to clean up after a rainy day. If my cars, or garage, are in need of cleaning, it just adds to the stresses of everyday life, and I surly don't want any more of that.
Our lives have been particularly stressful over the last few months, and those times I have spent with my cars have been a great value to me. A much needed distraction. Now, hopefully, they can get back to just being my favorite obsession.
Readers of my blog, or my followers on Facebook and Twitter, may be interested in checking out my book at: "Grab Some Gears"

My obsession,  my 2015 Mustang GT , in the beautiful country near my home in Southern Utah.

Not Enough Time

When we loose someone we love, we realize that we didn't get enough time with them. Those times we did get, become very precious memories, that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
 We lost a grandson to cancer a couple weeks ago, and just got home yesterday from the long drive to the funeral and back. I had many hours to think about Caden, and what a great young man he was. We have known for some time that we were going to loose him, and we savored the time we got to spend with him and his family.
The accomplishments he made in the last few months are remarkable, as his family made every effort to make sure he could have every possible life experience he could have in the time he had left. Many others were there to help. Friends, neighbors, church members, class mates, extended family, and countless others were there to join in. The outpouring of love and support was remarkable.
He enjoyed life right up to the last couple days, then said his goodbyes to his family, gave precious gifts to his brothers and sisters, and passed on from this earthly life.
We all miss him greatly. As I think back on the time spent with him, no mater how much it was, it just was not enough time.

Our Caden, just a couple weeks before he passed away.

Missing Caden

A few days ago, my grandson Caden passed away after battling cancer for almost 4 years. He was just 16 years old, and an outstanding young man, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who knew him.
He was just 12 years old when he was sent to Seattle Children's Hospital by Life-Flight plane, and in the weeks that followed, the first cancer was removed, along with 3/4 of his liver. That was the first of many trips to that hospital over the last few years. He bounced back from several surgeries and chemo treatments, and accomplished many mile-stones in his young life. In the last few months we found out he was fighting his last fight. The cancer was back, worse than ever, and there was nothing left that could be done. His time was running out.
We were up to visit Caden and his family in August, and he was still busy living life to the fullest. On the afternoon before we came home, Caden took me for a ride in the 77 Bronco that he loved to drive. Manual transmission, big tires, V8 engine and all, not the easiest vehicle to drive, but he handled it like a pro. That was our Caden.  He will be greatly missed.

Caden  Randy  Dirks     May 15 2001 - October 4 2017

My Masterpiece

Any artist, musician, writer, or performer usually has something in their collection of accomplishments that they regard as their masterpiece. Being a life-long car guy, and lucky enough to have owned many performance cars I've loved over the years, makes it hard to pick out a favorite, or crown one as the "masterpiece" of my automotive hobby. It also depends on what criteria we choose to consider when trying to pin point which should come out on top.
Some of the cars I have owned were more expensive than the rest, some were the fastest and most fun to drive, and these are naturally the Mustang Cobras, and Shelby GT 500 I've had. Others were just very nice all around cars, good looking, fun to drive, enjoyable to take on a trip, and easy to maintain. But, when you also consider the work I put in myself, to make the cars the cool machine they ended up, then it becomes more clear which car should take the honor as my automotive masterpiece. My 1970 Cobra Jet Ranchero.
This was probably the rarest car I've owned. Very few 1970 Ranchero GT's were produced with the 429 Cobra Jet engine, with 4-speed transmission. When I bought the car in the mid 1980's, it only had just over 20,000 miles on it, but needed some engine work, and a lot of body and paint restoration to make it nice again.
I went through the engine completely, doing what we used to call a "blueprint" engine build, and making performance enhancements along the way. It ended up as a 468 cubic inch performance monster, with factory original looks and detailing.  I did the minor body repairs and paint preparation after the engine was installed and break-in tuning was complete. When it came back from the paint shop, I reinstalled the final trim pieces, using new-old-stock trim pieces where necessary.
The Ranchero was a beauty on the streets, an exciting car to drive, and dominated all the street races I found myself involved in. It can easily be considered my automotive masterpiece.
For more of the story, you can check out my book at: "Grab Some Gears"

My 1970 Ford Ranchero GT, with factory 429 CobraJet engine and 4-speed transmission. 

Life's Highway

Life is often described as a road, a path, or a highway. The older I get, and the more twists and turns my life takes, the more I believe this comparison is a good way to describe it. Some recent, and some on-going, family situations have made this analogy even more apparent to me.
We all may have a path of life in mind we plan on taking, but things come up that are unexpected that can change the route very quickly. We find ourselves, or other family and friends, taking a fork in the road, and traveling through some unfamiliar territory. Sometimes we don't know what to expect around the next corner, or over the next hill. And sometimes, we find a mountain instead of a hill, on the road in front of us. Sometimes we can see a storm in our path, that we know we will have to travel through, as our journey continues.
Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. Maybe the road of life is supposed to be an unknown adventure, with many unexpected turns, and mountains to climb, and bridges to cross, and storms to endure. We just have to navigate the path the best we can as we go along, making the most of the trip, and prepare the best we can for those storms we know will happen along the way.
I have wrote about variations of this subject in other posts in my blog before. Being a "car guy" , I usually refer to the car I'm driving along the way, and how that makes the trip more enjoyable for me. But this time I'm talking about the other aspects of out journey of life.  Now I find them a more important part of my thoughts than ever before. Wishing all of you the best outcome, as you travel down your own personal route, along "Life's Highway".

My grandson Caden enjoying the 77 Bronco he loves.

Summer Road Trip

Something we look forward to each year is the traditional "summer road trip". It may be an elusive fantasy, but sometimes it actually happens. We often think of loading up the car for that summer vacation, to the mountains, the beach, or some other fun place. For me and my wife, it was a yearly trip to Yellowstone National Park, and it was a tradition for many years. In recent years, we haven't been making that yearly trip, and we have been missing that get-a-way. This summer, we were making plans to make that Yellowstone trip again, but it just hasn't worked out like we had planned, other issues got in the way. We're still hoping we can work it in next month.
Being a "car guy", the road trip means something more to me than simply getting away on vacation. I enjoy the drive, and especially when I can make the trip in a car I enjoy driving. A car that has great performance and handling abilities makes the trip very rewarding for me. I am lucky that both our cars fall into that category. The Mustang has more performance and handling abilities, but the Charger has a little more room and ride comfort on the long trips. Everything is a trade off it seems.
Even if our Yellowstone trip doesn't work out this summer, we have another trip in the planning stages to visit family anyway, so we will be hitting the road, one way or another.
The road is calling me, summer road trip, here we come. See you on the road.
Car enthusiasts who may be interested can check out my book, and read sample pages by following this link: Grab Some Gears

My favorite summer road trip vehicle, my 2015 Mustang GT, in the beautiful Zion National Park, Utah.

Racing in the Street

Readers of this blog, along with many followers of my Twitter page, know that I was a street racer for over 40 years. Many are also familiar with the book I wrote; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" all about many of my experiences with that, and the legal form, of drag racing.
Sometime in the mid 1980's, my little brother sent me a copy of the song; "Racing in the Street" by Bruce Springsteen. That song really hit home with me and became my adopted "theme song" from then on. I ran across it again today while going through some songs on You Tube, and it brought back a lot of old memories.
That got me remembering a lot of my old street racing buddies, some of whom are no longer with us. A couple of them that I was very close to; my nephew Rob Fetter, and my friend Steve Boothe, I miss very much. We shared our love of cars and drag racing for many years. I think of them often, especially when I'm at a car show or around a bunch of "car guys". Rest in peace my friends.
Anyone interested can check out my book, or read sample pages by following this link; "Grab Some Gears" 

My book cover.

The Farm

When you're driving out across the country, you often pass by some old building setting all alone out in some pasture or farm field. It may have been an old barn, farm house, or some other abandon building, maybe almost ready to fall down from years of weathering and neglect. At one time, it was part of someones farm yard, maybe with some chickens, cows, or horses in pens near by. Maybe there were trucks, tractors, and machinery parked around the various buildings. Probably a little house with a garden near by, and maybe a bicycle or two around as well. This was someones home, their family's source of income, and their familiar place of existence, possibly for several generations. As the years go by, the little farm or ranch was sold, became a part of a much larger farming enterprise, and most of the original buildings torn down, the equipment sold off, until all that's left is one old weathered structure.
For years, when I pass some such site, I wonder what it might have looked like in it's prime. What kind of people lived there, grew up there, and where did they end up. That place was there whole life at one time, and now nothing remains.
I grew up on a farm / ranch in Southwestern South Dakota, that my Grandfather had started in about 1925. He started purchasing the land as it became available, built the buildings, accumulated the necessary tractors and machinery, and raised his family there, and worked it the rest of his life. My Dad made his life there as well, working the land and raising his family. It became an operation of about 2000 acres, half farm land, and half cattle pastures.
My brothers and I grew up exploring the wilderness, riding our bikes, and building forts in the trees. Farm kids also work doing chores, and even driving trucks and tractors, from about 12 years old. As a teenager, I rebuilt my first car engine in one of the buildings on the farm.
Family situations change, my Mom left that life when I was 17, and I went with her, eventually starting a military career in the US Air Force. I returned with my own family after I got out of the Air Force, but that was only for a few months, and I moved on to other pursuits.
My brother stayed, and eventually took over the farming operation, and built a life there. A few years ago, a large land owner came along, made him an offer he couldn't refuse, and the place was sold. I went out there for a last look around as he was getting ready for his equipment auction. All the buildings were there as when I was young, and the memories seemed like a lifetime ago.
Now, all the old buildings are removed, the left over junk cleaned up, and the only thing remaining from our past is the old farm house. It has become one of those places you see along the road, just a symbol of someones memories.

The farm as it appeared in the 1950's.

Today is 7/17/17 - My Kind of Day

Maybe it's just another day to most of the world, but I love it. I've always had kind of a "thing" for the number seven. I'm not sure when it first started, but I have noticed it in my thoughts more and more as the years go by. I don't usually mention it to anyone, I don't need my friends and family thinking I'm any stranger than they already do.
I think I first started being aware of it when I was 17 years old, the year was 1967, and the new 67 model cars awoke a passion in me for performance cars. The top performance engine in the Fords I loved was the 427 V8. I became a life long Mustang fan with my first look at the 67 Shelby GT500, and it has been my favorite Mustang model ever since.
My fascination with the number seven extends to all areas of my life, not just my car hobby. I'm happy when random chance puts a 7 in anything that comes my way. The area of town I live in is called "The Seven Hills Area". When we built this house, the only lot left was lot 27,  and the elevation on this lot is 2770 ft. above sea level. The street number we live on has a 7 in it. The thermostat in our house is set at 77 degrees.  My favorite steak sauce is 57 Sauce.
Ok, I think you get the idea, I like the number seven. Oh, by the way, I turn 67 this year.

My favorite Mustang of all time is the 1967 Shelby GT500.

We've Come A Long Way

We've come a long way in the last 50 years. For me, I was a 17 year old teenager, deep in the task of learning who I was, and who I wanted to become. It seems that my whole life has happened since then. Everything that happened before that point in time seems like a whole different life. What if that first 17 years was all I got? What if the last 50 years never happened?
A recent family situation has me thinking a lot about these things in the last few weeks. I almost can't imagine all the things I have done, and places I have been, and the twists and turns of life that have happened to me in the past 50 years, since I turned 17. Most people reading this blog can relate their own life events in a similar context, many with less years involved, and some will have way more years to include than I do.
Since we were young, we can all remember the older people talking about "the good old days", and looking back on past events in their life that happened many, many years ago. Some of us are approaching that time when it's us who's doing the looking back and telling the younger folks about the life we've lived, and the years and years that have gone by.
There are many who won't get any more than those first 16 or 17 years, and many who will get even less. We can only hope and pray that the time they do get is of the best quality possible.

This is me at 17 years old in 1967, admiring my Mom's 66 Mustang.

The Real 1967 Shelby GT500

This is a subject I've wrote about before in this blog, but I find it on my mind almost every day. As followers of the Mustang people on Twitter, not a day goes by that several pictures are posted of Eleanor Mustangs, that people continue to refer to as "67 Shelby GT500s. I believe that many people, especially the younger fans who were not around in 1967 when the real Shelby GT500s came out, think that Eleanor is what 67 Shelbys really looked like.
Eleanor was a customized Mustang movie prop made for the year 2000 version of the movie: "Gone in 60 Seconds". It is not an accurate example of what real 67 Shelbys looked like.
Don't get me wrong, custom styling is fine, everyone has their own ideas of what looks cool, and what they don't care for. As for me, the original 1967 Shelby GT500 is my all time favorite Mustang, and I think they changed some of the best features when they made Eleanor. The hood scoop, grill and headlight treatment, and total front end look have been altered on the Eleanor styled cars.
These days, restorations and clones are being produced by the thousands, and a good percentage of them are done with Eleanor style body treatment. I guess I just don't understand why Eleanor style cars are more popular that the original 67 Shelby, which was an automotive masterpiece from the day it hit the streets 50 years ago.

The real 1967 Shelby GT500 , not an Eleanor movie car.

The Map In My Head

Is there a map in your head, where you can instantly picture the route of a road trip you have driven many times in the past? There is in me, I can see it, along with the look of the landscape of every section along the way. I can picture it in my mind, almost like flipping through a photo book. I know this isn't the case for everyone. I have known a lot of people who have a very poor sense of direction, let alone any idea where they are in relation to the country around them.
For me, I can be looking at a map of a portion of the country I have traveled many times before, and see in my mind the lay of the landscape, and the views of most of the country along the way. Here in the western United States, we have a lot of wide open spaces between the few big cities scattered across the country, with many little towns in between. In my many years of driving, I have covered a lot of this country, and some of the highways more times than I can remember. That's a lot of pictures in my memory banks.
In the last few years, I have made many road trips over the same thousand mile route, and It has come to my attention on a recent trip just how well I know the details of the country side along the way. The same must be true for others, but I can't imagine what it is like for those who don't have that map in their head, and the pictures to go with it. They are missing something I put a great value on, and would truly miss if I ever lost it.

A section of Highway 59 between my home in Southern Utah and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Who's Riding Shotgun

This photo was taken in the summer of 1969. Her name is Jackie, and she is standing next to my 64 Falcon Sprint. Several months after this shot was taken, we were married, and that was the start of an adventure that has lasted for over 47 years.
Just like in the wild west, we all need someone riding shotgun on our trip down the road of life, helping us stick to the straight and narrow path, looking out for quick sand, and watching our back. The trip is also much more enjoyable with the correct person to share the journey with.
In this modern age, having the same person at your side for this many years is something rare. I am so blessed to have her in my life, I love her very much, and I can't imagine what I would do without her. All the years we've had together, and the wonderful family we share, are truly our life's greatest treasure. I wish for nothing less for our children and grandchildren.
For those who are traveling the road of life alone, or maybe having some bad luck along the way, keep looking, the right person is out there somewhere, and it will be worth the effort, when you have that special someone riding shotgun with you.
For more of my story, check out my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing"  Just follow this link; "Grab Some Gears"

Automotive Dark Ages

I have wrote about this subject before, including in my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" (check it out at the link below). In chapter five in my book I suggest that during the 1970's the American car manufacturers were consumed by the technical challenges of vehicle emissions regulations, and the ever increasing safety requirements being mandated by the Federal Government. Along with quadrupling gas prices and rising insurance costs, it seemed to signal the end of the muscle cars we had come to love. The car guys started saving and restoring the best loved muscle cars from the 1960's, along with making some "performance adjustments" to the new cars we were buying at the time. It seemed the future looked pretty sad for performance enthusiasts.
Sure, we all can remember such 1970's icons as the TransAm from the movie "Smoky and the Bandit", but for the most part, most cars from that era were a weak replacement for our beloved 60's classics.
Being a life-long car guy, and especially a Mustang fan, I'm familiar with the over 50 year history, and lack of respect the Mustang ll gets among most fans. I actually have experience with several Mustang ll models owned by friends, family members, and myself. Put in perspective of the times, they were fun little cars, when ordered with the right options.
History is not often kind to the "under dogs", and many of the 1970's cars share that status. Hats off to those fans that take the time, and put in the work, to preserve those lost examples from the automotive dark ages.
Here is the link to check out my book, or read sample pages; Grab Some Gears"

Example of a 1977  Ford Mustang ll Ghia, complete with 302 V8 power, and other options (Google image).

The Making of a Car Guy

Most of us car enthusiasts have many stories to tell. Usually when we're talking to like minded people at a car show, drag race, or other event where the car talk is common. Often when we first meet someone new, and the subject of cars comes up, we will share some of our stories, as will the new person we meet. But how many of us has taken the time to write these stories down, while they're fresh in our mind.
I may be the exception to the norm, but I was involved in cars, and particularly street racing, for so many years, some of the younger enthusiasts I associated with suggested I could write a book about my experiences. I tossed the idea around for a few years before I finally decided to actually do it. I found it pretty easy, once I got started, because so many of my racing memories are etched into my mind, and played such an important part of who I am today.
My book was first finished and copyrighted in 2006, then updated and revised for the current printing in 2012. I get great reviews from many "car guys" who have read it, often telling me that so many of my stories are like many of their own experiences. This book tells the story of the making of a car guy, a story that covers over 40 years of my life, and made me the person I am today. Sure, there were many other factors, but the book covers the development of the car enthusiast in me.
Those who may be interested, can check it out, or read sample pages at;  "Grab Some Gears"

Me with my 03 Terminator Cobra, from the photo shoot for the cover of my book in 2006.

Change Is Good

We have all heard the old saying "a change is good ". When it comes to automotive styling, it usually comes with mixed opinions. I could get into a lengthy discussion, complete with numerous examples from years past, when I thought a new change in vehicle styling was a big mistake. I can also list many examples over the years when I welcomed the change with much excitement. I have myself, once or twice, traded a year old vehicle for the new model because I was so taken by the styling change, along with mechanical upgrades.
For this blog post, I am thinking of the just released photos and information on the changes Ford is making to the 2018 Mustangs. At first glance, I wasn't sure I liked what I was seeing. As the day progressed, and numerous photos started surfacing, along with many engineering and feature details, my impression started to change. The styling changes will always be a matter of personal preference, but we often will warm up to a new design, over time, and after we see the new vehicle in person, and in several colors.
Some of the mechanical changes, such as more power for the V8, and addition of the 10 speed automatic transmission, are welcomed by most automotive enthusiasts. As for the total package, time will tell, but my impression at the end of this first day is "change is good".

The coming 2018 Ford Mustang. (internet photo from Twitter posts 17 January 2017)

Social Media

Something that most people do not know is that I am a loner, a person who doesn't like crowds. A "lone wolf" is a title not often heard these days, but it might apply to me. I do not have many people that you would call actual close friends.
Participating in car shows with my cars, and associating with other "car guys" is the exception to my normal loner personality, and has been for many years. Talking cars, or racing, with other like minded people has been one activity that has brought me out of my shell from time to time.
In recent years, social media has been another option for me to at least communicate with other people. I find it easy to associate with other "car people" and share common interests, with photos and comments. This has been especially true for my involvement on Twitter in the last couple years. I now have over 900 followers, and I follow 107, not a lot compared to many I associate with on Twitter, but for me it's monumental. Many of these people I would like to call friends, and their association I value highly.

My cars have always been my main connection to associate with other people.