Is petrol in your family?
Discussion
Sort of carrying on from the gibber thread and people talking about their dad’s getting them into cars. Does petrol run in your family?
None of my family are into cars at all. Not fast one’s anyway. My Mum raves on about her brand new Merc CLK but only in a Mrs Bucket kind of way. I’m sure she never takes it above 40. My dad always had company cars but never sporty ones and he always used to treat choosing the next one when it came up for renewal as a chore. I seem to remember the main criteria was whether the boot had a lip when open so you had to lift things over it or not
(fair enough - he was a musician who had to lug heavy gear around to gigs).
My mum hated riding in my Porsche and TVR and would literally yelp out loud as soon as I touched the brakes or turned the steering wheel. All my dad had to say about it was how much more comfortable his Omega estate was on the motorway than the Porsche. Err I think your missing the point dad.
My brother quite likes his high speed motorway cruisers (currently has a Scorpio Cosworth and would like an S4 Avant) although by his own admission knows nothing about the mechanical side, doesn’t really know his sports cars and is not into motor sport.
Beats me how I got into it at all really. I know my Grandad used to have a motorcycle and side car and went on riding holidays with my Nan in the 50’s. He also used to have copies of Autosport lying round the house when I visited as a kid in the early 80’s and always used to watch the F1 on the TV on Sunday – much to the disinterest of my dad. I think it must have skipped a generation from him.
What about you lot? Are you in the family way?
None of my family are into cars at all. Not fast one’s anyway. My Mum raves on about her brand new Merc CLK but only in a Mrs Bucket kind of way. I’m sure she never takes it above 40. My dad always had company cars but never sporty ones and he always used to treat choosing the next one when it came up for renewal as a chore. I seem to remember the main criteria was whether the boot had a lip when open so you had to lift things over it or not
(fair enough - he was a musician who had to lug heavy gear around to gigs). My mum hated riding in my Porsche and TVR and would literally yelp out loud as soon as I touched the brakes or turned the steering wheel. All my dad had to say about it was how much more comfortable his Omega estate was on the motorway than the Porsche. Err I think your missing the point dad.
My brother quite likes his high speed motorway cruisers (currently has a Scorpio Cosworth and would like an S4 Avant) although by his own admission knows nothing about the mechanical side, doesn’t really know his sports cars and is not into motor sport.
Beats me how I got into it at all really. I know my Grandad used to have a motorcycle and side car and went on riding holidays with my Nan in the 50’s. He also used to have copies of Autosport lying round the house when I visited as a kid in the early 80’s and always used to watch the F1 on the TV on Sunday – much to the disinterest of my dad. I think it must have skipped a generation from him.
What about you lot? Are you in the family way?
My father is 66. In my youth, he encouraged my love of cars and motorsport. Many days spent at Silverstone watching the F1 practices and tyre test sessions (never the actual GP - "need to be close enough to smell 'em boy, can't do that on race day". Many memories of mad qualifying engines, Pironi detonating a V12 under the bridge, a young Alain Prost and Rene Arnoux the Renault boys. Also hours and hours spent in welsh forests for glimpses of mad RS200's, Sport Quattro's and 205 T16's, practicing his sneak photographic technique at chepstow service area. When we were old enough to learn to drive, it was Dad that insisted we learnt and spent many hours sat quietly in the passenger seat whilst we scared ourselves ("right lad, next ten miles to home, no brakes allowed, try and do it all with the 'box). Together, we set light to Landrovers (he never did master electrics ). One glorious year we spent trying to restore a Triumph GT6. A tweak here, a tweak there, me doing the 15mile local "lap", then back to the garage to report the changes to my "mechanic" so we could figure out the next step. Encouraged my interest in motorcycles, much to mothers disgust. At age 51 Dad had a heart attack, had to retire from his engineering job. Two years later a bypass and a stroke whilst in theatre left him visually impaired and finally robbed him of his licence. Of all the suffering he went through then, he's since admitted that this was the hardest thing to bear. Over the years, several more small heart attacks until October last year another stroke paralysed his left side and caused more brain damage. He's still in hospital in a rehab unit, but finally comes home on the 4th of march. And, whilst his visions buggered, his judgement gone, unable to so much as pee without help, do you know what he wants the most?
A MOTORISED WHEELCHAIR !!
Now thats what i call a Pistonhead.
edited because to the best of my memory Proust wrote books and did NOT drive for Renault at any point.
A MOTORISED WHEELCHAIR !!
Now thats what i call a Pistonhead.
edited because to the best of my memory Proust wrote books and did NOT drive for Renault at any point.
I got roped in to rebuilding a Triumph 3TA (Bathtub) motorcycle by dad when I was about 9, after that followed a Norton 650ss Dominator, Lotus Elan plus2,2 Europa TwinCams,an Elan S3SE, Sunbeam S8 and finally another plus 2! I also got dragged into renovating various houses in between the above!!Mum hated the bikes but she used to drive the Lotus's after they were finished as her daily car!
I got grounded for a month after a neigbour 'reported' me to dad for taking the Dommie for a spin through the village when I was 13!
i think I must come from an affected jean pool!!
I got grounded for a month after a neigbour 'reported' me to dad for taking the Dommie for a spin through the village when I was 13!
i think I must come from an affected jean pool!!
It came down my dad's side of the family. My Grandad was an engineer during the war and loves all things mechanical, and likes driving fast. He had the Roller etc etc that went with his job but never had a sports car. He drives a Chrysler Neon now
My Dad had a MGB Roadster that had been coverted to a V8 but still had the original rear axle so was swift 0-60. He completely restored the car and from all the photos it was concours. He sold it just before I was born and got a BGT (1.8) which when I was 1 he decided needed restoring, started it (this was 18 years ago) and its still in the garage with just the block in the engine bay and the rest of the components scattered about the house!
Nevermind I'm sure he'll get round to doing it one day.
My sister could also be called a petrolhead too, but she would chose a car for the looks and sound and not the go. Somewhat worryingly she can learn to drive next month; anyone in Kent, beware...
My Dad had a MGB Roadster that had been coverted to a V8 but still had the original rear axle so was swift 0-60. He completely restored the car and from all the photos it was concours. He sold it just before I was born and got a BGT (1.8) which when I was 1 he decided needed restoring, started it (this was 18 years ago) and its still in the garage with just the block in the engine bay and the rest of the components scattered about the house!
Nevermind I'm sure he'll get round to doing it one day.
My sister could also be called a petrolhead too, but she would chose a car for the looks and sound and not the go. Somewhat worryingly she can learn to drive next month; anyone in Kent, beware...
My family has a background in Haulage, but unfortunately it stopped with my uncle. My Great Grandfather used to haul explosives from Woolwich to Chatham with a steam lorry 
My Grandfather was in charge of an MTB workshop during the war. Sadly, he no longer remembers who he is, let alone who I am. Fortunately, my mum got him to dictate his memoirs before he got too bad. Similar to someone elses post on another thread, I`d give anything to have spent just one day with him when he was in his thirties.
My Grandfather was in charge of an MTB workshop during the war. Sadly, he no longer remembers who he is, let alone who I am. Fortunately, my mum got him to dictate his memoirs before he got too bad. Similar to someone elses post on another thread, I`d give anything to have spent just one day with him when he was in his thirties.
I guess it must be. My mother's family are the petrol heads. Two of her brothers built their own car (looked more like a bike in the photographs). Her cousin, a priest, went to live in Oregon and owned a Ford Mustang. (That was the first Mustang that I ever saw. Only in a photograph, unfortunately).
My mother came to live in this country after the war and got a job working for the Humber Motor Company. I grew up next to a motor bike shop. I was into big bikes before I was really into cars and my sister was too, though she had a greater love of scooters. Helen was really into Formula 1 in her teens and early twenties. Despite her eagerness to learn to drive and her love of motor sport, she never learnt to drive
My mother came to live in this country after the war and got a job working for the Humber Motor Company. I grew up next to a motor bike shop. I was into big bikes before I was really into cars and my sister was too, though she had a greater love of scooters. Helen was really into Formula 1 in her teens and early twenties. Despite her eagerness to learn to drive and her love of motor sport, she never learnt to drive
Dad and Grandad were both rally drivers, in Beetles, Saabs, Excort Mexico - in fact my Dad ran his Mexico in the RAC rally several times. Both were heavily involved in CSMA - Dad as Group Company Secretary and Grandad as one of the committee and publisher of the old magazine which, in fact, I regularly got involved with as a child - turning the handle on the duplicator in his garage.
My brother is also well into Minis and other car related stuff.
My brother is also well into Minis and other car related stuff.
t1grm said:
Does petrol run in your family?
My mum ...would literally yelp out loud as soon as I touched the brakes
Mine's like that too. Usually the yelp is followed by something along the lines of an ear bashing for me about slowing down needlessly/cocking up my line through a corner..
Bought herself an MX5 as a retirement present, (with a neck problem she can't handle the Austin Healey she really wanted). After seeing what a skilled and spirited driver can do in one of those, I've huge amounts of respect for those cars..
In my veins from my dad - he used to rally and race competitively until his early 50's. Retired for a bit and then got into classic trialling with his 1928 Riley which he used to do very well in until he fell ill in his early 70's, dying a couple of years later.
He had dozens of Rileys and Austin 7's at his funeral. Was known as the Don of the Southport Mafia, as he and his pals were called. Apparently it was because they used to turn up at events all over the country and take away all the silverware.
Used to live near Ringway around the time of the war.His brother, who used to fly recce spitfires in the war, and he, after the end of the war, used to sneak into the compound where they kept loads of old warplanes, to aquire some aviation spirit to make bros' austin 7 go s bit better.
My wife used to co drive on rallies with me, compete in sprints etc and now my two sons race formula fords etc.
Petrol. I think so...
He had dozens of Rileys and Austin 7's at his funeral. Was known as the Don of the Southport Mafia, as he and his pals were called. Apparently it was because they used to turn up at events all over the country and take away all the silverware.
Used to live near Ringway around the time of the war.His brother, who used to fly recce spitfires in the war, and he, after the end of the war, used to sneak into the compound where they kept loads of old warplanes, to aquire some aviation spirit to make bros' austin 7 go s bit better.
My wife used to co drive on rallies with me, compete in sprints etc and now my two sons race formula fords etc.
Petrol. I think so...
My Dad was in the RAF as a pilot and did 2500 hrs, mainly in Shakletons. He's always had a love of planes but never really been interested in cars. The best car he ever owned was a Jaguar Mk2 which he used to take my mum along the M1 at 125mph in the 60s, before I was born.
My sister has always been into cars because I was. I took her out to practice driving so she picked up some of my aggressive tendencies. She now runs her own driving school business and also rides sports bikes. She tries all my bikes and I did think she might not get on with the Aprilia but she loves it. It amuses me the looks she gets when she pulls up on it - everybody just assumes it must be a bloke riding it because it sounds such a beast.
My sister has always been into cars because I was. I took her out to practice driving so she picked up some of my aggressive tendencies. She now runs her own driving school business and also rides sports bikes. She tries all my bikes and I did think she might not get on with the Aprilia but she loves it. It amuses me the looks she gets when she pulls up on it - everybody just assumes it must be a bloke riding it because it sounds such a beast.
My dad used to be a major petrol head before I was born. Used to take part in rallies in the Middle East in the 70s, owned a number of nicer cars, highlight of which was an Alfa Montreal
Then I came along, and he's never had anything nice since really. Now-a-days he's content driving around in a P-reg Volvo
Mum's never been into cars and just sees them as a way of getting from A to B. She doesn't like driving either!
Then I came along, and he's never had anything nice since really. Now-a-days he's content driving around in a P-reg Volvo
Mum's never been into cars and just sees them as a way of getting from A to B. She doesn't like driving either!
We've had this thread before, but never mind - always a good one.
My dad has always been a petrolhead. When I was a baby he was running a Lotus Cortina. He and my grandfather (an ex-RN chief and then an instructor at REME) had stripped the engine down, skimmed the heads, blueprinted it, etc.
He then went through a 3L Capri, Lancia Beta 2000, Lotus Europa, Lotus Esprit S3, Toyota Supra (we don't really mention that), TVR 400SE, Porsche Carerra 4 (964), and a succession of fast Suburus.
He is now 60 and currently drives a grey-import Impreza WRX STi v4
Cheers dad.
My dad has always been a petrolhead. When I was a baby he was running a Lotus Cortina. He and my grandfather (an ex-RN chief and then an instructor at REME) had stripped the engine down, skimmed the heads, blueprinted it, etc.
He then went through a 3L Capri, Lancia Beta 2000, Lotus Europa, Lotus Esprit S3, Toyota Supra (we don't really mention that), TVR 400SE, Porsche Carerra 4 (964), and a succession of fast Suburus.
He is now 60 and currently drives a grey-import Impreza WRX STi v4
Cheers dad.
I did my first engine swap with Dad when I was 6. I've been in scrapyards since I could walk, one of my earliest memories is Dad matching the rev counter and speedo in one of his old sportscars (120 ish), also taking big lines through corners. He isn't so much of a petrolhead these days, I remember his last car was a modded MGBGT which I remember Mum saying "We can't fit the children in the back" and that was it, no more fun cars.
I was Dad's spanner fetcher when I was young and it was always in my blood. He always used to explain how things worked and what he was up to. It's the way to bring up kids. I'm not content to pay a man to do it, I want to do it myself. I hope that when I have children that they can enjoy a proper scrapyard as I did, learn about how engines work, appreciate their criteria, smells and noise, to appreciate the sheer joys of the open road with something you have set up.
Blair and the EU are doing their best to ban scrapyards as I know them as well as the joy of the open road. Two freedoms which are very dear to me and my family.
you Blair!
>> Edited by love machine on Friday 11th February 09:52
I was Dad's spanner fetcher when I was young and it was always in my blood. He always used to explain how things worked and what he was up to. It's the way to bring up kids. I'm not content to pay a man to do it, I want to do it myself. I hope that when I have children that they can enjoy a proper scrapyard as I did, learn about how engines work, appreciate their criteria, smells and noise, to appreciate the sheer joys of the open road with something you have set up.
Blair and the EU are doing their best to ban scrapyards as I know them as well as the joy of the open road. Two freedoms which are very dear to me and my family.
you Blair! >> Edited by love machine on Friday 11th February 09:52
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