Sometimes, things must come to an end

Aug 23, 2023

Eventually, the subject matter just isn’t there anymore, and sometimes it’s the desire. Do you think they’ll ever defeat Michael Myers in the Halloween movies? Every new installment feels like the end, but then there’s always another. Sometimes, things have to end, though.

by Kelly Kirk

Aug. 23, 2023

6:44 p.m.

This is one of the last pictures I took while working on something. The car is a 1955 Pontiac, and the picture is tagged February 29, 2016. The car sits tough. Rusty, but tough.

The Plymouth ‘Cuda didn’t make it to 1975, and to this day, it has never returned. Although it feels like we’re on the brink of a third one if you listen to the news, there’s only been two “official” World Wars in modern history. Do you know how many episodes of Seinfeld there were through the nine seasons? One-hundred and eighty. Fifty-six episodes less than Friends, spread out over ten seasons. How many of these short columns have I written? Five Hundred and Fifty-Seven over a thirteen-year period.

I remember number one hundred. It was about the monster truck from the movie Roadhouse. Number two hundred was a Ferrari that didn’t actually exist in real life but instead just a digital art piece. I made up the name and all the specs on it, but I did confess to that near the end. My favourite? Probably the one about the Munsters, my ninth one ever.

Over these thirteen years, I’ve daily driven a whopping three different vehicles. At the same time, over these thirteen years, I’ve purchased twelve project vehicles, all in various stages of completion, none of which ran at the time of purchase. Of those twelve, only three are in running condition, and only one is currently driveable, so much so that it’s sitting in my driveway with the windows open as I type this. How many are close to being reliable transportation? Honestly, seven of them. I just counted, followed by a re-count in disbelief. Some were just bought as parts for others, so really, it’s even better than it sounds. When will they be done? I’d say never, but I likely said that once about Camshaft Corner, and here we are, my final installment before being “done.”

Every week it seems like I’m trying to dig up something new, only to find out it’s something old that I’ve covered before, and I end up on another quest for learning. Over the years, it’s gone from a late-night scenario to an early-morning ritual and back again. There’s been a mixture of history, news, opinion, and even some personal experiences. If I recall correctly, those personal experiences ended in 2016, the last time I attended a car show and the last time I was actively working on a major project before life got in the way.

Is it a cash thing or a clocks-and-calendars thing where time is the issue? Is it a lack of a functional workspace? It’s a combination of all three and the fact that I haven’t done it in so long that it’s not part of my life anymore, and I just don’t seem to care enough to force it.

As I roll the credits on Camshaft Corner, I’m hoping to, maybe, get back to the messy part of the hobby, the part that doesn’t require a computer, thanks to the longevity of the Holley 4150 carburetor. I’ve got tools I’ve bought on deals and never used unless it was for something uncool like a general repair. I’ve got parts that I’ve collected, boxed up on pallets or stored in trunks, sorted per project, and itemized to stay organized.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get to it or not, but for now, I’ve got a lawnmower than needs a head gasket even worse than the truck that I’ve got hanging on jackstands needs a posi. If anyone needs me, I’ll be out doing the dirty work, hopefully driving something cool, on my way to building something cool.

by Kelly Kirk

Aug. 23, 2023

6:44 p.m.