There's always a critic

[kttrucks]

I told this story to a guy just the other day.... and I'll NEVER forget the lesson. He had a Camaro (the Wounded Warriors Camaro, actually a very nice car with some cool mods...) on Powerblock and he was criticizing some aspects and pointing out things he wished he had done differently; comparing it to the ring brothers "Afterburner" that was staged in the warehouse waiting for it's appearance and interview with Courtney. We had a great discussion about this very topic, and I told him my story and the lesson I learned.

I was at a Carlisle show quite a few years ago, walking the show field and looking. I stalled at a car and looked it over, seeing some stuff that I didn't completely agree with, and that could have been improved IE- panel gaps, etc.... No car is perfect and I wasn't about to say anything out loud, but the guy that built the car was beside me before I knew it, and started talking to me about it, and was very proud. He was paraplegic, and in a chair, and had done everything on the car himself, and with the help of some buddies, but had his hands (and sweat) in every aspect. It totally humbled me and made me embarrassed for even thinking what I had without knowing the full story. I was So glad that nobody heard my thoughts, as I had NO right to judge anybody's workmanship, especially not having known the full story or the circumstances behind the build. I'll never again comment negatively on someone else's work, especially in public, or quietly off to the side to show off for friends...

Everyone's work deserves recognition, and everyone has their own curve when it comes to skills, and every car is a build-in-progress, and never really "finished". I think these guys showed their true nature in slamming somebody's car publicly... and I'm personally very glad I learned my lesson the way I did. It doesn't change the way a car is built, but it totally eliminates the chance to talk with somebody about their car, what their goal is, where the strengths of the build are, and what stage of completion the vehicle is actually in... These guys blew a great opportunity to meet a genuine gearhead with alot of cred... I don't mean to get " high and mighty" on anybody, quite the opposite, I just wanted to tell my story and how I was shamed into changing my perspective.... I'll keep that experience in the back of my mind for the rest of my days.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone, Thanks to the men and women in uniform, fast and present.

KT.