Have you ever thought about how your parents influenced the passions in life? With almost 400 interviews over the past year and a half, there is a story I hear repeated over and over again. That story is about how the times we had spent with an adult, in the garage, on a road trip, or an adventure at a race track, or a car show, affected our lives. Quite often the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
These are influencing experiences that later define our lives.
Months ago my first father and son interviews were with Craig Morrison and Art Morrison, who build world class chassis. In the last few days I’ve had three guests whose parents preceded them on Cars Yeah. Nicole Meguiar Northcote, wax king Barry Meguiar’s daughter, runs car shows to raise money for charities. Arie Lyendyk Jr. races Super Trucks and his father is a two time Indy 500 winner. Chris Considine builds driving simulators and his father, Tim Considine, is a long time automotive journalist.
Apparently the lug nut doesn’t fall far from the wheel.
The next time you ask your child, or any youngster, to hand you a wrench, or you take them to a car show, or a race, perhaps you are stirring an ember that could ignite a lifelong flame.
Who’s the young man in this story’s photo?
That’s my son Blake when he was 10, during a Porsche rally in 2004. Blake turns 22 next week. Happy birthday, buddy!