My dad, who is pretty much responsible for ALL of my mechanical interests and most of my abilities...passed away last week. Today my little brother and I washed his car and drove around town listening to his Otis Redding CD's getting it ready for the funeral tomorrow, and I felt like I needed to share with you all why I even have a Z project...
Dad was a jet mechanic in the AF just before Vietnam and was a many things between that time and when I was born. As I grew up he was prodominatly a Dump Truck Driver here in OK, mosly hauling everything that had to do with building roads. He was probably one of the best in this area, and was usually given the title of leadman and looked to for guidence by his co-drivers.
As to his being responcible for my mechanical abilities... he FORCED me to help him fix anything and everything around the cars and house while I grew up. I hated just about every moment of it. In recent years I have grown to apretitate the fact that at the age of 10 he had me in the engine bay, literally, of vehicles getting things that he couldn't reach, and crawling under the house fixing busted pipes before I was in middle school. He made me change my own bike tires, and I did alot of those since curbs were my enemy After a while I was trying to fix stuff myself and taking things apart and he would always bring me something home from a thrift store or what ever to take apart and play with.
So I would just like to thanks, Dad, for what you have given me, a knowledge and respect for all things mechanical and for always letting me know that you love me an that he are proud of me. I know you wern't perfect, but who is. I love you and may you rest in peace.