Father's Day

Well here I am staring down my first Father's Day. I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I still don't feel more "adult" by any means. I still play video games and tinker with toy R/C cars. I have only had a few moments where I thought that I had become my dad. My son it only 10 months old though, so I guess things will happen in due time.

The best I could do was something I wrote last fall to thank my Dad for all he did for me. Like I would assume most car people can, I attribute my car love to my Dad. This is all his fault and I love him for it. I wonder if my son will say the same about me some day?

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/car-article/The+Classics+Perspective+_+Passing+It+On-64096.xhtml?conversationId=613059

Hotlinked of course.

Wait another 20-30 years and you'll realize that you really have become your Dad, but you won't know when, or how it happened! Father's Day means more to me now (my sons are 24 and 21) than it ever did when they were little tikes. Now they do, and say things because they know it makes my day. I'll be enjoying Father's Day more than ever. Now, I just have to wait for my first Father's Day as a Grandfather !

Just be yourself. The kid will pick up on that. I know guys in their 50s who still play with R/C cars and video games. There is no shame in being yourself, even if it means weekends with model rockets and slot cars. Sometimes, if we're lucky, the kid stays in us.

Try to remember what a handfull you were at that age, and work from there. You know more than you think you do; We were all children at one time.

Great column. Great picture.

This one's going to be bittersweet: my first Father's Day without my dad and also my first as a single father.

Sorry J-Man, but like others have said, just be yourself. Anything else and they know you're faking.

My father is almost 80, my son is 26. My father's day gift to me is knowing my son is successful and very happy with his life. His fiance is nice, he's respected by his peers, handles money well, looks good in a suit and is comfortable in his skin. I miss having him around but he's got his own life.

My father on the other hand doesn't wear ties, no idea what to do for him.

Dan

I owe all my passion for anything automotive to my dad. From seeing the list of his achievements, i feel like i could never do half the things he has done. I can only wish i could be half the man my dad is. All i can do now is just focus on my family, especially my daughter. She is now almost 10 months old and watches every F1 race that is on. Cars make me happy, but seeing Sydney smile is so much better in my opinion...

I'm pretty fortunate -- my son is taking me to the Vintage Festival at Mosport on Sunday. In turn, I'm taking my father to the same event. My daughter is torn between coming to the festival, or staying home to bake me a strawberry-rhubarb pie (win-win in either case :)).

NYG95GA wrote: Just be yourself. The kid will pick up on that. I know guys in their 50s who still play with R/C cars and video games. There is no shame in being yourself, even if it means weekends with model rockets and slot cars. Sometimes, if we're lucky, the kid stays in us. Try to remember what a handfull you were at that age, and work from there. You know more than you think you do; We were all children at one time.

That is some of the best advice right there. I would only add that as they get older try to be interested in whatever they are interested in. Spending time and playing with my kids is the best medicine for me after a crappy day, one smile and everything else just does not seem that important. Enjoy them, you will be better for it.

Like Jensenman this will be my first Father's Day without my Pop... had my first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first new years, etc... ya it's been a strange yr so far...

My kids have been partners in crime from the start...

Wow, not to threadjack, but that is a MINTY lookin' VW... I especially like the wheels.

Maserati Biturbo?

Coinkydink that on Father's Day weekend Trish asked me to cleanout and stain an old desk. I found this in one of the drawers, printed in the local paper when Ian was nine.

Ian, age 9. said: My Dad is special because he goes on bike rides with me and he plays pitch and catch withme. My Dad is special because he builds bat houses with me and lets me help fix cars. My Dad is special because he loves me and I love him. Ian

914Driver wrote: My father is almost 80, my son is 26.

My father is 75 and I am 29

Some days its as my dad was never the kind of man to go riding bikes or play catch. Its a different kind of relationship and it always has been. He has always been a stern figure of authority all our life, never one to mince words. We are not a Hallmark family, my parents have never celebrated any of their 42 wedding anniversaries. They taught us to appreciate and acknowledge loved ones everyday, my dad always said: "Sorry won't take that knife out of your back."

My brother and I often talk about how we wish our parents were younger when we were younger. We hardly ever saw dad growing up as his medical practice was at its prime. But, dad worked hard and made sure we spent every summer holiday and winter holiday somewhere. Dad taught us the value of hard work and appreciating the value of a dollar earned. When they came to the US in the late 60s they had < $10 to their name. By the time they left in the late 70s they had already put away $100k for each child for college, heck I wasn't even born but my parents thought well ahead and have always taught us the value of proper planning.

autoxrs wrote: ...my dad was never the kind of man to go riding bikes or play catch.... He has always been a stern figure of authority all our life, never one to mince words.

Same here. Dad was the breadwinner, mom was the alma mater. Raising me and my siblings was all up to her, but we could do it because of his efforts. That was the deal.

Later in life, he gained interest in collectible old cars; that was my "in". For 30 years he collected various old cars (e.g. '35 Buick staight 8, '36 Chysler six, '57 XK150, ''57 Silver Cloud, 2 different '40 Caddies, '48 Lincoln V12, '49 Caddy...).

Thing is, the man couldn't change a spark plug if his life depended on it. Guess who was enlisted to keep them running? Ever tried to tune a Lincoln flathead V12 with two distibutors and a 1 barrel carb? Jeez!

He made his living with his mind and shuffling papers on a desk. I've made mine with my hands and busted knuckles. I still love him dearly, and even though he's too old now to work the "3 on the tree" in his Caddy, he taught me much of what I know and believe.

Happy Father's Day!

Dad is 71, I'm 42, My sons are 23, 11, and 6. My grandson is 1. Four generations, that's kind of cool. Too bad Dad is on a year long boat trip. They are in Canada at the moment headed to the Great Lakes. I wish I could be with them.

I still remember the catch, the family tickle fights with all six of us, the road trips. The 62 Chevy truck he taught me to slide down a dirt road. Changing the timing chain in a 60s wagon and him cranking it up with no exhaust just so I could hear what it sounded like. I think I was about six when that happened. Cranking up the 1928 engine he had and has since given to me. The Scouting trips and the camping. Painting the boat in the back yard. Building a porch.

One of my projects this year is converting to digital the 10,000+ slide pictures my Dad took over the last 70 years. He never was far from a camera and loved to take pictures. It has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. I plan to make disks for the entire family for Christmas this year.

Great thread, Thanks guys and Happy Fathers Day!

My dad turned 79 on thursday, my daughter will be 5 in August. He was often out of the country when I was a kid but by the time I hit high school age we came back to the states and he quit traveling as much.

He was an A&P aircraft mechanic and lay engineer teaching aircraft maitanance to most of the third world countries. He alwas took my mother and all us kids if he was to be gone for more than a few months.

I have fond memories of worknig on cars in various places over the years. I feel I owe a lot of my sucess in my chosen profession to him teaching me to be meticulous and patient when working on something.

Alltho he doesnt read this board (hell he wont let me buy him and mom a computer) thanks dad for a very memorable childhood and for all you have and still do for me.

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!!

Best line from him: "Women are like streetcars, wait long enough and another one comes along."