I’ve been building and racing race cars for 46 years. A hobby that turned into a business. My ‘car guy’ friends don’t understand when I tell them that I’m NOT a ‘car guy’. My 57 year love of model trains is my real hobby. John Gates NHRA #7527 T/D, S/C, E/T Gates Motor Supply Santee, Ca
John,
It’s great to realize that you are a LS lover. I also have raced in the past [G-gas, Street stock] back in the '70s. Of course, I was never racing anywhere near the level that you race.
JimC.
Nice to meet you John.
I ran street stock for a couple of years in my mom’s Buick Skylark when I was a teenager. We thought we were hot stuff when we installed a home-made fuel coolers using a coffee can with a coil of copper tubing packed in dry ice. Probably made no difference in ET, but it was fun to show off.
I still love the smell of burning nitro, bleach and rubber, but it’s been a while since the closest good track is 2 hours away.
We used to hang out on Front Street and Delaware Ave in Philly. Guys were lined up both sides of the street watching the drags till the cops showed up. That was a long time ago…
I have a brother in Santee. We were just out there in Jan for my nieces wedding.
John Gates said:
A hobby that turned into a business. My ‘car guy’ friends don’t understand when I tell them that I’m NOT a ‘car guy’. [url](http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/JohnGates/fc7536/fc_b_n.jpg)
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John, I totally understand! I’ve been a professional wrench for 20yrs. The past 14 or so self employed doing mainly Swedish cars. I have tweaked, tuned and built quite a few things(car wise) over the years. I also moderate and have written many articles on a Volvo board. However when I help out on the forums and go to a car show the “car guys” just don’t get it? Trains are my real hobby as well. BTW…I think what you do is VERY cool! But it’s not a hobby for me anymore.