[super7man]

First experience was helping my Dad work on his 1946 Chevy. I was about 6. Mostly it was my job to hold the flashlight while he worked on it. I remember getting yelled at when the light drifted from the spot it was supposed to be shining on.

On my own was when I was about 11. I bought a go-cart from a guy for $5. I didn’t want the go-cart. I wanted the 3hp Briggs that was on it. I completely disassembled the Briggs and got it running. I learned a lot about magnetos, carburetors, valves and valve timing, etc.

I saved my money and bought a mini-bike kit, installed the Briggs and off I went. I still have the scars to prove it.

Later (early 70’s) I graduated to British cars. Need I say more?

[Army Air Corps]

Later (early 70’s) I graduated to British cars.

It seems that a lot of us have had some contact with British cars and their quirks. One of my relatives owned a beauty of a late 1960s MG B. That car had its own spot in the garage.

[Army Air Corps]

First experience was helping my Dad work on his 1946 Chevy. I was about 6. Mostly it was my job to hold the flashlight while he worked on it.

That reminds me of when I was about nine or ten, an uncle asked me to help him work on his Jeep. I felt like I was the coolest kid on the block when he assigned to me the job of helping him adjust the timing.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When I was about 11 or 12 (1962), my Dad gave me the “Visible V8” model. I learned all about four stroke Otto cycle engines with that model. Shortly after building that, I completely disassembled our Briggs & Stratton 3-1/2 hp lawn mower engine. There wasn’t a screw or bolt fastener left undone. I cleaned everything up real good and used Gumout solvent to get varnish off the carb parts. Got it reassembled and it started on the first pull.

It was a lot harder in those days because manuals were scarce, there was no YouTube to watch how-to videos, and you didn’t take pictures on your phone as you disassembled things. You had to be well organized to store all the parts and have a good memory.

I went from there to oil changes, changing shocks, rebuilding Holley four barrel carbs, changing starters, replacing failed camshafts, and pulling heads for valve jobs. Then I started making some money and paid others to do all that work for me.

But those were fun days.

I asked my Dad once why he didn’t join me on that work. He said “I pay others to do that stuff”. He used his rare time off to play golf.

[bruin66]

My first, last, and forever British car was a ‘67 (?) Sunbeam Imp (a Shelby creation). Fast and fun with a horrible oversteer.