Keith A. Edwards wrote:
>
> Paul Burr wrote:
> >
> > Richard wrote: "Lets get our cars out and educate the youth of America.
> > Give the kids down the street something top look forward to besides a
> > Civic."
> > You've hit the nail on the head! With the exception of 5.0 Mustangs,
> > there aren't many affordable cars sporty cars that the kids can work on
> > these days! Look what has passed for "sporty" the past two decades-Dodge
> > Daytona, Toyota Celica, Nissan 200zx, Subaru XT! All weeezy front
> > drivers! Compared to stuff I grew up admiring in the "60's, a pretty
> > uninspired crop of cars.
> > No wonder the kids would rather put big stereo's and chrome wheels than
> > turn a wrench under the hood.
> > Which brings us to the down side of today's reliable cars. Since dad or
> > mom mostly gets the oil changed and tune ups at the local drive in
> > maintainence emporium, most kids don't get the underhood exposure that
> > us babyboomers did! How many of you got the car bug from helping your
> > dad with those Saturday "Tech Sessions" on the family wagon?
> > I don't see that happening anymore, except in my garage!
> > The only way to keep this hobby alive is to get our kids involved! Heck,
> > if nothing else, it'll at least teach them how to deal with breakdowns
> > and avoid being ripped off by shops that prey on their clueless
> > cutomers!
>
> I mostly got my car bug from helping my dad work on a tractor, but that's
> a different story.
>
> I have tried to do my part in educating our youth. I have shown my kids
> how to deal with breakdowns, especially unplanned ones. Side of the road
> "Tech Sessions" have been (too) plentiful.
>
> There once was I list I wrote, of how to tell if "You might be an
> Austin-Healey owner", in the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a
> redneck". (I hope this makes sense, not just in the USA...)
>
> As I recall,
>
> If your kids often remark, as you are driving around "I remember when our
> car broke down here, Daddy!", you might be an Austin-Healey owner.
>
> (Unfortunately speaking from years of personal experience)...
>
> Keith Edwards
> Suffolk, VA
> kedwards@norfolk.infi.net
> 2 '62 TR3Bs
> 2 '67 TR4As
> 1 '54 Austin-Healey 100-4
> 1 '54 Austin Princess Vanden Plas limo
> ~2.5 British parts cars
> (plus, three Honda Civics)
I remember those weekend fix-it-before- Monday sessions, I learned
quite the colorful vocabulary between my fathers bloody knuckles. But,
I also learned the basics of on the road maintenance.
I hope to pass this knowledge (minus the language) on to them.
My 6 year old daughter shows promise, although I don't let her hold the
bolts anymore. My 3 year old son has picked up the phrase "What the hell
is that?". Next time he says it, he gets some quiet time; next time I
say it around him, my wife said she'll spend my Spitfire restoration
money on plants.
Paul Nelson
'76 Spitfire (on the road by May)
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