I remember one evening about 1968 my Dad came home and layed his monthly paycheck from his State job on the kitchen table.
I remember sneaking a peak at that $613 check that was buying 12 acres in pine tree country, a house my Mom and Dad were building and the expense of 4 kids.
$3,200 was a lot back then for most, but money did go a lot farther then.
Agreed, and one reason I don't enter shows, so I can leave when I get tired of it.
Another big reason is that literally no one knows what they are looking at besides a 73 Dart body with non stock buckets.
They don't have a clue about the Magnum hidden under all the LA motor accessories, or the EQ heads with the LA bolt pattern, or custom ground cam, or the 4 speed OD trans with a one of one custom designed fully automatic shifting system, or the fact that I built it ALL myself.
Even the judges only see a daily driven 73 low life Swinger.
I don't care really, because I go to look at other cars and see friends anyway.
I totally agree.
People just don't seem to be able to put clues together anymore when it comes to mechanical stuff whether it be cars or whatever.
It seems to be because of a lack of understanding of how things work and what they do, and I'm afraid it's getting to be more and more that way with each generation.
My two middle 20's boys could tell you right off what tires work best on their video game track, but if you told them to point out a converter dust cover or a head bolt they wouldn't have a clue if it's under, on top, or even in the trunk.
I started young with no real tools other than wrenches and ratchets and pretty much zero money, so I learned to diagnose early on as I had no money to throw at it.
Later I ended up certified in multiple area's including transmissions (auto and standard both) as well as what was called bumper to bumper two wheel, front wheel and 4x4.
That early experience was priceless, because I already understood how it all worked and just needed the technical details.
Nowadays most couldn't ever tell you what specific bearing is going out in a 4-5 speed, or what clutch burned up in a BMW trans.
Fun fact:
Did you know the 5 speed Dodge colt transmission only has 4 gears, but has two input gear tooth sets on it.
Engine vacuum moves a diaphragm that switches from one gear to the other for 5th.
Loss of vacuum to that diaphragm gives you first-second-third-fourth- and fourth.:D
