Hot Rods I think hot rodding is a mental illness

My Uncle Jim used to say when staring at his miniature running engines that he built "Better than a pet rock I guess".

 

Keeping it burried deep inside is not wise! It will pop out when you don't want it too. You need to open up and discuss this with a group of your peers.

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I feel the exact same way..... I'm a punk rock lover as well ..... no sence in conforming to the norms...... live life to the fullest and if someone gets butthurt over it well........ they just dont get it....... besides the vehicles that we love have personality...... unlike the cookie cutter vehicles nowadays......... it's not bad to be different...... different is what defines us......... I dont want to be like everyone else.......... I like being me and if people dont like it well it's there loss..........

 

Hello,

We like hot rods like the rest of the enthusiasts here on the HAMB. Some like it more so, but as we all know, there is more to life than getting dirty with bruised knuckles, twisted backs and bumps on the knees doing all things hot rod.

There was a time back in those early days that it was nothing and we got so much enjoyment doing what we did. It was an accomplishment for the newly developing teenager. There was not a minute that hot rodding was not part of our daily lives, from high school to cruising, to dates, to hanging out at the dances and drive-ins.

Over the years, the thing we liked the most got in the way of moving on with our lives. We needed other things to become part of the great society for the future. Going away to college played a big part of moving on, but every time I heard a rumble from a hot rod or built up street cruiser, memories started flowing again. Even the couple of trips to the local Fremont Dragstrip just up the freeway from San Jose helped smooth out those feelings.

In a sense, it was a time consuming mental illness in the extremes. But for most of us, it helped develop our sense of skill, abilities and worth, that helped us become what we are, even to this modern stage in our long lives. Two generations since and it is still burning a small hole in our brains. But, it does keep the blood flowing and puts an “XNAY” on those old age diseases that will attack all of us at one time or other.

Besides, how could anyone not like that smooth sound of a Gas Coupe/ Sedan shifting, while going down the dragstrip, at full power?

Jnaki

So in looking at those that have a mental disease, that to me, is going a bit too far. But, it is an attraction that has been built up over the years of being involved in something creative and satisfying. Our first real build all the way to fixing up a cool 40 Ford Sedan Delivery to make it a hard running, powerful, good handling form of creativity for much enjoyment. Plus, it helps to look back at what made you happy in those "growing up" years.

The HAMB has given a lot of people a good sense of commitment to history, ideas and cool builds. The mass of photos copied from the internet is one way to take up time in anyone’s life. But, we are on the information highway. History is part of it, only if we have the correct facts to go along with visual sights. It can’t be just a mass of photos for all to figure out what they are. Information is what makes all of us grow for the future and historic facts make it happen.

 

I agree, we built a house attached to the hot rod shop

 

No illness for me, I also like fishing and camping, but satisfaction is the end result of my madness. I love to build cars, love knowing I built something that'll race down the 90 mile stretch of the hope princeton that'll give a motorcycle a good race, and it was done in my shop. My other car is a pickup, twenty year old build that no other car has stayed in my possession for as long or been as reliable. I'm a grade ten high school dropout, wasn't by choice, I had to go to work for my family, but it taught me self reliance and that nothing was out of reach, I wanted to learn how to build a solid chassis that would perform, and over the years, I've done that. (yeah, I guess I've got the illness too if I think about it.....)

 

Does the fact that I have planned to stop and look at a car while on a family vacation count? Nah....I’m fine....I’m sure I’m fine....


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More mentality then illness. We hold our therapy sessions in the garage. Talking shit and getting things done. My wife says that we are speaking in foreign languages when she come out to the garage. Maybe we are. Either way, if they studied the minds of car builders, hot rodders and such, they would find that we are all highly intelligent beings that have no ill feelings towards any others. We stand with open arms to anyone that wants to learn about life in a nutshell.
That our problem solving skills are unmatched in any circles. We are the world. We are hot rodders. How's that for a line of b s?

 

Thinking cars are a Passion that can turn into an Obsession, my years in open wheel racing was like that, but time catches up to you and you return to normal, whatever that is for you, my case, Carnut from the begining to my end. I do not see this changing as a passion/hobby but my participation has and will change some. Garage therapy is a real thing IMO, I still go out there, not much gets done anymore, it is my man cave, the hobby is my social outlet.

 

Cars along with a list of other things can be allowed to be idolized in one's life. Very poor choice.

 

In my travels, I've been told many shaggy dog stories.

I come here for the rusty dog stories.
..

 

No, it is not an addiction as I can quit anytime I want.

 

Roothawg.... Can I copy this and share it?

 

You can receive help at the Henry Ford Clinic in Palms Spring!

 

Haven’t used the clubs in years. I should sell them. I need the room


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I'm trying to quit!!!! I couldn't pass this up . I know it will make a car. That's a parts car in the back of the truck.

 

My issue isn't as bad as others however I'm still able to self diagnose and medicate, I now have two(2) drivers and a one(1) project.

 

I think I drink water from Oklahoma

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When I was 14 in 1983 I bought a sweet little 66 Corvair Corsa - a full 2 years before I could drive. Then I sat in the drivers seat for 2 years - never leaving the driveway - pretending to drive it! Does that sound mentally ill enough for you guys?

 

Hello,

A mental illness? Quite possibly as to why… there are many reasons. Recently I have noticed that I have turned up the sound on our TV screens for shows and movies. No one complains, except for explosions and crashes, etc. So, I was wondering if the lingering effects of constantly being near loud exhaust pipes, drag racing tune ups/races, and finally having our own hot rods/cruisers making it enjoyable to ride from place to place, was the cause on hearing loss.

I am sure it did not help that we spent 5 years riding a Harley Sportster with 88db straight through exhausts. Or that when tuning the Harley, one tends to be right there next to the pipes. But, on the other hand, it may have been 40+ years of surfing in cold water episodes from early morning to the late afternoons. What about standing in front of 6 foot tall speakers at those 1960s rock concerts blasting away at all of the nearby ears? We did look at each other after leaving at the end of the concerts as if to say…what??? several times, before some normalcy came back to us.

The hearing specialist doctor in San Diego had this much to say:
1. Hearing loss comes from being too close to the noise source for lengths of time.
2. So, all of the above scenarios did a number on our ears while growing up.
3. A build up of calcium deposits makes the hearing tunnel have some physical blockage to
prevent clear sounds from getting inside. (surgery corrected that part)
4. But, cold water constantly sitting inside of the canal, cold climates in the vicinity of the
ear drum in freezing weather, and constant contact with loud sounds like drag racing or
hot rodding.
5. The main reason that to me was questionable happened to be the rush of wind blowing
past the ears. That constant noise creating a gentle, but loud sound, played a large
reason for hearing loss.

A large rush of wind, blowing by the ears, in cold climates, warm climates, the wind swirling around open convertibles, open roadsters and RPUs and even hot rods with open windows plays a huge part in hearing loss. Not much is given to those incidents as we all enjoy riding around in our motorcycles and hot rods. And some of us stayed too long enjoying too much drag racing and loud rock music in our formidable years…aawww…

As much as this wonderful noise coming from a 671 SBC motor, there is the proof positive, loss of hearing that is the result of such beautiful sounds for our ears.

What ever it was, there was some hearing loss as proof positive from our hearing specialist doctor. (Doctor of Audiology) The loss was registered on those silent beep tests and he recommended immediate surgery to make the chamber, blem-free for better sound enjoyment.

Jnaki

So, what comes next? The next generation of hearing loss people will be arriving shortly as more people are listening to ear buds, headphones and corded ear speakers with their phones and digital music sources. That is a little disheartening, but that is the way our society is heading… So, turn up the sound on that large screen TV, please…as I watch my old sound infused, You Tube drag racing videos I filmed years ago. It helps to relive the moment, again.