Summer tech days

[Luva65wagon]

I'd like to try and schedule a tech day each month this summer, if posssible. At this point there are three cars we should "go visit" and plan them as soon as we can so we have a good chance of people fitting in a day into their busy schedules to come out and help. The three cars owners are;

Jerry Kirby
Gene Smith
Bill Williams

I'd like to determine the order, but need to hear from these three people to know if they are going to be around June/July/August. If not, then we can shift the order around as needed.

Each of these people have requested tech days except for Gene, but Gene deserves one just for him for opening his place up to us so many times, with little being done to his car while we're there.

So speak up folks and let's see if we can make 3 more cars happen. K?

[Nathan289]

Y'all can come over to my house..

Pick a car and work on one of the four..

The wagon needs the wood slat headliner installed..
The ranchero needs the new engine installed
The sprint needs leaf spring bushings and brake work..
The futura needs exhaust manifold gaskets..

I'm good with any month just let me know...

Nathan

[Jerry Kirby]

Thanks Roger. June would not be good for me. I have to have some serious "tech time" with a couple of doctors to overhaul my cardiovascular system but anytime after June would be absolutely appreciated.

Jerry

[Rustorod]

Count me in to help on Jerry and Gene's cars. As far as my car July or August works for me however I am on call half the time so the best dates for me would be July 17 or 24 or August 14 or 21. I was hoping to use the lift at Dalton and Bob's shop if possible. I tried to send a message to Dalton but not sure if I did it right.

[redfalken]

I'll help if I'm available. I might have one myself in the fall. I have a spare car now so I plan to pull my drivetrain, put on a new head, clean things up, paint, and patch a few leaks.

I'll holla when I'm ready.

[Dalton]

As some of you may know my dad has a shop designed for basic metal fabrication that he is willing to let the club use during a tech day. The shop is equipped with a hydraulic lift, drill press, cnc plasma table, welders, belt grinders, and most other metal fabrication tools. The shop has a fireplace to keep warm (even in july you never know) and enough room to comfortably work on two cars. I am proposing that on Saturday July 24th we could have a tech day at my place(Near Smokey Point). During the tech day we could work on two club members cars who need some help. This could be an extremely sucessful tech day if we have a large attendance of club members. Depending on the amount of work required and the amount of members available we could at least knock out two or three club members cars. The only issue on some of nondriving cars is transportation. If you can get the car here we can work on it but towing may be a problem.

[SmithKid]

I can make any day work for my car as far as I know at this time. I am gone quite a bit this time of year, but hope to get my heater box rebuilt RSN (real soon now) so the car could feasibly be road ready after a tech day. At this time, it needs rear lighting hooked up and installed, dash reassembled (not all parts back yet), carpet finished off and seat installed, door panels installed, and side trim installed. I'm actually pretty close to having a "driver" and really looking forward to it!
Gene

[Luva65wagon]

Well this gives us something to work with. It may be worth it to have Jerry consider a rental of a car hauler and haul the car up to Bob and Dalton's shop and do Bill and Jerry's car all at the same time. I could probably do the tow with the club hauler (for the cost of the gas) if you, Jerry, arrange the trailer.

Considering the distance Jerry's car would need to travel, it would be worthwhile knowing whether there is a staging space where the car could be towed over on a Friday and driven back the day after the tech day. It's about 4 or 5 hours of driving forth and back from my house to Spanaway, then towing a car to and from Spanaway to Smoky Point and then back to my house again all in one day.

I'd be shot before I even started.

[Rustorod]

Thanks sooo much Dalton for the use of your shop. July 24th works great for me.(Hopefully my car will make it that far). I will bring lunch stuff.Are burgers OK or ?? Maybe we could do Gene's car prior to then? I am excited to see more cars drivable. Gotta luv this club!!

[BadBird]

I will do my best to be there. Also trying soooooo hard to get mine on the road. I am trying to do without begging for a tech day because there are so many of us that need help. But boy am I wishing I had about 6 guys looking over my shoulder with this electrical and window/windshield work.

[Luva65wagon]

I am trying to do without begging for a tech day because there are so many of us that need help.

This is not the first time I've heard this (and Larry, this is not directed at you, but at "this way of thinking," which seems to occur far too often), and I hate to come across as harsh, so forgive me if I do. I want this to be taken as an encouragement.

The reason for tech days is to accelerate getting a members car done so that member can then pay it forward and help another member, who will then be able to help others and so on and so on. The logic behind tech days is to get more cars done so more members feel freed up to help others. A huge aspect of the club is to facilitate this.

It's anyone's prerogative to do their own work and not have a bunch of people over to help them, but don't do so at the lack of participation helping others who are asking for it. Some of us can do a lot by ourselves without asking for help, but some of us also make almost every tech day too. Suffice it to say, if you go at it lone ranger, and use that to justify why you can't help other members because you're working on yours (ever so slowly) you don't do yourself or anyone else in the club any favors.

Now obviously, with that said, it does no good to have tech days if, after having had work done on your car, you don't then make an effort to show up to help anyone else. That, though, is not up to any of us to police (we can't force people to help)... though it does discourage other members and eventually people's interests fade. Tech days are supposed to be like bread on the water, or karmic, or whatever thing it is you believe that helping others will do for you.

I also know many feel absolutely worthless at a tech day, and so they feel they are in the way and often don't come for that reason. But hey, there is always something to do that doesn't always take the skills I perhaps have, or someone else has. So you, if you're reading this, you should come to tech days, be a participant of this thing we call a club, and pitch in your skill at cooking burgers, scraping paint (or rust), cleaning greasy parts, learn to turn a wrench - whatever and let's get some cars done.

OK, I'm finished.

[BadBird]

oops.

[BadBird]

I have thought about this message for several hours. Can't seem to grasp what I am feeling. But, here goes.
I went to the tech day the only day that I possibly could. I remember that almost everyone there either had a car that was finished or that was being worked on. My car was at home and needed work, but I wanted to help others too.
The next tech day I was out of the state. The next tech day was missed because of illness. That illness forces me to not be able to drive and just as importantly I can't legally.
Tirgeminal Neuralgia with Cluster Headaches is something that has been with me for over 2 1/2 years. The last 2 club meetings Carol and I were on the way and had to turn around and go home.
Everyone has problems, physical, financial, time, etc, not just me.
I am trying to spend every hour possible to get my car on the road. I started it over 2 years ago and it is going to get finished.
There are a bunch of us out here who are struggling to get our cars done, and the hardest part is not the work. It is knowing what and how to do the work.
When I get done with this car I will have a ton of knowledge (comparatively) over what I had two years ago. That will make it a lot easier to help others, and I will.
I would assume it is how those of you with knowledge got that knowledge to share with others.
I certainly don't consider myself as trying to do this "lone ranger". I have asked for and received so much help and knowledge from everyone in this club that it would be tremendously hard to be as far as I am without that help.

[Luva65wagon]

Larry, That post wasn't directed at anyone in particular, least of which you. I tried to make that pretty clear. I sense you may taken it personally because I quoted your post. Yes, your post inspired mine, but it wasn't directed at you. You are fine.

I just want everyone to know that they don't have to go at this alone -- that the main emphasis of the club is to minimize you feeling alone. I mean, why join a club if there is no benefit to it? I have tried to make this my mantra since day-one.

Believe me, I have had projects as big as yours where I was not in the position to call on anyone for help. That's a very discouraging place to be - and I know what I'm doing. I honestly don't know what it would be like for someone who's just learning as they go and end up in some of the places I've found myself in. I assume this is why we find cars for sale on Craigslist all taken apart and the owner has given up.

I hated that feeling of "desperation" and vowed long ago I would do all I can while I have breath in my lungs to help anyone who asks -- and the meaning behind my post was to encourage other members of the club to share in my vision.

But my post also faced the reality that not everyone has it within themselves to do this. People have lives and commitments and many other things that keeps them from doing more. I get that. But I also know that many don't feel they have anything to offer a "tech day" because they don't know much other than how to drive the car. And it's that that keeps them away. These folks are still more than encouraged to attend, and learn, and help in ways they can't even imagine.

So hopefully that helps explain things a little better. I apologize for any anguish I may have caused you.

Also, as I mentioned above a few post back I'm holding either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning open for you, if you want me to stop by.

[BillP 98201]

Larry what you are doing inpires me! Just the progress you have made, and what you have done yourself is awesome!
I wish I could do more for the club, but my job doesnt give me the freedom Id like. Dont feel guilty.

I would like to give Roger, Kenny, and Patrick big for being the glue of the club. They are great guys, and I think the club is getting bigger and stronger, even on the east side "Nate". I think Rairnier Falcons has a great future.