I double clutch my Jerico almost every spin......

For some silly reason I'm just a itsey-bitsey bit envious of your unemployment bennies. :lol:
Please define "every spin" :D

This is somewhat of a recent day summary of 24 years of ownership and the last 2+ years of available money and time, a near total loss, and why it's worth the effort.....IMO

Work, kids, and off-road motorcycles (while I could still do it) consumed the majority of my time and energy from 2000-2011, as time and priorities continued to evolve my "toy/hobby" focus shifted back to the one that continued to appreciate and could actually be labeled an asset.

In 2011 I sold a couple bikes and decided to invest the money in the hobby that appreciates and allowed me to be at home closer to my kids, wife...........and dogs of course. :D

Some of the money went to equipment (welding) and the rest to parts.........next to none to labor.

Most of the details worth noting are in this thread though they're entangled amongst the priceless gearhead jousting.

The rejuvenation plan of my long-term relationship involved: wheels/tires, to accommodate real brakes, and a 6 spd. trans to accommodate modern day cruising speeds. A little money and a LOT of time later left me with a car that was much improved and most importantly very enjoyable to drive for the first time in years............then came the fire that came within 60 seconds of turning the car into scrap metal value. I was one week from going to get it dyno'd to establish a baseline and reappraised to cover a stupidly low valuation..........let's leave it at I almost left about $24,000 on the table.

The resulting fire damage repair also instigated the upgrading to AFR heads, MSD ignition, higher rpm intake, and larger headers. Finally after months of tinkering on my "Pro-Tinkerer" I felt like it was close to the reliable car it had been in previous years. By that I mean the first time it left me stranded in 24 years was right after the trans install due to the starter electrical contacting the header and then the fire. It had never been tested and thus unknown.

So yesterday morning I take off solo to Portland (110 miles north on I-5) to watch a little of the Historic Races at Portland International Raceway. I took a few key tools survival tools and a cell phone. To many that's no big deal, but when the car hasn't made a 200+ mile round trip in a long time I didn't know what to expect.

As it turned out, and the reason for the post, all the money and energy over the past couple of years was well worth it. I forgot about how comfortable the Recaro seats were, how enjoyable it is to drive a car you're primarily responsible for it's existence, or how many people love seeing now "historic" vehicles on the road. I didn't forget how much of a luxury air condition is though!

The car made the 230 mile trip without even a need to raise the hood just for look. It cruised with the best of breed on the interstate and had people giving me thumbs up and speeding up to take pictures. I've lived in Eugene/Springfield since born and taken the trip to Portland too many times, without a doubt this was the most rewarding one.

Best of all...........after this mornings inspection there was not one drip of fluid under the car! :hapdance:

Follow your passion........done reasonably, it's well worth it. :thumbsup:

To some ...Even if it's done unreasonably, it's well worth it :hello:

I like that write up Seig :thankyou:

Sieg, great words!!

I went through a huge change of life back in '06, losing my wife to pancreatic cancer. I was in a very bad place after that, went on a sabbatical from my job and went up to my aunt and uncles place on a lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and did nothing but zone out and fish. Fishing is Zen time for me, I do some of my best thinking spending a day on the lake.

I remember thinking how long it had been since I had a car to mess around with. 10 years or more, couldn't remember. I said YEA, I need another car......but this time it will be different. Full frame off restoration, by myself. I needed it, I needed to stay busy. Good for the mind.

I had been dream searching for a couple years, then I found it. THE car!!

Poured myself into that car, life kept moving the whole time, lots of changes, new job, new woman in my life (now my wife of 6 years), new house.

Finished the car.....some bumps in the road along the way (like a FIRE!!). But I got it finished, and whenever I get the Camaro out out the road, it takes me to another place.

Siege it's like you said:
When I stomp on the gas pedal, and hear the exhaust singing out, and the acceleration pushes me back in the seat, and I feel how well it all operates together and I smile to myself, and say "This is friggin fantastic, and I built this whole damn car in my garage", "I built a car!!!"

People come over to me at the gas station and ask questions and give compliments, thumbs up from others on the road.....even cops give me the "nod". It is all worth it, every stinking dime!!

Nobody can understand it, except another car guy, someone who is just as "into it" as you are. There is a feeling you get when you drive "the car", youth, exhilaration, adrenaline....it's all there.

Great post Sieg........it really took me back through a lot of life that happened in the last 7 years. :thankyou:

(sorry to hijack your thread!!)

What no pictures?:shakehead:

It was great to finally meet you Saturday at the track.
We need to see you and Dale out on the track.

I have a real small special one just for you................:action-smiley-027:
If I ride with him at the next event does that count?

Pleasure meeting you as well. :thumbsup:

Did Dakota enjoy the event? His facial expressions appeared to indicate so.

Dakota, from what his mom says he didn't stop talking about it.
Hopefully I converted a young kid from video games to wanting to play with cars