Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

I would not mind cruising throught the Foothills either. You west coast guys kill me! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

When our son was young, he had zero interest in cars. He would go for a twenty mile run with his bicycle. He was in army cadets did biathlon skiing and shooting. Never liked team sports. Once he got into the army the bug bit for some reason. He had an '84 TransAm for a while then got a '69 Chevelle, bucket seats, console, but six cylinder. We rounded up a 454, 12 bolt, and turbo 350, with him doing most of the work we transformed the car. About five years ago I told him about a '65 Acadian Canso (Canadian Chevy II) hardtop. He ended up buying it. The car had 25,684 miles and other than a few blow ins in the paint, the car is all original. Again it is a six cylinder car. Might just get a later model LT1 one of these days. The car still has crayon marks on the firewall and on the underside of the hood as well. It has the thick,clear plastic seat covers that you could have the dealer install. It has one of those kleenex dispensers under the padded dash, radio, and backup lights. Never give up. Some kids just get interested a little later.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

my boys are 9 and 10. my 10 year old cant wait to start racing his YENKO themed JR dragster. always with me in the garage helping me and always asks when am i going to get his dragster done. i reply the same every time. as soon as the snow melts. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

I'm 27 years old and just absolutely love cars. I've invested my money ever since I was 12 years old with the goal of owning a first gen camaro. I now own two first gen camaros and loads of parts that I've bought up. I've been blessed to have a family totally dedicated to cars. My dad has been into cars since the early 60's and currently has his own collection that we've restored. My mom's dad has a collection 19 strong that he started in the 1960's and her brother also has a 1967 camaro. My family has done a car show for our local fire company for the last 24 years. Every family is truly dedicated to the car hobby.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My youngest son helps sometimes. Occasionally we let him paint something and hope he doesn't run it to much. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That was funny right there........ https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

My 11 year old Grandson Alex spent some time here last summer (they live in Belgium). Just so happened I was starting the LS-6 project and he asked if he could help. Naturally I had him do all the dirty work underneath and he loved it.Three days later we had the car apart and he had to throw his clothes away and was proud to do it.
Soon after they returned to Belgium and now every time we talk he wants to know where I'm at on the restoration. He also has studied the "internal combustion engine" and totaly understands how it works and can explain it.
He'll be back this summer and wants to take the LS-6 to a car show.
Great bonding experience for us both.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Wow a lot of you guys make me feel old. I haven't had an 11 year old in 11 years. The first time I ever pulled a body off a Camaro my oldest son, 15 at the time now 26 was right there with me and his help was much needed. He does have the unique distinction of having learn to drive a manual trans in a 61 Corvette. I think I learned to drive a manual is a Valiant.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

This has been one of the best posts ever on this site. Besides reflecting on what we do with our kids it has given me time to reflect on how our fathers may have influenced our love of cars.
My father passed away on Feb 3 at 80 and I traveled 4000 miles to be home for the services. I put together a photo collage from the 1930's to the late 90's to reflect milestones and the things that were important to him. Having gone through 30 photo albums one thing that was obvious was dad always had his picture taken with one of his cars whenever possible. There were photos of him tinkering on 1930's Chevs as a teen in the 40's, standing proudly in front of his brand new 56 Dodge, and pumped up like a peacock in front of a 1968 Rolls Royce in the fall of 1971. The Rolls was not his,but he was driving it from Halifax to Toronto to sell it on behalf of his company.
Dad didn't do a lot of work on his own cars in the 60's as he was buying a new Plymouth or Dodge every 2-3 years depending on if he liked the styling. The buying decisions were:would he opt for whitewalls,a $5.00 option or the full wheel covers at $8.00.
His tinkering was limited to my moms car,installing a radio and antennae,or if the car was not running right,"must be the needle valve". I saw the inside of a carburetor when I was 10. When cars went to fuel injection in the 80's he blamed the coil.So the car work i did with my father was the minor stuff,take a rad out for repair,install a trailer hitch or install a radio.Since the age of 10 I was washing his cars every Friday night and waxing them once a month. I started doing the minor stuff on my Mom's Valiant in 1968 and bought my First car a 1968 Camaro in the summer of 71.
For Christmas 1971 he gave me a Chiltons Manuel which he wrote "To many repairs ahead". We did not think of the word restoration then.
Its been a great week remembering him and the timing of this thread has made it better. I hope I haven't hijacked it. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to work along side your children-go for it! It may be a short experience but it will be a lasting memory for both of you. And don't forget to take some photos and give copies to everyone.
Paul

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Well, I myself am 17 years old and I have the 'American Muscleosis disease'. It probably stems from my father, who always enjoyed working on cars and driving/racing them. When I was 5 or 6, I used to help him work on his 1985 Jaguar XJS that had a chevy 350 transplanted into it. He used to compete in a spectator drag race 3 times a year at the local short track (seekonk speedway).

That car is gone. But it has a sister, a blue 1983 XJS that has the same kind of transplant. The motor is a street/strip 350 making about 475 hp. The car is close to being finished and then we are having it repainted. The only reason we have the chevy in there is because the transmission in the jag was original (as well as the V12, which worked wonderfully) and it lost 1st gear and the rest of it was going. He didnt want to fix it himself, and the cost of repair was going to be 2k, despite the fact that all the tranny was is a chevy automatic ( a 350 i think ), it had the jaguar nameplate....yea...enough said.

My first major project was, ironically, to make more room to work on the car. It is stored in his shop ( he owns a jewelry manufacturing company ). Well, sitting in front of the car, we still had the V12 and tranny. And I tell you, we could NOT sell that freakin motor. We couldn't even give it away to be used for a boat anchor!! And it was much too heavy to just bring to a scrap yard, so we did the logical thing; I disassembled the entire engine myself. Everything from top to bottom. It took a grand total of 2 days and I had no help with it because he wanted me to think and figure it out on my own. It took me a while, but I got it. ( Incidentally I also found out what happens when the mechanic who pulled the motor, which he knew wasn't going to be used anymore, leaves all the oil in it and we have no way to drain it because the motor was sitting on the ground. Yea, I never did wear those jeans again https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif ).

I got my license recently. My first thing that I am planning to do when the weather clears; Scouting for my first project car! I wouldn't mind a 68-69 chevelle or camaro. Or even a 2nd gen. camaro. But when I get it, I'll be doing as much of the wrenching myself as I can.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Seekonk? Not much in Seekonk is there? I bought a rear there a few years ago https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

My guys, 5 and 2.5 yrs, are addicts.

We generally have the garage off limits, so going in there is a treat for them (often they disappear and we find them in there).

My older boy, Max, could name every make of car as we walked down the street by the time he was three (whether here or in the US). He lords the fact that he has gone for COPO rides over his younger brother and managed to convince my uncle to take him for a terror ride in his W-31 when we were in Vancouver a while ago. One of his most memorable experiences was an afternoon visit to the SCW a couple of years ago -- when Joe's Harrell Camaro was later featured in Chevy Rumble he looked at the pictures and correctly identified it as "Joe's car". I took him to Donuts Derelicts when we were in California and he loved it. I swear if he could reach the pedals he would be able to drive.

Jake is similar - he used to use a SCW can cooler on his milk bottle and thinks everything good in the world comes from Goodwood (the estate where the Festival of Speed and vintage car racing events are held). Whenever we go anywhere as a family he makes sure I'm driving because my right foot is a lot heavier than Mom's.

Both boys are totally enamored with WWII fighter planes at the moment, so maybe they would rather I had a P-51 than a ZL-1, but I'm sure they'll come around. I can't wait for them to be old enough to go to Collinsville

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

...This just goes to show that this hobby really brings friends and family together for some special memories that we all will cherish.
These post from all of you are great! Keep them coming! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Matt enjoyed working on my GT500 with me!

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

I don't have any kids and the Wife & I are not planning any.. But I have a year and a half old nephew who I think will be into the hobby. His Dad, my Brother In Law, is a mechanic and he is already being exposed to cars, trucks and mechanical things..

Once he is a little older I plan on taking him out for rides in the Nova, taking him to car shows/cruises and to the race track.. I think it is great to get young kids involved in the hobby. I became interested in it by about age 14. My old neighbor while I was growing up, who is about 10 years older than me, was a "gearhead" and was always playing around with different Chevys. He had old Novas, Chevelles, Vettes and Camaros. His Dad was a salesman at a local Chevy dealer. I used to walk over to his house and watch him turn wrenches on these cars.. I think this is also what made me a "Chevy Guy".

Rich

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Oh, there is plenty in seekonk. The only problem is that half the town is owned by one guy ( kind of ironic that said guy owns the car that won the track championship in their highest weekly division by an ungodly amount https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif).

During the spring and summer, seekonk has car shows there on some weekends and there tends to be a pretty good crowd. The only real problem with seekonk is the track is wayyyy too small. It makes for a good show, but there is not one point in time on that track where you aren't turning the wheels left.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

I have 3 and they have been a big part of the fun of restoring my 66 Chevelle SS. We got it out this year for the first time since the rebuild started in 2000. The first ride was with my 11 year old who has been sanding or cleaning something for years.

The best part so far was finally driving our car into Daytona this past Thankgiving, not sure who had bigger smiles.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

This is me at age 4 standing in front of my dads 73 4 speed Vette.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...er/73vette.jpg

This is my boy in my 442.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...9/DSC00922.jpg

I used to be the boy helping his dad work on cars, hell I guess I still am. My old man bought a 58 Corvette the week I was born. I bought my Olds when my wife was 4 months pregnant. I think my son will carry on that family tradition. He loves cars more than I do.

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, there is plenty in seekonk. The only problem is that half the town is owned by one guy ( kind of ironic that said guy owns the car that won the track championship in their highest weekly division by an ungodly amount https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif).

During the spring and summer, seekonk has car shows there on some weekends and there tends to be a pretty good crowd. The only real problem with seekonk is the track is wayyyy too small. It makes for a good show, but there is not one point in time on that track where you aren't turning the wheels left.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ever seen the Deuce that's runnin around Fall River? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

We have a 4 yo daughter and 9 yo son. Both love going for rides in the "black car" or the "loud convertible". Our son is getting more interested, and I may even let him help change the oil next time. (If his mom lets him get that dirty!). He really wants a Red Ferrari, but he needs a better job to afford that one. My daughter likes the car shows and is a ham with the owners. Really Enjoyed our NIA trip in 2006, looking forward to the next time we can get there. Try to hit a few local shows every year, and the kids would stay all day if we let them!
Jim

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Here's a pic of my little buddy Benjamin, he loves his car - especially loves telling his little sister Amanda that she is not allowed in it! He asked me why my car has a 'little' block when his car has a big block - out of the mouths of babes.... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...aminandSS1.jpg

I put him to work for that last comment!

We sandblasted the rear, he likes to paint!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...hpaintgun1.jpg

Shooting some K36:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...hpaintgun2.jpg


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...hpaintgun3.jpg

That first pic is too small, here's another:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...aminandSS2.jpg

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...adiacar010.jpg

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Can't you feed your kid something better than a wrench? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

Started my son out with easy tasks at 4 years old like , bring me a water or coke when I am in the garage or at the track ..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...6/nkiprsch.jpg

At 13 doing a little clean up on the engine bay . Finished the firewall and inner fenders and now working on the subframe. Kid got dirty and worked hard and did a pretty nice job.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/DSC01035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/DSC01038.jpg

At 15 replacing a broken hinge on the 962 and trying to convince me that driving the 962 wouldn't be much different than driving his kart ...."come on dad, just a short drive I won't even take it out of first gear " !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/DSC03569.jpg

These are the moments I treasure... I wouldn't care if we were playing with a AMC Pacer just the time in the shop or at the track together .

Re: Who has children that help them in the garage?
 

I hear ya, great pics!

My Benjamin gets a JR Dragster next year - we can't wait https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif He can't race it till Sept '09 when he turns 8, but that's ok! Just hanging out at the track together is awesome.