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[Dave-C]

And as for me!  Well!  Back in the early 70's at a very young age, dad and an uncle had Anglia's, A40's, Standard's, Minor's etc  There was always the need for a second hand part required.  We have and had then, a particularly biggish and full of donors scrap yard close by..  Now before all this H&S ballc0cks, I had used to go along with them.. cars stacked 5 high.. That's where I learnt to climb and become a risk assesment kinda individual.. Kids have lost this great lesson H&S to blame...  Cut my fingers several times. slipped off wet bonnets and fell tit's up in puddles of mud... Good innit?  To cut the story short, as others, TINKERING.. and I suppose lots of reading.  Got a Beetle at 16 stripped it, rebuilt it, engine, gearbox and all..  Passed my test, got bigger & better cars, wasn't happy with stuff, tinkered some more...  Now mechanicing is really down to necessity, but, a chore that I enjoy... hence being a member on here, it's great to be able to try to help others and it's also great to have the pool of information on here for the nitty gritty stuff other than the basics of the mechanics..

Well done to ALL on here for their "Never Ending Gee Up......"

DC

[stevief]

Dad was foreman mechanic at the local Ford dealership and worked Sturday morning overtime for the company and then helping his mechanics with their cars in the afternoon. This was seen as time when Mum could get a bit of peace so I was in the workshop nearly every Saturday from the age of about four.

Was given an MG Magnette as a present to learn to drive in a local quarry complex but as the car had no floor, brake lines or a working battery modifications were constantly required as well as a lot of hand crank starting, I think it is called character building.

Once legally on the road Austin/Morris 1800s and Cortinas came next with engine tweeks or swaps and suspension modifications being tried. A Mk2 RS 2000 which was constantly being modified was the first real attempt at perforamnce tuning and then a 78 Trans Am and a MK1 Astra GTE before the sensible family cars became the norm.

As to, what I will call proper mechanics, one of the best learning experiences came after fitting twin 40s to the Escort. I couldn't get them balanced properly and was looking at tuning shops to get them done when it was suggested I visit a small local garage and try there. The garage was a traditional two pumps a ramp and a normal bay affair but the guy who owned it raced single seaters. I spoke to him about the carbs and he said no problem as long as I could hang on for a while as he needed to get a car out for a customer. When he was ready he produced a length of 1/4" hose and a screw driver which he then set about sticking the hose iinto each carb throat and having a listen followed by a tweak here and there with a screw driver. The difference could be heard in the engine tone as well as how it was running which he pointed out with a grin. He then took the screw driver and knocked all the settings off again, passed me the hose and screwdriver and told me to get on with it. He then checked what I had done pointed me in the right direction and went through the process again until he was happy.
The point being he took time to teach, had no diagnostic system and would not accept payment for his time because he was passing on a skill rather than seeing it as work.

Unfortunately guys like that are becoming extinct and the only way that skills are transferred now are via sites like this and the how to authors are rapidly becomming the conduit for knowledge transfer rather than the proper mechanics.

Personnaly I've picked up a lot of info here and at times feel guilty that it is rather one sided as I've been lucky enough not to have needed to do much, so far, but enthusiasts are always required to keep a marque on the road and you all seem to be doing a first class job.

Steve

[Dave-C]

I live in Stoke-on-Trent... there are very few community / clubs for teenagers...  I would absolutely love to get hold of a decent sized garage, an old knackered motor.. and give our local lads n' lasses some direction and motivation, just a messing with cars!  All funded by the local community, of course...  all that they seem to do, is, kick a bloody football in the streets....  that'll never get them a job..

So yes sewing the seed early.. leads to respect, knowledge and understanding...

DC

My lads get stuck in with me when needs must...  shame others don't get the chance..

[Crazydad]

That sounds like a damn good idea

why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??

I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/

[Dave-C]

That sounds like a damn good idea

why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??

I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/

The whole area is one big charity case if you ask me!!  But, seriously, The Government are planning on getting youth clubs going in every town in the UK, So, yes maybe there's a chance of some funding... maybe I'll copy them in on our thread.......  DC

[Crazydad]

That sounds like a damn good idea

why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??

I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/

The whole area is one big charity case if you ask me!!  But, seriously, The Government are planning on getting youth clubs going in every town in the UK, So, yes maybe there's a chance of some funding... maybe I'll copy them in on our thread.......  DC

It`s a start if you can proove to them how enthusiastic everyone here is and get them to read a bit i think it must be a go go  

After all the Majority of all new members allways comment on the Group Dynamics, and thats the
reason they join, they want to be a part of this great Forum.

So it can only be to your advantage to let them know whats going on here, and that you are part of this.

And of course that you are capeable of giving something very important to the Youth  community

HOPE