The editor’s Blowin’ Smoke – 1-Jan-2010
Had to ditch the day job to give the magazine the attention I felt it and its readers deserved. Scary move, but I’ve always read the key to success is to make your career your passion. So, we’ll give it a go.
I know many readers are wondering when we’re going to become a glossy, monthly magazine and I can only answer that by saying more subscribers and ad sales will dictate those changes.
I’m still working on new features (regular tech features, what’s new in the aftermarket) and tweaking some old features (What’s in your Garage?) so look for the changes in future issues. I’d love to get your feedback at mycarpublications@shaw.ca
Giving proof to the adage that learning is addictive, the other day I was able to take a few moments to try out a TIG welder and though the pedal has its challenges, I did manage to make a pretty nice weld after only my second try at connecting two pieces of pipe.
The TIG welder exposure actually took place during another learning moment for me, as a local and very patient machine shop owner, Mike Dunn at Western Drivetrain and Machine Works (see their ad on page 62) is teaching me to rebuild heads. So far I’ve done guides and seats, though the World Performance S/R Torquer heads I chose to rebuild may not have been the best candidates as the valve seats proved difficult to remove. They were so worn you could barely tell there were seats still in the head.
When it comes to learning new skills, we sometimes psych ourselves out by being afraid to fail or appear ignorant in front of our peers.
I remembering once reading a quote from a highly skilled body man who said the beginning of every job included not worrying about how badly he could screw up. “It’s only metal,& rdquo; he said. “If something doesn’t work it’s easy to start over again.”
All it takes is a grinder and some perseverance.
And sometimes a lot of weld wire.
Got some bad news shortly after Christmas. One of our advertisers, Greg Filipowski, owner of The Rod Factory in Edmonton, AB was killed in car accident just outside Kenora, ON. Also killed was the driver of the pickup Gary Geneau of Nanaimo, B.C. The pair were bringing a car back to Edmonton when the accident occurred.
I never met Greg but I talked to him on the phone and was grateful that he chose to support our magazine.
My condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.