<VV> Teens and 1st cars

[John Beck]

Thanks for reminding me that I'm an "old timer". I clearly remember your
posts about Leigh and the '64.  I was slightly envious because my
daughter avoided time in the garage.  My six year old granddaughter
helped me change the oil in my pickup a few weeks ago.  Ten more years
and she might be driving a '66 Corsa.  --J.B.

Doug Mackintosh wrote:
> 
>   Some of you old-VV-timers may recall the 3 years during which my daughter and I mechanically refurbished her 1964 Spyder convertible. Ralph and some of you safety-minded old fuddy-duds might fault me for putting my own daughter in such a dangerous car, but I still believe a safe car is one you understand and can control because you know its limits. I  purchased that car as a non-runner when daughter Leigh was 13 and we immediately set to work. She did at least one of everything - if I did a left side brake, she did the right. We completely tore down and rebuilt every mechanical system- engine, brakes, suspension, steering gear, transmission, differential, electrical. She cleaned more parts than we could count. When she started driving it at age 16, she had earned it by sweat equity. She does her own maintenance (lube jobs, oil change) and minor on-the-road repairs, and works with me on the more involved projects. She just graduated from college, and it has been her daily
>  driver throughout. I don't know if she will someday buy another car, but I doubt she will ever get rid of that one! She recently told someone "I'm not technological, I'm mechanical!".