Lateral-G. What motivates YOU
 

I was thinking about the various builds detailed here, how much thought, time, effort and money goes into them. This made me curious about what motivates you to build what you are building.

So the question of course is what motivates YOU to build the car you are building?

After doing several cars that had drivetrains and suspensions leaning towards the more racy side of things, I've realized that I personally enjoy a car more when I sacrifice performance capability to comfort.

That being said, is your ultimate goal some type of compromise as well or are you after the highest performing fastest cornering car you can build?

After answering that, have you rode in/driven/experienced in some sort of way the type of car you are trying to build or do just believe the end result of your car will be what you expect based on your component selection?

Wow! Excellent thought provoking questions!


I'm dying to see some of the responses. It will take some soul searching to come up with HONEST answers.

I was thinking the same thing Greg! Very good question Jim.

For me it's about building a nice balanced street car that can hit a track day here and there. I also am building my on a budget as most are, it always seems that just when I get to where I'm ready to buy some more parts that I need the money for something else :disgusted: Yesterday I had to pay for my playoff tickets for the Bears??? Really their 6 & 6 on a two game slide with the Cowboys coming to town :underchair:

Oh well next month!!! :D

Building your own idea of a car is just great. A pro-touring car is no showcar but a real driver.
For me a pro-touring car is a car when you look at it, you feel already the power without hearing or driving the car.

So, that's something that really attracts me in Pro touring!

What honestly motivates me to build, Is the personal gratification I get from that drive down the street when people stop and stare at your car, Young and old. It is a mental challenge from stainless brake lines, to wiring. How to charge battery when it's in trunk and not in front of car anymore.

My car is a 69 Camaro, with art Morrison chassis. I would love to get it to the track someday. Really it will probably be driven on the street more then track.

I am doing all the work myself. I am in Riverton Wyoming and you don't just go to the local shops and ask for advice for a project like this, most people scratch there head. I have done the frame install, bodywork, and engine, and electrical.

I don't think it will ride like a Cadillac, More like my F350, I would like to put a little more to custom side interior for road trips.

I would like to thank Greg Weld for answering my questions I have emailed him. I would also like to thank the guys on the forum for there replys. It saves me time and frustration having great sources for advice.

:poke: GW,, He often doesn't answer straight up but makes me THINK!

What motivate's me. Is the desire to keep building better. There Is a small part of me that is never happy with the car I just finished. I always feel like I could have done a better job. I get a car finished then sit back and ponder over it. I see little thing's that had if I would have done a little different would have made to a lot nicer,cooler,better.So the answer to me is start all over w/a new plan.

I'm actually going the same direction as you. My last build (64 Chevelle) opened my eyes to how much better the full frame cars like that ride. With the right parts that car still handled extremely well, but was the most comfortable car to drive of all the muscle cars that I've built. The older I get the less tolerance I have for an uncomfortable ride, loud exhaust, etc. You know, all the stuff that didn't matter in high school. :lol: I will be selling my 73 Camaro project soon and at some point start looking for another Chevelle.

I also agree with the whole horsepower deal. While it will have at least 500 hp or so, I'm not going to chase the 1000 hp twin turbo deal either. I want something that's a lot of fun to drive, doesn't break, and looks good.

There's definitely a motivation that brings me here (the shop) 6 days sometimes 7 days a week. I would have to say its a combination of things one being the endless list of ideas and designs I have always wanted to do, there's not enough time (or money!) in my life to try everything, but I want to get as much in as possible.
This may sound like an ad for BMW, but having worked for them a number of years, I constantly analyzed about what makes these cars drive and handle better than the majority of cars on the road? Some of these cars had 200k on them and had no squeaks and rattles. (My 01 740i sport was the best daily driver I ever owned) I started noticing details such as insulated clamps, anti friction materials on adjoining panels and wiring harnesses to eliminate squeaks, their linear power bands, the way the vehicle is balanced and always thought how cool it would be to try and replicate as much as this as possible into a classic american body style. Personally I love the challenge to try to incorporate these things into each and every build as much as the customer allows. So to me the motivation is setting the bar at the level of Audi, MBZ, BMW ect. and trying with every build to get there. I think with the Pro Touring generation getting older (lets face it, we are and the car hobby goes through cycles) more and more people are going to expect their "hot rod" to have the comfort and manners more in line with their 500 hp daily driver and I love the challenge.

Got tired of building things with a keyboard(software engineer) and wanted to build something special with my own bare hands to see what I was capable of. The first year and half of building was fun, but after that my motivation changed to just wanting to finish. After finally completing version 1 of my '69 after 2.5 years, I was slightly disappointed with the performance. So I spent another year building version 2. Now, I could not be happier with the final result and feel my original mission is complete. I did what I wanted to do and proved what I wanted to prove and I'm done. I now just want to drive and enjoy all my hard work, and get out of the garage and spend more time with my friends, family, and other hobbies. My next build will hopefully be raising children. :)

I'm motivated by a few elements that surround the car hobby. I'm not a track guy like many of you, but I sure appreciate the level some of you go to making old iron into missiles. For me it's a blend of:

Anything Rad Rides by Troy builds

SEMA

Lateral G

New technology

Getting a burger with my wife in our '29. The blower, the pipes, the smile and point of a young kid at a stoplight knowing he's now happily infected by the "bug".

http://www.egarage.com/videos/no-longer-a-job/

you said it.

For me, it's achievement in doing something new to me or simply completing a goal. Learning a new skill or taking a different approach with a skill and the whole build process are enjoyable to me. I build for me and me alone. I do appreciate any accolades I receive on my work but I won't be happy if it's not what I wanted or to my liking. I'm more turned on my the older cars than most new cars from a styling stand point but the engineer in me loves the new performance technology. So I'd like to blend them together to make a car that I enjoy driving and caring for. While I do enjoy the many and vast styling aspects found in this particular segment of the car hobby, the driving pleasure is what I'm after the most. Of course, from there the decisions get hard as to which direction to go with parts selection in order to achieve that goal.

I'm done with Conestoga wagon stiff suspensions. I like a car that handles well but I'd rather not have to have kidney dialysis after I've driven it. I agree with Jody, full frame cars ride so much better than sub frame cars, in my opinion. That's what I want anymore in a hot rod, pro touring, muscle car. I've finally figured out that the "cutting edge" is always dust on a distant horizon. I've gotta go with what I got. LS3, 6 speed, big brakes and nice wheels and tires and I'm satisfied. Toss in convertible and I'm golden.

I will admit, though, a balls to the wall big block blower 32 hi-boy with fats and skinnies still gets my blood pumping.

I recently 'finished' my second big build (HunkoMetal, then TOW). What I have learned about myself through the process of building both of these cars is that I thrive on the thinking, research, planning, acquiring, and building the car. I love the end product, and I've been very proud of both of these cars. But as I sit here right now without another 'project' in the planning stages, I realize that I long for that again. Meaning that I enjoy the process of the build perhaps more than the final product, no matter how well it turns out.

When I step back and think about this and how it applies to other areas of my life, it's obvious to me that this is what drives me in general: the challenge of building something, of solving the problems that come up, and the satisfaction of overcoming them. I do this in my career as well, completely unrelated to cars, but one full of challenges which must be overcome.

In both of my builds, I wanted to build something different, something that not everyone else was doing. With HunkoMetal, I sought out and purchased the Martz subframe since at that time, hardly anyone was doing anything aftermarket (this was before/around the time that the DSE subframe existed). I actually spent a lot of time planning and discussing an IRS for that car too, but at the end of the day, it just wasn't practical given my skills and budget.

With TOW, I chose the JRS front and rear setup. Again, it was different than what most people choose, and I like doing something a little different and having to solve the problems. But in both cases, I wanted to build a car that looked the part and performed the part. Hunokmetal was a little more 'raw' with its 377ci small block that revved to 7500 at the drop of a hat and it's 4.56:1 rear gears. My style and desire to drive something like that has changed, so TOW is much more 'practical', and I had a focus to build a car that I could get in and drive anywhere with the convenience and comfort of driving a more modern car. I accomplished this, my drive back and forth to Dallas for the GG show proved that to me!

There's a style of car I like, and it's what I wanted to replicate while still doing something slightly different. I've built several Camaros, but I'm glad I chose a Firebird for this project to be a little different while still retaining most of the body lines that I love.

Every time I look at the TOW I smile a little, being proud of what Eric and I accomplished with her. But like I said, I'm feeling a bit 'empty' without the next project in the planning stage. Right now I don't have time to dive into a project anyway given other things going on in my life. But I look forward to things slowing down so that I can start the next plan... Will it be another PT car, or something more specifically track focused, or perhaps my first actual Hot Rod (something I've always wanted to do), I'm not sure.

I like so many types of cars and car builds. I want to build one of each but thats not realistic.
For me my next build is a bunch of stuff that been in my head for years all crammed in the same car.

- something that stands out very few people build -----check
- old school custom look-----check
- vintage motor correct for the car-----check
- bigger wheels, tires and brakes with a look to match the theme---check
- custom chassis and suspension built to ride and drive as well as a modern sports sedan-----check
- modern electonics and custom fuel injection----check
- plenty of passing power with forced induction -----check

To me this will be the ultimate car and will do anything I will want to do.

For me it's the combination of transforming a car and the look of my customers face when they finally get to see their completed project together.

Also the challenge of coming up with an idea and figuring out how to make it work.

I have always been one to have see to believe. There is the right way, wrong way and MY WAY. I have been blessed in a few ways:
1. Having the ability to learn about anything mechanical. If my toilet breaks, I fix it. If I need a sidewalk I pour it. If I need wiring done, I ask a freind to teach me. If I want a body cart, I build it.
2. I like to use my skills above and beyond the average. I don't just restore a car, I add custom touches that people don't see every day.
My build "PROJECT IMPULSE", is a 77 Impala. I have raced and hot rodded it since I was 16. It was my first car. So tell me, who else has grafted 69 Camaro gills in a 77 Impala? Who even does a 77 Impala?
http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/...pse10162a4.jpg
http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa532607.jpg
I don't want regular door gaps, I must have perfect door gaps. I won't settle for traces of an air sander in my body work. That is why the car is hand sanded with blocks. Can I do perfect metal work? probably not but I keep improving and learning. oneway or another, I will get there because I want it that bad. Will the car take me 5+ years? Probably, but unless I am trying to make a living at it, that's not the point.
All in all what makes me do what I do an be summed up in one word....PASSION. Why else would we do it? It certainly isn't for the money. What we spend on these cars we could easily by a new Vette or two. However, ANYONE can goy buy a new Vette. They make thousands of them. However I can assure you that you will not find two cars like the cars we build that are identical. It's the only way we can truly personalize our passion. This is what motivates me. I am so blessed to have a place like this to see that other people are just as motivated, passionate and maybe crazy as me.

I want to inspire others. I want someone to say, "Because of you, I didn't give up."

I just like the peace and quiet of walking out to the shed and doing stuff -- don't care if it's my car or someone else's…

Since I really don't know how to do anything -- I just like impressing people with all the tools I have.

Its a very good question and a very good topic. Out of the ordinary so to speak.

Good variety of responses.

What I like about this site is this common denominator we all share. The ideas behind everybody's responses are the same. We are all "car" guys and a few gals. My wife and i have a large group of friends, no car guys in the group. bummer for me, but oh well. So i've gone other routes, finding this site was one of them. I love coming on here everyday and seeing the different ideas, builds, opinions, budgets. Its all here. Fantastic.

To the original question. I have the most in common with Steve's (Keefer's) answer. To make the most out of a build, to refine it, drive it, use it. Try to bring up the modern points of a newer car, while retaining the classic style of the older cars. Today's cars just dont do it for me (well for the most part) in terms of styling. But I love there power, comfort, handling, fuel mileage etc. So blending that into an older car is what in my opinion "touring" is all about. I still dont understand "pro". To tour with the car, tour tracks, tour countryside, tour car shows, tour to the local market or too cars and coffee. Life is a tour, enjoy the most out of it!!

I feel I'm living a part of everyone's answer. My reasons:

95% it's just in me. I built my first motorsport project (mini bike) at eight years old. Today I'm like a kid in a candy store and go fast stuff makes me all tingley. I'm an addict a chasing buzz, and it gets more challenging with every fix.

5% I've discovered, is trying to fill a hole that can't be filled. It's my DNA, I accept it and have learned to live with it.

:cheers:

Jim are you writing a book about us idiots:headscratch:

I've always loved turning corners and the feeling of pulling Gs. As a teenager in the 80s I was enamored with the performance cars from the late 60s I saw as a young kid.

The overriding driver of my build madness is I like to build things more than just buy things.

My daily driver is a tool of necessity this car is a toy to enjoy, not something practical or needed. Just a toy, the ultimate Hotwheel or Shuco.

Three things drove me to choose my car and the motor for the car.

1. The History of the car as the first Aero Warrior of NASCAR.
2. The racing History of the FORD FE in the late 60s.
3. I wanted to build the street car from the 60s ads. The one that not only looked like the race car but could actually be the race car.

Well maybe 4. In my mind I loved the body style and thought with the right wheels and stance it could look really sinister.:D

My Daily driver is quiet, rides nice and has modern amenities. It actually handles pretty darn well itself.

I don't need or want my car to be that same car. I want it to be brash and obnoxious.:unibrow:

:cheers:

I started out like most car guys who have high mechanical aptitude and little money. The lack of money forced me to learn how to build things I wanted which led to the realization that learning new skills is the most exciting part of the process. I also realized that I need to have projects in which I am creating something new to maintain my life balance.

Luckily my son also caught the car guy gene. He has developed skills I never had that compliment my own. As a result, building cars together is a hobby that makes the 1000 miles between our homes almost seem non existent.

I have some life long friends I still get to meet with regularly that are outside of the car experience. One of them is much older and is a very well known psychologist and is always trying to figure me out. He doesn't see how the car thing fits in based on the rest of my life---I do mostly Finance and Accounting for a living (as Assistant VP of Business and Finance) and in his way of lining up personalities and such, it just never fits. It drives him crazy since that's how his brain works-- trying to figure out how peoples lives line up in all that they do. He is still trying.

I've come to the realization the older I get that ignorance is bliss. I don't care to know why I love it the way I do. I love working on it as much as driving/racing it. The people in the hobby/sport are a great group. I am grateful to have something I enjoy this much and hope it never dies off. I slow down when or if the car gets overwhelming (problems, issues, etc.) to remember how blessed I am to be able to do this at all when there are so many who wish they could have a PT car that runs and drives.

I know this wasn't exactly your topic, but it made me think about it and how I've arrived at where I am at right now with my car.

To answer your question, I would say I am building my car first for how I want it to look, then see how much performance I can get out of it. I will sacrifice some seconds on the autocross or road course to keep the car low and at the ride height I like personally. I am building it to drive long distances so that I can drive up the coast, to Vegas, to Arizona and perform in any situation well, all the while looking the way I would like it to. I will admit I want it to be faster and have more bite that it currently does, but the wait for those things is worth it. It's part of what keeps me interested in the car---always looking forward to the next modification that I have planned.

D

I was born with it

I really enjoy the whole process… planning the build, building the car, and driving the car! Building a PT type car that works well on the street, and on the track is very technically challenging, and I enjoy that part of it very much.

The real hook for me though is getting out on a track where there is no speed limits… very few rules… and you just go for it! Wind it up… slide sideways… skid into a corner… do what you want legally. It’s great when you can push the limits of the car and test out the new parts that you put on after the last time out.

Also… there is nothing better than spending a day out at the track with fellow enthusiasts… whether their driving a Corvette, Mustang, BMW or Porsche. Everyone is there for the same reasons, and it’s always a great bunch of guys.

:cheers:

This car will always be in my life. I see it at my wedding, I want my kids and my grandkids to possibly enjoy it. want to travel Canada and the United States with it. I want to have it in my garage and be able to tinker on it when ever. I want to take it for evening drives and go for ice cream. I want to make memories building it and driving it and be able to pass those on.
For me its about building a legacy.
I have not had the opportunity to drive/ride in anything like it. My goal at this point and time is to have something I can comfortably cruise in. If it does not meet those expectations I will change it. I will change it to do what ever it is I want it to do at the time.
Writing this it seems to get pretty deep so I will stop there.
It is my dream car simple as that.
:whenitsdone:

I'm an artist, the frame was my canvas and I'm painting my masterpiece! :cheers:

I build things because:
1. I enjoy it..
2. I like putting my own personal touch on things.
3. It keeps me occupied.
4. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none!

Car porn... To me it's all about stance, sound and body lines w/alittle bit of nastiness to make it interesting!:peepwall:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_hLvWmytTo

What motivates me?

driving
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...pscbc47bba.jpg
friends
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd1d48d78.jpg
building
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps5fd7ad03.jpg
driving
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd4f1db3b.jpg
friends
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps43d9c586.jpg
building
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...pse21c1080.jpg
driving
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/IMG_2998.jpg
friends
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...psb164992c.jpg
mostly friends
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps97202113.jpg
and more friends
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/x...psf49ced6e.jpg

Great thread. Nice to see this question posed and the various answers. Some are obvious as heck and others not so much. :)

Being one of those 3 trillion 1st gen Camaro guys around here I've been trying to take a less traveled path for a variety of reasons. It's full of compromise and shifting more towards one end of the spectrum than most "pro touring" cars, but I always say the proof is in the pudding when it comes to driving your car.

I became really interested in Trans Am vintage after attending the Historics at Laguna Seca a couple years ago. And even though I don't watch NASCAR, I wanted to incorporate some of their tech in my car and especially the engine system. When the engine/head combo became difficult to accommodate a realistic pump gas scenario, I opted to go E85 as I don't see many PT Camaros running that.

The list of trying to be different goes on but you get the idea.

I have rode in and driven a few other very nicely done PT Camaros, but honestly they were too tame for my taste. I want loud, nasty, raw and not a daily driver type of car. Performance has become the clear driving force for me, but yet I will drive it on the street as much as humanly possible for me. I just don't need to do Power Tour with it.

When I go to an open track day (where not many PT cars are present) I want to be able to hang with many of the track cars and late model Vettes there. I like the Optima type events, but I really enjoy the value and track time of a simple open track day of 5 sessions of 20-25 minutes.

I've enlisted enough help and advice from good people so I am pretty confident that the finished product will certainly satisfy my appetite. Heck, it might even scare the begeezus out of me. :D

The short answer is I have been surrounded by airplanes and cars since I was born, even living on the family airport when I was 3, and still live on a private airport today, so its part of my DNA. Plus my OCD doesn't help when it comes building things, personal or client.

The holy grail for me is a 69 Camaro that has the performance, ride, and comfort of a CTS-V. That is the modern car that I feel best meets the definition of a pro-touring car. I have a 69 shell out in the shop, just need to figure out how to accomplish the goal. :) It would be great to have a ride in one of Stielow's latest builds one day to see how closely he comes to that goal. I think he is likely the one best qualified to attain that goal.

Don

Jody, this makes me happy as Malitude was such an inspiration to me. What I loved the most was how simple and clean it was. What really sold me was the stance. Although I appreciate the beautiful twins and power it must have had, I agree the ~500hp mark makes more sense. Looking forward to what you come up with!

For me what motivates me are the challenges along the way. I'm an engineer by trade and love finding a problem, and designing and building a solution.

I am a part-owner in a small engineering company and the best part about my job is that I still get to go in the shop and get dirty, get slivers and cuts, work with my hands. My car is nothing special at first glance, but that's what I want everyone to think. I want people to actually look for the changes and solutions that I've made.

I'm in a position where I could have wrote a check and had a car built, but from day one that was not going to happen. I get too much satisfaction in doing something myself. Like others have mentioned, if I don't know how, I'll learn new skills along the way to figure stuff out. I wanted to be able to tell someone (honestly) that "yes, I did that".

Lastly, my motivation is like Rodney stated, the people. The events I've been to, and it's only been 6 now, the people are so great. I've met a lot of new friends and hope to meet a lot more next year.