One of my first jobs was at an autoshack,BEFORE they became autozone.
That was while I was a senior in high school,early 1985.
A couple years later I got a 1 year full time vo-tech degree in automotive mechanics at the local community college,while passing all my ASE tests for certification as a master tech.
Fuffilled my work experience obligation for the master certification while working for a ford dealership in Wisconsin.
ASE Master tech since then,that was 12-31-1990.
Aquired ford motor company service specialist endorsements in several areas while there also,including brakes,suspension.
Have worked at a few other ford dealerships since then,and also a few other automotive service providers,both independent and retail,mostly specializing in brakes and suspension and alignment work.
Have also on occasion worked the parts end of the industry,including a stint at one of the larger ford dealerships here in town.
Always have done side work in both general repair and performance related stuff for friends and associates,including engine assembly/overhaul,tuning help and some automatic transmission overhaul/performance work.
Been building my own hot rods since the first job at the parts store in '85,had a '70 nova SS then with a built 396.
Done some drag racing but nothing really regular on my own part (and nowhere NEAR as much as I'd like to,I will be fixing this soon!),helped quite a few others with their resto projects,hot rods,and ocassionally a race car or two.
Been sidelined from this occupation recently due to an injury on one of my side projects a while back that required surgery to correct,and likely will be dropping out of the repair end of things from here out,except for my own endeavours,and possibly helping a few close associates from time to time.
Will always have some connection to all this though,its a part of my life that there is no way to ever fully disconnect from.
Plan on doing lots more racing in the future seeing that my wrenching efforts are almost entirely my own now,and I'm finishing up repairs on my brothers '68 ranchero GT 390,still have to pull the motor and check it out and make some repairs to there,also need to rebuild the C-6 and some wiring work and such.
Then I get to dig in and get my cars together.
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