Drag Racing

When I was in college, drag racing was one of my guilty vices. This was also one of my sources of income. I was able to finance my college education partly from a scholarship grant and partly from drag racing. Although I also sometimes lose, my winnings were enough to give me good profit margin. Dad never knew that I was entering drag race. It was illegal in our state but its being illegal only added to the thrill. My group of campus friends would usually compete with other drag racers from other schools. I was always the designated mechanic. We would race at dawn somewhere in the desert. Our cars were externally unassuming but they are internally aggressive. I also had my real income from modifying the engines of my friend’s cars. My reputation grew among the local drag racers that I actually built a garage business from there.

Later my friends and I realized that illegal drag racing was not a very good pastime. Eventually the state highway police caught up with us. My driving license was suspended and dad was really infuriated. He did not talk with me for several months. Although I still continued my college education, I was forced to work in a local bar to supplement my income. My garage business was put on a halt. I even had to ask mom for a ride to the bus stop everyday. Although I had some savings, I have later invested it in many other failed ventures.

When my driving license was returned, I was able to rebuild my garage business. I specialized in “hot rods.” Clients would come from different parts of the county just to have their cars modified in my obscure shop. It was partly because of my skills and partly because of the low fee that I demanded. During those college years, I really never expanded my garage business. I only hired a few mechanics. But when I graduated, I had enough savings to purchase a brand new Cadillac Brougham. I traded that car for my father’s old Toyota Camry Hatchback.

My First

I was 17 when I had my first real car. Well, technically speaking, it was a pickup truck – a 1972 GMC Sierra Custom Camper to be precise. It was a second hand pickup truck that was given to dad by a friend. Although in 1981, a ragtag pickup was the last thing that can be considered as hip, I was very excited when dad gave me the key. Dad and I spent more than two weeks overhauling that decaying metal contraption. Most of the work that we have done was repairing the engine. We replaced some of the components such as the radiator and the carburetor. When we were done with our work, it was a great sense of achievement for me.

Although I have always helped dad in his auto shop since I was nine years old, it was the first time that I truly done a major automotive work. Aside from being a good farmer, dad was also a highly skilled mechanic. Perhaps it was during that time that I became really interested in tinkering with automobiles. In some sense, dad only assisted me. I was the one who really accomplished the more difficult work. It was gratifying to see a virtually dead automobile come to life again. I considered that truck as my first real achievement.

That truck started a hobby that eventually became a business. My dad’s friend was so impressed with the work that we have done that he even offered to buy back the pickup. However, I refused to sell it to him. In fact, until today, I still have that pickup truck in my garage. It is still in perfect working condition, although I seldom use it anymore. It was the truck that I drove everyday to our community college. It was the truck that I used when I had my first serious date. That truck has a lot of sentimental value. That is why I am unable to give it up.