Ode to…

I’ve been known to reminisce about things I’ve never experienced. Normally I’d hesitate to write about something other than my car, but the past weekend has given me a twist of energy and thought. It all started with a leaky master cylinder in a tight annoying location. I fumbled for a couple days and wasted a fair amount of brake fluid to gravity and hidden leaks. I sat for about 30 minutes last night with a brew staring at the steady drip of fluid trying to grasp some sort of next step.

Earlier that day I stopped by a local indy auto parts shop. Mostly american stuff, but seemed like a better bet for ideas and general rap than the chain alternatives. I was greeted by a fairly light hearted fellow probably in his late 50’s. I get to describing my problem and found that the more I talked the less he was willing to help (mind you I had only said about 2 or 3 senetences). So I slowed down and opted to let him talk and see what sort of advice or guidance I could get. I basically got a lesson about how little I know. How what I’m talking about is only used in race cars (remote brake fluid reservoirs) and that he can’t help me figure out what to do because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do or how to fix it.

I walked away angry and frustrated. Wondering to myself where things could have gone wrong. Why was my problem (a very simple problem) unworthy of a creative solution in his eyes? Is there only one way to do things? Why is it so common for responses to questions, on forums or in person to, to illustrate how little you actually know. I realize there is a lot of common knowledge and consensus out there on how to do things, but does this mean there is no other way?

Then this evening I stumbled upon this H.A.M.B. posting http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422177t=422177  and was immediately inspired to just keep rolling. Hotrods from the 1940s. These guys did what they had to do… nothing perfect, nothing incredibly elegant, but in the end it turns out to be the complete package of honest to goodness creativity and ingenuity. I honestly don’t know a lot about those 1940’s hot rodding days. But I can tell you that after seeing the pictures I found an immense amount of confidence. Not necessarily in my skills, but rather the idea that you can do what you want and find your own way. Nay sayers beware. Just because your car doesn’t normally have a remote reservoir and it isn’t a race car doesn’t mean its the wrong thing to do or that its a bad idea. I’m inspired to do what I think is right and have fun doing it. Thats all for now. Just had to share.

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