Chapter 4 (page 42)

I know throughout this book I use the term “We” quite a bit. This was done to make the story easier to tell, it simply flowed better. But the reality is, the majority of the work was done by one man, my Dad. And now is the time to truly talk about him. I felt it the most appropriate time to share this was at the end.

It is an absolute fact (shown in the book) that my Dad opened a book in 1989 and made an entry, officially starting the restoration process on his ’56 Speedster. I don’t really think he knew what he was getting into that day. If he did, it might have scared the crap out of him so bad, he’d have bagged it right then and there. But like all dreams that we chase I don’t think we ever really know what we’re getting into when we start. But there is one thing I can tell you about this man, he is a man of pure determination, grit and “never quit.” I know, I have first hand knowledge and it’s something he instilled in me. I can confidently say that my Dad may not possess the highest level of “sit in the classroom and pass written test intelligence,” but give him a problem and have him make the decision to solve it - at that point, it’s not if it gets done, it’s when - Period. He has two unique gifts. The first is he has a very mechanical mind and his hands work in concert with his mind. He also has the ability to think in 3D and see problems from all sides (and this was first pointed out to him by a surgeon) which allows him to systematically work through complex and tedious problems, problems that many times the average person can’t grasp, let alone solve. He is also a plotter. What I mean is that he will follow a chosen path, one simple step at a time. And once he’s chosen the path almost nothing can throw him off. Put all these traits together and what you get is a force to be reckoned with… a quiet, unassuming, “one-step-at-a-time” force of a man with a brilliant mechanical mind that doesn’t possess a quit button and an amazing gift of patience.

The perfect person to take on this project a long time ago.

I watched him, almost single handedly, hang onto a dream and turn that dream into reality. He had no idea where the knowledge, the help, the parts, the tools would come from let alone the funds to make it all come alive. He simply started and never stopped. Simply put, he is a man of Persistence & Patience. The car now represents my Dad and everything that he is and accomplished. It’s not just a car, it’s an extension of him and his family legacy. Everything he did, every piece he touched, worked on, cleaned, refinished and then re-installed. It’s a symbol of success and pure victory all the while facing insurmountable odds and adversities. There is nothing junky about it, it’s pure, it’s real, it’s wholesome and 100% salt of the earth. It’s not about the car, it’s about his life and the success he has had when no-one else thought it was possible. It’s a real life Rocky story.