“It’s complicated.”
That might be the best way to describe our relationships with our automotive projects. For some of us, it’s also the best way to describe our relationships with our fathers, especially when it comes to car advice.
For every hard-a$$ dad who made us learn our lessons the hard way, there’s the nurturing father who provided guidance every step of the way. For every hardcore hot rodder dad, there’s the father who warned us to save our money and stay away from the car hobby.
Of course, we didn’t have to listen to any of it. And thankfully most of us DIDN’T listen to the ones who advised us to stay away from our passion. Either way, fathers can offer a treasure trove of advice—some good and some not-so-helpful. That’s why we’ve brought back our old Dad’s Advice Awards for this Father’s Day. Thank you to everyone who submitted the most memorable dad advice on the Summit Racing Equipment Facebook page.
Here are some of the, um—most memorable pieces of guidance.
The “Red Forman” Tough Love Award
“You broke it, now you fix it.” –Kenny C.
“He told me to grab his toolbox outta his van and get at fixing my broke truck . Crash course in mechanics.” –420 customs
…
The “Fun Dad” Award
“Don’t shift until it floats the valves.” –Johnny G.
“Nitrous is awesome and he was correct,” –Chris V.
…
The “Classic Dad” Award
“Will you hold the damn flashlight still” is all I ever heard!” –Chad-Allison C.
…
The “Disappointed Dad” Award
“Buy American, be American. His family was into car dealerships in NY. I own a Nissan now tho; I hope he’s not pissed at me from above.” –Joe F.
…
The “Ubiquitous Brand Loyalist” Dad
“Don’t by a Ford! But then again he worked for Chevy!” –Ron B.
“Ron B.: that’s funny my dad was an exec at Ford. He warned me about buying a Chevy. Lol.” –Michael M.
“Never buy a Chrysler product, I didn’t listen and I regret it.” –Wesley B.
…
The “Dad of No Faith” Award
“Never drive further than you’re prepared to be towed home!” –Dave A.
…
The “Master Mechanic” Award
“If it starts rattling, turn the radio up.” –Missy D.
“If it leaks oil, it’s got oil.” –Rick S.
You got left over bolts? It Means you put it back together better than the manufacturer made it.” –Jacob S.
…
The “We Resemble that Remark” Award
“The weakest part of a car is the nut behind the wheel.” –Steve J.
…
The “Logical Dad” Award
“If you want a reliable daily driver, look at what a mechanic drives. They hate working on their stuff after working on everyone else’s.” –Chris E.
…
The “Assistant Dad” Award
“My father was not mechanically inclined. At a young age we only worked together on cars if I put him to work scraping gaskets. That was his one and only job.” –Hank C.
…
The “Patient Dad” Award
“(There’s) always time to do it twice, never enough time to do it right the first time” – and the closely related “Sometimes you have to slow down to go faster.” –Greg C.
…
The “Nancy Reagan Just Say No” Award
“Do cars not drugs. Cars will keep you broke so you can’t afford drugs.” –Jeff G.
…
The “Clark Griswold” Award
“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” –Jon G.
…
The “Actual Wise Dad” Award
“REGULAR MAINTENANCE! That’s how I have an 87 Ranger that has 609k miles on it, still runs on the farm.” –Gresha N.
…
The “Best Legal Advice” Award
“Be polite to the police officer!” –Shane N.
“Have fun, but don’t get caught.” –John R.
“And the more clutter you have, the more suspicious you look to the law.” –Billy C.
…
The “Not That I’d Know” Award
“When you throw tools, throw them in the opposite direction of the car!” –Joshua C.
…
The “Aspiring Poet” Award
“My pappy said Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinking’ if you don’t stop driving that hot rod Lincoln.” –Larry T.
…
The “Do As I Say, Not As I Do” Award
“Pops pulled the valve covers off a cab to show me what happens when u don’t change the oil, it was his cab he didn’t change the oil.” –Tony D.
…
The “Opportunist” Award
“Always ask for discount codes when order parts ! lol got any discount codes Summit Racing Equipment about to place another order.” –Terry L.
Comments